Interlude 3: A Retreat to the Second Residence
*sniff* *sniff* Musty, chilly atmosphere? Rustic, dilapidated cell facilities? Yeah…looks like I'm back with Igor and his twins again...Such was my train of thought when I awoke to find myself back in the Velvet Room. The layout of the circular room remained and the atmosphere was as lifeless as it was the first time. Igor continued to sit in his office chair looking all high handed. Tap tap tap went his fingers as he'd seemingly waited for the twin girls to acknowledge me. I couldn't tell if it was me or the size of my cell had increased the slightest amount. It was probably the perspective playing on my mind. As I sluggishly got up to my feet, I dragged myself over to the doors of my cell hearing the steady scraping of metal across uneven stone and grabbed onto the bars with the limited motion I had. When the two girls, Caroline and Justine, registered that I was inches away from them, I was unsurprisingly greeted with a baton to the cell by the former. I'd more than gotten used to the ringing noise in the back of my ear.
"..." Once again, she had nothing to say. Justine on the other hand seemed quite delighted.
"It's a pleasure to have you here, Trickster."
"Trickster. I wish to congratulate you in taking the first major step towards your rehabilitation and beginning to overturn the ruin that still cometh your way. Even though the masses will never truly appreciate the full brevity of things you have done, they will subconsciously recognise your efforts." Igor praised.
"Thank you." I curtly replied.
"I am also greatly satisfied to know that you are building upon the strength of your heart by forging new bonds with further confidants and fortifying your existing bonds. Despite it falling under the minor arcana, the strength of your Queen bond is astounding. The arcana under my observation are as follows, Trickster. I wish to provide you this information within your Metaverse Navigator so as to allow you to judge your progress." He went on to summarise this information - using the power of the Third Eye, I was able to tell the wielders and fill in the blanks:
Recently attained Arcana under Observation
King (of Wands): Principal Kobayakawa (The most recent observation)
Judge: Sae Niijima (well, she's a prosecutor. The second latest observation)
Empress: Haru Okumura (third latest observation, third Eye)
Faith: Sumire Yoshizawa (fourth latest observation, third Eye)
Other existing Arcana under Observation
Death: Tae Takemi (she's called the Plague after all…)
Temperance: Sadayo Kawakami (third Eye observation)
Chariot: Ryuji Sakamoto
Magician: Morgana
Hanged Man: Munehisa Iwai (third Eye observation)
Hierophant: Sojiro Sakura
Fool: Igor
Strength: Caroline and Justine (I asked them to be my Strength)
Arcana with the furthest development under Observation
Queen: Shiho Suzui
The Hermit: Futaba Sakura
Lovers: Ann Takamaki
"The implications of your actions will soon take root permanently amongst the masses and without a doubt, the next challenge you must face down will once again test the strength of your heart and willpower. Seeing as I've summoned you here, I will provide you the option of whether you wish to use our services or return to your reality." Igor concluded. So…there are more Palaces out there. Seems Ann was ahead of us all to notice that without being in here.
"Shackled up in chains and you've somehow got a rather happy aura surrounding you, Trickster!" Caroline joked.
"Caroline." Justine gleamed.
"It's perfectly okay, Justine." I reassured, sitting down on the floor so that we were both eye level.
"I've started an intimate relationship with the person I love. She's brought a lot of joy in the short time I've known her and I can trust her with everything I have and everything I am. I'm looking forward to what we've begun." I answered, my thoughts suddenly drifting onto Shiho. Caroline whacked the cell bars snapping me out of my reverie.
"Inmate...surely you can trust us as deeply as you do the person on your mind." Justine lamented. I'd had a concerned glint in my eye which wouldn't go unnoticed.
"Don't misunderstand. It needn't be the same way but just the same level. Whether you remain at your current residence or end up having to be repositioned, we will be with you on your journey always." Caroline frantically asserted.
"...I understand. I'd like to register my Personas as they are and we can then do some fusions. Is that okay, both of you?"
"Sure!" "By your will." Caroline and Justine responded respectively. Their smiles of almost childlike joy matched their physical appearance. As for their true ages, I would never know or dare to ask in their presence. The last thing I needed was death by execution over a forbidden question being asked. In order to complete the task of the wardens, I noted down the fusions I needed. By fusing Anzu with High Pixie, I was able to create a Naga with the Zionga skill. I'd then lucked out on fusing Naga with a summoned Hua Po to create the required Fuu-Ki and affixed the Zionga to the Persona, registering it in that state.
"Hmm…you're getting the hang of this now, Trickster!" Caroline praised.
"It's only thanks to your careful guidance" I responded.
"It is a shame we cannot recompense your efforts now given your enthusiasm in completing our task. Nonetheless, you will be glad to find that should you complete the next task, we shall once again provide you a tantalising reward." Justine added.
"Well, there is something I'd like to do."
"Oh?"
"Nothing too obtrusive." I lifted off Justine's boiler hat and ruffled her hair softly. Funnily enough, a faint smile ran across her face and she'd kept a level head. It seems she doesn't mind…
"Why was that what you wanted to do, Trickster?"
"It's just…soothing for me, I guess."
"..." Caroline clearly hated being left out so I'd ruffled her hair too. She didn't whack me in the nuts this time. There seemed to be a longing expression on her face.
"Well…here's your next task. This should provide you some challenge - try to fuse an Anubis with the skills Maragion and Mabufula." Justine answered. Needless to say, the rest of this night was a productive one and when I was finished, I once again returned to the peaceful dreams of my woman. At least, it was what I wanted to happen.
"This might be presumptuous but…who will my next challenge be?"
"Trickster. Never mind that we exist between dreams and the reality you perceive to be your own, giving you the information would be a fallacious move on our part. For one, we would be condemning you to your death by not fleshing out your growth and you would end up foolishly overexerting what little strength you and your allies possess." So hold on…all this time, they know who the Palace holders are and refuse to tell me?
"Idiot! Who are you to presume that we are equals within this realm?! You are the inmate, we are your wardens and our master is the one who took a chance on you!" Caroline berated me with a fierce tone, essentially telling me to know my place. Justine took the chance to throw a curveball my way.
"We are indeed saying we know what's going to happen and with whom. Had we told you about the man named Kamoshida, would you not have requested your immediate departure from your current educational establishment?" I threw some logic right back in her face.
"How would I be able to do that? I'd had no allies in Shujin back when I started. I wasn't speaking with my family either. Besides, if I was to accuse him, whose word is more believable: a criminal who assaulted a government official or a top Olympic gold winning coach who brought honour to his country? I'd have to try something else out."
"And how many times have you demonstrated your powerlessness in reality when you're alone?" Okay. Unexpected blow but perfectly reasonable.
"Without our continued assistance, you and those precious confidants in reality would be no more than society's trash, destined for nothing. You and your allies would be consumed by the very ruin you came to prevent." They seriously deemed the love of my life and everyone who I trusted as trash…but it only served to hammer her point of my powerlessness further. All I could do was clench the bars and hold my tongue. It seemed the two girls weren't holding back anything. Better leave before I really get mad.
"I think I'm done here tonight. Sorry I ever asked." I answered. Guess I'd gotten too comfy in the prison cells. I wasn't going to let the two rattle me further or say something to get me killed.
"…" My consciousness drifted away, not to be stirred once more.