Act 2, Scene 7
The microwave beeps once - the cup noodles are done cooling, so I take them out. Then, picking up a similar cup, I walk over to sit next to Arima, opening and sliding her cup to her.
"...Thanks," She mumbles, reaching to the side of the cup, and pausing. "...Chopsticks?"
"Ah, yeah. Sorry," I say, hopping up and fetching two disposable pairs from nearby.
"No, it's… thank you," She says, opening the chopsticks and starting to eat.
A few moments pass while we fill our stomachs, before she finally speaks again.
"I… thought…" She says, her shoulders shaking a little. "I thought, if I could see Panda-sensei or Onii-chan again… the world would start making sense again. But instead… we fought, and I killed him. Why… why did I do that? I could have stopped before the finishing blow, but…" She raises a shaking hand, staring at it. "The blood of Oni, he said… or maybe the rumor of it…"
"-As far as the rumors of it go, I can verify that you are not being affected by them, Arima Miyako," Recorder's voice echoes from my communicator. "My Territory Creation skill is meager, but I've managed to establish at least the ability to recognize the creation of 'mystery'."
NARRATOR, aside: "Ah, so that is the distortion… how laudable, Hieda-no-Are! But, as of yet, you still have not truly understood the nature of the stage… Your efforts, however noble, are in vain, vain, VAIN!"
I detect a slight irritation in Recorder's voice as he continues. "-Once you have finished your meal, I have the rest of your route to the tower planned. Romani Archman, Vincent Van Gogh, and their unknown companion have located a path across - or rather, beneath - the Sumida River. In short, we will be making use of Tokyo's vast network of storm drains."
"Don't those usually drain into the river…?" Arima mumbles.
"Yeah, and the real big G-Cans are all on the other side of the Edogawa River," I say.
"And yet, the sewer system is there!" Recorder says. "And the most likely explanation - is that Romani Archman is aware of this Singularity's nature, and is using it to his benefit! But, this is dangerous, recklessly so- the rumors generated heretofore have all been hostile!"
"-So, he's safer in the sense that he knows what he's doing, but what he's doing is putting him in more danger…" I mutter. "-Seriously, what the heck is Romani doing!?"
"I'd presume that he is under the impression their party is the only one in the singularity," Recorder replies. "We are, after all, well behind them."
"...Then, we should get moving," Arima says.
"Are you gonna be okay?" I ask. I'm a little worried, after all - she was already a downer type.
"I'll endure it," She answers, rising to her feet. "I fought Panda-sensei to make sure that guy was safe, since he's our ticket out of this place. I'm not just going to let him die because I need time to mope."
"...Thanks, Arima," I say, standing to match her. "-Alright, let's get moving."
"On the note of my name… Are you going to tell me your real one at any point, Flugel?" She asks with a frown.
"Ah… I've gotten some hints that it's dangerous to share my name right now. This singularity is a bit… But on that note, Recorder, can you check Chaldea's archives? I need a full rundown on the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. Sensei made me study information about her a bit in the leadup to Okeanos, but…"
"I can't understand what his relevance here would be, but I will comply," Hieda-no-Are says. "Arima, I will simply state for your peace of mind - Flugel's hunches have a tendency to be incredibly accurate where danger is concerned, per Chaldea's records."
"...Right," She says with some annoyance in her voice. "In that case, let's walk and talk."
***
Act 2, Scene 8
"I will start with the most basic - the Aztec myths, as the modern world understands them, were written with the conception that the world had ended four times prior. Naturally, this should not be taken literally, especially as the wider world is concerned - simply put, this was the Aztec understanding of the rise and fall of civilization. But concerning the Tezcatlipoca - they were four gods, which modern scholars understand as 'brothers', who served as the suns of the first four eras - but, of course, in the world of magecraft, truth is distorted and flexible. It would be just as easy for the four to be considered 'aspects of the same god'."
"The first sun, the Black Sun of the Earth, was simply called Tezcatlipoca. The god of fate, the night, darkness, and the underworld. The second, the White Sun of the Wind, was called Quetzalcoatl, god of life, light, and wisdom. Who serves as the third and fourth sun can vary by legend, but the most common candidate for the third Sun, the Red Tezcatlipoca, is Xipe Totec, the Flayed One, god of force, agriculture, and the seasons. The fourth, Blue Tezcatlipoca, would most commonly be Huitzilpochtli, god of war and will. The fifth sun, the one of the current era, was not considered a Tezcatlipoca."
"In typical Aztec fashion, they all demanded sacrifice - the hearts of mortals, usually. I loathe all forms of superstition, but I find the beliefs of the Aztecs particularly despicable - in places like Japan, or early Europe, the types of being who demanded human sacrifice were placated - but never given prominence, not on the scale of the Tezcatlipocas. Understand, that mystery comes from the belief of humans - it was the very belief of the Aztecs in such wicked, capricious gods that gave them such power over their society. And, indeed, when the sacrifices were halted - the fifth sun, the light of Aztec civilization, was blotted out forever. Were the sacrifices stopped because the Aztecs were destroyed, or were the Aztecs destroyed because the sacrifices stopped? This is a question that could not be answered by the world of magecraft, but I will answer it! The sacrifices meant nothing! Their efficacy was circumstantial, born of human delusion, the same as all mystery! It is no great puzzle, it is only treated as one by mages who refuse to admit that their field is born only of the delusions of humans!"
Recorder is shouting in obvious aggravation by the time he finishes his lecture, and to be honest part of me wonders if he's even really talking about the Aztecs anymore. But, I'm forced to follow up on the question.
"-So, someone calling themselves Tezcatlipoca shouldn't be trusted?" I ask.
"Trusted?" He closes his eyes for a moment, contemplating. "-It would depend on the Tezcatlipoca. White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, could probably be trusted, if one kept in mind the difference in values between oneself and a society where human sacrifice was in a role of utmost prominence. Blue and White Tezcatlipoca are more associated with caprice, but nonetheless could be negotiated with. But, Black Tezcatlipoca, the jaguar, the spider - should probably never be trusted by a living human. His role as a psychopomp aside… he is doubtless the most violent and cruel of the Aztec gods."
So, the question becomes, 'which Tezcatlipoca was I speaking with?' -As if that wasn't already answered. I met her in the 'Underworld' after all - the [Corridor of Memories], where souls in the other world are purified before reincarnation.
"-I think we're here," Arima says, pointing at an open manhole, with a ladder stretching down into darkness.
"Through the sewers, huh…?" I mumble. I've never been through a tour of the G-cans, though I understand they do give them. My only knowledge of what they look like is from manga. I really hope that… oh, dammit.
Recorder sighs. "Flugel, you just generated a rumor."
"Ugggh, I've still got Tokyo Ghoul on the brain for some reason, dammit!" I complain. "My mind immediately went for 'there's going to be an overpowered dual-wielder blocking our path'."
"It's fine, people named Arima are invincible in sewers," Arima says with a straight face, and I chuckle.
"No, that's the problem here…"
And of course, the fun of a rumor is in how they build upon themselves, from one person to another.
"-Tch. No, there's no way he could- I can't dispel my own fears, then. How troublesome," Recorder mutters, then speaks loudly. "I appear to have given form to your problem, but this provides information. Your foe will be an enemy from one of my past summonings, a mundane human who wields two swords. His signature technique is a six-directional slash, but the technique's weakness is its somewhat slow stroke, so that he can be killed while activating it. In short, your best move is to kill him quickly. I will be unable to contact you while you remain underground, so good luck."
-And then with little warning, his communication cuts off entirely.
***
Box Seating
The door to Chaldea's command room opens, and Hieda-no-Are turns, taking in the all-too-familiar form that has entered.
"-How troublesome. For most Servants, the memories of individual summonings would not generate fears or rumors - but I am rarely summoned," The Caster mutters. "And of course, the culprit's malice and offense towards me is plain to see - nevertheless…"
A sword with a wave shaped blade clashes against a hastily raised barrier, and the Recorder leaps backwards, down from the raised platform of the command center and into the pit where the blue orb of Chaldeas rests - and sure enough, his most feared foe follows, a jet of water slowing his descent.
"-'Where Miyamoto Iori goes, Saber will also be'- if only I could control my own thoughts!" Hieda-no-Are complains. "But, weaver of rumors, if you are listening… your effort here was a double-edged sword. Because, if Miyamoto Iori is defeated, his Saber will also fall. And so… I need only stall, and trust that 'Flugel' will be victorious. This formed ere the worlde first took shape, this hath no name or motive, its figure unknowne–"
Saber shoots towards him, sword enwreathed in a torrent of water, but another purple barrier blocks the ancient hero's path, and-
"All of creation dwelleth within the compasse of my recollection. [Puppet Playground]."
The deserted command room fills with light as Hieda-no-Are opens his Reality Marble.