AN: Another chapter, and this time a few new characters to unveil. Novalie was originally a character I submitted a long time ago to a SYOC Persona fic, but she never ended up getting used. Not willing to abandon her, I put her in this story. Anyway, as usual, please read, review, etc, and I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 12: Those Who Lead Us
|Ginumi – Grand Laguna Hotel|17:34 pm|
The group were suddenly in what appeared to be a very sophisticated hotel suite, with dark wooden tablets and plush cream furniture. Shintaro gasped, as he saw the view from out of the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony. After a few seconds, he realised they were in the exquisite Grand Laguna Hotel, a five-star accommodation frequented by celebrities and the upper-class elite.
"Wow!" Shintaro said, transfixed by the outside view.
"It's breathtaking..." Kohaku said, also astounded. While Masato was equally taken with the outside view, Kei, however, was more interested in the room itself.
"Welcome to the Golden Suite of the Grand Laguna," Shigeru said, gesturing the many luxurious amenities surrounding them. "This may be another world, but rest assured it's exactly the same as the Akarharto version. Those in the 'normal' suite will have no idea we're even here."
"Oh, so is this like your top secret base of operations?" Masato said.
"It's one of the meeting places we've acquired," Shigeru said. "We've guaranteed several other locations, in the event Bythos become more aware of our presence. After I send Kita-san to take the Claret Squad into custody, I suspect they'll finally be aware of our group."
Shintaro, confused, spoke up. "Kita-san? Is he one of your team?"
"Correct. There are currently six members, including Kita and myself." Shigeru said. He walked over to the huge HDTV, a rather upmarket 4K model, and with his phone, he was able to turn it on. There, the name 'Persona & Shadow Investigation Bureau' appeared in large red letters. Six white squares appeared beneath the letters.
"I never expected another group besides Bythos and ourselves," Kohaku said. "Especially not one part of the city's government."
Two of the squares lit up and revealed faces. The first was Shigeru's, and his full name was displayed beneath. Even in this photograph, he had a sour looking expression. The person next to him, however, was a far more amiable looking young lady, with long blonde hair that became a ringlet as it went down, and bright blue eyes.
"Who is this woman, Komatsu-san?" Kei said.
"She's almost as pretty as Dorothy," Masato said. The others gave him odd looks. "Not that I'm biased on anything."
"Let's stay focused here, Masato-kun." Shintaro said, still unsure of how to handle his situation. Moments ago, he had been fighting the Claret Squad. Now, he was in a hotel suite most people would kill to stay in.
"Her name is Novalie Vinters, a student. You'll meet her properly once she arrives with Kita-san." Shigeru said. "She's been investigating Ginumi very thoroughly the past week. As you haven't been there in the Theio Kosmos, as far as I'm aware, you naturally wouldn't have encountered her. I, myself, have taken on the role of investigating Totsuka."
"I see. And who is Kita-san, sir?" Kohaku asked.
"He'll be arriving with Novalie shortly -"
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Shigeru walked across the plush red carpet and opened the door. There, in the flesh, was the blonde woman named Novalie. She waved at everyone, smiling. Next to her was an older man, yet he had an equally friendly expression. He had very short brown hair, with flecks of grey, and a short beard growing as well. He was dressed in a military uniform, an officer's suit complete with medals.
"Thank you both for coming," Shigeru said. "I trust you haven't been followed?"
"No, Komatsu-san, not a soul saw us make our way here. We followed the procedures as we agreed." The senior soldier said.
"So do we finally get to meet the Persona users that have been all over Totsuka and Mizuho the past week? I've been looking forward to finally meeting them!" Novalie said.
"Correct," Shigeru said, gesturing to the four students by the large table. "They're finding my presence somewhat intimidating, I feel." He seemed to be looking at Shintaro when he said this – much to the bookworm's embarrassment.
"If you smiled more often, you might not have that problem." The soldier said. Before Shigeru could react, however, the refined-looking blonde spoke up.
"Ahem, Everyone, my name is Novalie Winters. I came here from Oslo to study Political Science...and I'm also helping Mr. Komatsu with our studies into the Theio Kosmos."
"Oslo is in Norway, by the...way." Kei said, looking at Masato.
"Why are you looking at me when you say that?" Masato said, annoyed. "My brother teaches Geography for a living! I do know some things other than baseball..."
"Ah, don't let it get to you, kid. It's like this with my wife and daughter most nights. Scarier than any of my commanding officers, I tell you." The soldier said. "Ah, almost forgot. The name's Hiroyuki Kita. I've been with the JSDF Ground Forces for a long time."
"Nice to meet you both!" Shintaro said, smiling.
"Likewise," Novalie said, walking over to shake everyone's hands. Hiroyuki did the same, and the tension of the room subsided. Their friendly dispositions made them seem much more approachable than the steely Shigeru, and Shintaro was able to relax.
"Kita, we've got incapacitated Bythos soldiers in Sogen Park. I dealt with them minutes ago – you received the message, correct?" Shigeru asked.
"Oh yeah," Hiroyuki said. "No problem, Shigeru, I'll take them into custody. You kids ended up tangling with the Claret Squad, right? All three of them are wanted by the police, for one reason or another."
"Yes, it's the second time we've had to fight them. They're awful people, no matter what their reasons for joining Bythos are." Shintaro said. "Oh, pardon me. I'm Shintaro Nakahara."
"And I'm Kohaku Teruya."
"Masato Yoshinaga, sir!"
"And my name is Kei Kakusa. I came from Yokohama. Masato attends Chieki Academy, while me, Shintaro and Kohaku are students of Kansei High School."
"I see. I've heard good things about both your schools. I wonder how they'd compare to our Norwegian school system?" Novalie said, pondering this briefly to herself. "I'll prepare us all some green tea. You deserve it, after having to endure the Claret Squad twice."
"If only I could stay for a cup, but I better get to the park before those three wake up," Hiroyuki said. "Shigeru, Novalie, you two okay to handle things from here?"
"Thank you, Kita-san. I'll take over from here." Shigeru said. "Keep up the good work."
"Will do, sir. See you kids later!" Hiroyuki said, waving as he walked out the door.
"Now you're familiar with half of our team," Shigeru said. Novalie left for the kitchen, and the group sat down. "I'd like to start by asking a few questions. But don't be frightened. I just want to know how you all came to possess Gnosis smartphones."
"Certainly, Komatsu-san," Kei said, respectfully. "On Monday, after school, me, Shintaro, Kohaku and another friend of ours went to Bella Donna. While there, I went to an electronics store and saw the Gnosis in the used section."
Kei continued, recapping most of the events of last week. While she didn't go into the personal details involving Masato and Shintaro's past – much to their relief - she went into great detail over their fiendish encounters with EX-NIHILO, Nox, and the Claret Squad. During this, Novalie brought over some delicious looking tea and a tray full of scrumptious biscuits, much to Masato's delight.
"...That's about it so far." Kohaku said. "It's been a difficult week, but we all worked hard together to see it through."
"I see. You've certainly proven yourselves over the past week. As individuals and as a...team." Shigeru said – although he was somewhat astounded by how fast Masato was shovelling biscuits into his mouth. "It's about time we discuss our part in this story. Back in December of last year, just before the New Year, a package was delivered to Kibo-Jo – that's the city council building, you'll be aware."
I've seen that building plenty of times. It's golden in colour and shines really brightly in the sunlight. In fact, it's directly north of the Divine Nine in Totsuka. Kohaku's parents have been in there plenty, but I've never once been there.
"The Castle of Hope. It's an apt name, considering the expectations of our city." Novalie said.
"And that package contained a Gnosis?" Shintaro asked.
"Precisely," Shigeru said, displaying his own. "I couldn't figure out who would send me a smartphone as a gift. I hadn't dropped my wife any hints that I wanted a new phone. And my son doesn't have that kind of spare money to spend on expensive electronics. No one at the office was expecting that package, either."
"Your son...that's Noburo, right? We saw him and his girlfriend -"
"That's irrelevant," Shigeru snapped, angrily. "We are not here to discuss our personal lives. Are we clear?"
Shintaro looked down at the floor, nervous. This man's intimidating aura seemed to radiate through the entire room.
"...My apologies, sir." He muttered, fidgeting. Kohaku, sensing his fear, held his hand tightly. She managed to keep her eyes on the strong-looking man, although only just.
"As long as we understand each other. Moving on, I decided to go for a short stroll, before I headed home. When I was in Sogen Park, I decided to test the Gnosis out myself. It was beyond anything I could have imagined."
|Friday 16th December 2016|Totsuka - Sogen Park|18:02 pm|
It was a cold winter's day, with frost covering the grass. Children were excitedly jumping up at the sight of the snow, and multicoloured fairy lights had been hung up all over the park to celebrate the winter festivities. During this evening, Shigeru walked through the park via the North Gate, looking at his regular phone. There was a message from his wife, Kaiyo, asking him to pick up some silken tofu for a dinner she was planning at the weekend, but he had other things on his mind.
It doesn't make sense. Why would someone send me something like this? This 'Gnosis' brand doesn't even appear to exist, at least according to my research. All I found were terms relating to Gnosticism.
After grabbing a coffee from the eastern cafe, called 'Kamiko's Tea House' – ran by a retired geisha – he took a seat by the central fountain. There, he sipped his black coffee, and watched as young couples walked by, enjoying the romance of the winter season. Shigeru had been on many long walks with his wife here – but now, he was intrigued by his Gnosis. He hesitantly took it out of the box and noticed a distinct lack of documentation – only a simple charging lead.
Are they trying to save costs on printing manuals? Hmm. I'll see if this thing is any use. Perhaps I'll give it to Noburo as a Christmas gift. Although I was going to give him that watch he was interested in.
When he had the phone in his hand, things felt immediately ill at ease. This device didn't feel like any phone he had ever used. Whatever material it was constructed from, it wasn't something you could find just anywhere. Hesitantly, he turned it on, and waited.
The home screen didn't resemble any of the ones he had seen. Not that he was an expert on technology – he usually left the TV or computer for his wife to handle – but this one didn't look normal either. It seemed to have the usual applications a phone would have, however. Ones relating to text messaging, playing music, various social media services, etc. But there were plenty that seemed rather ominous.
Just then, he saw something sparkle just up ahead, at the fountain. It was free of anyone standing nearby. Uneasy, Shigeru walked over and saw something he hadn't noticed before. It looked like a code that phones could scan, provided they were connected to the internet. He didn't remember exactly what they were called, but he had seen them all over the city in recent years. Just then, the Gnosis seemed to activate a camera app all by itself.
What is going on? Does this thing have a mind of its own?
With the phone, he decided to put the strange code in view – and after that, everything seemed to change. The screen became a bright blue, almost blindingly bright. Before he could react, however, the entire environment was engulfed by the light, and a raging wind seemed to echo through his ears.
What's happening?!
|April 8th|Grand Laguna Hotel|17:52 pm|
"Just like us..." Kohaku said.
"Mine was a little different. That damn Nihilo thing trying to ruin my phone..." Masato said, trembling at the thought.
"It was a harrowing experience," Shigeru said, looking up at the ceiling, reflecting on that fateful day. "Especially for someone like me. I need my life to be stable and normal. And this new world was anything but. Everyone seemed the same at first glance, but as one looks, everything starts to become different."
I guess even someone his age would be distraught. Masato was convinced he was witnessing the world ending. I was so confused, I didn't know what to think...
"I was terrified, but I think all of us were. My heart was pounding. I was running around ever, looking for someone, anyone else. Something that wasn't one of these Shadows..." Masato said. "No one was at my house. I was so scared I'd never see my family again."
"I can sympathize." Shigeru said. "Living in a world without my wife and son...would be empty. And back in December, I almost faced that possibility."
|December 16th|Theio Kosmos – Sogen Park|18:13 pm|
Sogen Park was seemingly completely deserted, and there was complete silence. For Shigeru, this was fast becoming a nightmare. Where did he go? What was he to do?
His regular phone didn't appear to have any signal, so there was no means to contact anyone. All he could do was run, as fast as his legs could take him. As he did, he noticed more oddities to this new world. The roads were completely devoid of moving cars. Those that had already been parked were still there, however.
"Is there anyone there?!" He called, screaming at the tough of his lungs. It had been a very long time since he raised his voice. Even at work, his demanding workload did not drive him to this kind of stress. "Hey! I need help!"
He kept going, finally stopping to rest as he reached the Divine Nine. There, in the centre, was his former high school, still standing after all this time. Kansei High School, one of the two finest schools in the area. It had been nearly thirty years since he had left school, but Bunko Hashimoto was still the principal – her mind still sharper than any sword one could forge.
"Still the best high school around," Shigeru said to himself. "Noburo's supposed to be attending there next year." Just then, his eyes widened with panic. "Noburo?! Oh god – Kaiyo?! Are they..."
"Oooh, what's making all that noise? I've never heard such a deep voice before. It's making even me shiver down my spine. I'll have to investigate."
Shigeru, surprised, leapt up with fright. Breathing deeply, he looked to his right, and his left, but saw nothing. Then, he stared straight ahead, at the school gates of Kansei. The trees were covered with thick snow. Another figure was enamoured with the snow, and while it appeared feminine, it was clear she wasn't feminine.
She had long, shiny dark blue hair, with a fringe that covered most of her forehead. She wore a simple white kimono, but her eerie pale blue skin and deep red eyes were not of this earth. She seemed to be shrouded in a mist of snow.
"Who...or what...are you?" Shigeru asked, stunned. "You're not human, are you?"
"Cold as ice, aren't you?" The snow demon said. "You could just use your Gnosis to find out all about me. Or do you even know how to use one?"
"How do you know about the Gnosis?" Shigeru asked.
"How can I not know about them? The only humans that can come here all have them. It's strange, actually. This world exists in the exact same place and time yours does, but it's only in the past few weeks that humans have been coming here, with these weird 'smartphones'. I don't really know anything about them. Mind if I take a closer look?"
"Yes, I very much do mind, And I asked you a question. Who are you?" Shigeru asked, crossing his arms.
"You're used to pushing people around, aren't you? Fine. I'm called a Yuki Jyorou. A type of Yuki-onna. You know, snow demons that appear on snowy nights. Just like this one!" The strange girl said. "Thing is, though, there are more Yuki Jyorou out there. And plenty of other types of Shadows. Hundreds, actually..."
"What on earth do you mean?!" Shigeru asked.
"There are tons of different things living in this world, born from the human psyche! Pixies, Goblins, Harpies, you name it! All of them are called Shadows. And this world is called the Theio Kosmos. It exists simultaneously alongside your world, the Akarharto Kosmos. And before you ask any other questions...let me be honest with you. I don't like you very much. So, don't think you're returning home tonight. You can die here, and no one will ever find you!"
Shigeru gasped. This 'Yuki Jyorou' was speaking nonsense that he had never heard before, but one thing he understood quite clearly was that he was dead if he didn't fight back. He took up a fighting stance, having continued to practice karate even after his college days. However, the icy demon in front of him wasn't impressed.
"Oh, I'm so scared! Your martial arts might save you in a bar brawl, but on a cold winter's night, when you cross my path, you'll never be able to land a hit. But my ice can chill you right to the bone. They might have to dig through the ice for hours before they can identify your corpse. Shame for your family, I guess, but...I do have a heart of ice, you know."
As the murderous demon hurtled towards him, a shiver went down Shigeru's spine. He shut his eyes, and in his mind, he thought of the two most important people in his life.
"Kaiyo...Noburo...I'm sorry..."
However, even though his eyes were closed, he saw something fly past him – a blue sparkling butterfly. It was as if time stood still – the 'Shadow' was inching ever close to him, but another voice was speaking through his head.
One who bears the burden of potential, heed my voice. My name is Philemon. Your existence will soon reveal its true complexity, yet this is nothing to fear. Once you truly know yourself, and why you continue to exist, life can begin anew, and you can wield your own identity as power. Answer me this question. What is your name?
"...Shigeru. Shigeru Komatsu."
Suddenly, he heard a straight wind-like sound. Then it hit him. A blue mist was around his body, and his heart was pounding. Weirdly, the headache like sensation now felt like a pleasant, comfortable state of freedom. And he knew what word to call this newfound energy in himself.
The time has come for you to peer into your heart. The many sides of you that you harbour, whether they are the kind, nurturing father, or the fierce, brutal guardian. All of them are you. Be your own mind, and fight! So you can shield the ones you love.
As he opened his eyes, everything seemed to have changed. He no longer felt fear or dread. He saw the 'Shadow' that was ahead of him, still hell-bent on freezing him to death, and smirked.
"Huh?! What are you so happy about? Wait – NO! I thought you didn't have one of those things -"
Shigeru simply gave her a smug smile, and stood tall, eyeing her down. Her red eyes widened with horror, as he called out the word she was dreading. The one that in Shigeru's head, he needed to cry out.
"PERSONA!"
Immediately, there was a gigantic flash of blue light, and a hurricane of blue wind seemed to encircle him. The Yuki Jyorou stopped in her tracks and gasped. She hadn't been preparing for this – she trembled, and cried out in shock.
Shigeru stared also in awe at the powerful being in front of him. It had a human body, dressed in a striking black suit, complete with a white cravat, spiked belt and armoured, pointed silver boots. Also equipped was a long flowing black cape, that had a dark blue current of energy flowing through it.
The being's head was covered with a long red scarf, exposing a pair of white eyes. A dark black helmet with large horns covered most of the head, revealing only grey skin and small tufts of white hair.
I am thou. Thou art I. From thy sea of thy soul, I cometh. I art Dis Pater, and my duty is to imprison sinners within the horrors of their own underworld.
"Let's destroy this demon! Whatever you are, you'll pay dearly for mocking my family..." Shigeru said, cracking his knuckles. "Dis Pater! Fight!"
The 'Persona' complied. It leapt up in the air and swung out its arms, fists clenched – and giant blue energy blades appeared from beneath the sleeves. It hurled down and drove both through the Shadow's heart – sending the cold demon to its knees.
"This can't be happening...I...I'm going to die now, aren't I?"
"...This is the first time I'll have ever committed a murder." Shigeru said. "But I have a home to be returning to. Getting in the way of that was your mistake."
"Fine...it's not like there aren't others like me, anyway. The Shadows will exist here as long as humans exist in your world. Just know this...you're not the only one with your power. I've not met any of the others, but they're all planning something big! Wonder what will happen if you just leave them be..."
Infuriated, his anger took control of him. He looked at Dis Pater, and pointed towards the snow demon. Nodding, Dis Pater sent forth a blast of dark energy, or 'Eiha', and the ice demon was struck down. She screamed in pain, and her body dissolved into darkness.
"It's over..." Shigeru said.
All he could think about was getting home. With difficulty, he returned to Sogen Park, looking at his Gnosis all the while. Breathing a sigh of relief, he found an application that could take him back to this 'Akartharto Kosmos', as it had been described to him. In seconds, he was back in the park, surrounded by the same people was before.
"So where are you taking me tonight?" A young woman said, gazing dreamily into her boyfriend's eyes, as they walked straight past Shigeru.
"It's a surprise!" The young man said, and they laughed happily on their way out of the park. Shigeru, blinking, couldn't believe it. Had no one seem him vanish into thin air?
"I need to get home. I can't...take any more of this." Shigeru said. He made his way home, his mind still struggling to comprehend what had happened. Arriving at his large home on the south of Totsuka, he tried to act as if everything was normal. Yet he couldn't stop thinking about how close he had come to dying. And the possibility of others with the same power as his – who may wish to use it to harm others.
|April 8th 2017|Grand Laguna Hotel|18:25 pm|
"Dis Pater saved me, but there was worse to come around the corner," Shigeru concluded. "I couldn't just leave things the way they were. I had to confide in someone."
"Who was that?" Masato asked, fidgeting.
"Her name is Yuko - a woman I knew in college, who entered the political world at the same time I did. A woman whose skills led her to be elected Mayor Ashikaga of Shinshuto City." Shigeru said.
Kohaku gasped. "Wow, the Mayor? I've never met her, but my mother really admires her. I can't believe she knows about this too!"
"Yuko and I are firm friends. Even so, I wasn't sure she'd believe such a far-fetched story. But she was patient with me. She asked me to take her to this 'Theio Kosmos'. And, I did."
"Was that the best idea?" Kei asked, apprehensively.
"What are you suggesting? That I should have involved someone else, like my family?" Shigeru asked, suddenly angry again.
"Not at all. There's no way I could ever tell my parents about this world." Shintaro said.
"I never told anyone in my family what the Gnosis could actually do." Masato said. "And I can't let either my bro or sis find out. And if my mother found out, well..." He shuddered at the thought. "We can't just blab about this world to anyone."
"What happened after you showed this Kosmos to the Mayor, Komatsu-san?" Kei asked.
"She told me, in full sincerity, that I could investigate this world fully. Soon after I discovered this world existed, Bythos emerged. With the words they were using, I knew right away that they were cognizant of this world as well. Before long, the number of Shadows here sky-rocketed." Shigeru said. "The Mayor wants Bythos destroyed. But she has no Persona to face them with."
"So you're tasked with facing Bythos all on your own?" Shintaro asked, finally looking the man in the eyes. "That's a lot of pressure."
"Obviously." Shigeru said, raising an eyebrow in derision. "Fortunately, five others came forward with a Gnosis of their own, all mailed to them in similar circumstances. Each of them had been preprogrammed to tell them to contact me. It took some convincing for a few members, but I'm always grateful for their support. So far, all we've been able to do is do reconnaissance across the city, and practice fighting Shadows."
"I-I wasn't sure what to think when that package arrived at my student accommodation," Novalie said. "But I had a feeling that with this Gnosis, I'd have the chance to protect this city from the darkness. Then I awoke to Saga, my Persona. So strong, so powerful..."
"Novalie was the first out of the five to awaken to her Persona. Hiroyuki followed shortly after her." Shigeru continued. "Our research into the Theio Kosmos continued. Unfortunately, we failed to save the Chief of Police. We were waylaid by Shadows that night...and we still don't know how they performed the killing."
"We first picked up your readings on Monday," Novalie said. "Our Gnosis devices have an app that lets us detect activity in each area of the city. We were able to detect a lot of disturbances in Bella Donna...and upon analysing the residual data, we gained a rough idea of what your Personas looked like. Ogma, Airmid and Ostara."
"You guys have been studying us all this time, without even knowing it?" Kohaku asked, shocked. "That's scary..."
"I'm sorry, Kohaku." Novalie said, sadly. "We wanted to make sure which side you were on. We were trying to locate you the next again day, but something interfered with our search. By the time we discovered you had been to Yorokobi, it was too late. The battle was over, and you had returned home."
"Then came the day of Yoshinaga's awakening. Your third foray into the Theio Kosmos, I believe." Shigeru said. "We were able to track your movements up until a point. Then, when a fourth Gnosis appeared, all our data became scrambled, and we weren't able to pinpoint your location. No doubt this EX-NIHILO was responsible."
"And today you finally reached us..." Shintaro said.
"I could tell you were on the verge of dealing the Squad a second defeat. Had you done so, you would most likely have left the Kosmos and returned home, and we'd still be trying to reach you." Shigeru said. "It wasn't until I saw Teruya-san in the Sodai Box Office putting away her Gnosis that I knew she was one of the people we were searching for."
"You actually saw it?" Kohaku said. "Oh my god - I was trying so hard to hide it!"
"Carelessness is something you need to avoid," Shigeru said. "However, throughout my work as a politician, I've had the pleasure of meeting Tomokazu and Naoko many times. It's a pleasure to finally meet their beloved daughter."
"Those are Kohaku-chan's parents, right?" Masato asked.
"Yes, that's right. Do they talk about me that way?" Kohaku asked, stunned.
"Of course they do," Shigeru said, finally showing a smile, albeit a small one. "It must be difficult, not having them around as much. I can sympathise. Now that we've finally become acquainted, I'd like to extend an invitation to join our group."
"Huh? Become part of the Persona & Shadow Secret Investigation Bureau?" Masato asked. "Hey, I remembered the full name on the first try. Skills."
"Even I couldn't remember the full name until you said it..."
Shintaro began to think. Was this the best way forward to fighting Bythos? Shigeru had
"Hmm." Kohaku began. "If we were to join, what would you expect of us?"
"I obviously can't ask you to sacrifice your education. That's out of the question." Shigeru said. "For most of this city's redevelopment, I've been advancing the field of education here. Kansei and Chieki are the schools my superiors are expecting the most from. All I ask is for you to continue what you've been doing so far."
"You mean, coming here after school, fighting Shadows?" Shintaro asked.
"That's correct. Except now you shall report to me – or if I'm unavailable, any other of the 'senior' members." Shigeru said.
Novalie bit her lip, dismayed. "Senior? I'm only 22 years old, Mr. Komatsu."
"You know what I mean. What I'm most curious about is young Kei's ability. The 'Wild Card', I believe you called it." Shigeru said. "I've never seen anyone with the potential to summon more than one Persona. You just may become our secret weapon..."
"I'll try my best to live up to your expectations, Komatsu-san." Kei said.
"Don't strain yourself. You're still young - and the last thing I want to happen is for either of your lives to be ruined by this." Shigeru said. "If I wasn't desperate for other allies, I'd never have agreed for students like yourself to take part..."
"But Mr. Komatsu, they've done really well up until now. I think we can put our faith in these children." Novalie said.
"It's not that I don't trust them," Shigeru said. "But people like them shouldn't have to raise weapons and fight. Nor should you, Novalie. You're supposed to be completing your degree at Shinshuto City College."
Novalie simply smiled. "I'd like to ensure that there will still be a Shinshuto City for people like me to study in. And my grades haven't slipped yet. You don't have to worry about me. I'd be more concerned about getting that coffee stain out of that shirt."
Shigeru laughed sheepishly and tried to cover the stain with his jacket, his face red. Alas, Shintaro just managed to glimpse it, and chuckled slightly as well. This man was tough, but he was warm inside. Working alongside him, Novalie, and Hiroyuki would be for their benefit.
Masato, however, wasn't quite as amused and drummed his fingers on his chair's armrests impatiently. "Then that settles it. We're officially part of the...um...is there a shorthand for this group?"
"It's a bit of an unwieldy name, yes," Novalie admitted. "so I'll be honest. The current name is something of a working title. We've not really had time to give ourselves an official handle."
Shigeru nodded. Then, after a moment of silence, his eyes lit up. It seemed he had an idea. "Perhaps, as part of your first group meeting, you'd like to make a suggestion for a true name for our group. Consider it your first assignment."
"Um..." Masato was somewhat flustered. He hummed and hawed, before eventually turning to Shintaro.
Well, I did read up on something earlier. Here goes.
"The word 'Gnosis' means 'knowledge', right? It's where 'Gnostic' originates from. I'm something of an expert at etymology."
"And modesty," Kei said, smirking. Shintaro frowned, while Masato giggled.
Kohaku concentrated but shook her head. "Sorry, everyone, but I'm useless at coming up with names. It's why all of my flute music has names like 'Song 1', 'Melody B', 'Really Nice Waltz'."
"All undeniably intimidating names that will go down in history," Shigeru said, completely deadpan. "Any more ideas?"
"Yes, I've got one. Knowledge Seekers." Kei said.
Novalie, intrigued, leaned in closer. "Knowledge Seekers? So those constantly pursuing new knowledge, especially of this surreal world that apes our own."
"Better than anything I had." Masato sheepishly admitted.
"It works for me!" Shintaro said. "How about you two?"
"Most of our lives have involved seeking knowledge of some kind," Kohaku said. "To learn more about this bizarre alternate world that exists parallel to our own, and uncover its mysteries - that should be our goal."
Kei nodded. "Yes. What's most important, of course, is to make sure no one can abuse that knowledge. I don't want those of evil ambitions to make sure of this world for their own ends. If they do, then I'll cut every last one of them down!"
"Wow..." Masato said. "That sounded pretty badass right now. I'm glad I'm on your side."
"Very well. Knowledge Seekers it shall be." Shigeru said. As he said this, Shintaro thought he heard Kei's phone vibrate, but she didn't react. "As for this hotel - obviously, I'm not quite rich enough to own this building or even rent out the suite indefinitely. But, in this world of the Theio Kosmos, it was mine for the taking."
Meaning Bythos hadn't turned it into a base of their own?
"The world here responds to its inhabitant's desires," Novalie said, gesturing to her surroundings. "Thus, we could potentially transform rooms, or maybe even entire floors of this hotel into more specific features."
"This core appeared in my hand the day we first went inside," Shigeru said.
He held out a glass orb in his hand, orchid in colour, that seemed to be bathed in deep pink energy. It seemed slightly larger than a tennis ball, and from the way it was being held, considerably heavier. Shintaro and his friends leaned in closer, transfixed.
"Unfortunately, I have no idea what it is called. But the one who possesses this core can influence the building, and reshape it in the Theio Kosmos. Not only that, they may be able to affect the Akartharto version of the same building."
Kohaku blinked, confused. "Really?! These orbs have that kind of power?"
"The only proof for that theory – so far – is that one evening, when Shigeru entrusted me with the orb, I was walking into a room on this floor – only to have wound up in the actual hotel room. Thankfully, the guests were sleeping, and didn't see me." Novalie said, shuddering. "But let's just say sleepwear was invented for a good reason."
Shigeru cleared his throat, somewhat uncomfortable. "Since the Gnosis hasn't offered a name, I'll suggest one of my own." Shigeru said. "We'll call these 'Cognition Cores'."
"Ah, so like the cogs of a machine and the human cognition," Shintaro said, smirking.
"Are you trying to be clever with your wordplay?" Shigeru said, raising an eyebrow at him again.
Defeated, Shintaro's smirk faded rapidly. "Um, not really. I'll make a note of these cores. Strange, we never saw any cores in any of the other places we've been to up until now."
"Did we actually try to go inside the clock tower at Yorokobi, though?" Kohaku asked. "Perhaps we could try to take over that building for ourselves."
"What are we going to do with a clock tower, though? Can't we do something cooler? Like the baseball stadium?" Masato asked, eagerly. "That would be awesome!"
"I...think we shouldn't bite off more than we can chew," Novalie said, laughing nervously.
"But man, it's sweet having a hotel suite for a base!" Masato said, gazing out of the huge window. "If only I could tell Dorothy about this."
Shigeru frowned, crossing his arms.
"Not that I ever would, obviously! I'm not that dumb!"
Eager to spare his friend a stern lecture, Shintaro spoke up. "Komatsu-san, did you want to ask us anything else?"
"Not at the moment," Shigeru said. "You may return home. I'll send you the Pathway data for this building, of course."
"Before we go, there's something I wanted to ask," Kohaku said, somewhat anxious. "There are six members in your team, right? Is Keiya Tsukino one of you?"
"What?" Novalie asked, confused. "I've heard the name, but he's definitely not part of our group. Why do you ask?"
"Well..." Kohaku said. "Our friend Akari saw him in Midori Park, performing a card trick. He was somehow able to put an entire suit of cards into her pocket without her even seeing him."
"And she saw him using a phone that looked just like my Gnosis," Kei said. "Akari was with us when I purchased my own, so she saw it at the time. As far as she's concerned, it's just a regular smartphone that's started to become popular."
"I see. Then..." Shigeru said, grimly. "It appears we finally know the identity of an Aeon Administrator."
The group looked at each other, ill at ease. Keiya, the mysterious card magician, was an enemy. But what could he possibly gain from joining a group like Bythos? Was he capable of true magic, not just tricks?
"One of the Shadows we defeated at Chieki Academy said something about 'the moon guy'. And also, a 'video lady', but I've no idea who that would be." Kei said.
Wait, weren't we talking about videos after school?
"Mr. Komatsu, what are your thoughts?" Novalie asked, nervous.
"This is enough intel to work with," Shigeru said. "So you can go home for now. I'll be able to contact you via your Gnosis devices from here on out – if I find out anything more about Keiya or this 'video lady', I'll keep you informed."
"Likewise, Komatsu-san." Kei said. "And thank you very much for your hospitality."
"More than happy to help! I hope we meet again soon!" Novalie said. "It must have been scary, fighting on your own, but I swear I'll do my best to help you out. All of us will."
With that, the group transported back to Sogen Park, leaving Novalie and Shigeru in the suite by themselves.
"What do you think of them, Novalie?" Shigeru asked.
"Well, the red-haired boy certainly seemed enamoured with the biscuits I made -"
"Not that!" Shigeru snapped. "Do you think they're trustworthy?"
"Oh...sorry," Novalie said, looking away from him. "It's early days, but they all had such earnest looks in their eyes. I think they'll be of great help to us."
"You're quite the optimistic one. But..." Shigeru said. "Now we have a name for one of their members. At least, one that actually could post a threat."
"True..." Novalie said. "The Aeon Administrators, supposedly their members who have genuine Personas. The time may come when we fight them. And their leader may even finally show herself. I can only hope we prevail against them..."
"You're not getting scared now, are you?" Shigeru said. "We were chosen for a reason. Perhaps by this 'Philemon', or another force. We cannot falter."
"Exactly," Novalie said. "I want the same thing as you, Mr. Komatsu. For this city to be at peace. Especially for people as young as our new guests."
"Good. Then we'll begin our research into this amateur magician immediately." Shigeru said, getting up from his chair. "You and Sagá may be on the frontlines soon enough."
"My Persona is more than ready for him!" Novalie said, confidently.
"I sincerely hope you're right." Shigeru said, looking out of the window. "...They're out there, in this city. If in the Akarharto Kosmos, they're acting as if everyone is completely normal. If in this Kosmos, they're planning their next move, unaware that we're plotting against them. Mark my words, Novalie. I will crush Bythos into the dust!"
The two of them left the hotel, hoping to rest after a long day. Yet what battles lay ahead?
|Sogen Park|
Hiroyuki Kita arrived and saw the signs of a fierce battle. Hurriedly, he reached the fountain and saw a spear that had been submerged during the altercation. Lying beside the fountain were two young men. One had a shaved head covered with tattoos, and he seemed to have numerous small scars all over his skin. No doubt this boy had a history of violence, perhaps even before Bythos had recruited him. The other seemed more refined, yet as he was lying face down, his clothes soaking wet, he wasn't particularly dignified at this moment in time.
"...You boys having fun, playing army?" The soldier said, as he lifted the two men up. While heavy, he was able to carry them across his shoulders. "Dumb kids. Bythos probably asked them to swear some kind of oath. Like I did for this country. Why couldn't they have tried the real military, instead of this group of fools? I guess they'll have to think about that while they're in prison."
Just as he was about to warp to the Shinshuto North Police Station, he realised something. Only two members of the Claret Squad, Fumihiro and Ryosei, were here.
"Where's the other one? The girl? Dammit. Ueda! Show yourself!"
Hiroyuki, disturbed, looked all over the park, on the look out for Hisaya – as well as the Shadows. Unfortunately, however, it seemed as if Hisaya had escaped. Perhaps she was calling for backup, or she had fled to save her own skin. To the man of the JSDF, cowardice was the greatest sin a human could commit. Especially if their friends were in danger.
"I better report this to Komatsu right away. He's not going to be happy..." Hiroyuki said, grimacing. "But we'll find Ueda. Not just her. Nisa Liat too. And all of the Aeons. They will all be brought to justice!"
With that, Hiroyuki disappeared with his two new captives.
Very close to the park, someone was watching the scene from the top of a skyscraper – a relatively small tower called the Regency Pillar, in which several offices and a high-end restaurant were. It had been neglected both by Shigeru's team and Bythos, but it had come in handy tonight as a hiding place.
"Phew. He's finally gone."
Hisaya Ueda breathed a huge sigh of relief. She had been the first to awaken after her defeat, but she had a gut feeling she would be in trouble if she hung around. She ran as far as her legs could carry her, and forced her away into the building.
"Fumihiro... Ryosei... I'm so sorry!"
She wiped away her tears, which stung her face, and stared at the now-empty Sogen Park. Many more tears came, and she buried her head in her hands. There hadn't been any time to save her friends, and now she might never see them again.
"Is that all you can do? Make hollow apologies and cry like an infant?"
Hisaya gasped, heart pounding. She turned around and saw the one man she had been dreading to see. A tall man with black hair, tied in a long ponytail and clad in a blue cape and black suit. And his face was full of disdain.
"K-Keiya!" Hisaya said, shuddering. "I mean, Tsukino-san!"
"You should have realised that failure two times in a row wasn't going to earn you any favours. Your squad wasn't known for its success in the first place, after all." Keiya said, holding out his arms dramatically. "Shall I remind you of the dismal reports we've collected over the past four weeks? Nisa Liat didn't find them enjoyable to read, leaving me in a very difficult position!"
Hisaya bit her lip, ashamed. "I know we messed up, Tsukino-san," Hisaya said. "But I...I'll make sure we get stronger -"
"And how exactly do you intend to accomplish that?" Keiya challenged her. He almost seemed to be enjoying her fear. "There's only so far you can go with an artificial Persona. Yes, we can find the ones most compatible with your own vile psyche, but unless you can somehow develop your own innate Persona, you'll never be able to compete on our level. In time, those children who defeated you will vastly overshadow you. Especially if they keep up their annoying habit of adding to their team."
"Don't say that!" Hisaya said, sadly. "We can get Fumihiro and Ryosei out of jail, I know we can!"
"And what would we gain from doing so?" Keiya asked, raising an eyebrow. "The situation is changing. Our enemies have started to show their true face. We gave you the means to escape your home life – which you did rather gruesomely, might I add. What have you done to repay us? I'm waiting..."
"I...well..." Hisaya said, with a lump in her throat. She was full of shame, and fear. Her only two friends had been captured and were not likely to be released any time soon. And Keiya, the boss of her squad, was denigrating her rather severely. None of the other Aeon Administrators was likely to fight her corner.
"Perhaps we'd get more use out of you if we made use of Shadow Compression," Keiya said.
Hisaya looked up at him, alarmed. "No! You...can't be serious! I don't want to – I won't end up like Nox! I want to be human..."
Keiya smiled wickedly, and let out a dark laugh.
"Ha! Predictable as ever. Although that would be a fate worse than death, most would agree."
Hisaya bit her lip, but she was relieved. With any luck, she could avoid being forcibly transformed into an abomination against nature.
"Then I shall give you an order. Rescue your comrades, and with them, destroy Kei Kakusa and her allies." Keiya threw a red Gnosis at her, and she grabbed it. "Come to headquarters with me, immediately. We'll choose a new Persona, one that will prove far more vicious than either Moh Shuvuu or Mermaid ever were. After that, the rest is all down to you. Bring honour to the Claret Squad, Hisaya Ueda. It's long overdue."
Hisaya nodded, and with Keiya's Gnosis, they were spirited away to parts unknown. The wind blew through the park, and it began a tranquil place once more.
Tranquillity, however, would not be the order of the coming days.