Chapter 10: The Prophet

Since they didn't have a goal other than to stay safe, Aleph led Hiroko on an exploration of the underground. It was very different from Millennium and not just in the light levels. Ruins were everywhere, alongside buildings that were new or kept in good repair. Of demons and humans, they found cruel ones, good ones, troubled ones, lost ones… they helped who they could. The humans and demons didn't seem very different from each other here.

One of the better kept buildings they found was a shrine; there wasn't a scratch in the various structures and the paint seemed recently done, still clean and bright. There was a song to it that sounded like another song. Hearing that, Aleph brought out his severed head friend. "Here?"

"This place..." the head murmured, waking up again.

Hiroko stared at him, much like Zayin had. "Err… Aleph? Why do you have a severed head in your inventory?"

"Friend," Aleph said, although that explanation didn't work with her either.

"The kami," the head said. "A kami… is cursed here. Please… free him. They… might lead the way… to the sun..."

"Okay," Aleph said, sending the head away. Mom still seemed uncomfortable, so he pointed to the shrine. "Go. Help."

"I guess there's some kind of ghost with the head?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, then pointed to the shrine. "Help."

That seemed to work, as she relaxed. "I see. It is strange, but it is good to help others. I guess even if it's a severed head you're helping."

Inside the shrine, they found a strange demon that had been turned to stone. Some demons were helpful; there had been one the other day who shared some tasty fruits with them for no reason other than generous hospitality. And the head said this one was a kami who could lead to the sun, so Aleph felt it was good to destone the kami and let him go free. The kami said that others of his kind were cursed in other shrines; it made a good goal to work towards, so he and his mother set out to free the kami.

Eventually, they came upon a town of mutants, humans who had been disfigured from the various catastrophes. There were even some people who said they were half-demons, born that way. While the people had been suspicious of them at first, taking care of some dangerous Dark demons around town had earned Aleph and Hiroko their trust. So when one of the half-demons came over to warn them that Templars from the Center were out looking for them, they knew they should stay within the town until the Templars moved on.

They went into the church in town. It wasn't Mesian like all of the churches in Millennium above. But, neither was it Gaean like most of the temples that acted as churches down here. It bore none of their symbols, but there were other visitors and someone Aleph recalled meeting before. The half-demon that had warned them went to tell the priest. "Yuji, the Templars are out; we need to keep our visitors safe."

"I see. Leave it to me then." He then turned to the people gathered. "We will have a small service if you do not mind. I will lead with a song, number 12 in the hymnals." Once they had the books opened, Yuji started off the song. Aleph could only hum along, but it was nice to make music with everyone. Afterward, the priest gave a small talk on the spot about the meaning and significance of that particular song.

While this was going on, the half-demon kept an eye out. He nudged them to drop down between the pews at one point. Some Templars walked by after they had; they looked into the room, but decided not to barge in while a service was going on. Aleph noted that Yuji even used a particular phrase at that point, something the bishop would say. That led the Templars to moving on and not rechecking the small church.

After the impromptu service, Aleph felt like something should be said. He went over to the priest and bowed. "Thank you."

"It's no trouble," the old priest said. "You've done good work for us." Then he smiled, some nostalgic look in his eyes. "The more I've thought about you, the more I think that you remind me of him. I have been to many places in service to the God I believe in, so I've met many people. Yet none have seemed as close as you to Kazuya, not even his own children."

"Kazuya?" Hiroko asked.

Aleph smiled. "Good." He put his hand on his chest. "Messiah."

Strangely, Yuji looked worried. "I heard that there was a fuss in Millennium about a new Messiah being named, even though it was strangely done through a battle. And very public too; the initial calling should be a private thing between the potential Messiah and the will of the universe, if not done before he even enters the world. The declaration that Kazuya was a Messiah was done through rumors after the fact, to explain what he'd done. He kept refusing such acknowledgment, wisely so because he never performed an actual miracle himself."

"How do you know about all that?" Hiroko asked.

"Ah, well I was a friend of his," he said, looking to her. "My name is Yuji. Back then, they called me a Messiah too, of the Mesian church. But my case was definitely manufactured by angels seeking to control humanity. I have since parted from the Mesians; they looked badly upon me for what I preach, so I ended up coming down here to find a more welcoming audience. I don't care if they wish to ignore me. But then, it frustrates me more that they're teaching a falsified version of what he did."

"What…?" Aleph bit his lip, trying to find a way. "Kazuya?"

"Aleph here has some difficulty speaking," Hiroko told Yuji. "But he does admire Kazuya."

"I know. We met at a statue of Kazuya under unusual circumstances." He gestured to a door in back of the chapel. "Why don't you come back to my residence for a little while? I don't mind telling you about what went on back then for us, and other things."

"Yes," Aleph said eagerly.

Yuji even had a picture of long ago, of himself, Kazuya, Yuka, and Takeshi. "I'm lucky to have this photo at all because it's the only one of all of us," he said. "The forces struggling for control over the world splintered us apart often, and Takeshi here, he changed greatly at one time and eventually died in the efforts to stop the demons and angels. Those beings, both sides, they wanted full authority over the remaining humans in Japan during the Great Flood. This photo nearly didn't happen because Kazuya was going through a lot at the time. Being central to this kind of conflict makes those near you a target and leads to many hardships. Even my time as a false Messiah was one of the toughest times I ever lived through."

"It's certainly been rough on Aleph, since we had to come hide down here." Hiroko said. "Although, he came down to hide for me, I think."

"Mom," he said, smiling at trying to let her know that he didn't mind. She was safe, and she was getting better from her time in the Factory.

"Have you accepted being the Messiah fully?" Yuji asked. "Or are you mostly protecting her?"

"Maybe," Aleph said, then shrugged.

"I think part of the problem is that we don't have a clear goal," Hiroko said.

"Lucifer," Aleph said, knowing that was a part of it. Although, he wasn't sure how to accomplish finding and defeating Lucifer.

"It would make sense for them to set you to destroying Lucifer," Yuji said, then put his hands together. "I'm very sorry about that. I knew that he was within the Cathedral during the flood. Even though I cast off the title of Messiah, I could still sense that he was there, a dark presence lurking while we were waiting on the waters to receded. But even with that sense, none of us could track him down. He escaped us and then has kept so quiet that I have no idea what his works in these days would be."

"I wonder if he got involved with what's going on in the Center," Hiroko said. "That's been so twisted and insane while presenting itself as holy and good for the people."

"No," Aleph said. It didn't sound right.

"Although, sometimes I wonder if you should really be doing work as the Messiah," she said, looking to him. "You, you really shouldn't be like this."

"What is going on with the Center these days?" Yuji asked.

"Well..." Hiroko said, looking unsure.

"Okay," Aleph said, putting his hand to his mouth to let her know it was okay to speak of it. Yuji was being honest with them, and he was a friend of Kazuya. He might be able to help them now.

"All right," she said. "This may be unbelievable, but all of this is the truth." She then told him about the Messiah project, how Mekata and Hanada had tried to get Aleph out of it, and how Aleph ended up back with the Center anyhow. "Zayin said he was going to inform the people and fight the Center, but I could hardly think after the Factory's brainwashing. Aleph has spent this time traveling through the underworld with me. Sometimes, we've been searching old shrines, even bringing odd spirits out of them. I don't know if he's looking for anything in particular or if he's just looking after me."

"That is very twisted, not in line with the God I believe in," Yuji said, having been thinking deeply all while listening. "They are controlling humanity and using extreme measures to be rid of undesirables. However, I think I have an idea of what's going on with that. And it is likely not to be Lucifer."

"Then the elders?" Hiroko asked. "The Messiah project was their idea."

He nodded. "When I was their Messiah, the angels asked me to call upon the God of the Mesia church. I disowned that God from my faith, but this feels like what I experienced of that God. He demands obedience but shows no love. He gave me difficult orders without reassuring my lack of confidence. This sounds very much like the work of that false God. But while he is false, he is still immensely powerful and influential, having the allegiance of the four seraphs."

"Fight?" Aleph asked.

"The false God?" Yuji said, surprised. "Well, I couldn't recommend that; it'd be as audacious as going directly after Lucifer. I was thinking more of doing something about his most powerful followers in this world, the elders of the Center. They could be replaced with more moderate leaders. Besides, you need to be certain of yourself and your ideals in taking on a task that monumental. And, well you aren't even a year old yet. It doesn't seem right to send you off to do that, even just stopping the elders."

"Mmm..." he wanted to. But at the same time… he looked at Hiroko. He wanted her to be safe and happy.

"Right, I keep thinking that myself," Hiroko said, then sighed and shook her head. "I mean, he should still be a baby that I'm taking care of. I was looking forward to it. But now, well I know he's strong and talented, and even intelligent. And he was given the power to create miracles. He should be capable, but I don't like this."

"Mom," Aleph put a hand on his chest. "Messiah. Yes."

"What about Hiroko?" Yuji asked. "What will you do for her?"

He looked over at her. "Come? Please?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "Safe, I… Mom. Safe."

"You think you can protect me if I come with you?" she said, clasping his hand. "I am a trained temple knight, so I can fight regular demons. But with much more powerful ones involved, I don't know. I'm more worried about you, if you really realize what you're getting in to."

"Why don't you two stay here for a little while and try to figure that out?" Yuji suggested, getting up from his seat. "I'll go check on what the Templars are doing in the meantime, and I have something I need to do for the elder of this town."

"Thank you, Yuji, I'll try to get him to talk this out," Hiroko said. Once the priest had left them alone, she gripped his hand in both of hers. "Oh, Aleph, I… I want to help you do what you believe in; I want that as your friend, and your mother. But, you were just born this year. I remember that clearly, so it's hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that you're able to do all this."

"Bad, mmm," he clasped her hand tight. "Aleph fight… demons..." he put his other hand on his chest. "Know. Yes. People. Safe. Yes. Song," he tapped his head. "Messiah. Yes. Kazuya."

She listened, trying to work it out. "You feel like you're meant to fight demons and protect people? Well, that's what you were made for. The Center meant to have you doing that under their control. But, you want to be like Kazuya and fight like you do because it's the right thing to do?"

"Yes. Please?" He looked her in the eyes, watching carefully.

She smiled a little. "But you're still looking to me for assurance; it really is a small miracle that you recognize me as your mother. I didn't get long to hold you as a baby before they took you away from me. I remember, my father was very upset about the whole thing, and we even planned out how to leave with one of the more eccentric scientists in the group. We didn't like Hanada that much, but he was willing to get us out. And then you went clear to the Abyss just to free me."

"Yes," he said, smiling back.

"If you're going to be the Messiah, you need to think about more than just me," Hiroko said. "You need to think of everyone. A hero like a messiah protects the people of the world, all of them, which is why the greater powers pay so much attention when one appears. If you're willing to take that to heart, then I'm fine with accompanying you and helping you succeed where you're weak. And, I do want to stay near you, even if you never had a childhood for me to experience with you. Can you take responsibility for everyone?"

Everyone… the people in Millennium in all five districts who'd called him Messiah but now might deny him, the people here in the underground who'd taken them in kindly… maybe even the people of the Abyss? They were demons, but they had been kind and helpful in the brief time that he and Zayin had been there. The demons of the town in the Abyss simply wanted Siren to come back home to them.

"Yes," Aleph said.

"That's really not something someone less than a year old should commit to," Hiroko said. "But, I can tell you're serious about it. Aleph… all right. We can go back to the Center and see about taking the Elders out of power. I don't know how we'll manage it; we should probably get in contact with Zayin once this area clears of Templars."

"Mom," he patted her. "Good. Smile?"

She did smile at that. "Aleph, you're a sweet boy. I wonder what it would have been like, watching you grow up as you should have."

After some more discussion, Yuji came back with one of the demons who lived here. "Excuse me, but I was discussing some of your situation with the town elder, Hiruku here," Yuji said. "He's a kami, an old god of the earth that once was believed in throughout Japan. This is Hiroko, and this is the young Messiah, Aleph."

"He is like you state him to be, Yuji," Hiruku said. "I hope you don't mind me asking for a favor of you, but you are fighting powerful forces of gods foreign to this land. If you can help me out, well, all of us out, you'll earn the favor of the gods of Japan, and we'll help you all that we can in protecting the people of Japan. Will you at least hear me out?"

"Yes," Aleph said.

Hiruku bowed to him. "Thank you. You see, one of our number, Lord Masakado as the guardian deity of Tokyo, the city that once stood here and is now in ruin underneath Millennium… he helped to train Kazuya for his part in saving humanity from the schemes of these same gods and demons that threaten us once again. As a result, things got messy. The God of the angels, the one they tried to get Yuji to call on during the Great Flood, tempted us kami of the earth with restoring us as the more powerful gods over the amatsu, the gods of the heavens that defeated us for the right to reign over Japan long ago. But, they allowed us to keep power even though we were lesser than them.

"That is better than what the Hebrew God and angels did to us. We tricked the amatsu into becoming sealed into a cave. For our reward, the angels cursed us in various ways, leaving us entrapped in the underground and unable to do anything. They even tore apart Lord Masakado so that Tokyo had no chance of rising again. But, we managed some resistance against them and now you've freed them all. Yes, I knew about you before you came here, as they told me about you.

"My fellow kami have managed to retrieve most of the parts of Masakado's body. What I ask you to do is to use your rights as a summoner to fuse Masakado's body back together. Once he is a whole being again, he can destroy the seal on the cave so we can rescue the amatsu. We will all be indebted to you then, and I'm sure they will willingly agree to assist you if you end up facing the angelic forces, or even the forces of Lord Lucifer as he too is trying to steal this land from our rightful ownership."

"Would you do this for them?" Yuji asked.

It didn't take much to decide on it. "Yes," Aleph said.

"Great, thank you," Hiruku said, giving another bow. "There's just one problem: we're missing his head, which is definitely something we can't do this without."

"That won't be a problem," Yuji said. "Aleph already has Masakado's head."

"Yes," Aleph said, calling out the head he'd gotten from King Frost. Despite being called out on a few occasions, he still had bits of frost on his skin. The music coming off him now was soft. "Sleep."

Hiruku widened his eyes in amazement. "Oh, yes, that is his head! Wonderful! Come, I'll show you where we've stored the rest of him.

With the terminal's item storage, Aleph was able safely transport the parts to the Heretic Mansion. Even as odd as this place was to begin with, this request was even odder than usual. Aleph got straight to the point, not able to do much more than that. "Masakado?" he asked.

"Wh-what about Lord Masakado?" the mansion's owner asked, startled.

"We've retrieved the parts of his body from the kami and would like to fuse him back together," Hiroko said. "Can you do that?"

He was bright with eagerness immediately. "Of course I can! Wow, this is a great honor to do something so significant! Okay, are you sure you have every piece of him? Set them within the circles, and make sure they stay inside the circles. I'll work it out from there."

"We're sure we have everything," Hiroko said, not particularly eager to check; the kami said they hadn't missed anything. Aleph called the parts back out, setting them up carefully so that they were placed as requested. They were papery and dry, needing to be handled with that care.

The mansion owner took more time with his work, making sure all the calculations were correct before calling the tubes down to fuse the body together. It went much like other fusions, dissolving the parts and bringing them together in their old form rather than a new one. But what they got… didn't seem quite right. There was a strong looking man there, but his skin was deep blue in color and his eyes were vacant. Even his hair was dry and scraggly, not as one would expect out of a deity.

"Magnificent," the mansion owner said, still excited. "Well, for the most part. His body came together just fine, I can tell you that there's no problem with that. But, I couldn't fuse his soul back into him like this, so he came back as an undead. But, not to worry! I'm sure his soul must still be around Tokyo somewhere. Lead his body back to it and one of the kami should be capable of reuniting them."

"I suppose we should go back and talk to Hiruku," Hiroko said, since he was the most certain one they could find.

"Yes," Aleph said, then waved Masakado's body over. "Come." It silently moved forward and followed after them back out.

Thankfully, Hiruku was in Yuji's church when they got back. "Oh, wonderful, you've got his body back together," the small god said, coming over immediately.

"Yes, but we didn't have his soul to complete him," Hiroko asked. "Do you now where that is?"

"Yes," Hiruku said, reaching up towards Aleph. A brilliant white soul appeared in the air, one that had golden flickers coming off it. "Once I saw his head, I knew his soul was traveling with you too. Masakado, please awaken to your true self."

When Hiruku let the soul go, it wobbled for a moment, then went directly into the body it belonged to. The glow surrounded his whole body as it returned to the colors and fullness of life. In less than a minute, a much more impressive man who could easily be recognized as a deity was there with them, wearing clothes of white and gold like his soul. He brought his hand up and flexed the fingers at first, perhaps seeing if it was all proper and in place.

"Welcome back, Lord Masakado," Hiruku said, happy enough that he had tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry about all of this. I didn't think it would go so badly."

"Never mind that now, we need to free the amatsu," Masakado said. "I feel stiff from the resurrection process, but I should have the power to break the seal still. Aleph, Hiroko, will you accompany us into the sealed cave?"

"Yes," Aleph said.

"Of course, can't leave a task unfinished," Hiroko said.

Within the unaffiliated church, there was a prayer room that only Yuji entered. Candles lit the bare room; not even a book was kept here. In the silence here, his visions spread across a great deal of time and space. He'd been waiting a long time for the true Messiah to appear. He'd even come down below Millennium when it was clear that the Mesia church was willing to silence any who were inconvenient to them. Anyone, even Kazuya when he used his renown and authority to question the proposed governance of Millenium. Supposedly, he and Yuka had died in an accidental building collapse. Yuji knew that they had been killed before the building fell, but few people believed him since he'd not witnessed that in person.

But this Messiah who'd appeared…

Masakado was able to break the seal on the cave where the amatsu were imprisoned. But within that cave, several more seals layered upon each other to keep the gods from leaving their small rope-bound areas. Even ordinary humans would be stopped by feelings of uneasiness and fear. Aleph paused at the entrance, sensing this. Then he began humming as he walked inside.

That was no ordinary hum. It filled his soul with light, divine power being drawn through him. Unseen by Hiroko, the hum caused the magic within the cave to vibrate. The seals melted before Aleph's power. It was draining him a great deal, which would leave him tired at the end of this. Having dealt with miracles before, Yuji knew that was unusual. Something was trying to restrain that power.

Gently following the line so as not to draw attention to himself, Yuji found an aloof cold presence that was familiar to him. That presence had tried to grant him miracles too, but withdrew that power when he turned away. That one had done the same for Aleph; he was the one ultimately responsible for his creation and public calling to become the Messiah. However, he was now greatly displeased by Aleph's choices. He was trying to withdraw his miracles. But Aleph was fighting to keep them unconsciously. He was succeeding today, unlike when…

Time shifted for Yuji and he saw Aleph in the Coliseum, a dying woman in his arms. The power of miracles had come unbidden moments before to defeat his rival. However, Aleph's creator had stopped that power completely to prevent the woman from being revived. She was a dear friend to Aleph, someone he relied on.

But not enough. Fragments of information revealed themselves to Yuji. The battle was part of a play, the people there unwitting actors. In the roles they were assigned, they were the hero, the hero's nemesis, and the hero's beloved. The beloved loved Aleph entirely, shallow but it was all Beth had to her existence. But Aleph… many parts of his mind had matured improperly. It might take years for his body to sort things out to a normal adult level. He loved as a child did and it would be some time before he could love as an adult did. If they'd been given a normal childhood for development, perhaps he could have properly fulfilled his role.

Aleph's creator was impatient and had not given that time. Thus, Beth was allowed to die not because she couldn't fulfill her role, but because Aleph couldn't fulfill his. And that wasn't even his fault. Now Aleph was clasping onto that power of miracles tightly, using it to do something that his creator was entirely against. A kind hero who was learning to accept demons and helping those who could not help themselves… a false god who was impatient, jealous, and vengeful.

"A mind as pure as freshly fallen snow," Yuji murmured, his visions slipping back to Aleph freeing the amatsu. "The lion shall lay down with the lamb and a child shall lead them. I thought those phrases beautifully poetic, describing someone who would be an inspiration to be good and loving. He is good and loving, and yet… it's horrifying to see it in truth. He is more skilled in battle than Kazuya ever was; his miracles come easier and can affect so much more than mine did. He can truly change the world. Yet, he is so new to the world."

His vision shifted to see through that mind. The world was wondrous, with beautiful things that other people seemed to look right by. As so much was still new, little was understood about how this connected to that, or why things were made in certain ways. The world could be frightening too, as demons could appear anywhere and things happened for reasons out of his grasp. Aleph wanted to know more. But people kept telling him to do things and he wasn't allowed to stay anywhere for long enough to figure things out. The mysteries of one place faded as a new place presented dozens more.

A few things stuck to his mind as important. Including the first thing he could remember well, of a time before he knew words and so no words could be applied to it. A feeling of safety and love, warm arms of a familiar scent and a face he would never forget. When the world was being frightening or too stressful to figure out, he sought to return to that. As long as he had his mother nearby, he felt like he could take on the world and figure it out.

"But your pursuit of your mother is what caused the false god to become displeased, that you'd ignore his authority to return to her. If you manage to keep the power you were granted, the angels and demons will end up fighting to gain your loyalty." He bowed his head. "God, can we save this forsaken child? Is it right to ask so much of him? They are counting on Aleph to make decisions he won't truly understand."

The visions that returned to him were nightmarish.

Yuji shivered. "God? What has gone so wrong with the world?"

The amatsu gods were drained of energy and power for being under the seals for many years. Even so, when the sun goddess Amaterasu came out with Aleph and Hiroko, her light cut through the darkness of the underground. Hiruku bowed on seeing her. "Lady Amaterasu… I apologize for what I have done to us all. It was foolish of me to not realize it was all a trap to get us all out of power."

She smiled at him kindly even though she looked tired. "It's okay, Hiruku; all of us should have been more careful. And you did all you could to get us freed like this."

Another of the amatsu, Fututoma, came to her side. "We should retreat for now and rest, make plans for how we can take back our home."

"Right," Amaterasu said with a nod. "But first, you two heroes mean to confront Lucifer and the god who trapped us? I wish we could help you more directly; maybe if you have trouble and we have the time to recover. For now, though, all I can do is grant you this key." She made a white stone column appear in her hands. About a foot tall, it had a golden sun symbol on the center and ends of it. "This is the Sun Pillar; it is needed to gain entrance to the Abyss where Lucifer dwells. If you can make the journey across the Abyss, you will surely be strong enough to succeed in all your goals."

"Thank you," Aleph said, accepting the pillar. But who would know how to open that entrance? It'd take someone really smart, so maybe Gimmel or Zayin?

"How would we use the pillar to get to the Abyss?" Hiroko asked.

"You should head to the town where the Yousei dwell when you're ready," Hiruku told them. "A human man has been working towards opening a portal near there. If you show him that pillar, he should cooperate with you to complete it."

"It's the only Sun Pillar within the world right now," Amaterasu said, some sadness to her. It was enough to make the light she gave off seem clouded. "I'd kept it to prevent an easy passage between this world and the Abyss, as it would have done irreparable damage to this world I love. But, others have found ways around it and the world is in ruins anyhow."

"Don't worry," Masakado said. "As long as good humans are around, the world can still be saved and restored. I'm sure of that."

"Of course, but I would like to do more to help," she said.

"Okay," Aleph said, smiling and trying to reassure her. He even patted her shoulder.

She smiled back. "Thank you, Aleph. Perhaps you can give us a good start."

"I'd like to be certain of that," Masakado said, then brought out a large sheathed sword to offer. "And to that end, I would like you to use my katana, Aleph, for the sake of humanity. Your swordsmanship is masterful and you should have a weapon to match it. I last offered my sword to Kazuya so that he could be a living guardian of Tokyo. The city has been crushed under Millennium, but it still survives. And with this in your possession, I accept you as the current living guardian of Tokyo."

He could use the sword that Kazuya had used? Aleph smiled, feeling greatly honored and excited for that. He'd have to protect everyone with it as a guardian and a Messiah, just as Mom had said. "Good. Thank you."

"We'll be going then," Fututoma said, shifting the mirror he held. "From what I see, Aleph and Hiroko, you should return to the prophet Yuji soon."

"The prophet?" Hiroko asked in surprise. "He spoke with us and introduced us to Hiruku, but he said nothing like that."

Hiruku nodded. "He is a true prophet, one who has been denied by many who could be ruined by the truths he has seen. Back during the Great Flood, he was promised that he would confirm the true Messiah one day. He's been in deep prayer for many days recently; he told me it was in preparation for that."

"He did accept our story without hesitation," Hiroko said, looking at Aleph. She was worrying again. "That may be why he told us to discuss it and be sure of what we wanted."

"Yes," Aleph said, sure of it himself.

After saying goodbye to the amatsu, he and Hiroko headed back into town to speak with Yuji. One of the residents said that he'd gone into his prayer room and could be in there for hours at a time. But he was in the chapel when the came by, sitting in one of the pews and reading. Something had changed about the tune around him; it was slower and somber.

"Welcome back," Yuji said, smiling at them even though it didn't look right with the shift. "Would you like to rest in the guest room here? It's not much, but you seem tired Aleph."

"Yes," he said. There had been an odd sound to the cave that he had to counter with his hum. The power hadn't wanted to start, but Aleph made it happen. "Thank you."

"Hiruku said you were a prophet and that we should come talk to you," Hiroko said.

Yuji nodded. "Yes, I've actually been waiting for you both, the potential messiah and his mother. There is a lot riding on your shoulders that will need to be decided soon. As such, I wanted to make sure you had thought about and discussed it. I'm glad you came to see me; I was told that I was to consecrate the new Messiah."

"Okay," Aleph said, not sure what it meant but he trusted Yuji.

"So you can see what's coming?" Hiroko asked. "Is there anything you can advise us of? We've decided to confront the elders."

"They are more than they appear, but you should be aware of that already," Yuji said. "Beyond that, it is difficult to say. Aleph will help to decide the path of the future, but his decisions are difficult to read. What I can see may be clear to you too: several powers are keeping watch over you and are doing everything they can to convince you to support them. I will advise you how I can, but parts of my advice may be for paths you won't take."

"Okay" Aleph said. He wasn't sure what decisions were ahead, so any advice would help.

A/N: Back to the question of which path I was using for this story, this chapter has the answer: all of them. I used Neutral for Beta-Testing because I portrayed Kazuya as a young adult rather than a teenager; it meant that his personal philosophies would be more or less set and it would take more to sway his opinions. If I'd wanted to do an all-endings story for Kazuya as well, I would have reversed the age situation I had, with him as a teenager and Yuji and Takeshi both older than him. Aleph's situation is such that he'll be more strongly swayed by who he meets even if he's interpreted as having adult capabilities and maturity at the start. He just doesn't have the experiences to have certainty.