Trails in The Sea of Soul
Prologue - The Fateful Reunion
Shimmering shards of ice surrounded him, the crisp chill of the frozen air reaching every corner of the room. Each shard refracted the light like a kaleidoscope, a beautiful carpet of glimmering ice which seemed to wrap around him. The room was silent, not even the slightest whisper of wind in his ears as if time had come to a standstill.
He slowly surveyed his surroundings and set his gaze upon dozens of people, each one encased within their own translucent tombs. Their faces filled with sorrow and pain, frozen in a poignant display of anguish. He closed his eyes for a moment as he felt the heavy burden on his chest.
These people would survive, yet the guilt he felt are often too much to bear. He had done what was necessary but he could not dispel the remorse he felt for hurting them. He had no choice but to go on, knowing that his actions were for the greater good and hoped that it will bring comfort to more people than those he had harmed.
He exhaled and a faint wisp of vapor rolled upwards out of his lips, the phantom trails meandering as it lingered in the air until it dissipated into nothing. The wildcard stood in quiet stillness, his mind drifting aimlessly as he wondered what his friends would think of him now.
Would they even recognize him as the same person that stood beside them as they climb and fight their way through that infernal tower?
Would she?
He could almost feel her presence standing beside him in that moment and a faint pathetic smile formed on his face.
Mitsuru...
He could still remember how she firmly defended him back then, her eyes ablaze with burning anger as she confronted her fiancé who had spoke ill of him. The way she boldly stood in front of him before unleashing a flurry of words that he had never expected to hear.
His heart still swells at the thought of her even now...
With a feeble motion, he lifted his hand, the tip of his finger slowly brushing against his lips. Memories came flooding back as he recall that day when she asked him to stay with her just a moment longer. The subtle blush on her cheeks as she peered upon him with those crimson eyes of hers. How it had felt as her supple lips press onto his own, a single kiss that seemed to last an eternity, until finally, it melted away into nothingness.
The memory of that bittersweet embrace was something not even time itself can take away from him...
He missed her... he missed them...
With a quivering, shaky breath, he let out a faint sigh, knowing that there was no possibility of coming back to those days, nor that special someone he held dear. That time had expired in what seemed like a lifetime ago and it could not be altered nor recovered.
He did what was necessary to protect the world and those precious few that meant everything to him. But at the same time, his heart ached with a pain that can never be relieved, a sadness that creeped under his skin every time he thought of them.
Perhaps this was his fate, to carry a burden that will last an eternity...
'I chooseth this fate of mine own free will...'
No, he had made that decision and he will live with the consequences no matter how hard it may become. There was no time to dwell on sadness, nor regret what he has done, because it was for people like them that he sacrificed his everything in the first place. It is only right for him to continue carrying this burden forward and honor their legacies by using every ounce of strength within himself.
And so, with a last glance at the countless frozen souls scattered around him, he shook his head and steeled himself before turning away and walked deeper into the facility.
A hint of urgency began to pulse within their veins as they advanced further into the facility. The freezing air seemed to tighten around them like a vice, the stillness beginning to haunt the group with its ethereal silence.
Their surroundings had changed drastically since the first time they arrived, their worn and ragged breaths now forming small clouds of fog in the dimly lit hallways. The cold gripped his skin like an icy hand, sending a shiver cascading down his body as he continued onwards. He pull his jacket tighter around him, trying to lock away what little body warmth he still had left.
"It's too quiet..." He whispered quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps as they progressed even deeper into the facility.
"Be on your guard..." One of their instructors cautioned, his voice low and serious as he glanced around warily. "We still have no clue as to what is happening here."
The further they went, the more oppressive their surroundings became until finally, they arrived inside a large chamber, its walls coated with a thick layer of hoarfrost. However, as they stepped inside, their amazement quickly turned to horror and dread as they laid their eyes upon its disturbing contents.
Dozens upon dozens of frozen figures encased within what seemed like solid blocks of ice. Their eyes still open in silent horrified expressions, their icy sheath trapping them within what seemed to be an eternal sleep.
The group stared horrified at this sight, their hearts pounding in fear and apprehension as they slowly came to understand why everything here was so quiet. Before anyone could say anything, their instructors yelled out orders for everyone split up into groups with some headed towards inspecting each figure while others stood on standby in case something went wrong.
It didn't take long until they all came to the same damning realization.
"They are still alive..." His classmate, a descendant of the Nord Highlands stated softly, his voice thick with sympathy as he stared upon the frozen forms in disbelief. "It looks like they've been this way for a while now."
He nodded gravely, silently agreeing with his fellow cadet's words before shifting his gaze towards another guard who was similarly encased within an icy prison visible several meters away from them. His features seemed twisted in terror, his lips thinned into a fearful grimace.
He could only stand there in silent contemplation of the matter while a million questions raced through his mind. Who did this? How? Why?
Before his thoughts could further drift away, a distant sound broke the eerie silence within the chamber. It came from further inside, reverberating through the air like a thunderclap. There is no mistaking it, for he had heard it countless times before. It was-
"Gunshots!" One of his instructors exclaimed, his voice echoing high and clear within the chamber.
The others leapt into action as soon as they heard the all too familiar sound, their lines of training and reflexes kicking in without hesitation.
"Cadet Machias, Cadet Elliot, you both stay here and inform the others of what we've found." The other instructor commanded, her gun and sword already drawn as she prepared for whatever was waiting ahead. "The rest of you, follow me!"
He replied in unison with the others, his voice strained from fear yet still firm and unwavering.
Before any of them could realize it, everyone had already taken their positions for departure and begun advancing deeper into the facility, racing fowards with urgency burning at their heels.
The desperate urgency in the air pressed them forward like an implacable force with each passing moment. The group swiftly ran past the chamber's frozen walls, navigating through the intricate tunnels of ice like a wildfire that refused to be contained.
Hundreds of motionless figures lined both sides of their path, their cold and lifeless gazes eerily mute witness as they passed by them at breakneck speed. Their sullen expressions painted a stark picture that could not easily be forgotten even when time had passed. It was almost as if this whole place was now encased within an eternal stillness.
"Come on!" One of their instructors shouted out ahead, her voice echoing loudly within the hallway. "Hurry! Keep moving!"
The gunshots had long since fall silent, but their fear and panic had only grown with its passing. The group pushed forward even harder, desperate to reach the source before everything was too late if it already wasn't. Feet pounding against hard ice in an unyielding rhythm that only belied the tense atmosphere that enveloped them all as they ran faster than ever towards whatever fate awaited them further ahead.
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the group arrived within a massive chamber. A single giant computer terminal stood in the center, it's surface illuminated by a faint blue light. Yet, what truly caught their attention was the figure standing in front of it with his back facing them.
Even without any visuals to tell them who this person could be, something about him commanded the group's undivided attention almost immediately.
"Hold it right there!" One of the instructors called out, a hint of authority present in his voice, yet he could also detect traces of apprehension. "Step away from the terminal! Now!"
Every eye fixed itself upon the figure in anticipation of whatever the mysterious individual might say or do next. A chill raced down everyone's spine while they each held their breath and waited for his silhouette to turn around.
Just when it seemed like everything had settled into an unbearably tense silence, an all too familiar voice filled the air.
"Class VII..." The figure stated plainly without even turning around, his voice refusing to falter despite the precariousness of their situation. "You are finally here..."
One could clearly hear the strength present beneath his rigid facade as the intruder slowly pivoted and faced them all, his gaze falling upon them all without showing any sign of fear or hesitation in the face of their overwhelming number.
He looked upon this familiar figure with shock before realization quickly dawned upon him. The person standing before him was none other than the same individual whom he had first encountered years ago when the jaegers attacked his home.
That same mysterious stranger from the past who had aided him during his darkest hour. The same person who had once saved both him and his mother...
His savior, his hero...
"Minato Arisato..."
Author's Note: This is just me writing random stuff that kinda pop into my head. I'll think about continuing this story if enough people are interested, but for now, I'll go focus on my Honkai Impact fanfic. This is going to be Minato x Lianne by the way... I think? And maybe Rose? Who knows... Will it develop into a harem? Maybe, though probably only like... 4 girls? 5? Eh, we'll see...
Disclaimer: Persona 3 belongs to Atlus; Legend of Heroes series belongs to Nihon Falcom.