PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...??/??/2009 The Velvet Room...

The melancholic sound of the music filled the space as the elevator, bathed in a deep indigo blue, continued its endless ascent.

Minato, already familiar with the surroundings, stepped into the room once again, his eyes scanning the intricate details around him.

Igor, with his characteristic wide smile that seemed to conceal dark secrets, was the first to speak. "Welcome to the Velvet Room. I see your destiny is unfolding as planned."

Minato walked toward the harp-shaped chair, the weight of recent battles evident in his eyes. "Hey, Igor. I don't think running into the Reaper was exactly part of my destiny."

Igor let out a low, eerie laugh, his piercing gaze fixed on Minato. "All your decisions are your own responsibility. But, as I've said before, our role is to guide you, regardless of the choices you make."

With a snap of Igor's fingers, the woman at his side, Elizabeth, stepped forward, positioning herself beside the man with the long nose.

"So, what will it be this time? Oh... wait." Igor's eyes lit up with a spark of recollection. "Elizabeth, what you mentioned about the fifteenth Arcana has come to pass."

Elizabeth smiled brightly, revealing she had been waiting for this moment. "Minato, I'd like to introduce a new guest."

Minato, surprised, raised an eyebrow. "A new guest? What do you mean?"

Before he could get an answer, a desperate cry echoed through the door he had entered moments ago.

In an instant, Hiro's figure was hurled into the room, landing heavily on the floor.

He groaned, feeling his bones rattle from the impact.

"Ugh... my head," Hiro murmured, rubbing the back of his neck as he got up. "Where the hell am I?"

He finally took in his surroundings: the indigo-blue room, the massive clock in the center with its hands spinning endlessly, and the man in a formal suit with an enigmatic smile and a pointed nose, accompanied by a woman in a blue uniform, resembling an assistant.

Minato, still in shock, exclaimed, "Hiro? What are you doing here?"

Hiro stood up, pointing toward the door he had been thrown through. "I should be the one asking you that. I saw you walking through that damn door with some woman. And nobody else in the group could see it, only me."

Igor chuckled, clasping his hands together theatrically, his macabre grin widening. "I must admit, it's a surprise to have another guest here."

Hiro, still bewildered, frowned. "Who the hell are you?"

Igor replied with a tone that was almost paternal, yet still sinister. "Welcome to the Velvet Room. I am Igor, the master of this place. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hiro Mikoshi."

Hiro, even more confused, asked, "Velvet Room? How do you know my name?"

Elizabeth interjected with a gentle smile. "I am Elizabeth, my master's assistant. The Velvet Room is a space that offers assistance to certain individuals, helping them fulfill their destinies."

With another snap of Igor's fingers, a sofa appeared before the table. "Why don't you take a seat, gentlemen?" he suggested, maintaining his enigmatic smile.

Hiro and Minato exchanged a brief look before sitting on the sofa.

Hiro, still trying to process everything, asked, "What do you mean by 'helping people fulfill their destinies'?"

Elizabeth answered with a calmness that seemed to mask a profound understanding. "Those who sign our contract face challenges that threaten the realization of their destinies. But the decisions that lead them there are theirs alone. We neither judge nor interfere in their choices. After all, those who make decisions must deal with their consequences."

Hiro scratched his head, trying to absorb what had been said. "Okay... so, if I'm here, does that mean my destiny is at risk?"

Igor leaned forward slightly, as if about to unveil a profound secret. "Hypothetically, you are correct, but also not."

He gestured first to Hiro, then to Minato. "Your destiny is intertwined with his, Hiro Mikoshi. The fate of everyone you're connected to rests in his hands."

Hiro looked at Minato in surprise, who listened in silence, already aware of the implications.

"Wait... intertwined?" Hiro asked, incredulously.

Igor's grin widened further. "Your fate runs alongside Minato's. But your lack of control can hinder his decisions. Without you, Minato's destiny cannot be fulfilled; and vice versa."

The revelation hung heavy in the air, laden with significance, as Hiro tried to grasp the weight of the situation.

Minato remained calm, but his gaze held a quiet understanding of the burden they now shared.

Igor gestured to Elizabeth, who promptly opened her book.

From within its pages, tarot cards began to float, magically swirling around those present.

Amid the whirlwind, two cards stood out, gently landing on the table: the Devil Arcana and the Fool Arcana.

Igor fixed his gaze on Hiro, his voice carrying a blend of wisdom and warning. "Your heart is fragmented, Hiro Mikoshi. It defines who you are. Your Persona represents what you're not trying to be—a reflection of an eternal vice. That is the meaning of the Devil card."

Hiro cautiously picked up the Devil card, bringing it closer to his face.

He felt a strange familiarity, as if the essence of Lucifer embodied within it reflected his own internal struggles.

Elizabeth, moving gracefully, circled the table and stopped beside Hiro, her calming presence contrasting with the seriousness of the moment. "The Devil Arcana represents many things, one of them being vices or self-destructive thoughts that hinder personal growth."

Igor continued, his penetrating voice resonating in the room. "This is but one interpretation of this card. We cannot explain more than that, however..."

He gazed deeply into Hiro's eyes, as if seeing every insecurity and doubt within him. "This representation reflects what you are currently living through. Minato's destiny, which is intertwined with yours, will not be fulfilled if you continue making the same decisions. That is why Minato holds the Fool card—because he fully believes in destiny."

Igor paused, as if listening to something only he could hear. "I understand..."

Hiro, still processing what he had heard, looked at the card in his hands. "I... don't know what to say..."

Elizabeth gently placed a hand on Hiro's shoulder, offering silent comfort. "Do not worry. Facing your own challenges is necessary."

Hiro remembered something, a doubt that had always bothered him. "By the way, does this place have anything to do with why Minato can have multiple Personas?"

Minato was surprised by the question but acknowledged Hiro was right. "Yes, it does."

Igor explained, his voice tinged with ancient knowledge. "Minato is the one who signed our contract. Thus, he accepted the responsibility of adopting multiple perspectives, using multiple personas to improve his relationships."

Hiro, taking in the explanation, murmured, "So that's why he can have multiple Personas..."

Elizabeth nodded. "Minato is special, but your destiny is so intertwined with his that this is why you were able to see the Velvet Room."

Igor leaned back, his smile broadening. "Our time here is coming to an end. I will await more visits from you, Hiro Mikoshi. From now on, you may receive some of our assistance, but you will not have power akin to Minato's."

Suddenly, Hiro and Minato began to be pulled toward the door, as if an invisible force was expelling them from the Velvet Room.

Hiro looked at Igor in desperation, his voice laced with confusion and fear. "But I can't change! I'm no one!"

Igor responded with an enigmatic laugh that echoed through the room. "All who make decisions are someone. They tend to rationalize their actions. After all, decisions are always considered before they are made."