Working With Phantoms

Getting Closer

July 15th

Madran arrived back home from school with much joy, due to exams being done after the seemingly endless amount of various puzzling questions. However, she remembered the fact that her unrelenting studying did, in fact, help out somewhat.

"Hey, mom, I'm back."

Madran walked up to Elia, who was putting several documents back into a few assorted folders.

"Hey, Madran, how was school?"

"Well, exams are done."

"That's good. Bet you could beat your last score?"

Madran remembered the last set of exams, where she managed to score just under Makoto and Akira.

"I'd hope so. I mean, it's kinda tough to outsmart both Akira and Makoto."

"True, true."

"Well, what have you been working on?"

"Oh, this? Well, I've had to go on a wild goose hunt all thanks to Isshiki. He seems to have no idea of how difficult a lawyer's life can be when their clients just give them bits and pieces of the story at a time..."

"Goodness, it's kinda like how you had that one friend who would start shit and then come to you and only tell her side."

"Ugh, yeah. Oh, hey, Maya told me that Philemon was looking for you, so you'd be better off in there than here at the moment."

"Well, ok, see ya soon!"

Madran then left Elia and went to the Velvet Room where she found Stephen, Philemon, and Ken sitting with each other.

"Uh, hey, Philemon, I'm here."

"Ah, so the inquisitive one approaches."

Stephen turned his chair around and looked at Madran.

"I was told that you were to ask me something, Ms. Farjis. Well, ask away."

"Ok, um, I was reminded of the research branch that one of Ken's friends, Aigis, tried to open, but it didn't receive any funding. Oh, that's right, she was researching into the possibility of parallel universes."

"And, since you've tripped into my universe, you wished for my help in reopening the branch?"

"Uh, yep. I mean, you really don't have to, it was just the mumblings of a mad woman."

Stephen chuckled and twiddled his fingers.

"Now, Ken, I must ask you a question."

Ken looked down at Stephen.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Do you trust your friends?"

"Yep."

"Very well. For now, I am asking you to break that trust for just a little while."

"W-What? Why?"

"I shall simply be inserting myself in, as if I had always existed with these Shadow Operatives from the start. False memories will be formed, and unbreakable connections will be created. Then, once Aigis gets what she wishes, I shall vanish once more, like dust in the wind."

"So, you're asking me to keep a secret?"

"Yes. This world, as I have discovered, is formed from what all humans perceive. If I manipulate things right now, then your friends will have always seen me as a trusted friend in the group. However, as you have known me prior to that, your cognition will remain the same. Please, if you wish for your friend to find out more about my world, then you must keep my true identity a secret."