"…a decision."
Elric's gaze lingered on Elen.
But she had already moved.
Back into formation.
Like nothing had happened.
The group continued forward.
Deeper into Neon Veil.
The crowd thickened.
Lights grew brighter.
Colors sharper.
Everything...
Too vivid.
Too perfect.
Mii squinted.
"…Why does everything look… extra?"
Pix answered without looking.
"…Because it is."
She gestured around.
"…This whole place runs on perception filters."
Sera added,
"…And now that we're flagged…"
Lyra finished the thought.
"…It's adjusting to us."
Elric frowned.
"…Adjusting how?"
Right on cue...
A voice called out.
"Elric!"
He froze.
That voice...
Familiar.
Too familiar.
"…What?"
He turned.
Standing just a few steps behind them...
A man.
Normal.
No flicker.
No distortion.
Clear.
"…You seriously forgot me already?"
Mii blinked.
"…Uh… who is that?"
Elric didn't answer.
Because he was staring.
"…That's…"
A pause.
"…not possible."
Pix turned sharply.
"…What?"
Elric took a step forward.
"…I know him."
Lyra snapped immediately.
"No."
But Elric kept looking.
"…That's my friend."
Silence.
Mii looked between them.
"…From where?"
Elric didn't answer right away.
Because his chest felt tight.
"…Before," he said quietly.
Pix's expression changed instantly.
"…That's not possible."
Sera stepped forward.
"…Explain."
The man laughed.
"Wow, I die once and you forget me?"
That word...
Die.
Hit like a shock.
Elric froze.
"…What did you just say?"
The man shrugged.
"You dropped mid-game, remember?"
A grin.
"Pretty embarrassing, honestly."
Silence.
Everything slowed.
Mii looked at Elric.
"…Player…?"
Pix's voice dropped.
"…That's not real."
Lyra stepped between them.
Blocking.
"…It's a construct."
The man tilted his head.
"To you, maybe."
He stepped closer.
No flicker.
No glitch.
Perfectly stable.
"…But to him?"
His eyes locked onto Elric.
"…I'm pretty real."
Elric's breathing slowed.
"…You shouldn't be here."
The man smiled.
"Neither should you."
That line...
Echoed.
Too similar.
Too deliberate.
Sera's voice cut in.
"…It's pulling from his memory."
Pix nodded.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"…and doing a really good job."
Mii stepped in front of Elric.
"Nope! Fake friend! Not allowed!"
The man laughed.
"Wow, new party members already?"
Elric flinched.
That tone...
That phrasing...
It matched.
Too well.
"…Stop," he said.
The man paused.
"…What?"
Elric shook his head.
"…You're not him."
A beat.
"…You don't get to sound like him."
Silence.
Then...
The man's smile shifted.
Not glitching.
Not breaking.
Just...
Changing.
"…Good," he said.
His voice...
Different now.
Colder.
"…Recognition confirmed."
Lyra's stance tightened instantly.
"…There it is."
The man's form flickered...
Not like the others.
Sharper.
Cleaner.
Like something shedding a layer.
"…Emotional anchors are effective," it said.
Pix muttered,
"…Yeah, no kidding."
Sera added,
"…It's testing response thresholds."
Mii looked furious.
"…I'm gonna punch the next fake person I see."
Kaida-9 replied calmly,
"…Permission granted."
Elric exhaled slowly.
"…So this place…"
A pause.
"…it lies using things we trust."
Lyra nodded.
"…Yes."
Sera added,
"…And it adapts based on reaction."
Pix smirked slightly.
"…Which means we just fed it a lot."
The figure in front of them stepped back.
Its form dissolving slightly...
"…Thank you," it said.
A pause.
"…for the data."
Then...
Gone.
Blended into the crowd.
Like it was never there.
Silence.
Mii turned to Elric.
"…You okay?"
A pause.
"…Yeah," he said.
But his voice...
Was quieter.
Less certain.
Elen watched him.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
Lyra spoke firmly.
"…We do not engage with anything personal again."
Pix raised a finger.
"…Counterpoint: everything here is gonna be personal."
"…Counterpoint: everything here is gonna be personal."
Sera nodded.
"…She's not wrong."
Elric looked around again.
Faces shifting.
Voices blending.
Truth bending.
"…So we just…"
A pause.
"…ignore everything?"
Lyra shook her head.
"…No."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…We assume everything is a lie."
Silence.
That rule...
Changed everything.
Mii crossed her arms.
"…Cool. Love that. Super healthy."
Pix grinned.
"…Welcome to Neon Veil."
Behind them...
Elen's gaze drifted again.
Back to the unmoving figure in the distance.
Still there.
Still watching.
Unchanged.
And for a split second...
Elen's expression...
Didn't match the situation.
Not concern.
Not confusion.
Recognition.