Part 4: Update IV - Worsening bruise

Update IV - Worsening bruise

Music: Fear


Last time, we died.



This time, let's find a way out that doesn't hit a kill zone.



Oww... My headache has gone from terrible to worse. I'm freaked out.

~

What's with Leo all of a sudden? But, after seeing that, I've had enough of this.



Let's actually talk to the Editor and get to the bottom of this whole amnesia business.

Ugh...my head, it hurts... What is this...blurriness?

~

Good work on the investigation. Report to the Editor in Chief.







The Editor in Chief is her usual cheery self. All I can think about is the pile of dead bodies I witnessed. No, I have to ask about myself. I'll ask her what my name is.

Huh? Your name? Just...look it up in the registry in the Library.

Yeah, the school registry. It has everyone's names. If I look at the school registry, it might jog my memories. I'll go to the Library.





With no fanfare whatsoever, the library is now open!



Sound: Heartbeats


Blank. Blank. Blank. Every single page was blank. I reach for last year's school registry, and when I start flipping through the pages... Blank. Blank. Blank. Blank.



The screen flashes.

What is happening here? Who am I? And just what...is this place?



Well that was a wash. While the registry was blank, every shelf has a unique description.

These shelves comprise the computer reference section. With the library getting a new computer, it seems like the books were moved here for easy access.

~

These shelves comprise the Japanese history section. It seems like learning about our nation's history has become somewhat of a fad as of late.

~

These shelves comprise the religion and political science section. The titles of the books here are incredibly obtuse. Just the thought of reading one makes me drowsy.

~

These shelves comprise the art and design section. Judging by the bindings, there seems to be a number of different kinds of volumes available.

~

These shelves comprise the cultural anthropology section. The titles of the books here are incomprehensible gibberish to the average person.

~

These shelves comprise the language studies section. There are a number of foreign language textbooks and novels available to the budding polyglot.

~

These shelves comprise the literature section. It's nice to see such an eclectic mix of books available without even a whiff of censorship.

~

These shelves comprise the sports and recreation section. There seems to be a number of books regarding some fairly obscure sports. ...Rules for international matches of Kabbadi...interesting...

~

These shelves comprise the literature section. All of the novels here seem to be targeted to underclassmen. Look, a book about sparkly vampires...

The Twilight movies were still being made when this came out, for reference.

~

These shelves comprise the natural sciences section. Opening one, I see a picture of an old man researching perpetual motion machines in Hawaii. ...I guess one can only do their best.

~

These shelves are where all of the school's encyclopedias are kept. There are a number of different reference books from every time and place here.

Fitting that the library is the wordiest place here, no?



The club vanishes to parts unknown once you check the library.



Almost where?



Meanwhile, this guy hasn't noticed a thing.

Also, there's a yellow box at the end of the hallway.

Music: Duel of Fate




She has a striking appearance, with long purple hair, almond skin, and a preternatural calm. It seems like she is meditating, her hands folded in a specific way and her eyes closed. I find that I can't stop looking at her. No one else seems to notice that she stands out dramatically. I start to feel uneasy about her. The girl's eyes snap open.

For whatever reason, the static clears up for this scene.



This is an entirely new face, instead of a Stay Night callback.



After a few seconds, the camera quickly zooms out with a fade to white.

Sound: Explosions


What in the hell just happened?! In the resulting confusion, my vision begins to distort. Dizziness. Headaches. A sense of weightlessness. I close my eyes to keep from being overwhelmed.

Music: Fear


Also, the girl that was in the garden had already disappeared. Was everything that happened just an illusion, or maybe- As I turn to leave, I see the girl from the garden walking towards me.



People here just enjoy teleporting around, don't they?



The mystery lady gives a polite nod and walks away.

As she walks, she looks out the window and talks to herself. As she goes by, she gives me a smile.



The other hallway also has an event.



Time for another bout of ghost hunting.

However, she just continues to stare at me with an intensity that borders on terrifying. Maybe I should say something to her, but softly so as not to startle her?



Don't talk to her.

I don't want to scare her away again, so I just stand as still as possible...and wait. I can still feel the little girl's presence and the force of her stare. —After a while, her presence fades away like mist. When I turn around, no one is there. This time, I didn't feel any sense of fear from her. But...is everything really okay?

The scene ends, but that's also boring, so...

Talk to her.

Maybe if I keep my back to her, it'll help a little. I'll just call to her over my shoulder. I obviously can't see the look on the young girl's face. And all I sense is...hesitation.



Her voice matches her appearance...small and faint. In a hesitant, halting voice, she begins to speak.



I think this is the closest look we've had of our protagonist. He doesn't really stand out, huh?

Could it be...that you came to see...me? I-If that's so— I'm...Alice. I'm...always here, so...

When your vanishing act is a dead ringer for the Cheshire Cat's, your name has to be Alice. That's, like, contractually obligated or something.

She suddenly stops talking. Thinking she disappeared again, I turn around— Only to see Alice still standing there. As I turn, she flinches a little and begins to fade away...then stops. And starts staring at me— As our customary staring contest begins anew, I swear that I can see a faint smile on her face.



Alice actually sticks around after the scene if you talk to her, but she only has this to say.



I conveniently skipped Leo last time (in fact, you can barely see him in one shot!), and he also has something to say.



But first, refusing to leave the school and hit the kill trigger results in...

Stay put.



Yeah, turns out leaving was a bad idea even if it didn't instantly kill you.



We've already seen Shinji and Sakura, and there's nothing new in the Garden, so there's only one path left.



As a transfer student, I can't see why Leo would want to visit any of the freshmen. Also, there's nothing but a dead-end up ahead. I wonder what Leo is really up to...

Music: Duel - Prelude to Confrontation


And with a BGM change, the chase is on.



...

Who, for some reason, is examining the wall at the end of the hallway with almost excessive interest.



If that is the case, this world is in some ways more real than the real world it represents.



In that moment, it feels like my heart skips a beat. Almost inmediately, my blood pressure skyrockets along with my body temperature. *Ba-dump* *Ba-dump* *Ba-dump* My pulse is like an explosion in my ears as my blood races through my veins, and the reason is clear. Now he...I mean, Leo has turned to face me. I now know for sure he's talking to me as there is nobody else present besides the two of us.

Senpai noticed us.



I don't feel any sense of hostility from Leo. In fact, his smile seems genuinely friendly. His smile has the same effect on me as the rising of the morning sun, warm and comforting. In addition to his smile, his presence is inviting and inclusive and I find myself drawn to him. Oddly, my worries have vanished. All I can think of is doing as he says, as that's the only way to... My mind feels like it's in a haze. It's like Leo is controlling my thoughts in some way.



In that respect, this has been quite an interesting experience. ...However, the time for fun has come to an end. I did not come here to play at being a student. No matter how enjoyable the detour, eventually one must return to their appointed path. And for me, the time to do so has arrived...

With those final words, Leo turns his back on me.



No, that's not quite right. I don't think farewell would be accurate in this situation. For reasons I cannot explain, I have the distinct feeling that we will see each other again. So I guess I should use the more congenial, "See you later." Well, it's time for me to move on. I wish you the best of luck.



And Leo just strolls through the wall.



The young man in front of me seems to disappear before my very eyes. I want to say reality rejected his existence in it, but it feels like it was the opposite, that he refused to be constrained by it. It wasn't any special ability that allowed him to do so; just his strength of will. With his departure, I feel as if a great weight is lifted from my very being. And rather than be a cause for concern, it brings a fundamental question to mind: Who am I? As the question pops into my head, it begins to take on a life of its own, searing my brain...



Well, if Leo could do it, surely we could!



The only way out is through.



It would be so easy to turn around, go back down the hallway, and pretend nothing happened. But there are still things I need to know. I have no memories. That means I've never had anywhere else to go but here. No place to return to. What was it that Leo said? "No matter how enjoyable the detour, eventually one must return to their appointed path.” That's what he said, didn't he? Then beyond this wall lies the "appointed path," and the truth. If I follow him, I'll learn the answers to my questions, even if those answers are painful. But, ignorance is bliss. Do I have the fortitude to face the truth and accept it?



I don't want to know.

I rub my eyes, willing the strange things I have seen to go away. I think that whatever lies past the wall is beyond my comprehension. I'd rather live my life in peace, even without my memories, than see what's beyond.

The only other option is to try and leave the school, and we already know how that ends, so the only real choice here is:

I want to know.



For some reason, reality cracking this way is intensely disturbing. This world around me is more real than a painting, but not even as real as a sand castle. I feel like it's so brittle I could tap it and the echo would shake this whole world. Where the boring concrete wall once stood, now there's a doorway that I can freely walk through. It's an entrance. No, an emergency exit, like stairs to the outside. It's not something of this world. I have no doubt that the world the door leads to is utterly alien. Whatever awaits inside, whatever shape it takes, there's a certain sort of finality to seeing it. Ultimately, I've already comnitted to this path. I bid farewell to the false world, and take my first step along the appointed path.

Bit hard to tell due to the blurry image, text box, and static layered on top of each other, but you can barely see the door that was mentioned.

Music: Stops


The static has finally cleared up.



In exchange, we now have a creepy looking puppet, plus whatever the hell's going on with the far wall.

Beyond the door seems to be a dismal looking scrap yard. Out in front of me is the smooth skinned effigy. While trying to figure out exactly what to do with it—



A voice comes out of nowhere.



The effigy spasms a bit.





The motivations of the owner of that voice worry me, but it's obvious I won't learn anything by standing here. Also, there is no longer a path by which I can return. —I have no choice but to head into the darkness with only this strange doll as protection.



So we walk on, with the effigy following us.



The door leads to this Kingdom Hearts-looking place.

—I made it. Within the deepest depths of the world beyond the door— This place must be the goal I'm supposed to reach. At least, that's what I thought. It's stifling, the aura of purity that seems to act as a ward against corrupted souls who'd try to enter. ...The feeling is familiar. It has the feeling of a chapel where the spirits of the deceased still linger.



We finally notice the body off to the side.



At first I didn't notice, being overwhelmed by the grandeur of the room, but to one side is a young man in a familiar uniform, lying still on the ground. I call out to him, but there is no reply. I shake him in an attempt to wake him up when I notice— He is stone cold. I go as pale as the corpse before me and I can no longer think coherently. All I can do is stare in bewilderment. It is at this moment—



The dead guy's effigy stands up.

The fallen effigy lying next to the male student comes to its feet with a clatter. Before I get a chance to make sense of what's going on, it suddenly twists around and comes right at me.



Music: Duel - Unauthorized Battle


It only took 4 updates and an hour and a half of footage, but we finally have some actual gameplay!



This will surely be worth the wait, right?



Wait.



I don't have control.



Haha, gotcha!



We don't get to play the game yet!



All we can do is wait.



For the axe to fall.



Music: Stops




I didn't stand a chance against that thing... It seems I wasn't qualified to be here. Me? Qualifications? That's right— I should know everything by now. The truth has to be here... But...now... *Sigh*... Everything's going dark...



Video: Opening Movie


Suddenly, an anime as shit opening movie!



The Perfect Patch was nice and added subtitles.

You can watch it if you want, but you'll see people and places we won't be meeting for a long while yet, so don't feel obligated to.

If you do watch it, for the love of god shrink your viewing window, prerendered PSP-quality stuff does not play well with modern resolutions.



But wait, there's more!



That's right, it's finally time for character selection!



We can pick between Saber,



Archer,



and Caster. Whoever we pick here will be our partner for the rest of the game.

And after that...





We can pick our actual protagonist!



As well as their name. We have 11 spaces for each name, and their canonical name is Hakuno Kishinami.

Now then, thread, I need a protagonist, their name, and our Servant.

Next time: Beginnings, new perspectives, and deja vu.