"Ah, the Fool's Journey." Maruki sighed in admiration. "A brilliant metaphor for the journey through life."
Ren nodded. "It truly is. It can be applied to every situation a person could experience."
"When you put it like that, I think you're right," Maruki agreed. "Everyone is the Fool of their own life. It's not a one-time journey."
Ren didn't respond. Maruki glanced up to see him deep in thought.
"No, it's a recursive loop," Ren muttered.
'Hm?' Maruki thought.
"No, it's not that. It's like… an algorithm? No."
"You're a very introspective young man, Ren," Maruki said gently.
Ren furrowed his brows and grunted.
"It makes it easier to understand psychology," Ren said.
"Not people?" Maruki asked.
"No. Everyone has a different viewpoint." Ren shook his head.
"Branch from theory again, and I will leave," he added gravely.
"My apologies. It's hard to break from habit."
Ren simply scoffed.
Maruki cleared his throat. "So, your other interest was Jungian psychology, correct?"
Ren nodded.
"What are your thoughts on masks? Personality shifts. Or, as Jung puts it, the persona?"
"The Fool has infinite potential. Using masks as a means to navigate life is simply normal behavior." Ren shrugged.
"But what if a mask is stuck on?"
"Put another on over it? I don't know." Ren shook his head. "Too literal."
"So, do you believe maintaining a persona is a bad thing?" Maruki added.
"I believe we have branched from theory once more, Doctor. I will see you later."
Ren bluntly said it as he got up, bowed to the man, and left the room.
Maruki apologized quietly as Ren left and became lost in thought.
'Trauma?' he asked himself as he leaned back with a weary sigh.
---
"I am thou. Thou art I. Thou hast established a new bond. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity. With the birth of the Councilor Persona, thou hast obtained the blessing that leads to freedom and new power."
The voice didn't sound as exhausted. Not in the same way. This time, it sounded melancholic and faintly apologetic.
"Of all the fucking people," Ren sighed.
---
The team met up in Shibuya. They had Morgana scout the area to check if Madarame or Yusuke was home before they got within range of the Palace.
The team stood nearby, but out of sight from the shack, and began to guess the keywords to the Palace.
"Control," Ryuji said.
"Jail?" Ann offered.
"Plagiarism," Ren sighed.
[Candidate found.]
"Hmm, so we have a name and a distortion now..." Shiho said as she focused on the screen.
"The location is the shack, but what does he see it as?" Ren muttered.
"A gallery?" Morgana suggested.
[Candidate not found.]
"No, he doesn't do private meetings, remember?" Orihime said as she sank into thought.
"I don't know. The only art thing I can think of is a museum, but—" Ryuji began in a frustrated tone before cutting himself off.
[Candidate found.]
[Beginning Navigation.]
The world began to twist and fold. Colors drained as reds and blacks bloomed and deepened. The street stretched impossibly wide into a long line leading toward the place where the shack had been. However, the shack had been replaced by a massive museum plated in gold. Spotlights pointed at its walls, highlighting its color and the sheer density of the gold.
"Who's the man?! Skull's the man!" Ryuji cheered as they phased into the Metaverse.
"I think that was just a—" Morgana started before cutting himself off. "Wow."
"That's a lot of gold," Shiho said.
"It's blinding me!" Ann groaned.
"Very gaudy," Ren said flatly.
"Think we can steal some?" Ryuji asked.
"We can try," Ren answered.
"Ohhh! Thiefy-stuff" Orihime giggled.
---