//Minerva's Message//

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(A/N: the next chapter, as promised! I wasn't planning on releasing this today because I started it later then expected and was using my phone and Anna couldn't edit it today- but then I finished it and realized it's 90% just Minerva's message so it doesn't hold its own as a chapter- so it's pretty boring as well. I hope you enjoy anyway, though~!
(Cover image is a doodle by thefricksidontgive per usual ;))

We arrived at the end of the darkened tunnel, a singular door at the very end. We walked closer to it, Minerva's owl staring blankly at the three of us as we approached. Once we stopped moving, I pulled out the pen from my pocket and opened it, the hologram lighting up immediately. The door clicked open and I grabbed the handle, looking to Lucas. His face was fearful but hopeful at the same time, both Ray and him awaiting anxiously what lay behind the door- myself already knowing what awaited.

We walked passed the room filled with countless monitors and controls and towards the lake. It's beauty was breathtaking- nothing like I could've ever imagined. The golden water practically glowed, enticing me to step inside.

"It's a lake... and it looks... golden..." Lucas said in awe. I excused him for pointing out the obvious due to the high levels of shock he must be feeling.

"This must be it-!!" Ray exclaimed. "Goldy Pond- this is the destination point on Minerva's map!" I pulled out the pen in response, opening it to reveal the words 'Welcome to Goldy Pond.'

"Minerva wanted us to come here, then? Not to the hunting park?" Ray continued, the pieces beginning to come together for both Lucas and himself.

"WOAH THAT CABIN IS FLOATING!" I  exclaimed. I remembered this part in the manga- although seeing it in person was just as- if not more awe-inspiring then the golden lake. With that, I plunged into the water, knowing it wouldn't get me wet at all.

"Wait- we don't know if its harmful!" Ray shouted, climbing in after me. 'Jokes on you, I  do already know that.'  "Eh-!" He exclaimed, upon realizing the water wasn't making any contact with his body. "I can't touch it!" He admired, then reaching down with his hands to make sure he couldn't touch it. On his face was an expression that should be there more often on a 12 year old such as himself- it was a face of childlike wonder.

We walked through the lake together until we arrived at the elevator. The childlike wonder spread across Ray's face once again as he was fascinated by the floating elevator. I bet he wants to figure out how it works. "It's an elevator!" Ray admired once again. "Seems to be an older model..."

"But what's an elevator like this doing here...?" Lucas asked aloud.

"Maybe... this elevator can take you to the human world... you think?" Ray asked before chuckling. "Yeah, no way. It should be Y/N suggesting something ridiculous like that..." He chuckled dryly.

"Oi!" I shouted from the console. "I can hear you!" I stuck my tongue out. I then inserted the pen into the proper hole and watched as the elevator door began to open. Ray and Lucas immediately ran over to see what I was doing.

The words 'failure' then flashed on the console. The telephone then rang, its high pitched noise slicing through the near silence the three of us cattle people were sitting through. I gestured for Ray to pick it up and he did hesitantly. Lucas and I leaned in close to the phone to hear what was going on- although I didn't need to.

"This is William Minerva." A male voice resounded over it.

"Haah??!" Ray exclaimed, but still listening carefully to the call.

"I want to briefly convey some information to you who took this phone call, who I believe to be an escapee." The voice of William Minerva continued. "First of all, I must give you my deepest apology- I'm sorry. The elevator is a path that can cross over to the human world. However, it can no longer be used."

"What do you mean 'can no longer be used'?!" Ray exclaimed, his grip on the cellphone tightening as his recently raised hope was once again diminished.

"I do not know what month and year you are all living in, but, whenever you are hearing this recording, that elevator will not be working as it once was. It was stopped. And the 'path' was closed. It is my fault. I could not foresee my trusted confident's betrayal. The village I made in A08-32 too... it is also likely no longer safe. Because of 'that person' it is already ruined- or perhaps you guys already know that.

...I wanted to atone for my sins. My real name is James Ratri. A descendant of the family who made 'The Promise' 1,000 years ago. I am the 35th head of our family.

Generation after generation it has been our duty to act as a mediator between the two worlds in order to maintain order in the human side.Generation after generation for the past 1,000 years we have been devoted to upholding 'the promise' by raising you children as food for a sacrifice. I cannot abandon my duty- for the sake of the human world.

But I could not stand it. As a human being... at this outrageousness... At least, I could provide you all the 'opportunity' to choose your own future.

Therefore, in the books delivered to the farms, I took on the name of a fictional person, named William Minerva.

It was merely a trivial craftsmanship, but... at least you children who noticed... would be able to live in a safe shelter... and and would be able to secretly travel through that 'secret path'.

...but that path was closed, and the village also is likely unusable. According to 'that person''s scene, my life is now being targeted by my family. It is currently May 21st, 2031. By the time you are hearing this, I am probably no longer of this world.

"Wha-!" Ray exclaimed quietly, Lucas' eyes widening in shock and mine narrowing in memory.

"But this is not a defeat" The voice of William Minerva continued. "I have no intention of being killed so easily. It's dangerous, but there are numerous different paths. For example... Grace Field house, Glory Bell, Grand Valley, and Goodwill Ridge. At least, inside each of those high-quality farms lies a path that is different from the one here at Goldy Pond, and should probably not be closed.

Realize the future that you desire. If you want to secretly escape to the human world, I'll direct several of my allies towards you. If you have friends with you, I'll send all of you together... through those paths.

...Or not... if you want to break this world and their crooked order... and 'the promise'.

Then break it.

Total war with them will break out, resulting in the two world being returned to their previous state of hunt or be hunted.

I will not personally break it, it if that is what you wish, then neither my allies or I will hinder that choice.

But...

If the future you seek is neither of those, then...

Search for the seven walls." My jaw clenched once I heard the familiar location, remembering Mujika as she whispered it to me quietly, the amulet clenched in my hand.

"The seven walls?" Ray asked curiously, but Minerva wasn't finished, so we fell silent once again.

"I'm sorry, but there isn't much more time left. I left the rest of the details in 'Marvin's Bed.'

For that has come now, for what will come after...

Everything that will be needed to pass through will be there.

You've worked very hard until now. You've probably made many painful memories...

Ray seemed to wince as he heard this, likely remembering Norman and all those who he sacrificed in creating his plan to allow his two best friends to escape...

"Yet you've still made it here. I wanted to hear your... no probably all of your..." Minerva's voice had a hint of fleeting emotion, which only grew larger as he continued. "I wanted to see what you looked like.

There is light. Grasp it with your hands. Please... live!"

There was one more thing from Mr. Minerva before the line finally disconnected; "I wish you the best of luck."

And then he was gone, seemingly as fast as he'd appeared.

"So he was an ally after all!" Despite his usual unbothered air about him, Ray's voice was filled to the rim with gratefulness.

I smiled despite myself, grateful for the return of hope to Ray and Lucas' faces. For to them, although they had taken a few steps back- after learning about Minerva's likely death, and how the elevator had stopped working, their hope had taken a few steps further- hope caused by knowing the existence of other passages, the existence of ally's, and the ever growing knowledge they were receiving.

And I, the one filled with the most knowledge, felt a fleeting flash of my own hope caused by something else- or maybe it was there all along, but I only realized it now.

It was a hope I could change the future after all.
Save Yuugo and Lucas from their fates.
Save Emma from bearing the brunt of the promise.
and hope that I could maybe learn to accept this place as my real reality...

And filled with this new hope, instead of thinking of everything as a 'maybe', or 'I'll try', I was filled with certainty- 'I'll do it.'

And I'll start with Leuvis.


(A/N: Thanks for reading!)

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