The day had passed uneventfully overall, lapsing into the next day. After Orleans, everyone seemed to establish a sort of rhythm, be it working, relaxing, or training in the simulator. Ren and Morgana had taken the day to rest, with the most strenuous activity being cooking dinner and lunch. It was certainly welcomed by everyone, staff and Servants alike. There were even rumors that people cried tears of joy at having Ren’s coffee again.
The sad thing is, speaking from personal experience, Roman didn’t know if that was an exaggeration or not.
In the meantime, instead of being in the Command Center, he was currently in the director’s office. Emergency protocols had granted him privileges and access as there was no one ranked higher than him – a heavy responsibility that only reminded him each and every time how much was lost thanks to Lev. The director’s workstation had access to date and records no others could access for security reasons, as well as file modification privileges.
And so, he had decided to take a bit of initiative and went over the various data and reports of the Orleans singularity, marking files and text to modify or outright erase. Once the crisis had passed, these would have to be reported to someone, and if anyone read the unedited details of what happened during the singularity, both Ren and Morgana would be marked with sealing designations in a heartbeat. He figured he might as well get a start on it now as he had a sinking feeling that it was going to be a common theme.
Suddenly, the workstation pinged with an incoming communication. Roman blinked in surprise and clicked on it, coming face to face with Ren. “Oh, good morning, Ren,” he greeted cheerfully. “Did you sleep well?” Just looking at Ren answered that question though. The young man looked somewhat haggard, with dark shadows under his eyes. How much sleep was he getting? How much of it was actually restful? That certainly concerned him.
Despite his exhausted appearance, he grinned as easily as always. “Could be better, could be worse,” he replied cheekily. “I’ve certainly slept on far worse beds than here, I’ll tell you that much.” His grin dwindled, however, as he said his next sentence. “Morgana and I are ready for the debriefing, Roman.”
That caught Roman by surprise. He honestly hadn’t expected to do the debriefing so soon. Although he had been impatient to know exactly what happened in Orleans, he knew that pushing Ren would only succeed in getting him to lash out. From what few records Meuniere managed to pull, given his troubles with the police and various other figures, as well as his reaction to being confronted after La Charite, he hypothesized that Ren had little patience for authority figures.
So, he had an idea. He hadn’t expected it to execute that soon though.
“Oh, well, that’s good to hear, Ren,” Roman replied. “If you could, meet me at –“ Suddenly, he glanced up at the director’s room, then back down at the screen. “Meet us at Da Vinci’s workshop. I’ll have Mash over as well,” he told Ren. “And… a small favor, Ren?”
Ren raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “What do you need?” he asked, a note of trepidation in his voice.
Roman hesitated, then gave a rueful smile. “Could you perhaps make us some coffee?” he asked, trying very hard not to sound like he was begging. “I think we could really all use some, and the regular stuff really just can’t compare.”
The Master blinked several times at Roman before bursting into chuckles. “Addicted already?” he asked, grinning. “You really should try to wean yourself off it, you know. Not like I’m one to talk.” He sighed in mock exasperation. “Fine, I’ll make a cup for you,” he jokingly relented. “Whatever the consequences you catch from Mash and Da Vinci will be on your head.”
Roman chuckled nervously at the thought. “I’ll keep that in mind, Ren,” he replied, scratching at his cheek. “I’ll see you in a little bit then.” With that, the communication cut off. Once it was finished, Roman sighed and relaxed back in his chair. While normally plush and relaxing, he had been sitting there so long that it was honestly starting to dig into his back and rear.
He looked around the director’s room. Normally it was immaculate, there was a pile of bunched up blankets on the couch where he had tried to catch up on sleep when he could. The table also had a good number of crumbs and stains from when he ate at the table as well as the number of times he spilled coffee. No way was he going to meet Ren here when the office was like this. He’d have to get one of the robots to clean up the area. And maybe bring a fresh blanket.
The doctor sighed as he prepared to contact Mash and Da Vinci. No wonder why Olga almost went crazy.
—-------
A sneeze echoed in the Velvet Room.
—------
Ren walked down the halls carrying a tray carefully. Five cups of coffee were balanced on it, the liquid swirling about with each motion. Morgana had decided to walk on the ground alongside him as opposed to taking his usual perch on Ren’s shoulder so that he could maintain his balance. In any other circumstance he would do so, stating a Phantom Thief must have his balance at all times, but in this case, not at the cost of spilling the treasure in Ren’s hands.
Honestly, they had expected Roman to call him into the Director’s office, or perhaps an unused room. This was supposed to be an official debriefing, after all. Of course, even the word itself brought… unwanted memories. Of a dark, cold room, surrounded by cruel men in suits, the feel of a shot stomping on his head and leg as he was forced to sign a confession against his will. His head muddled by drugs and pain, unable to remember the plan that meant the difference between life and death.
His grip tightened on the tray, the cups rattling ominously from the tension. Morgana glanced up at him worriedly. “Hey, don’t worry,” he reassured him. “I’m right beside you every step of the way, Ren. I’m not gonna let them do anything – not on my life.”
Glancing down at his longtime friend, he took a deep, shaky breath as his limbs relaxed and the cups stopped rattling. Morgana had been there the whole time, calming him and making sure he didn’t lapse back into those memories. He had encouraged the debriefing, after all, so that they could get as many cards as they could out on the table and work better with Chaldea. They had to, if they wanted to succeed in the end.
“Right, right,” he murmured, calming down. He smiled at the catlike being. “Thanks Morgana,” he told him earnestly. “I really wouldn’t know what to do without you.”
Morgana looked up and grinned. “I know,” he remarked. “You guys were pretty helpless without me, after all.” Ren matched his grin. Ah, there was that boastful Morgana that he knew and loved. He had been quiet as of late, no doubt from Orleans. Ren was much the same too. The first singularity had been far beyond anything they had experienced before, with the later singularities promising similar if greater troubles.
Hopefully, they would be prepared for it.
Before long, they reached the door to Da Vinci’s workshop. They had only stopped there once before, when Da Vinci had given them their respective weapons. She had been the only one to figure out their past as the Phantom Thieves but had agreed to keep their secret. And now, they were going to reveal as much as they could. This would basically be their judgement. How would they take it? Did they need to really reveal everything? How much would they need to tell or hide?
Would they even believe them?
Standing by the door, Morgana glanced up at Ren. “You ready?” he asked. His tone wasn’t one of impatience, but of worry. It was a huge deal, after all, and once they stepped in, they couldn’t easily go back or revise what they talked about. Hell, it could even be a trap for them. Igor had made it clear that mages weren’t to be trusted, and given how the Metaverse could be abused by normal people with the right knowledge, he shuddered to think what someone with magecraft could do.
But then, the world outside was nothing but flames. All his friends and family, everything he knew was gone. This wasn’t like the smaller adventures he had been on before. Either he took risks and gambled… or they would all lose everything. Faced with that prospect, there ultimately was little choice.
“Hit it, Morgana,” Ren replied with a smile. Morgana nodded. He transformed into his Metaverse form – the bipedal catlike being – and hopped up, slapping a paw on the scanner. It beeped before the door slid open, revealing the workshop once more. They stepped inside, Ren being especially careful to not bump his elbows against the doorframe or any of the inventions that lay on the myriad desks scattered about.
“Over here, senpai!”
He blinked as he heard Mash’s voice from around a corner. Stepping around, he saw a small clearing. A round wooden table was set up with five comfortable chairs surrounding it. It sat beside a simulated window, portraying a beautiful countryside, shining with a warm, afternoon sun. Roman, Da Vinci, and Mash were seated at the table already.
At their approach, the three smiled. “Ah, benvenuto, my ragazzo and gatto magnifico!” Da Vinci chirped. “It’s been so long since you stepped into my workshop. But come, don’t stand on ceremony. I have not had the opportunity to try one of your legendary brews that so many speak of. I wish to see if my genius reaches my taste buds as well!”
Ren chuckled at the Uomo Universale. “You really do want to challenge yourself on everything, don’t you, Da Vinci?” he asked rhetorically, passing out the coffees on the table as Morgana hopped up onto the chair. It was just high enough that he could peer over the edge of the table. The Caster certainly didn’t miss a thing, did she?
Da Vinci’s grin spread further. “Why of course!” she exclaimed. “Of what use is a genius if she cannot find new challenges to overcome? It matters little the field, and inspiration can come from the most unexpected of places! I am not a genius in many fields because I was content to sit on my hands after mastery of one or two fields, after all!”
Well, neither Ren nor Morgana could argue on that front. Da Vinci was known for many things, be it sciences, art, engineering, or mathematics. He (or rather, she) defined the term Renaissance man for a reason. Plus, Da Vinci’s boasting had very little bite to it – it was little arrogance and more boundless confidence and surety. Despite themselves, the two found themselves smiling at Da Vinci’s energy. She definitely was like Yusuke if he further expanded his repertoire.
Ren passed out the coffees to each person at the table before finally setting them for himself and Morgana. As he took a seat, the others eagerly took their cups and sipped the liquid. “Oh, this is a unique flavor,” Roman commented, staring at the coffee like he was beholding the secrets of the universe within. “I’ll admit, Ren, up until you came along, I didn’t realize coffee could be so… good.”
Da Vinci nodded, her smile beatific as she lowered her cup. “Ci!” she agreed enthusiastically. “Coffeehouses were unfortunately well after my time back in Italy, which perhaps is for the best – far too many of my colleagues would be addicted to the drink. The Renaissance would be known for its sleeplessness on top of its art and culture!”
Mash blinked curiously over at Da Vinci. “Would you have been one of them?” she asked. Da Vinci, merely giggled before taking another sip. Even the self-proclaimed genius couldn’t possibly deny that.
“Hey, then where do you get off telling me I can’t drink more coffee, then?” Roman demanded, an expression of dismay and betrayal clear on his face.
The Caster casually looked over to Roman. “Ah, but I’m a genius, Roman,” she replied gracefully. “Even I know my limits, prodigious as they are. You, however, go far beyond that. So please mind your words, Roman. Someone might actually take offense to them.” Despite retaining her smile, the temperature around her dropped sharply. The doctor gulped, took the hint, and meekly went back to his coffee, to the exasperation of Morgana and Mash.
Ren chuckled. “Well, glad you guys like it,” he replied with a grin. “Let me explain: That’s a blend made with Ethiopian Mocha Harrar. Mocha coffee has a unique spicy flavor and a strong aroma with blackberry notes. I figured with the day ahead of us, we could use something a bit stronger to perk us up a bit.” With that, he quietly sipped at his own cup, enjoying the flavors spreading across his tongue.
Times like this, he could imagine himself back at LeBlanc, with the scent of coffee filling the quiet café, the TV in the background. Sometimes, he could imagine Sojiro there as well, cooking a new batch of curry or reading a newspaper. Ren often found himself at one of the desks when the café closed for the evening, doing a crossword, studying, or just reading. Despite the turbulent time of his stay there, the calm in the middle of the storm was always appreciated.
He needed it more than ever now.
Morgana looked around. “Hey, uh, Fou’s not here, is he?” he asked, glancing about nervously.
Mash blinked in surprise before shaking her head. “No, he isn’t,” she replied. “I was going to bring him but I remember you’re uncomfortable with him, Mr. Morgana. He should still be sleeping in my room, last I left him.”
The catlike being breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Mash,” he said with a grateful sigh. “It’s always nice to have someone so observant and considerate.”
Ren chuckled but decided not to pursue the topic. While Morgana being scared of Fou was still funny, he knew that under it all, it was a serious topic. Morgana wasn’t the type to get scared easily, especially in such a manner. However, neither of them had any evidence or information about Fou, and their knowledge about different beings was lacking. Not to mention, pretty much everyone – from Servants to the staff to the three in the room with them – would vouch for the adorable being.
At this point, it was better not to prod the hornet’s nest any more than they had to.
After a moment of relative peace, Ren decided to cut to the chase. Better to get this over with. “So, this is where we’re having the debriefing?” he prodded, forcing his usual smirk on his face. “Gotta say, it’s better than some stuffy director’s office. Or an interrogation room.”
Just like that, the air changed. Though nobody outwardly did anything, a certain tension arose all around them, ready to snap at a moment’s notice. Morgana drank his coffee calmly, though his eyes flicked between the three warily. Mash looked nervous while Da Vinci continued sipping at her own brew, looking quite at ease.
Roman sighed as he placed his cup down before giving Ren a tired smile. “Well, yes,” he admitted. “I admit that I looked at your past records, Ren. What little I could find anyway – most of it has been scrubbed clean or extremely vague. Judging from your reaction after La Charite in Orleans, you wouldn’t appreciate being interrogated – or an atmosphere where it feels like it. So, I decided to try this instead.” He scratched his chin abashedly, smiling nervously. “I apologize if it seems like I’m manipulating you here, Ren. Morgana.”
“’Seems like’, nothing,” Morgana growled. “Just call it for what it is. We’ve seen these kinds of tactics before so spare us.” Ren blinked with surprise. He hadn’t expected Morgana to argue so viciously on his behalf. Though the accusation left Roman deeply uncomfortable, Ren had to agree with it – this felt remarkably like the ‘therapy’ sessions with Maruki in the past. Granted, what happened afterward with his fake paradise certainly hadn’t been his intention, but the parallels were there nevertheless.
“Please, Mr. Morgana,” Mash beseeched. “The doctor didn’t intend on manipulating you or senpai like that. We simply wanted to provide an atmosphere where you two would be more comfortable. This was supposed to be a chat and a debriefing. We didn’t want this to be an interrogation. So… can you please trust us? Just a little bit? I can understand you’re wary, but please?”
The two glanced at each other, trying to make a decision. Finally, they sighed. “Look,” Morgana stated flatly. “What we’re gonna tell you guys will probably sound completely unbelievable. And whether you believe us or not, the information is incredibly dangerous and could be used for a lot of terrible things. We’ve seen it firsthand. We’re putting a lot of faith in you guys – not by choice but by necessity, since things are probably gonna get even worse than they are now.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Da Vinci nodded, her usual smile replaced by an expression of seriousness. “Of course, Morgana,” she agreed. “This was one of the reasons why Roman had us conduct the debriefing in my workshop – I’ve crafted mysteries to prevent information like sound or vibrations from escaping. I can also monitor this room for any tracing or listening devices as well. As a genius, making sure my works are kept secret is a priority, after all.”
Ren looked between the three. All of them had put down their coffees and were facing them seriously. Despite the more… sedate environment, his vision flickered once more: dark, austere walls on all sides. A single metal table with chairs on both sides. He was sitting on one side, while Sae was facing the other, staring him down as he relayed his tale as much as he could. At that time, the plan and gamble was to tell Sae everything and trust her.
Perhaps it would be the same here after all.
“Alright,” Ren decided. “We’ll tell you what we can. We can’t tell you absolutely everything – we have secrets that would be better if we told absolutely no one – but we’ll give you as many details as we can regardless.”
Roman nodded gravely. “We understand,” he replied. Then he blinked. “Oh, right, I almost forgot – we installed the Grail you’ve given to us from Orleans the other day,” he said. “It’ll allow us to summon more Servants but more importantly, you should be able to contact your Servants with your mind – both of you.” He nodded to Morgana. “Of course, no one can listen in on a mental conversation between a Master and Servant so that’s secure too. If you wish to contact them so you don’t have to repeat yourself…?”
Ren and Morgana considered, then nodded. “If we’re going to be fighting with them on the field, then it’s best they know what we’re capable of,” Morgana decided. “So how do we contact our Servants?”
“It’s simple, my ragazzo and gatto,” Da Vinci explained. “Simply reach out to your Servants with your mind. They’ll notice your connection and respond appropriately.”
The two blinked then shrugged. It sounded weird to them but frankly, with all they had seen before and now, nothing sounded all that strange anymore. They focused, locating each of the Servants within Chaldea. Within moments, they had garnered their attention.
Master? That tone and timbre… it was Saber.
Hey guys. Ren replied. We’re gonna explain to Roman, Da Vinci, and Mash what happened to us. We’re keeping you guys in the loop as well since we’ll be fighting alongside you. It’s a long story so hope you guys will be able to pay attention.
It will not be a problem, Saber affirmed. We await your tale.
Ren and Morgana glanced at each other and nodded. It was now or never. They turned back to the three.
With that, they began.
—-------
Ren thought it would be a good idea to start from the beginning of his troubles: His arrest. That spring night encounter that changed everything just from trying to do one good deed. Nobody said a word as he spoke about it, listening carefully. Roman looked grim as Da Vinci idly swirled her coffee with a small spoon. Mash had turned as pale as a sheet, clutching her own legs tightly.
He paused when he said he was shipped off to Tokyo, gauging the reactions of everyone present. “You guys don’t seem to be surprised by this,” he noted, looking between the three.
Roman attempted to give a reassuring smile but failed. “Well, the thing is, Ren…” he began. “Such a thing is unfortunately far too common in the Moonlit World. End up annoying the wrong person and they could find different ways to make your life… considerably difficult. ‘Doing the right thing’ doesn’t really matter much to those people. Only politics and power really get anything done.”
He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “Times like these, I’m very glad I’m not a magus,” he said, smiling weakly. “I like to think being a doctor suits me far better. Being able to help people without any strings attached is definitely far nicer than playing politics. Though I didn’t exactly imagine I’d become a director too.”
The Master stared at Roman before chuckling. “You definitely remind me of another doctor I know,” he commented with a grin. “You don’t have a penchant for giving experimental drugs to a minor and documenting the results, do you?”
The doctor turned pale as a sheet and began spluttering before both Ren and Morgana burst out laughing. “Hahahaha!” Morgana guffawed. “You should see the look on your face, Roman! Oh, oh jeez, Ren, did you take a picture? Please tell me you took a picture of that!”
“I-I’m sorry, but I didn’t have the time!” Ren replied, heaving between chuckles. “That expression was just priceless! Oh god, I’ve been waiting to use that joke this whole time! Couldn’t exactly tell my own doctor about it though! Oh, thanks, Roman. I needed that laugh.”
Roman deflated a bit in his chair, holding a hand to his chest. “Jeez, Ren,” he gasped. “That’s bad for the heart, you know? I was genuinely worried there for a second. Please don’t make up stories like that – we’re trying to take this seriously.”
Ren smiled innocently. “Who said I was making it up?” he asked.
And the two burst out laughing again as the doctor’s face once more lost its color.
—-------
He would never forget that day.
What’s the matter? Are you simply going to watch?
He could only helplessly stare, held back by knights, staring in horror as a blade was raised right above Ryuji.
Are you forsaking him to save yourself?
His will solidified. Took form. It was him, and he was it.
Death awaits him if you do nothing. Was your previous decision a mistake then?
A single decision that changed everything for him. Stepping in to help a woman in trouble from a drunkard, getting falsely accused, with her reluctantly helping him while turning a blind eye to injustice to save her own skin. Had he ignored her, he would’ve been safe, happy, and healthy.
But…
Very well. I have heeded your resolve.
His skull suddenly felt like it was about to burst. Not a natural headache, but thoughts, feelings, emotions, all pushing and raging within him. They wanted out. They wanted OUT.
Vow to me. I am thou, thou art I. Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon my name, and release thy rage!
In the next moment, the knights were blasted away. He was standing free once more. But there was something on his face. A mask. Why was it there? It didn’t matter. It had to come off. He needed to take it off. He had to take it off he had to take it off take it off take it off tear it off tear it off
TEAR IT OFF!
After that, power unimaginable flowed through him. He rescued Ryuji with this newfound power. He got them both out, as well as Morgana. It would be the start of something truly great and wonderful. All alongside his new companion. No, the one who was with him all this time.
Arsène.
—-------
Describing up until his awakening dried Ren’s throat out more than he expected. He took his coffee and sipped it. Morgana in the meantime sat in his chair still, waddling his legs back and forth in the chair. He almost comically looked like a child if it wasn’t for the grave expression he bore on his face. Despite everything, both of them were rather calm. Morgana because he was alert for any changes in the situation that necessitated action but for Ren… perhaps it was because he did this before?
This was in heavy contrast to the three sitting across from them. Mash already knew about the Metaverse thanks to accompanying them to Orleans, instead going completely pale about Ren’s false arrest and his condition in Tokyo: shunned as an outcast by everyone, befriending only a fellow outcast, and nearly executed in a Palace the two had absolutely no clue about and only escaped by the purest of luck – Ren’s Persona powers.
Roman and Da Vinci on the other hand weren’t nearly as observed. The normally unflappable Caster nearly dropped her cup on the story. “The… the cognitive world?” she asked, her voice faint. “But such a feat is normally… no, what am I saying, normalcy is for those who are mundane. You, Ren, and you, Morgana, have proven to be ragazzo prodigio and magnico gatto once more. But it is quite a lot to take in, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
Ren raised an eyebrow with a smirk at the three. “What, is it not that believable?” he asked a bit sardonically, leaning back in his seat as he crossed his legs. “I thought you guys would be more used to this.”
Under normal circumstances, he would be a bit more understanding, but given literally everything he had seen in Chaldea – ancient heroes and villains fighting alongside and against him, time traveling, mythological beings, and of course the Incineration of Humanity – frankly, it felt like what he had done was far more ordinary in comparison.
Roman sighed, rubbing his now very sore temples. “Ren, what you’ve told us, even from our standards, is almost… fantastical,” he replied, looking at the two with perhaps the most serious eyes they had seen so far from him (and given the situations they had been in, that was honestly saying something). “This… cognitive world that you’ve described is what we could call another ‘layer’ to the World.”
“Another layer?” Morgana snarked. “What, like an onion or something? Come on, doc, I know what we’re saying is ridiculous but you don’t have to play it up like that.”
“Roman is very much speaking the truth,” Da Vinci supplied, matching the doctor’s grave expression. “The World does have multiple layers of them – yes, Morgana, much like an onion – and each one has its own rules and mystery. An example of one is called the Reverse Side of the World. After the Age of Man had overtaken the world, many of the beings you know from myth had migrated to that layer of the world before it was sealed off by illusions.”
“The Reverse Side of the World…?” Ren repeated. A bewildered smile crawled up to his face. “What, so if we dig far enough, we’re gonna see…. I dunno, dragons or tengu again?” he asked. “Well, that would certainly liven up the world a bit, wouldn’t it. Maybe we could even open a tourist attraction like Jurassic Park.”
“It’s no joke, senpai,” Mash admonished him, shaking her head. “Many of these beings are filled with such mystery that modern humanity wouldn’t be able to fight against them. The reason humanity became dominant is because Alaya forced them to migrate before they were sealed off. They were all beings given power by humanity’s belief in them after all, and so were under Alaya’s jurisdiction.”
That shut both of them up very quickly. So, the beings they had learned from mythology or from their personas… were actually real? Not just cognition? Or was it the other way around – that cognition gave birth to them in real life until they were shooed away by Alaya? Actually, that bore another question for Ren: Was the Reverse Side of the World the Sea of Souls? He opened his mouth to ask, but quickly closed it. No, too risky to mention that. He would ask Igor and Lavenza about it later.
Roman sat back with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “And you can access this… cognitive layer of the World,” he muttered. “This is…” He took another deep breath. He faced the two with a dead serious stare. “You were right to talk to us in private about this, Ren. Morgana. Accessing another layer of the World is considered borderline True Magic. If any Clock Tower mages knew about this… well, that’s yet another Sealing Designation slapped on both of you.”
Morgana blinked in surprise. “Okay, be honest with us here,” he said. “Just – how many rules are we breaking? Because with how you guys are talking about us, it sounds like a lot.”
The three looked at each other. Roman held up his hand and counted off on his fingers. “Let’s see,” he muttered. “Magic circuits out of nowhere, a crest that has never been seen before, completely unknown magecraft…”
“The ability to traverse into a different layer of the World, being able to alter the cognitions and minds of a person, let alone a Servant, being a maginico gatto,” Da Vinci rattled off herself, staring into the coffee she was still idly stirring.
“And using magecraft that can equal noble phantasms as well as phantasmal and divine beings, senpai,” Mash added.
At her addition, both Da Vinci and Roman whipped around to stare at Mash, utterly shocked. The doctor only sighed before burying his face in a hand and waved in her general direction. “And… that too, it seems like,” he replied, sounding beyond tired. “Point is, Ren and Morgana, if even half of that came to light, every single mage would do their utmost to drag you back to the Clock Tower by any means. I can see why now you wanted to keep everything confidential.”
“Wait, hold up,” Ren interrupted. “You guys keep talking about magecraft and True Magic. The way you’re making it sound, they don’t seem to be the same thing. Exactly what’s the difference here?”
All three blinked again. Da Vinci got up from her table, walked to one of her workbenches and grabbed a piece of paper from a pile nearby, as well as a pen. “Imagine this paper as the state of reality,” she explained. “Magecraft is being able to write on it, fold it, crumple it up, straighten it back out, what have you.” She followed through with the actions in succession, eventually holding up a sheet of wrinkled paper.
“True Magic,” she continued. “In extremely mild terms, is this.” With that, she tore the piece of paper up into shreds. Not only that – the papers in the pile she had grabbed the sheet from earlier also tore themselves up as she ripped up her own sheet. “True Magic basically defies all conventional laws of both magecraft and science and is something every mage aspires for. Theoretically, it’s possible, but also fiendishly difficult to discover.”
Morgana blinked owlishly at the demonstration. “Wait, so does that mean you can use True Magic?” he breathed in wonder. “And… every Servant can? You guys can just… break the laws of reality like that, no problem?”
The Caster blinked, then bent over laughing, holding her stomach as her laughs rung out loudly throughout the room. Even Mash and Roman broke into smiles – albeit tinged with some nervousness at the situation still. “Oh, my gatto maginico,” she gasped through her laughter. “You – I am honored, beyond honored that you would think so highly of me. Oh, I haven’t laughed like that in such a long time! Such an innocent assumption and praise!”
Eventually, Da Vinci settled down into mild hiccups, wiping tears from her eyes as she looked over at the two bewildered Masters with a broad grin. “No, no, despite my genius, I’m afraid True Magic escapes me as well,” she admitted. “Ultimately, it isn’t something I choose to pursue anyway. The ingenuity and art of mankind, breaking through its limits time and time again. That is my field of specialty. I have many more, of course, if I choose to dedicate myself to it, but True Magic is not something I wish for nor need.”
“As far as I recall in my research, senpai,” Mash spoke up. “Most Servants – even the most prominent Casters – don’t use True Magic. Magecraft that comes close to it, maybe, but not True Magic. Most magi lineages spend generations and don’t come even close to finding it.”
“So we should be thankful that Ren and Morgana don’t have True Magic or that’s another mark on the board for a sealing designation,” Roman grumbled before blinking and waving his hands. “Wait, we’re getting off track here!” he said. “We can talk about True Magic later. For now, we should get back to the debriefing. So, what happened after, Ren? Morgana?”
Ren and Morgana glanced at each other, still taken off-guard by the news, but regardless began their story again.
—-------
Things proceeded quickly. They continued to trek through the Palace. They freed Morgana from his cell and he brought his own persona – Zorro. There were multiple incursions into his Palace. And they gained valuable new allies. Ryuji and Ann.
The skull of rebellion shall be your flag henceforth!
There you go. Nothing can be resolved by restraining yourself. Understand? Then I’ll gladly lend you my strength.
Then eventually, things reached a breaking point. A falling girl. A false expulsion. They were running out of time.
They charged through, securing a route to the Treasure. Calling Cards. The king – a monster. Then they ran from the collapsing Palace.
And all that was left was a gold medal and judgement.
—-------
The room was silent as everyone digested the information. “So… what happened to him, senpai?” Mash asked quietly.
Ren shrugged. “I think he turned himself in to the police,” he replied. “Everyone – from the principals to the parents – had been covering it up because of his award-winning volleyball team, after all. But if it’s straight from the horse's mouth, there’s no covering that.” Morgana chuckled as Ren smirked at that little joke. “His medal sold for about fifty thousand yen. Paid for a nice hotel buffet with me, Morgana, Ryuji, and Ann.”
The two adults pondered it. “To think you would be able to alter a person’s mind in such a manner,” Roman breathed. “There are many schools of magecraft that can alter one’s mind, of course, including hypnosis or memory removal, but none that are as thorough or as in-depth as this. This layer of the world is… well, almost as fantastical as the Reverse Side of the World.”
Da Vinci nodded, looking back over at Ren and Morgana. “And you say you use a cellphone app in order to access this layer of the world?” she asked, wonder in her eyes. “May I see it?”
“Sorry, but no,” Morgana immediately snapped back. “We’re telling you guys this because we need all the help we can get. That doesn’t mean we trust you guys yet – at least, not enough to show you the app. We’ll see in the future but for now, that’s something for our eyes and our eyes only.”
Da Vinci blinked in surprise, then nodded. “Of course,” she accepted gracefully. “When I was alive, I didn’t demand my colleagues or my rivals to show their own works for me, nor did I show them my own until I was ready to unveil them. I will wait until you wish to do so.”
Ren and Morgana blinked. They hadn’t expected Da Vinci to drop the argument so quickly. And while they were paranoid it was some sort of ploy, from how everyone was acting, it seemed to be genuine. That was certainly something that they hadn’t seen in a while. But still, while they had to trust them, that didn’t mean they had to tell them everything.
Anything about the Velvet Room or the Sea of Souls, they would keep quiet about, no matter the cost.
-----------
After the formation of the Phantom Thieves, things moved at a breakneck pace. They used Mementos to train for their next heists as they looked for and awaited news of targets that needed a change of heart. For each target they took down, they gained a new ally in the process.
The scam artist, Ichiryuusai Madarame, and his talented victim (and eccentric), Yusuke Kitagawa.
The mob boss, Junya Kaneshiro, and his latest victim and student council president, Makoto Niijima.
Then there was Futaba Sakura, a girl who had been so mentally devastated in her youth that a Palace heist was the only way she could be helped.
And the corporate mogul, Kunikazu Okumura, and his gentle, kind daughter, Haru Okumura. It had all seemed to be going so well as they changed heart after heart, slowly but surely steering society towards the better.
Then Kunikazu Okumura died horrifically from a press conference from a mental shutdown – and it all snowballed from there.
—--------
There was a lull in the conversation after that. All three had been listening with rapt attention the entire time – their faces curling in horror as Ren spoke about Okumura’s mental showdown. Mash in particular looked like she wanted to speak, but couldn’t muster the words to do so, her lips opening and closing as she struggled.
“So killing a shadow causes a person to die,” Roman murmured, running a hand through his hair. “It does make sense. If a shadow is, as you described it, the subconsciousness of a person, then killing it is the same as removing a person’s subconsciousness. And no one can survive without one. At least, no one mentally healthy. It certainly does seem like a perfect framing job since there’s no one else anyone knew that could pull such a thing off.”
Suddenly his stomach growled, immediately breaking the morose air. Blinking with surprise, Roman checked his watch. “Oh wow,” he exclaimed, surprised. “It’s already 1 pm! No wonder why I’m hungry!” He smiled at all of them – albeit a bit strained given the whole debriefing and their story. “How about we break for lunch and come back to this? I think we all need a moment to digest things. And plus, I think we’ll need more coffee.” Indeed, their coffee cups had been stained and bone dry for a long while now.
Da Vinci giggled. “Well, it would be as good a time as any,” she replied lightly as she stood up. “Let’s see if Archer has whipped up something for us. He never fails to surprise, after all.”
That caught Ren and Morgana by surprise yet again. They were just going to leave, just like that? But admittedly, they were getting hungry as well. The former chuckled. “Well, it’s certainly nicer that we can take a break compared to the last time I had to tell this story,” he joked as he stood up with the others.
Morgana shuddered. “Don’t even joke about that, Ren,” he grumbled. Mash looked about in askance but neither of the two were going to provide an answer.
As they filed out of Da Vinci’s workshop with their cups, the Servants who had been listening in on their mental link with Ren and Morgana were silent as they pondered their story.
Everyone had much to think about for lunch.