As the first light of dawn broke through the curtains, Takayama Shinzui stirred from his deep sleep. The warmth of the early morning sun filtered into his room, gently pulling him from his slumber. He opened his eyes, greeted by the stillness of his grand manor, a sanctuary amidst the bustling life of the city outside. Just as he was about to turn over and drift back into the soothing embrace of sleep, his phone began to ring, shattering the tranquility of the morning.
Groggily, Shinzui reached for his phone, noting that it was a call from Reika. The display showed her name, and without hesitation, he answered. Her voice, usually calm and composed, held a note of urgency that immediately caught his attention.
"Good morning, Shinzui," Reika began, her tone uncharacteristically hurried. "I need you to come to a specific location. It's important."
Shinzui, now fully awake, responded with his usual calmness, though his curiosity was piqued. "Of course, Reika. Send me the location, and I'll be there in an hour."
There was a slight pause, and then a small sigh of relief escaped Reika's lips. "Thank you. I'm sending the location now." With that, the call ended, leaving Shinzui in the quiet of his room once again.
Moments later, his phone buzzed with a message—a location pin marked on a map, revealing an abandoned shrine on the outskirts of the city. Shinzui gazed at the screen, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly in amusement. He knew exactly what awaited him, yet he played his part perfectly, maintaining the façade of ignorance.
After a few moments of contemplation, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, moving to prepare for the day ahead. His morning routine was efficient, precise—a reflection of his composed nature. He dressed in his casual attire, a blend of modern elegance and subtle regality, each piece carefully chosen to match his calm yet commanding presence.
Once ready, he stepped out of the manor, locking the heavy wooden door behind him with a soft click. The morning air was cool and refreshing, a light breeze rustling the leaves of the trees that lined the path leading from his manor. Shinzui walked with an unhurried pace, his mind already anticipating the events that were about to unfold.
The journey to the shrine was uneventful, and before long, Shinzui found himself standing before the ancient structure. The shrine was old, its wood weathered and worn by time, yet it still held an air of reverence, as if it was a place where the divine and the mortal worlds brushed against each other. He could feel the lingering energy, the remnants of countless prayers and offerings made over the centuries.
As he approached, Shinzui's eyes caught sight of Reika standing near the entrance, waiting for him. But this was not the Reika he had grown accustomed to at Shirakawa Academy. This was Reika in her true form—a goddess of immense power and grace. Her presence was overwhelming, yet serene, a perfect harmony of the elements she commanded. Her long hair shimmered with hues of blue and silver, her eyes gleamed with the wisdom of eons, and her gown flowed like liquid light, embodying the very essence of the natural world.
Shinzui paused for a moment, allowing himself to take in the sight of her. Internally, he marveled at how seamlessly the narrative had woven this moment together, each thread of the story perfectly placed. Outwardly, however, he let a look of astonishment cross his face.
"Reika… is this your true form?" he asked, his voice carefully measured to convey awe and curiosity.
Reika smiled gently, her eyes softening. "Yes, Shinzui. This is my true form as the goddess of the Plane of Zero. Does it surprise you?"
"It's breathtaking," Shinzui responded, a statement that, despite his foreknowledge, was not entirely untrue. "I had no idea you possessed such divine beauty."
Reika's smile widened, a touch of pride in her expression. "Thank you. But there's a reason I've revealed my true form to you today. We're about to embark on a journey to the Periphery of the Lowest Plane of Existence, where the Foundational God, Vivus, resides… or at least, where he should reside."
Shinzui's expression shifted subtly, playing into the narrative with perfect precision. "The Periphery of the Lowest Plane? I've never heard of such a place. Where exactly is it?"
Reika's gaze turned serious as she began her explanation. "The Periphery exists just above our Plane of Zero. Our plane is unique, nestled within the Fantasy Plane, where the creative expressions of a certain culture's imaginative works come to life. Yet, despite being within this Fantasy Plane, the Plane of Zero stands apart, a realm that transcends the simple realizations of those stories."
Shinzui listened intently, though the information was already familiar to him. "And how do we reach this Periphery?" he asked, continuing his role of the unknowing participant.
"That's why I'm in my true form," Reika explained. "With my divine authority, I can ascend us to the Periphery of the Lowest Plane of Existence. It's there that we must search for traces of Vivus."
Shinzui nodded, his expression a perfect blend of curiosity and calm. Inside, he marveled at the intricate way the narrative unfolded before him, each piece fitting together seamlessly. "Then let's not waste any time."
Reika closed her eyes and began to chant softly, her words reverberating with ancient power. The air around them seemed to shimmer, reality itself bending to the will of the goddess. Shinzui felt the familiar sensation of transcendence as the world around them began to dissolve, giving way to the boundless realms beyond.
When the transition was complete, they found themselves standing on the threshold of the Periphery. The space was vast and ethereal, stretching out into an infinite expanse of shifting light and shadow. It was a place where concepts like time and space held little meaning, a realm that existed beyond the reach of mortal comprehension.
But something was wrong. The sense of divine presence that should have filled this space was absent, replaced by an unsettling void. Reika's eyes widened in shock as she realized the magnitude of the situation.
"Vivus… and the other gods and goddesses of the planes… they're gone," Reika whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "How could this be? How could they all just… disappear?"
Shinzui watched her closely, his mind already piecing together the significance of this revelation. Though he knew the truth, he allowed himself to share in her shock, maintaining the facade of ignorance. "This is… unbelievable," he said slowly. "What could have caused this?"
Reika shook her head, her hands trembling as she clutched her chest. "I don't know… but now I'm the only one left. The responsibility to protect all the planes within the Lowest Plane of Existence… it's all on me now."
For a moment, Reika seemed to waver, the weight of her newfound burden threatening to overwhelm her. But then Shinzui stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone, Reika," he said, his voice steady. "I'm here with you. We'll figure this out together."
Reika looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Shinzui… If it weren't for you, I might have lost hope. The thought of failing… of letting the planes fall into chaos without the Foundational God and the others… it was too much to bear."
"You're stronger than you think," Shinzui replied, offering her a small smile. "And together, we'll find out what happened to them. But for now, let's focus on the task at hand. Where do we start?"
Reika took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "We need to search for any traces or clues left behind by Vivus. There must be something that can lead us to him… or at least tell us what happened."
As they began their investigation, Reika's determination returned in full force. She moved with purpose, scanning the ethereal surroundings for any sign of the missing gods. Shinzui followed closely, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. He knew the answers they sought, but he also knew that the journey was as important as the destination. This was all part of the narrative, a story woven with intricate care, and he was determined to see it through.
As they continued their search, Reika suddenly paused, turning to Shinzui with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "How about we go on that date I mentioned? A little reward for our hard work."
Shinzui chuckled lightly, the suggestion both surprising and amusing him. "That sounds great," he agreed, playing along with the narrative. "I'll hold you to that."
Reika beamed, her divine form glowing with renewed energy. "I'll be looking forward to it. But first, we have a mystery to solve."
With their purpose reaffirmed, Shinzui and Reika began their investigation, searching for any clues that might lead them to the Foundational God. The Periphery, with its abstract and ever-shifting nature, presented its own challenges, but they navigated it with determination.
As they moved through the surreal landscape, Shinzui couldn't help but admire the complexity of this world's narrative. Every detail, every twist, and turn had been meticulously crafted, and he was here to witness it all. But beyond that, he was starting to see something else—a connection forming between him and Reika, one that went beyond the roles they were playing.
Reika, on the other hand, found herself relying more and more on Shinzui's presence. His calm demeanor and unshakable confidence gave her the strength to face the uncertainties ahead. Though she was a goddess with immense power, she realized that having someone to share the burden with made all the difference.
Their journey through the Periphery was just beginning, and the challenges they would face were far from over. But together, they felt ready to confront whatever lay ahead, united in their quest to find the missing gods and restore the balance of the Lowest Plane of Existence.
As they ventured deeper into the unknown, Shinzui glanced at Reika, her goddess form radiating a soft, ethereal light. He knew that this journey would test them in ways they couldn't yet imagine, but he also knew that, with Reika by his side, they could overcome any obstacle.
And so, with the promise of a future date and the weight of their mission heavy on their shoulders, Shinzui and Reika pressed on, their steps guided by the threads of a narrative that was far more intricate and profound than either of them could fully comprehend.
The search for the Foundational God had begun, and with it, the next chapter of their story.