[5/24 (Saturday) - Afternoon]
[Velvet Room]
Blinking, Clerval realized that he was back on his seat in the Velvet Room, staring opposite at Igor, who welcomed him with a great laugh.
"Ah. Welcome back from the Dive, Wanderer. And I see that it was a successful run."
"He has strengthened both his Personas and skills," Mary supplied. "And I have taught him the basics of the Labyrinth."
Now that the subject had turned to the Labyrinth, he felt compelled to ask a question.
"What is the Labyrinth?"
The grin on the man's face couldn't grow any higher.
"It is a metaphysical plane of existence where the human conscious lies. Formed by the collective unconsciousness of mankind," Igor continued. "The Labyrinth can be said to be the origin location where all thoughts of humankind—both human and Faunus alike—reside."
Hearing the explanation, Clerval suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through his head.
Wincing, the boy massaged his temples to sooth the migraine forming as he then asked more about the Labyrinth, specifically its appearance.
"As the years pass and more strife continues to burrow into the surface of a person's everyday life, one's thoughts become complicated and restricted, winded by stress and negative emotions. The Labyrinth reflects the thoughts of humanity. Therefore, its appearance of a complex and caging 'labyrinth' is apt in this situation."
"Then what are the Shadows that linger in the Labyrinth?" Since Igor seemed to be in a talkative mood, he couldn't help but ask another question of his.
Igor indulged, crossing his legs.
"In everyday life, a person wears a mask to face the world before them to hide their true selves. But what happens to the suppressed, darker self? It is only human to resist and yearn for freedom. Their true selves breaking through the masks they were caged in are what's known as a Shadow, the truest, purest self of one's being."
"And as for the how and why… Well, you will have to search for the answers yourself. Everything is already within your grasp; you merely have to seek the truth. By diving deeper into the Labyrinth."
As Clerval took the information to heart, the master of the Velvet Room saw fit to switch topics, rolling his fingers on the table. "Might I request to see the Golden Pieces that you've accumulated?"
Taking them out, he placed them onto the table between them. As if possessed, the fragments floated in the air before merging into one single card with a flash of light. Gently picking the card from the air, he flipped it over to see a new addition to the card that was not on the Golden Pieces prior.
"A gold coin—?" In that moment, the card abruptly caught on fire, causing him to withdraw his arm, letting it drop onto the table. But after burning into ashes, the remnants of the card twitched before the individual particles combined, forming a plastic card that was indistinguishable from the real deal.
"Lien?"
50 Lien worth, in fact. A fair amount of cash. He examined it up close, comparing it with another 50 Lien card of his. They were identical in shape, size, and texture.
Gobsmacked by the random Lien manifesting from practically thin air, he ignored the amused looks from Mary and questioned. "How?"
"Golden Pieces come from fragmented pieces of oneself, dropped by Shadows when you defeat them. No matter where or what the situation would be, humans tend to think about money more than their morals at times, however crude as it is." Igor chuckled darkly. "Even within the Labyrinth where all material possessions are void, some will still latch onto the value of currency."
"While I was hoping that the Golden Pieces would form into something else for our main point, I feel that such a Golden Slate would help in your... particular situation regarding your finances." Igor glanced over at Mary. "If what Mary observed is to be believed."
She didn't meet his gaze, coughing in her fist.
"Golden Slates can grant you random items, from life-restoring consumables to currency, but as they are also pieces of a Shadow, you may too receive new powers to add to your arsenal. That brings us to our main topic for today's Dive."
Igor leaned forward slightly.
"I believe that with the Labyrinth now open for you to explore, you will need more—excuse my words—powerful Personas by your side. The ones in your stock, while reliable, will not be sufficient on deeper Floors."
Waving his hand, a plethora of cards appeared behind its trail.
"You possess the power of the Wildcard. Such power holds infinite potential and possibilities, and potential must be nurtured. Thus, we would like to offer you a new service of the Velvet Room, other than entry to the Labyrinth."
Flipping over two cards, blank cards stared back.
"My role in the Velvet Room is to create new Personas. By merging multiple Persona cards together into one, they will be reborn into a new being of immense power. A Fusion of Personas. Shall we test it with your Odysseus?"
Fusion? But that would... Clerval hesitated for a moment. By fusing Odysseus, wouldn't that mean that his other self would disappear? That's...
[Do not falter.]
The voice of Odysseus echoed within his mind.
[While I may disappear this moment, I shall always be at your side.]
[For that is our vow.]
[I am thou, and thou art I.]
[Never falter, and continue on with stride.]
In a flicker of blue, he felt the loss of Odysseus in his stock, his image reappearing in one of the two cards by the table. Taking a deep, strained breath, he steeled himself and nodded.
Within his soul, he asked for another Persona as a component for Fusion. Angel volunteered with a prayer, the connection between them severing as she reappeared in the other card.
Silently, Igor raised his gloved hands. At once, the cards lifted into the air. Spreading his arms, the cards aligned themselves side-by-side before he brought his hands together, compressing them into a single point.
Then, his palms extended outwards.
Wisps of blue flowed from between his fingers, shooting towards him. In an instant, the wisps pierced through his head, rocking his form as he felt a new connection within the Sea of his Soul.
"Silky, of the Lovers Arcana." Manifesting before them, Silky gave Clerval a nod of approval before dissipating back into his stock of Personas.
"A strong Persona, stronger than the materials used combined." Mary commented, looking at a page in her tome.
"A successful Fusion." Igor clasped his fingers together and leaned back into his seat. "Our services are always available to guests. To that end, as you accumulate cards, please bring them to me."
Feeling new power, Clerval gave a thankful nod for the help.
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[5/24 (Saturday) - Evening]
[Vale - Zone 8 (Commercial)]
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As Mary escorted him out of the Velvet Room and into reality, the exhaustion from his Dive into the Labyrinth seemed to all hit at once; his knees buckled beneath him and would have collapsed if it weren't for the attendant's quick reactions.
He gave an apology, but Mary simply smiled.
"It is nothing, Wanderer. You are merely tired. A good rest will fix you up in no time, as the humans would say."
Getting back on his feet, he shook off the exhaustion by patting his face.
"Now that you have unlocked our service of Fusion, I am concerned that—with so much going on—you would be easily misguided."
"Therefore, I have been advised by my siblings to create a list of Personas with Skills that would be possible if you utilize my master's Fusion technique. Not only will it train you with the ins and outs of Fusion, but it also will aid you with bolstering your stock of Personas. Of course, I will reward you with additional miscellanous items after you've submitted them to me."
... Siblings?
"Oh yes. I do have siblings, though I am the youngest." She chuckles. "Four older siblings, each on a journey of their own."
So many? He inquired with interest in his tone. Now that he thought about it, he didn't have any knowledge about the residents.
"I can tell you more of the Velvet Room and its attendants, should you wish to know more about us."
He gave a small nod. Understanding them better would make it far easier to place his growing trust in them, especially when they had already offered so much.
"Then it is a deal."
Mary's voice resonated in his mind as they shook on it.
["I am Thou,"]
["Thou art I."]
["Thou hast established a new path,]
[bringing thee further into your odyssey."]
["With the birth of the Lovers Arcana,]
["Thine soul shalt be blessed to call forth stronger Personas of the Lovers Arcana..."]
Her face was bright with a smile a moment after, a new Persona forming from the bonds created between them.
"A Social Link between us; my siblings have told about their stories with their own guests, and it seems that I too will have stories to tell when they visit."
Taking a step back, she gave Clerval a gracious bow.
"Until next time, my dear Wanderer. May we meet again. Preferably sooner than I would hope for."
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