"Temperance is the balancing of opposites. Opening their eyes to the world allows the individual to grow."
Edogawa-sensei, Persona 3
Eruca realized on her first day back at school that her wristwatch had stopped working.
It was quite the bother, all things considered. She had been kept from going back to school for most of January, doctor's orders. Apparently, she needed time to process what had happened, or so her mother had said.
She was wrong on that count. What Eruca really needed was to bury herself into her work. She needed to keep herself occupied. She needed to follow a strict schedule where every facet of her world was ordained like a tightly wound clock.
Which is why it was so annoying that her watch—which she had gotten only last year!—had decided to die on her.
Eruca only noticed its demise after the bell had rung at the end of her last period. Despite that small annoyance, she was glad to get out of the classroom. Being in Uncle Heinrich's presence had grown rather excruciating as of late. The man's gaze remained perpetually cloudy, and he snapped at the slightest provocation. Today, he had even made a girl in Eruca's class burst into tears. Heinrich had shown no remorse afterwards, no emotion even. There was a numbness to him now, like he was a deadened husk from which something important had been torn away.
Eruca didn't like looking at him; it made her remember the hole that was inside her as well.
After saying goodbye to both Raynie and Marco, Eruca headed for the faculty office, hoping to meet up with Viola, her gym teacher. The woman was a sensible sort, and she helped facilitate several events and activities run by the student council. Eruca had come to the conclusion that resigning from her position as class president was the best course of option, considering the current circumstances. Only, her uncle happened to be her homeroom teacher. It wasn't that she didn't want to spend more time with him, but…
On the way, Eruca bumped into someone—a very tall, familiar-looking someone. She looked up to see Rosch's sheepish grin.
"Oh!" said Sonja—she was accompanying Rosch, as always. "Eruca! You're back in school! How did your day go?"
In a smooth, practised manner, a smile came to Eruca's lips. "It went well. I have a lot of catching up to do."
"I bet you do," said Rosch.
Eruca noted that there was now a certain something filling his usually empty left sleeve. "Is that your new prosthetics?" she asked him, genuinely curious. It was rare that she felt a genuine emotion these days.
"Oh, yeah," said Rosch. "I've had it since last week. Still not used to it, to be honest."
"I'm sure it must be very useful," Eruca commented.
"I guess so," Rosch replied. He had begun to frown, though Eruca did not understand why.
Sonja pressed her lips into a thin line, giving Rosch a worried look. "Anyway, if you ever need help with your studies, just ask me." Her features softened. "I've been there, you know? What you're going through is horrible and—"
"I'm sorry," Eruca interrupted her, "but I need to go. I have to ask Ms. Viola something." She gave a half-hearted wave, then turned away before Rosch or Sonja could place another word.
Their concern was touching, if a bit misplaced. After all, Eruca would not get better if everybody treated her like a piece of glass. With a bit of effort and time, she would deal with her grief and get back to a blissfully boring routine.
Viola was chatting with a first-year student outside of the faculty office. Eruca waited until her classmate was gone before approaching the gym teacher. Viola turned to her, smiling. She was a regal-looking woman in her thirties, her prematurely greyed hair cut to a short, masculine bob.
"Ah, Eruca!" Viola said. "It is good to see you. How are you faring?"
"I'm doing good, thank you," Eruca replied.
Viola's brows furrowed, but her smile did not go away. "Then I'm relieved. How may I help you?"
"I…" Eruca hesitated. While the hallway was crowded, it seemed no one was paying attention to her. Still, Eruca felt self-conscious all of a sudden. "I want to resign from my position as class president. Can you tell my uncle?"
Viola's expression grew serious. "I understand. You're going through hard times and—"
"What?" said Eruca. "No, I thought it wouldn't be fair to go on as if I haven't missed a big chunk of the semester. It would be better to give my post to someone more deserving of it, that's all."
Viola unfolded her arms. "Eruca, you should not be speaking that way. Considering the situation, it's understandable that you needed some time to rest." She then sighed. "But if you feel that it's for the best that you step down, then I won't stop you. Just don't be too harsh on yourself."
"Thank you," Eruca said. She knew Viola would understand.
"I'll see you tomorrow in class, then," said Viola. She put a reassuring hand on Eruca's shoulder. "If you ever need anything, just ask. I'll be glad to provide assistance."
Eruca found herself smiling. "Alright. Have a nice day, Ms. Aldebrandi."
"Goodbye," said Viola. "Take good care of yourself."
The house was quiet as a tomb when Eruca arrived home from school.
A few months ago, the kitchen would have been filled with catchy tunes coming from the radio and her mother's off-key accompaniment. Nowadays, Sophia prepared dinner in the utmost silence. From the smell floating back to Eruca's nose, she was making pasta. Not seafood pasta, obviously. That had been Ernst's favourite meal and—
"Ah, hello, Eruca," Sophia said as Eruca came inside the kitchen. "How did your day go?"
"It went well," said Eruca. She crouched to scratch her cat Musket behind the ear. The kitty gave an appreciative purr in response. "I kind of missed school, really. It was nice to be back."
Sophia's smile was wan, but genuine. "I'm glad to hear it, sweetie."
"Do you need help for dinner?"
"No, I'll be fine," replied Sophia. "Your priority should be studying." Eventually, she frowned. "Your uncle didn't want to stay for supper? I was going to make more pasta for him."
Eruca looked away, instead focusing her gaze on Musket's adorable face. "He didn't drive me home. I took the bus. Besides, I think he wanted to go back to his own place. He's probably busy with schoolwork. There was an exam just last week." One that Eruca hadn't attended, of course; she bit down her lip to keep herself from scowling.
"Oh," said Sophia. "Yes, that must be it." Still, she sounded disappointed.
Not long after, Eruca climbed up the stairs, followed by the ever-faithful Musket. Despite all of her efforts, her eyes were drawn to the closed door across from her room. Ernst's bedroom had been left as it was, forever frozen in all of its messy glory. Eruca had not set a foot inside for weeks. She knew it had not been so for her mother, however, since Eruca had often heard sobs coming from within.
Eruca sat on her bed, pondering her next move. It would be nice to study, yes, but none of her teachers had given her homework. They just told her to take her time and worry about her health instead. The sentiment was nice, but it didn't help much. She'd have to start working sooner rather than later if she wanted to keep good grades, after all.
She began to pet Musket in an absentminded manner as her gaze swept across the room. Unlike Ernst, she kept it in immaculate condition. On a shelf, besides a few family pictures, there were a few trophies she had gotten in her archery competitions. Along with her prizes was the lone medal Ernst had won in a fencing tournament, back in Granorg. He hadn't wanted to keep it as souvenir, so she had hung on to it instead. She found it sad that he hadn't wanted to continue fencing when they had moved to Alistel.
Eruca's gaze came to rest on her desk. She frowned. An unfamiliar book was laying on top of her school manuals. She got out of bed and grabbed it, disturbing poor Musket in the process. The book looked ancient, with a thick, hard cover covered in violet etchings. Eruca's eyes widened as she remembered what it was. It was the strange book Protea had given her back in December, during Ernst's—
Eruca blinked, before leafing through the black pages. The book was completely blank, from one cover to the other. Was there some secret code hidden in invisible ink? Why had the mere sight of it apparently left Protea on the verge of a nervous breakdown? And why had she been so anxious to hand it over to Eruca's father? It was utterly baffling.
An idea suddenly struck Eruca. Perhaps she could show the book to Mr. and Mrs. Norton, the old couple who owned the bookstore where Ernst had once worked. They were both experts in antique tomes, after all. With some luck, they would be able to help.
Eruca flopped down her bed, sighing as she looked outside her window. Snowflakes were lazily fluttering in the wind, falling on frost-covered trees that reminded Eruca of precious ornaments. The last rays of the sun were peeking from behind the clouds, giving the sky a soft pinkish hue. Once, a winter scenery as lovely as this would have lifted her heart and made her smile.
Instead, she only felt a numbness she could not put into words. She only wanted to drift to a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
She only wanted to open her eyes to a world different from the icy tomb in which she was now trapped…
The next day, Eruca kept mulling over the strange old book.
It was a bit embarrassing, really. She had not been allowed to go to school for weeks, and now that she could get some work done, she instead spent her time daydreaming. Still, Eruca could not help it; she had been brought up by her mother to trust in her feelings, and the entire situation left her uneasy.
At lunch break, she tried to muster enough energy to reply to her friends' polite inquiries about her wellbeing. Thankfully, they soon chose to discuss inconsequential topics, no doubt in an attempt to avoid talking about the glaring absence within their midst.
Eruca kept her discomfort hidden. Even before Ernst had died, she had not felt quite at ease within the group. It was true that Raynie and Marco had been her friends first, but in the few weeks before Ernst's death they had unexpectedly started to hang out with him more often, making Eruca feel like a bit of an outcast. Rosch and Sonja, for their parts, had been Ernst's friends first and foremost; despite their best efforts, they had always treated her like a little sister, not as an equal.
Despite this, Eruca continued to smile and laugh at their antics. They were putting a happy, carefree front on her behalf, and for this she was eternally grateful.
At the end of the day, Raynie even invited her over to her house to watch some movies. Eruca had been stunned by her proposal. She had been under the impression that Raynie had never felt quite comfortable bringing her friends back to her foster home. Still, she declined. Raynie answered with a grin and a friendly pat on the back, saying that they would see each other the next day.
The cold January air hit Eruca like a whip when she got out of the school. She walked briskly to Mr. and Mrs. Norton's place, rubbing her gloved hands together to generate some much needed warmth. She let out a sigh of relief when she turned the corner and finally had her destination in sight. Across the road, there was a fierce snowball battle going on between the eager elementary-aged schoolchildren. Despite her gloomy mood, Eruca found herself smiling.
She stopped in front of the bookstore entrance, suddenly nervous. Her messenger bag seemed heavier, all of a sudden, as if the strange black book was reminding her of its existence. There was no reason to be anxious…was there?
Letting out a loud exhalation, Eruca pushed the door open.
And all thought vacated her mind.
She blinked, once or twice. Where was she? Slowly, the world came into focus. Under her feet, marble floors were polished to a beautiful sheen. Hanging from the domed ceiling was a glimmering crystal chandelier that illuminated the entrance hall with hundreds of sparkling lights. On the walls, the severe faces of Eruca's ancestors, forever immortalized in portrait, looked down at her in silent judgement.
Yes, she told herself. She knew this place.
This was her home.
In front of her, great oaken doors were slightly ajar. Coming from within, Eruca could hear the crackle of the fire lit in the hearth. Eruca found herself striding in the direction of the living room. The sights she found inside almost warmed her heart better than the fireplace did. Here was the table under which she and Ernst had built more pillow forts that she could count; there was the plush Cygnan carpet on which Eruca had often dozed off while her mother read them stories. In one corner, she saw the glass cabinet where her father displayed his collection of ancient rifles— some dated back to several centuries. Potted plants and flowers from his garden brought life and colours to the otherwise austere place. Eruca brought a hand to her heart, eyes misty with wonder.
The mantelpiece was covered in family pictures and trophies from Ernst's many fencing competitions. Eruca grew nearer, taking one photograph in hand. Within the frame, four people beamed at her. Sophia had both arms around her children, and her smile was widest of all. Ernst and Eruca were wearing their uniforms from St. Noah's; the picture had been taken at the start of the semester, Eruca remembered. And her father… well, now that was strange. His face was blurred, as if a drop of water had disturbed the ink before it had dried. Eruca frowned as she looked more closely at the picture. Was his hair black? Or was it brown and speckled with grey? Was he tall and broad-shouldered or short with a slight build? She could honestly not tell. How bizarre.
Eruca put the picture back on the mantelpiece. Again, she sent a sweeping glance at her surroundings. To her left, a chair seemed inviting enough. Still, it was right under one of her father's many hunting trophies. She shivered, unable to look directly into the deer's dead eyes. Her father was an adept marksman; he'd said to her the only moment he felt true peace was when he had a target in sight. Eruca agreed with the sentiment—she would have not started to practise archery otherwise—but to cause the death of another living being was…
Eruca suddenly shook her head. What a strange train of thoughts. Perhaps she simply needed some rest. The chair was an enticing prospect. She could get a book and snuggle under a blanket until she found sleep. Yes, she convinced herself. That was a good idea.
Eruca settled into the chair, hugging her knees and relishing in the warmth of the room. Eventually, she closed her eyes. Her tensions eased, and she felt sleep gently tugging at her consciousness. Eruca smiled, ready to drift into the unknown.
…no!
Eruca wrinkled her nose, yanked out of her pleasant torpor. Was that a little girl's voice?
Stop it! Leave her alone!
Eruca sank deeper into the chair, trying to tune out the unwanted sounds. Perhaps she was dreaming. That was the most logical explanation.
I won't let you hurt her! Since Stocke isn't here anymore, I'll protect her instead!
Stocke…? That was her mother's maiden name. And that was how Ernst's friends referred to him, as per his wishes. He'd been named for their paternal grandfather, the one who had called their mother a thieving whore after she had—
Eruca's eyes snapped open.
"Ah!" she heard a child crying out. Two figures had entered the living room—a young Satyros girl and a Gutral man. "She's woken up! Finally!"
"Aht?" said Eruca. "What are you doing here?" It was surreal, seeing her in this scenery. The Satyros child had never visited Eruca's home in Granorg, as far as she was aware.
"We're here to save you!" said Aht. Beside her, the Gutral man—his name was Gafka, Eruca remembered—nodded grimly.
"Save me? From what?"
There was a low rumbling sound from above Eruca. Her frown deepened as she looked upward. Something was casting a shadow on the wall.
Eruca nearly tumbled out of her chair. She'd never seen a shadow this dark, this huge. Eruca heard a strange hissing sound, though she could not tell just where it had come from.
"No!" cried Aht. "Get away from her, you jerk!" She swept her hand, and suddenly, inexplicably, there was a sound like breaking glass.
From behind Aht flared a bright blue light. Eruca's mouth hung open as she saw the outline of a person within the glare. The figure was dressed in a poncho made of leaves, and much like Aht her legs were covered in a thick fur. Her big almond-shaped eyes and black button nose made her closely resemble a beast of the woods. Flowers were weaved through her antlers, and when she tilted her head to meet Eruca's gaze, she smiled widely.
"Idunn!" Aht called loudly. "Go get 'em!"
The figure—Idunn—rushed toward Eruca. The latter covered her face with her hands, gasping in shock. Above Eruca's head, something let out a screech. Between her fingers, Eruca saw the glint of a blade within one of Idunn's hands. She slashed at the wall behind Eruca with one knife, then spinned and attacked with the second knife hidden in her other hand. Eruca screamed, scrambling out of her chair to get as far away as possible.
"Miss!" said Gafka, "Over here, quickly!"
Eruca tried to reach him, but she only stumbled and fell to the floor. Her head felt like it was going to split apart, and something seemed to be pulling at her from behind. Heart beating madly, Eruca looked over her shoulder, only to see nothing but the large shadow fluttering on the wall.
"You jerk!" said Aht. "Idunn, try some magic! Maybe that'll do the trick!"
Idunn twirled in the air, striking a pose. A bright white light flashed from behind Eruca, smothering every last bit of darkness, every colour even. She squeezed her eyes shut, crying out in pain. Strangely enough, she had expected the light to scorch like a flame, but despite its raw power, she could not feel any heat from it.
The light dissipated, and Aht gave a pout. "Aw, c'mon! Why aren't you dead yet?!"
Somehow, Eruca was short of breath, an invisible force pressing heavily on her chest. She glanced behind her. The shadow seemed even bigger than before. She felt suddenly faint as she noticed it had bright golden eyes peering down at her.
This is a dream, Eruca then realized. A strange, unsettling dream, but a dream nonetheless. She sighed, focusing on her breathing to keep herself calm. She was safe here, and soon, she would wake to a world where she would once again be surrounded by a loving, supportive family.
In front of the mantelpiece, Eruca spied another figure. Her heart swelled as she recognized him. Ernst was facing away from them; in his hand, he held the family picture taken on their first day of high school. His blond hair was tousled as always; if he turned toward her, Eruca knew she would have to resist the urge to brush the bangs out of his eyes. She was so happy to see him…
Behind Eruca came a deep, unsettling noise.
"Oh, no!" Aht cried out. "What's wrong with it? Why is it getting bigger?"
"Stay back," Gafka said, dragging Aht away. "I'm starting to think we bit more than we can chew, little lady."
Eruca blinked. Her head was getting foggy. She glanced over her shoulder. There was nothing there—just a shadow on the wall, nothing more. Why were they making such a ruckus?
For some reason, Aht screamed. Gafka took her in his arms, backing away as if a threat was advancing toward them.
In front of him, the graceful figure of Idunn came in a burst of azure light. She raised her twin knives, in an attempt to shield them from a foe Eruca could not see.
Then, she froze, her movement halting mid-air. Behind her, Aht and Gafka stopped moving as well. Aht's mouth was still open in a silent scream.
Eruca paid them no mind. They were figments of her imagination, after all. In front of the mantelpiece, Ernst had turned his face a little, and she could see the ghost of a smile on his lips. Eruca felt light as a feather as she stood up to head toward him.
Out of the corner of her eye, Eruca saw some movement. Idunn was arching backward in slow motion, as if she had just been struck a terrible blow. In response, Aht's face twisted in pain—again, very slowly. Then, unexpectedly, she and Gafka began to move again. Gafka stumbled backward, cursing softly, while Aht gave a whimper.
They were now cowering in a corner, Aht hiding her face in the crook of Gafka's shoulder. Idunn reappeared, slashing into empty air. Once more, her attack came to a sudden stop, and Aht and Gafka became still as statues.
Eruca turned her gaze away from them. Ernst's smile beckoned to her, and now he was extending his hand toward her. Eruca did the same, the firelight glinting off the silver bracelet of her wristwatch.
Her wristwatch, which was now broken, barely one year after she had gotten it.
Eruca stopped. Yes, it had been her birthday gift from her mother and brother last year. Still, her sixteenth birthday had come and gone in early January, and yet she could not remember celebrating it with her family. How odd.
Distantly, she could hear a child crying out in pain and fear. For some reason, Ernst's smile didn't appear so warm or inviting, now.
Conflicting memories cluttered Eruca's mind. She took a step back, suddenly cold. A darkness threatened to engulf everything as the fire in the hearth died to smoldering embers. The colours of the living room became muted, the warmth of nostalgia now replaced by a chill that seeped deep within Eruca's skin. Ernst was now fully turned toward her. Where his face should have been there was a black void. Still, his hand was reaching out to her, insistent.
Eruca shook her head. "No," she said to the shade masquerading as her brother. "No, you're not Ernst… what are you?"
There was no answer from the dreadful creature. Still, before Eruca could say more, another scream tore through the air. She felt the blood drain from her face as she saw what was happening across the room. Aht was huddled in a corner, trembling, while Gafka stood between her and a floating figure clad in blue and silver. Gafka had a chair in hand, probably intending to use it as a weapon. In response, his opponent tried to grab him. To Eruca's relief, the Gutral man escape its grasp with ease.
Then, he came to an unnatural stillness once more. The figure wrapped one hand around his throat, lifting his unmoving form in the air. Behind them, Aht's face was frozen mid-scream.
Eruca suddenly understood. Time. It can stop time.
But why was she the only one who remained unaffected?
"Stop!" she cried out. "Leave them alone!"
The figure whipped its head to look at her. Much like Ernst's doppelganger, she had no face. Instead, all of her features were covered by a large, silver clock. She wore a dress with frills and puffed sleeves; her whole appearance brought to mind the plucky princesses who had inhabited the stories Eruca had loved so much as a child. Still, the train of her skirt was torn in some place, and there was something mechanical, almost robot-like, to each of her movements. She tilted her head, seemingly curious—but did not release her hold on Gafka.
Instead, she threw him on the wall, and he fell to the floor, limp like a ragdoll. Soon, the room was again filled with Aht's sobs. The figure closed in on her, unmoved by her tears.
Eruca's heartbeat pounded in her ears. There had to be a way to protect Aht from that creature's clutches! Quickly, she surveyed her surroundings. Her eyes then came to rest on the cabinet holding her father's old guns. Among the flintlocks and muskets, there was a simple wooden bow.
Without hesitation, Eruca went to grab it. She had no arrows, but still she called out in a clear, unwavering voice, "Don't you dare hurt her!"
The clock-faced woman deigned to give Eruca a glance. Then, she brought her attentions back to Aht, clearly unimpressed by Eruca's threat.
I need arrows, Eruca thought. Still… this was her nightmare, wasn't it? This world had been built by her slumbering consciousness. By all means, she should be the mistress of this twisted version of her childhood home.
She closed her eyes, exhaling through her nose. I need arrows, Eruca thought again, the words an unsaid command. She raised her bow, and there was a soft shimmer right in front of her nose. An arrow—made of clear, crystal-like ice—had just formed out of thin air. She did not question that twist of luck; she released the arrow, and it burrowed itself deep in the middle of her target's back.
The creature screeched. This time, she turned to face Eruca fully. Despite her lack of features, Eruca could sense her rage coming off in icy waves.
"Hurt her, and I'll shoot again," Eruca said. As she spoke, another arrow materialized, as if to emphasise her point. "Whatever you are, you're not welcome here."
In a span of a second, the figure had crossed the distance between herself and Eruca. WHOEVER I AM? a female voice filled the air. Eruca was stunned to realize it came from the clock-faced woman. YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
Eruca hesitated. "I… I do?"
YES. The single word was filled with sorrow. OH, YES.
The hair on Eruca's arms stood on end. Her aim started to waver a little.
I AM YOU, she said, AND YOU ARE ME.
Eruca fought to keep her bow steady. Her knees were growing weak under her weight. "What… what does that even mean?"
Still, despite the question that had just left her lips, Eruca knew the truth in her heart of hearts. She remained unmoving, shaking from head to toe, as the ghostly apparition that had taken Ernst's form went to stand by the clock-faced woman's side. Reluctantly, Eruca looked at him. He could not stare back—he had no eyes—but she still felt a sort of pity coming from him.
Across the room, Aht was making her way back to Gafka. Thankfully, the clock-faced woman never took notice of her; her attentions were solely focused on Eruca. Aht kneeled by Gafka's side, and Idunn appeared behind her. A green light flowed from her to Gafka, and he stirred and let out a groan, to Eruca's great relief.
I CAN EASE YOUR PAIN, the clock-faced woman finally said. YOU DON'T NEED TO ENDURE THIS TORMENT ANY LONGER.
"Torment?" Eruca once again found herself staring at the faceless apparition wearing her brother's skin. The memories returned, and she remembered why this was a dream, and not a nightmare.
In a nightmare, her brother would still be dead.
YES. I WILL HELP, IF ONLY YOU WOULD—
"No," said Eruca. "No, I would rather not."
Obviously, this was not the answer that the creature had expected. STILL, she said, NOTHING BUT DESPAIR AWAITS YOU IN THE REAL WORLD. IS THAT TRULY WHAT YOU WANT?
Eruca lowered her bow. "I can't spend the rest of my life sleeping, can I?" She gave a tired smile to the figure she had mistaken for Ernst. "It's time for me to wake from this strange dream. It will be hard, but I'll manage. I always did."
The ghostly Ernst nodded, before disappearing. Blue light swirled around the clock-faced woman, and she lifted both arms as she floated higher in the air. When the light was gone, her appearance had changed. The princely figure in the turquoise doublet who had taken her place looked straight out of a fairytale. She curtsied to Eruca, her teal-coloured cape billowing behind her. Most of her features were hidden by a large-brimmed hat adorned with a feather. Her blonde curls were the same shade as Eruca's own hair, but they were long and flowing in contrast to Eruca's short locks.
"Verdandi," said Eruca. "You're… Verdandi."
In response, Verdandi twirled her rifle in a cocky manner before scattering in thousands of little blue lights. Eruca then frowned. Where and how had she learned that name?
"Wow!" a child's voice exclaimed. Aht sauntered over to Eruca, while Gafka limped off behind her. "Is that your Persona?"
"My what?" Eruca replied, puzzled. Not for the first time, she wondered why Aht and Gafka were part of this strange dream.
"Your Persona—oh!"
Their surroundings began to change. Eruca saw a strange shimmer in the air, as if the cozy seats and fireplace of the living room had been nothing but a lifelike mirage. She rubbed her eyes with a groan. When she opened her eyes once more, a totally different place met her gaze. The three of them were standing between two metallic shelves where dozens of books were piled up. The room was cramped, and several others shelves took up most of the space.
"This looks like some kind of back-store," Eruca mused aloud. The back-store of a bookshop, more precisely. "Are we still at the Nortons'? What in the world…?"
Aht was grinning. "This is so weird. It's like we took a trip to another dimension!"
"A trip which nearly got us all of us killed," Gafka said, frowning. "Little lady, that was a terrible idea. What were you thinking?"
"What?" said Aht. "You would have preferred to let that thing hurt Stocke's sister? Is that it?"
"Wait," said Eruca. "This isn't a dream?" She found herself on her knees, feeling suddenly faint. "Oh my goodness… all of that was real?"
"Of course it was!" Aht said, sounding exasperated.
"We caught sight of you when you were about to get into the bookstore," Gafka explained.
"And I saw that you had this huge shadow thing hanging over you!" Aht continued. "I dunno what's the deal with those freaks, but they're really dangerous! They already hurt that Kiel guy pretty bad. And… and…" She bit down her lip, breaking eye contact with Eruca.
"Kiel?" Eruca said, breathlessly. "You mean, Rosch's cousin? Is… is he in that coma because he was attacked by something like that?"
"That's what the young lady believe," said Gafka. He put a comforting hand on her head. "Apparently, she's known about them for quite a while now, but she's never told anyone before."
"Someone did figure it out," Aht said. "But because of that, h-he…" She scrunched up her little face, and her eyes filled with water. "O-Oh, it's my fault! It's my fault that S-Stocke ended up…"
"What?" Eruca's blood iced in her veins. "What are you saying?"
"I saw Stocke fighting some of those freaky things with his Persona," Aht said between sobs. "I think he was trying to keep them from hurting more people. A-And I told him I saw someone else who knew about these monsters. Then, he showed me a picture of some old guy on his phone… and he looked just like the person I saw! Stocke must have thought that creep was the one responsible for all those people going into comas. He probably t-tried to stop him a-and…"
Eruca's throat was tight. Her mind could barely process the words that were leaving Aht's mouth.
"You s-see?" Aht said. "If I hadn't told him, then… then…"
Her voice choked, and she was overwhelmed by her tears. Gafka rubbed her back as she cried. Eruca only watched her numbly, unable to say or do anything. If what Aht said was true, then…
Then, that meant Ernst might have been murdered.
Finally, Aht wiped her eyes and cheeks, giving one final sniff. "You understand why I wanted to help you?" she told Eruca. "That's what Stocke would have done, I'm sure of it."
Despite the cold horror poised to engulf her, Eruca managed a smile, mainly for the poor girl's sake. "Probably. Fighting horrible monsters to protect people, that sounds like him." A realization then dawned on her, and she grew thoughtful.
"Is something the matter?" Gafka asked. "We should go somewhere safe so you can rest. After all, you've been through quite the ordeal."
Eruca stood up on wobbling legs. "I'm fine, really," she told them. The gears in her head had started working; slowly, she began to understand why Ernst had acted so strangely those last few months before his death. "I've just realized that Ernst's friends owe me quite the explanation."