"... So do you think he's going to still show up? The sunlight is already fading as we speak," Mr. Sett spoke while he tapped his fingers on the table frantically.
""..."" Ezrah and Kikai were sitting each on a different side of Mr. Sett, too nervous to speak. They knew all too well of Rei's anger, as well as to not be on the receiving end of it. The silence was cut short when a maid came in from the hallway and whispered in Mr. Sett's ear. She was thankfully very quick to jump away and hang on the chandelier, as Mr. Sett's fist then smashed into the table, obliterating it. He growled in frustration.
"I hate Speedrun. Always doing and saying whatever he wants!" Mr. Sett roared.
"I share that thought with you, Rei," an unexpected melodic voice rang throughout the air. This caused Rei to flinch. Rei nodded to Ezrah, who tossed a glowing energy rope that immediately tightened on a surprised Kikai. Ezrah then yanked Kikai out the room.
"You all really need to stop showing up uninvited in my castle," Rei spoke through gritted teeth.
The melodic voice chuckled, before she replied, "This used to be our castle before you married Kate, you know. I'm not here to discuss that this time." A loud whooshing noise could be heard before a cute and petite pink haired woman was revealed in the center of the room. Her hair was long, wild and dancing in place, as if wind was flowing all about the room. Her mischievous, yellow cat-like eyes mirrored that of Hooligan. Unlike Hooligan, a set of pink and purple cat ears were on her head, and a similarly colored tail smacked the ground, cracking it. Rei groaned.
"Jacqueline, why the hell are you here this time?"
"Ezrah, let go of me! I can walk on my own!" Kikai growled as she snapped part of the energy rope to start smacking Ezrah with her free arm. Ezrah winced in pain but nonetheless continued to drag Kikai to the courtyard. He let her go once they arrived. Kikai was glaring at him, but she followed his gaze and then softened her own. On one of the walls of the courtyard was a portrait. There were 13 people surrounding Hooligan, who was in the center laughing. All of them were in the prime of their youth and most of them looked very happy. A younger Rei was laughing at what looked like an older version of Speedrun choking on something he drank. Rei's arm was wrapped around a young girl with pink hair and cat ears, and behind him was a white-haired woman with dark skin making bunny ears with her fingers behind his head while smiling. A young Talenhutt was seriously exchanging blows with somebody who looked eerily identical to Segato. The Segato look-alike had a confident smirk and was looking at a woman who looked similar to Layla. Most notably was the one person standing far off to the right in this portrait. His spiky brown hair did not match his narrowed pitch black eyes, and he was the only one frowning.
"This portrait is the only thing I have of him..." Ezrah's voice trailed off, and he tried his best to cover up his tears. Kikai hugged her childhood friend, knowing he wouldn't dare be caught asking for it.
"Yeah. My mom and dad, your dad, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Talen, and some others... wait. How long ago was this portrait made?" Kikai questioned.
"Long before the Era of Deities, according to your father. Why do you ask?" Ezrah inquired, looking directly at Kikai. He followed her gaze to the Segato look-alike, and his eyes widened.
A certain melodic voice murmured, "Why does he look almost exactly like your new friend? Aside from definitely not being lanky in the body." Ezrah and Kikai turned around, and saw Jacqueline next to a frustrated Mr. Sett. "It's been bothering me for a while. Hooligan looks a lot like our old friend, Neon Von Archiver. This Segato guy looks like Seiga Evol. Neither have their memories, but they undeniably are our old friends. I keep feeling like something in all of our memories are blocked off. Something that can help us make sense of this," Jacqueline added.
"You're the expert in mental abilities. You figure it out," Rei snidely remarked. Jacqueline rolls her eyes at her ex-lover, then turns to Kikai and Ezrah.
"I am here to join this 'Segato Evelnoke' for dinner."
Segato finally showed up after walking silently--
Shush! You randomly went silently on me!
--and he has yet to realize he's in danger.
Oh whatever... wait what? What do you mean I'm in danger?
A formidable foe awaits him in Rei Sett's castle. A foe he cannot beat. However, it is a foe he can outsmart.
... Go on...
After Segato entered in the room, he immediately noticed the pink-haired girl with... cat ears and a tail?! He couldn't help but gawk.
Flipside really has everything--
"I guess that perverted playboy side of you hasn't changed, huh," the cat girl spoke. "Take a seat, Evelnoke. I won't bite... unless you're into that sort of thing?" Rei, Kikai, and Ezrah all spat out their drinks, each for a different reason at the insinuation Jacqueline just made.
"Why should I if you aren't going to introduce yourself?" Segato retorted. Before Jacqueline could reply, Rei quickly stood up, which drew everyone's attention.
"Let's all calm down for a moment and start over. I am Rei Sett. Kikai's father and one of the 10 Dragons. She is also one of the 10 Dragons, and her name is Jacqueline," Rei hurriedly spoke. He wasn't sure why, but he had a bad feeling about how the conversation will go down with Segato if he let Jacqueline lead it by herself.
"You can just call me Jackie, Segato. No need to be formal," the now nicknamed Jackie commented while she carelessly waved her hand in the air. Segato didn't respond immediately, but his expression hardened. Everyone noticed this change and immediately knew what was happening.
[Remember. This protection technique requires your full focus on it. If it slips up for even a second, I'll be forced to take over your body to protect you.]
It's like I'm being hit by a titanic fist or something. Is Jackie supposed to be this strong?
Considering she is a Demon Artisan that specializes in mental manipulation and projection, it's more amazing that the makeshift technique is holding up against her refined one.
So that means yes. I'll endure it if I can.
"It's interesting. You shouldn't know how to shield your mind from me. Not unless somebody taught you how and told you to do it when dealing with people like me and Rei. So fess up... what is your relationship to Seiga Evol?"
"If I knew who the hell that was, I'd tell you," Segato replied.
"Have you never had the thought that your narrator is not who you think he is?" Jackie continued to press Segato. Her yellow eyes were now glowing, increasing the pressure on Segato's mind. Rei was holding back an angry Ezrah from lunging at Jackie for attacking his friend.
Segato was starting to reach his limit, as his sweat and veins were starting to become visible to everyone else.
"The only thing I'm certain of right now is that you're attacking an unarmed guest of Flipside," Segato grunted through clenched teeth.
"When you first got to Flipside, why did you arrive in a civilian area in a crater instead of the summoning area like everyone else who first arrives?"
[That's not even our fault, but I don't think she will listen to anything we have to say right now...]
"Listen, Jackie. Whoever you think I am... I am not that guy. There's only one me, and I don't know anything about what you are talking about."
Segato's breaths became labored and tick marks formed on his forehead.
"Then one last question. Why do you hold such animosity towards the deities without being fully aware of the situation? It's almost as if you are holding a grudge that you cannot remember, wouldn't you agree?"
I can't take it anymore. Hubris! Take over!
"Shut. Up." Jackie's eyes widened at the sudden change in tone and fell out of her seat.
Not only did he break my control, but he countered it with some sort of fear spell?
"What the hell is your problem?" Kikai shouted as she attempted to leap at Segato. Ezrah intercepted her and pinned her to the ground with some stakes he manifested at the snap of his fingers.
"You... what exactly are you..." Jackie said in a soft murmur just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Even just now, you used a technique to counter mental attacks. A technique I am only remotely familiar with. Are you even human?"
Rei spoke up first, and said, "Jackie, I told you not to go overboard. You need to respect others' boundaries more. Even if Segato was him, he'd be chewing you out for this." Jackie still was sitting on the ground as she stared at Segato.
"I only have fragments of something else occurring, but not once do I recall the name Seiga Evol. I swear," Segato quietly spoke. This regained everyone's attention and hope. "Maybe if there was something from the past I could look at to help me recall some more things, I can help you find him."
This time, the one who replied back was Ezrah.
"Segato, there is a portrait in the courtyard that you need to see. I think while Aunt Jackie is being a little too aggressive in her accusations, it is possible that her concerns aren't invalid."
Ezrah had led everyone out to the courtyard, but not a single person spoke. In front of the portrait, all illusions were dispelled, and all uncertainties became apparent. Segato felt it as he stared at the portrait.
Something's not right with the entire concept of Deities. If there was an era before Deities, then what brought about the change? He knew Hubris has the answers, but he couldn't comfortably ask in front of everyone else. So he did the only thing he could immediately think of:
"Can you guys leave me here in front of this portrait? I might remember something if I do." Rei and Jackie exchanged looks, then nodded. Kikai also rubbed Ezrah's shoulder before she went back inside. It was only Ezrah and Segato now.
"The man on the far right with the spiky brown hair. He's my father," Ezrah solemnly spoke. "I've never met the guy. He just disappeared with my mother after I was born. No explanation was given, nor did they leave anything for me. I was lucky to have been raised alongside Kikai." Segato closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted to give Ezrah an explanation.
Hubris. I know I am asking a lot of you, but I feel even if it is just this one time--
[There's no need to continue forcing the matter. He needs to remember, as well.]
"Wait, what? Who's there?" Ezrah called out to the unfamiliar voice.
The portrait suddenly became hazy, and started to suck in Segato and Ezrah. While Ezrah was shrieking and resisting, Segato relaxed his body and let himself get pulled into the vortex. He was starting to get used to this.