22 The Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

Exiting the Palace, the group noticed a peculiar black cat trailing behind them. This time, however, rather than his previous, more cartoonish appearance, Morgana now resembled a regular cat.

"What the- why am I still a cat?" Morgana's exclamation caught the group off guard, eliciting a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Honestly, at this point, I am not even surprised." Ryuji remarked, his statement punctuated by a yawn that seemed to signal the collective fatigue enveloping them. His yawn triggered a chain reaction, with the rest of the group succumbing to their own waves of tiredness.

"I thought that by destroying the palace, I would regain my memories, but…" Morgana trailed off in disappointment, only to be scooped up by Shiho.

"We can talk about it while we get some food. I'm starving, and I don't want to stand around here." She said with exhaustion.

Morgana, initially ready to protest, relented and settled into the embrace, choosing to savor the moment of affection.

"How about Leblanc?" Ren suggested.

— — —

Upon arriving at Leblanc, they found Sojiro had closed up for the night, leaving the place empty for them. Within minutes, they managed to whip up a simple meal and gathered around a booth.

Ren then produced a golden medal and a small purple and pink crystal from his backpack placing them on the table. 

"The treasure and the will seed." he announced, capturing the group's full attention as they settled into the comfort of the familiar surroundings, ready to unwind after their ordeal.

"The golden medal being the source of Kamoshida's distortion does add up," Ann reflected, examining the medal closely. "Without his gold medalist status, the principal might not have been so keen to cover for him..."

Ryuji, fueled by a mix of anger and revelation, couldn't help but voice his thoughts. 

"That effin' principal, he was the one behind all this crap, isn't he? Makes you wonder if he's got his own palace waiting to be torn down..." he grumbled, his frustration palpable even as he continued eating.

'"He doesn't." Ren interrupted as he pulled out his phone and opened the MetaNav. "He is in a different place called Mementos. It's supposed to be the collective unconscious."

This revelation visibly intrigued the group, their curiosity piqued at the mention of this new term. Morgana seized the moment to share his thoughts.

"You're already familiar with Mementos? I was actually planning to propose a visit there myself... It could hold the key to unlocking the memories I've lost. Of course, that's if you're all still on board to help." Morgana expressed, a hint of concern lacing his words.

Ren offered a reassuring smile to Morgana, the concern in the cat's eyes not going unnoticed. Raising his glass slightly, he proposed.

"Well, if we are going to keep investigating the Metaverse, we are definitely going to need an expert like you. What do you say? Are you up for a few more heists?"

Morgana's response came with the level of smugness only a cat could achieve, which surprisingly was quite a lot.

"Heh, well, if you're asking so nicely, how could I say no? I'm all in," he declared, his pride evident as his tail trembled slightly with excitement.

The rest of the group raised a glass in unison before sipping their coffee. After a brief moment, Ren spoke up again.

"Well, if we are going to continue doing this, we should definitely get started with an actual exercise plan and build some endurance. We got our asses kicked back there, and if it weren't for Shiho and her constant healing, we wouldn't have made it out of there alive. Ryuji, how's the workout plan coming along?" Ren asked as the group put their drinking glasses down.

Ryuji's grin broadened as he rummaged through his backpack, producing a stack of papers.

"I've been working on this since last time. Talked to the manager at my gym, and he's cool with letting you all try it out for free before deciding on a membership. Do you guys wanna go there on Wednesday?" He began distributing the plans, pausing when he realized he didn't have one for Morgana.

"Uhm… maybe we can get you one of those giant hamster wheels."Ryuji joked before getting lightly smacked in the face by Morgana.

"I'll focus on honing my stealth skills. Since I look like a cat right now, I can use that to my advantage to snoop around our targets and gather info." Morgana said as he let out a mischievous laugh that was interrupted by Shiho's pats on the head.

Ann, examining the workout schedule with a mix of anticipation and dread, couldn't help but voice her concerns.

"This looks... intense, doesn't it?"

"Actually, they've got a point. Strengthening your physical self will also bolster your persona." Morgana, seizing the moment to encourage her, jumped down from Shiho's embrace to sit next to Ann as he spoke.

In addition, Ren gave a playful smile before speaking.

"Don't think I didn't see you trying to catch your breath mid-fight while me and Ryuji were running all over the place getting beat up."

Hearing this, Ann blushed slightly, earning a few teasing nudges from Shiho.

So, if we're going to continue taking on the 'bad guys,' shouldn't we have a team name?" Ann asked, trying to change the topic.

Jokingly, Ren asked.

"Didn't I throw out 'Persona Pals' at some point?" Earning a few stares from the group before Ryuji spoke up.

"Uh… how about something a little more cool? We were practically like ghosts in that castle, slipping past everyone unnoticed and ambushing everyone in our way. How about 'Ghost Thieves'?" His idea sparked a flicker of approval among his friends.

Morgana then refined the concept with a thoughtful nod. 

"Phantom Thieves sounds a bit more polished, don't you think?"

"The Phantom Thieves of Hearts." Building on that momentum, Ann added her own twist.

Noticing their excitement, Ren raised his glass once again before saying.

"I think we found our winner."

The group let out a few excited nods before Shiho spoke with a smile.

"I like this… It's weird. Two weeks ago, I was in the worst place of my life, but now it's completely different. All thanks to Mr. Expensive Fake Glasses here, huh?" She teased, her gratitude evident in her voice.

Ryuji, spurred by Shiho's comment, rose abruptly, curiosity piqued. 

"Hold up, but like, for real. What do you mean your glasses are fake? I didn't want to mention it earlier because, well, the timing was off. But what's with that?" He grabbed the glasses from the table, trying them on, his confusion growing louder. "What the eff, dude?"

"Yo, what the heck, dude? Why the eff are you wearing fake glasses?" His question sparked a chorus of laughter among them.

Ren, with a casual shrug, answered.

"I dunno, man. I think they make me look more friendly, no? Especially with the whole criminal record thing. I kinda like them." 

Ren's explanation about the glasses was met with curiosity from Ann and Shiho, who leaned over the booth for a closer inspection of his face. After a brief moment of contemplation, they exchanged knowing looks.

"Keep the glasses off," Ann advised, prompting a surprised reaction from Shiho.

"I actually thought he looked better with them on," she countered, the pair sharing a light-hearted giggle before settling back into their seats.

As the evening wore on, Ren glanced at the clock, realizing how late it had gotten.

"I think we should call it a night. We have school tomorrow, and it's anyone's guess how things will unfold now that Kamoshida's 'distortion' is gone. We should probably get enough sleep so that we don't miss anything." Ren suggested.

Before they left, the conversation shifted to where Morgana would stay. After some discussion, they decided he should stay at Leblanc for now. With their plans set, the group exchanged goodnights.

Once everyone had left, Ren cleaned up before crashing into his bed, followed by Morgana. The exhaustion from the fight forcing him to fall asleep just moments after his head touched the pillow.

— — —

As Ren stirred from his slumber, the soothing melody of piano notes filled the air, gently coaxing him back to consciousness. Before him sat Igor, an enigmatic smile playing across his lips, his gaze meeting Ren's with a palpable intensity.

"First off, I'd like to begin by congratulating you. You have encountered allies who share your ideals, and you have found your place in reality. The prologue has finally concluded, and now the show can properly begin."

Igor gave a deep, resonating chuckle as he extended his arm towards Ren.

"Your actions have proved you worthy to have been chosen by me. In addition, your persona, Tartuffe, holds a striking potential similar to my own capabilities. I am thou, and thou art I, Trickster. That is something even I couldn't have expected when I chose you." Igor spoke as he stood up from his desk.

"Now, the time has come to bestow upon you the reward I promised. Summon your persona." Igor ordered as he walked towards the stage.

Ren, following the orders, called upon Tartuffe. His shadow-like body extended from the ground until it stood before Igor, looking at the master of the velvet room with curiosity. 

With a snap of his fingers, Igor summoned a scalpel before handing it over to Tartuffe, the scalpel becoming enveloped by the shadows that formed him before disappearing.

"Trickster, the masks worn by shadows serve as both shield and chain. It is through these masks that control can be exerted. I trust you will use this power I have given you wisely." Igor advised, his ever-present smile broadening as he sat back down on his chair.

As he saw Igor, a question couldn't help but bubble up in Ren's mind. A question he had wanted to ask for some time now.

"What…" Ren spoke up before gathering his thoughts and asking. "What do you want me to do? I know I'm supposed to put on a play, but what's the end goal? Is it all just for entertainment?"

Igor regarded him with a momentary silence. His response carefully crafted.

"The contract that binds us prevents me from directly steering your path, Trickster. Yet, I will impart to you this wisdom: True order often emerges from the heart of chaos." Igor spoke, his expression briefly clouding with a thoughtful frown before he resumed.

"Proceed as you see fit, Trickster. We will continue to watch you from the shadows." Igor's finger rhythmically tapped the table, a subtle hint of irritation in the gesture as he concluded his guidance.

"For now, you should wake up, Trickster. Our time here is up."

With a decisive snap of his fingers, the Velvet Room was engulfed in darkness once again.

~Confidants~

Igor (The Fool) Rank 3

Morgana (The Magician) Rank 2