Persona: The Phantom Masquerade.

— –Shiho– —

Even as the wall collapsed around her, Shiho remained calm. She had spent countless hours meditating in the temple, learning to take a deep breath and clear her mind. And with Ren still here, she knew they would find a way out. 

She trusted him with her life.

"Circe." Shiho called out as though calling upon an old and trusted friend.

In an instant, her Persona appeared beside her, long blue hair flowing elegantly despite the chaos around them. With a swift motion, Circe snapped her fingers, summoning a potion into her hand before flinging its contents toward the oncoming Shadows. Yet, only two froze in confusion while the others continued their charge, unfazed.

Shiho retreated, creating distance as Circe began weaving her hands through the air, using the skill Brain Jack. 

A soft pink mist appeared, swirling among the hordes of Shadows, though the sheer number of enemies made it difficult to affect them all. Slowly but surely, some succumbed to the mist, their minds clouded as they began to fight each other, but many still pressed forward.

"Joker!" Morgana's voice rang out, snapping Shiho's attention to the side. She saw Ren standing frozen, the evoker pressed against his head, moments before Morgana shoved him out of harm's way.

Circe's voice, smooth and teasing, spoke from beside her.

"Ah, it seems your lover wrestles with the concept of death. Perhaps 'tis because he now has something precious to lose." Her tone was playful, yet deep down, Shiho knew that Circe was simply trying to give her advice as the countless Shadows continued to swarm. "I recall a time when he would throw his own safety aside and let himself be harmed, all to topple the King."

'I asked him to stay safe.' Shiho thought with a twinge of frustration, her connection with Circe deepening in her moment of doubt.

Circe chuckled, her laughter rich and melodic. 

"And so he has... but still, he places thee above his own safety, does he not?" Her words were edged with amusement as Shiho glanced at Ren, noticing the blue scalpel manifesting in his hand.

"Ren! Don't!" Shiho shouted, her concentration breaking as fear surged through her, forcing Ryuji to jump in and defend her from a nearby attack.

"Wouldst thou save thy beloved from the flames?" Circe whispered, her voice low and enticing as she moved behind Shiho, her breath like a wisp of ancient magic. "Then prove to me thou art willing to burn as well."

Shiho's racing thoughts stilled. Circe's words, soft yet commanding, brought a moment of clarity. Without hesitation, Shiho reached for the evoker, her hand trembling slightly as she raised it to her head.

"Fear not." Circe said, her playful tone softening into something more tender, more caring, as Shiho's fingers tightened around the evoker. "Think of the past."

As Shiho pressed the evoker to the side of her head, she felt it, the same sensation Ren had struggled with. 

Death.

Cold and inevitable. It was the same feeling she had known all too well before meeting Ren, a feeling that clung to her like a shadow.

She felt as if she were standing on the edge of the roof. Her feet barely clinging to the ledge.

"This is the price we pay for love." Circe whispered, her voice a gentle echo in Shiho's mind as the sounds of battle dulled. 

The nausea hit her like a wave, her senses overwhelmed by memories of the past, the endless cycle of fear and pain. Her ears were ringing, and just as she felt the fear crawling up to her, Circe spoke.

"It's him or thee." Circe murmured softly, her words cutting through Shiho's despair.

And with those words, her hesitation vanished.

It was as if she had stepped off the ledge.

The drop, the fall, it wasn't death. It was something else entirely.

"Theurgy." Shiho whispered.

With that drop, Shiho pulled the trigger.

In the next moment, she felt it, a warmth, deep and consuming, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It wasn't the oppressive heat of fire, but rather a gentle, all-encompassing embrace.

"I am thou, and thou art I." Circe's voice echoed, but this time, it came from Shiho's own mouth. "Let us become as one."

Shiho opened her eyes, and with that simple act, a massive gust of wind erupted from her, swirling across the battlefield. Her Phantom Thief attire caught aflame with an azure fire, burning away to reveal the regal blue dress of Circe, adorned with golden ornaments that shimmered across her body.

With that transformation, she felt it. 

The power flowed through her body.

"Eclipse Dominion." Shiho whispered. The words rolled off her tongue with ease, and in an instant, a dark, purplish fog descended over the battlefield, thick and suffocating.

As the Shadows breathed in the mist, their movements stopped.

Each one stood still, the tension in the air thick as the unnatural silence took over. Then, with a single, graceful snap of her fingers, Shiho commanded them. The Shadows turned on one another, their frenzy igniting as they began to fight amongst themselves, completely disregarding Ren and the others.

Shiho turned to Ren, her eyes softening.

 "Ren—" She began, her voice gentle, but before she could say more, her vision blurred. The world around her spiraled into darkness, and her strength faded. The last thing she felt was the cold embrace of the floor as she collapsed, her consciousness slipping away.

— –Ren– —

He stood still, looking as all the shadows tore each other into shreds. All hell broke loose amongst them, and they seemed to be completely ignoring the Thieves. Yet Ren could only focus on Shiho as she fell down, her outfit burning once again as it returned to her Phantom Thief outfit.

Lowering the scalpel in his hand, Ren frowned, feeling the anger of having hesitated and failed them coursing through him.

"Tartuffe." He whispered with absolute anger.

In response, the shadow beneath him expanded, growing darker, more menacing. From within the depths of that shadow, a formless being began to emerge. 

As it took shape, Tartuffe transformed, first into a crimson horse, signaling the start of Red Rider's form, but the transformation didn't stop there. Red Rider's grim reaper-like cloak bubbled and shifted, morphing into the radiant form of Parvati. The pink flower she held in her hand blooming into a wide, flowing crimson cape, that of Matador. 

In this chimeric state, Tartuffe rode onto the battlefield, towering over the frenzy of Shadows locked in their battle.

Three voices, distinct yet unified, spoke from its mouth as Tartuffe's form solidified.

"Mapsi." Matador whispered.

"Mapsio." The cold voice of Red Rider spoke.

"Mapsiodyne." Parvati's beautiful voice boomed.

The moment the final words of Tartuffe's spell were uttered, countless waves of psychic energy materialized above the battlefield. The orbs of psychic force converged, forming a single, massive orb of pure power. Without hesitation, the orb descended, crashing into the midst of the Shadows.

As the psychic energy hit, the Shadows howled in agony, clutching at their heads. The combination of the psychic attack and Circe's brainwashing was overwhelming, causing them immense pain that quickly disintegrated their forms into nothing but dust. The battlefield, once filled with chaos and violence, was now eerily empty.

But as the attack ended, Ren felt the drain on his energy hit him like a wave. He dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, as Tartuffe's chimeric form dissolved, collapsing into the shadows before retreating back into him.

A brief silence followed as the Phantom Thieves took in the now-empty field, their expressions a mix of relief and surprise.

Ann immediately ran to Shiho, summoning Carmen to heal her, while Morgana rushed to Ren's side, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"What was that? Did you see Siren?" Morgana asked, his voice filled with awe.

"Yes." Ren replied, glancing down at the evoker he had dropped on the ground and picking it up as he forced himself to his feet to run toward Shiho.

"She isn't hurt." Ann reassured them, holding Shiho gently in her arms. "She's just exhausted. I can't imagine how much energy that took from her."

"Dude, that was amazing!" Ryuji finally shouted, knowing that they were all safe. "Like, are you for real? Can I do that, too?" Ryuji asked as he pulled the evoker and looked at it.

But after a moment, his expression faltered. He coughed awkwardly before tucking the evoker away again

"Ah, yeah, I can't." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kidd just told me I lost my chance the moment the battle finished… and to be quiet, 'cause Siren's sleeping. Sorry."

Ren approached quietly, his frustration barely masked as he knelt beside them. With gentle care, he lifted Shiho from Ann's arms, holding her close.

"Let's go." Ren said softly, gently picking up Shiho.

— –Shiho– —

Opening her eyes, Shiho found herself in a familiar setting, Takemi's clinic. The sterile scent, the muted light, and the quiet hum of medical equipment all came into focus as a wave of pain surged through her head. 

A massive headache threatened to overwhelm her, but just as it reached its peak, she heard a voice that calmed the storm.

"There thou art…" Circe's voice, soft and melodic, echoed in her mind. As Shiho blinked, she was startled to see Circe, no longer just a presence in her thoughts but lounging casually in one of the clinic's chairs. The ethereal figure of her Persona now sat within the physical world, her long blue hair flowing gracefully around her.

Shiho opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Circe lifted a slender finger to her lips.

"Shhh… or else thou wouldst wake him." Circe whispered, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she giggled slightly.

Shiho glanced down and felt the weight on her legs. It was Ren, fast asleep. His brow furrowed in concern even as he rested. The sight of him sleeping there, so close, stirred something warm in her heart.

Circe stood up from the chair, her steps light and graceful as she wandered around the clinic, her eyes filled with curiosity. 

"So this is thy world…" She mused softly, her smile deepening as she took in the air, almost as if savoring the experience. "A fleeting visit, I suspect, for I shall not remain here long."

Shiho's heart tightened at her words, sensing both happiness and sorrow in Circe's voice. 

"What do you mean?" Shiho asked, her voice quiet, but filled with concern.

Circe turned to her, her expression tender and serene. 

"It is time, dear one." She said softly. "My role hath come to its end. I have guided thee as far as I may." There was a bittersweet smile on her face, one of contentment, but also a touch of sadness.

Shiho's chest tightened further, a sense of loss washing over her. 

"But you've been with me through so much. Are you… really leaving?" She struggled to keep her voice steady.

Circe nodded, though her smile remained as warm as ever. 

"Yes, dear one. Thou hast grown so much since we first met. Stronger, braver... more certain of thyself. My purpose was to guide thee to this point, but now… thou art ready to walk forward without me."

Shiho bit her lip, her emotions swirling. 

"I don't know if I'm ready." She admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I still feel like I need you…"

Circe stepped closer, kneeling beside Shiho's bedside.

"Thou art stronger than thou believeth." She said softly, placing a comforting hand on Shiho's. "I have been a guide, but thy strength has always been thine own. The love thou holdeth for him," She glanced meaningfully at Ren. "and the resolve in thy heart—it will carry thee further than I ever could."

Shiho felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she nodded, knowing that Circe was right. Yet the idea of saying goodbye felt like a heavy weight in her chest.

"What did Ren call it?" Shiho muttered with a faint smile, her hand reaching to gently caress his hair. "The tower…"

"Aye, thy tower has been completely rebuilt." Circe answered with a knowing smile. "Though the bricks, it seems, have all been touched by him. I do wonder how that shall shape thy future."

"Will I… ever see you again?" Shiho asked, her voice fragile.

Circe's smile grew, a touch of mischief in her eyes. 

"Who can say? Perhaps, when the wind blows and the moonlight shines, thou mayst feel my presence. I am a part of thee, after all. Our bond will not fade so easily."

Shiho swallowed hard, feeling both sorrow and gratitude flood her heart. 

"Thank you… for everything." She said softly.

Circe's expression softened further, and she leaned in to kiss Shiho's forehead, a gesture filled with both affection and farewell. 

"Farewell, dear Shiho." She whispered. "I shall always be with thee, even if unseen."

With that, Circe rose to her full height, giving Shiho one final, radiant smile before turning her attention to Ren.

"Thou hath truly influenced our path, little shadow…" She said, her tone filled with fond amusement. "I shall see thee at a later time. Hopefully, thou hast woken up by then."

Then, without another word, Circe began to dissolve into silver lights, filling the room with an ethereal glow. The room quickly dimmed back to normal, yet as Shiho closed her eyes, she could feel and see the new presence in her heart.

The shimmering lights gathered once more inside of her, this time reforming into a tall, pale woman. She wore an elegant Greek dress, adorned with gold and silver ornaments, and her eyes were pure white, glowing softly like small moons in the darkness. A faint, luminous moon shone on her forehead, completing the transformation.

"I am thou, and thou art I. I am Selene. Thy tower hath reached the moon." She declared, her voice calm and serene, like the light of the moon itself. The air felt different now, a sense of quiet strength emanating from the figure before Shiho.

As she spoke, Shiho felt another wave of exhaustion hit her. And her eyes began to close once again.

~Confidants~

Shiho Suzui (The tower) Rank 10 [Max]

~A/N~

(Now, you might be thinking. Selene? Ain't that a Moon Arcana? I mean, she is literally the goddess of the moon. And to that, I say…. Lemme cook.

Lol.

Nah, but for real, I do have a reason as to why. I gave a couple of hints this chap, and maybe a bit much, but hey. It be like that. I try to be sneaky as I lay the groundwork for the stuff that's coming, but I gotta leave breadcrumbs for in case anyone rereads the story after it is done so they can be like, "Ah, so that's what he was talking about."

Also, comments and feedback is always appreciated. See ya!)