The Truth?

(I took the day off from writing yesterday cuz I wrote a double-posted chaps to a total 5k words last time. Also, with this chap we finally hit 100k words!)

— — —

The group collapsed onto the ground with a resounding thud. Miraculously, they had managed to wrench themselves from Metaverse just in time to avoid the full impact of their jump, yet their landing in the real world was anything but gentle.

The Thieves could hear the crowds of people wandering through the city just outside of the alley, yet thankfully, no one had noticed the commotion they had made. Since Ren was currently recovering, Makoto took the lead in sending a message to Futaba, urging her to hijack the billboards now that the job was done.

Once their message began playing on the billboards, Ren had spent enough time recovering to be able to peel himself off the ground. However, his headache was only getting worse and worse as he began moving. However, he gritted his teeth and decided to deal with it until they were in a safer location.

"Ren, what the hell was that?" Shiho's voice sliced through the air, tinged with alarm and disbelief as she watched Ren rise. Her eyes widened, a flicker of confusion, or was it concern? passing over her face as she murmured, "Your eyes… they're yellow?"

The group instantly gathered around him as they heard her words, but before they could ask any questions, Ren spoke.

"Let's talk in Leblanc…"

— — —

Beneath the glow of the crimson billboards, the group made their escape, weaving through the crowds until they found sanctuary in the cozy embrace of the warm café. Collapsing into a booth, they allowed the familiar surroundings to soothe their frayed nerves.

Ren battled with the pain that clutched his head, a relentless grip that eased only slightly when he made some of the tea Haru had given him. Yet even with the pain, he made sure to prepare enough for the whole group.

Ryuji, noticing his discomfort spoke up.

"Uh, dude, if you want to take a rest or something, that's fine. We can probably do this tomorrow."

"No, I might as well do it now since everyone is here," Ren replied, his voice steady despite the pain. "You guys have probably noticed, but every once in a while, I use personas we haven't encountered before."

"Yeah… I think we all just assumed that was just part of your power. Since you could hold many personas at once..." Ann chimed in, with the group nodding in agreement,

Ren shook his head, a grimace of pain crossing his face as the headache worsened. 

"Well… you're technically correct. It is related," he admitted. 

"When I first awakened to my persona, I was taken to another place. A place called the Velvet Room."

Morgana, intrigued, leaped onto the table, his ears perked with interest. 

"Wait! You asked me about it before, didn't you?" His surprise was evident, a connection sparking in his mind.

Ren's eyes glowed briefly, a hint of the power that lay within as he looked back at Morgana. 

"It's strange, but you gave me a similar feeling to the people there, but it was so faint I wasn't sure."

Morgana, lost in thought, tried to grasp at the fleeting memories, his ears twitching as if straining to remember.

"There is a man in the Velvet Room, his name is-"

"Igor?" Morgana interrupted, a flash of recognition crossing his features.

"Yes," Ren confirmed, equally surprised by Morgana's sudden insight.

Morgana fell silent, closing his eyes in concentration, but no further memories surfaced. Ren decided to continue, unveiling more about the Velvet Room, hoping to jog Morgana's memory further.

"As Mona said, there is a man named Igor in the Velvet Room. He grants the power of the wild card, which allows me to hold more than one persona. With the Velvet Room's aid, I can fuse and strengthen my personas, with the help of his assistants—"

"Lavender! No- Laura- Lala?" Mona interjected, trying to remember the name that was in the tip of his tongue.

"No, Caroline and Justine. A pair of twins." Ren corrected him, causing Morgana's ears to droop with disappointment.

"So, this man can help you strengthen your personas? Is that what happened in the bank?" Makoto probed further with a serious tone.

"Not quite…" Ren said as he made the scalpel appear in his hand. Placing it on the table. "I used this."

The group leaned in, their interest piqued by the scalpel's unusual appearance. Makoto, intrigued by the object, picked it up for closer examination. 

"The blade is strange; it looks almost ethereal." she observed, her voice tinged with awe as she turned it over in her hands.

Ryuji, cutting through the growing intrigue with his characteristic bluntness, asked.

"So there's a weird dude that gives you powers?" Then, as a sudden realization struck him, he added, "Wait, is that where the MetaNav comes from? I always wondered how the heck we got the app!"

Hearing Ryuji's shout, the group's eyes widened with realization as Ren nodded.

"Why did you never mention this before? Did he force you to keep silent? Is he making you do things?" Ann's concern was palpable, her voice echoing the unease that had settled over them.

"Dude, just give us the word, and we'll take him down for you! We've got your back," Ryuji jumped in and declared, prompting a chuckle from Ren.

"No, it's nothing like that," Ren reassured them, the amusement fading from his voice. "It's strange, honestly. It's like he wants me to do things, yet he can't directly ask. He'll begin to request something, then abruptly stop with an annoyed expression, and then change the topic."

Turning to address Ann's earlier question, he continued with a weary sigh. 

"As to why I never brought it up… I don't know. I just felt like I shouldn't. I'm sorry."

Makoto, thoughtful, returned the scalpel to the table as she asked. 

"So, this knife… Given your current state, it must exact a toll whenever it's used, right? Did you also receive it from that place?"

Ren nodded, a shadow of resignation in his eyes. 

"After we defeated Kamoshida, he awarded it to me. I believe he wants me to become an attendant in the Velvet Room. So, every time I use it, I become more akin to them."

A moment of silence fell before Shiho, connecting unseen dots, ventured a question. 

"Is that why your blood results were unusual? The doctor mentioned it was a good thing, no?" 

Ren nodded in response, his voice carrying a weight of resignation.

"I think so. From what Igor implied, it's supposed to be beneficial, but the transformations are far from... pleasant."

The air was charged with questions, and the group was on the cusp of delving deeper when Ann intervened. She had caught on to the shadow of pain and discomfort that flickered across Ren's face everytime he answered.

"Alright, that's enough," Ann declared, her voice firm yet tinged with concern. "Ren needs rest, and we're just bombarding him with questions. He's got his reasons, and he'll share more when he's up to it. Let's call it a night, okay? It's late, and we could all use some rest. Tomorrow is Sunday; we can catch up then. Are we all good with that?"

Her intervention was a wake-up call, prompting sheepish smiles and nods of agreement from the group. In a sudden rush of movement, orchestrated by Ann's gentle yet insistent urging, they found themselves being steered towards the door.

"Get some rest. Call us if you need anything," she said, her parting words laced with a blend of care and resolve, as she and the group made their exit.

"Well, I guess that leaves just the two of us." Morgana remarked, a thoughtful tone to his voice as he trailed behind Ren up to his room.

Collapsing onto the bed with a weary sigh, Ren was barely settled when Morgana broached a topic close to his heart. 

"Hey, about my memories. Do you think it's possible for me to enter the Velvet Room with you? I must have some connection to it, right?"

Letting out another tired sigh, Ren answered.

"I'll ask, but I can't make any promises," he replied, the promise lingering in the air as he closed his eyes, seeking the solace of sleep.

"Hey, Ren…"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for saving us. And thank you for trying to help me remember…"

— — —

As the ethereal melody of a piano wove through the air, Ren's eyes fluttered open, revealing their newfound golden hue. In that brief, half-awake state, he glimpsed faint threads weaving around him, only for them to disappear as quickly as they had appeared.

"Welcome, Trickster." The deep, resonant voice of Igor filled the space, as tangible as the music that preceded his words.

"Igor," Ren greeted, his voice steady, accompanied by a respectful nod that seemed to amuse the keeper of the Velvet Room.

"Usually, those without a contract are incapable of learning of the Velvet Room, but as a show of good faith, I have allowed your allies to discover our secrets," he revealed as he tapped on his table softly. "Think of it as a reward for accomplishing your mission."

Igor's words lingered in the air, imbued with a sense of gravitas and mystery.

 "Though they are flawed outcasts of society, those bonds will become the wind beneath your wings. The show you are working so hard on would be incomplete without their help." he remarked, a deep chuckle following his statement.

Ren, absorbing the weight of Igor's words, ventured the question his feline companion had asked him.

 "Speaking of bonds… What do you know about Morgana?"" 

A wide grin appeared on Igor's face as he answered.

"It is nothing but a failed experiment, vanished from my Velvet Room before it could taint it. It is good that you found it useful, Trickster. However, you must no longer speak its name here," Igor declared, his tone final.

Ren's eyes widened as he heard the words. He opened his mouth to speak yet closed it without knowing what to say.

Igor watched Ren's reaction with an amusement that bordered on delight, tapping his desk thoughtfully. Yet, as quickly as it had appeared, his amusement faded into an expression of mild annoyance.

"It seems our time is almost up, Trickster." Igor announced, signaling the end of their encounter. 

"Allow me to congratulate you for your efforts before you depart." He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle. "You have created quite a stir in the hearts of many people in Tokyo and have successfully made a place for yourself in the collective unconscious. May you continue devoting yourself to creating a magnificent show, Trickster."

~Confidants~

Igor (The Fool) Rank 5

Morgana (The Magician) Rank 4