They had just finished hacking their opponent into pieces, pieces which quickly dispersed into ever more static.  The Colossal Maya, which had once dominated the room, was gone, leaving the room feeling empty.  Guffydd's heart was pounding, his blood rushing through his ears, his breath no more than heavy panting from the exertion of chopping that monstrosity to bits with a shovel.

[color=forestgreen][i]I feel [b]alive[/b].[/i][/color]

But before he could ponder the implications of that realization, a glowing blue door appeared.  Out of thin air.  [color=forestgreen][i]Makes as much sense as anything else in this place.[/i][/color]  And Kazuo seemed to think it was the exit.  [color=forestgreen][i]Well, why not?  It's either that or a trap, and Kazuo looks like he knows what he's talking about.[/i][/color]

Gruffydd breathed in sharply, realizing thathe didn't know where Ms. Sasaki was.  He looked around, only to find that Jonathan was carrying the unconscious teacher, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

And then shiro bid them goodbye.  [color=forestgreen]"For now, Shiro.  Goodbye, for now.[/color]  Gruffydd's thoughts turned to their Shadows, having been taken away by Kazuo's.  [color=forestgreen]"I suspect this won't be the last time we come around here.  And the name's Gruffydd Iorwerth.  It's been a pleasure meeting you."[/color]

[hr]
Gruffydd wasn't sure what he had been expecting on the other side of the door—somewhere in Nichibotsu, maybe?—but a large room, its walls lined with books, occupied with nobody other than a strange old man with an absurdly long nose had not been it.  He introduced himself as Igor, a name that Gruffydd thought suited him well.  

[color=forestgreen][i]Persona, eh?  That sounds kinda familiar...[/i][/color]

And then Ms. Sasaki vanished from Jonathan's arms.  Gruffydd's eyes grew wide, and he turned from Jonathen to Igor to demand an explanation.  Only for Walton to appear, and explain that Ms. Sasaki couldn't exist here—for some reason.  Gruffydd thought it was ridiculous, but the fact that Walton had moved her to the hospital calmed him down somewhat.  

Igor's talk of masks, calamities, and power stunned Gruffydd.  Apparantly they were a group of "chosen heroes," or something.  And if that dream of his was anything to go by, Kazuo's was marked as being "extra chosen."  Gruffydd didn't know how to feel about any of that.  

But before Gruffydd could properly process any of that, Igor gave each of them a key that, apparently, would let them access the Velvet Room at their leisure.  And then they were promptly booted out.

[hr]
Gruffydd groaned as he regained consciousness.  At first, he was inclined to think what he had just experienced was a dream, but then he opened his eyes to find himself in the school's central building, shovel in one hand, and Velvet Room Key in the other, leaving no doubt about the reality of the situation.  

Then Jonathan stood up, and gave his heartfelt and—in Gruffydd's opinion—fairly awkward apology.  Gruffydd wanted to comfort his classmate, but he wasn't exactly in the position to "accept" the apology—his body having been taken on a rampage by his own shadow for even longer than Jonathan's—nor did he think the rest of what Jonathan said was a practical necessity most of what he said.  But he was able to pick up on at least some of the emotional significance it held for Jonathan.  [color=forestgreen]"Jonathan, you've done more today to help the rest of us, that I've seen, of anyone else here.  Whatever else there is to you, you are a kind person, or at least want to be.  I can only really speak for myself, but I know that I think you'd be a wonderful person to be around."[/color]  Tucking the Velvet Room Key into his pants pocket, Gruffydd walked over to Jonathan and gave him a good-natured slap on the back.  [color=forestgreen]"And besides,"[/color] he added a bit more quietly, though not so quiet that the other''s couldn't hear if they were paying attention, [color=forestgreen]"You're not so foreign that everyone you meet says your name wrong.  Let me tell you what, that pissed me off [i]so[/i] much before I found the humor in it.  I'd throw such [i]tantrums[/i]..."[/color]  he came to a close with a chuckle, hoping that the mildly humorous self-degradation of his story would help to put the clearly anxious Jonathan at ease.

He was about to recount one particularly hilarious tantrum involving a ball of twine and a watermelon, when Bride asked about changing clothes.  He offered him a sympathetic smile.  [color=forestgreen]"Yeah, you're pretty drenched.  A change of clothes would probably be a good idea.  That must feel pretty uncomfortable."[/color]

A thought occurred to him.  [color=forestgreen]"Hey, where in the dorms is everyone staying anyways. I'm...[/color]  He trailed off, briefly describing his current residence, jerking his head in the direction of the building it was in.