Disclaimer: Fate series and Persona series belong to their awesome owner. I do not own anything.
'But your kindness will cause you to end up lonely.'
- Ryoji Mochizuki (Persona 3 The Movie)
"I cannot believe this." Ren murmured to himself as the stagecoach stop and the driver opened the door. "We have reached our destination, young lady." The man said and reach his hand at him. "Young lady…right…" He said and then his memory of this morning flashback to his mind. After Nero and the others returned from their visit to Boudica camp, Astolfo quickly rushes towards him while ignoring the greetings of Medusa's older sister. Dragging him outside the palace, the paladin carefully checks their surrounding, seeing no one besides the two, Astolfo look at him with hopeful eyes that send shiver on his entire body.
"No." Ren replied in a deadpan manner before the paladin could say anything. "You didn't even let me speak!" He cried out with teary eyes. "Just hear me out, I need your help!" Letting a tired sigh out of his mouth, the thief sent a look at him to continue. "I want you to cross-dress for me and act as my lover-" Astolfo stop when he realizes that Ren is running away from him. "Come back here!" He said before chasing the raven-haired man. "I told you, that was the last time I'm going to wear that!" He shouted, but before he could reach the palace door, Astolfo landed in front of him with the Hippogriff blocking the entrance. "I'm in super need for your help, Ren!"
"I'm not going to cross-dress for you." The thief replied and tried to maneuver his way on toward the palace, but the Hippogriff's massive eagle wings become a hindrance on his way inside. "Help me! I don't want that sassy Goddess to step on me." The paladin pleaded. "I refuse to wear those clothes!" Ren replied as he finds a way on this obstacle. "Come on, this girl won't stop unless I'd prove that her charm won't work on me." Astolfo stated while controlling the beast to follow the thief every move. "You don't have to prove anything. Because I believe in you, Astolfo." Ren genuine words made the paladin blush in embarrassment. "Really?-"
The raven-haired man saw his opportunity to run after the paladin let his guard down. Running as fast as he could toward the entrance, he didn't dodge the flying paladin body from tackling him to the ground. "You sneaky thief, No! you can't go inside." Astolfo said while tightening his hold on Ren's arms. "Just let me go!" Ren replied as he tried to squirm his way out from the paladin grasps. "Not until you decide to help me!" Astolfo stated then lock the thief in an iron grip. "What are you doing?" They heard a feminine voice somewhere, searching who it was, they saw Altera standing on the entranceway. The girl then walks toward the two before squatting on the ground and let go of the cat on her arms.
"Hello, Altera." Ren and Astolfo replied awkwardly on the girl. "Hello, Morgana." They said and greeted the cat who tilted its head after looking at the two. "By the way, what is cross-dressing?" Her innocent question made Ren felt a cold sweat rolled on his forehead. "H-how long have been there?" He nervously asks the white-haired girl. "I've been here on the entrance playing with Morgana before the two of you came here." Altera answered, the girl then become puzzled from seeing the man very nervous. "I see." He answered and force out a smile.
"What is cross-dressing? I've answered your question, but mine still left unanswered." She asks and Ren tried to think of an answer as the awkwardness grew. "Let me answer that for you!" Astolfo said before releasing the thief on his lock. "What are you doing?" Ren asks after noticing the mischievousness smile on the paladin's face. "I'm just going to answer, Altera-chan question." He said before going to the girl's side and whispering to her ears. Altera blushes immediately while looking at him in surprise. "Just what did you tell on the poor girl, Astolfo." The paladin giggled before answering. "Exactly what cross-dressing is." He replied then to his surprise, Altera wiggled toward him, but this time she's staring at him in awe.
"I wanna see it, Ren." The girl asks cheerfully and excitedly. "I want to see the girl version of you." She said, this time the girl elaborate on what she wanted to see on the man in front of her. "I can't." He answered and felt crestfallen from seeing the girl down. "Not only you don't want to help me, but you also made Altera sad, you're a heartless man, Ren." Astolfo said before crossing his arm and look at him in disappointment. "You're a bad civilization, Ren." Altera murmured as she hides her face on her knees. "Anything but that, Altera." He said but the girl didn't reply. "I'll cook you curry, just anything but that, please." The thief tried to talk his way out of this situation, but his attempt didn't work.
Letting a sigh of defeat, He then looked at the paladin who made the situation worse. "I can't believe you drag Altera onto this," Ren stated at the paladin in disbelief. Seeing the girl sad, he could not even walk away knowing that the guilt will haunt him. Ascertain that there are no other choices left on him, he disregards his protest and swallowed his pride as he answers. "Fine, I'll do it." Ren immediately gets tackled to the ground by Astolfo and Altera. "Yay!" They cried out happily. His flashback ended there as the voice of the man called him out. "Are you okay, young lady?"
He nodded and stepped out of the stagecoach. "I never imagined myself going on a date as a male cross-dresser." Ren murmured and felt a cold breeze touches his body. "My body is itching from this evening gown." He said in a protest on the itchy feelings all around his body. "Well, I accepted it so I should deal with it." The thief adjusts the fake glasses that Altera provided and then walk toward the restaurant that Astolfo said to meet up. Entering the place, he felt embarrassed by earning a stare from the guard that opened the door and the clerk attending on the entrance. Asking where the paladin is, the clerk bashfully offered her assistant and lead him to their table. "There she is!" Astolfo said after seeing him. "This is my lover." He proudly shows him on the goddess seating across their table.
"I'm-" Ren immediately realizing his mistake. He stops himself and cleared his throat, He cannot use his normal voice, he needed to change it into something feminine. "My name is Ran." He calmly said while imitating Hifumi's voice. A cool and collected girl, that is his character right now, he can pull this off as long as he stays on that character. "You look very charming, Ran. I can tell that you catch a lot of eyes on your way here." Stheno replied with a soft smile, but he can feel that smile is a forced one. "My name is Stheno." She said before offering her hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Sthe-" Ren got interrupted when Astolfo shoves his hand on him.
"I know that you aren't used on wearing high heels so why not have a seat." The paladin said and present a chair beside him. "Thank you very much." He replied and comfortably sit on the chair. "The foods already arrived, so we can now start eating, I'm actually hungry if I say so to myself," Astolfo commented and take a seat on the chair beside him. "Very well," Stheno replied and decided to let that one slide. "Hopefully you don't mind me for wanting to know who's Astolfo lover is." She said and take the wine glass on the table. "His friends are also here, but don't mind them, they're just here to meet you on the distance. Actually, why don't you wave at them, they're just behind us with some few tables away."
Slowly turning around, Ren looks behind him to know who's the friend of Astolfo is she talking about. Following the goddess instruction, he follows the row of tables behind them and got surprised when he saw everyone including Hakuno staring at him. The girls are staring at him in pure awe while the males are looking at Astolfo in pure hatred and jealousy. Sending an awkward wave at the group, he immediately shifted his focus on Astolfo and pulled closer to whisper. "They going to get suspicious about why I'm not here." He said. "Don't worry, before we leave I told them that you're going somewhere to buy stuff." The paladin replied before giving him a thumbs up. "Don't worry, we have Altera for support, she'll find a way to not get anyone find out about you."
The two watched the group behind them, they saw Marie whispering onto the saint's ear. "You think so?" Jeanne asks in wonder. "I'm sure everyone is curious about who's that girl is, right?" The queen smile as she asks the girls on their table. "She might be a servant or maybe just a normal girl. But if she is a servant." Marie giggled as she continues. "Then perhaps you could use your servant skill to tell us her name." Hearing her suggestion, Jeanne shakes her head. "I think its better if we wait until Astolfo introduces her to us." She answered, but out her surprise, Medusa speaks up. "Honestly, I would become more comfortable if that girl is a servant. That way she could at least protect herself from my sister."
"I do as well, Stheno usually someone who'd rather stay in bed than to go on places like this. Only a few instances where she wanted to do stuff, mostly for the sake of entertainment, when she did, believe me, it's going to end up into something terrible." Euryale commented before staring in disbelief at the girl that Astolfo invited. "Their relationship is definitely on the line." She said in pity upon the two 'Lover'. "That sounds horrible…" Jeanne replied. "Then maybe I could look into her." She said and was about to use her skill 'True Name Discernment' at the girl, but got interrupted when Altera tagged her arms. "Jeanne…could you help me eat these vegetables?"
"Eh?" The saint let out in confusion. "Altera, you should eat your vegetable, not only they are healthy they also help you grow," Hakuno stated at the small girl. "But-." Altera is about to protest on her master, but the voice of the saint stops her. "What Hakuno said is true, vegetables are important for a growing girl like you." She said before patting the top of the girl's head. Jeanne smiled after seeing the pouting face of Altera. "I can't help you with your vegetables, but I can teach you some stuff that I did when I was a kid to not taste their bitterness." She said before offering a seat beside her.
"See? Altera did a noble sacrifice for you." Astolfo's comment made Ren sigh in disbelief. "There are three of us in this table, but I feel like only the two of you are talking at each other," Stheno stated with a pout on her face, seeing the paladin become panic, she smiled in amusement. "By the way Ran, you look very different from the picture that Astolfo showed me." Ren becomes puzzled after hearing that, he then looks at Astolfo who sheepishly smiled while scratching the behind of his head. "You look like a dominatrix cop from this photo." She said then showed the picture that made Ren's body shivered. "Now you look like a very calm and collected. Quite frankly, I cannot imagine hearing such feminine voice of yours shouting while spanking the bodies of men."
"Astolfo told me that he take this picture when the two of you role-played. From the tone on his voice, I could tell that he enjoyed everything that happened during that." Ren and Astolfo look into each other. The former is sending a disgusted look, while the latter is smiling awkwardly. Meanwhile at the tables of the male servants. "I cannot believe that Astolfo could get a hot girlfriend," Charlemagne said in jealousy on the pink-haired paladin lover. "Yeah…how did he manage to have one while wearing an article of female clothing." Nameless replied in disbelief. "Is there something on your mind, Gawain?" He asks the knight who's been quiet for a while now.
"That girl…" He utter before facing the three male servants. "The way she carries herself with confidence, even though she looks likes struggling from walking with those high heeled shoes, it was beautiful, those thighs are not just appealing but also look strong as it keeps itself in balance," Gawain said in satisfaction. "Oh, you're a man of culture as well sir Gawain?" said the king of the paladin in wonder. "I know that you've said that as a compliment, but please try to restrain yourself from saying that kind of stuff, alright?" Nameless said with a sigh. "That is right, sometimes its better to keep those thoughts for yourself, just like what Archer does." Hearing Euryale's comment, Archer looks at her in confusion.
"What do you mean?" The female goddess chuckled after he asks. "You've probably thought about lap pillow from the moment you saw her, isn't that right?" She said before sending a teasingly smile at the nameless archer. "Is that true, Archer?" Hakuno joined the conversation as she looks in disbelief and disgust at the man. "That is not true!" He replied in panic, due to his reaction, Euryale and Hakuno let out a giggle from successfully teasing the collected man. After eating the last bit of vegetable on her plate, she remembers the request she asks Ren after seeing him wearing female clothing. "Ren lap pillow is a good civilization," Altera started happily. Everyone looks at her in confusion. "Ren's lap pillow?" Marie beat everyone from asking the same question.
"Um…w-what I mean is…" The white-haired girl then has begun to panic when everyone's eyes are on her. "Toilet!" She cried out before running in panic at the restaurant restroom. "Altera is acting weird," Hakuno said before following the poor girl onto the restroom. Everyone is still in wonder what the girl meant by what she said, but Charlemagne breaks everyone's thoughts when he notices another person who's acting weird. "Hey Roland, you're awfully quiet. Are you nervous about your coming fight?" He ponders the paladin strange behavior. "I think…I saw that girl before." The wielder of Durandal answered. "My body, it wants to embrace that alluring body of hers."
"Wait for a second, calm down, Roland. You don't want to ruin their date, right?" Charlemagne nervously stated as he places his hand onto the broad man's shoulder. "Charles, make sure that hand of yours is strong enough to hold my burning desire," Roland replied before giving his king an intense gaze. As the king stares onto the paladin's eyes, his traumatic memories back on France where he stops this man from rampaging started to visit his mind once again. "Please, don't let that happen again. I don't want to get chased by a naked man." He whispered and prayed upon the God above.
Meanwhile, back to Astolfo's table. "I didn't enjoy it though." Ren imitating Hifumi's voice answered honestly while stopping himself from shouting to Astolfo from keeping those pictures. "But if he enjoyed it, then perhaps his a masochist all along." Stheno giggled from his statement, she then looks at the paladin across her. "So you do like getting stepped on, huh?" The girl teasingly commented. "Not by you! If there are any feet that I wanted to step on me, then it's hers." As soon as he pointed his finger at Ren, the thief in evening gown raise his hand in disagreement on what Astolfo has said. "I don't want my feet to be the source of your pleasure and enjoyment." He said in a deadpan manner.
"Hilarious, the great o' paladin, Astolfo, has a masochist side all along." Stheno poke fun at the pink-haired paladin who's trying to reach out at Ren but only getting stopped by a hand on his face. "If you don't want to deal with it, Ran. Then I suggest to break up with him. After all his going to ended up as a toy once he succumbs to my charm." She suggests in a friendly tone. "I'm not going to hurt him, for my entertainment, I'm going to play with him, similar to every man who becomes my toy. I mean, when you get down to it, no one could resist my charm. Failure to resist is inevitable." Stheno stated before tasting the poured wine glass on their table.
Hearing that made the paladin irritated, he's about to say his objection, but stop when he heard Ren's voice. "Hearing the insecurity on your voice is pitiful." Stheno didn't take his comment lightly, she tightens her hold on the glass wine and stared angrily at Ren. "Insecurity? Please, I'm a goddess that can make everyone here praise my name with joy. It was proven long ago, so tell me, is there any insecurity in that?" He could only smirk from her statement, which the girl notice and become even more angry at him. "Wipe that smirk on your face and answer my question."
"If there no sign of uncertainty or anxiety on you. Then why are you getting so worked up from making Astolfo one of those men that didn't resist your charm?" Ren asks in his normal voice. "Are you afraid that there's a man that could resist you? Maybe you thought every man are the same and only wanted one thing? Or perhaps you're afraid that someone could break upon that thick ego of yours-" Stheno slammed her hand on the table and made Ren stop. This didn't go unnoticed as Hakuno and her group of servants looks at them in concern.
"You're wrong…" Stheno uttered in mixed anger and sadness in her voice. "Wrong? Then why-" Ren stop when Astolfo tapped his shoulder and shake his head. Letting out a sigh, he nodded his head at Astolfo. "I'm sorry." Ren sincerely apologizes to the downcast goddess. "Maybe we should start all over again," Astolfo suggested at the two. "We should not sweat over proving trivial stuff, to begin with." He said and place his chair in the middle between the two. "I mean if my reward for being victorious would make you sad, then I forfeit, in the end, I won't feel satisfied with it." Astolfo let out a beaming smile at the two. "I want those people who think I will fail to become dumbstruck when I prove them wrong. It much more satisfying that way!"
"We started on the wrong foot, so perhaps a reintroduction could solve it. Anyway, I'm Astolfo, one of the twelve paladins of Charlemagne. I hope we could become friends!" Stheno looks at the paladin in puzzled. "Friends? You're going to become my toy so why should I-" The girl stop when she saw the paladin smile at her in the middle of her protest. "Come to think of it, maybe we should call you by other names to avoid getting charmed," Astolfo commented which the thief in evening gown agreed. "What name should that be…" The paladin hum as he thinks of a name to use for the goddess.
"Hey, are you not listening! I said-" Once again she got interrupted, but this time it was due to Ren. "Do you really want to stop him?" He asks the goddess across their table. "I mean, look he's finding a way to befriend with you without getting charmed." He chuckled from hearing the humming sound coming from Astolfo. "He's not going to listen to any of your protests anymore. He decided upon something, and that is to become your friend." As if on cue, the paladin finally come up with a name for her. "How about Stheyes!? clever doesn't it?" He excitedly asks. "Are you kidding me?" Stheno sighs in disbelief, but after hearing the sound of laughter across her, she couldn't stop herself from joining as well. "At least come up with a better one." She said with a genuine smile on her face.
"Um…" Astolfo then sent a look for help on Ren. "Maybe princess?" He suggested. "You two are hopeless." The girl said at the two who'd release a sigh from hearing that. "I'll allow you two to just call me Sthen." She stated before leaning on her chair to make her back comfortable. "That way you won't get charmed." After saying that, Stheno looks at Ren. "By the way, I notice the change in your voice." She said while staring in wonder at him. "It sounds very natural as well."
Stheno saw the girl(?) in question look very uncomfortable. She softly smiled when she slowly figured things out. "Did he force you into this?" Ren averted looking into her smile as she asks her question. "I got blackmailed into this." He answered, realizing that Stheno already figures it out after he accidentally speaks using his real voice, there's no point in hiding it anymore. But he can at least deny all the wrong assumptions from wearing female clothing. "I'm really uncomfortable with these clothes, so can I excuse myself now so I could leave?" The girl chuckled in sympathy in Ren and said. "I would like too, but I also wanted to see you more in that clothing."
"I'm going now," Ren replied and about to leave, but Astolfo called him out. "Wait, Ren!" The paladin cried out in an attempt to stop him from leaving. "Oh, it was you huh? No wonder someone is missing." Stheno commented. The sound of her giggles made him shudder. Looking behind him, he sent cold piercing stare at Astolfo and said. "I can't believe this." Ren then stormed his way toward the exit and leave. "I'm in trouble." said the paladin as he saw the stagecoach rode off. "Indeed you are." The goddess agrees and made the paladin sigh in defeat.
"Try not to tease him too much, alright?" Astolfo asks for favor at Stheno. "I cannot promise that. He looks enjoyable to tease, to be honest." She replied with a soft smile on her face. "I might not tease him too much if you made this evening more entertaining." The paladin stared in puzzled at her. "For starters, have you ever get drunk? Drunk men are hilarious to watch as they embarrassed themselves unknowingly." She then showed a bottle of alcoholic beverages on her hand. "How about it o' mighty paladin?" The mischievous smile on her face made him ill at ease. But for Ren's sake, he'll do it! "Fine!" He answered and wait for Stheno to finish pouring the glass wine. 'Hopefully, Roland will not mind it if I showed up tomorrow with a hangover.'
Another day is about to end. While Hakuno Kishinami stands dejectedly in front of the door to the dining room. The sovereign look very troubled as she trying to comprehend everything that just happened. As her hand touches the cold handle of the door, she wondered how she going to explain to everyone about Ren's condition. "Start by talking." She said to herself and took a deep breath before releasing it. Grabbing the handle, she opened the door and let herself in. Inside the room is all the servants that joined her faction. Both the new and the old one are waiting for her return from the throne. But she notices the crimson emperor looks like in the middle of a conversation with everyone.
"The reason why I invited them for a tournament is that," Nero about to explained on the group. "I wanted them to be inside Rome. Our enemy might attack us at any moment, so by having them caught in the middle of the war, we might able to establish a temporary alliance with them. Knowing Boudica, this might be my only chance for it to happen." She said with a sign of guilt on her voice. "I know that it isn't appropriate to drag some group on a war that they shouldn't be involved, I know that it sounds like I'm just using them. But we need every possible servant against our enemy."
"Trust me when I'd said that I wanted a fair and clean fight for tomorrow's event. Believe my words, that even I want them to be one of us, I'll respect their decision and will not push ourselves on them if they don't want to get involved with us." She said before noticing the girl who just entered the room. "Praetor…" The emperor felt saddened by having Hakuno know all of that. "There's nothing to feel shame about it, Nero. I understand it and always trust you on keeping true to your words." Hakuno reassures her most trusted servant. "I think everyone here also understands it, right?" She asks and saw their heads nod in agreement.
Taking a deep breath, Nero smiled and thanked the group for understanding. "By the way Praetor, how's Ren? Will he able to join in the front line with us?" asks the crimson saber. "About that." Hakuno steeled herself as she informed everyone about it. "I don't think he can." The girl pauses as she notices the shock on their faces. "Why? Direct contact with the Moon Cell should be enough to heal him," said Jeanne d'Arc in disbelief and worry. "Yes, it should. But the Moon Cell refuses to heal his body, sending me messages that Ren Amamiya is a threat in Seraph." Hakuno answered. "He isn't a threat we all know that!" Marie cried out. "He saved my country and my people from those monsters. I cannot understand why would the Moon Cell will think his a threat." The queen of France usually not letting her anger shown to people, but hearing what the Moon Cell thinks of Ren after what he has done for her and France, she couldn't stop herself from not be angry about it.
"I know…But from what the Moon Cell told me, he already becomes a threat before the summoning of the angels in France." Hakuno replied. "It appeared that Ren also summoned Demons. One got materialize while the other didn't, but its overwhelming presence is enough to send an alarm on the Moon Cell." She felt a chill run on her spine from knowing such beings appeared on Seraph. Demons, from what she knows, they are the embodiment of pure evil. Which made it very understandable why the Moon Cell become threaten about it. "I see, so that's why." Hearing Archer's voice, Hakuno wonders if he knows something, so she asks the composed servant about it.
"Maybe." He replied before starting his explanation. "As the norm follows, we are aware that the Moon Cell is a powerful artifact. Created by the unknown, this artifact entire purpose is to record the entire history of humanity, it has the ability to record the past, present, and future events on Earth, in theory, the Moon Cell could also record events from different worlds and a different timeline." Archer smiled softly to himself as he continues. "One could say that as long as there's a moon watching above the world, then the Moon Cell will continue its purpose to record."
"With that in mind, then the existence of the Holy Grail Wars happening from other worlds may have happened. But the Moon Cell holy grail war is different from any normal grail war. The setting and the way it handles the battle between master and servant while sticking to its original rule. But what I'm getting at is how many servants that got summoned. From what I remember it manages to summon over a hundred of a different servant without any restriction on which servant could be summoned. Be it eastern or western servants, good or evil, pure heroic spirits or mixed." He said and remembered all the servants he fought during that time. His expression then becomes troubled as he dwells from those memories. Archer came from a parallel world, the memory of his master and his defeat during the war isn't very pleasant. Shaking his head to rub off that memory, he then looks at the sovereign standing across him, just the sight of the girl made him calm for some reason he couldn't explain.
"Archer, why are you smiling at my praetor like that?" Nero utter as she pointed out the smile on his face. "Do I?" He asks before shrugging his shoulder and decided to not mention anything about it. "Moving on, as the grail war ended, Moon Cell expanded the world here in Seraph, it becomes more and more similar to Earth, and the number of servants living here increased as well. Knowing all of that, we could say that the Moon Cell has the power to make a world full of heroic servants due to not having any restrictions." Archer then pauses for a moment before continuing. "But then, I believe that there are beings that Moon Cell would not want inside here in Seraph."
"Beings like the 'Evil of Humanity' called Beast, or powerful divine spirits that could end the world, or perhaps one of the most frightening ones, beings that are born from another universe or even beyond that, the foreign entities. Does are the beings that Moon Cell would not allow to walk in the plain of Seraph, but if they somehow exist here, then the Moon Cell will send them to the 'Farside' where beings like similar to them are sealed off in the darkness." stated the crimson archer. "Lets now proceed to the beings that Ren summoned. First are the angels, beings born from righteousness and light, their existence is still a mystery up till now, they said that angels are the creation of 'God' who made the world and bring life to it."
"No one exactly knows who's this 'God' is. Its real name, its appearance, everything about him is a mystery. Only selected people manage to hear its voice, but then again, it's hard to say that it is really 'God' voice that they heard. Also, in some cases, they say that 'God' is a foreign entity, a being from another dimension." Archer saw the confusion on Jeanne's face. "No one can explain the origin of life, only the universe knows, which is understandable why they think its a foreign entity who made it."
"Sticking to that case, then perhaps the angels are a foreign entity as well since they are the creation of 'God' before the world was born," Archer stated. "Then the Moon Cell would not want them here in Seraph. But its not just because of them being a foreign entity, its also because the angels might not what we think they are. Maybe they aren't the embodiment of justice and righteousness, perhaps what we know about them are just lies." He stated and saw the saint stand up on her seat to object. "That is not true! Didn't you see the angels in France? They are exactly what humans think they are."
"Yes, but that is because of Ren." Archer calmly answered the saint. "If you remember his explanation about his ability called 'Persona', he said that they are born from human consciousness, he even made an example with Nero, saying that people think that the emperor is a male and not a female. Which made sense why the angels appear as being that humans think they are, he even said that persona are just replicas. They aren't the real one." Jeanne become conflicted after hearing that, Ren did say those things to her, then is what Archer saying is true? Are the angels aren't what humanity think it is? Or the lord she faithfully serves is a foreign entity all along?
The saint is in disbelief as she wonders about the answer to those questions, on one part she wanted to know the truth, but on the other, she doesn't, those thoughts are clashing on her mind. "Jeanne? Are you okay?" Marie asks as she places her hand on the saint shoulder. "I'm…" Jeanne tried to force herself to answer, but she got interrupted by Archer's voice. "Don't think much about it, they are just cases without any solid proof, I'm just stating the possible scenario why the Moon Cell refuses to help Ren, I might be wrong all along." He said and tried to reassure the saint. The man felt guilty and doesn't want to make the girl question her own belief.
"Well, let's proceed with the demons." said the crimson archer. Carefully minding his following explanation to not offend the saint, he continues. "The most known origin about them is that they are originally an angel who rebelled but fall from grace and banish from heaven. They are the embodiment of evil similar to Beast but slightly less catastrophic, but regardless we can connect them to the beings that Moon Cell doesn't want." He pauses and stared at Hakuno who's listening to him patiently. "Ren summoned those beings here in Seraph, which is probably the reason why it refuses to help Ren." Archer becomes disturbed on where his explanation is going to end. "Moon Cell probably want to get rid off him at this point, either from the lack of mana, or-"
"Or by sending a servant to kill him," Jeanne said interrupting the man. "Moon Cell would not interfere directly on any conflict on Seraph, but that doesn't stop it from summoning top servants to deal with does threats, it already summoned me and another servant to stop Karl, so it's possible that a top servant already got summoned to kill Ren." She said in worried about the thief. "I'm afraid it is not just going to be a top servant. What Ren summoned is possibly in the category of both foreign entities and Beast." Archer said and just like what the saint, he became worried about Ren. "Moon Cell will put an end of him, whether or not he can fight," Nameless stated.
"Your joking right? Ren didn't do anything wrong!" Charlemagne said in disbelief from what he heard. "He even going to help us against Karl, so why the hell would he become a threat!?" As much as he wanted to control his emotion, he can't stop his anger after the ridiculous accusation of the Moon Cell. "Ren's probably tired from all this accusation that getting thrown at him, first was from Gilles, and now from Moon Cell itself?" shifting his attention to Hakuno, Charlemagne becomes frustrated from what's happening to his friend. "Can't you do something about it?!" He lashed out at the girl. "Charlemagne, I suggest you lower your voice," Nero warned the paladin.
"I'm sorry, its just…unfair. He saved countless of life, but the reward he got is approaching death." Charlemagne stated and apologize to Hakuno. He didn't mean to raise his voice on her, but he failed to control his frustration and did it. "It's fine, I'm frustrated about it as well. But letting our emotions get into us won't solve anything." She said before smiling gently at Charlemagne. "Is Ren aware of it?" Jeanne asks Hakuno. "Yes, I explained what happened." Hearing that made the saint worried. "What did he say?"
"He said he wants to be alone for a while."
"Ren…" The saint whispered to herself. "How are we going to explain this to him?" She asks the sovereign who shakes her head. "I don't know…I'm also lost on what to do." Hakuno dejectedly answered. "Hopefully this servant who assigned to deal with Ren isn't true. But for safety purposes, I'll assign someone to look after him." She said before thinking of a suitable person for the task. "I'll do it." Okita Souji raises her hand and offered her service. "Even though he's going through such a problem, Ren still decided to help me and Oda. I'll return the kindness he shown to me. So please, allow me."
"Then please, look after him. If this servant appears do not hesitate to call for our help." Hakuno stated and saw Okita nodded her head. "Let's focus on our task tomorrow. I know Ren will notice that something is off if we acted all gloomy tomorrow." Nero said to their group. She then let out a smile after seeing them agreeing. "Then everyone dismissed." She said before everyone returned to their room, worried about their friend and unsure of how to react when they meet him tomorrow, they leave the room with a troubled look on their faces.
When Ren opened his eyes, his vision is covered with nothing but darkness, while his feet touch solid ground. There a feeling of dread looming around, and it doesn't look like he's alone in the darkness. Something is moving around him, something big and terrifying, something that is much scarier than the darkness surrounding him. "Welcome to the sea of soul, trickster." He heard a voice then a sinister laugh after. A moment later a pair of eyes shine on the dark above him. "Satan," Ren called out the demon name, its sinister laugh continue as its body began to unveil itself from the darkness.
A skull-like face that posses a massive snake-like body. It has six arms, six breasts, and six enormous insectile wings. The greatest demon is known to mankind, known as the one who temps humanity, the rebel to the will of God. Humanity's greatest nemesis, the demon Satan. "Bow to me, trickster." As soon as the demon said that, Ren felt its immense presence pressing itself at him, attempting to put him to his knees. But he fights back, gritting to his teeth, he stayed to his feet while pushing Satan's presence away. "Succumb to my power, trickster." Ren felt the demon presence become heavier, his knees soon begun to shake as it slowly falling to its weight.
"I won't." He said before his knees touch the ground. "I will not!" then suddenly six pairs of black feathered angels wings spawn behind his back. Ren's body soon welcomes the demon presence, its cold existence that could lead any man to yield and drive them into madness. His not affected by the demon presence anymore. "I see, so my other self is protecting you. Interesting." Satan stated after seeing the familiar wings behind Ren. "Very well, I'll stop." The demon said before letting out a chuckle. "What do you want from me?" Ren asks in the confusion of his summon here.
"I'm just curious about something," Satan replied. "Also, I wanted to see you one more time before your inevitable end." Seeing the confusion on his face, the demon laughs in amusement. "You won't last long. Due to your remaining mana, you've probably won't make it a year, depending on how you'll use your remaining mana, then perhaps you could last long for a month." Satan then looks at him with a fabricated sympathy on his face. "There is nothing you can do, even the sovereign can't do anything to save you. Your body is practically a living corpse at this point since it won't accept any more mana. You should realize how important mana is for a servant."
"Nothing I can do…" Ren utter to himself. "Sadly, it seems humanity will soon find its end. Because their savior died before doing anything to save it." Satan wholeheartedly laughs, he never laughs this much before. Seeing someone become miserable is what he lives for. "How will you spend your remaining days, Trickster?" He asks and the raven-haired man didn't answer. The demon chuckled, he expected someone to be lost in word, soon the trickster will yield to helplessness. But before that happen, he needs to ask this one question that been on his mind for a while.
"Answer this question of mine, Trickster. Why would you choose to live in a world full of hardship and not on a world that grants everything you've wanted. This world for example, if you only choose to conquer this world, then you'll continue to live and grant everyone happiness." said the mighty demon." A world nothing but happiness, all humanity wish would be granted, isn't that a kind of world that everyone would want to live?" Satan asks the trickster below him. "Even finding his memory of freedom in Zion, Metatron, the voice of God, he still would agree that this is the luxurious life that humanity deserves." He then looks straight into his eyes waiting for him to answer.
"Because it's better to face reality than live in false happiness...I know everyone would hate me for denying this life to them, but I'd decided to reject this kind of world." He said in conviction while staring eye to eye on the great demon. "Life isn't always about being happy, there is also pain. Pain is a part of life, so is suffering...it helps us grow, become mature, and become better people." He said before smiling softly as the memory of his friend played into his mind. "A world without that is utterly pointless. Happiness is an emotion, not a state of mind, and like all emotions it is temporary. A world that grant wishes would only stagnate humanity! a life without progress, without struggles, isn't a life at all…" Satan is in disbelief after hearing his answer. "A life without struggles isn't a life at all…" The great demon lowly repeated. "You're indeed a fool." He said before smiling in amusement. "But I find myself oddly satisfied with your answer, Ren Amamiya."
"Oddly satisfied?"
"Yes, I'm a demon who enjoyed seeing a sorrowful life," Satan replied with a soft smile. "Whenever a hero is in doubt, they can hear my voice. Whenever a villain in the verge of defeat, they can hear my laughter. That is what I am…But you said that a life without struggles isn't a life at all, your answer made me satisfied. Knowing that most of humanity's struggles are my doings. It's a weird satisfaction, but Its weirdness is welcome." The demon then let out a sinister laugh. "You're free to go now, I have nothing else to say."
"Wait, is there nothing I can do with my situation?" Ren felt strange from asking the demon, Satan. "Indeed, there is nothing you could do." answered the demon. "But I suggest to just be true to yourself. Who knows, maybe a miracle would happen." Ren wasn't sure if Satan is serious when he said that. It's hard to imagine a demon like him would suggest anything like this, but then again, he asks for it. "I see, I'll keep that in mind." He genuine replied, feeling a bit of gratitude to his suggestion, even though he doesn't fully understand it.
"Also, if you wanted to save the world, then follow my advice. Find and get Samael and the fallen angels on your side, prioritize the poison of God as he'll become a powerful ally on the coming war against the gods and goddesses." Satan smiled softly as he continues. "Use the angels against the fallen, and once you have them, go after us. The seven deadly sins are waiting for you and your group, Ren Amamiya." The smile on the demon's face made his body startled a bit. "We demons respect power over everything, if you're not powerful than us, then expect that we won't follow any of your orders."
"If you succeed against us, then the seven of us will be a great help when it comes to conquering the remaining demons, like the demons of Goetia. If they resist, then we'll make them yield for you." Satan laughs probably from the images of the seventy-two pillars on their knees. "Go talk to Lilith, that woman knows where Samael is, also that woman is practically begging to have you on her arms. She might be able to help you in battle as well." Ren felt uncomfortable on hearing that name. "But then again, you could only do all of that if you are still alive." The demon roared into laughter as Ren felt his body slowly leaving the sea of soul.
An hour before the tournament start, Okita returned to the sovereign palace to get Ren. Walking through the hall, she wonders if the raven-haired man is okay after everything that happened yesterday. It would be a problem if he locks himself in their room, but Okita is determined to get the man to watch and support his friends. "I won't let you sulk inside a room for the entire day, you can do this Okita! As long as you get him to watch the tournament then it's an Okita-san daishouri!" The girl said to herself without noticing the man she seeking is behind her. "That was a cute catchphrase, Okita." Her body startled as she turns around to look who it was.
What greeted her is a genuine and kind smile from Ren. "Cute!?" She cried out in embarrassment. "Yes, it was." Ren replied and saw the girl's face turned red. "Are you okay, Okita?" He asks in concern. "I'm fine!" Okita replied, she then turned around and took a deep breath. After successfully recovering her composure, she then faces Ren once again and asks. "What are you doing here? I'm just about to get you so we could watch the tournament." The thief smiled sheepishly as he answers. "I just did quick maintenance on my equipment." He then pulled out the grappling hook on his coat. "That looks cool!" Okita said as she took the grappling hook on his hand, she looks so amazed by it. Which made Ren smiled softly from her reaction. "How does this work?" She asks, but before he could answer, Okita pointed the hook on the ceiling and pressed the button that launches the hook on where it is pointed at.
"Eh?" Was all Okita manage to say as the device pulled her up. "What happened!?" She asks and begun to panic after seeing how high she is away from the floor. "H-how do I g-get down?" She said while keeping her grip on the device. "Press the red button, it will release its hold on the ceiling. Then I'll try to catch you." Ren instructed the girl. "Are you sure? Isn't this a bit high?" Okita replied, but the thief just shakes his head and answered. "I won't let you get hurt, trust me." He calmly said at her. "Here goes nothing." The girl said before pressing the red button.
Hearing a thud sound, she then began to fall, closing her eyes she waits from the arms that will catch her. "Are you okay?" She heard a gentle voice, opening her eyes, a charming face appeared above her. Slowly nodding her head to answer, Ren smiled in relief. "Thank goodness." He said, Okita then realize that she in a princess carry. This has never happened before, not on her entire life, she felt her heart beating faster and face become flustered, she needs to get out in this hold, it's too embarrassing for her heart. "Okita?" Ren's voice snaps her out from those thoughts. "I'm fine!" She answered and immediately jump off on his arms. "T-thank." Okita stops to clear her throat. "Thank you very much." She said before taking a deep bow.
"You don't have to do that. Besides I'm glad you're not hurt." Ren then took the grappling hook on the ground. "I'll repair any damages, that my clumsiness has caused!" The girl once again took a deep bow to apologize. "It doesn't have any damages, don't worry," Ren reassured after checking the device. "Anyway, we should head over to the coliseum by now." He said after noticing the time. "That's right!" Okita replied. "Let's go right away-" All of a sudden, the girl began to cough heavily. She covered her mouth, but a little droplet of blood spatted on the ground. "Here have this." Ren offered a clean handkerchief to her.
"Thank you." Okita then wipes out the blood strained on her mouth and hand. "I did a messed on your handkerchief once again. I'm very sorry." Ren waves his hand and said its fine. "I hate when this happens." She said while staring at the bloodstained handkerchief. "Even though I've become a servant, this illness didn't leave my body." Ren watches the girl release a sigh. He wanted to help the girl against her illness, a cast of 'Salvation' will heal her tuberculosis, but then he needed to use a persona. 'How are you going to spend your remaining days, Trickster?' The question of the demon, Satan, ring on his head. "I'm fine! I'm used to it, no need to look so worried." Okita's voice brings him back to reality, and he saw the beaming smile on her face.
'How will I?' He asks himself. By casting that spell on Okita, she'll become free from her illness, but it will cost his remaining mana that keeping him alive. Perhaps he'll only last for a week if he used the spell. 'But I suggest to just be true to yourself, perhaps a miracle could happen.' The demon words ring on his head once again. "Ren?" The girl called him out. "Okita, could you say that catchphrase again? Please." Okita's eyes were gone wide from his sudden request. "I kinda want to hear it." He said before smiling gently at her in an attempt to make her do it. "Fine…" She said and took a deep breath. "Okita-san, Daishouri!" The girl happily cried out and stick out a peace sign at him. "There, are you happy now?"
'Cute.' He said to himself and felt a smile forming on his face, call it absurd, but maybe following Satan's suggestion isn't that bad at all. "I guess, I know what I'm going to do now." Okita becomes puzzled after hearing that comment. "Know to do what?" She asks in wonder. "You'll know soon. Anyway, we should get going now. We might not find a good place to seat." Ren replied and started walking away. "I'll know soon?" The girl confusingly asks herself. "H-hey, wait for me!" Okita cried out as she catches up with him.
The saint of Orleans just finished preparing her equipment for her upcoming match later against Bradamante. Her primary weapons are both cleaned and ready to use, she doesn't see any problem on her mana as well. Because of that, she decided to take a walk around the coliseum, and maybe try to see if Ren made it here. Yesterday's meeting wasn't very pleasant, the fact that Ren still hasn't completely heal made her worry, the thing about the Moon Cell is worrying as well. Jeanne wonders how can she help him or more importantly how can she assure his safety.
As she strolls on the coliseum, she heard Hakuno's voice on a door she just passed. "Are they perhaps here?" The saint asks herself as she standing in front of the said door. She's about to knock, but stop when she heard chatter inside. "I'm glad you made it here, Saint George and Saint Martha." The familiarity on that voice confirms that it was the sovereign who she heard inside. "Miss Tamamo pick us up on Lundy. Saying that you need our help." A voice of a male came afterward. "That is correct. We're in a dire situation right now." There was a sign of anxiety on the girl's voice as she replied to Saint George.
"Relax, no need to be nervous. We'll help don't worry." answered by the genuine voice of saint Martha. "Tell us what you need." The female saint asks. There was a short moment of pause before Jeanne heard Hakuno's voice behind the door. "We earned vital information about Karl's possible attack here on Rome from one of his associates." Hakuno began to explain. "Within any of these days, an army of his will come here in an attempt to dethrone me from my rule. I'm hoping that you could lend us your strength against him, we are in need of any servants that will defend Rome against them."
"If raising our weapon is needed to protect the many lives of others, then it shall be. We'll protect this city with all our might, no harm shall come as long as we fight together." Saint George declared in answer to Hakuno request. "Thank goodness." The girl stated in relief of knowing the saints will fight alongside them. "But there is still one more thing I would like to asks. It regarding about Ren." Jeanne felt her body move closer to the door after hearing his name. "What about him?" She heard the concerned voice of Martha.
"Ren…his suffering from a dysfunctional regeneration of mana. His body doesn't regenerate mana anymore, it also doesn't accept any mana. I tried to heal his body by the use of Moon Cell, but it didn't work since it refuses to help him. The reason why it refuses to help him is that it felt threatened on his power." Jeanne felt her hand turned into a fist after hearing that. "But doesn't the Moon Cell suppose to take the neutral stance? its refusal to heal a servant's body is contradicting to what a neutral is." Saint George calmly asks. Hearing that made Jeanne wonder as well, Moon Cell shouldn't interfere this much when it becomes threatened, the Moon Cell will send a top servant to deal with it. But on Ren's case, not only it refuses to help him, the possibility of a top servant to go after him might happen.
She remembers what Archer said from yesterday. "Moon Cell will put an end of him, whether or not he can fight." The Moon Cell wants him dead, because of the appearance of angels and demons that he summoned. "Yes, it was. But what Ren did, even though he saves many lives, he still becomes a threat. Possibly closer to what Velber could do to it and Seraph. But unlike Velber who orbiting around the galaxy in search of a planet to devour, Ren is already inside Seraph, and from the Moon Cell standpoint. Ren is a dangerous servant that could destroy everything with its power, a power that is similar to Moon Cell creating servant."
"Anyway, I want you two to take him somewhere. Somewhere that no one could find him. Because we believe that a servant sent by Moon Cell will go after him and take his life." Hakuno dejectedly said to the saints. "I see," Saint George replied. "But I feel like your hiding something." Jeanne becomes curious about what the male saint had said. "Hakuno hiding something?" She utter under her breath. "If his body continued to stay this way. Then I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left."
"Jeanne!?" Saint Martha let out in surprise as the door opened and revealed the ruler servant. "Ren…going to die?" She asks in shock and disbelief. "Jeanne…Um." Seeing the girl, Hakuno felt she lost in words. "Answer me!" Her body startled from hearing Jeanne raise her voice. She felt herself stuttering from answering the female saint. "I…" She tried but no words came. Hakuno wanted to keep it a secret from the others, knowing that they will react this way. But now that Jeanne knows, she doesn't know how to explain it to her, knowing that they are close friends.
"Hakuno will explain once you calm down, Jeanne. Please, I know it's hard but try to calm yourself. If you haven't noticed, you made the girl frightened." Saint George stated in a composed manner. "Take your time. We will wait for you." He said at the saint of Orleans. Jeanne looks at Hakuno's face and saw that what George said is true. Taking a deep breath, she tried to cool her mind. She then releases it and felt her body startled, the emotion she felt soon calmed as well. Jeanne faces the sovereign, this time a bit calmer compared when she entered the room.
"I'm sorry about earlier." She genuine apologize to the girl. "But I wanted to know the answer. What's going to happen to him? I need to know, please."
Author Notes: Just a small discussion, kindly hear me out. So the western release date of P5R will happen tomorrow, which made me excited since we've probably going to have two persona games in 2020. I decided to look at the Japanese DLC of P5R. Personally, I just wanted to know the free stuff, so as I scroll the shop. One DLC persona sticks out the most, I won't say its name since a bit of a spoiler. So let me describe it this way, what if they made your third tier persona a DLC? Impossible right? well, Atlus did it. What worse is that this third tier persona is originally going to be part of the game and not a DLC persona. I'm shocked when I saw it, Also a bit disappointed.
What do you guys think about it?
Well enough with that and done! Anyway, it took me a while to upload this chapter, I needed to change some parts while adding new ones, regardless I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Also thanks to The Kingdom of Ruby Luxuria from giving me some idea about a possible arc! I really like the idea of "God" being a foreign entity, to be honest, I would never think of it that way if weren't for The Kingdom of Ruby Luxuria, once again thank you!
I'm still plotting the arc he/she suggest though, but for now, a hint and a small build-up should do the work. Anyway, this chapter kinda ends up like a cliffhanger, forgive me. It's not intentional though! but when I saw the word count almost reach 10k, I decided to stop XD. The fight scene will come next chapter, hopefully, I finished all the matches. Also, its time to get serious on this arc! the climax will soon be approaching!
Well, that's all, leave a review, follow the story for quick notification and might as well favorite it (If you like XD) and that's that, bye-bye see you all next chapter.