Chapter 3
Unbreakable Bonds
Travis
My fear left my body as I got up from the ground and point toward the monster about to swallow my new friend.
"Get away from him you filthy thing!" I angrily yell.
The figure above me took action as he lunge forward with his right hand aiming toward the beast. The figure grab the monster with his right hand and causing the monster to let Shinkei free from his grasp. Arthur pierce the monster's eyes with a single thrust and it slowly dissolve into nothingness. A sword sheath materialize behind me and I adjust it horizontally as I slowly put it back. Arthur look at me and I look back at him as he disappear right in front of me.
Is that really "The" king Arthur told by legend.. …I must focus on my true goal right now.
I look down to see Shinkei unconscious body and I am glad he is all right. I wasn't safe yet, because Kireina's scream from earlier is a sign that she's in trouble. I carry Shinkei body as I piggyback him and rush toward the scream I heard.
Please! Make it in time!
The thick fog and darkness of the forest wasn't giving me a break from the sudden monster attack and finding her may be more difficult with the monster lurking around. As I run around the forest, I came face to face with a figure similar to mines, and she turn to me. A tall woman with a chain mail tunic over an azure dress with silver boots and helmet. Fleur-de-lis are embroidered on the hem of the dress while her beautiful angelic white wings sprouting from her back. I became inpatient and worry about my friend well-being, this could be the worst time to encounter another strange things. I quickly took out my sword and slam it down on the ground as I stare at the womanly figure.
"Come! King Arthur!" I commanded.
A tall man wearing golden helmet with a long red plume and long tattered red cape emerge from behind me. His golden armor radiantly pierce through the darkness with ease and raise his mighty sword toward the opponent.
"I am King Arthur, the king of Camelot. Thou shalt speak thy name to me!" King Arthur commanded.
"I am Joan of Arc, the maiden of Orléans." Joan calmly reply.
I am surprise to her calm composure toward the legendary king Arthur himself, but she also has a name as well.
Is she not my enemy after all?
Suddenly, a girl emerge from the deep fog and carrying Kireina on her back. We both gaze at each other for a moment before she notice King Arthur aiming his sword toward Joan. Two other boys came after her as they use their arms to link to each other as support.
"Damn it Soma!" The boys gasp for air. "Why the hell do you think you are doing!? This was a suicidal tactic coming from you." The boy angrily muttered.
"Well…" Soma nervously laugh. "Is being a while since I felt fear in a long time..and…uf..I didn't want the girl to die, I am sure you would done the same thing, Nagato." Soma explain.
The heavy tension left the area as soon as those boy began talking to one another like friends. The two boys look at King Arthur and while the boy with glasses grunt with anger.
"There's more of them!" Nagato said.
"You there." I spoke.
"Me?" the girl ask.
"Yes, why are you carrying Kireina? Are you the one that send us here?" I ask.
"No, I was send here as well just like everyone here, and I rescue this girl from those things lurking around this weird forest." She ask.
I became calmer after hearing that she wasn't the person who did this but rather a stranger helping my other friends from getting hurt.
"I am finally glad I meeting you and seeing you to face to face." She smile.
"Really?" I ask.
"It's a honor to meet King Arthur in person." Joan smile.
"The pleasure is all mine, and sorry for my rude approach." Arthur bow.
The two person vanish from sight and then the two boys from earlier spoke.
"So, you have the same power as Elaine." Nagato scuff. "Why don't I have the same power as you! It would of being better that way." He explained.
"Hmmm..it would be fun playing around with that power.." Soma muttered.
Suddenly, a black door appear from thin air in the middle of us and I notice a mysterious figure leaving the area. I could barely see his formal clothing and a tie as he fled the scene.
Who was that? A foe or an ally?...in any case, this door could be the exit from this weird place.
I slowly approach the door and while the others did the same thing as me. We extend our hand towards the door and we look each other one last time.
"You all ready?" I ask.
"Yup." She answered.
"This could be a trap but this is the only thing to escape from here, so we need to take the chance." Nagato explain.
Soma nod. "I agree, we need to the chance and successfully escape here alive." Soma spoke.
We all nod at each other before touching the door, I immediately open my eyes to gaze on my room's ceiling and I turn around to see the clock hitting 7 o'clock in the morning. I took a sigh of relief as I manage to escape from that place and I look on my phone with the app of Armageddon still on, but the app wasn't on serves until midnight.
So, only when it's midnight it will be open to the public…I hope everyone got out from there safely.
I slowly got up from my bed to bump into something and I look to see the sword from last time. I grab the hilt to examine it and I noticed a red gem in the bottom center of the sword and it can be rotatable just by spinning around.
I wonder if I summon Arthur right here?..
I grab my sword and slowly slam it down, I am shock to see the magic circle appearing below me with the same figure.
"Come! King Arthur!" I yell.
I pull the sword from the earth and King Arthur appear above me with his raw power emitting through the room.
It look like it wo-
"Travis?"
I became stun at the sudden voice calling for me at my door and I slowly turn to see my mother looking at me.
Mother?...I am caught..
"Travis, you going to late for school so hurry up before school begin." Mother said.
She left my room with her usual self and not noticing the large sword at hand and most importantly, King Arthur hovering above me. My body became relax after seeing my mother leaving from the room and not noticing my power.
Did she not notice the sword and King Arthur?...maybe only those who can the power can…but why are those two boys from before can…hmmm..
I wanted to investigate more about the strange phenomenon but I need to go to school. I am all ready wearing my school clothing so I just dash away quickly toward the school's main entrance. As I arrive to the school's main entrance, I forgot to leave the sword behind and King Arthur was still following me.
"What's wrong? Didn't you summon me to meet her?" Arthur ask.
King Arthur point behind me and I turn back to see the girl from before waiting for someone. I notice her weapons being held by her right hand, a katana with a red gem in the bottom center like mines. Joan muttered something to the girl which cause her to notice me and she smile as she approach me.
"Hello, my name is Elaine, nice to meet you. I didn't introduced myself last time, so hello again." Elaine greeted, smiling.
"it seem fate has us meet yet again, light one and King Arthur." Joan smile.
"It seem so, I will gladly lend a helping hand to you lady Joan and chosen one." King Arthur spoke.
"My name is Travis, nice to meet you too. Also, the first time we meet was understandable." I smile, while at the person hovering above us greeting. "They seem to get along pretty good, huh?" I spoke.
Elaine nod. "Yeah, they are called Persona." Elaine said.
"Persona?" I repeated, curious.
Suddenly, a blue door appear from thin air and King Arthur & Joan point toward the door.
"It seem it is time to go." Arthur spoke.
"Indeed, let's us go and all of your questions will be answer." Joan added.
We nod at each other and we enter the door to find ourselves back to the same place as in my dream. Igor and Blythe are still there but I see another young man sitting next to Igor.
"Hello young master & mistress, it good to see you together." He smile. "My name is Oz, and my sister over there is Blythe." Oz said.
"I see, nice to meet you Blythe." Elaine smile.
"Indeed, you two all ready bind to a contract and now will be able to use your persona." Igor spoke.
"Persona? What's a persona exactly?" I ask.
"A persona is a mask of that individual to face hardship and another personality all together. In other words, you can use your persona to help you achieve your destiny and battle other things that can cause you two harm." Igor explain.
The room suddenly vibrate instantly and the whole room disperse from us except for the table and the chair being occupied by us. The whole galaxy is reveal to us and I could feel ground touching my feet regardless of the emptiness of space and I could breaths here safely.
"Don't worry, this place won't cause you any harm. Now then, let's move into you two future should we?" Igor spoke. "Our main purpose is to help you ease your hardship in your journey by using the secret art of fusion." Igor explain.
"Fusion? We can fused persona?" Elaine ask.
"Correct, you two can wield many Persona and upon your journey, you will encounter lost Persona inside the shadow wandering around in the app, so please take your time in gathering them all for your need." Igor spoke.
"In order for us to get stronger, we can come back here to fuse our new profound Persona in order to make a even stronger one and defeat the new threat that much quicker." I reply.
"That's my master!" Blythe cheer. "Although this ability is available for you two. Any other person with the potential to summon a Persona can't wield two Persona at once like you two." Blythe explain.
"Not only you will see other people's Persona and weapon, but you can see other people with potential to summon their hidden Persona. Please take this information to increase your number and build strong bond in the early game." Oz explain.
"Strong bond?" Elaine and I ask, simultaneously.
"A deep bond with your allies will improve your power to summon strong Persona that will one day exceed your expectations and you will quickly notice the big change inside when encountering new problem, new way of life, and people's life. This will help you becoming the perfect human being that withstood many hardship and become even stronger." Igor spoke.
I cross my arms as I began to absorb all of this information and began thinking very deeply on this matter while Elaine did the same thing.
"I know this will be difficult for you two alone, but you can lean toward your friend for help since power alone isn't enough to stop this threat and will be involved you two." Igor said.
"All right, I will not falter from this threat you speak of, so I will continue fighting, isn't that right?" I ask.
I turn to face Elaine as she nod with confidence eyes as we turn to face Igor with great determination in our words and actions.
"That's correct, we will fight and surely beat this threat by working together as we find out the truth." Elaine said, confidently.
"Very good, I know you two will face this hardship together but for now, this is farewell. Please, do come back on your own free will when you need our help." Igor spoke.
My vision slowly dissolve into nothingness as the darkness over take my vision and I blink to same spot I gaze upon the blue door. We arrive to our school and the time we left from there seem to be unaffected in the real world. I could still see the blue door leading to the velvet room and I had the key a weird key in my hand. I hide the key in my pocket and this could be use to open the Velvet Room.
"Travis, we should get to class soon so we can explain to the other about this new power of ours." Elaine explain.
"I agree, you can go ahead." I reply.
"Where are you going?" Elaine ask curiously.
"I want to test something first, but thank you Elaine." I smile.
"For what?" She ask curiously.
"Saving one if my friend from danger, I am so grateful for what you have done so thank you" I smile.
"It was nothing, I know you would of done the same since we are two fools." Elaine chuckle.
"I agree, let's work together to stop this app game from every harming others." I recommend.
I extend my cover right arm toward her and she notice the bandages cover my right arm.
"Did you hurt yourself?.." Elaine sadly muttered.
"No, don't worry, I have no injury in that arm." I sadly smile. "It is just a reminder of something from my past, that's all." I explained.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Elaine ask.
"I prefer if we don't.." I muttered.
"That's fine but if you need someone to talk to, I am here for you." Elaine smile.
She grab my hand to shake it and we then hear a voice talking in our mind at the same time.
Thou art I…
And I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…
It bring thee salvation one step at a time…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personal of the Fool Arcana…
"Did you hear that.." I muttered.
Elaine nod with shock to hear the voice inside our head and the strong bond Igor mentioned before to us. We chuckle at the strange phenomenon and smile at each other to know we are getting closer to know each other but most importantly, the strong bond that will be build upon each other to get stronger.
"I hope we can work together to stop this game from ever harming other." I said, with a serious look on my eyes.
"Yeah, we will stop this game from hurting our friends and the people from danger." She smile.
We remove our hand and we went our separate way as we smile at our new partnership. I went further in into the main hallway to check if any other person can see my weapon and probably have the potential to help us with our cause. As I turn to my left in a corner, I accidentally bump into someone and paper are scatter in the air with a yelp coming from the other person.
"I am sorry, I didn't-"
I said worrying about the person safety and I stop with my words as I look at a girl on the floor rubbing her back with her right hand. A senior girl is wearing a royal blue sweater vest and underneath the sweater is a long-sleeves tan shirt. A short, brown pleated skirt, knee-high socks and brown flats. The blue bow caught my eyes easily in her slightly wavy, dark chocolate brown hair that reach to her hips and I look at her amethyst purple eyes of her. She blush at my presence and got up as she bow at me with her upper body pointing toward me.
"I-I am sorry for hitting you, I didn't look were I was going!" She nervously explain.
I became embarrassed as I rub my back of my neck with my left hand while looking at her for making this senior apologize for something that isn't her fault.
"Don't apologize, it is my fault for not focusing were I was going so please lift your head up." I reply.
She slowly lift her upper body to face me and look away from me embarrassed from her action. I look below to see all of the paper scatter all over the floor and I got down to start picking them up for her.
"You don't have to do that! I-I can pick them up myself!" She blur out.
She bend down to the floor to quickly pick up the paper and she accidentally touch my hand where the both of us try to pick the same paper. She remove her hand from mines and I smile at her shyness, I pick the last paper to give back to her with the rest of the paper I had in hand. We got up from the floor and I notice the girl looking at something to my right. I quickly realized that she can see my sword poking out from my right side.
"Can you see the sword?" I ask.
"Huh!?"
The girl flinch at my sudden questions and then look it again to nod at me with certainly.
She have the potential to wield a persona just like me and Elaine. I must be certain of her potential before explaining the whole ordeal by summoning my persona, but..
I glance behind her to see the camera of the school looking at every hallways so I couldn't act suspicious in front of the camera. I could take her somewhere private and where no camera can be found. I took this chance of testing her potential myself so I grab the girl's hand which she became nervous by my bold approach.
"W-What are you doing!?" She ask, nervously.
"I need you to follow me." I reply.
I didn't wait for her response so we ran together around the hallway holding hand and while I look around for any empty room available. I could see students looking at us and chattering with one another about this.
I hope I don't cause a commotion..
We rush forward until a notice the storage door open for us and the best place to remain hidden from people and cameras. I notice the girl poking at me to get my attention while she mumble something at me but it was too late since we enter the room with full speed. The sound of something hitting the floor came into the room and the door slowly close by it self due to the disturbance of our speedy entrance. The girl became worry about our situation and I let go of her hand as I till my head in confusion of her worrying.
"Didn't you know the storage door can be only open through outside the room, not the inside." The senior girl explain.
My body became frozen at her words and I look down at the floor as I smile.
"No, I am rather new at this school so nobody told me anything regarding the storage's door." I reply.
"It's all right, all we have to do from now on is to wait for someone to open the door from the other side." She explained.
She grab a box from below the shelves and put it on the floor to dust off the dirt from the top. She gently sit down on it and took out a small book of her and began reading the book.
"Ummm..when do the janitor or anyone arrive?" I ask.
"Huh?" She spoke. "Oh, well…until lunchtime or later." She reply.
"I-I see.." I muttered.
Silence engulf the storage room as I wanted to show my power to her since this is a good place to do that.
"My name is Travis by the way, and I wanted to show you something for the sake of goal regarding of a certain app." I explained.
I slowly took out my sword with my right hand as she glance to me and became shock to see the magic circle appearing below me. I didn't waste anytime as I slam the sword down on the floor and I glance toward her muttering my word.
"Persona."
I pull the sword out to reveal King Arthur hovering above me as he glance down at the girl with an shock face gazing him back.
"W-What is that?" She muttered.
"That's my Persona, this is what I wanted to show you because you have the potential to wield one of this Persona as well." I spoke.
The senior girl look at my Persona with amazement as she remain silence and not looking away from King Arthur.
"What's wrong my lady? I hope I am not a bother you." King Arthur said.
"Huh? He can talk!" She ask, surprise.
"Yeah! They have free will like our own. Anyways, my name is Travis and I have friend that are joining me to fight the shadow, so can you please help me protect this place from them?" I explained.
She look a bit sadden at my explanation as she look down at her book while playing with one of the pages of her book.
"I am no help to you, Travis. I barely have any person I call friend since I don't talk too much to people and I tend to avoid attention to me, so.."
She clench her book to her chest as she remain silence and looking away from me, as if she trying to hide her tears from me. I became concern of this girl so I crouch down as I tap her shoulder and she raise her sadden face to me. I smile at her as she look at me confused at my sudden smile.
"You aren't useless nor you are bad person, do lift your head high so you can show your great smile of your! I know you have one since you seem like the girl that like to smile, right?" I said, trying to give her courage.
She remain silence as she think of something to reply to me and look at my eyes as she slowly smile at me. I became embarrassed after seeing her smile, like she was a different person entirely.
"My name is Kohana Yutaka, nice to meet you Travis." Kohana smile.
"…umm..yeah..nice to meet you too." I said, embarrassed.
Kohana blush after smiling at me and cover her face with both of her hand while shaking her head around. I chuckle after seeing her cute side of Kohana and her face became red like a tomatoes.
"I can't believe I did something so embarrassing…my hear won't calm down.." Kohana said, embarrassed.
"You did great Kohana, just take your time to open up to people and one day you will be smiling like that to everyone." I smile.
Kohana uncover her face as she nod at my explanation and we took our seat while King Arthur was watching us in silence.
"It seem you have calm her down, nice work for helping those in need." King Arthur praised.
"No problem, that what anyone would of done anyways. It isn't a big deal for someone else." I reply.
"Is that so? If you say so, I will take my leave then and it was nice to meet you lady Kohana." King Arthur bow.
"Y-Yes! It is nice to meet you too Mr. Persona." Kohana bow.
King Arthur vanish from thin air and leaving us with each other in this lonely storage room.
"That was King Arthur by the way." I chuckle.
"Huh!? K-King Arthur!? That was him in the flesh!?" Kohana nervously ask.
I nod at the nervous senior girl sitting down next to me and I smile at her nervousness after meeting a great hero for the first time.
It seem I need to teach her everything myself, hopefully Elaine is safely in her classroom by now and probably…worry about my absence…how do I explained this to her…
End
Travis's Social Link
(Kohana Yutaka)
I yawn as I became a bit sleepy and tired from coming out of the Armageddon App so I felt a bit fatigue at best. I glance towards Kohana as she became a bit worry about my health and glance one or twice as she pretend to read her book. I smile at her concur about my well-being and stretch myself to wake up a bit.
"So Kohana, tell me about yourself. How are you doing?" I ask.
"Tell you about myself?..I don't think you want to know my sad story.." Kohana muttered, sadly.
"Sad story?…" I muttered.
I grab my box to come closer to her side and bend my upper body so I can face her to listen to her story with seriousness.
"I kind of do, so if you please tell me about your…sad story." I said.
Kohana sigh at my decision and she close her book to gently put it in her laps as she face me.
"When I was very young, I lived with my mother and father together in a big house. It was a common house but I like it since it was home…" Kohana smile.
I could feel sadness coming from that smile as she stare off into the distance and looking behind me rather than eye-to-eye.
"My father was very busy man but he took his busy time to spend time with me and bringing me book to me." Kohana chuckle. "One time, My dad slip in my one my book and told me to book it to the hospital."
Kohana began to chuckle at his father pun and suddenly, the chuckle turn into low sobbing as she cover her eyes with her hand and trying her best to resist her urge to cry. I became a paralyzed at the quick change in her behavior.
"Kohana! Are you okay!? Did you hurt yourself with something in the back!?"I nervously ask.
I get up from my sit to examine her and grab her hand to grab her attention and I gaze at her crying face.
"I am fine Travis..I am fine.." She muttered.
"…."
I remain silence as I glare at her crying face and becoming more worry about her sudden sobbing. I let her go of her hand and she remain quiet as she crouch down to hide her face from me. I knew she needed time to recover and wanted to be alone so I wen to the other side of the room to give her some space. As I slowly left her side, I could her very low whisper coming from her and giving me chill.
"The pain..please don't get too close to me.."
I bite my lips as I left her side and pretend to sleep as I glance to her side but her behavior never change since I left. I lean my body in the wall to see her better, I felt my hand shaking with fear as if something similar has happen to me.
"So, what are you going to do?" Are you going to flee or..
I hear King Arthur's voice speaking inside my head and it was new thing he learn but I became more worry about Kohana's health.
I won't flee! But what can I do? I don't know own nothing about her..
…
"You mustn't show weakness in battle! You must be brave and face toward that hardship with your head high! Didn't you say so yourself?"
Your right! I must help her anyway possible! It will be tough but I think I can do it! Watch me King Arthur!
"Very nice, your confidence is back and your courage will led to you her salvation."
I felt a small bond build with Kohana just like Elaine and I may understand her pain if she left me hear her.
Thou art I…
And I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…
It bring thee salvation one step at a time…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Persona of the Priestess Arcana…
I smile as I could understand our friendship building up from this conversation and I continue watching over her.
Elaine's Social Link
(Shinkei Garahasa)
I walk down the hallways to find my classroom but I felt a bit worry about Travis's lateness to our schedule classroom. I decided to wait for him outside our classroom and I spot Shinkei, one of Travis's friend standing outside the classroom and thinking of something very deeply.
"Good morning Shinkei." I greeted.
Shinkei flinch after I brought him back to reality and look at him with his usual quiet self before he kneel down with his left knee on the floor. I became confused on his strange action and I felt somewhat relief that there wasn't any student near this hallways to see this misunderstanding.
"Morning Potential one." He greeted.
"Shinkei, please get up from the floor, you going to dirty yourself so please stand up." I reply.
Shinkei nod to my recommendation and got up from the floor as he raise an eye brow as he glance behind me.
"Where's Travis, the other one with potential?" Shinkei ask.
"Potential? You know about our power all ready?" I ask, curious.
"Yeah, I was trained by my father since I was six year old to find and protect those who have the potential to save our world. I am a Guardian, a beacon of hope and shield for those who have potential like you and Travis." Shinkei explained.
"Really? I never knew there was such thing is that? And by shield you mean…" I trail off, thinking.
"Protect you with my life." Shinkei finish my sentence.
I became a bit worry about his life and how he think of his life as nothing of importance.
"Shinkei, please don't throw away your life for my sake. I can't bear to see a friend died in front of me. Why don't we protect each other? Isn't better like that?" I recommend.
"If that what you want, then I will gladly obey your command." Shinkei smile.
"Okay, glad to be working with you and nice to meet you" I smile,
I extend my right hand toward him as he smile at my greeting and he shake my hand as a sing of our growing friendship.
Thou art I…
And I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…
It bring thee salvation one step at a time…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Persona of the Hierophant Arcana…
The familiar voice suddenly spoke in my head and Shinkei notice the time in the clock in the hallway. He quickly jump into the nearest open window as he glance back at me.
"Let's meet again in the Cafeteria with Travis and the other. I will protect you from anything and listen to you and Travis, don't forget." Shinkei explain, with certainly.
He climb upstairs with ease and left the hallways in a different route than any normal student will take.
"What a strange person, is that what the youthful are doing this time of age."
"No but he seem very kind and very protective of others. Even though he ignored his safety and take the harder path..hmmm…" I reply, thinking.
"What's the matter? Is something in your mind?"
"I wonder if Shinkei will be able to have free will of his own, I think I just gave him a reason to obey us rather than thinking on his own." I said.
"I see, in any case, we should go to your class before you are late, correct?"
"Yeah, let's focus on class first." I nod.
Social Link
Travis
Fool - Elaine Warden (Lv.1 Friends)
Magician - ?
Priestess - Kohana Yutaka (Lv. 1 Friends)
Empress - ?
Emperor - ?
Hierophant - ?
Lover - ? ?
Chariot - ?
Justice - ?
Hermit - ?
Fortune - ?
Strength - ?
Hangedman - ?
Death - ?
Temperance - ?
Devil - ?
Tower - ?
Star - ?
Moon - ?
Elaine
Fool - Travis (Lv.1 Friends)
Magician - ?
Priestess - ?
Empress - ?
Emperor - ?
Hierophant - Shinkei Garahasa (Lv. 1 Friends)
Lover - ?
Chariot - ?
Justice - ?
Hermit - ?
Fortune - ?
Strength - ?
Hangedman - ?
Death - ?
Temperance - ?
Devil - ?
Tower - ?
Star - ?
Moon - ?
Status Parameters
Travis
Courage - Lv.3 Brave
Knowledge - Lv. 0 Naive
Diligence - Lv. 0 Callow
Understanding - Lv. 0 Cold-hearted
Expression - Lv. 0 Rough
Elaine
Courage - Lv.0 Coward
Knowledge - Lv. 3 Expert
Diligence - Lv. 0 Callow
Understanding - Lv. 0 Cold-hearted
Expression - Lv. 0 Rough
