In an alleyway, Wade is slowly pulling himself up with the help of Ford
Ford
Woah, take it easy
What's the rush?
Wade
I can't just stay here while doing nothing…
We don't know when another anarchist will come for this guy!
We need to be on the move…
Ford
I agree, but we should wait for Prince and the old man to come back.
The old man said he knew someone who could take George, so we just need to wait for him!
Wade
I know, I know…
It's just, I can't help but shake this feeling we're being watched…
Unbeknownst to any of the three, a small zipper with an eye peering through is located on the wall behind them
Meanwhile, on the busy streets, Prince and Cliff are navigating themselves through traffic
Prince
Ugh, why are there so many people out today?
Is Paris always this busy?
Cliff
It's rush hour, everyone's getting off work.
Besides, a few roads had to be closed due to a certain person's fight not being contained properly.
Prince
It's not like there was anything else we could have done!
We wanted to get everyone away first, and then figure out how to deal with the Manifesto!
How were we supposed to know that it was that strong?
Cliff
You couldn't, but you were still careless.
Do you know what the most important thing in a fight between Manifestos is?
Prince
Uh, strength!
Prince flexes his arms to show off his muscles, usually covered by his long raincoat
Cliff
No, it's your mind.
It's all about how many steps you calculate in advance, how adaptable you are, how many scenarios you're able to consider in the heat of the moment!
That's what separates average Manifesto users from the great.
It's all in the way they're able to use their skills and push them past their limits!
If you rely too much on what you know you're good at, it leaves you open to the unexpected!
Take for example, your last fight.
What do you think the biggest problem was?
Prince
Well, it would have to be the fact I wasn't able to hit the Manifesto until it was staggered.
Cliff
That's right.
You won't necessarily be able to hit everything and make a problem go away.
Sometimes, you'll need to use more strategy in your fighting.
Don't be too worried though, now that I'm here, I'll make sure the three of you are in top condition before our final confrontation against those Soviet scientists!
Prince
Sounds like a plan!
Prince and Cliff come to a stop as in front of them, a small screen appears
Cliff
What's going on?
Prince quickly glances around, as he sees almost everyone is seeing the same screen.
Suddenly, a man walks out into frame, his face covered in shadows
??
Prince
I recognize this ability, it's the same one as that guy from the train!
Cliff, what's going on?
Cliff
It can't be…
The man finally comes into frame, sitting on a chair.
He is very tall and well built, wearing a suit and a paper bag over his head with a smiley face that looks like it was drawn by a child.
??
With that final statement, several timed explosions go off around Paris, causing citizens to run scared in all directions
Prince
What's going on!?
Is this the guy you and Wade were talking about?!
Cliff
I'm sure it is, but I never expected him to do something on this scale!
We need to find our companions quickly and find where this Numen is hiding!
Prince
I'm worried about something though…
Cliff
What is it?
Prince
It's what I said before, I've seen this ability before.
It belonged to one of the revolutionaries that was arrested.
Is it possible that someone has the same ability as him?
Cliff
No, there are no Manifestos that are the same, they might be similar, but just like how every person is unique, so are their Manifestos.
If this is the same ability you encountered before, then either the revolutionaries escaped, or there was someone who could copy abilities working for Numen.
I've heard stories from James about people with multiple Manifestos, it never ends well…
Prince
It will be fine!
All we need to do is find this Numen guy and beat him, then we'll be able to find all of the bad guys, right?
Cliff
Yes, I guess that's the general idea–
Prince
Great, then let's get going!
Cliff
What? Hey! Don't just run off without me!
Seriously…
(The ability to copy other Manifestos…)
(I know I've seen something like that before, but it's as if my brain can't remember where…)
Prince, we've gotten fairly far away from where the others were since we needed to escape that crowd, could you use your Manifesto to find where they are?
Prince
Sure, Devil's Trill can pick up on the noises–
Cliff
No, I want you to try using that extra sense we talked about.
Prince
What, you mean that ability to sense danger?
Cliff
It's not just about danger, like I said it lets you read their intentions.
So, if you refined and focussed that ability, you would be able to not only sense oncoming threats, but also find good natured people who would help you.
Pair that with your linguistic abilities, and we'll be able to find lodging and food easily along our journey.
Prince
I guess it does sound like it would be useful, but why can't you do all of that?
Cliff
I no longer have the power needed to do something on that scale…
(I don't want to pressure him too much, however I know I'm setting an impossible task for him.)
(There's only one other person I know who's been able to read other people's intentions through their Manifestos…)
(...his father.)
(I know that Prince and James aren't the same person, however, from what I've seen, this boy has the potential to become even stronger than his father, all he needs is the right guidance!)
Prince
So, how exactly do I do this?
I normally just get the feeling when talking with someone, I've never tried searching them out…
Cliff
First thing I want you to do is to close your eyes.
Prince
Alright?
Is this it?
Cliff
No, next, I want you to turn off your Manifesto.
Prince
Turn off?
It's not a light switch, you know.
Cliff
You have to be doing this on purpose.
I want you to focus all the power you normally put into your Manifesto, and focus it onto capturing that same feeling you had when you were getting a bad feeling from that anarchist!
Prince
Ugh, alright I can try…
Prince takes some deep breaths, he stays silent with his eyes closed before opening them suddenly
Prince
Cliff!
Cliff
Yes?!
Did you do it!?
Prince
Of course not!
I don't know how you expected me to get something like this so suddenly, besides, it feels wrong not having Devil's Trill to help me hear…
Is this what it's like for normal people to hear the world?
Everything sounds so…muffled…
Cliff
Sigh, I guess I tried to hurry your development too quickly…
I'll lead you, so just try focussing on that feeling and let me know when you're able to sense something, alright?
Prince
I can try…
Cliff
(Tsk, I can't believe I got so ahead of myself…)
(No matter how much potential I think he has, he's still young.)
(It could take years before he manages to grasp this ability.)
(I suppose I was just optimistic considering how his development was abnormal and considering my knowledge of his father.)
Prince
Cliff, can I ask you a question?
Cliff
What's wrong?
Prince
Can you…tell me about my dad?
Cliff
Why?
Prince
Well, it's just, I keep hearing all these great things about him, but I've only ever seen him once and we've never really spoken before, so I was just wondering why everyone seems to respect him so much.
Cliff
Hm…
Alright, I can explain while we walk.
Just make sure you keep your concentration up.
To make a long story short, I think the reason so many people look up to him is because they feel like they can see a part of themselves in him.
He's lost friends and family due to circumstances outside of his control, he's fought on the frontlines of a war, faced corruption head on.
He makes people want to trust and follow him.
It's a very powerful ability far more rare than any Manifesto.
I met him during the second world war.
That day, I had given up all hope of ever seeing my family again, but he appeared out of nowhere and single handedly fended off an entire platoon of German soldiers.
When he fought on the battlefield, he was always calm and composed, but just below the surface, it was easy to tell he was a mess of emotions, grief over the innocent lives he couldn't save, the anger of having to fight in a war that was costing so many people their lives, frustration that no matter what he did, he never felt like he was anywhere closer to stopping senseless killing altogether.
He was an idealist, but despite that, he was rapidly promoted due to his exploits on the battlefield.
Rumours began to spread like a wildfire about a mysterious figure that would heal from even the toughest bullet wounds, and everyone seemed to have a different account of him.
Some said the soldier was coated in mysterious flames that didn't burn him, others said he had a large reptilian tail, some say he had razor sharp claws or scales.
The only consistent detail was the fact no matter how strong the opponent, he would never let anyone die.
It became a bit of a myth that he was some sort of Angel that had come to the battlefield to spare the soldiers.
Of course, only a select few ever knew the truth behind the matter, being the current president, myself, and some superior officers.
He always talked about his passion for teaching, he said it was his true calling, but he had other things that needed to be done.
He eventually became a teacher of sorts, I visited his school a few times which was where I met your friend, Wade.
Apparently, James found Wade on the streets and took him under his wing.
Prince
Wow, with a legacy like that, it'll be hard to live up to that, hehe!
Prince looks sort of solemn for a second before speaking up
Prince
Uh, Cliff…
D-did he ever talk about my mo–
???
My, my, what have we here?
Prince and Cliff look around them in surprise, as a tall woman with long black hair stands on the rooftop above them
???
I was told that the boy in the yellow raincoat was very sensitive to sounds, and that's how you got past Brian's illusions, but considering how I was the one who needed to make my presence known, I suppose you aren't exactly as strong as I was told.
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed, but it's alright…
The woman jumps down from the roof she was perched on, landing on the balls of her feet without any injury
???
It just makes my job easier!