"Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Chapter 4: The Child II
Shaking off what just happened, Theo continued down the dark street.
"Careful Theo, the Shadows will be there, and the gauntlet only turns on when they're in range." Anima informed over the earpiece.
"Okay, so where are the Shadows?" Theo asked. It's been a while since he entered and he was getting antsy from the lack of action.
"You'll see them when you see them," Animus explained. "You don't go to the Shadows-"
"-They come to you, like dogs and cats-"
"-Except with them having the capacity to kill."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Hey, that's why we're here."
Theo disconnected from the two and began to explore. The street was a one-way street, which inclined forwards. The streets were made of stone, as expected from the French, and the buildings around him were either destroyed, in the process of being destroyed, or boarded up.
"Remember Theo, we can't be there with you," Anima said. "We can tell you where they are and their weaknesses but other than that, this is gonna be all you."
"Affirmative," Theo said shakily. He prepared for an ambush.
"Theo, watch out. We detect two minor Shadows ahead."
Theo stopped in his tracks. He raised his arms to defend himself if necessary.
*growl*
Theo saw the two Shadows. Both of them were shaped similar to dogs, and were colored pure black. Their heads were covered with masks, with the letter I printed on them. One of them growled at Theo and charged at him.
"Theo! Use the gauntlet!" Anima screamed.
Theo didn't answer, only stared at the gauntlet. It shone brightly, and moved by itself forward, bringing its wielder with it.
Towards into the incoming Shadow.
BAM!
The fist collided into the dog Shadow. It was still alive, so Theo prepared to perform another attack. The Shadow leapt through the air, its jaws open, ready to bite. Theo drew his hand back, and struck the Shadow's head with the back of his hand. As it landed on the ground, the Shadow let out a whine, then dissolved into a black mist, the resulting miasma being absorbed into the gauntlet.
"Animus, why is the gauntlet absorbing Shadow remains?" Theo panicked.
"Don't worry, that's normal. Now we've scanned the Sha-"
Theo rolled out of the way of the other Shadow's lunge.
"Sorry, got kinda busy there. What was it?"
"The Shadow's weak to Wind. Point the gauntlet at the Shadow and imagine wind."
"Okay, okay," Theo panted. He pointed the gauntlet at the Shadow and imagined wind flowing out from his arm. Suddenly, time slowed down for him. The power of the gauntlet took over. It glowed an intense green, and it pulsated as it prepared to unleash its power. His mind blanked out, his pupils dilated, and one word escaped his lips.
GARU!
The gauntlet expelled out its energy at once. Green swirls erupted from his arm, and it wrapped around the Shadow. The swirls turned faster and faster as the Shadow was lifted off the ground. The sheer force of the wind tore the Shadow open, and it died right there, the remaining miasma also being absorbed by the gauntlet.
huff "Okay," Theo panted out into the earpiece. "Why did the gauntlet absorb what was left of the Shadows?"
"It's how it get's stronger," Animus explained. "The gauntlet gets stronger the more Shadows you defeat. I think it harnesses the remains to power its attacks."
"Seriously?" Theo asked. "Why does it work like that?"
"I dunno," Animus apologized. "Just found it in the wasteland that's your mind, so it's your fault that it's like that."
"Huh. I think I'm gonna kick my ass later."
"Yeah, you do that," Anima said. "Oh yeah, I think you shouldn't over-do it. If you're tired, just tell us and we'll rest."
"Heh. Don't worry. I ain't tired just yet."
Theo was tired. He was tired from walking a never-ending road in the middle of someone's idea of French streets. His feet hurt, and his mind was still reeling from the Garu that he performed.
Why though? Theo thought. Even though this wasn't his mind, there still had to be a reason why in the entire collective unconscious, this mind was the one his Animii chose to train him in.
"It's because it's familiar," a voice from above said.
Theo instinctively pointed his gauntlet at the direction of the voice. There was nothing there.
"Behind you, you moron."
Theo looked behind him and saw the origin of the voice.
"Hello, 'Theo Sophia'." the origin said.
The origin in question was a teenager, barely seventeen. He was wearing a blue hoodie, a pair of headphones, and a wearable computer on his wrist.
"Who are you?" Theo asked.
"Not important," the teen said. "What's important is this."
The teen held up his wearable and typed a few lines of code. He held up his hand that wore the wearable.
"Let's shake hands first before I show you, as a sign of trust," the teen said, offering his hand.
Theo looked at the hand warily, being suspicious of the teenager. "I don't even know who you are. Why should I shake your hand?"
The teen smiled. "It's because I'm gonna give you a fighting chance against Shadows. I know what Willpower can do, but that's not nearly enough for the Major Shadows."
"Willpower?"
"Your gauntlet," the teen pointed out. "The pen may say 'Arcana' on the side, but the gauntlet itself is called Willpower."
"Why is that?"
"It's because that you can, theoretically, conquer inner evil through sheer force of will. Isn't that what our parents tell us? Just, 'deal with it'?"
Theo stared at the offered hand again. "Okay, I trust you."
The teenager grabbed his hand and muttered a word.
Zio.
Immediately, electricity coursed through Theo's body, paralyzing him. Before he passed out, he heard two things: Anima and Animus screaming through the earpiece, and the teenager talk to him in a fatherly tone.
"Remember, Theo. Remember who you are, and become the hero you are destined to be."
AN: Alright, time for my inner self to be torn into pieces. Before you ask, he will gain a Persona next chapter, but he won't use it until the first Major Shadow.
As for who the Persona is going to be... let's just say that there are some countries out there with a lot of untapped folklore and Atlus hasn't tapped yet.
OCs owned by me: Anima, Animus, Theo, and the Mysterious Teenager.
Persona owned by Atlus
