Coffee With The Night

"Only a quick visit, huh?" Klein mused, delight flickering through his mind. Goddess Evernight was the only divine one he had any semblance of collaboration with, so a letter from her isn't much of a surprise. The message suggested a brief encounter in his dreams, something he found overly formal yet appreciated the forewarning.

Knowing ahead is always preferable.

With that settled, Klein's figure and demeanor underwent an immediate transformation, embracing the persona of Otis. Despite sleep being futile in his current state, he preferred to maintain a semblance of humanity in this persona. 

Intrigued by what form of payment Evernight had offered Miss Messenger, he looked forward to their upcoming meeting. As his thoughts wandered, he gradually succumbed to a state resembling sleep.

The quiet of night was punctured by a soft, recurring sound of honking, stirring Klein from his reverie. It was a noise oddly reminiscent of times long past, yet carried an unfamiliarity that pricked at his consciousness, stirring a deep, nostalgic longing within his soul. 

As his eyes adjusted to the ambient light, clarity slowly unveiled the scene before him: he was in a coffee shop, nestled in the heart of a city. From the windows, Klein watched the chaotic symphony of the busy street. Cars zipped by, their steel bodies flashing in the sunlight. Distinct in its ambiance and the patrons it attracted, their conversations were a blend of unknown dialects. 

The individuals bore a resemblance to what Klein was already accustomed to, yet their contemporary clothes caught his eyes. 

Klein found himself seated at a circular table, clad in a simple t-shirt that, while unremarkable, did not quite fit the casual observer's category. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, a recollection of battles fought and a life once lived in simplicity. Yet, any semblance of sorrow for the life he once yearned to return to was absent; those days of hope had long since faded into acceptance.

His gaze wandered, curious and discerning, taking in the details of this dreamlike setting. But before he could delve deeper into his observations, a delicate intrusion into his reverie drew his attention towards the entrance. 

There, a woman of striking figure and a composed aura made her entrance. Her black attire was simple yet elegant, her dark blue hair accentuated by a golden butterfly clip, radiating a presence that was both commanding and gentle. Her gaze held the allure of dark gold, concealing her deepest thoughts within the darkness. Her features suggested an inherent divine beauty, though a sophisticated black veil obscured her upper visage from full admiration. Apart from that, she appeared to be a regular human without any additional arms.

Recognizing Amanises, Klein observed internally.

'She' truly possess a beauty worthy of the Goddess, despite 'Her' face not being fully exposed.

Amanises drifted towards him, 'Her' approach marked by a quiet elegance, 'Her' very being seemingly invisible to those around. Their eyes met, a silent acknowledgement passed between them as 'She' drew closer. 'She' swiftly took 'Her' place before him.

With a voice both ethereal and tranquil, Amanises spoke first, "I hope this place is to your liking."

Klein, looking around, reflected, "It does bring back some old memories, though I'm not familiar with the local language they speak here."

"That makes sense, given this home is more mine than yours," Amanises clarified with a delicate smile. 

With this clarification, Klein confirmed the signs he had encountered, the language spoken here had either Germanic or Latin roots. As for which European language it was, he had no idea. He experienced a slight remorse for not having devoted more attention to his language studies in the past.

So you were a foreigner, he casually commented to himself. 

'She' then revealed two cups of fragrant light brown coffee previously hidden by a misty invisible cover on their table and gestured for him to drink.

As Klein savored the rich, frothy cappuccino with a satisfied expression, he inquired, maintaining a polite demeanor.

"What gives me the pleasure of your visit?"

Amanises replied in a clear hazy voice, "I've heard your condition finally stabilized itself. With things being peaceful now, it seems like a good time to start planning for the future. And we don't have to be so formal with each other here, as fellow remnants of the past."

Observing 'Her' as 'She' tasted what appeared to be espresso, he nodded in understanding.

"Right, discussing what comes next is crucial. And you've heard correctly, I'm doing better now. I will admit, I'm impressed with how quickly you found my messenger; thought I'd hidden myself pretty well..."

He paused briefly, then added with a hint of irony in his voice "...And I appreciate the letter, it was nicely written."

Amanises's lips curled into a subtle smile. A trace of amusement was visible. 

"No need to thank me, think of it as my formal way to celebrate your small victory over the Celestial Worthy. Sending a letter felt more appropriate than just showing up out of the blue. Although, I must acknowledge that locating the real you among all your thousands of personas was a small challenge, even for me."

Indeed, each of my personas has their own messengers, identifying the correct one must have been a bit challenging, even for you, Klein considered. 

He then contemplated, I suppose next time you will just reach out to me directly in my dreams, bypassing all this hassle.

Looking aside, Klein allowed a chuckle. "It wasn't a complete victory over him," he disclosed. "I'd hoped to erase him entirely, but that wasn't in my cards. Partially sealing him within me was the only option." 

Thankfully, I managed to regain complete control, so there's that, he reflected.

His occasional ravagings are still manageable, and he can't influence the outside world without me knowing, it's the best outcome I could have wished for. 

"That was within my judgment," Amanises then stated with a subdued seriousness. "In such moments, it's vital to maintain your true self. Your humanity is a crucial anchor for your stability."

Klein gazed back, seized the moment for further inquiry.

"Speaking of anchors, you've remarkably preserved your humanity through millennia as far as I can observe. Could you share any insight for a fellow facing tough times?"

"Ah, my followers play a significant role evidently. Their unwavering faith is a core part of my resilience. Without them, I wouldn't be standing here with you" Amanises replied with a light tone. Continuing in a floaty teasing air, she added, " And since you're one of my Blessed, I also owe you my gratitude." 

Seemingly in thought, 'She' then elaborated, "Another pivotal element is the art of acting."

"Acting? Is there more acting required?" He probed, intrigued.

"Absolutely," 'She' responded, pausing to gracefully sip 'Her' beverage. "While you're aware that one naturally embodies their domain's authority, acting may seem redundant. However, maintaining a human facade can subtly influence your stability. But I doubt this is new information to you."

Ah, of course. Acting as a human—that's essentially what I'm doing with all my personas. I can resort to Amon's method of being my own anchor with countless more personas… Still I would rather not increase the risk of exposing myself and losing control. 

Despite Klein's doubts about the effectiveness of merely acting as a human, he couldn't help but feel compelled to stack all the odds in his favor.

Breaking the short silence, Amanises' eyes behind the veil appeared to flicker.

"Though I've enjoyed our conversation, my brief visit has come to an end. I suggest we continue our dialogue with a longer duration next week. Monday and Friday work best for me. Would either of those days suit you?"

Klein, finding a pity for not being able to finish his cappuccino, considered his plan for next week.

Monday, there's that meeting, I would rather not. 

"Friday works best for me." 

With a slight nod, Amanises quietly blended into the deteriorating surroundings, smoothly becoming part of the growing darkness as the light faded again. 'Her' presence and disappearing act were like a soft whisper, hardly noticeable amid the collapsing scene.

A solemn, delicate voice echoed in Klein's ears, the final sensation before he found himself back drifting into the depths of sleep. 

"Farewell, Klein."