04/02/2012, Kuoh Academy, Day
The Student Council room was steeped in the bright light of the sun, filtering through half-drawn blinds, casting sharp lines across the mahogany table where Sona Sitri sat, her fingers steepled.
Rias Gremory lounged in the chair opposite, her usual poise softened by a faint, almost guilty smile. Between them, the air hummed with the tension of mismatched philosophies—Sona's meticulous caution versus Rias' instinctive and naive trust.
Sona adjusted her glasses, the lenses flashing as she pinned Rias with a scrutinizing gaze. "Let me reiterate, Rias," she said, her voice cool and precise. "A stranger—a magician, no less—intervenes in a battle against what was probably a mid- to high-class oni, one that overpowered both Toujou and Kiba, and you simply... let her walk away? Without anything more than a name?"
Rias leaned back, her painted nails tapping the armrest. "She saved my sweet servants, Sona. And I did try to stop her—politely." Her tone was light, but her eyes hardened defensively.
"Gratitude isn't a leash, Rias," the Sitri heiress remarked.
"Besides, we captured the oni. Isn't that what matters?" Rias countered.
Sona's pen clattered onto a stack of incident reports. "What matters is that we know nothing about this 'Elizabeth.' Her powers, her motives—nothing. She could be with Grigori. Or a rogue faction. A threat, to put it simply."
"Or she could be an ally," Rias countered, her smile returning, sly and unrepentant. "She did agree to meet me again. Today, in fact."
Sona massaged her temples. "And if she doesn't show?"
"She will." Rias' confidence was infuriatingly serene. "I have a good feeling about her."
"Feelings aren't strategies, Rias," Sona said, on the verge of exasperation.
"No," Rias conceded, standing to smooth her skirt. "But they're why Yuuto and Koneko are alive."
Sona exhaled sharply, gathering her papers into a neat pile—a futile attempt to order the chaos Rias thrived in. "At least no one was gravely injured. Small mercies." She rose, her posture rigid. "I'll expedite my meeting with the new student. We'll confront this 'Elizabeth' together."
Rias pouted, trailing her to the door. "Confront? She's my guest, Sona. I'll handle the talking."
Sona paused, her hand on the doorknob. "Diplomacy requires more than charm, Rias. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Good thing I have plenty of both," Rias quipped, blowing a playful kiss as she exited the Student Council.
Alone in the corridors of Kuoh Academy, Rias lingered at the windows, watching students mill in the courtyard below.
Her reflection betrayed a flicker of doubt, quickly smothered by resolve. Elizabeth's laughter, her effortless power—the way she had blocked her infamous Power of Destruction...
'No,' she thought, turning toward the gates. 'She's not an enemy. I'd have felt it.'
04/02/2012, Velvet Room, Day
The Velvet Room hummed with the soft glow of blue invisible lanterns, their light reflecting off the polished bar where Makoto leaned, arms crossed.
Ryoji sprawled on a plush velvet sofa on the side, boots propped irreverently on the coffee table. "You accepted to lead the Music Club? Classic you, Makoto," he smirked, tossing a caramel wrapper into the air. It vanished mid-fall, swallowed by the Appraiser of the Fall's shade.
"Ryoji. Feet. Off the table," Makoto deadpanned in a serious tone, polishing a glass with unnecessary force.
Ryoji saluted mockingly. "Yes, dad."
The clack of heels interrupted them. Elizabeth descended the staircase with the Persona Compendium in hand.
"Good day," she announced, her voice crisp as winter air.
"Hi, Liz," Makoto said, while Ryoji grinned. "Hello, Attendant."
Elizabeth's gaze lingered on Ryoji's boots for a bit too long before turning to Makoto. "I'm visiting Kuoh Academy, for... a curiosity of mine."
Makoto grabbed his MP3 player, its scratched surface glinting. "Same. Let's go together."
"With utmost pleasure," Elizabeth replied.
The Attendant smiled at Makoto and glared for a second at Ryoji before heading for the door. Ryoji waved lazily. "Have fun storming the castle, kids. I'll be communing with the local kami," he said nonchalantly.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked, confused.
"I'll visit the local shrine. I want to acquaint myself with all the town's places."
As Elizabeth and Makoto walked, they soon saw the school's gates ahead and a red-haired girl impatiently waiting for someone. "That's my stop, Makoto. Have a nice day," Elizabeth said, smiling at her guest.
Makoto looked at the redhead, who reminded him of Mitsuru. 'Is there a red-haired girl in every school I go to?' he joked to himself.
'I have to say, Universe, that girl is quite the sight... 8.9 out of 10,' Apollo's voice echoed in Makoto's mind.
'Are you seriously rating a teenager?' Thoth's voice retorted.
"Elizabeth! I'm so happy you came! I really wanted to—" Rias stopped as she noticed Makoto looking at her. "Hello," she said politely to him before moving closer to Elizabeth, whispering, "Could you follow me? Let's speak somewhere more... private."
"Is there a problem with Makoto being here?" Elizabeth asked.
"You know him?" Rias blinked.
"Of course I do."
While the two women talked, Makoto silently stepped away, heading to the Student Council.
"If you know him, then I'd like to invit—" Rias looked around. "Where did he go?"
"Oh, he said he had a meeting too," Elizabeth replied.
"Fine, okay. Follow me, please—let's go to my clubroom," Rias said, leading the way.
The Gremory girl and the attendant entered an old building behind the school.
"What place is this?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"It's the Old School Building. It's where my club and I meet. And this—this is the Occult Research Club room." Rias opened a door on the second floor, revealing a large room.
Rias walked to the end of it and sat behind a desk in an almost throne-like armchair.
"Good morning, Miss Elizabeth, and thanks again for yesterday," Kiba said, bowing. He had been leaning against the wall near the window before Elizabeth's arrival.
Koneko sat up from the sofa, cookies in hand, and offered one to Elizabeth, who accepted gladly.
"Thanks," the short girl said softly.
"It's quite rare to see Koneko this open. You must have made quite the impression on her," Akeno remarked, moving to stand beside Rias.
"I don't think I know your name," Elizabeth commented, looking at the black-haired girl.
"I'm Akeno Himejima. Nice to meet you." Akeno then poured some tea and offered a cup to Rias and another to Elizabeth.
"First of all, I wanted to apologize again for our first interaction. It was really unkind, and if you want something to amend my rudeness, I'm all ears," Rias said.
"Actually, I have something I wish to know. It has to do with why I was looking for an empty place yesterday." Elizabeth pulled out the flyer.
"It says to make a wish, and a devil would appear. I tried to make it work, but it doesn't. Is this a common object in this town?"
Seeing the Gremory family flyer surprised everyone in the room. Rias was the first to speak.
"That is one of the flyers we give to people in town," she explained. "It's practically our job to distribute them, and then we—or our familiars—fulfill the requests."
"I understand. Makoto did a similar thing for me, but I just asked him to bring me some mundane objects. Oh! And sometimes, I also asked him to take me somewhere." Elizabeth smiled, thinking about the help Makoto had given her in understanding humanity as a whole.
"If I may ask, what is your relationship with that boy?" Rias inquired.
"He's my dear guest," Elizabeth answered immediately, flatly.
"Guest? What do you mean by that?" Kiba raised his hand.
"Miss Elizabeth, yesterday you mentioned that you were a 'ruler of power.' What did you mean?"
Hearing those questions, Elizabeth stood up, looking at them.
"I'm Makoto's Attendant. My goal—my very mission—is to accompany him through his journey, wherever it may lead."
04/02/2012, Student Council, Afternoon.
Meanwhile, Makoto knocked on the Student Council door.
"Come in," said a feminine voice as soon as he knocked.
Makoto quietly entered the room.
"Good morning, Yuki, right? My name is Sona Sitri, and I am the proud Student Council President of Kuoh Academy."
Makoto greeted Sona and accepted the chair in front of her.
"Tsubaki informed me you wanted to join the Music Club, am I right?"
Makoto simply nodded at Sona's question.
"Good. I checked your curriculum, and I must say, Yuki, I was impressed—and still am. You finished your second year at the prestigious Gekkoukan High School in Iwatodai after moving there in April," she said.
"Despite that, you passed all your exams top of your class, and you even placed second in the regional track field competition. I'm amazed by your credentials. I'm sure you'll do well here at Kuoh. But I must ask you—why do you want to join the Music Club?" Sona asked with an inquiring look.
"I like music," Makoto answered shortly.
Sona sighed. "You aren't very talkative, are you?"
Makoto simply nodded.
"Well, seeing your curriculum, I must assume you prefer speaking through facts rather than words. It's a good thing, really. A quality I value above many others." Sona stood and shook Makoto's hand.
"Welcome to Kuoh Academy, Yuki. I hope you'll find yourself well here."
"Thanks, Sitori," Makoto said.
As Makoto shook Sona's hand, Elizabeth's voice echoed in his mind:
I am Thou. Thou art I. Thou hast established a new bond. Thou shalt have the Universe's blessing when choosing to create Personas of the Empress Arcana.
"Yuki, is everything alright?" Sona asked, noticing him spacing out.
"Yes, it's nothing."
Makoto put his earphones back on, but Sona stopped him before he could leave.
"Yuki, before you go—would you like to play a game of chess?" she asked.
"Why so suddenly? Not that I have complaints about it," Makoto replied.
"I'm convinced that chess is a great way to understand someone. It reveals much about how a person thinks." The bespectacled girl placed a chessboard on the table, looking directly at Makoto.
'Please, Universe, I'd love to play a game of chess!' Apollo begged excitedly from Makoto's mind.
'You truly are shameful, Apollo. You want to play so badly that you wish to defeat a teenager?' Thoth chastised the Persona of the Sun Arcana.
'Silence, Thoth! It's the Universe's choice, not yours. So, Universe—can I? Can I? Please!' Apollo insisted.
"Yuki? Do I need to call the nurse?" Sona asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry. I'd like to play a game," Makoto said, playing Changing Seasons on his MP3 player.
Sona gave Makoto the white pieces, and the game began with Apollo guiding his hand.
"Checkmate," Makoto said as Apollo cheered in his mind.
'Victory by Apollo's Mate! The greatest move in all of Olympus and above!'
'You really are to be pitied, Apollo. An Olympian god celebrating his victory against a child,' Thoth said, ashamed by Apollo's behavior.
'Shut up, you monkey! I won because I'm the greatest chess player in the Universe—both literally and metaphorically!' Apollo mocked.
Thoth just sighed in frustration.
"Well done, Yuki. I didn't expect the Legal's Mate. Congratulations. I hope to play again with you," Sona said.
"Me too. Goodbye, President," Makoto said, leaving the Student Council.
'Legal's Mate? What blasphemy is that!? It's Apollo's Mate!' Apollo shouted in disappointment.
After Makoto left, Sona sat back down, studying the chessboard.
"That guy is certainly something. He played like a chess master—no wonder he was a star student."
The door opened again, and Sona saw her queen, Tsubaki, entering the Student Council.
"Were you spying on me, Tsubaki?" Sona asked with mild annoyance.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't want to interrupt," Tsubaki said, bowing apologetically.
"But I have to agree with you. Yuki is certainly someone to be reckoned with," Tsubaki remarked, looking at the chessboard.
"Do you think he could be a fine addition to the peerage?" the queen asked, changing the subject.
"Yes," Sona stated without hesitation. "He has everything we could ever need in a peerage member. He's smart, has excellent grades—good Satans, his résumé speaks for itself. And here we have proof that confirms it." She gestured to the chessboard.
Tsubaki nodded.
"But we'll have plenty of time to get to know him. I'll make the proposition in due time. There's no need to rush."
Outside the Student Council, Makoto ignored Apollo and Thoth's childish argument—once again.
'Oh, the mighty Sun God has defeated a child in chess! What a heroic deed! May all the bards in the world sing of this victory!' Thoth said sarcastically.
'And the Moon God is just a sore loser because the Universe chose me, the virtuous Apollo, instead of him, the boring Thoth!' Apollo mocked.
'Don't drag the Universe into this conversation!' Thoth snapped, taking the insult personally.
'Or what? Are you going to read me some scary stories?' Apollo laughed, referencing the book Thoth always carried.
'Just shut up.'
04/02/2012, Occult Research Club, Afternoon
"Attendant? Why should someone like you follow a high school student?" Rias asked with genuine curiosity, though her question only annoyed Elizabeth—something Akeno immediately noticed.
"President, I don't think we should press Miss Elizabeth on personal topics," Akeno said, trying not to sound rude.
"Yeah... sorry, Elizabeth," Rias apologized.
"No problem. But to answer your question—I do it both because it's the task my master gave me and because I love Makoto," Elizabeth said, shocking Rias slightly.
"You love him? But—" Rias tried to speak, but Akeno covered her mouth with her hand.
"Rias. We are no one to judge," Akeno said, smiling politely at Elizabeth.
"So, are you going to tell me how this flyer works?" Elizabeth asked, looking around.
Kiba took out another flyer and showed Elizabeth how to use it.
"You just have to pour a drop of blood on it, and it will activate. But... what would you need from a devil, Miss Elizabeth?"
"I searched all yesterday for clothes that could satisfy my tastes, but I didn't find any," Elizabeth admitted.
At the mention of clothes, Rias lit up.
"You need shopping advice? You could have said so sooner! I'm the best advisor for something like this!" Rias stood and took Elizabeth's hand.
"We can go now!" she declared happily.
Seeing their president so excited about shopping made the entire Occult Research Club facepalm.
04/02/2012, Velvet Room, Evening
After spending the afternoon shopping, Elizabeth returned to the Velvet Room wearing a new outfit—a blue long-sleeved shirt with a golden necklace, paired with bell-bottom trousers of a darker shade of blue.
"Where is Makoto?" she asked Ryoji, who was reading a manga, his legs resting on the sofa's armrest.
"Upstairs. He just came back and wanted to take a shower," he answered without looking up.
"I really wanted to try out my new clothes," she complained, sitting on a stool to wait for Makoto.
"Aren't you wearing them right now?" Ryoji asked, flipping a page.
"Yeah, I am. And?" Elizabeth replied, confused.
"Never mind."
Twenty minutes later, Makoto finished washing up and came downstairs, where he was greeted by Elizabeth in her new attire.
"You look good, Liz," he commented.
"Thank you, Makoto. Now, let's test them."
Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Makoto's hand and opened the door leading to Tartarus.
"What are you planning to do?" the Messiah asked.
"A fight, obviously. I wouldn't like my new clothes to be unable to withstand at least an Armageddon or two," she said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Liz, I don't think those clothes are made for fighting," Makoto tried to reason.
"Nonsense, Makoto. We won't know until we try."
Elizabeth led Makoto to an empty floor in the Tziah block. She looked at him and tossed away the Omnipotent Orb.
"Good. Now we can start our test."
Makoto summoned the Blade of Lucifer in his right hand while his left hovered near his Evoker.
'Let me fight, Universe!' a Persona declared proudly in his mind. 'I'll show the Attendant what it means to be a hero! Let's fight side by side!'
Robin Hood's voice rang out as Makoto pressed the Evoker to his temple.
"Robin Hood!" he shouted.
The heroic archer, clad in a white-and-gold superhero suit with a bold "RH" on his chest, materialized—and the battle began.
Makoto played Mass Destruction as he ordered Robin Hood to rain arrows upon Elizabeth.
The Attendant countered by summoning Surt, who parried every arrow with his flaming sword.
After the volley, Elizabeth retaliated with Inferno. Surt swung his blade, conjuring a ring of fire that surged toward Makoto, who extinguished the flames.
"Let's take this fight to the next level," Elizabeth said, summoning Jack Frost.
Three Bufudynes blasted forth in rapid succession, the Demon Doll spinning with each cast.
Makoto switched to Orpheus Telos, healing himself with Diarahan. The Master of Strings strummed his lyre, striking Elizabeth with Ziodyne.
The lightning forced Elizabeth to heal before attacking again.
"Come forth! Robin Hood!"
Makoto wasted no time resummoning the noble thief, the letters "RH" gleaming on his chest.
"For the people!" Robin Hood shouted, loosing three radiant arrows.
Elizabeth blocked the first, dodged the second—but the third struck true.
She stood, summoning Pixie.
"Megidolaon!"
A cataclysmic explosion engulfed Makoto. The former SEES leader clutched his left arm, meeting Elizabeth's gaze.
The Attendant smiled.
"You aren't going all out, Makoto."
Seeing him unable to use his Evoker, Elizabeth lunged, swinging the Compendium like a weapon.
"Robin Hood! Kougaon!"
Surprising her, Makoto performed a summoning without the Evoker—and Robin Hood bathed Elizabeth in holy light.
"I must say, I'm surprised," Elizabeth admitted, though she still took heavy damage.
She prepared another Megidolaon—but Makoto was faster.
The trigger clicked.
"Armageddon."
The world stilled.
A bell tolled, deep and resonant, shaking the tower's bones.
Above, the air split.
Satan—a hulking silhouette of horns, chains, and molten wrath—dueted with Helel, the androgynous seraphim radiating prismatic light. Their voices intertwined: a basso roar and a crystalline hymn.
Darkness and light spiraled into a single beam—a helix of annihilation.
Elizabeth crossed her arms, bracing—
—as the blast consumed her.
"I lost," she said, smiling at Makoto.
"I admit—you haven't lost your touch, Makoto."
Makoto helped her stand.
"Are you satisfied now?" he asked.
"Yes. I am."