"Hey, how long you will sleep like that? Wake up!"

I just woke up by someone. This place… Hm? What's is this place. It's just surrounded by glowing light and while smokes. This is not a Velvet Room. It must be some place, inside of my mind.

When I was turning my back to see who tried to wake me up, I... I totally surprised.

That face, that clothes, those eyes even that voices, is that…me? I totally confused and not get at all! Wait! how could I see myself here? This was an illusional Shadow like Ryoji or some kind of entity that tried to lure me into their trap?

But that figure began to smile, happily laughed. What's on to you?

"You still didn't know about yourself, didn't you?" It seemed that thing knew about me.

"What do you mean about "myself"?" I asked.

"Ah…. Seriously, you totally get no idea at all! You didn't even know that you're just rob all my life by yourself! Hahahahahaha!" That figure said, mischievously laughed. I felt terrified when it laughed; I didn't want to hear it.

"Perhaps I should show you something." It said while white smokes begin shaping. It's a mirror. I was curious about it said. What do you mean "robbing your life"? That's a lie. I always be Minako, didn't I…. didn't I? Hm? Why am I doubt about myself? Did I be lured by it?

I ruminated, deeply sighed, and looked at the mirror.

"…. What?" I shockingly said, this is not me. My body completely changed! That eyes, hair color…They're nothing like me at all!

"Now, you just witnessed about yourself, Minako….no I should say, "Nyx", right? Huhuhuhu…. huhahaha!" That thing laughed again.

I covered my ears, I... I don't to hear it. Just stop it!

"No, no no. What you see earlier is your true self! It was me who actually be Minako all along! You just scrambled all of my life, your imposter! You didn't deserve to live as me!" That figure turns to insulted me. This is beyond ridiculous. That things must be lie to me…right?

I began to concentrate, recalled my memories but no matter I tried to think, I could't figure it out. I knew nothing but being Minako. How can this thing say is true?

But suddenly, the Universe Arcana card that I gained from the Velvet Room has been spawned in front of my eyes. I slowly touched it without knowing. I don't know why do that, maybe… I didn't have no choices. I… I want to know what I am.

After that, this aura has been surrounded me. I felt refreshed, all of my past memories have been completely returned to me.

I finally remember everything. I'm…Nyx, Mother of all Shadows. I wondered Ryoji already knew about this when he said it's forbidden love.

So that means that figure who teased me at the beginning is real Minako. I'm the one who is fake all along….

I felt painful and empty at the same time. Everything I spend time with my friends is all a lie? Did I actually be cheerful as they see me? I only talked like that because I'm acting as a Minako, not actually me…. Even these bonds, it totally a facade as well? How did Akihiko-senpai react me about this?...

It's doesn't matter anymore. I'm the ruthless entity, who has been separated from my own body… No matter how I choose, the world will be end. Everyone will die. I will consume this world and reunited with my body….

I.. cried, my tear flowing down on my face. I... What have I done? Did I bring nothing but destruction to this world? It must be as my fate from the start.

But she stopped her laugh, sadly looked at me.

"Hey! Sorry to make you feel like that. I just wanna know if you'll still be mindless entity or not." She apologized to me.

"Just how long do you know about me? I inquired from her.

"Since you took up my place, that day…. The day my parents were dead."

"…." I could only be silent and listened her.

"When I witnessed my parent's death, my meaning of life has been lost. I don't care about this world. I don't even know why I want…to live. I don't give a damn to everything!" she harshly talked about this world.

"But until that time, you who have been stayed with Death without knowing have been took up my place and being me instead. I'm…totally free. I can finally leave from this rotten world." She happily said.

"…Minako…." I was speechless. I never thought I'll see anything like this in my life.

"But I… can't be rest. I just want to know what you are gonna do with the life you have taken from me. How you gonna make that hopeless life have a meaning again. I'm quite…curious."

"So…you have been watching over me all this times…. then why do you curious about me?" I questioned about her real intention. Normally, if someone took up their body and live as them, they should be angry by now. But to her, she didn't care about her life.

"Maybe because, I too…. want to experience that life… some ways." She calmly answered.

"And the more I have seen you spend a time with them, the more I feel…. envious. Why shouldn't it be me to live with them? Why can that imposter like you do anything that I can't?" she said, sobbing on her cheeks.

"Aa…. I…" I... I couldn't talk anything back to her...it's true. I had robbed her life; she couldn't have a chance to live as Minako anymore. As I thought, I'm nothing but ruthless, mindless, empty entity who didn't care anything in the world….

"No, you're not." But she insisted me.

"Ah! Why are you-"

"I said you're not!" she loudly shouted, continued to speak.

"I admit, I always see you like that, when you took up my place. I always thought that you'll be nothing but a parasite, not knowing about what human is, being ignorant and forgot your true selves." She jokingly bantered.

"But…I was wrong" she gloomily took her word back.

"You… never did for yourself or being ruthless, cold person as I saw you first, you're always thinking for your friends. With your real memories returned to you, it makes it even clear. You're shown me you truly care everyone. You have become the real Minako more than me, you know that? If I have been you…I wouldn't know how to begin with." she respectfully complimented me.

"Minako…." I grievingly said.

"Hey! Don't call me that name again. You're the one who became real Minako here. I… I don't have that chance anymore."

She slowly walked to me, gently hugged me.

"Trust me… Your bonds between your friends are real... you'll always be Minako to them. I'm sure about that. And I…I never truly hate you." she respectfully complimented me.

I'm totally lost here. She said all of that out of the blue. I... don't know to react. Only I could be crying, hugging with her…. let out of my guilt, sorrow away.

We stopped our crying, decide to stand up. I now have more reason to save my friends, to save everyone.

"Now then, it seems my time is up." She sadly babbled. Her soul began to fade away!

"You…."

She seemed to know about my reaction, nodded "Um…. it's time for me to go, to reunite with my…parents."

She said her final word before being fading away. "Now, you have a power to save your friends there, your body still be like me, not in that form. Save the world or let the Fall kill everything, it's your decision to make…. well, I have already known your answer, haven't I?"

"Yes, I have made up of my mind, I know what I must be done. Don't worry about me." I said, hugged her for a last time.

She began to be collapsed to the ground, I shocked, approached her.

"Nyx…No… Minako… I truly…have…fun. talking with...you…I'm proud of you." She expressed her feeling for a last time.

"Please…. Don't forget about me…. Farewell..."

"I will…Farewell…. Minako..."

Her soul completely fades away, I felt regretful when I saw her leaving like this. But I can't let myself being sorrowful right now. I have made of my mind, it's time for me to save my friends….to save the world we cherished.

I promise.