accidental audio
-there's a moment of static-
Are you okay, Ryoji-kun?
Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. Besides, there’s more I have to tell you guys.
Ryoji-kun...
There are many questions we need answered. To begin with, you said Shadows were here to facilitate the birth of the Maternal Being... please elaborate on this.
The Maternal Being is called Nyx.
Who the hell’s Nyx?
Nyx is the mother of Shadows. In ancient times, she bestowed Death to this world. If she is awakened, darkness will once again cover the land and all life will vanish.
All life will vanish?
Are you saying everyone will die??
It will be more accurate to say that... everyone will forfeit the will to live.
… ! Are you talking about the Lost!?
-there’s a long, tense silence-
The Fall...
But.. it’s still possible to keep it from happening, right?
W-what? There’s no way to prevent it?
I’m sorry....
Wait, what’re you apologizing for? Are you saying it’s for certain?
Yes... you heard the bell. I’m the Appriser... The Appriser of Death... My existence is affirmation of the Fall.
The affirmation... of the Fall...
When!? When will it happen!?
I’m afraid you will not live to see spring...
But that’s not too far away!
-Several shuddering sighs can be heard, followed by a nervous laugh-
Wh-what are you guys freaking out about? All we have to do is defeat this Nyx and that won’t be a problem ‘cause we’ve never lost!
Yeah! We’ll beat it!
Defeating Nyx is... impossible. It has nothing to do with strength, ability or power. Just as all living things die... and the flow of time is continuous... Nyx cannot be defeated.
What? That’s bullshit!
This is all so sudden...
I was born from a collection of Shadows. But now, I have a human form. So I can talk with you, laugh with you, cry with you... All gifts I received because I was inside her. Of all the people on Earth, it was she who carried me... Thanks to that, I am able to give you a choice.
A choice?
Nyx’s coming cannot be avoided. But it is possible to live in peace until she arrives. You’ll have to... kill me. If I were to disappear, all memories of the Dark Hour would disappear with me, as would any recollection of the fate that awaits you. You won’t remember anything. The coming of the Fall will be instantaneous... and you will not suffer.
We’ll forget everything!?
You’ll be able to return to your normal lives. And in doing so, the time until the Fall will be slightly delayed. In essence, I am the same as Nyx and cannot be killed. But thanks to her, there’s a part of me that’s human. So if death comes from her hands, I think it may be possible.
Ryoji-kun...
If you don’t kill me, you will suffer more than you could ever imagine. With no hope for salvation, you will live every day paralyzed by the fear of your impending death. And I... I don’t want you to have to endure such pain.
I could never kill you...
… you’re so kind. I’m sorry to put you through this...
… I don’t want my memories to be erased... To forget everything would be like hiding from the truth!
Would that really be such a bad thing? All that awaits you now is despair. You don’t know the terror of absolute death...! Please, don’t make your decision without at least thinking about what I’ve said.
Why is this happening!?
-another soft sigh from the background-
You don’t have to decide right now. You have until December 31st, New Year’s Eve, to think about it. After that, I’ll dissolve into the blackness of the Dark Hour and become intangible.
Ryoji...?
I will disappear with the coming of Nyx anyways... so don’t worry about me. I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve.
-soft footsteps that slowly fade away, followed by the opening and closing of a door. The audio fades into static-
[Minako, Ryoji, Yukari, Ken, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Junpei,]
Are you okay, Ryoji-kun?
Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks. Besides, there’s more I have to tell you guys.
Ryoji-kun...
There are many questions we need answered. To begin with, you said Shadows were here to facilitate the birth of the Maternal Being... please elaborate on this.
The Maternal Being is called Nyx.
Who the hell’s Nyx?
Nyx is the mother of Shadows. In ancient times, she bestowed Death to this world. If she is awakened, darkness will once again cover the land and all life will vanish.
All life will vanish?
Are you saying everyone will die??
It will be more accurate to say that... everyone will forfeit the will to live.
… ! Are you talking about the Lost!?
-there’s a long, tense silence-
The Fall...
But.. it’s still possible to keep it from happening, right?
W-what? There’s no way to prevent it?
I’m sorry....
Wait, what’re you apologizing for? Are you saying it’s for certain?
Yes... you heard the bell. I’m the Appriser... The Appriser of Death... My existence is affirmation of the Fall.
The affirmation... of the Fall...
When!? When will it happen!?
I’m afraid you will not live to see spring...
But that’s not too far away!
-Several shuddering sighs can be heard, followed by a nervous laugh-
Wh-what are you guys freaking out about? All we have to do is defeat this Nyx and that won’t be a problem ‘cause we’ve never lost!
Yeah! We’ll beat it!
Defeating Nyx is... impossible. It has nothing to do with strength, ability or power. Just as all living things die... and the flow of time is continuous... Nyx cannot be defeated.
What? That’s bullshit!
This is all so sudden...
I was born from a collection of Shadows. But now, I have a human form. So I can talk with you, laugh with you, cry with you... All gifts I received because I was inside her. Of all the people on Earth, it was she who carried me... Thanks to that, I am able to give you a choice.
A choice?
Nyx’s coming cannot be avoided. But it is possible to live in peace until she arrives. You’ll have to... kill me. If I were to disappear, all memories of the Dark Hour would disappear with me, as would any recollection of the fate that awaits you. You won’t remember anything. The coming of the Fall will be instantaneous... and you will not suffer.
We’ll forget everything!?
You’ll be able to return to your normal lives. And in doing so, the time until the Fall will be slightly delayed. In essence, I am the same as Nyx and cannot be killed. But thanks to her, there’s a part of me that’s human. So if death comes from her hands, I think it may be possible.
Ryoji-kun...
If you don’t kill me, you will suffer more than you could ever imagine. With no hope for salvation, you will live every day paralyzed by the fear of your impending death. And I... I don’t want you to have to endure such pain.
I could never kill you...
… you’re so kind. I’m sorry to put you through this...
… I don’t want my memories to be erased... To forget everything would be like hiding from the truth!
Would that really be such a bad thing? All that awaits you now is despair. You don’t know the terror of absolute death...! Please, don’t make your decision without at least thinking about what I’ve said.
Why is this happening!?
-another soft sigh from the background-
You don’t have to decide right now. You have until December 31st, New Year’s Eve, to think about it. After that, I’ll dissolve into the blackness of the Dark Hour and become intangible.
Ryoji...?
I will disappear with the coming of Nyx anyways... so don’t worry about me. I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve.
-soft footsteps that slowly fade away, followed by the opening and closing of a door. The audio fades into static-
[Minako, Ryoji, Yukari, Ken, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Junpei,]