moribound | ♚ More than one Heart; Overflow

[ Kyouko nods. This altar probably went beyond CERES, and if it was them there aren't any reasons for them to plant it there. There's only so much they'll do just to cause distress. ]

It wasn't very old but... it wasn't recent, either.

[Hearing Kirigiri's confirmation allows Minato to breathe a little easier, tension draining from him as he lets his shoulders sag. He's still disturbed by the scraps at the altar, but knowing the blood's too old to be Akihiko's allows him the small comfort of knowing that his friend isn't permanently gone.]

I see. Those scraps of cloth came from my friend's cape, but he vanished only a day ago... [He fights down a sick feeling from within to point back at roughly where it was.] Could this have anything to do with the sacrifices Occidi's natives told us about? [By 'this' he means all of it- they're still as woefully uninformed about the nature of the sacrifices as they were back then, it seems.]

it's certainly possible. [ And it would explain why there's even an altar in the first place. But something about it bothers her, and she's not sure what it is. ]

I just wonder... why is it there, of all places? Are there people living down here that we haven't run across?

We're underground now, aren't we? [It's impossible to tell how far they've fallen from the top, and it seems like a long trek upwards.]

I don't think there's anyone living here now, but we might be able to find some answers above ground. [It was likely that they were within the sealed area after all, and Minato doubts anything can survive here for long, what with the creatures in the water appearing to be the only source of food.]

Yes, I believe we are. [ But it's hard to tell, in this part of the city since everything's so dark. ]

I hope we can find something related to that altar above ground. [ But she's not so sure that they will actually find anything. ]

I hope so too. [But Minato's not smiling; like Kirigiri he doubts that they'll find anything directly related to this altar. He sighs under his breath, keeping his hands firm in his pockets as he starts to take a step forward.]

There's not much point in staying here. Let's go, Kirigiri-san.

I agree. [ And she'll start heading towards the way out. ]

Have you explored anywhere else, Arisato-kun?

Sort of. [His shoulders may seem more slumped than usual, but Minato's still calm and attentive, alert in spite of everything that has happened.]

I looked around by the water just now, but I couldn't see if there was anything of interest besides the monsters.

[ She notices that his shoulders are slumped, but she doesn't know him well enough to know if it's unusual for him or not. Not enough to ask him about it, at least. ]

I tried looking there myself, but I didn't have much of a chance. I'd rather avoid whatever fighting I can.

I would too, but... [They're in a dark place with no signs of life thus far besides whatever's swimming in the water, and Minato's having flashbacks to that one time he fried a kraken at a beach since there was nothing else to eat.]

We don't know if there's any food above ground, so I should try to fight some of them.

...Do you have something to fight them with?

[ Because she doesn't see a weapon. ]

I do. [He removes his Evoker from its holster and shows it to her, though Kirigiri might be able to tell that it's not an ordinary gun.]

I'm a Persona-user like Yu-san, but I need this to summon my Persona. [Pause.] It's called an Evoker- it's not a real gun, though.

[ Kyouko leans in to get a closer look, and it's immediately obvious it's not a normal gun. ]

An Evoker? How does it work?

[Kirigiri's not freaking out, and Minato's taking that as a positive sign as he points it at his temple- he's still not going to actually pull the trigger though, since that might attract other less savory entities.]

I can summon my Persona by pulling the trigger- it's possible to do so without one, but I haven't have had much luck with that. [And if Kirigiri had seen him casting a barrier before this she should be able to work out why.]

I see... [ She definitely wasn't expecting him to raise it to his head, but since it's not a real gun she doesn't flinch. ]

What exactly is a Persona?

It's a manifestation of the psyche. They come in many forms, but each Persona represents some part of the mind...like a mask worn to face hardships.

[With that said he's tucking the Evoker back into its holster, letting out a breath softly.]

Let's look around the water. We might need a way to carry some too, as long as we're still here.

Interesting. I'd like to see it some day.

[ But more importantly: ]

Good idea. Let's head over there.

♚ More than one Heart; Overflow

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Guess we can wrap this up

sure!