April 17th, 2012, Kuoh Town, Morning.
A tranquil Sunday morning settled over Kuoh Town, the kind of peace that felt both rare and precious.
With the sun casting a gentle, golden light through the canopy of trees, Makoto Yuki decided to take a solitary stroll through the city park. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the subtle scent of dew-damp grass and blooming flowers.
With his earphones in and a soft, melodic track playing, he found an empty bench and sat, simply breathing in the serene atmosphere. Around him, a handful of other early risers—joggers, dog walkers, elderly couples—moved at a leisurely pace, all sharing in the quiet communion of the morning.
His peaceful observation was interrupted by a soft rustling from a nearby bush. The leaves trembled, and a small, familiar orange head peeked out cautiously.
It was the fox—the very same one he had protected from Izanami's wrath at the Inari shrine. Its intelligent eyes locked onto his, and with a swift, fluid motion, it emerged from the foliage and trotted directly toward him.
Without a hint of fear, it brushed its head affectionately against his leg. A faint smile touched Makoto's lips, and he reached down to gently stroke the animal's head, its fur soft and warm under his fingers.
"Oh, you like animals, Messiah?"
The voice, brimming with delighted amusement, came from right beside him. Makoto glanced over to see Azazel casually taking a seat on the other end of the bench, a characteristic smirk playing on his lips.
"Were you following me, Azazel?" Makoto asked, his hand never stopping its rhythmic petting of the fox.
"More or less," the Fallen Angel leader admitted with a chuckle. "I was actually looking for you."
He produced a small, well-worn notebook and a pair of spectacles, which he perched on his nose, instantly giving him the look of an eccentric professor.
"Last time we met, I promised I would show you the results of my research. Normally, I wouldn't share them with anyone until they are absolutely complete—not even with Armaros. But hey," he exclaimed, his smile widening, "you are you, Messiah!"
Before Makoto could form a response, Azazel snapped his fingers.
"Now hold on, Messiah. Let's continue this in a more… appropriate environment."
A complex magic circle, glowing with intricate geometric patterns, flared to life beneath the bench. In the blink of an eye, the park vanished, the sensation of teleportation a brief, disorienting lurch.
When the light faded, they were no longer in the open air but inside a sterile, brightly lit laboratory. The sudden transition was so abrupt that the fox, still clinging to Makoto's leg, let out a startled yelp.
April 17th, 2012, Azazel's Lab, Morning.
"Here, Messiah, wear this," Azazel said the moment they materialized, tossing a pristine white lab coat toward Makoto.
The environment was a chaotic symphony of scientific endeavor: tables laden with complex gadgets, humming machines, and shelves overflowing with books, crystals, and containers holding unidentifiable specimens.
"Thanks," Makoto replied, slipping the coat on over his clothes.
Almost immediately, he felt a persistent scratching at his leg. He looked down to find the fox desperately clinging to his trousers, its entire body trembling with shock from the sudden, jarring change of scenery. Its wide, fearful eyes darted around the unfamiliar, metallic room.
"Azazel," Makoto said, pointing to the terrified animal, "I think someone doesn't want to stay here."
"My bad," Azazel sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I wasn't paying attention to our little stowaway when I casted the spell."
He leaned down and attempted to scoop up the fox, only to receive a swift, defensive bite on his hand. The tiny teeth didn't even scratch his skin, but the message was clear.
"It doesn't seem to like me, I guess," he remarked dryly. "I'm going to call someone who's better with animals to bring this little pest back home. Meanwhile, please try to ensure it doesn't… touch anything."
With that, Azazel exited the lab, leaving Makoto alone with the anxious fox.
It was then that a voice, unusually calm and focused, spoke in Makoto's mind. 'Universe. I see something that catches my interest over there on that table.' It was Odin.
'What might it be to make the All-Father so… tame?' Fafnir screeched, his metallic voice dripping with sarcastic curiosity.
'Silence, iron lizard,' Odin retorted, his annoyance palpable.
'Now I am interested too,' Orpheus Telos added, his melodic tone piqued by Odin's rare solemnity.
Intrigued, Makoto followed Odin's mental guidance. His eyes landed on a specific worktable cluttered with tools and half-finished projects.
Among them was a shield. It was oval, crafted from a wood so bright it seemed to be made of captured sunlight. Golden vines, pulsing with a faint inner luminescence, coiled around its surface, forming intricate patterns reminiscent of ancient trees. These vines held in place round reinforcements of dark, black steel, each one etched with finely carved runes.
'Rudimentary runes,' Odin observed, his voice a low rumble of concentration. 'But this wood… it is from the Pine of Light, the oldest tree in all of Alfheim. Universe, I ask you to let me examine that object directly.'
The request was so out of character that it stunned the other Personas into momentary silence.
'Old maaan, are you fine? Since when do you behave like Kohryu?' Fafnir shrieked, this time with genuine concern.
'My companion, what has gotten into your usual insufferable self!?' Robin Hood asked, his voice booming with disbelief.
'Just let Odin have his time, hee hoo,' Jack Frost interjected diplomatically. 'It's clear it's important to him; hee hoo.'
'Thank you, spirit. The rest of you, shut up, or you will regret it. I am speaking directly to you, Fafnir,' Odin threatened, his tone returning to its familiar, imperious edge.
'Thiiis is the Odiiin I know. Ah! Ah! Ah!' Fafnir laughed, his mechanical cackle echoing in relief.
'Do you know what this is, Odin?' Makoto asked, carefully picking up the shield. It was lighter than it looked, and warm to the touch.
'There is a subject of mine inside,' Odin answered, his voice grave. 'They are of this world, yet they remain under my dominion.'
As Makoto held the shield, he examined the runes more closely. They were indeed primitive, their power unfocused. But the vines themselves seemed alive, a faint, shimmering lymph visible just beneath their golden bark.
He could see magical particles—shimmering motes of white and orange light—emanating from the armor, swirling around his hands as if reacting to his very presence.
The lab door hissed open. "It's there, Penemue!" Azazel announced as he re-entered. Makoto swiftly returned the shield to its place.
Following Azazel was Penemue, the Secretary of Grigori. Her eyes immediately fell on Makoto and the fox still huddled at his feet. A gentle smile graced her features at the sight.
"Hello, Messiah," she greeted warmly. "May I take your little friend and bring her back home?"
Makoto gave a silent nod. Penemue approached slowly, her movements calm and non-threatening. She carefully gathered the trembling fox into her arms, soothing it with a soft whisper. The animal whined in protest at being separated from Makoto but soon settled against Penemue's warmth.
"If he bores you too much, just call me, Messiah," she said with a playful glance at Azazel. "I'll come and drag him back to his meetings."
"Say what you want, Penemue," Azazel retorted, though he was clearly not offended. As she left, he turned his full attention back to Makoto, his eyes alight with fervent excitement.
"Don't let her fool you, Messiah. We are going to have so much fun. You see, Sacred Gears are utterly mesmerizing. I'm certain if Father were here, He would personally explain everything about them to you. They are His masterpieces, after all… well, perhaps not masterpieces, but you grasp the concept," he said, correcting himself with a wave of his hand.
"Let us start from the very basics. What are Sacred Gears?" Azazel asked rhetorically, not expecting an answer.
'Is he truly going to subject us to a lecture?' Apollo groaned, his voice already thick with boredom.
'Let him speak. We may yet learn something of value,' Kohryu counseled wisely.
Azazel launched into a detailed explanation, pacing animatedly around the lab. "Sacred Gears are special weapons, bestowed upon humans or half-humans at birth by the Heaven System. They are bound directly to one's soul—that is why they cannot be possessed by anyone else. Only upon the user's death is the Sacred Gear returned to the system, to be gifted to a new soul."
He continued, outlining their history, their types, and their significance in the balance of power, his passion for the subject evident in every word.
"And now," he announced, his eyes gleaming, "for the truly fun part: artificial Sacred Gears!" He gestured grandly toward the shield Makoto had been examining. "That one behind you is one of them—a prototype I created personally. I am confident that by next month, I can complete it."
'Universe,' Odin's voice cut in, urgent and commanding. 'Ask him how a fairy can be held captive inside. Beings of the fey are nigh impossible to imprison.'
"There is a fairy inside it, right?" Makoto asked, his voice cutting through Azazel's enthusiastic monologue.
Azazel's eyes widened in delight. "Yes! You are as perceptive as always, Messiah! There is indeed a fairy inside the Twinkle Aegis. It is fundamental—it powers the shield and allows it to bond with a user's soul, a core characteristic of any true Sacred Gear."
'I wish to aid the Councillor. Follow my lead, Universe,' Odin stated. A profound connection snapped into place, deeper than the usual chorus of voices.
The minds of Makoto and the All-Father synchronized completely, the other Personas fading into a distant murmur.
'What is this? Why can't I hear the others?' Makoto asked internally.
'It is temporary. We are taking our vow to its maximum potential. I am thou; thou art I. It is not unlike what Robin Hood achieved with your sight some days ago.'
Guided by Odin's ancient knowledge, Makoto walked over to Azazel and took the Twinkle Aegis from his hands.
"Messiah? What are you doing?" Azazel asked, bewildered but fascinated, his scientific curiosity overriding any alarm.
Makoto didn't answer. He found a stool, sat down, and laid the shield across his lap. Selecting a fine chisel from the table, his hands began to move with a precision and certainty that was not entirely his own.
Under Odin's direct guidance, he began to engrave new, complex runes into the black steel reinforcements, correcting and enhancing the existing primitive carvings. Each stroke was deliberate, infused with the wisdom of Asgard itself.
After several minutes of intense, silent work, the Twinkle Aegis began to hum. A soft, golden light emanated from the vines, and the runes glowed with a steady, powerful energy. The shield wasn't just stronger; its very efficiency had been multiplied, its energy flow optimized by the superior Norse magic.
"You are a natural, Messiah!" Azazel shouted, his joy uncontained. He grabbed Makoto's hand and shook it vigorously, like a fellow scientist who had just witnessed a groundbreaking breakthrough. "I couldn't dream of better Norse runes even if I commissioned the best carvers from outside of Asgard itself!"
A faint, timid voice, like the ringing of a tiny silver bell, piped up from the shield itself. "My Lord?"
'There is the fairy,' Odin said, and the intense synchronization ended, the chorus of other Personas returning to Makoto's mind.
"It appears you have awakened the consciousness within the branches of the Pine of Light woven into the Twinkle Aegis," Azazel explained, his academic excitement shifting to a more cautious demeanor. He summoned a spear of pure light, its point hovering near the shield's surface.
'What is the Councillor doing, hee hoo?' Jack Frost asked, concerned.
'He is not mistaken,' Odin stated grimly. 'Fairies are the most tricksome and subtle beings of the Nine Realms. I would employ the very same tactic in his position. Trust must be earned, never given freely with their kind.'
"Aaaah, please, please don't hurt me!" the tiny voice pleaded from within the wood.
'Odin, are you certain this is the right choice?' Makoto asked, a thread of unease in his thought.
'Yes. Never feel sympathy for a fairy, Universe. Never,' Odin proclaimed with absolute conviction.
'You exaggerate, Odin. This… fly is imprisoned within a shield,' Lucifer countered, his tone dismissive.
'If you are so concerned, Great Apollo and the Universe can surely deal with the terrifying fairy for you, Odin,' Apollo mocked.
'Shut your mouth,' Odin growled.
"What is your name, fairy?" Azazel asked, his voice taking on a menacing edge as he brought the point of the light-spear closer to the glowing vines.
"I'm… I'm Wispa Bumbleleaf. I'm just a tiny, innocent fairy! Please, sir, don't harm me!" the creature squeaked, her voice trembling with terror.
Then, her tone shifted slightly, filled with a bewildered recognition. "My lord? Is it truly you, Lord Odin? Why have you chosen such a… childish aspect for yourself?" she asked, clearly addressing Makoto.
"Erm, I'm not Odin," he clarified.
"Messiah, allow me to deal with this infamous being," Azazel said, reaching for the Twinkle Aegis.
"Noooo! Please, my Lord, I beg you! Save this faithful servant of yours!" Wispa cried out, her voice escalating into a panicked wail as Azazel took the shield away. "I never wished for Alfheim to surpass Asgard, I sweaaaar!"
'Let her be,' Odin said, his voice cold and final. 'We will allow the new runes time to stabilize the power of the Pine of Light. We will speak with her again once she has contemplated her position.'
He ignored the fairy's continuing pleas, his judgment passed.