I open my eyes to find myself in a room of blue.

It was a wide and spacious circular looking room, the walls were blue and filled with computer screens showing vague shapes and pictures of people who I can't seem to see or recognize.

Where am I?

Did the Rayshift send me here or am I dreaming? Is Senpai with me? He was in the room when we Rayshifted so he should be around.

I feel my heart pound as I look around the room, absently noting the fact that I am seated across a large nosed, bug eyed man in a suit seated behind a large wooden desk.

Hold on, what?

I let out a startled yelp at the sight of the strange and terrifying man, rising to my feet and backing away in trepidation.

"Who are you?" I ask shakily staring wearily at the man, who merely chuckles and drums his fingers on the table.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room, my dear. I am Igor, I am delighted meet your acquaintance."

What in the world is going on?

Velvet room? What is this place?

It all feels so strange, like the air is full of mana, and is that a voice I hear? Where is it coming from?

Ooh, I won't get an answer if I stay silent. Use your mouth Mash and ask a question.

"I... see, Mister Igor if I may ask? Where... am I exactly? Am I dreaming or am I actually here?"

At this Igor chuckles once more before steepling his fingers, making his already long nose seem even longer.

"This is the Velvet Room, a place between dream and reality, mind and matter."

I feel myself gape at those words, so is this Velvet room, is it in a different plane? Or maybe it's in the reverse side of the world? Regardless I need to find a way out of here, or at least try to contact Chaldea.

I'd better ask for my exact location, I can perhaps set up a link to Chaldea from here.

"So where am I exactly? Is this the reverse side? I need to know so I can contact Chaldea as soon as possible."

Wait, was that too blunt and rude? I hope I didn't offend him, but time might be of the essence right now.

At my barrage of questions Igor merely grins wider in amusement, before answering with the same light tone he'd been speaking with the entire time.

"Ah, well as we speak your body is still unconscious but is safe, for now. Which is why we must quickly conduct our business before you awaken."

Igor snaps his fingers and gestures to the table, where a small blue key manifested itself.

"As a guest of the Velvet Room we will be at your disposal in your Journey, and as your power grows stronger you will require our assistance in honing your abilities. So please take the key as you will need it to access the Velvet Room of your own accord."

Igor looks at me expectantly steepling his fingers once more as he waited.

This is suspicious, why would someone like him be so eager to help me?

Is it a trick? He's been nothing but polite to me and the key just seems like an ordinary key.

I guess there would be no harm in taking it.

As I reach forward and grab the key, it glows warm in my hand.

Strange, maybe I can ask someone to look at the key? It might give some insight to this strange place.

I clench the key in my hand and put it away in the pocket of my jacket, as I do so the world around me begins to darken and I suddenly feel very drowsy.

"Ah, it seems like our time is up." Igor's voice rings as I slump into the seat I was previously occupying slowly giving in to my drowsiness, "Next time we meet it will be of your own accord and perhaps I will have someone to introduce to you soon."

I close my eyes and feel myself being pulled backwards forcefully.

Am I waking up?

"Until then, farewell."

=======================================================================================================================================

I wake up in a city of empty streets and fire.

All around be everything burned, from the buildings to even the rubble on the street.

It seems like I'm somewhere else again.

I hope this won't become a trend.

Now, I have to look for the others, perhaps Senpai is around here somewhere I have to find him quick.

I take a deep breath and begin my search.

"Hello, Senpai? Anybody? Is anyone nearby? Please respond!"

My voice echoes in the hollowed streets before fading into the distance.

Nothing, either they're too far away or they might still be unconscious, I'd better hurry.

I break into a rather brisk jog, taking care to pace myself as I continue my search for Senpai and other survivors.

"Can anybody hear me?! It's Mash Kyrielight, I'm here to help! Anybody?!"

ugh, this is hopeless! The only things here are debris and rubble, I'll never find anyone at this rate.

As if to prove me wrong, a loud clatter rings throughout the street, causing me to pause in my tracks to swiftly turn to the source of the noise. What was that? Was it a survivor? Maybe it was Senpai?

Nevertheless, I'll have to approach cautiously.

Taking another deep breath, I calm myself and approach the source of the noise step by step.

It was wearing ragged red clothing and wielding a sword, its features were pretty skeletal, though it's no surprise considering it was a skeleton it was no surprise.

I'd better back away slowly and carefully.

As I take a cautious step back while keeping my eye on the monster my foot crunches against something hard, causing me to slip and the skeleton to be alerted to my presence.

Oh no, this is bad.

As I scramble to my feet, I turn away from the monster and attempt to run away to a safer area.

Sadly, it seemed like more than one monster was alerted to my presence.

I yelp and barely avoid a swing of a large sword as it cut through the space in front of me.

The skeleton that attacks me rattles in what I felt was probably frustration, before righting itself and turning to me falling into step to three other skeletons.

Four, four skeletons in total shuffling in my direction.

As I slowly back away I grit my teeth and attempt to look for a weapon, anything to defend myself with, but it seemed like there was nothing useful in sight.

"Ah!"

I feel myself yelp again as I fall on my butt ducking another swing from another skeleton.

Oh no, this is a very bad situation.

I'm on the ground and four skeletons are looming above me, their arms raised and poised to cut me apart.

Time slowed as the blades slowly descended towards me.

I feel my breathing hitch.

Am I going to die again? Alone, by the hands of soulless monsters?

I survived an explosion in Chaldea, being crushed under burning debris and rubble only to get transported to a similarly burning hellscape only to die again.

That wasn't fair!

I didn't even get to see a blue sky!

I don't want to die, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!

[Then get up and fight.]

Huh? A voice?

It seems familiar but different somehow.

Time seemed to freeze, I felt something well up within me before it exploded sending the monsters that surrounded me flying backwards and crashing.

What is this?

What's this feeling?

Is this... power?

It feels amazing.

"Raghhhh"

Oh no, it seems like more monsters have arrived. I'd better hurry and regroup myself.

As I slowly get to my feet, I look around and glimpse a group of monsters with rotting green flesh, torn clothes and soulless blank eyes shuffling slowly towards me with their arms limply stretched before them.

Zombies and there were a lot too. I don't think I can handle this many what do I do now?

[Like I said.... Fight]

That voice again, it's telling me to fight, but how? I'm out numbered and I'm powerless! The strange thing earlier may have been a fluke! How could I use that power again?

[Take my hand.]

What?

[Take my hand and fight! Or have you forgotten your promise Mash Kyrielight?]

Once more the world seemed to slow down.

I felt that power surge up once more.

But it felt different this time, more powerful?

No that's not it, it's just more concentrated.

This is it!

I can win!

I can do this!

[Call for me!

Reach deep within and scream my name!

Mash Kyrielight!]

I feel myself close my eyes and reach deep within.

I could feel it, the power that saved me.

I can't use all of it yet, I'm not strong enough, but for this it will do.

I feel it well up and surge with in me, if I'm not careful this power might destroy me.

But I have to use it.

I have to survive.

No matter what!

"PERSONA!"

As the word leaves my lips, the world around me seemed to explode.

The surge with in me let loose and spilled out of me.

And that's when IT appeared.

Fair and tall, clad in simple armor and radiating a sense of peace, strength and resolution.

This was it, this is my Power!

My Persona!

"PERCIVAL!"

=======================================================================================================================================

[I am Thou

Thou art I

I have arisen from the sea of thy soul.

I am Percival