Chapter 16 - The Puppet Master's Gambit

Ami wanders the halls of school, the school's empty halls giving way to hear her footsteps ringing out, flat and lonely, each breath she takes only amplifies the feeling of her heart in her ears.

I need… to find the truth. I have to do it. There’s no other way…

Her eyes peer over at a wall, feeling around. She looked at her surroundings, finding herself in the same hallway. The same place where Seraphine spoke to her. Ami’s eyes dart over, watching as a red energy bubbles behind the wall she's placed her hand on. She pushes forth, the wall sliding to the side as Ami enters. Inside the room, a desk and chair in the center of the room surrounded by bookshelves awaits her. Ami swipes the desk, a thick layer of dust sticking to her finger.

So many negative emotions, what the..

The room sits in a state of disarray, scattered papers and books all over the floor. She kneels down, searching through the papers until one catches her eye. She lifts the paper, a red drop falling from the page. Her eyes tore through the text, drinking in every word.

A traitor in the Electric Town?

Her mind flashes Junpei’s final moments, and his final words. She shoves the paper into her pocket, before running out of the room as fast as she can. In a matter of minutes, she arrives in Akihabara, the same bustling streets untouched by the tragedy that took place only days prior. She looked around, retracing the steps of where her and Team Astra were. Each memory felt as if it took place a lifetime ago. Her eyes locked onto a charred building, unrecognizable yet familiar in the corners of her mind. She ran over to a balding man, pulling apart the charred wood of the building.

“Uhm, sir… What happened here?”

The man scratched his head, looking at Ami disappointed. “It’s a real shame. The nun here was apparently a part of some crazy cult. I don’t really know specifics, but a buncha Lucents came down and just lit the place up. Not a thing left, as far as I know.”

A flash of a woman appears in her mind, Ami looks up horrified.

Sister….

Behind her, Ami feels arms wrap around her. Seraphine closes in, embracing her. “How did you-?”

“It’s okay, Ami. You’ll find the truth. I’m with you, every step of the way.”

Deep beneath the surface, far from the sun, a woman lay amongst a bed of pale flowers. A heavy hood hid her face, but gold strands of hair spilled out like leaked light. Slow, heavy footsteps walk up to the room. A man’s boost stepping forth.

“Ah… What’s the occasion, Ryunosuke of Virelia Academy?” The woman spoke in hushed tones.

The Principal stepped forward, glaring at her. “Zenith’s been searching for you, Kikyo. Sending your little spy into our institution was a bold play, but the games end here.”

Kikyo removes her hood, her eyes closed shut until she opens them up, her pupils bright gold. She closed her hands together in prayer,

“The puppet dances once more, yet doesn’t know his strings were cut long ago…” She whispered.

“What are you going on about?!”

“You’re obsolete. And Zenith thanks you for your service. For a mere human, you did your job well.”

She bows, and from behind a dagger flies through Ryonosuke's chest. He stepped back, shocked as his eyepatch fell off to reveal his unharmed right eye.

“Bas…tard…” The Principal hit the floor, his life leaking into the dirt. A second dagger thudded into the earth an inch from Kikyo’s ear. She didn't flinch, only looking up to see a deathly pale man approaching her.

“Executioner… What brings you?”

“Zenith asked me to nip this in the bud. His plan is to move in a week’s time.”

Kikyo tilted her head confused. “Really now? But I thought it was closer… What scares him?”

The pale man shook his head with a shrug. “Who knows… I’ll put them to rest all the same.”

“Damned if you will, scum.”

Seki Ranmaru throws a punch, only for the pale man to block with his forearm.

“Well, well, all of the sheep find their way to the herd. But please find another area to brawl. I’m still grieving for my sister dearest.”

The pair begin a quick back and forth, palm to palm, fist to fist, a gust of wind pressure pushing ranmaru back and into a sewer. They dropped down, boots splashing into the filth.

The pale man tilted his head with a dry raspy voice.

“We serve the same purpose, Ranmaru. Why spill blood over a few sheep?”

“Quiet, freak. I save these children, what you do is murder!”

“And what you cannot use you discard, wasteful, like the lives you try to preserve."

Ranmaru slams his foot down.

“No more talk. You shall die!”

A shadowed figure walked down a hall, lengthy but shining with gold. His footsteps grew louder and louder, as a voice grew closer as well.

“Aegis, Solantra, Pendant, Harbour, Vesta, and…”

The figure flew open a pair of doors, stepping forward in a crisp white suit wearing a sun pin on his chest. His hair slicked back as he took his seat. Around him, shadowed figures of different shapes and sizes.

“Zenith, how many times must you be reminded? Are you truly so confident your seat cannot be taken, that you willingly and openly show yourself?” A man at the table’s center exclaimed.

“That’s right! This lack of showmanship is why you’re all weak, why we let those damn Warlords do whatever they please.”

A man slams his fist down on the table. “That’s enough. If you’re so confident, do it yourself! Or are you too busy playing pretend with your little puppets to face our reality?”

Zenith slammed his hands down. “Puppets? Maybe. But I’m the one holding the strings of the greatest army this world has ever seen. I am the sun, and you lot are just shadows rotting in my wake!”

The man in the center sighs. “This childish bicker is unbecoming of people with the status Imperator, conduct yourself in a higher manner or exit.”

Zenith bows. “Yes, sir..”

“Now then… as decreed by the Order of Solace, your daily Aether intake recordings if you please.”

Zenith instantly spoke, cutting off anyone else who tried to speak.

“The board is set,” Zenith said, a manic edge to his voice. “One week. In seven days, I will reach a height none of you can even fathom. I’ll leave a seat open for you—if you can handle the view. Merciful, huh?”

The room falls silent.

“...One week. You get one week. And if you cannot back up your words by then…”

“Not possible.”

He stood up, walking away to the entrance of the conference.

“I’ve seen how it’ll all play out.”

Without another word, he strode out of the room, snickering to himself.

Chapter 16 - The End.