Hold on a moment...
[Host. There are a total of six users.]
Six users.
What about Blair?
It felt like it was deleted from my memory somewhere.
Wouldn't there be seven though?
Strange... I suddenly feel like it isn't that important.
[Deletion: Complete]
Huh?
_____________________________________
I woke up with a terrible headache. I feel like I've forgotten something..
Ugh...
I get up.
Blair... there was something about her... but I don't remember anymore...
I need to find her.
_____________________________________
Ghh...!
It hurts... Where am I? What am I?
Oh.
I'm... Blair.
And I... I can't remember...
There's something in front of me. Someone. A cloaked figure. She's... my creator...
No. I'm human, aren't I?
I am...
Aren't I?
_____________________________________
"Blair. Are you awake?"
I managed to sneak out of my room without waking Elise up. I had a feeling she wouldn't let go.
Blair opens the door, eyes dull unlike usual.
"I am. Did you need something, Miss L/N?"
Strange. She usually calls me Y/N.
[Host. This person is dangerous. Warning: Dangerous.]
Dangerous?
"...?!"
She lunges towards me with her hands wrapped tightly around my neck, strangling me with her grip.
"B-Blair... Can't... breathe...!"
"Master!"
Batman...
Batman uses his magic to push Blair off me. Her body stays unmoving on the ground.
"Master, that person is radiating a lot of dark magic right now... and it isn't her magic."
Shiro catwalks over, Kuro following behind.
"She is being controlled."
Huh?
"No, to be more accurate... she has been controlled this entire time."
"A puppet. That's what she is."
What do they mean? A puppet? Blair is a human being... with emotions. How could she be...
"Saviour. I've found you."
Blair's body sits upright. It's more stiff than usual.
Her head turns to face me. She gets up and walks over.
"Blair...?"
"No. It's not Blair..."
Blair(?) starts smiling a little too much for my comfort.
"I am... the Tyrant..."
Tyrant? What?
"Who?"
"You know me as the second user."
"Didn't you go missing?"
"No. I was here this whole time. Waiting... and waiting...and waiting..."
Blair(?) starts laughing.
"Find my body. I'll be waiting."
Blair(?) goes unconscious afterward.
Blair... isn't a real person?
She's a user, right?
[Host. The puppet before you is empty now.]
Empty...?
The second user... who are you? Why did you go missing? And... why are you controlling a puppet?
[Host. A signal has appeared. The second user is there.]
So I'm going to meet them...?
"Find my body. I'll be waiting."
Their body... is it separated from their soul?
I shake my head. First things first, gotta head to that location. I turn to Shiro, Kuro and Batman. They nod in return.
We head off.
"Tyrant? Are you there?? Hello????"
This isn't any use. Of course they wouldn't reply. Their soul isn't there stupid.
[Host. Just ahead. There's a strong signal just ahead.]
Ah, finally some progress.
We sprint ahead.
When we reach the signal, it's a gigantic arena.
With a blade lodged in the ground right at the centre.
The blade holds a cursed aura, it's powerful.
"Saviour. You've come."
Blair(?) stands right before us.
"Greetings. It's good to finally meet you in person."
I'm assuming this Blair isn't the puppet...
"Hello...?"
"What you're looking at right now is merely a fragment of my soul. So I guess it isn't really 'in person', buts it's likely the closest thing to it."
Huh? Why? Is it impossible to meet the real 'Blair'?
"You have many questions, I believe. Let me answer them."
She glances at the blade.
"I am the remaining untouched part of my soul. The rest of my essence is in this very blade. In order to find out everything about myself... wield the blade."
That seems simple enough...
Walking towards the blade, I feel the gravity around me increase. It's harder to stand, let alone walk.
"I didn't say it was going to be that simple. This blade has been here for years. It's manifested a whole ton of dark magic. For someone without magic, it's hard for you to even come close to it."
So that's the catch...
I wonder if I can use something...
"Batman."
"Yes, master?"
"I'm sorry."
"For wha-?"
I pick him up.
"Grab the blade."
"What-???"
He grabs the blade with his tiny frame as I hold him from the back.
Does this count? I'm wielding both Batman and the blade.
Commoner. Is that you?
No. Who are you?
So it's a failure...
Excuse me?
I am the princess. I am trying to bring back my lover.
Your lover? Well why am I here?
The summoning was a failure. I wanted to summon her soul back into this world. She told me before, she was a 'user'.
A what?
...
Gah...!
Yes... more! A little more and your body will be ready...
I...I can't...
She's infusing dark magic with my body... a blade... she... she strikes her blade at me.
The result. I am now... a blade...?
...
Tsk. A failure again.
I need more users. Your body won't work anymore.
Does that mean...?
I shall dispose of you. What I need... is her... the noble bloodline... Alphonse. Those who took my beloved away.
Wait...! No... don't leave me here...! I can't... move...
...
So that's what happened to Blair...?
This blade...
I drop it to the ground with a clang.
The princess... she's the problem...
But if she's dead, why is it still happening?
Memories are deleted.
Humans are corrupted.
And she's after Elise next...
I need to protect her... before it's too late.