Theater of Fate (Persona 5 Royal)

II - Meeting

Akira walked over to the rest of the group, sighing.

"There you are! What happened earlier?"

"I'd like to know, too." Makoto crossed her arms. "You looked like you were in a hurry this morning."

"........"

"C'mon, man, you gotta tell us!" Ryuji sighed quietly.

"Mementos is back..."

"Mementos...? But didn't it vanish when you destroyed Yaldabaoth?" Yusuke pointed out, twirling his pen.

"Yeah, but... I think a new Palace sprung up, so I'm a little worried... Fortunately, we all have our Meta-Navs, and our Personas will be with us until we die."

"So, you got any ideas on how to find them?" Morgana looked at him.

"I'm gonna do some internet scouting with Futaba, just to make sure that it's not anyone we know. We can't have Palaces, so we know it's none of us. You guys can look around town, spotting anyone shady or suspicious."

"Aww, man, this is exciting! It's just like old times!"

"Ryuji, the last Palace we had was a month or two ago, calm down..." Morgana sighed.

"I know, but still!"

"Alright, Akira, so we meet here every day until we find a Palace user?"

"Yes. I'll see you then!" He walked off, looking at the ground.

"Hey, what's up?" Morgana asked once he sat down on the underground train. 

"Whaddo you mean?"

"You just seem..... sad today."

"I'm fine. I'm just hungry." He smiled a little, petting the cat.

"Okay, but if you need to talk about it..."

"I gotcha." He nodded, and walked out once they arrived, walking into the cafe. 

"Ah, you're back."

"Is Futaba here?"

"She went to your room to look for something about 5 minutes ago."

"Gotcha! Thanks!" He walked upstairs, and looked at Futaba. "Hey...!"

"Hey, can I see your phone?"

"Hm? Why?"

"I had a gut feeling. Hand it over and get some sleep. You look exhausted."

"Fiiine...." His usual stone-cold demeanor was broken with a pout as he forked over the device. He laid down on the bed, looking at the desk where he made tools. 

'I wonder if I'm still good at making things like lockpicks..... We'll see once that Palace is found....' He yawned. 'I guess a nap wouldn't be so bad....' He fell asleep, smiling.

Futaba sighed, unlocking his phone and looking through it. "This is weird..... Ryuji and Makoto told me about the Metaverse returning.... but why...? Is it because of a Palace appearing, like they said? I wonder... If he's one of those thingies, then could it be..." She typed something in, then gasped when she saw what result came up. "No way.... I gotta tell the others." She began texting, glancing worriedly at the peacefully sleeping boy.

~~~~~~~

The yellow-eyed being approached the stake, a smirk on his face. "So... this is what a Palace is like for the owners.... I quite enjoy it. It's comforting, in a way... it fills me with so much pleasure and longing to stay.... Addicting, even."

"How do you even exist?!" The entity tied to the stake growled, their fiery eyes focused on the being in front of them.

Its golden eyes shut as it cackled, opening his eyes again to look at the entity. "You really are a fool, aren't you? This Palace is amazing! Why would you resist me and the Palace in the first place?"

"Because you shouldn't exist!"

"Oh, I shouldn't? It's perfectly natural, I think. After all, why would this place exist if it wasn't? And besides, at least I'm having a great time here.... you should join me. Who knows? It might be fate that you've been captured by me..."

"I won't give in to scum like you!"

"Scum? Ooh, that's a little harsh, don't you think? Fine, then. You'll see soon enough. After all, to quote you and your friends, I am thou, and thou art I..."

"Don't you use our words against m-"

"And if thou art I, then that means that you'll give in soon enough. It's only a matter of time." The being walked off, his footsteps fading into the depths of the Palace.