Date: February 6th 2014
Location: Unknown
Time: around midnight to 6:00
My head hurts! Where am I? This place is dark as...well actually it is the darkest place I have ever seen. I can't even see my own body. There's no light, nothing, nada, niente, absolut rein garnichts! ('Absolute pure nothing')
"Who is there?"
"What the shit?!" I exclaim. I look around, but there's still nothing. Well nothing I can see.
That is I kind of feel something behind me, you know, like when a person is close behind you. I turned around and saw no one! But I knew there is someone!
"Ummm, the name's Jack. Jack Samuels. Mom is from Russia and Dad from Germany. Don't ask why I got an American name; I never got a clear answer out of that one."
There was a silence. I began sweating. Hell there was someone in front of me, who sounds like a thousand people.
"How did you end here?"
"W-w-where is h-here?" I said stammering. My heart pounded 200 to 100.
"We are within the great seal, the one that protects the world from Erebus."
"W-w-w-wWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!? You gotta be joking! No wait! I gotta be dreaming! That's it! Someone pinch me!"
"A dream? I can assure you mortal, this is not the case."
"Wait." I said holding my hand up and taking a few breaths to calm myself down. There's something about my personality: I can become a really cold person in an instant. I don't do it much, as I prefer my irrational personality. But it helps in several situations, even if it is just to freak the shit out of people.
"Are you by any chance Nyx?" I ask.
"Yes." came the immediate reply.
"Oh shit." was all I could bring up. "Great, so I landed within a video game, every nerds dream and I just have to land in the moon, in the seal, which is supposed to never be broken. I guess it is no use to ask, if there is a way out."
Again with the silence. But for now I seriously considered annoying the goddess, so she would kill me, instead of me dying from lack of food.
"Explain yourself."
I should have figured that one out. I explained to her about our world, the SMT-game series, that this is all a video game and that she is the final boss. She asked some questions here and there, but mostly I did the talking. In the end my stammering got better, as I got used to her, although I couldn't see her.
"And yeah, that's basically why I think this is all a dream."
"Hmmm, an innocent soul, appearing in another world and here of all places. Intriguing."
"More like confusing. Is this a fanfic or am I breaking the fourth wall here? Whatever, fact remains I'm not gonna least long here, three days at most." I said while putting my hands on my temples.
I wished I could see Nyx expression. She didn't seem like a bad person. Then I remembered the answer and what Metis said: Nyx isn't evil, it is Erebus who's the problem. Wait! Oh god, why do I remember now!
"You said the seal is there to protect you! I don't think I really get that part completely. I know he's humanities unconscious wish to die."
"Correct. Erebus is there to overwhelm me and bring up his own will upon me."
"Okay, and you can't do anything against it? Like changing your home or...well fight back?"
"Impossible. He will find me everywhere and it is impossible to kill a god."
"Well not according to persona 4. But I seriously have my doubts the myriad truths attack will help you. Hmmm, oh come on nerd brain! Ok, SMT logic. First everything happens for either a minor or a bigger reason. There's gotta be something in this very first rule. Think Jackie think!"
I was seriously considering things. I thought about various fanfictions I have read about Nyx. Too bad most of them were romance or poetries. But there was one, a pretty good one, too bad the guy or girl stopped updating it, I really liked it. In that one Nyx uses Minato in order to be her new avatar. Dunno if this could happen with me. But then I remembered that Erebus could find her anywhere. Well shit.
I still offered her my idea and asked if she had something similar in mind.
"Actually there might be a possibility, but it comes at a risk."
"No risk, no fun. Hehe...oh well, I guess there's always something. So, what is it?"
"I am able to inherit a human's soul. However the risk is, the soul of this human will start to break apart. The human will die within a year exactly. However, Erebus won't be able to find me as long as the soul is alive."
"So we got one year to find a way to either get rid of Erebus or find you someone, who's first willing to give up his private life and ready to inherit a goddess. Or we maybe we can create you a body or...something else, I dunno. If we find nothing, we will come back and I'm gonna die."
"The one who sustains the seal will be released once we leave."
"So it's do or die. Oh man, guess I'm gonna die from starvation. I don't think I could handle knowing it was my fault humanity is dead because of me." I said while rubbing the back of my head.
Still, I wanted out, as much as life is a torture in itself, I wanted to live on. There was this one thing, called survival instinct and that was nagging at me right now.
"Is there any other way out, except the closed door?" I pointed at a random direction. I wasn't sure if she could see me or if she would even understand my little joke.
"Unfortunately not. Hmmm...be ready. It is time for another miracle."
"Wut!?"
I would now say that everything went black, but it was already black.
Day 1 Welcome to Inaba
Date: April 20th 2011
Location: Samegawa Riverbank; Inaba
Time: Afternoon 14:00
"Oh man..." I said while putting a hand on my head. I had the worst headache in my life and my chest was burning. I had been laying in the grass. I stood up and checked myself on the image of the river.
Short black hair was a mess, but nothing new. Green-brown eyes were alright. I had my red jacket, grey vest with a hood, my more bright blue jeans, and my sport shoes. Alright I was not naked. Next I checked my pockets: cell phone, but no signal: figures. MP3 which looked like it went through hell: check. I needed a pencil in order to change the volume. My head-phones, still working, but they already showed malfunctions, when the cable was in a certain position. My money, but Euros would be pretty much useless. And my vita?
"I thought I left it at home." I mumble while switching it on. I had to be careful though, because this thing was not invented yet.
"Date April the 20th 2011, huh, so I'm here during the persona 4 events. What's this?"
For some reason the battery that showed the amount of electricity left was golden and not green. Also there was a black infinity symbol inside.
"Guess I don't need to worry about recharging. And what is this?"
There was a new app installed.
"Oh boy..."
It showed several things: first a timer that showed my remaining time. You know 364 days 23 hours and so on.
Next it showed my amount of money: 0 yen. 200 Euro. 1 $.
"Oh right, the one I found last week." My hometown lives from tourism, so that wasn't the issue here.
That thing also showed HP and SP. And it showed my equipment. And my skills?
"Zio and Sukukaja?" I questioned. "Well fuck...by the way, how do I get new kills?" That's when I found a question mark symbol. Touching it, several categories showed up.
"Items will be listed here, make sure to bring a big enough backpack, very funny. Ok dededededh... my priority is agility and luck? I knew my luck sometimes is a bit broke, but...oh well I was never the strongest or the smartest, so it suits me. Hmm, that's actually not good, since I don't have a persona, I'm pretty suspicious. Oh well, I don't have any papers, so no harm done.
Now what do we have here? Skills, let's see...skill card oh great, I need to find those cards. I can equip up to 8. Okay and what's this? Nyx? Right what about her? Hmhmhm...'summon on own risk, only if really needed, since the differences in the spiritual rank between a human and a got is so great.' Well shit, so I press this button and she comes out, clearing the path, but in return, I'll be mentally screwed. More headaches, okay next...TV-world accessible...wonder if I'll meet my shadow? But are real humans really that dumb, that they can be associated by one Arcanum? That's more than broke, dude. Okay, anything else I need to know?"
My stomach grumbled.
"Oh shut it, we're almost done. Next battle...I just need to think of the skills...speaking out loud helps focusing. Sounds like from one of those fantasy books, but I won't complain. Analyzing system? Sweet. Remembers effect of attacks...analyzes from the pocket out...depends on enemy and how often said enemy is thought. Ok, pretty much like strange journey, without the analyzing bonus. Oh, this thing also shows the status of allies, if there are any. Well I wondered about the slots. So much for demon summoning."
My stomach grumbled again. Sighing, I put my vita away, closed the zipper of the pocket and ate snickers I had with me. I pretty much had no choice but to drink from the river. Well, at least it looked clean.
Now I had a problem. I had no money, no home. The only thing I could do was enter the TV-world. Without papers I can't get a job. Not to mention I would get the money at the end of the month.
"The TV world it is then." I concluded. I headed upstairs and to the right. I pretty much asked my way to Junes. People immediately recognized me as no one local. How I could speak Japanese was beyond me, especially reading.
I blamed Nyx for that one.
I finally arrived there. Inside it looked like every other store back at home. Well, I wasn't used to such a big one. The only times I saw these big stores, was on school trips. And my hometown inherits around 110000 people. I bet Inaba doesn't come that far.
"Oh well, game logic." I concluded.
Speaking of games, how the hell did I get here in the first place?
Who sent me here and why?
"It could be Elizabeth...Nyx said, when she and I left the one guarding her would be released. Let's hope he or she doesn't wake up in a coffin."
I gulped at the thought. That wouldn't be nice. Oh hey, I'm alive, oh shit, I'm in a coffin!
So I went to the electronics store, towards that TV. I was nervous. There were a lot of people ther.
"First experiment." When no one was looking I touched the screen with my hands. It worked!
"Holy hell!" I exclaimed in a whisper. The next thing was to get in without being seen and that meant I had to jump in, quickly!
"Wait! I won't be able to see a thing without any glasses!"
How could I forget about that? Now I had to meet the investigation team. Let's see, it was 15:30. I didn't know how long school lasted, but I guess they had no school anymore. But there was the problem explaining everything.
Suddenly my phone rang. I had a text message: 'Look behind the TV.'
"What the fuck? I better get used to this."
Behind it was a pair of glasses and a pipe? Oh well, I can hide it behind my jacket.
There were a few moments where I could have jumped in. I used the fith.
"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooow OUCH!"
That landing hurt a lot. I stood up. No Teddie around. Well good for me. I put on the glasses. The difference was like when you watch a 3D movie and put on those glasses.
"Well... I better don't go too far."
I decided for a direction and began walking on that direction and only that. Hell I wasn't Zoro from One Piece!
I ended up at the false shopping district. Great no shadows appeared here. Well at least in the game version.
Something was glowing from my pocket. I took out my vita and saw that the screen was red. Battle Mode was written above and there were two shadows on the screen with HP and MP in ?
The level was unknown too. But I recognized them. It were the same that attacked you on the protagonists awakening. And they're weak agai8nst electricity.
I fast put my vita away and searched for the shadows, my heart racing against my chest. I had put the pipe over my shoulder and my knees were lightly bowed.
Finally the two shadows appeared in front of me. Why didn't they ambush me? Whatever, time for tutorial battle!
"Stay calm." I heard Nyx suddenly. "I cannot talk much, as it would simply overwhelm you. Watch your opponents movements and react quickly. Jump to the right. Good and now attack."
"Zio!" I shouted and knocked the shadow out. "Zio!" The second shadow was on the ground.
"The first one is getting up. Hurry, use your weapon."
I followed Nyx instructions and finished the thing off. The second one got up and attacked me with his lick attack. It was more disturbing than it actually hurt.
"Bastard! Take this!" With a clunk-sound the shadow disappeared. I was so relieved and sat down on the ground. The adrenaline was slowly getting out of my system and I felt the slight bruise on my face, but nothing too serious. I checked my vita. To my surprise the HP-gauge was full.
"This is the energy of your body. You will use this, when you use physical attacks other than your weapon. Look there is another button."
I saw what she meant. There was a heart symbol. I pressed it and found a layout of my body. How much blood, temperature etc. The bruises were a bit less green than the rest of my body. I could switch in order to see, where my body gave out most heat, the structure of every bone and more.
"That would be so useful during biology." I laugh.
"I cannot talk much more. Be careful, when you die it is my end as well."
"Nice knowing. We could use it to troll Erebus."
"Troll?"
"Basically we say. you got us and then we shoot us to make him angry. It's like playing a prank. You know what that is, right? It's like we simply annoy him. He was so close to his goal only to fail."
"I see. Be careful, I sense more."
Oh great, this time it were the fish like shadows. Those freaks are weak against wind and I have electricity and speed buff. Speaking off...
"Sukukaja!" I yell. Green light emitted around me. Everything seemed slower. I grinned. I saved my SP and simply beat the heck out of those shadows. There I forgot one thing, I still had stamina. In the end I was breathing a bit heavy, but all in all I was ok.
On the ground was money. A lot of money. I picked it up and it turned out to be 10000 yen.
"I bet this is not normal. Wouldn't wonder if someone is giving me a light start." My bet was on Izanami, but the velvet room was also in my mind.
"That reminds me, I forgot to check if there is a door at the entrance." I face palmed.
I also found some kind of liquid stone that turned out as a soul drop. Good thing, since my SP were half down.
I checked the time. It was 17:00. I was getting hungry again and a bit thirsty. Junes closed at 21:00. From my personal experience on having such a job, the stuff members were at least there for another half an hour to clean the rest up. So I still had time.
I checked out the vending machines at the falls district. It accepted my money and this soda thing came out. Turned out to be water with carbonic acid. Way cheaper than in Germany, I can tell you.
I noticed my sp slightly increasing too. "If there's a bathroom around here, I could train all day. ... Oh come on it was worth a try."
Incidentally the shadows didn't found it funny. This time it was a group of two I call them lickers and two fish.
"Sukukaja!" There's no way I'll fight a group that big without a buff. I took out the lickers with each a zio. I must have leveled up. Too bad the fish were there. Really to dodge those attacks, you don't need a buff. Even as the effect decreased I could dodge them. I used my spells in order to NOT get hit.
Yeah, I'm a coward, but I won. This time the amount of money was normal, but I was exhausted and getting a light headache. Turned out, when your SP is under 30 % your brain begins to overwork with simply thoughts.
Readjusting my glasses I called it a day, heading back to the entrance.
Nope no velvet room door. So I guess that means no cryptic help for me. Suddenly I heard voices.
"Don't worry Yukiko we're almost there."
Crap that sounded like Chie.
"Guys, I smell someone."
'Oh shit I better get out!"
I landed on my stomach. Really I need to learn how to land. Never the less I stood up and headed outside, my pipe behind my closed jacket. It was evening anyways and a bit cold, so I didn't stick out too much, except for being new in the town. It was now 18:12 and getting dark. Still you could feel the difference in the air.
Man my lungs had problems getting used to so much less CO2.
This town had such a great atmosphere. I stretched my arms.
"I swear if I survive this, I will settle down here!"
"Well, that is nice to hear."
I turned around and put out my pipe, taking fighting stance. Man one day TV-World and I'm already paranoid.
"Wow, calm down kid."
'Kid? I'm Nineteen damn it!'
Standing before me was none other than Dojima. 'Oh great, look what you have done.'
"I'm a detective." he said, while putting out his license. I took it and acted like I was still vary of him.
"Oh, sorry sir." I said, while giving him his license back and taking normal stance.
"I'm a bit...paranoid. Met a lot of thugs when I was a kid."
Well that was at least true. As a kid I was often bullied.
"Mhm. I assume, that's why you carry this around."
"Oh, yeah." I handled the thing a bit. Fuck I was showing him, that I was getting nervous. His gaze narrowed a bit.
"Who are you anyway and what are you doing here? You're not from around, are you?"
"Oh, well" 'Crap think of something. Tell half lies, that's how you avoid nervous symptoms.'
"Truth to be told, I ran away from home. My name is Jack Samuels, mother Russian, Father German. I don't know how I got my name, 'cause I'm not adopted, that much I know. Well, long story short, I quitted school. My father was disappointed and my mom was actually okay. However, even with my mother's help, things were just...let's say stiff. I was looking for a job, but one day I had enough of my father. He wanted me to find something in the first month. At that time I only had a practical training."
I sighed at the memory. I should have started in two weeks.
"In the end, I couldn't stand it anymore. It was a dumb idea, it still is, but that's how I am. The dumber the idea, the more I actually want to do it."
I chuckled at this. "Reminds of that school project. Oh dude, that teacher was angry."
Dojima narrowed his eyes again looking for any lies.
'Oh man, I wish I could use lullaby.'
"Anyways, this town is not safe lately. There had been murders. Do you know anything about it?"
I shook my head. "Only some things from the news from one of the train stations."
"I see. I'm Ryotaro Dojima, by the way."
"Nice to meet you. Umm, do you know where the Amagi Inn is?" My phone rang.
"Wut the...? This is not my day. Two SMS in one day must be new record." I said while checking my phone. It was then I noticed that my phone's battery was yellow too with the infinity mark.
"Umm, okay, can you tell me where the local gas station is?"
"Why?" he asked.
"An old friend of mine is meeting me there. Heard about my little dilemma and decided to help me." 'I hope. Better make my last prayers, now that I know gods actually exist.'
Dojima showed me the way, were we found Adachi slacking off.
"Oh detective Dojima. I-"
"What are you doing here?! I have been looking all over for you!" Dojima exclaimed. Adachi cringed and I grinned. Better hide it, his persona is stronger than I am at the moment.
"W-well sir, they have found the Amagi girl. She was brought home, by one of her friends!"
"Huh? Okay, wait in the car." 'There is a car here?'
"I'll come in an instance."
"Yes sir!" he saluted and ran away.
Dojima sighed and took something out of his pocket. "If you ever need help, give me a call."
"Will do. And thanks for showing me the way."
He nodded and walked off. I let out a deeeeeeeeeeeeeep sigh.
"Shadows aren't that worse." I said and walked into the gas station. My day was far from over.
It was 19:00 already. I looked around. "Way cheaper than in Germany." was all I could say. I bought myself some really needed coke. It is good for the nerves. No one else except that attendant was around.
"My shift just ended. Wait outside." she said after I paid for my stuff.
I had two cans of coke already down, when she came outside. She wore a blue jacket, open, a red pullover under, brown trousers and black shoes.
"White looks way better." I mumble and open up the third coke. God, I wasn't that nervous when facing my first shadow. Okay, that was more because Nyx calmed me down and in the end it was like a sport game. When you're in the match, you forget your surroundings.
"Well, well, well, I never expected this to happen."
"I don't think any of us did." I said in a deadpan. I choked down the rest of the can. Three down twelve to go.
"Let us walk for a bit." she said. We walked around the shopping district.
"You're more informed than Nyx. Umm, did you kind of...drag me in here?" I ask.
She shook her head. "Oh god, than it can only be three people."
"You have ideas?" she asked.
"The shadow of humanity, forgot his name, than there are the velvet room guys, who are the other side of humanity and then there is this identity. No name, no face, nothing. Uses faces of others."
"Hmm, this is still a long list."
"So, am I finished now?" I asked.
"As long as you shut your mouth, no."
"Phew. Well, I got other problems anyway. But now that we're here: why are you doing this? Do you really think humans want this?" I ask.
"Yes, you hide the truth and live a peaceful lie. Is this not what you were doing too, just until yesterday?" she asks.
"I guess I would lie if I would say the differ. Why do you care anyway? According to that legend, Izangi would give birth to more humans, than you could kill. So, why the sudden change of heart, if you can call it that way."
"Everything changes. Gods are no exception."
"Mhm. Um, you do know, you're going to die, if he finds out?"
"Why are you telling me? I could have not known it."
"I just...I would feel bad and I don't like that feeling." I said while shaking my head.
There was a silence between us. We arrived at the shrine, where we stood for a while.
"Sure is creepy, still this place has something. I really think I will settle down, if I survive."
"Speaking of survival, how long do you have?" she asks.
"About a year. I guess I will commit suicide on the last day. Do you know where I can get a gun?" I ask.
She chuckled. "You have a strange sense of humor."
"Death makes life worth living. Seriously must be boring knowing you will live forever."
"Oh, I can assure you, there is enough to do."
"If you say so." I raised an eyebrow.
"So what now? The girl's gonna die, then she will live again, but only if he doesn't give up and the only thing I can do is watch and look after my problem? Oh man, now I really feel bad. Oh yeah, totally forgot, why are you helping me?"
But she was gone. "What the creeping creeper? Well shit and I still don't know where the Amagi Inn is."
19:20 and I am wandering around in an unknown town. This day is getting better and better. My body is aching from the stress of the TV-World. I needed to find a place to stay.
Nice I managed to get back to the river. So much for sense of orientation. My vita didn't have a map app and without a free W-LAN hotspot it will be difficult to use google maps.
Sighing I went back. No one was around; maybe because it was dark, maybe because of the murders, still it didn't help.
So I walked back to Junes, which was a bit away, but I made it in twenty minutes.
I approached one of the workers.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the Amagi Inn is?"
"The Amagi Inn? Oh that's on the other side of the town." 'Great.'
"You can still catch the last bus on 19:45."
"Thanks!" I headed out and barely managed it. Bus? Way cheaper than my hometown. Can't say for Germany, since the prizes differ from town to town.
The Amagi Inn looked really rich. And the whole traditional thing had some kind of aura, but enough of this.
"Welcome to the Amagi Inn. How can I help you?" asked the receptionist.
"Well, how much is your cheapest room?" I ask.
"That would be 2000 yen each night."
Okay, I had about 8000 yen. "If you want to eat here as well, it will be 2500 yen."
'That's actually cheap.'
"Umm, can I pay each day seperate? I don't know how long I will stay."
"Of course. May I know your name?"
"Jack Samuels."
"Ah an American."
"I'm from Germany. My mother is Russian. I don't know the origins of my name."
I checked in. My room was pretty small, with a small bathroom, but it was at least clean. I slammed myself on the bed and wanted to sleep, but my stomach protested.
Food was served until 22:00 and it was 20:45.
Food was traditional Japanese. I couldn't make out most of it, but I know Gyudon from a restaurant in my home. As tasty as ever. There was talk around the other tables, mostly about the returned Yukiko. I heard theories about her running away and being kidnapped (which was true). Even if I had the cheapest room, the service was a bit too nice. I prefer being ignored most of the time, but I kind of stood out.
Mostly of course I wasn't Japanese and that got me some curious glances. And of course a 19 year old guy, what was he doing here, why was he here, could he even pay and so on. Meanwhile I planned my next day. Obviously TV-World, I only had money for one more night.
My lack of papers was a problem too, but I didn't know how to solve that. Black market? Where? I'll get myself killed.
There was a TV in the eating room. And for this I only paid 2500 yen? That was cool. Oh well, game logic.
There was something about a girl who woke up from a coma by a miracle. You could see her brother hugging her.
"I guess that is my fault. At least she didn't wake up in a coffin." I chuckled, while one of the stuff gave me a look.
"Uff, I hope they won't find me, although I could use their help. Oh man, I'm screwed."
Seriously I didn't even have a single lead. Oh well, at least I wasn't on Izanami's bad side, although I would have preferred that she did not know me. Oh well, she helped. That reminded me I needed a weapon and for that I needed money and that meant TV-World.
"At least I don't have school, although this isn't the best place to get money." I should stop speaking to myself.
I wondered what kind of weapon I should use. My pipe wouldn't help me later.
"Maybe I should join them or maybe I should...nah, don't wanna get Izanami against me. If I join, then only by accident." I decided.
There was yet another thing, my shadow. It did not appear, but that didn't mean it wouldn't appear one day.
"I wonder if I will be able to accept myself." Suddenly something hit my mind. It was my vita. I took it out the screen was yellow. Yeah my vita had a mind link.
Yellow meant enemy close. I looked at the radar. I was the triangle, the grey points were the people and there was a yellow point. I looked at the direction and saw Yukiko.
'She looks way better in real life. Better than the cosplayers. It looks normal at least.'
Yellow points meant neutral, but aggressive.
"Probably because I ran away. Did any of them saw me?" It was possible not for Yukiko, but the rest, since they had the glasses.
Neutral and not aggressive were white points. Grey was simply not important. Seriously my vita was ready to switch to battle mode.
But it didn't, but stayed into caution. I didn't give the girl a second look and continued eating.
By the way I was seated on a pillow. There was heating on the ground. The food was great, I could eat and drink as much as I wanted and only paid 2500 yen?!
For all that expect now a big bill, I have informed me beforehand, that much brain I got!
"Hmm the others will be around level sixteen and I am level three. But they won't enter the world for a while, but there is Teddie. And I can't really shut him up. Oh well as long as the others don't see me with him, there's a chance they won't belief him, except their leader."
For now, I would go solo. What I really needed was trafuri or traestro in order to get out of shitty situations.
On 22:00 I headed back to my room. Instead of sleeping, I played with my vita in order to get up to date with the events. There had been still time to rescue Yukiko. Oh well, leaders decision, despite these were real people not some game characters.
The people showed way more emotions and more importantly didn't stay at one spot. But what was cool about this world was I saw tick marks and sweat drops and so on.
'I love this world.' was my last thought before my server turned down.