Hey there, Persona Fandom! What's up! I figure that last chapter was just a bit too much infodump just for a second chapter, and just like now, this chapter was really fun to write. Even with the lack of reviews, I am very grateful for your interest in this fic and I hope you enjou reading this fic as much as I liked writing it, which is very much. This chapter, Ichika's adventures in the mirror world continues, and... A new ally or foe?
DISCLAIMER: Persona and the SMT series belongs to atlus and its respective owners. Have a nice read!
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[I AM THE FATHER OF SINNERS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH, THE ONE WHO DELIGHTS HIMSELF IN BEAUTY AND ARTS AS THE WORLD AROUND ME BURNS: NERO! AND NOW… TIME TO BRING FORTH THE FLAMES OF CHAOS!]
"Very well, Nero. Let's dance!" I feel a surge of adrenaline that I don't know where it came from, but don't care either, the massive flaming being behind me gives me the strength to stand up and fight! More and more of those shadowy creatures and silhouettes wearing Kagami High's uniform started to gather around us, coming closer and closer, but I fear nothing now! I made a gesture with my hands and Nero followed suit. "Agi!"
[URYAH!] And with a gesture with his hands, opening his arms like wings, the figure known as Nero threw small fireballs onto the ground where those shadowy figures stood, creating from there bright pillars of red-hot fire that engulfed them, lighten them up and leaving nothing but ashes to the air!
'Haaaaaaah…!' For the remaining monsters that were still around, some were smart enough to cry and bail away, while others, just a few, staid and hurled themselves against us! However, Nero was faster, picking that amorphous blob of dark matter and smashing it between his claw-like fingers in a vicious grip!
"Now, Nero! Cleave!" I commanded to the figure behind me, and losing no time, the being behind me chuckled malevolently as his bow-like fingers extended like claws and swung them against our enemies! I could only witness as its fingers cut those around like a hot knife against butter, leaving scratch marks everywhere and splashing black plasma everywhere, which would them turn into dust and them disappear.
In the end, all of our enemies either fled or were destroyed, with me in the middle of a ground zero, surrounded by nothing but a blue aura, dark smoke and dust and scratch marks everywhere. This power… What is this power? I feel like I regained all of my energies, and this being behind me… Nero? Was it? What is he?
"…?!" However, all that adrenaline that took over me for a while suddenly disappeared, and fatigue reached out for me, making me grunt tiredly as I kneeled on the floor trying to catch my breath. I turned around to see Nero, and for some reason it was starting to dissipate in a blue aura, little by little its being fading in small shades of its own body. Despite this, it laughed like a malevolent villain, floating to in front of me and crossing his arms.
[HAHAHAHAHAH… I AM NERO, THE OTHER YOU WHO EXISTS WITHIN. I SHALL GIVE YOU MY ASSISTANCE, SO REJOICE, FOR FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, THE CRIES OF VICTORY WILL RESSONATE ETERNAL FOR US!] Nero said with a deep, powerful yet strangely soothing voice, its entire being suddenly disappearing in a spark of blue light, and before I knew it, it turned into a small ball of blue flames, which danced in the air a little before gathering on where my hand was. I turned my attention to my palm, only to find… that same silver butterfly knife I used to… Summon it? I don't know why, but I feel at ease with it, despite the fact I've never wielded a weapon before. It just feels so natural.
"Hey, Ichika! Are you okay?!" Snapping from my stupor, a voice calls for me among the darkness of this place that looks just like our school. I turn around to see Renji standing besides, me, a hand extended for me to assist me or something. "Holy crap, dude. What was that all about?! I mean, crap man! I thought you were done for, but then that thing went all *VOOOSH!* and *FUWAAAH~!* and shit! What… What was that all about?!"
"Beats me." I said, picking his hand to stand up. I trembled a little since my legs were still a bit jelly, but I could stay firm in place in the end. I turned my attention back to my newly acquired weapon at hand, and right by my shoulder, Renji took a quick glance at it. I gripped it tightly. "But… I am thou, thou art I… I guess this will be very useful here…"
"I see…"
"Ugh…!" And suddenly fatigued hit me yet again, making me hold my head in pain and my legs to grow weak out of nowhere. Before I could fall heads first on the ground, Renji held me and used his arms to support my body.
"Whoa there, buddy! I guess all that adrenaline wore off now, huh?" He sighed, helping me stand up yet again and finally have the strength to hold myself up. I used my sleeve to dry up the sweat off my forehead and turned my stare forward. "We should go back and find a way out of this hellhole. I don't know when or how those freaks will act again, but we should find a way out before the attack again!"
"No… Ishigami-san… I need to help her…" I gasped a little, walking towards the same direction I saw her shadow creeping, even though I still have no condition to move very well yet. I have to save her of whatever is happening right now. If I don't, who knows what will happen from now on. However, I felt a hand pick me by the shoulder and make me turn around to face Renji. For once, he had a serious expression in his face, but at the same I could see him sweating buckets.
"Ichika, my man, don't be stupid. I know you are worried about her for whatever reason, but we need to focus! Getting on like that is a recipe for doom!" He exclaims, but I shook off his hand and turned my attention back to the eerily quiet and dark corridor that was being illuminated only by the creepy golden moon above it all. In the end, I hear a sigh, and soon enough Renji walked right next to me, scratching his cheek with a finger sheepishly. "Okay, fine. I'll go too before you do something stupid. My pride will get a scratch if I let a friend go unsupervised and then what the hell happens next."
"Friend…" I murmured, my voice a bit weak, even so now that I said that word that I haven't heard for quite a while. He called me a 'friend', and for some reason, I don't mind that at all. I flashed him a smile, and he winks and thumbs me up. "Thank you. I owe you one."
"No problem. Just remember that every Friday there is yakisoba bread on the cafeteria!" He friendly slaps my back, and turned his attention forward, mimicking me a little. So now I have at least someone to look onto my back in this strange, bizarre world filled with monsters. I don't want him to get hurt or anything, so better make it quick. Renji snaps his stare elsewhere, and then look outside, being taken back a little. I follow his stare outside. "Whoa, what the hell is that thing?"
"Huh…?" I turn my eyes from where he was looking, and widened my eyes in surprise and shock: by the other side of the school, where the student's building should be, there was a black, pulsating, giant-sized brain lodged to the side of the white walls! I don't know how or why, but that organ was oozing black matter from its veins and had strange-black-colored veins coming from the window and pulsating all the way into it. I felt sick just by looking at it, and Renji also seemed that he was about to puke. "That's… Disgusting."
"You tell me!" He moans in disgust. I can't really blame him, a giant-sized brain attached to the side of our school, pulsating like it was alive and with veins coming from it like black blood? I don't think anyone is ready for that! However, under closer inspection, I noticed something: there were shadows dancing inside the classroom where the black cables were coming from. The light there was dim and dark, but I could see some movements coming from there. Maybe is there where Ishigami-san headed? "but there must be someone there, if my eyes aren't pranking me. You think she went there on her own?"
"Only one way to find out." I said, taking my way to the suspended bridge leading to the student's building. But before he headed there, I found lying around a small mop and a folded chair. I picked the mop and handed the folded chair to Renji. "But before we go, we better arm ourselves. I don't know how I did that thing from before, but If I fail, I better be prepared."
"Oh, quick thinking! Leave it to me, dude!" He says picking the folded chair and adjusting the lock in it a little so it wouldn't open and end up accidentally hurting any of us. I broke one of the ends of that mop to make a weapon out of it, and once we were all set, we took our way to the suspended bridge leading to the student's building.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
"Whoa, what the hell!" But before we could even reach to the corner where the bridge was, we heard something akin to gunshots, and out of nowhere one of the classroom doors literally burst open, revealing a small puddle of black goo from before, covered in flames! It tried to stand, but in the end, it succumbed to the fire around it and splattered on the floor, turning to dust and finally disappearing. Renji and I lowered our weapons seeing whatever happened just now, and to make things worse, a new figure appeared from the dust coming from inside the fog from inside the classroom.
"Tch, damned shadows, thinking that can mess with royal me for what's worth. I shall defeat you all!" We heard a hilariously squeaky and high-pitched voice saying such novelistic words, and when the dusted downed, the surprises kept coming as we saw the source of that voice: a small, cartoonish, cute yet sharp-eyed fox with auburn and white fur wearing something I can only describe as a japanese military naval attire of white blazer and pants in the likes for its form, a small golden crown balancing from its head and golden eyes looking at the defeated enemy and it wield a small sword (kodachi) between its teeth! I was speechless, so was Renji, and when the fox noticed our presence, it turned to us and started to talk! "And you two! Are you residents of this cursed [Castle] as well! Choose your words wisely, for your fate is decided by those!"
"Dude, the fox is talking! It's a talking fox!" Renji exclaimed exactly what I was thinking, and for that, the eyes of that same animal narrowed as a blue mist started to come from beneath its cute little paws. That presence, I can feel something familiar coming from it, but I shouldn't mind that for that, that little fox seems it was out for blood! "Oh-ow, and it doesn't look friendly at all!"
"So, you refuse to talk, eh? Doesn't matter, for I got my answer right here for your insolence!" The fox declares, his on all-four pose chrouching a little in a battle pose as the blue mist around it started to get denser and denser. No good, it seems that it's not friendly at all! Before something else could happen, I pulled both my improvised weapon and the butterfly knife in order to defend myself. Whatever that does or attacks, I better be prepared!
'INTRUDERS! HOW DARE YOU SOIL THE PRECIOUS [KINGDOM] OF THE HONOR STUDENT MIYU ISHIGAMI! I WILL TELL HER ABOUT YOU!' But before we could clash, we heard a distorted voice coming from directly behind the fox! I tilted my head to see behind the talking animal that was also turning around to face the source of that voice, only to see another one of those black monstrous silhouettes wearing a school uniform, only this time using a black armband with the words writing 'student council' in it. Wait, did it say something about Ishigami-san? The creature loses no time: in one instant, it exploded itself into a black blob which then started to take form, little by little transforming itself into a bizarre, smiling snowman-like creature of tubby arms and wearing blue boots and horned beanie. Despite the massive black smile on its face, its black eyes were shining anything but friendliness. 'Hee-ho! I'll beat you all to death, hee-ho!'
"Weakly [SHADOW] scum, I have no time to lose here with the likes of you!" The fox said such harsh words despite its cutesy voice, and out of the sudden its attention turned completely to that snowman-like monster. Out of nowhere, a dark blue mist started to ooze from beneath its pawn once again, and out of the sudden, I heard that same noise of glass shattering as the small animal cut the air in front of it with its blade, out from the mist a new form appeared: a massive, golden-colored toy-ship with a black goat in its flag and a small, toy soldier in the front wearing a plastic-like Greek armor. Whoa, so it also has one of those beings with it! "Come forth, [JASON]!"
'Here we go, hee-ho!' That… Shadow? said one more time as he charged against the toy-ship, stubby hands clenched in white fists while doing a whirlwind motion like a child! However, the hit didn't even connect when the toy-ship, apparently named Jason, practically lunged itself against the snowman monster and clashed bodies with it! The hit was enough to both clash against a wall! Even with powerful blow, the snowman didn't faulter and instead clapped its hands against the front of the ship. Out of the sudden, the front of Jason started to freeze! 'Hee-ho! How's that, ho! Bufu!'
"Gah! Cold!" The fox gasped, seeing his ship… Thing starting to have its lower parts frozen and little by little shattering due to the coldness, which also started to get me! Jason pulled itself away from that Shadow monster and braced against another punch from the snowman, floating away a few inches from where previously stood! The fox gasped, waiting for the hit! "Gh, damned shadow… I'll…!"
"Heads up, talking fox!" That voice besides me almost burst my eardrums, and faster than light, I saw a folded chair flying in high speed to the direction where those two beings were fighting, hitting the snowman right on the face as it becomes dizzy and confused! Nice hit, Renji! The brunette then turns to me! "Hey, Ichika! Try to summon that being thing from before!"
"Right!" I said pulling the butterfly knife forward and pointing its blade to the snowman shadow in front of us! Out of pure instinct, I made a cutting move and then from the tip of the knife, it looked like that I just ripped the air in front of me, from behind the 'dimensional rip' appearing Nero in all its blazing glory, spreading the passage with its long fingers and jumping into action! "Nero! Agi!"
[ORYAH!] Nero laughed, reaching his violin bow-like finger to the strings running across its arms and vibrating them with it like a true string instrument! From them, a screeching melody echoed through the corridor, and then balls of fire emerged from them, lunging themselves against the snowman and then exploding in pillars of hot flames! As expected, the attack was too much for that snowman, who started to melt and then turn ashen black until it disappeared…
'Hee-ho… That sucks… You're no fun, hee-ho…' It was its last words before vanishing in dark dust.
Satisfied with the conclusion of those events, Nero gave me an aside glance and a chuckle before vanishing in a small whirlwind of blue mist. The fatigue caught up with me like what happened last time, so I supported myself on a wall to catch my breath. I blinked once, twice to get a hold of myself, and turned down, feeling a presence. The little fox was there, blinking its golden eyes to me.
"You… So, you mustn't be a Shadow after all. To possess a Persona, and a strong one at that too…" It says in a calm, novelistic tone despite the cute voice while putting its kodachi back to its shelf. Wait, 'Persona'? This is what they are called or something? Picking the folded chair that fell not very far from here, Renji walked to beside me and turned his attention to the fox on the floor, who blinked to him too.
"Dude, a talking fox, and with one of those things too! Seriously, what day is today, anyway?" He wondered out loud, and apparently his way of talking irritated the small animal, who frowned with a red vein popping on its head.
"I beg your pardon, sir! My name is Lily, and I refuse to be acknowledged so rudely!" The small fox demanded. Renji make a grimace, hiding his mouth behind his hand as he whispered on my ear.
"And quite a rude little animal, too. What's with that high-and-mighty attitude, anyway? Does he think he's a King or something?" He said in quite a pouty tone while the fox just arched an eyebrow, the vein still popped on its head. I blinked once, twice, and in order to break the ice I turned my attention to the small animal, Lily apparently, kneeling to face it on the same level. I mean, I think he might be able to help us or something, so better don't play around.
"Forgive about him, Lily-san. But anyway, you seem to be quite knowledge about this place. Could you help us get out of here?" I ask the small fox… General… Thing, and for some reason the frown didn't leave his eyes despite appearing much calmer now.
"Excuse me? How come you have a Persona and yet no idea how to you got here? Such an odd inconsistency in information." The small fox wandered his own golden eyes around like it was deep in thoughts.
"Persona? You mean those things we summoned very long ago?" I inquire him as I pulled the small butterfly knife from my pocket which was still emitting a quiet, silvery glow. Lily-san was taken back a little, but soon recomposed himself and coughed a few times. "And you also said something about Shadows, like that word in English. Are those connected somehow?"
"Affirmative, young man." He spoke, and I can only sweatdrop hearing someone not only smaller but apparently younger than me call me a young man but nodded to silently show that I was paying attention. "So, you're really not shadows, but inhabitants of the 'Other side'. I see… Well, to shorten such difficult concept, this might look like a place in your reality, but it is not. Instead, it's a construction made from the concentrated thoughts of several individuals regarding something, anything, taking shape and being controlled by a leading Shadow, a Demon Lord, as I like to call them."
"Construction made from the minds of… What?" Renji, who also kneeled besides me to look at the explaining fox enquired, but bit his tongue midway in confusion, much for the fox's dismal, who grunted and put his paws on his little nose in a facepalm.
"Ever heard of that saying: 'tell a lie a million times It'll eventually become a truth'? It works almost as such. This place is filled with wandering thoughts and rampant feelings from the real world, which gives this place its shape and form. I call it the Mirror world." He explains, and I'm starting to get it little by little: this place is not the real Kagami High, but a 'projection' made from the thoughts of others by the other side, which I assume is the real world… Or something. I nodded a few times while Renji had a hand on his chin, deep in thoughts, so Lily-san continued. "Since this is a mere reflection or projection of wandering ideas and thoughts from the heart of humans, however, Shadows have a certain dominance over them. They feed on those cognitions, no matter how false or true they are, and get so strong they even take shape and gather themselves as inhabitants."
"So this is why they are wearing Kagami High's uniform: they are taking the likings of its students because of the masses that constructs this place." I concluded, and Lily-san huffed proudly and satisfied, with a tiny bit of arrogance on the air. I get it now, most of it. I guess reading some of Ranko's research do come in handy on times like these, although not in a way one would expect.
"Exactly, my dear young man. If those are the facts coming from your side." The fox snapped at me with a wink. However, his stare suddenly turned serious and he turned his attention to the brain-shaped thing glued to the side of the Student's building, blinking a few times in disgust. "But colors me surprise, that thing. That distortion is seriously so conglomerated and strong that took shape not only physical, but it is spreading across this Kingdom and giving more and more power to that Shadow."
"So, you saying that thing is a Shadow? For real?" Renji asked turning his attention to the gigantic brain matter that was held suspended on the wall of the student's building. The fox nodded and turned his attention back to us.
"Indeed. Not just that, but the cognition and shape that leading shadow, a Demon Lord, turned into has a massive amount of power. Whichever or whoever it took shape of must have such a 'image' back in your world it's even gathering strength from nearby Shadows." The fox concluded. Someone or something who has an 'image' back in our world coming from others that it takes shape on itself and gets stronger as such. Suddenly, I felt something pulling my shoulder and weighting a bit on me. I turned around and saw Renji with a hand on his head.
"Ugh, my bad, dude. I don't… Feel so good now…" He murmured. Lily-san turned around, took a quick glance at Renji's paling face and nodded.
"No wonder. Humans were not supposed to be in the Mirror World since they are made from their psyche and to maintain individual thoughts here is mentally exhausting. You better go back to where you are before things get worse." The fox suggested, but Renji shook his head negatively, trying to stand up.
"No, I made a dare. If he wants to save class rep, then I have to help him so he wouldn't get himself killed…" He said, voice filled witb fatigue and panting, but still trying to grin at me with a thumb up. I grit my teeth, he's exhausted, and if this continues, I don't even think I can handle it. In the end, I picked him up, made his arm half-hug me and used myself as support for him. Renji gave an exclamation. "H-Hey…"
"If we keep this up, then both of us won't have energy to even stand. Better go back somehow to the real world and gather some more energy." I said with a thumbs up and a smile, and even so, he clenched his teeth and let out a sigh in defeat. Yeah, I cant risk it even when ishigami-san is apparently lost somewhere around here. First things first, I have to help him for now.
"I'm sorry, dude. I'm really sorry…"
"Don't be. We should go back for now. We can explore it tomorrow…" I said with a smile, and he also smiled with a nod. I turned back to Lily-san. "Lily-san, do you know how to go back to our world?"
"I have an idea, but this is only a theory of a sorts." The fox spoke, jumping from the ground to take the lead. "From where did you say you came from, exactly? Better go back there to see for myself, and better make sure it's the exact place."
"It was… In the boy's bathroom in the sports building around the end of the corridor." I answered, and as such, the fox started to skip all the way to the end of the corridor, to the boy's bathroom, but not before turning his eyes to me and tilting his head forward, as it was an invitation for me to follow him. Renji and I, supporting we with each other, walked towards the bathroom. Once there, we saw Lily-san in front of the mirror, taking his paw a few times on the reflected surface. And then he pulled his two paws up and smashed them on the mirror, breaking it in a few shards, and by the hole it created, it wasn't a wall, but a passage to light.
"I see. I understand now: Some shadow must have created this portal as a mean to walk between the Mirror and your world. Considering how strong one shadow must be in order to do such, I can only assume it's the Demon Lord's fault at that." Lily-san spoke to himself, scratching the broken glass around the hole in order to spread it more until it was enough for one person at the time to crawl inside. "There, it must be enough for you two to go back to your world. You must hurry before the path closes itself. This World and your world are supposed to be separated, after all."
"Lily-san… Thanks." I sincerely said to the fox with a bow, and he could only let out a prideful smirk and sigh. However, soon his stare turned a bit grim.
"No need to thank me, young man." He said in a serious tone. "But keep that in mind: there is something or someone by the other side who caught the attention of the Demon Lord Shadow and is trying to usurp their image for whatever reason. Be careful…"
I gulped with a cold sweat, but even so I nodded back at him with confidence, while Renji nodded back with a smile. With that said and done, Lily-san jumped away from the sink into the shadows of the Mirror World, and I could only pray for him to stay safe, as I helped Renji to get on the sink and crawl on the small portal where the light was coming…
…
Lunchtime→ After school (Kagami High)
"Ugh…" And when the light by the end of the tunnel finally gave space, I blinked my eyes to get used to the sudden brightness, and before I knew it, I was back… To the boy's bathroom. I looked to the sky, and despite the current cloudy sky and the shy Sun hiding behind the grey tone, I can say without a doubt: we're back in our world.
"Ow… My head…" I hear a voice right beside me, and as expected, Renji was also here, supporting himself on the sink and blinking a few times. He turned to me, to the window reflecting the grey sky, and sighed in relief, letting himself fall a little on his back, pulling his head back. "Oh my God, we're back… I can't believe we're back…"
"You tell me." I said. I feel a distinct lack of something on my pocket so I shoved my hand there only to come to the conclusion that it was gone, that butterfly knife I gained back in the Mirror World was gone. Renji noticed my sudden worry. "it's… Gone. That knife from the mirror world… It's gone."
"Wow, seriously? Are you sure it didn't fall or anything?" He said, looking around on the floor to scan around alongside me looking for anything that resembled it. In the end, we couldn't find it, but I hear a ring inside my head, and for a second, that butterfly knife with the reflection of Nero flashed before my eyes. I winced a little, but then realized what it meant.
"No… I think… I can only use it back in the mirror world." I concluded, and Renji let out a gasp f surprise. I took one, two seconds, and turned to him. "I mean, it makes sense. If that… Persona thing is also a fruit of cognition and reflection, it's only natural for it to remain back in the Mirror world… I think."
"Uh~, all this mind this, thinking that is making my head spin…" Whined Renji, and despite that I couldn't help but to chuckle a little with the sudden turn of the mood. I hear a ring on my pocket once again, and pulled from it my cellphone which was until now dead. I turned to it and saw that, unlike before, the battery was far from dead. I turned to Renji who also got his phone at hand and we exchanged glares. "No way… My phone is back. Is this also because of that reflection thingy?"
"Most likely." I concluded, putting my phone back on my pocket and turning my attention to my own reflection on the mirror. So, there is something about that 'other side', and for some reason, Ishigami-san got sucked into it. I touched a finger into it, and the surface of it rippled like a disturbed pool of water. This is not a dream, right? This is really happening…
"Hey, hey, why the long face, dude?" I snap back to reality as I feel small slaps on my shoulder, making me turn around and face the smiling face of Renji Akabane. He gives me a thumbs up and a wink, and then pointed a finger at the mirror in front of us. "C'mon, don't be so sour. We already know where class rep went, right? So all we gotta do now is fish her out of there! I'm sure with that Persona power of yours, it'll be a piece of cake… if that damn fox doesn't stand in the way, anyway…"
"…" I staid quiet for a while, but I couldn't for much long facing his bright face. Is this what the call infectious smile? He punched my shoulder lightly, and now showed me a smile that glow confidence. I mimicked him. "Yeah. You're right. Let's do this…"
"Yeah, even if class rep can be a pain in the ass sometimes, for what we could see, no one deserves to get inside that Mirror World …" He starts to chuckle, but then he blinks a few times with a serious and surprised expression. We turned to each other, and then he gritted his teeth. "Wait… That damn fox said that a very strong Shadow is trying to usurp someone's image in this world… You think… That Shadow took over Class rep's body or something…"
"…" I gritted my teeth. He's right, Lily-san did say only a strong shadow, a Demon Lord, can break the boundaries between our worlds and come to this side. Not only that, but someone of incredible distorted view from others is what makes a shadow strong when it consumes it… And class rep seems to have quite an impression around. It makes sense, it makes so much sense. "You're right… You're totally right… But then, where is the real class rep? And why would it go back to the Mirror World? Ugh…"
"Hey, man. You okay?" I said when a headache started to attack me yet again. Damn it, I'm exhausted for some reason, and I can barely stand up. I guess lily-san was right, that world is very tiring, in both mind and body. "We gotta alert somebody about that shit! Class rep is a shadow, so she might…!"
"No, we can't." I said back. He gasped in surprise and turned to me. "In the worst hypothesis, you saw what those shadows are capable of doing… If that same thing were to happen in this world, and like I can use that Persona thing here, imagine the chaos it would cause… We better… Leave it be for now."
"Kh… You're right… Damn it." He grit his teeth, but then helped me get up and we locked arms in a handshake. "Okay then, we leave that shadow alone, and then we go back tomorrow to see if we can do anything about it by the Mirror World."
"That's the plan." I murmured, gaining a new surge of power. I smirked at him, and he smirked back. Okay, so that's our plan for tomorrow. Let's venture into that world again and see what we can do about Miss rep. "Let's do this!"
"Let's go!"
*TING!*
…?
[I AM THOU, THOU ART I… THOU HAST ACQUIRED A NEW LINK OF TRUST…]
[IT SHALL GUIDE THEE ACROSS THE FAKE WORLD OF ILLUSIONS…]
[WITH THE BIRTH OF THE MAGICIAN ARCANA, THOU SHALT BE BLESSED WITH A NEW POWER.]
"Ichika? You okay buddy?" I hear Renji call for me, and I snap back to turn myself to him. I hear a voice call for me from the depth of my soul, but it soon vanishes from my memory, leaving only a small lingering feeling from the back of my head. I sigh.
"No, it was nothing, don't worry about it." I said.
"Well, if you say so…" He shrugged, taking his way out of the bathroom with me following suit. As we descended the stairs to the ground floor, I turned to my phone to notice how late it was. Classes just ended, so the only thing I can do is go back home and try to get rid of that headache of my that suddenly appeared. Renji noticed that and pulled his phone as well. "Oh, right! We should change contacts! Message ID as well! I mean, talking out loud like that might make people think we're crazy, so we better keep it to ourselves."
"Good idea." I said as we changed contacts with each other. To think I would get a new contact so soon and under such bizarre circumstances. Soon enough, a new panel appeared on my phone under the name 'RenRen', and for that, he gave a thumb up.
"Nice. Well, see ya tomorrow, Ichika! And don't worry, I won't be a bother to you again!" He says again with conviction, and once we reached the outer gates of Kagami high, we parted ways to different directions. Before I could go, however, I felt a presence coming from the school, so I turned my eyes there and saw… A shadow lurking from one of the windows, specifically the window leading to the abandoned third floor of the sports building. This gotta be the shadow that is doing something with ishigami-san… Even so, I should rest for now. But I have to save ishigami-san… With this power, this is all I can do for now…
After School→ Evening (Kobayashi Residence)
"I'm home!" I called from the front door as I discarded my shoes on the entrance and walked inside my new house. I got no answer, so I carefully scanned around by the change that Ranko might be at home again, only asleep. I peeked to the living room, and everything was tidy and perfect, not a single thing out of place although the sink was filled with tv-diners. On the kitchen, on the other hand, there was a small plate of food with a small note by the side. I scanned around one more time. "Hello? Ranko, are you home? I'm back."
Nothing, totally nothing. I turned to that plate of omelet and meat and picked the note that laid next to it, unfolding it so I could see a small message Ranko left for me: Apparently, she had to meet one of her editors about her new book and since her deadline was drawing near, she opted to stay at a local café with her so they could brainstorm some ideas for her new story and chapters. I guess even writers have it tough sometimes…
Whatever. I eat my dinner, take a shower, put on my pajamas and lay on my bed for a good night of sleep. Today was so bizarre, so strange, to think everything would happen just like that in my first day of school… I lifted my head to face the covered mirror by the side of my room, and sighed, putting my head back on the pillow. I should rest, tomorrow, me and Renji will get deeper into this whole ordeal about the Mirror world…
No matter what.
My eyes started to get heavy, and blankness is taking over my consciousness. The adrenaline rush I had this earlier soon vanished, and I feel myself getting tired and tired, as sleepiness takes over, until I finally fall asleep…
…
"Welcome."
"...!" I Blink once, twice and, before I knew it, I found myself in a strange, yet familiar place. I can hear the soft melody of a piano, accompanied by the aria which ressonates with my entire being, and then here I am, sitting on a golden chair in a room tinted in velvet blue, in front of me a creepy-looking, balding long-nosed man with a massive grin and bloodshot eyes sitting straight on his own golden chair as his fingers were interlocked in front of his face, and besides him, a blond, fair maiden wearing also blue. I gulp hard by my sudden summoning. "This is..."
"Do not be alarmed, you are fast asleep in the real world.I have summoned you within your dreams." Igor's high-pitched yet calm voice echoed through the mirror room as he lifted a hand to gently reassure my current position, and with nothing to do, I closed my mouth to let him speak. "So, we meet again."
"So, Ichika, you were definitely able to hear the call of your heart, and come forth its power in a time of need. That was so awesome~! I knew you would be able to do it!" The young woman besides Igor, Agatha if I remember correctly, cheerfully said those words while clapping her hands to me, making me blush quite a bit. Unlike its quiet master, the young lady clad in blue seemed extactic in hearing about my accomplishment, so much I didn't bother to ask how did they know it happened at all. "He got the potential, doesn't he, master? I knew it!"
"Indeed he has." Igor said, unaffected by the cheerfulness of his 'assistant' as he hovered his hand above the table in front of us, and from it a blue card appeared, a card with the number Zero on it with the image of a wandering fool in it. "Your awakened power seems to be Nero, how fascinating. He is a power which is known as a Persona."
"Per... So... Na...?" I murmured. Igor nodded.
"Yes, my dear Young man." Igor reponded with his ever-presented grin. He reached for the said card on his table and picked it with his white gloved hands, turning it around to show to me it's mirror back. however, when the mirror surface hit me, it didn't show the image of Ichika amano, but the burning, grinning existence of Nero. "This is your alterego, the other you. A Persona is the personality that you present to the world outside yourself. You can say that it is a mask that you use in order to comfront with life's hardships."
"basically, its an alterego you use in your day-by-day to deal with whatever thing life throws at you! Like a shield to your heart." Agatha complemented with a smile and a chuckle. igor, unaffected, proceeded.
"However, it seems that those facets are not exclusively crafted by the hearts they inhabited, but also by those we live with. Their own views, opinions, thoughts and masks they project on others, which are nothing but a reflection of what they think and see from the outside, but if care is not taken, it threatens to completely overrule the current personality, and destroy what truly lies within, leaving nothing but a hollowed form." Igor continued, putting the card down on his table, and I could only gulp hearing that. Like Lily-san said, those shadows use the strong thoughts of the human world to take shape, and the stronger those thoughts and congnitions are, the stronger the shadow which possesses them are. The long-nosed gentleman apparently notices my worry, and waves a hand to me in order to ease my feelings. "But fear not, my dear young man. For you have an unique power, and a strong sense of self to succumb to such. However weak now, the power you possesses is that of the Wild Card. Compare to others, it is very special."
"Wild... Card?" I murmured, a bit confused. Does that mean... I have something more than just Nero?
"You can say this ability is like the number Zero: Empty, yet holding infinite potential within itself." Igor's grin seemed to widen even more than ever before as he explained it such to me. "And just like other Personas, its strength is provided by the heart and the bonds it forms. Confidants, if you may. By strengthen those bonds, your personas and its abilities are destined to grow stronger and stronger. And in order to hone such potential, we shall provide the necessary assistance in your journey..."
"That's right, Ichika! So you can count on us for that power to grow and help you even more in that quest of yours!" Agatha chimmed with a smile, picking from a massive book a card with the number I written on it and the image of a magician in the center and putting it next to the Number 0 card on her master's table.
"I will be delight to traveling the road of your destiny together." igor chuckle, and despite his appearance, I could only sense kindness and confidence emanating from him. Before I could say anything, a small key emerged from above and fell onto my lap. I took a quick glance at it, a small velvet key. "Hold on to this. With this key, from this night forward, you are our guest in the Velvet room."
"..." I said nothing, only nodded, putting the key on the pocket of my pajama despite not knowing how a key he gives in my dream with go with me back the world of the awakened. Suddenly, I hear the ring of something, and with one last chuckle, Igor and Agatha started to vanish from my eyes, as my eyelids start to get heavier and heavier.
'It seems our time is up. Now, return to your slumber in the world you call your own, and rest assure, knowing that we'll always be there to offer our assistance." Those were the last words I heard from Igor together with a giggle from Agatha, before complete darkness took over. "Until we meet again..."
And then, I fell asleep once again...
Character Sheet UPDATED!
*Name: Lily(リリー; Rirī)
-Age: Unknown
-Arcana: The chariot (VII)
-Persona: Jason.
-Weapon of choice: Kodachi.
-Bio: A mysterious fox-like being Ichika and Renji encountered during their first quest into the mirror world. Despite its appearance of a cute aumburn fox with naval japanese uniform and wearing a crown on its head, it speaks in an elderly way and treats them as children despite its miniscule size. However, it is quite a nimble fellow capable of disposing shadows with relative ease. He seems to be quite knowledged about the mirror world and its inhabitants such as Shadows and Personas, but... Who on Earth is Lily, exactly?
Compendium UPDATED!
*Jason(Arcana: The Chariot): lily's Persona. One of the most famous Greek Heroes, the rightful King of Iolcos and the leader of the Argonauts, a group of assemble heroes which embarked in several adventures on their famous Ship, the Argo, one of the most famous being the retrieval of the Golden Fleece. Charismatic and intelligence, while also blessed by Athena, jason stands out for being completely human and suffering a tragic fate due to his impulsiveness and misfortune. A Persona of the Chariot Arcana, Jason takes the shape of a massive golden Toy ship which boasts incredible strength and speed, being quite resistent yet nimble in combat while also having massive firepower and standard healing skills.
-Resistant against: Garu-based Skills.
-Weakness: Mudo/eiha-based skills.
What are your thoughts?
i tried to imcoporatr as much as elements in the original game into the story and I tried to look as less cringey or shoehorned as possible. After all, what's the point of an OC story if you don't feel that's a fanfic with an extra touch from the author's love? I hope it was a nice chapter for you all despite the infodump of a sorts, but typical persona thing, right?
Thanks for reading until this point, don't forget to R&R and have a nice day!