The Shadow Garden Recruitment Test — Could You Pass?

In the world of The Eminence in Shadow, there’s one organization perhaps the most mysterious and unstoppable called “The Shadow Garden”. Founded by Cid Kagenou (or Shadow), this group is made up of highly skilled warriors, assassins, and agents, each sworn to fight the Cult of Diablos. But here’s the real question: if you were in that universe, would you have what it takes to join them?

Let’s break down what the Shadow Garden recruitment test might look like, the skills you’d need, and some fun “practice challenges” to evaluate if you are up to standard.

Before we jump into the hypothetical recruitment exam, you need to understand what the Shadow Garden really is.

Founded by Cid Kagenou, the Shadow Garden started as a “make-believe” organization to fulfill his childhood fantasy of being the mysterious mastermind in the shadows. But the fun part is, It accidentally became a real powerhouse, uncovering that the Cult of Diablos actually exists. The group operates in secrecy, blending ninja-like stealth, deadly combat skills, and underworld intelligence work. At its core are the Seven Shades, Cid’s top lieutenants, each a master in their own right. From them, the rest of the operatives are trained and deployed in elite missions across the world.

1. The Recruitment Process

In the anime and light novel, Shadow Garden doesn’t exactly run open tryouts, most members are recruited directly by Cid or the Shades after proving themselves in the field. However, let’s imagine they did have a recruitment test.
Based on the skills and qualities their members show, here’s what you’d probably face:

Stage 1 — The Stealth & Observation Trial

Shadow Garden operatives excel at moving like ghosts. This isn’t just about hiding in the dark — it’s about reading your environment, anticipating patrol patterns, and blending into crowds. The goal of this is to infiltrate a guarded location without being detected. Lets take an example task for instance.

Task: You’re placed in a simulated town full of guards and traps, you must steal a hidden item from a noble’s house without setting off any alarms

Skills you need:

• Patience
• Silence and movement control
• Awareness of escape routes

If you’ve ever aced a stealth mission in a game like Assassin’s Creed or Metal Gear Solid, you might have an edge.

Stage 2 — Combat Aptitude

Every Shadow Garden recruit must be ready to take down Cult of Diablos agents and those enemies are fast and deadly. You’d likely spar against multiple opponents, each with different fighting styles. So, you need to show your ability to handle close-range combat and adapt mid-battle.

Task: A 3v1 duel against trained fighters, testing your reflexes, weapon mastery, and ability to read enemy patterns.

Skills you need:

• Swordsmanship or weapon skills
• Quick adaptability
• Defensive awareness

Stage 3 — Magic & Energy Control

Shadow Garden members often use magic-infused attacks or subtle energy manipulation in battle. Even if you aren’t a magic prodigy like Cid, you’d need a basic grasp of controlling energy flows. You have to prove your mastery over magic or ki.

Task: Maintain a steady mana barrier while under attack, or perform a precision strike that requires focused magic control.

Skills you need:

• Mana stability
• Offensive & defensive balance
• Resource management under stress

Stage 4 — Intelligence & Loyalty

The Cult of Diablos uses spies, double agents, and misinformation. Shadow Garden needs people who can spot lies and stay loyal even under pressure. Basically, show your ability to gather intel and keep secrets.

Task: Identify a traitor in your team during a staged mission, using clues hidden in their actions.

Skills you need:

• Deductive reasoning
• Emotional control
• Trustworthiness

2. The Psychological Side of the Test

Shadow Garden’s work is dangerous. You’ll face:

• Moral dilemmas (Do you kill an enemy or capture them for information?)
• Isolation (Missions often mean working alone for weeks)
• Constant risk (One mistake could expose the entire organization)

A recruiter wouldn’t just test your physical skills they’d test your mental resilience. Could you operate in total secrecy for the rest of your life, knowing most people will never know the truth about your work?

Would You Pass?

Here’s a quick “Shadow Garden Candidate Quiz” , answer honestly:

1. Can you stay completely silent for over 15 minutes without fidgeting?
2. Have you ever noticed details others miss (like changes in someone’s tone or posture)?
3. Are you comfortable taking orders without knowing the full plan?
4. Do you prefer working alone rather than in the spotlight?
5. Could you defend yourself against multiple attackers?

If you answered “yes” to at least 4/5… congratulations you might just make it through the recruitment test.

Could You Survive the Field Missions?

Recruitment is just the start. Surviving your first year in Shadow Garden would be the real challenge.
The Cult of Diablos doesn’t play fair they’ll use deception, traps, and overwhelming force.

Your success would depend on: Staying adaptable, Building trust with your squad, Anticipating enemy moves before they make them

Cid himself often throws unexpected “tests” at his allies. So, even after you join, you’re never really done proving yourself.

So, could you pass? Or would you be watching from the sidelines while Shadow and his allies take down the Cult of Diablos?

Note: Many things written here are for fun purpose, we suggest you to not take it seriously.

Image credit Studio Nexus.