Wuthering Waves: For The Future of Me, Myself and I

"I'm sorry you have to sit next to me, I know it can feel a bit suffocating, but try to deal with it until we reach our destination." The horned woman voiced out in her own discomfort.

"But you're pretty small, are you sure you don't want to sit on my lap instead? It'll be a lot more space compared to what you have now."

"No thank you. I don't want that." Wholeheartedly, Katsuri declined.

"Understood. Although it seemed a bit too fancy, it's best to pay respect to the Statue of the Imperator as we passes by it." She then continued saying that to both Katsuri and Rover, who was in the same boat-Echo as her.

Katsuri, who was still absentminded, pondered on the scenario that had thrown her into this situation.

'...How did I get here?'

Of course, not anything scenario could lead to her being left together with both a God-killer and freaking Batman...

It was just a couple minutes back...

"So you're trying to find out what this 'Gilberto' or whatever his name was is planning?" Danjin asked in curiosity.

"Yes, he is our prime suspect for the Echo's Rampage that had happened earlier. We also suspect that he's up to no good on his own." Zani replied.

"Sounds fun. Hey, Katsuri."

"...What?"

"Go with them."

"...?"

And now she's here.

'DANJIN!!!!!!!!!!!!'

[Wuthering Waves]

After having her motion-sickness tested with a 90° turn upstream inside the boat-Echo, they finally reached the top.

There, they saw someone hurriedly making their way into the Hall.

"That looks like Gilberto from Sir Fulmine's memories, don't you think?"

Zani spoke quietly, but didn't turn her head as if trying to not lose sight of their suspect.

Rover and Abby simply nodded their head while Katsuri lamented, wanting to go home to her soft couch already.

"...You're smelly again."

"...?" Confused by the sudden callout, Katsuri's gaze turned towards the source of the voice, Abby.

But they had all already moved, her being last.

She sighed and followed their lead into the Cathedral.

Opening the massive door, a hall entered their sight, far as the eye could see with a statue of the Imperator at the end of the hall.

Although moving along the hall felt a bit unsettling as it felt like small amount of grey fogs were radiating everywhere, they made it through to the statue, where a man was standing.

He was already facing them, almost as if... he was expecting them.

Katsuri could barely recall anything this man had said or any significance he holds in the game. Maybe it was because she's not a lore diver, maybe he holds no relevance at all.

He began talking, having a monologue so long that it felt like she might actually fall asleep.

There were a few exchange of words here and there, but that's it. It felt like they did not gain any important information from the talk with the old dude.

Her boredom meter kept on rising until the old man turned around, facing the statue.

"...Wait, that's a throne?" Katsuri accidentally voiced out.

"Indeed it is. And the person standing right in front of it is our Primus, Fenrico, The Enlightened One."

Katsuri looked at the white apparition, as a small muttering escaped her mouth.

"...fraud."

"Yes? Do you have a question about our Primus? It would be my pleasure to explain."

Katsuri moved behind Zani, effectively hiding her small body behind Zani's... curves. It was a very easy feat to at least hide her face since she's so small when compared to her.

The Priest, seeing this, simply smiled and continued his talk.

"It sounds to me like you're not in agreement with the continuation of the Carnevale?" Rover voiced her suspicion.

"You're misunderstanding. We're simply trying to unite the people under the land and over the sky like the old days, the days where Rinascita had prospered."

The old man suddenly lost his expression as he pressed his ear.

Then, as if deciding something, he nodded his head and turned to face the three guest.

"My apologies. I have a pressing matter to attend to at this moment. If you have any questions, seek the order for answers, we're always willing to help those who seek the truth."

The old man walked away without even a goodbye.

"...Rude." Katsuri's thought leaked.

"I agree. But it doesn't feel right to actually exchange good-byes with those of a higher standing. So I guess it's better that he didn't say anything." Zani sighed.

"But need I to remind you to not touch any of the sacred relic. Otherwise... we may need to put action to those who we deemed has disrespected The Order." Then the old man began talking again as if all those monologues weren't enough.

"Eek!" Katsuri jumped, surprised that he's still here.

At last, they confirmed that the Priest had left the Cathedral.

"...What do you think got him anxious that he had to leave us hanging like that?"

"Maybe he forgot to turn off his stove or something."

Zani : "..."

Rover: "..."

"What?"

"You're not good at breaking ices." Zani pulled Katsuri from behind her and patted her small back.

"But I was being serious?"

Zani : "..."

Rover : "..."

"Why is it that everyone keep looking at me like I'm the weird one!?" Katsuri cried out in frustration.

"...anyways, let's put together what we learned for now. We for sure knows that he's hiding something from us because we clearly saw with our own eyes Gilberto entering this place." Zani quickly changed the subject to one that's more relevant to their situation.

Katsuri crouched down, tracing the shapes on the floor while sulking.

"Could there be a secret passage or a hidden chamber inside the Cathedral?" Zani asked out loud.

"Now that you mention it, something doesn't feel right." Rover used her sensor, trying to see if they could actually find anything.

And it led them... behind the statue of the Imperator, where a door at a lower elevation was located.

"...Now that doesn't look suspicious at all."

"Yup. What do you think, Katsuri?"

"Huh?" Really, they have got to stop randomly calling her name into the conversation at some point.

"Doesn't that door look suspicious?" Zani asked.

"Why do you need my opinion!? Just go in already!" Katsuri growled as she quickly moved to open the door, leading them to a garden outside.

Katsuri quickly moved, as if she doesn't actually care what the did here as long as she could go home quickly.

'If you want to go on an adventure, do it yourself! Why should I be here!?'

And going home is the thing she wanted.

'I'll give that Danjin an earful of sulking once I go back.'