He'd been waiting for this. Those two sure took their sweet time.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room." Igor smiled the same smile as always. His bloodshot eyes, bulging almost comically were focused on Yu. The long-nosed proprietor of the Velvet Room chuckled. "My, my. You are indeed a remarkable guest. It is rare for ones World to gain such power."

"What do you mean?" He looked around. The limousine's interior hadn't changed, but the fog outside the windows was gone, letting him see an endless expanse of dark blue, where he saw countless stars shine.

"We have had many a guest throughout the times." Igor began, his voice taking on a melancholic tone. "Not all of them managed to end their journey on such a high note. In fact, it may be more accurate to say that the trials our guests face often cost them much."

...How many guests did the Velvet Room have? What happened to them? "However, those who live to see the times after their journey are sometimes... changed, for lack of a better word. In your case, this change affected the World Arcana you attained. Even I cannot yet see what this change has truly wrought. I shall look forward to helping you find out about this power."

"It's good to have you with me." Yu closed his eyes, honestly grateful. Igor, while he may not look like it, was without a doubt a helpful ally. His advice, cryptic as it may be, had been of great use. And his assistance with Yu's Wild Card power, as well as the Compendium Margaret held onto had been priceless for him.

She took that moment to speak up, professional as always. "As you have noticed, you have come to access new possibilities, associated with the Magus Arcana. It serves as an alternate to the Magician, with practically identical meaning."

"Indeed. And may I say that the bonds you form astound me at times?" Igor chuckled once more, seeing Yu quirk an eyebrow. "Come now. You forged unbreakable bonds with a varied host of individuals, among them even one who governs over power. And now this."

"This? You mean Ise?"

"Not quite." Another chuckle.

"...his Sacred Gear?" Yu frowned. Igor did not normally show this kind of interest in others. He was contend leaving Yu to his own devices and face his trials at his own pace.

"Quite correct. Sacred Gears, tools forged by God and given to humankind. They are items of great power and importance. It is indeed rare for His machinations to come in contact with one of our guests, much less one like this."

"Forged by God..." Those of his Personas that were associated with that religion perked up.

"Indeed. Only those who possess human blood may inherit them. I know not what such a being thought when He wrought this work, but alas, such are the limitations between those withing the collective unconscious, and those outside."

This was a prime chance to find out about one of the biggest questions he was troubled by. "...How much do you know about 'those outside'?"

"We know of the powers they hold. But the people they have become... that, we know nothing about. Once, a long, long time ago, the images engraved upon the Sea of Souls were a most accurate depiction of these entities."

"But something changed. They developed, moved on from who they were. They gained a semblance of something we cannot perceive. I believe only the old ones would know what had allowed this change."

"If you say change, how far does it go?" Yu leaned forward. This answer would be important, one way or the other.

Igor's expression softened. He understood the intent behind Yu's question with ease. "Those who are aligned with powers of darkness have experienced tumultuous changes. Their original leaders have passed away. With the new ones, new ideas and believes came, as they do so often. My knowledge about them is far from complete. How they are today, I cannot say with certainty."

"...I see." So, he would have to find out how much he can trust Rias and her peerage without a hint. Then again, that was how Igor always did it. Give a rough idea, then leave it to him. Only this time, it wasn't by choice.

That was... troubling.

The next thing that happened surprised Yu. Igor frowned, inclining his head and closing his eyes. "It would appear I am needed elsewhere. While this may be impolite, it is a rather pressing matter. I shall leave the rest of this matter in Margaret's hands. Until we meet again, dear guest."

The old man faded away, leaving behind an empty seat. "That was odd."

"Please, do not worry. There have been a number of happenings recently that have taken up quite much of his time."

"Is it something I can help with?" He didn't hesitate in asking the question.

Margaret shook her head, more out of amusement than rejection. "I will not rule out that you may end up confronting this matter. But that is nothing we need to concern ourselves with now. What we should concern ourselves with instead is your World."

"Is something the matter?"

"Quite so. You see, this new power of yours is rather elusive, even for us. The master is not sure what to make of it."

He felt a pulse of power. A lot of power. "Wait."

"Oh?" Margaret quirked an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Yu turned to his left. "What is that?"

"What do you mean?" He didn't look towards her. His eyes were tracking the small, light blue shape outside the window.

That shouldn't be possible. This place existed between dream and reality. Igor himself had told him that only contracted individuals could enter. What did this signify, then?

Margaret's voice held a hint of confusion. "What are you talking about? Out there is the same as it has been before."

It was a lot closer now. Close enough for him to recognize its shape. "You can't see it?"

He heard her stand up and walk to his side. "No. I see nothing. What do you see?"

"A blue butterfly."

It flew in through the window as if it wasn't even there. The small insect moved to Igor's seat, its flight leisurely. Then, from one moment to the next, a young man Yu's age appeared in that place.

He was rather tall, about the same height as the Wild Card. He wore a white coat that reminded Yu of his own winter coat, and below that something that looked like a black dress shirt. His pants were the same color. His hair was black as well, held in a loose ponytail. The smile on his face was a mixture of friendly and enigmatic.

The mask he wore prevented Yu from seeing his eyes. Dark blue, with a few golden lines to decorate it, the butterfly-shaped mask had multiple small slits through which the young man could see.

All three stood silently for a while, until the man started to laugh. He had a rich voice, strong and confident. "So this is how we meet, Narukami Yu."

Margaret tensed up. "Who are you?"

The man let out a small, amused chuckle. "Ah, I suppose you would not know. Igor avoids mentioning me nowadays. For the better, I believe. But I know you, Margaret, just as I know all other beings born from the power of the collective unconscious. You are one who governs over power, yet also one who holds the power of a bond with a Wild Card. I must say, you intrigue me. The denizens of the Velvet Room seldom choose to forge such a connection. I approve wholeheartedly, assistant."

Another chuckle. "But where are my manners? You two do not even know my name, even if I know you so well."

He straightened himself up, then gave a perfect bow. "My name is Philemon. I am one who resides within the collective unconscious, an existence brought into being by the virtue found in the human soul. I am the one who created the Velvet Room, and left it in the hands of my trusted assistant, Igor." The declaration was punctuated by a small gasp from Margaret.

"You are Philemon?" Margaret asked, her voice almost awed. "The master told me very little of you."

"Who is he, Margaret?" Yu looked at her in his peripheral vision. Her stance was less cautious than before, but she looked almost... shaken.

"As he said, this individual is Philemon, the manifestation of the good of humankind."

"The good in humankind." He repeated, looking back at Philemon, who waited patiently. Now that he had something to name it, he understood the sensation he felt ever since he saw that butterfly. There was a sense of fulfillment, of completion. There was an idea of something sublime, something humans have been seeking since they started thinking.

Incredible. He elicited those feelings just by being around.

"Oh my." Philemon's smile widened. "To think you would be able to sense the power behind my presence, even if it is suppressed. You really are a special one."

"So you say." He responded. "And why are you here?"

"I wanted to meet you." The masked being laughed again. "The chances to interact with the contracted ones are so rare, nowadays. Especially interacting in a form that allows communication. All I can do is watch over you, observing your struggles, feeling proud of you."

"Those butterflies..." He remembered them. Those odd blue butterflies only he could see. Their presence as he remembered it felt similar to Philemon.

"Perceptive indeed. As I would expect from one who sees through the fog of deception."

"...Do you mind if I ask a question?"

"Go ahead." He seemed pleased.

"You mentioned contracted ones. I know there are other Wild Cards, but... Why do you help us?"

"Very good. You have seen for yourself the beings that are brought forth by the human psyche. The shadows that live within the hearts of man. You understand the tragedy of those who refuse to accept their weaknesses. And yet you decided to believe in them, and give them the chance to become better. You should understand my position very well."

"...You believe in us, too. That is what you're saying."

"Exactly. I exist because of the good within you all. It is my sole purpose in life to help humankind to become better."

"...Your purpose..."

"But I believe it is time for me to come to the main point of my visit. My time here is short." Philemon raised his hand, a small, luminescent orb appearing within it. "Tell me, do you still have your Orb of Sight?"

In response, Yu mirrored Philemon's motions, calling forth the golden orb. "Is that one similar to this one?"

"Indeed. This, too, is an item forged through your actions. However, this Orb of Remembrance was created through that which you have forgotten. With it, you will be able to remember that which would have stayed unknown to you otherwise. I wish to return this to you, where it should be."

Yu took the second orb in his free hand. He felt as if the world rippled for a moment, then both orbs disappeared. But it didn't make him feel any different.

Except for one thing. A faint memory, a voice.

"Wow, you're strong."

That was...

"It will take some time for your memory to return. I have given you what was yours. Now, allow me to help you, to reward you for your actions."

Philemon reached for his mask, slowly taking it off. Yu froze.

He was practically looking into a mirror. The being before him had his face, down to the calm gray eyes.

"I am you... And you are me. I live on within everyone's hearts, within the choices and believes of every human. You are no exception." He held out the mask. "Take it. Let it be a symbol of the reward I have for you."

Yu stared at the being with his own face for another five seconds, then closed his eyes and sighed, smiling slightly. At this point, he really shouldn't be surprised by this. He accepted the mask, a warm feeling flooding up his arm and enveloping him. It was...

Different. It wasn't anything definite, not something he could just put his finger on and say 'here's what's new', but he felt and noticed things that he hadn't understood before.

Philemon nodded. Clearly, he knew what had happened. "Yes, very good. You hold a great power within yourself. All I did was open your awareness for it. If you like, you can equate my actions to giving you the key to a door."

"... A door I never quite noticed." Yu examined the mask. There was not a shred of power in it. For all intents and purposes, this was just an ordinary mask.

For just a moment, Philemon's expression changed to pleasant surprise. Then it was gone and he smiled again. "Very interesting. I would love to chat with you, but alas, my time here is nearing its end. As is yours. I wish I could stay and explain things to you, but..."

"That's a lie." Yu shook his head. "You want to give me cryptic advice and hints."

"Ahahaha." Philemon laughed, even as his form grew transparent. "Yes, yes. You are the kind of person that should have this power. I can think of no one more worthy."

The being disappeared in a swarm of blue butterflies, leaving Yu and Margaret alone again. Both sighed. "I nailed it." The Fool said.

"What do you mean?" She turned to him. The expression on her face didn't fit her. Margaret was reserved, calm and somewhat flirty, with a love for bad jokes. Her expression shouldn't waver.

Yet here she was, shaken from what she just experienced. Philemon must have been an even greater factor than expected.

"He stayed cryptic until the end." He shook his head. Those older types loved doing that.

Margaret tried a smile. "He did so, I suppose." She returned to her seat. "This was rather unexpected."

"I noticed." He remarked dryly, walking over to Igor's low table. A set of cards had appeared atop it. "But why does it affect you like that?"

"You have no idea of the dimensions of this. Philemon has ceased to interfere with humanity directly, believing that they should make their own path. For him to appear before you like this..."

"Before us." Yu corrected her, while taking his time to lay out the cards.

"Us?"

"Is this room still connected to my destiny?" He had recreated the pattern Igor used the first time he'd been to the Velvet Room. Amazing how well he remembered it.

"I would believe so." In his peripheral vision, he saw her lean over to get a look at the cards.

"Then it wasn't a coincidence that Philemon came here while you and I are here, and Igor is out."

He flipped the first card and found himself frowning. Then he flipped the second one and his frown deepened.

"I suppose you are right." She nodded, then gave a light smile. "My, my. It's rather interesting that Philemon made such a peculiar choice, don't you agree?"

"Yes." Yu took one of the flipped cards. "This one stands for the immediate future, right?"

"In this particular spread, yes." She also frowned. "Rather odd in combination with the other one, is it not?

He looked at the Fool card in his hand, then at the Death card on the desk. The latter stood for what would happen afterward. "I suppose it will keep me on my toes, if nothing else."

The Fool, which stood for infinite possibilities. Death, which stood for a profound change. In this combination, they could mean anything. Possibilities often give rise to change of varying size. There was no way for him to make any real predictions.

Margaret chuckled pleasantly. "I agree. But may I propose we return to the topic at hand?"

"I suppose." Yu gave the cards one last look. They seemed almost foreboding.


Rias suppressed the twitch in her left eye as she looked at the woman sitting in front of her desk. "So, you are in this town on business, this time?"

If Kalawarner was feeling uncomfortable, she didn't show it. "Looks like it. I'm still surprised this got sanctioned by your leaders."

"Oh, you're not the only one." Akeno murmured while smiling sweetly. The tea she served Kalawarner was ignored. "Imagine our surprise when we heard that the very person that tried to kill dear Narukami Yu was sent back to observe him. One simply has to wonder what the Grigori are thinking."

"I've been wondering about that myself." Kalawarner nodded, as if her organization hadn't just been insulted. "Sending me to observe that monster sounds plain stupid. They should have gotten someone stronger. Or less traumatized."

"Oh? Is Narukami-kun really so scary?" Akeno needled further.

"I'd be happier if I never met him again." The fallen angel sighed. "So, what's the official reason I'm here?"

Aside from an obvious show of authority, she meant. Making her go into the heart of the Gremory stronghold, alone, was to show her her place. They had clearly put down the tone of the meeting.

She ignored it, apparently.

"Establishing that everything will go along the regulations agreed on by our respective superiors." Rias knocked on the desk, where the piece of paper was lying.

Evidently, Kalawarner had considered her cleavage an adequate place to keep such an important document. She straightened it out, then kept it in one hand. "Well, it's pretty lax. We're not allowed to come too close to the places on the list, unless we ask for permission. The places in question are all land owned by either your family or the Sitri, including these school buildings. If we find any Stray Devils, we are obligated to inform you, and we have to leave alone all Sacred Gear users in the city. Pretty reasonable, all things considered."

Rias inclined her head. "Quite. In turn, we will leave you to your devices, even if it doesn't directly involve Narukami Yu."

"How generous." Kalawarner quipped.

"I know." Rias played along, giving a smile. "But does Narukami-kun really warrant an entire observation team?"

"What have you seen him do?" The smile she received was rather wicked.

"We know about your first confrontation with him." With a smile of her own, this one more devious, Rias intertwined her fingers under her chin.

"That's downright cozy compared to the nightmares he's been giving me." The fallen angel countered with a lopsided grin.

Rias wished things hadn't become so complicated. For that matter, she wondered why they had. A few days ago, her familiar had told her in detail of what she had witnessed by accident. How her classmate had been confronted by a fallen angel. How he had been wounded, then drove her off. Her familiar hadn't seen what else he did. She had been busy trying to notify her.

She didn't waste any time after that. He was a human of note on her territory, which meant he was her responsibility. Those who hold power are sought after by all kinds of beings. The best way she saw to help him was to take him in. It was what she always did. She made her best friend, who had been cast out by her family, her Queen. She made a little girl, abandoned by her own sister and ostracized by those around her, her Rook. An orphaned boy, used by an institution meant to protect him and his friends, she made her Knight. And a child, thrown out and hated by his own family, was made her Bishop.

The powers they held, their lineages, the Sacred Gears, even their species... Those had been afterthoughts for her.

And when she found a human, threatened by her own foes, her reaction was the exact same. She had tried to dress it in interest. Show him a good opportunity. How arrogant. How naïve. It had come across highhanded. Aggressive. It gave the wrong impression and now things soured to the point that she had to let the very woman who threatened his life stay in town to observe him.

What a disaster.

"Nightmares? Ara, ara. Are you such a sensitive soul?" Akeno, Rias noticed, perked up when their supposed enemy showed fear. "Perhaps you are unsuited towards this assignment."

"Am I ever." The fallen agreed without hesitation, her eyes flickering towards Akeno, acknowledging her for the first time since entering. The look on her face was not a good one. "You know, I had a feeling I heard the name Himejima before. I remembered since then. You're Baraqiel's daughter."

Akeno became utterly still at those words, her expression frozen in a smile that wasn't nearly as sweet anymore. Rias made to interfere, but Kalawarner pressed on.

"I've been wondering. What's it like, being the daughter of such a high-profile person? Baraqiel, who is so well-known for his lightning. Come to think of it," She made a show of cocking her head to one side, the look of interest on her face obviously false. "You're known as the Priestess of Thunder, right?"

"That's enough!" Rias interjected, her voice louder than intended. It pained her to see a member of her peerage, her best friend, attacked so mercilessly.

"Sure." Kalawarner shrugged, unrepentant. "Are we finished here? I want to check up on my team so they don't do something stupid. Don't want Narukami to sic another legendary figure on us. What happened to Raynare was clear enough."

Rias didn't take the bait. "Get out of here." When the fallen was almost at the door, she added. "And if you do something like this again, I'll retaliate most violently."

"If you say so, Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess." Kalawarner left the room.

As soon as she the door was closed, Rias was at her friend's side, a hand on her shoulder. She spoke gently. "Are you alright?"

"Don't worry." Her voice shook so badly, Akeno couldn't have believed it herself. "It's nothing."

"Akeno." A faint trace of reprimand in her voice, Rias made eye contact. "I know you better than that. It's just the two of us here. No need to keep up the act."

Her friend averted her eyes. "I'm sorry, Rias. But don't worry, I'll be alright."

Rias sighed. "Please, Akeno. Don't beat yourself up over this. She just wanted to get a rise out of you."

"I guess she got what she wanted." Shock passed, and it let room for quickly rising anger. As a consequence, her mask of elegance slipped. "It's a good thing she went away already. I don't think I could control myself now."

The heiress thought it prudent to change the topic. Her friend was too high-strung for anything concerning her family. "What do you think they'll do?"

Akeno's face told her that she understood the intent behind the question. "If they are as scared as she claimed, I suppose even those fallen angels may control themselves."

"I had the same impression. But still. Why would my brother agree to this?" That was the biggest mystery.

Her brother, the current Lucifer was not one to lightly give his consent to the projects of his enemies, truce or no truce.

"Indeed." Puzzlement suited Akeno better than sadness. "Sirzechs-sama is too protective of you to put you in undue danger."

"Yes. Which begs the question why he would allow such an operation." Rias once more looked down on the paper on her desk. Innocuous as it might have looked, it was the proof that all four Maou had agreed to this operation from the fallen angels.

It was the cause of a quite severe headache.


Sona Sitri, sitting behind her desk in the Student Council's room, massaged her temples. Of all the things...

"Would you care to repeat that, Kiba-san?"

The Knight of her friend and rival gave her a confused look, sitting in front of her. Rias had sent him to her on an errand, and then he mentioned this completely unexpected chain of events. "Of course, Kaichou. The fallen angels that had appeared in the city a few days ago are back, with official permission from all four Maou."

"And why wasn't I told about this?" She clamped down on the feeling of annoyance. There would be no point to getting snappish.

"You weren't?" Yuuto blinked at her. "Buchou mentioned your sister would send you the information."

"Is that so?" The Student Council President frowned. "How strange."

"I'm surprised." He commented. "From what I've been told, Leviathan-sama would take every chance she can get to contact you."

"Unfortunately, you have been informed correctly." She started going through the drawers of her desk. It was much more likely that Sona, a person who valued order immensely, had overlooked something, than it was for her sister, who valued Sona immensely, to not take a chance to notify her.

"Unfortunately? What makes you say that, if you don't mind me asking?" She took a moment to look up at him, seeing a frown. Then she realized that her words had come colder than intended.

"Don't get me wrong, Kiba-san. I love my sister, just as Rias loves her brother. But some of her eccentricities simply grate my nerves to dust."

"So it's true? The things I've heard?" The look on Yuuto's face, a look of faint disbelieve, was to be expected.

"I am afraid so, yes." She finished checking her desk and walked over to one of the others. A small pack of papers throned on it, and she checked them. The lowest one looked conspicuously different from the others...

"Here it is. It would appear Saji made a mistake."

"I see." There was something in his voice that made her frown, but she couldn't quite place it.

She sighed softly. "I suppose it has been a lot of stress for him lately, reincarnating, joining the Student Council, then trying to live up to it all. I'll let it pass, this once."

"Oh?" Sona couldn't quite suppress the twinge of amusement she felt. That reaction was just so typical. So many people assumed that she was completely merciless, and every failing would be punished severely. As if she had no heart.

But she let it go. This was more important, and the content of the paper washed away the amusement anyway. "Those terms are rather... forthcoming, from our side."

"Yes, Buchou was confused by that, too."

"Ah, this here makes sense." She zeroed in on one of the concessions the fallen angels made. "Whatever discoveries they make are shared with us. So Narukami-san's powers are elusive enough to warrant even this..."

She could immediately think of three possible reasons for that. It could be a highly coveted power, or an especially rare one. Perhaps, perhaps it was something new, even. Sona was not so arrogant to believe that everything about the world was known to them. Remote as the chance was that this one individual had a completely new power, she would not rule it out.

Especially after what Rias told her. Persona, he called it. She had never heard about it. And her preliminary information gathering had yielded nothing yet. It was no guarantee, but... The possibility existed.

"It's too bad." She said, already seated at her desk again.

"What is?"

"All the work I put into gathering information on Narukami Yu, and all I found proved that getting him into anyone's peerage would require even harder work than expected. Now the official presence of the fallen angels makes it even worse."

"I see." Yuuto looked troubled. "And what did you find out?"

She held up a hand, then opened the corresponding drawer, taking out a rather large folder. "As Rias already found out, he has traveled from school to school, year for year. At every school, he soon becomes one of the best in class. The same goes for whatever club he joins. And he's always known as a polite and friendly, if somewhat distant individual. But there isn't much knowledge about his private life. Until last year, that is."

She opened the folder. "In spring last year, there have been two murders in the town of Inaba. A TV announcer, Yamano Mayumi, embroiled in a scandal of sorts, was found dead, hanging from a television antenna. The cause of death is still unknown. A few days later, the girl that found her body, Konishi Saki, was found in nearly the same situation. She was a third-year student at the same school Narukami-san went to, Yasogami High."

"It sounds like a tragedy, but how does it connect to him?"

"Over the course of the next few months, several students of that very school disappeared for a while. When they show up again, they start spending time with him and each other. It's gotten to the point that they are considered a close-knit group. And it was them who rooted out the culprit, a police officer who apparently made untoward advances towards both dead women. There has also been talk that they were the ones finding a copycat killer in summer, who killed a teacher from Yasogami High out of a desire for attention."

"Killing for attention... That's just sick. And that officer, too."

"Indeed. And this group of high school students rooted them both out, with Narukami-san at the helm. Without a doubt, he is the group's leader." She opened another page. It both reassured and troubled her. He would have an easy time dealing with pressure, but at the same time, his own experiences as a leader may play a factor in his unreceptive stance concerning peerage, where he would be subordinate to another.

"How did they find out?"

"That, I do not know. But other than that, Narukami-san has also held multiple part-time jobs, as well as being a member of two clubs. Not to mention that he has been seen around town, helping various people. Some of the items he found for them... I cannot fathom where he would get them."

"You make it sound so scary, Kaichou." Yuuto commented. "But I'm impressed. He really seems to be a special person. It's almost ridiculous, to be honest."

"Yes." Sona pursed her lips. "Convincing him of joining my peerage will be quite a challenge."

"And that's a... good thing?" Yuuto ventured. He was watching her closely.

"Quite. I enjoy a good challenge." Her smile was imperceptible.

"By the way," He sounded only partially interested then. "Where is everybody?"

"The Student Council is hard at work." She looked down at one of the photos in the folder. It showed Yu and an old man beside a truly enormous fish. Even at his hobbies he excelled. Yuuto was right. It was ridiculous.

"I see." He let it drop. Sona felt another twinge of amusement at his expression. How very interesting.

"But still." She gazed out the window. "I would like to talk with Narukami-san. To verify what I found out. And I even need to speak with him on another matter."

"You better not try to hide your intentions though, Kaichou." He also looked out of the window. "He can sense the presence of devils. If you try to fool him, he might just find out."

"It spares me the need to do so, then." Sona gave her attention to the door when there was knocking, accompanied by her Queen's voice. "Ah, Tsubaki. Good timing. We have some work to do."

The girl blinked as she opened the door. "As you say, Kaichou. Ah, Kiba-kun."

"Hello, Shinra-san." They smiled at each other. Tsubaki was not one to smile lightly.

Yes. Interesting indeed.


The wheels of fate once more turn.

Azazel looked over the piece of paper in his hand. "Persona, huh? Now that's an intriguing name." He laughed.

Whether you dare try to control them...

"Is everything ready?" A male voice, arrogant and filled with spite, yet young and not touched by true experience.

"Yes." Another voice, female, broken by despair and fear. "We will be there a day after her."

"Good."

Or are churned between them.

A girl, a young nun, with golden hair and green eyes boarded a plane headed for Japan. Troubled though she may have been, she still spared a smile, kind from the bottom of her heart, for the people seeing her off.

Even if you try to embrace them...

"Are you sure about this?" He was confident. Assured of himself. And convinced of his beliefs.

"Quite." His friend said, calm and calculating.

"Keep an eye on the situation. It looks promising." He commanded.

"I expected you to say that."

They will shake off your grip.

"Whew." She stretched her arms. "This went faster than I thought. Now, I just need to find a way back." Her eyes darted around. "Might take some time. Damn. I was looking forward to it. StupidriftofdimensionsIhatethis."

No matter what, it will all go on, further and further.

The woman smiled. Her voice came out in a hiss. "Yes, yes. This is what I have been seeking."

"We have an agreement, then?" The man's normally sneering face changed into a smirk.

"We do." Alluring as her smile might have been, it did not hide the danger this woman entailed.

Such is the way of the world.

The being that was well and truly evil crowed. It's form rippled from effects few would have been able to understand.

My time will come once more. I will return. You cannot banish me, for I too am Truth. I am the truth of human nature. It's time you remembered.

From its body, something lifted off to fly.

It was a tiny.

Tiny.

Ever so innocuous black butterfly.

You miscalculated. You gave me an opening. Now we shall see once more what happens, old "friend". And I shall drag your new favored down into an abyss of despair so deep and whole, he will curse your name for ever approaching him.

And then it laughed. There was no sound more wrong than this.


King: Finally! I managed to get this chapter out.

Philemon: Finally indeed. Greetings, dear readers. I, Philemon, welcome you to this 'Fake World'.

King: Is there a reason to get all formal?

Philemon: Is a reason needed?

King: Maybe. On to business.

Philemon: This chapter raised the stakes, did it not?

King: Yeah, well. In exchange, it only really set up the events that are gonna roll down in the future. I hope I can raise the pace in the next chapter. Your appearance for one will have massive consequences down the line.

Philemon: Not to sound arrogant, but that is to be expected. One such as I does not appear without a, if you allow the pun, butterfly effect occurring. We shall see what happens from now on.

King: I hope I can make it interesting.

Philemon: There are more of those who express dissatisfaction with Rias.

King: The saying's trite but true. Can't please everybody. There's not a thing in the world that absolutely everybody will like. Why would my story be any different?

Philemon: What a mature thing to say.

King: Are you being sarcastic? It feels like you're being sarcastic.

Philemon: Perish the thought.

King: Uhuh. Oh, before I forget. Thanks to Apex85 for the advice concerning what Sona would have been able to dug up.

Philemon: Individuals that contact you out of an interest in your work are quite wonderful, are they not?

King: You're laying it on a bit thick there. More than a bit.

Philemon: I am...

King: More self-absorbed than I'd expect from the 'good in humankind'.

Philemon: There is some bite in you, after all.

King: I won't just take those kicks lying down.

Philemon: Anything else you'd like to say?

King: Well... Oh, right. If anyone thinks Kalawarner's behavior wasn't professional - what with dismissing the hospitaliy and taunting Akeno - you'd be right. She doesn't want to do a good job. She wants to get away from Yu, for her own safety.

Philemon: It's not an entirely rational line of thinking. She should know better, if you consider the chances he had to kill her.

King: She's not being rational, there. It's kind of the point. So, hope you liked it!

Philemon: And please, the King of the fake World truly enjoys knowing your thoughts. Review.

King: I think that point has become clear, by now.