[Chapter 7]
The Truth
My consciousness and my vision slowly drift away from the Velvet room as I fall into deep sleep.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Luck?"
I felt a hand touching my right shoulder and my consciousness is brought away by the voice of a familiar man from a dream long ago, Philemon. I adjust to the light inside of the room as I blink and turn to see Philemon smiling at me for staying awake from that trance. Igor smile as he seems please at Philemon's presence and Martha becoming cautious of him.
"To think we will meet again after such a long period of time, master." Igor chuckles. "It seems this boy has given the chance for such miracle to happen in this very room." Igor smile.
"Master?" Martha spoke, shockingly.
I see for the very first time Martha becoming shock from something as she kept her cool and composure in check but she look rather cute for the young maiden.
"Indeed, I am grateful for such opportunity and so I came here to lend a helping hand for the boy." Philemon said.
"I see, then this Velvet Room welcomes you and we should keep his judgment true from salvation and the being that keep him bind to the world." Igor explains, nodding.
Philemon nod to Igor as he stand beside Igor to his left and to his right Martha look confuse at the situation but remain silence for my sake since I am leaving.
"Before you go, I will give you a gift for making this far and I hope you can impress me as your harsh journey begins." Philemon said.
I felt Philemon's trust on me with those word and I felt a small power suddenly appearing inside of me.
Thou art I… And I am Thou…
Thou hast established a new Judgment
Thou shalt further expand his horizon
And develop his own cause to judge.
With the aid of the Fool Persona,
I have the power to change your fate from salvation and save thee from Death.
I catch a glimpse of unimaginable power for a second and I wonder if I ever acquire such power for myself if I continue to improve from this experiences.
"For now.." Martha cough, regaining her composure. "This is farewell and I hope you come visit us soon." Martha spoke.
My consciousness again drifts away from this room as I felt drowsy and I follow those instincts to seep.
August 24
Wednesday
Early Morning
I open my eyes to find myself at my room as usual and I slowly began to understand the Velvet room but I still need question in order to understand their aids. I decide to prepare myself to go to school for this morning and began to change into my uniform. I took the way to school without a problem with many things I need to take care of with Shin near 7th Avenue and the Hotspot investigation with the others. I arrive to Morning Star High's main entrance from the subway station and I began to ascend into the stair leading me to the 2nd floor but the sound of laughter caught my attention. I turn around to see a particular crimson red-haired boy causing a scene but most students just pass him by without giving me second thoughts. The boy's hair is spiky and frames his face with various strands of bangs pointing down in his forehead and a tiny cowlick in one side of his head. His scarlet eyes looking around for suspicious peoples within his perimeter and black marks under his eyes which made him the suspicious of all people here. I look to see a pair of yellow goggles with spiral design as a hair band and it made me curious to see why she made such attention for himself but I am not the person to say that since I will do the same thing. The boy's attire consists of a long, black unbuttoned ragged coat with high collar over his uniform. I could see black pants, black fingerless gloves, black boots with chains and spikes, while his nail are painted in black.
He seems like an interesting guy to talk to and I feel like we share a genuine feeling to get attention from someone.
After witnessing myself at his strong desire to get attention, I approach him to make introduction and he notice my presence as he point to me.
"You! I can sense strong aura coming from that puny body of yours! Who are you?" The boy asks.
I grin as I slash the air away from me to let my blazer dance in the wind and I face him with confident eyes while my arm remain stretch to introduce myself to the boy.
"I am the protagonist, Luck Arclight and I came here to myself know to such person individual who seeks answers." I smile.
The boy smiles at my grand introduction as he looks please and somehow more relax than previously which made me curious as to why. The student became excite as he raises his clenching fist to me and began to introduce himself.
"I see, a protagonist you say?" The boy asks, curious. "The name is Zach Vermilion, evil genius and for a protagonist such as yourself, I can see great evil in you." Zach spoke, grinning.
I became startle as he mention evil which there is only one thing that can relate to that subject, Shadow.
Heh, he sure got us good despite him lacking the potential to sense me.
I became shock at the voice again in my head and I ignore him at the moment since evil doesn't relate to me in any shape or form.
"How could I be evil!? I am a well-mannered citizen that protects the good and expel the darkness!" I spoke, shockingly.
"You can't ignore your evil thoughts, let them go free from you mind so they can guide you for the better. I can train your evil self so that one day it can even overcome me, but that day will never come since I am an Overlord." Zach boost, chuckling.
I felt defeated by this person's unique aura which causes me to step back as I try to say something and I could see Luke approaching me.
"Hey Luck! I was wondering on when..you.." Luke stops.
Luke notices me struggling at the foe before me and Zach remains almighty as he lifts his face at my powerless state. Luke sighs at the will of battle and he pats my shoulder to calm me down, which it works.
"Zach, I did tell you to leave that coat back at home since it go against our dress code and it will bring you problem from the other teachers." Luke sighs.
"Tsk! The eyes of the watchers are so persistent as usual and for you, I will think about it when lunchtime comes. I will take my leave from this hallways and march toward classroom." Zach explains.
"Don't just leave from this as if you have nothing to do with our current talk. I will show you that I have no evil residing within me." I protest.
Zach slowly chuckle at my speech before bursting into laughter and turn to face me as he stretches his hand to me.
"It is a deal then, you will make a deal with an Overlord and I will make your evil know to the world, even if it kills me." Zach explains.
I didn't hesitate to accept such deal as I need to prove him wrong on his assumption and with that, we made a deal that will last me for a lifetime.
Thou art I… And I am Thou…
Thou hast established a new Judgment
Thou shalt further expand his horizon
And develop his own cause to judge.
With the aid of the Magician Persona,
I have the power to change your fate from salvation and save thee from Death.
Zach quickly dash away to the stairs while leaving me and Luke on the first floor to think on the whole ordeal that happen. I felt ashamed of myself for letting my emotion get the best of me but I did felt like he understands something I don't.
"So, why did you make a deal with him again? It isn't a big deal, you know?" Luke spoke.
"Not a big deal!?" I yell. "Do you even comprehend how many days and night it took me to make myself this good and reaching protagonist level." I ask, with an anger tone in my voice.
"Ummmm…how many?" Luke ask, confuse.
"I spend 2940 days practicing my good-behavior and intelligent with my parents and random people." I reply.
"I see, you seem very determine to see it through no matter how much I try to tell you not to, huh? Well, it is rare to see you like this but I hope you stay out of trouble." Luke explains.
"Of course, but I do need Jane to help me with this little problems of mine and she may figure out something since she was the first person to be involved in this." I spoke.
Luke nod at my idea and we quickly decide to head toward our classroom to meet her there but miraculous, Jane appear in the front door with an unusual timing.
Ah, speak of the devil.
I nudge Luke to turn to see Jane coming to us and she notices us standing in the stairs to wait for her.
"Hey guys, where you perhaps waiting for me here?" Jane asks.
"Something likes that but anyways, Luck seem to be in trouble with a certain problem relating to the strange behavior from our first trip in the Hotspot." Luke explains.
Jane became silence at Luke's explanation and she look at me with serious eyes as I watch her with a confuse look. Jane began to think for a moment before speaking her mind about the strange phenomenon. She glance at the students and she point toward an empty chair beside the hallways. We follow her lead as we don't want the other student to hear about the strange stuff happening here and we began to listen to Jane.
"I see, you are probably wandering about your Shadow, correct?" Jane asks.
"My Shadow?" I ask.
Jane nod. "Yes, like the Shadow that appears in Hotpot, there is a Shadow version of one of us and it is best to avoid them at all cost." Jane spoke.
"Really? I have one as well?" Luke asks, surprise.
"Why avoid them? It seem like they have great strength to fight those Shadow and we manage to live because of my Shadow." I said.
Jane sigh as she lean back at my respond which made me a bit angry at her for keeping stuff for herself and not share her entire Intel to us, her friends.
"They're dangerous to us because they are hidden feeling we hide from other and it may cause mentally problem to the person that talk to them since they want to be the real one." Jane explains, smiling weakly.
I remain silence at her explanation as Jane was the most likely person to be hiding something from us and Luke turn to feel the same way. I wanted for Jane to trust me and Luke a bit better than this, but she just kept her problem bottle inside and I am getting worry about her health. I gently put my right arm in her left shoulder which cause her to flinch at my touch and she turn to face with sad face.
"Don't worry, I will accept your hidden feelings with open arms and you shouldn't worry about us, isn't that right Luke?" I ask, smiling.
Luke smile at my question as he lay his left hand on Jane's right shoulder and she turn to face Luke.
"Indeed, I will do the same thing because you are my friend now, and I will always support you despite your hidden feelings." Luke happily talks.
Jane became surprise at our trust at her which causes her to smile warmly and look down while grabbing both of our hands.
"I don't know what to say, but thank you for trusting someone like me. I do feel happy knowing I have friends that will always have my back." Jane smile.
The trust within our group grew stronger than previously and we can make this team work more efficiently. We wait for Jane to relax for a bit before we head toward our homeroom and starting Mr. Robert's lecture. Today's lecture is about USA's history which I stay to hear the entire lecture and I manage to learn some intriguing stuff from it.
August 24
Wednesday
After School
The school's time continue as we reach 4 o'clock to end this day of school. Jane quickly approaches us to discuss today's plans and she looks very impatient about something which did concern me but I need to ask that later. I am rather happy to see Jane slowly trying her best to trust us with her plans and I hope it can progress smoothly from now on. Luke smile at Jane as he lean to us and began our discussion.
"Luck, did you visit Shin like I told you yesterday?" Jane asks.
"Yeah, although he says he didn't have them that time and I need to pick them up today." I reply.
"That's fine, I guess we will not go to Hotspot today either.." Jane sigh, disappoint.
"Actually, I do have one question regarding the purchase of that item." I spoke.
"Hm? What's that?" Luke asks, curious.
"I am talking about money, I don't have the money to purchase that.." I cough. "Stuff from Shin." I spoke.
Jane and Luke glance around the classroom to see all of the students already left the classroom. Jane didn't seem bother by my question and she simply hand me some wad of money coming from her pockets. I stare at the cash as I stack them to see around 2,700 dollars in my hand and I became rather stun at how much money she had in her pocket. Luke made the same reaction as he too notice the huge number from these 100 dollars.
"Where did you get this? This is quite a large sum of money coming from a student…" Luke ask, shock.
Jane sigh. "Don't worry, I didn't steal them or get a shady job if you are thinking like that.." Jane answer.
I turn to Luke to see him smiling and scratching his head as he seems to be thinking on Jane's prediction.
"I got this money from my past exploration of Hotspot and I decide to keep them for safekeeping." Jane explains.
"The Hotspot?" We ask, confuse.
Jane smile at our confusion and she push her long, dark-brown hair away as she looks happy at our reaction.
"Didn't you notice that the Shadow drop money when defeated or even items?" Jane asks, smiling proudly.
"Not really.." Luke mutters.
"Well, they do and that's how we can afford to buy weaponry and armor from Shin, so get to cracking with our equipment Luck." Jane instructs.
I nod at her instruction as my mission remains the same from yesterday and Luke suddenly spoke about another subject which related to the ghost girl.
"Oh! I forgot to mention this yesterday's meeting, but I had this feeling I had seeing the ghost girl from the Hotspot and I began to check some record on the log from 3 years ago…" Luke mutters with hesitation.
We notice Luke losing his confident on continue with his explanation and Jane became curious on the ghost girl. Jane became angry at Luke for stopping and she slams her fist on the desk which causes Luke to snap out of it.
"Focus Luke! What so interesting about the ghost girl from Hotspot? Is there something going on here or what?" Jane asks, angrily.
"Well…I.." Luke spoke, fluster.
I watch as Luke try to speak up but fail to meet Jane's expectation and so I just smile at him as I gently pat his back. Luke turn to face me with a worry expression and he notice me smiling which cause him to relax a bit.
"Okay, I am sorry for acting like this since I know my judgment now and so.." Luke trail off, and shaking his head before speaking. "I need to tell you about her! This is something very important." Luke spoke.
I notice Luke's shaking clench fist on the table and he seem rather scare at something on his mind. In fact, he seem not like him and it only made me worry on this new Intel he has gather for us and Jane also felt the tension. I gulp with anxious and so I slowly open my mouth to ask Luke about it.
"What's so important? Who is she?" I ask, worry.
"She was a student of Morning Star High School, during my freshmen year and I remember seeing her here in the classroom until that faithful day occurs." Luke explains.
"What? She was alive back then, then that mean.." Jane pause, thinking about something until I notice her eyes wide open with shock.
Jane gasp at figuring out something Luke trying to explain and she cover her mouth to cover her fear. I became impatient at their conversation and leaving me in the dark about something important.
"What!? What happen to this girl three years ago and why she hasn't show up!" I ask.
Luke began to sweat as he shook his head at my question and I remain patient as I bite my lips.
"That girl, or formerly known as Zoey Connor in our school's record and Police's record.." Luke sighs. "Zoey has being murder by someone and her body has being reported missing to this day, nobody has ever find her corpse."
[Chapter 7 End]