She had doubts. She was afraid. She did not believe in it. However, when she looked back and saw the cheering smile of Persona, she opened the door to a stranger.
There was a woman standing in front of her. Quite tall, about 5.6 feet, she was dressed in some sort of strict office suit with a white shirt and black tie tied around her neck. In addition, she wore a black fedora like some gangster from old mafia movies.
Seeing Taylor woman barely smiled. After that, she carefully and slowly raised her hands, probably showing her that she is unarmed.
"W-who are you?" That was probably the most obvious question to start this weird conversation.
"I'm afraid my name, or even nickname, won't tell you anything. But you can call me Tyche."
Taylor tried to look at her face, find at least some fake, something to help her decide. However, there was nothing. This woman... Her facial expression was blank. Nothing that Taylor could see or feel.
"Like the goddess of luck?" Another stupid question to ask. Nevertheless, right now It just felt… right.
"Yes." Tyche were standing motionless, like a marble statue.
"H-how did you find me?" Panic attack suddenly hit Taylor. Even if Tyche seemed harmless, but she did tracked her. That means that other people also might to do so. They could hurt her. Like them.
. …
However, the woman in the costume hurried to calm her down:
"Don't worry; no one can track you down the way I did"
Somehow, Tyche words made sense. She wanted to believe her. To believe to that one person in whole world besides her Projections even if they seemed to be so real.
"Are you sure?" Asked Taylor in a weak tone.
"Believe me, if anyone else can use my way - the world will be in great danger," there was something in woman's voice that Taylor immediately believed that world will be somehow doomed if somebody managed to utilize that exact way.
However, that does not meant that she believed to Tyche.
"Why are you here? You want something from me, don't you?" Taylor looked back to see Alice, a faithful servant, frozen behind her shoulder, ready to protect her Contractor in case of danger. For a fraction of second, she thought that there were some shiny object in Alice hand, but her hand was empty.
The woman, meanwhile, remained calm on the doorstep, as if gathering her thoughts.
"Imagine seeing a man stuck in a bog. You are in a big hurry somewhere, the case that awaits you is very important. Usually you would pass by, leaving this man in a swamp. There is nothing wrong in it. You are in hurry. Your work is important. " Tyche paused before continuing: "Now imagine that at one single moment you realize that if you stop now, decide to help this man, sacrificing your precious time. Then, somehow, somewhere in the future, that man, who now is stuck in a mire will help you to achieve your final goal faster and easier."
"And I am that man in the mire?"
Was she important? Can she be important? But how? How Tyche could know?
No, Taylor was not stupid and understood that her power, whatever it was, was powerful. It was hard not to realize. It was all too fast for her. Too abrupt and unfamiliar.
Tyche nodded
"Exactly. I can help you because you can help me, no, all of us at long distance. Call it a long-term investment"
"Could I just say "no"? Ask you to leave?"
"Of course you can. The path will reach its goal anyway. I'm just trying to be as efficient as possible."
"And you won't tell anyone about me being here?" It was naive of her to assume that, but this whole conversation was too strange for her to be certain in anything.
- That won't be necessary. No matter if I say anything to anyone, the Path will remain the same.
Taylor turned to Alice with a silent question. She did not know if this person could tell the truth from the lie, but something told her that it was very difficult to deceive an embodiment of Wonderlands madness.
Alice kept staring at Tyche. Her wide blue eyes looked so empty and lifeless that they seemed puppet-shaped.
- Dead Fragment of a Great. A Prophet named "Luck" You are not lying, Seer of Paths. However, you are far from the truth, too.
Tyche immediately answered.
"Truth is subjective, so is reality, Alice. You are the one who knows it best, aren't you? That the truth is a beautiful lie for some people. Somewhere, Alice is a little girl trapped in a dead city with thousands of dead dolls. Somewhere, a patient in an asylum with surrealistic nightmares. And somewhere, a brave warrior who fought Jabberwocky on Brave Day. It is all true. I do not wish your contractor any harm; I do not want to use it. I can help her. I want help her. So she could choose to help me somewhere in the future."
"Is these intentions good?" Taylor was in a weird half-trance watching two... creatures talking. Tyche and Alice from Wonderland. What a strange combination. A prophet and a girl from a half mad fairy tale. It was an oddity. Some kind of peculiar, twisted irony.
In addition, she felt like she was not the only one looking at what was going on. There, behind the gate, they were watching. Isis, Lucifer, Bai Hu. Familiar and unfamiliar, Evil and Good. All of them were watching this scene. They saw an importance in this dialog. Something that Taylor cannot comprehend on her own.
"There's no difference between the good and the bad. There's only a purpose and a way to achieve it."
"And what is it?"
"To stop a creature that seeks to destroy this world."
"And his name?"
Tyche were silent. She was gloomy. Her face seemed serene, as if wrapped in the shadow of a heavy burden that lies on her shoulders. She looked at Taylor. There was regret in her eyes.
"That name… is easy to pronounce. The only question is, are you ready to hear it, Taylor. Are you ready to carry that burden on your back? I know that happened to you. This knowledge could break you. "
"I…"
The words she wanted to say stopped in her throat, unable to break free. Tyche was right. Too many things, too scary, too painful. Reduced to mere nobody, alone, hunted by PRT, and only her own newfound power saves her. Moreover, right now, in this very moment she is offered to dive into the deepest rabbit hole, to learn something very clearly forbidden.
She can make that choice. But... how could she make it right?
His Child. The Gift of Choice Bestowed On You. You Carve Your Path And We Will Follow
Daughter of Eve, You're Free From Deeds Of Mine. This Choice is Yours Completely
Voices talking in her head. An Angel. A Devil. Each of them did not give her the answer she was looking for. In despair, she looked at Alice. But she was only saying a few words:
"Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough."
"I don't care where I want to go." She really didn't care. All the roads were closed and open at the same time, she just stood at the intersection unable to choose the side to go to.
But... if time can wait, why not to stand at this intersection waiting for a ride?
"I... you are right. I'm not ready. Not right now. But tell me... If I accept to your help, and if I see you again... Will you give me that name?"
Tyche smiled. Bright and clear. Smile that looked... alien on that serene face.
"No matter how many times we met, Taylor. I will await your question."
"Then... maybe I should ask, how you can help me?"
Woman nodded satisfactorily.
"I think it might be worthwhile to start by telling you some useful things for every cape, and then... I'll introduce you to an old acquaintance of mine."
AN:This one is pretty short, but hope you won't regret it. Happy Holidays!
I'll try to post next one soon.