"Trickster…" The voice rang.
His body immobile, Ren couldn't but listen to the echoing depths of his slumber. A far too familiar voice called to him, reminding him of a feeling unlike that of his world. The cold sensation of metal bars stained his hands, and feeling himself open his eyes he was shocked to be met with an empty void beyond the cell's door. Somehow, he had heeded the voice's call before he could even realize it.
His eyes immediately darted towards the rest of his cell, now isolated from the remainder of the velvet room by a profound darkness. The padded velvet walls, the wooden bed, the dirty latrine… could it be? Was fate once again against him? Raising his arms, he observed silently as his Phantom Thief attire flickered and faded, failing to attune to his essence, his soul, whilst a faraway light unsuccessfully attempted to break through the darkness.
"Trickster… where have you gone…? Please- heed my voice!" The voice once again echoed through the darkness, fading away with a weakened echo. Ren finally understood, he understood the situation at hand.
"Lavenza! Can you hear me? I'm here, Lavenza!" Called Ren, with powerful urgency in his voice. Never had he seen the velvet room in such a state, and hearing his attendant's voice struggle to pierce the veil he began feeling what could only be described as renewed terror.
"Trickster…!" The voice answered, with noticeable delay. "Trickster- time is of the essence!" Continued Lavenza, whose voice kept on getting weaker.
"You have been lost... Your link to the sea of souls has been rescinded… you have reached a realm separated from humanity's collective unconscious!" Ren felt his heart drop at such a revelation. How could it be?
"Lavenza-! How can I return home?" Asked Ren, hoping his attendant had an answer.
"That goes beyond my current knowledge… and as time passes, my ability to assist you will only get weaker!"
Ren grimaced. Without the aid of the velvet room, the power of the wildcard would be beyond his reach.
"The reality of that realm is far too distant from cognition for you to use the power of Personas like you're accustomed to… however, there is a way!" Hope resonated through Lavenza's otherworldly voice.
"Persona users of years past have been able to summon even outside of cognition's realm. To do so, you'll-?!" Quaking rumbles shook the very foundation of the velvet cell, briefly throwing Ren off his balance. The darkness somehow seemed to seep into the rays of light, staining and poisoning it.
"Lavenza?! Are you still there?" Screamed Ren into the void, hoping for his voice to reach her once more.
"I can't sustain the connection for much longer! Trickster, this is my gift to you! Never forget who you are…!" Ren's pupils shrunk as a small sparkle traveled towards him. His hand passed through the bars, reaching out towards the mysterious item to grasp it without a second thought. Pulling back his arm, he felt a reinvigorating warmth as if an aspect of himself had been returned in its most sincere and pure form.
His hand opened slowly to reveal a blue flame in the palm of his hand, which quickly took its true form. In a flash of blinding light, Ren could feel the power of his other self return to him, and almost unconsciously he felt himself reciting the words ingrained deep into his being.
"I am thou…
…Thou art I."
Repeated Ren, raising his head to the masked spirit.
"… I am Arsène, pillager of twilight…
Though our bond may have been briefly severed, I am still the rebel who exists within you. I shall always be at your side, lest you forget.
I grant you once again the power to break through this crisis!"
Ren smirked at the towering figure, its blue flame engulfing the room in ethereal power which coursed through the Phantom Thief's body and mind. And just as quickly as he appeared, he was dispelled into a vortex of blue pyres.
Ren grasped at his heart, feeling the flames of rebellion inside him reflourish once more. His gaze quickly refocused itself on the fading light, now even further engulfed in the void.
"Trickster! To use the power of Personas you'll-" A thundering rumble covered Lavenza's words, leaving Ren hungry and desperate for the rest.
"Lavenza! I couldn't hear you! Lavenza!" He screamed, hoping to still get through to the attendant.
"You'll have to face death!"
Ren felt his heart stutter. The last of the light was finally engulfed by the void, and as his hands shook the cell's bars in disbelief he felt the darkness breach an almost imperceptible barrier. Rapidly, the shadows overcame the rest of his cell, eroding the bars on which he grasped and leaving him with nothing.
Without the ability to react, Ren stepped back into the cell, observing how the padded walls had been already torn apart, how his bed was no more and how even the floor was being eaten by the unstoppable force.
With barely a couple feet of wooden floor left at his disposal, Ren faced the darkness that surrounded him. There was no escape… and yet, he knew that he had the power to push through. He knew he was not alone, even in that darkness. Feeling the flames erupt around him, he took a deep breath to relish in their familiar heat. Everything was going to be fine.
And so, he fell.
Author's note:
Sorry for the long wait. I plan on updating this occasionally, although I'm sorry to say that I cannot offer a recurring schedule. I hope you appreciated the chapter.