Author Note: Hope you enjoy this second chapter. And please do Rate and Review I'm quite interested in what people think of my writing and the story so far. All comments both positive and negative ( and constructive ) are much appreciated.
-Albion

Disclaimer: I do not own Persona, sadly..

Italic: Thoughts

''Talking''

Chapter 2: New beginnings
Inaba Apartmentcomplex House 5
11th of April, 2011

After taking a quick look around and checking if all the boxes with my things had arrived I felt a wave of fatigue coming over me. Reminding myself that school would start tomorrow I quickly took a shower, to my surprise the hot water, electricity, television and wireless internet were all present already, and headed off to bed.

The Sea of Souls
Unknown location

''My ow my. It seems we have a guest with a most intriguing destiny.''

I opened my eyes, but not what I had expected to see.

Gathering my bearings I noticed that I was no longer in my apartment in Inaba, but in some sort of over the top royally blue coloured inside of a limousine.

Sitting in front of me were two figures. One small man with the most creepy eyes and nose I have ever seen, and a beautiful looking lady with long white-blond hair in a blue dress holding what appeared to be some sort of old book.

''Do not be alarmed, you are fast asleep in the real world, my name is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. And this here is my assistant, Margaret.'' The man said while holding his hand out towards the woman.

''Welcome to the velvet room.'' She simply stated without any emotion in her voice.

''Thank you I guess?'' I responded. ''Where is this place and what am I doing here?''

''This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a place only very few visit, but always with a purpose. For it seems you have a most interesting journey ahead of you. One in which you will face both love and hardship.'' Igor stated in his still very creepy voice.

''Do you believe in fortune telling? The cards hold many secrets, but also gives us the means to reveal the possible future.'' Margaret asked as Igor summoned a deck of cards on the table in front of him.

Did those cards just randomly appear out of nowhere? Well I guess things have been crazy so far. It's just one of my crazier dreams yet. Although I can't recall ever being able to control myself during a dream so clearly before.

''Let us see what the future holds.'' Igor followed up while spreading the cards all around the table.

''Which card should I turn over first?'' Igor asked in my direction. I pointed towards the one in the centre of the table.

Flipping the card over it showed a woman who appeared to be holding up something that looked like a lion.

''This Card represents Strength.'' Igor explained. ''As the name suggests it stands for power, but it is also associated with the morality about the stronger power of self-control, gentleness, courage and virtue over direct brute force.''

And then something happened that even surprised both residents of the velvet room. All the cards surrounding the now flipped over Strength card moved away from it until they reached the end of the table, leaving the Strength card alone in the centre.

"Well that hasn't ever happened before. It seems your strength will have trouble to find it boundaries and will be feared by some. Most interesting indeed.'' Igor continued while gazing at the display of cards before him.

''As for the reason of your visit I can only guess, normally only people who hold the Wild Card visit the Velvet Room.'' Igor narrowing his eyes as he finished his sentence. ''It might have been just to witness that which what we have just seen, or maybe something completely else.''

Am I supposed to be taking this all seriously or have I been watching too much anime during my flight to Japan?

''For now we have taken enough of your time. Until we meet again.''

As Igor finished his final sentence I felt my vision going dark again, leaving the comfort of the velvet room and returning to my dreamless sleep.

Looking over the display of cards one more time before removing them from the table Igor could not help but ponder one thing.

Why did the Strength Arcana feel so heavy compared to normal.

12th of April, 2011

I woke up to the sound of rain ticking against my window. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes and thinking about what had transpired in my dream, I sat up in my bed and checked what time it was.

6:37

I sighed, school is supposed to start around 8:30. Being a new transfer student I'd probably have to check in at the faculty office before the lessons start so I should try to be there around 8:15.

Noticing that I obviously had no food at all I got dressed in my school uniform, not buttoning any of the jackets buttons and loosening the top 4 of the shirt's buttons, I set out to find some form of supermarket to grab a quick breakfast before heading off to Yasogami High.

Yesterday during the taxi ride to my apartment I had already noticed multiple commercial stands for a form of everything-you-need-mall called Junes. With the help of both my phone's navigation and, as I got closer and closer, the eventual directional signs I found myself at the Junes store just as it was about to open.

7:30 my phone showed, I noticed what appeared to be a fellow student of the same school opening up the store main gate of the mall. He must be the son of the people running this store or something along those lines.

''Welcome to Junes'' the young man with the medium-long brown hair greeted me as I walked into the store.

''Hey that uniform is the same as mine, haven't seen you around before, are you new here?'' He continued.

Simply nodding to thank him for his welcome word I moved along to look for a bakery or some form of morning dinner to get a quick coffee and something like a sandwich to eat on the go, I'd do some grocery shopping on my way back from school I figured. No use carrying it around all day.

On my way out I noticed the same student from before hopping on a bicycle, obviously also heading for school. I re-opened my umbrella and continued onwards to Yasogami High.

Getting closer and closer to the school building I bumped into none other than Mr. Curiosity himself from the train ride, Yu Narukami.

''I guess we're in the same boat.'' Yu stated as a small girl with a pink umbrella quickly hid behind him. ''Nanako, this is the guy I was talking about before who I met on the train yesterday. Come on don't be shy.'' He continued.

His word did not do much to make her any less shy though. I might stand out a little bit as a European but I'm not an alien or something right? Probably just the age I figured as Yu just shrugged as Nanako ran off.

''Don't take it the wrong way.'' Yu said, trying to make me not feel guilty for her being shy or something? '' That is exactly how she responded to me as well yesterday when I met her at the train-station. Are you also heading to the faculty office?''

''You guessed it, I thought I'd be early but judging from all the people I've already passed and who have passed me I guess being extremely early for school is a habit for Japanese teenagers?'' I asked.

''Some have morning practice for whatever sports-club they might have joined, although those usually do not start on the first week of school so they will be coming in even earlier then.'' Yu replied. ''want to head to the faculty officer together?'' repeating his previous question in a different way.

I'm not really sure what to think of this Yu guy yet. Something about him rubs me the wrong way, I just can't put my finger on it yet.

''Can't see why not.'' I replied as we moved along the road towards the school again.

Yasogami High
Faculty Office

''We already received the required paperwork from both your parents. So apart from just wasting my time here trying to look pretty for whatever weird intentions you both have you are pretty much all set up and ready for following classes.''

I could not help but try to contain my laughter while our apparent teacher Mr. Morooka was trying to both check the required paperwork and give us a lecture about proper behaviour at school towards girls. The main thing was his ridiculous face, more specifically his teeth. Which to be honest looked more like those of a beaver then anything human like.

''What are you smirking at Mathison!'' He suddenly yelled and looked me into the eye. ''Thinking about all the girls you passed on your way to this office are you? Listen up! School is a place for learning and discipline. Not some place where you can just flaunter over whatever looks pretty.''

From the corner of my eye I could see Yu was rather uncomfortable with the situation, I just kept staring at Morooka as he finished his small rant.

''Now both of you follow me to the classroom and wait outside until I let you both in.''

Yasogami High
Classroom 2-2

''I heard we will have Mr. Morooka as our homeroom teacher this year.'' One student said towards another.

''What!? We get King Moron this year.'' The disappointment could literally be read from his face. ''But listen to this.'' The first student continued. '' Apparently we also have 2 transfer-students joining our class as well, and one of them is from Europe!'' Both the student he was talking to seemed quite surprised at this news and continued chatting among themselves.

''I wonder what could bring a transfer student all the way from Europe to a small place like Inaba, what do you think Yukiko?'' A girl with a green jacket with a few buttons attached to it pulled over her school uniform asked into the direction of another girl, who apart from her school uniform, was wearing a red cardigan.

''Maybe he is infiltrating the school for some reason, or maybe he had to go in hiding because of an incident from where he came from or..'' Yukiko began summing up possible explanations.

''Probably nothing that dramatic, maybe we could ask him after school. Depending on how approachable he is , haha. Just try not to embarrass us when I try to start a conversation with him ok?''

''Why would I embarrass..'' Yukiko had to stop her sentence midway because the expected King Moron walked into the classroom.

''Listen up.'' Mr. Morooka started in a very unkind tone. ''I am Mr. Morooka and I will be your homeroom teacher for this year. Now before I can go ahead and start our lessons I sadly have to introduce these two transfer students, get in here you two!''

Taking the hint Yu was the first to walk into the classroom, me following in close pursuit. As I walked in I noticed the single desk setup which was filled for about 90%.

''Go ahead and introduce yourself already so we can get on with class.'' Morooka stated.

''My name is Yu Narukami, It's a pleasure to meet you all.'' He said while bowing. ''I will be in your care starting today.'' Yu once again being the first. Guess I have to follow about what he said.

''Marcus Mathison is the name, I've come from Sweden to follow my last 2 years of high school here. It's nice to meet you all.'' I finished off while looking over the people in the classroom, most of the looking more towards me then Yu. Going seconds has its merits I guess.

''You were just looking at that girl over there weren't you Mathison.'' Morooka suddenly bursted out towards me. '' Didn't I just give you a lecture before on how to keep your hormones in check, what kind of loser are you?''

''Where can I file a report for a teacher harassing a student?'' I asked while just blankly staring into the classroom, seeming as I was asking it to my fellow upcoming classmates.

''So a ladies-man and a smartass are we?! That's it Mathison you're on my shitlist. Effective immediat..''

''Morooka-sensei? Can the transfer students have these 2 empty seats here.'' Morooka got interrupted by the girl in a green jacket pointing at the 2 consecutive empty seats to her left.

Note to self;, thank her for the save.

''Sit down already you two. So we can begin homeroom.'' Morooka completely forgetting his second rant of the day.

As I sat down to the left of the girl with then green jacket and Yu took his seat behind me next to a girl wearing a lot of red I flashed a thank you smile to her for saving me from having from hearing yet another lecture.

''We call him King Moron for a reason, isn't he awful?'' She said, I just nodded and leaned back. So this is what school is going to be like for the coming years. Great, just great.