Part of me insists that I should find my sudden relocation both disturbing and alarming. The more desensitized portion of my psyche assures me that this is simply par for the course.

I found Reeve. Now where are the rest of you?

Cait, you are by far the best thing that has happened to me for a very long time. I have never received a gift that I have loved so much. I thank you most sincerely.


As for the rest of you...

Should you have need of me, I am not the least bit sorry to say that you will be entirely out of luck.

I will be in my quarters with Ember and Ash.

Do not disturb me.

Though it causes me to despair for the disturbing lack of mental acuity some of you exhibit, I feel that I must remind you that Reeve has been through a particularly trying ordeal of late. Expressions of anger and frustration will only be detrimental to an expedient recovery.

Do try not to live down to my admittedly low expectations of your collective intelligence.

I do, however, realize the inherent problem in possessing hope of a lofty nature. Therefore, I shall explain my meaning in the simplest manner possible.

Leave Reeve alone.

Should the addition of a second syllable in my short phrase confuse you, I will be more than happy to refer you to the ingenious device known to persons of mediocre intellect as a dictionary. While it may initially prove to be too taxing for your faculties, my unrealistic belief in the power of the human mind insists that after enough struggle, you will be able to comprehend it.

I should hope that the time to act has finally arrived.

I grow impatient with allowing Reeve to remain in the hands of the enemy.

No one is more familiar with how quickly change can occur than me. One day, an empire can exist that seems as if it will last for eternity. The very next day, it can be erased from the world as if it had never been. For nearly a quarter of a century, my life was static and uneventful. Then change slipped inside and has been in residence ever since.

So I understand first-hand how very fast a reality can be overturned. How one thing can become another in the blink of a eye. But I wonder, as I stand here in Vertere once again, if it is possible that the very language being spoken here could have undergone such a transformation.

For you see, I have stumbled upon words that, when read as I am accustomed to doing, very clearly state that one Reeve Tuesti has mysteriously disappeared. These same words also indicate that this particular disappearance may be of a sinister nature. A process of logic, deduction, and a familiarity with the individual in question leads me to surmise that the aforementioned may, in fact, be in considerable danger.

I do hope that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding. I should hate to have to murder the man for being a fool once he has been recovered.

What a pity that my subscription to optimism expired a decade ago.

There was a time when I would find all of this very disruptive. And mildly disconcerting.

Unsurprisingly, I am too desensitized to care. I was, however, able to muster up an eye roll. It seemed only fitting.

Once more into the breach...

That was an unexpected development. I had assumed that at some point during the trial, there would be an attempt to free Reeve. I did not, however, expect some sort of attack on the city at large. Surprisingly, aside from the darkness and the plethora of monsters roaming the streets once more, we do not appear to be in danger from the loss of the sun.

Pity about what happened to Sephiroth. He was such a charming and friendly individual.

These past few months have afforded me a unique perspective on the nature of being. Perhaps Vertere has had some small use after all.

For instance, I find our inability to appreciate something while it is within our grasp, only to comprehend its worth after it is lost to us, to be of great curiosity. I wonder if such a flaw is unique to the human species, or if it is a condition of all sentient beings.

Perhaps I owe you a word of thanks, Sephiroth. I might never have come to realize how precious my sight was, had it not been diminished. How very fortunate for me, that I am now able to more completely appreciate it.

I shall be stepping out for an undetermined period of time.

Do not waste your time coming to my office. I will not be there.

I need a vacation. A very long vacation.

For the time being, I shall be locked in my office with a bottle of cognac. And it is very likely that I will not emerge for a considerable length of time.

I am also in possession of my shotgun. Consider yourselves warned, should any of you have the brilliant idea to bother me.

So it is a masquerade that Christine has asked me to attend. It is fitting, isn't it? For it is the only place where I can freely show my face without frightening some unsuspecting soul.

Yet it's not enough to make me forget that I'm fit for nowhere but those gloomy vaults. Deprived of light. Like blackness itself. For I am blackness itself, aren't I?

As if life did not delight in heaping enough embarassment upon me...

My only consolation is that Elena shall look as ridiculous as I. And yet even that small comfort pales against reality, for she seems to be enjoying this far too much.

At least I shall not be alone in this debacle. And considering how concealing the costume is, it is unlikely that I shall be recognized. Perhaps it will be possible to escape this night with a shred of my dignity still intact.

For many years, I believed very strongly in dealing with my problems on my own. I could never quite manage to understand the purpose behind foisting them off on some other poor unfortunate whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the time of my acquiring said difficulty. Then I lost the naiveté of childhood and became an adult.

In light of recent developments - that is, our abduction from our respective worlds and subsequent arrival in this city - it has occurred to me that many people may in fact be lonely. It is only natural; being brought to an alien world, typically bereft of those with whom you are familiar, with little to no hope of returning home through any conscious decision of your own. Not to mention the hostility that so many of Vertere's denizens show on a regular basis. Loneliness, and the desire for companionship, is to be expected. Therefore, I propose a very viable solution to such feelings.

Perhaps it is time that we lower the barriers that separate us and seek solace with those in whom we find ourselves interested.

To that effect, I would like to direct everyone's attention to an acquaintance of mine. She is an ambitious and amorous woman that would be pleased to have someone with whom to while away the hours. Should you be interested in meeting her, I would be only too happy to arrange for introductions. If further incentive is required, understand that I would consider such interest to be a personal favor, and I am very generous when it comes to repaying such favors.

The same mistake can only be made so many times before it ceases to be a mistake and instead becomes just another symptom of stupidity. Fortunately for me, my father cornered the market long before I was born.

I shall be leaving the mansion, effective immediately.

For employees, this changes nothing. You have not been doing anything that even the most overactive of imaginations would vaguely consider to be work with me in residence. I do not expect a sudden surge of professionalism and duty to overwhelm you once I am gone. May you carouse without interruption.

For those wishing to attend the neverending festivities, I extend an invitation to move into my vacated quarters. I shall no longer have need of them.

For those entertaining the idea of visiting me in my new residence, exercise some oft-ignored common sense and do not. By moving away from the company of people, I am demonstrating my desire to be left alone. If the definition of the term 'alone' is unknown to you, I suggest investing in a helpful little device called a dictionary. You may find it useful in successfully navigating the trials and tribulations of deciphering the written word.

Due to the current events transpiring in my absence, I will be leaving Castlevania immediately upon our return from our expedition. It has become horribly apparent to me that there are some among my staff who cannot conduct themselves in a manner befitting their positions when I am not present to supervise them. This is both aggravating and disappointing.

When I return to the mansion, I expect that everyone under my employ will be available to attend a brief meeting in my office. Short of deathor resignation, I will accept no excuses for conveniently missing the meeting. While I believe that I have made my point with the utmost clarity, I realize that I may, much to my detriment, be overestimating the comprehension skills of those with whom I place my trust. Therefore, should questions arise between now and my arrival, I shall be more than happy to explain myself in greater detail.

( Private to Tseng )


You seem to have made quite the impression on Elena, Reeve. I trust you will not take undue advantage of your influence on her.

It is a pity that the failings of my father were not more closely observed.

You should have paid attention, Sephiroth. For now, allow me to give you some advice.

Problems are best solved by dealing with them in their entirety. Half measures tend only to exacerbate the difficulty.

That clears up matters rather succintly.

This really is some kind of hell.

There was a point when I thought that nothing worse than Sephiroth could happen to the world.

Then I learned that there were two of them.

If I learn that there is another Rufus Shinra in existence, I am going to be very out of sorts.

Curious to see for myself what I have heard others mention, I returned to Vertere early this morning.

Enroute to the building that so resembles the place I never thought to see again, I was beset upon by an odd variety of monster-like beasts. Shortly thereafter, I happened to spot a very familiar white-haired man in black disappearing around a corner.

I feel as if I have come home. Monsters invading the city. Sephiroth running amuck. This might as well be Gaia.