The Seven Shades Explained: Backstories, Power Levels & Hidden Details – And Who Cid Kagenou Loves the Most

If you’ve watched or read The Eminence in Shadow, you already know that Cid Kagenou is the kind of guy who strategically (also accidentally and hilariously) built an empire of powerful women devoted to him. At the core of this empire are the Seven Shades—Shadow Garden’s elite lieutenants, each with a unique past, personality, and fighting style. They’re mysterious, loyal, and absurdly overpowered. But they’re also people, each with their own quirks and bonds with Cid.

Today, we’ll break down: Their backstories and how they met Cid, Their power levels and unique skills, Hidden details you might’ve missed and finally, the big fandom question: Who does Cid really love the most?

Alpha – The First Shade

Alpha is the first to join Cid, rescued from a curse that was slowly turning her into a monster. She is also a descendant of the “Elf Hero” Olivier. Her beauty, elegance, and swordsmanship instantly made her the perfect “right hand” for Shadow.

Alpha’s contribution:

• One of the strongest warriors in Shadow Garden.
• Master of sword combat and strategy.
• Acts as the field commander when Cid isn’t around.

Alpha is the most loyal believer in Cid’s “teachings” (which, ironically, were made up). She treats every word he says as sacred truth.

Beta – The Second Shade

A noble-born elf who lost everything when her family fell to the Cult of Diablos. Cid saved her, and she joined as the second Shade. She also stands out in swordsmanship. Beta is very dedicated to shadow too and likes to note down every moment with shadow she spends.

Beta’s contribution:

• Excellent with rapiers and precision strikes.
• Specializes in intelligence gathering.
• Also a writer—under the pen name Natsume, she secretly publishes novels based on Cid’s “stories.”

Her novels are massively popular in-universe… meaning Beta is accidentally monetizing Cid’s random ramblings.

Gamma – The Third Shade

Although physically weak compared to the others, Gamma channels her brilliance into running Shadow Garden’s finances often called the business queen in the story. She was saved by Cid during his early “Shadow” days.

Gamma’s contribution:

• Weak in direct combat, but her economic power is unmatched.
• Runs the Mitsugoshi Company, funding Shadow Garden’s insane tech and resources.

Her influence is so huge that entire economies depend on her company—basically, she’s the Jeff Bezos of the Shadowverse.

Delta – The Fourth Shade

A beastkin warrior with instincts sharper than any blade. She was found by Cid while living like a wild animal and trained into a deadly fighter.

Delta’s contribution:

• Raw power specialist—fastest and physically strongest of the Shades.
• Uses claws and overwhelming speed to annihilate enemies.

Delta doesn’t “think” strategy—she hunts. She’s fiercely protective of Cid, often fighting anyone who gets too close.

Epsilon – The Fifth Shade

Once insecure about her small chest, Epsilon joined Cid early on and mastered slime-body control, which she uses to create… a “more impressive” figure. She is more like the the elegant illusion.

Epsilon’s contribution:

• Master of slime manipulation—creates powerful weapons and armor.
• Also a piano prodigy.

Her piano performances are based on Earth’s music Cid casually hummed. She became a world-famous artist because of it.

Zeta – The Sixth Shade

Zeta is a female Therianthrope from the Golden Leopard Clan. Zeta operates mostly far from the main base, running independent missions in other countries. She’s a master tracker and spy, possesses the ability to turn her body into mist. She is more like a lone wolf.

Zeta’s contribution:

• Exceptional in stealth and assassination.
• Beastkin agility and survival skills.

Because she’s away so often, her story gets less screen time—but lore hints she may be Cid’s longest-running operative abroad.

Eta – The Seventh Shade

Eta is the genius engineer of Shadow Garden often known as the mad inventor, creating magic-powered tech decades ahead of its time. She is a female elf who  has created many modern technologies through Cid’s ramblings about Earth’s innovations.

Eta’s contribution:

• Not a frontline fighter, but her inventions win wars.
• Specializes in alchemy, magic tools, and research.

Her workshop is basically anime’s equivalent of Tony Stark’s lab—full of dangerous “experiments”.

Power level

While they each excel in different areas, pure combat strength roughly looks like this:

Alpha > Delta > Beta > Zeta > Epsilon > Gamma > Eta
(Though context matters—Gamma could “win” a war without throwing a punch.)

• They’re all linked by Cid’s “lies” – Almost everything they believe about the Cult of Diablos was originally Cid’s random make-believe… which turned out to be true.
• They’re celebrities in their world – Mitsugoshi (Gamma), Natsume’s novels (Beta), Epsilon’s concerts they’re as famous as they are feared.
• They rarely see Cid in his ‘normal’ mode – Most Shades only interact with him as Shadow, not as clueless background character Cid Kagenou.

The Big Question: Who Does Cid Love the Most?

Cid isn’t really romantically focused on anyone—his obsession is with being the “perfect Eminence in Shadow.”
But if we talk closest bond, most fans agree:

• Alpha holds the most formal loyalty and respect.
• Beta is emotionally closest, thanks to her chronicling his “teachings.”
• Delta has the most animalistic protectiveness.

Cid doesn’t consciously “choose” any of them, but Alpha seems to be his most trusted and longest-standing Shade—making her the unofficial “number one” in his heart.

The Seven Shades aren’t just powerful side characters—they’re the beating heart of Shadow Garden. Each brings something unique: brains, brawn, beauty, or influence and while Cid might play the oblivious mastermind, the truth is without the Seven, his empire would crumble.

In a story where reality bends to Cid’s whims, the Shades are proof that sometimes the most loyal allies are the ones who choose to follow you—not because of destiny, but because of a moment of kindness that changed their lives.

Image credit Studio Nexus.