Caitlyn, fast asleep, dreams of a pathway before her—a staircase made of broken spectral platforms. She looks below and sees solid ground. A familiar voice echoes in her head:
"Take the first step..."
Caitlyn looks around and sees no one. She says aloud, "Where am I? Are you the same voice that helped me win against Scarlet?"
The voice chuckles. "So what if I am? What difference does it make? I'm your path forward… I'm the one that will guide you to the top. Now go on, take the first step onto the Persona Pathway."
Caitlyn hesitates for a moment—until another voice chimes in.
Swimming across the sky is Arcaios, dressed in a floral Hawaiian shirt and striped shorts. He floats elegantly down beside Caitlyn and says, "Tell me, child, what's troubling you?"
A coconut with a straw appears in his hand as he floats around sipping from it.
Caitlyn rubs her eyes. "Why are you in a Hawaiian getup? And do you know where we are? Is this connected to your realm?"
Arcaios laughs. "I was just relaxing next to the beach—reminiscing on the past, that's all. This place is your pathway, and no, it isn't connected to my realm. In fact, you unknowingly brought me here to answer your inner questions."
Caitlyn looks forward at the path before her in awe. "This is my pathway… Why are most of the platforms broken? What happens when I step on it?"
Arcaios, dropping his coconut, replies, "One question at a time… I can almost hear your thoughts racing. Right—the reason why the platforms are broken right now is to stop you from progressing too far without a stable foundation. Each step either unlocks a new power or strengthens old ones. But for you, it's different.
This pathway is an abnormal one. It's called the Persona Pathway. It allows you to create and customize new personas for yourself. Each step either gives you Persona Points or enhances an existing persona."
He checks an invisible watch. "I'd like to dive a bit deeper into the inner workings, but I have a meeting, so I'll see you later. Aaron should be able to give you a good rundown."
Caitlyn, dazed, asks, "Who's Aaron?"
Arcaios points at the pathway. "That is the name of the spirit that guides you."
Arcaios vanishes into thin air.
Caitlyn looks forward and takes her first step. As she lands on the stable platform, she feels a sudden heaviness—as if something is weighing her down, stopping her from moving further.
The voice returns. "As Arcaios so rudely put it, I am Aaron—your pathway and companion. Since you made the first step quite nicely, I'll give you the explanation you deserve:
You can create up to two personas, judging by your current mental fortitude. These personas will remain mostly inactive until you progress further. Each step you take grants you Persona Points. From this first step alone, you now have ten points. You use Persona Points when creating personas to assign them desired traits or pathways."
Caitlyn's eyes widen as she stares at the platform. "I could give personas… pathways…"
The voice chuckles. "Not only can you give them traits and even pathways… You can use them to change your appearance, voice, and thought process. It would be like having a reimagined version of yourself.
But be warned—the farther you go down this path, the more alive the personas will become."
A sharp pain strikes Caitlyn's head. She wakes up on the floor, her eyes lit with wonder, her smile as sinister as the sun.
Caitlyn, still in her dreamy daze, barely notices Scarlet convulsing in pain on the floor. She rushes over, but Scarlet quickly stands and says, "I'm fine. Must've pulled a muscle while exercising."
Smiling through the pain, Scarlet leaves for her room and prepares to train—thinking back to a time she was sick.
[Flashback]
A young Scarlet swings her sword at the training grounds in the dead of night. The streetlights illuminate her red, sweaty face. Her slashes are weak. Her clothes are filthy from falling too many times. Still, she smiles.
She falls again, her eyes drooping shut—but the flames inside her burn hotter. She rises, picks up her blade. A mark forms on her arm—a radiant scarlet sun. Fire erupts around her, curing her ailments as she trains joyfully through the night until she falls asleep on her feet beneath the rising sun.
[Present]
Now in a gray hoodie, sword in hand, Scarlet walks through the island's main market and arrives at the Ember Path training area—a coliseum-like structure.
Inside, she sees Solonar gripping a blade and swinging it at a rock. Despite his poor form, his determination moves her.
She walks up to him and says, "You're just flailing the sword around. You have to use your hips and legs too—"
Scarlet guides him through the basics. He picks it up quickly. Smiling, he turns to her.
"Thanks a lot, stranger. Might I inquire as to what your name is?"
Scarlet smiles, hands behind her back. "Wow… you talk funny. My name's Serena Scarlet Nyt, but you can call me Serene."
Solonar chuckles. "I'm Solonar Julius Ashenrite, but you can call me Solo."
They size each other up for a moment—then speak in unison: "Your outfit is so practical for combat."
They laugh together, then begin discussing the effectiveness of the regular uniform—and how it could be improved.