Tender is the Night

"Is that all you wanted for your wish?" Vertin asked him. Although she had already heard the others' wishes and knew that their answers were almost the same as his, she still asked him. "Don't you want to wish for your return? To the life you had before I dragged you into all of this?"

Isaac was a new addition to her team — albeit temporarily. Although she and the others did find his cooperation helpful, she still wanted to know his opinions regarding his current situation that was forcefully given to him by her when she summoned him in her suitcase.

By all means, her purpose was to retrieve and recruit arcanists from various eras inside the Storm — but he was different since he appeared through her suitcase.

He paused, thinking of his answer for a bit. He already knew that this question would come, but it still made him reel back and give a proper answer.

After pondering for a few moments, he gave his answer. "To tell the truth, I... wish to stick around for a bit longer, Ms. Vertin."

"I won't delve into my past much — but I just wanted you to know that your summoning was like a second chance for me." He explained, trying not to diverge too much from his true intentions. "And as I said back then, when you first summoned me, what I was doing beforehand was quite pointless. I went from here and there trying to find answers to a question that even I do not know the full capacity of — until you summoned me."

"To a fool like me, being given another purpose was a blessing in and of itself."

Vertin listened and didn't interrupt his story, intently listening until he finished. Having done so, she digested what he had said and pondered in her mind of his perspective.

Indeed, from what she was envisioning with the limited knowledge he had given her, what he said was reasonable.

She knew that he was an unregistered arcanist who has trouble controlling his arcanum — and speculated that he might have endangered himself and the others around him before her summon. As a member of the St. Pavlov Foundation, it was within her duties to recruit and send him to the School of Primary Defense of Mankind and be taught how to be a proper arcanist — like herself. As such, his act of wanting to stay was well within her favor too.

Looking at Sonetto at her side and seeing her comrade silently nodding at her, Vertin turned to look back at him and spoke calmly.

"Alright. I'll take that as your second wish, Mr. Isaac."

"Oh my, I get two wishes?" Hearing this, a lighthearted smile appeared on his face. "Thank you for your understanding, Ms. Vertin."

"No problem, Mr. Isaac." She nodded her head. She then immediately followed up with another question. "By the way... Do you know where Schneider is? You two were the last in the list and I can't seem to find her in the square."

"Schneider... If I recall, she was in the square. You might want to look there first." He replied candidly.

"Okay, I'll head on over now. Thank you." Hearing this, Vertin swiftly stood up and bid both of them farewell before walking out of the room.

Isaac and Sonetto lingered in the room for a moment or so before the silence was broken by him, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

"...Say, Ms. Sonetto, are there any tasks that need completing? I can lend a hand."

Sonetto grasped her chin for a moment of contemplation before giving an answer. "Hmm... I heard Ms. Sotheby was preparing meals for the refugees inside the Timekeeper's suitcase. Since I also have nothing to do at the moment, shall we head on over and help her?"

"Sure, let's go."

As they left, the distant howling of the winds grew ever closer and the light rain that was pouring started to show signs of turning heavy.

Indeed, the Storm was almost here.

---

With Sonetto, Isaac entered the suitcase and quickly found the kitchen where Sotheby was busy cooking. The dishes she made didn't appear the most appealing, to say the least.

Looking at the plates of... something... Isaac was the first to speak out but with a gentle undertone.

"Erm... Ms. Sotheby, are you sure this would be edible?"

Truth be told, he won't even eat them even if he had to act the part.

"Indeed! But what these dishes need to turn them into splendid meals is... This!" Sotheby then presented a crucible. "This is a new concoction born from my — no — our recent discovery! I present to you the new hallucinogen I made! With it, anything that the beholder sees would look, sound, and taste exactly as they desired!"

Isaac took the crucible, had a light sniff, and instantly, he felt his perceptions changing. He then saw the odious dish laid out turn to a set of appetizing dishes, their mere sight and smell causing him to salivate a bit.

"This is... miraculous, to say the least." Handing the crucible back to her, he smiled wistfully.

At least this way, even if the era was coming to an end, the people would still get to enjoy the meal they desired the most.

Isaac and Sonetto didn't waste time and quickly helped Sotheby in preparing the meals. In this way, even if the true dish is hidden underneath the hallucination, it would still taste good for those who are unwilling to believe the illusion.

The world outside the suitcase grew darker as the rain poured torrentially. At this point, the remaining refugees had already entered the suitcase — some passed out due to hunger, while some clinging to life.

Soon, Vertin and Schneider were the last to enter and the suitcase was finally sealed off from the outside world, which was slowly becoming more and more chaotic due to the Storm.

Isaac, along with Sonetto, Sotheby, Mr. Karson, and others, distributed the meals to everyone present in the lobby — turning the mundane space into what seemed like a fine banquet.

Soon, mixed reactions came from the crowd after tasting the meals given to them.

"Oh...! This is delicious!"

"Geh, why does mine taste like socks mixed with expired milk?! Blegh—!"

"Just look at that, everybody. A fillet mignon..."

Needless to say, Sotheby's plan was mostly successful. Those who wholeheartedly believed the illusion indulged themselves in their final meal — at least in this way, their final moments were with what they desired.

Sitted along a long table, meanwhile, sat the original cast of the story. Vertin sat in the middle, with Druvis, X, Regulus, and Mr. APPLe on her left — while Sonetto, Schneider, Maria, Mr. Karson, and Sotheby sat on her right.

It almost looked exactly like a certain painting, Isaac thought.

Indeed, it was exactly as he had remembered it all those years ago — when he still played the game. Only this time, he was personally witnessing it unfold before his very eyes.

Sitting on a corner not far from the long table, meanwhile, Isaac sat down on a chair with a warm cup of black tea in his one hand and a pain d'épi on the other.

As an outsider, it was only natural for him to not sit with them. Indeed, he... he does not feel like he belonged there, leading him to leave the limelight.

'It was better this way.'

Gazing out the window, he saw that the effects of the Storm had also begun affecting the Wilderness of the suitcase. Outside, the heavy rain poured, slowly diluting anything it touches, reducing them to abstract visuals.

As he took a slow, deliberate sip from his teacup, his ears picked up the words that the main cast were discussing. He quietly listened and took his time to enjoy the black tea he brewed for himself as well as the bread that he baked — not a hallucination.

The main cast heartily conversed amongst themselves; X and Druvis discussing what they were eating, and Mr. Karson handing over important matters of the family to Sotheby.

It was exactly like that one saying — that they were currently in the eye of the storm. Currently, it was peaceful, with laughter and smiles permeating the scene, but soon...

- Boom!

Then, it finally happened.

"Urgh..."

"A, Ah... No..."

"This... I..."

The sound of thunder echoed through the suitcase, then, following it was another phenomenon which caused the rainfall to suddenly surge upwards — as if they were being reversed.

All of a sudden, normal humans — who comprised the majority of the refugees — started disappearing one after another.

Sotheby stood up and looked behind her, unaware of what was currently unfolding, and watched the reversed rain.

"Whoa... It's going upside-down!" She said as she gazed out of the window. Then she turned around. "Look Mr. Karson! It's... Huh?"

"Mr. Karson...?"

Her tremulous voice reverberated, but no one replied to her. There, on the spot where her family's loyal butler had been, was an empty seat with no one present.

Only silence remained.

"...The Storm had arrived."

Vertin's ghastly voice echoed, signalling the arrival of the inevitable. Her tone was heavy, weighed down by what was about to happen.

Soon, more and more people started dissolving into nothingness as the Storm started reversing the era. Normal humans weren't able to resist and quietly perished, leaving only arcanists alive in the suitcase. Now, only empty or semi-finished meals were left on their tables.

At some point, Isaac finished his meal as the somber tone finally seeped in. Standing up, he approached the young lady who was trying to comprehend what was happening and offered her comfort.

"Mr. Karson... where...?" Her voice brittle, Sotheby tried to call out her butler's name but no one replied. Her eyes moistened as she was on the verge of crying upon realizing what was happening.

Standing beside her, Isaac's voice remained gentle as he tried to comfort her. "...It's going to be alright, Ms. Sotheby."

Sotheby didn't reply as she tried to cover her face with her palms — the streak of tears running down her face and the quiet sobbing present as she did so.

Isaac didn't say anything further and only offered his presence for her. Then, shifting his gaze, he looked at the rest of the table and saw Maria, Schneider's sister, was slowly disappearing as she prayed in Italian.

"Santa Maria prega per noi, Santa Maria prega per noi..." She prayed desperately, her tears streaming down her face. "Look after us, have compassion on us..."

"Don't be afraid, mia sorella. Take my hand, close your eyes... Just like when we were born." Beside her, Schneider held her sister's hands and offered a gentle comfort. "Everything will be fine..."

"..."

Clutching her sister's hands, Schneider's hands then fell — the one she was holding now gone, disappearing right before her very eyes.

"...goodbye." Vertin bid Maria farewell, her voice brittle.

Isaac, on the side, felt his heart sink upon seeing this scene. Although he personally had not known them for that long, their sudden disappearance still made it hard for him to watch on without his emotions stirring. But, as always, he has to bottle it up and maintain a composed demeanor.

"...Riposi in pace." He silently muttered under his breath.

Seeing her own sister vanish, Schneider remained calm, but her voice betrayed her. She then turned to Vertin. "My Lord..."

"Schneider... I'm sorry." Seeing her look in her direction, Vertin apologized sincerely with a heavy heart. "Your family... They're..."

"No, my Lord..."

However, Schneider interrupted her. Then walking over to Vertin, Schneider trembled and fell over, her whole body feeling weak. Her body now in Vertin's embrace, she smiled warmly at her. "Hold me..."

Then it happened.

Schneider... started disappearing too.

"...!" Visibly shocked by this, Vertin's eyes contracted, unable to comprehend why she was disappearing.

"I'm sorry, my Lord..." Maintaining her smile, Schneider apologized. "I am not an arcanist."

"What do you mean? I don't understand..." Vertin brows furrowed, her voice quickening.

As the Vertin held Schneider, the latter was disappearing more and more, as if deliberately trying to cut off their conversation.

Then, with a smile still plastered on her face, Schneider left her final worlds to Vertin. "Remember me, my Lord... Remember my heartbeat in my right chest..."

With her final words, Schneider fully disappeared, reversed by the Storm.

As for Vertin, her mind buzzed as she was unable to accept everything in such a short amount of time that, shockingly, she blacked out — the emotional experience too much for her.

Isaac, already knowing this would happen, quickly caught her and held her in place. Then, gesturing for the others to help him, he whispered something to her. "...sleep for now, Ms. Vertin."

"Tender is the night that weeps for what was lost."

---

A/N:

Now that I'm done with this arc and we're moving on to Chapter 3 where, in-game, Vertin undergoes an induced coma for treatment and sleeps for a while, I'll get to have more creative freedom in-between that timeframe and fill up the gaps in the game's story with my own.

Meaning, while the true main character is asleep, the side character (Isaac) would have to fill that role temporarily.