(Rene wanders a distorted landscape, a bleached white cityscape. The buildings all around him are misshapen and slumped like melted candles. Blackened eyes glare out from the walls, and the pavement roils up and down like the ocean. He comes to the base of a great tower of grasping pale hands cradling a jewel at the peak, and he sits down on a relatively normal-looking bench.)

Rene: Hmph. Terrible taste as always. Who managed to talk me into this mess?

(Appearing from seemingly nowhere, a familiar, disheveled man in a sky blue dress shirt and black business slacks sits down beside him, adjusting his glasses with a dramatic sigh)

Velare: Guilty as charged, I’m afraid. Unless, of course, you mean only recently.

Rene: Bah! (Rene stands up, whirling around to face Velare) See how messed up this place has gotten, Vel? This ain’t what we wanted. 

Velare: (Leaning back in his seat, closing his eyes with a more genuine sigh) …It truly isn’t. Things have gotten far beyond what any of us could have even predicted, much less prepared for. Even when I wielded the Oracle’s Sight… (Velare shakes his head) You are sleeping, then, old friend? But still alive on the other side, no?

Rene: Yeah, yeah, just normal sleeping. My walking around’s been getting better lately. Used to be, I’d enjoy a nice walk here while I was hobbling around in real life, but now even that perk doesn’t matter.

Velare: (A subtle smile lights the Maestro’s face) That is good to hear. …Did you escape the madness that has set in over Mitakihara? Obviously, this place needs some work, but I have faith in the Diva to set this right. But out there… are you alright?

Rene: Yeah. That lady’s “Bureau” has been taking care of me. They got me out of Mitakihara. Frankly, it doesn’t sit right with me to be running away, but I’m still not in much shape to swing an axe around like I used to. C’est la vie. 

Velare: Given what I have gathered from the situation on the other side, mon ami, that is for the best. (Velare’s eyes open, a solemn look upon his face) Selfishly, I must admit that it is better for the world that I am no longer in it. But then again, given what I’ve learned about what’s going on out there, I fear I would just be another target. And the death of The Maestro was already relatively painless compared to the fiery nature of the anarchy that remains. Ah… but this is hardly the scenery for such conversation, no? Shall we retire to a more pleasant abode, here amongst the dreams? (His glasses flash, his eyes showing signs of knowing more than he let on. A very familiar look, to those that knew him.)

Rene: Huh? What are ya, Nebbia? There ain’t no escaping this. Look, it’s starting now. (The pavement starts to flap up and down like ocean waves, the sky goes dark, and the buildings start to lean in ominously. The black eyes, previously motionless, suddenly swivel to stare at the two men. A distant roar approaches, rising in pitch as it draws closer) Aw, shit. This is when it really gets bad. Brace yourself. 

Velare: (A smug, subtle yet sad grin crosses Velare’s face as he slowly rises to his feet.) Good grief… I was hoping not to have to tip my hand so suddenly, and quite so soon. (He motions his head behind him, a path of white void leading away from the scene and seemingly stretching into pure nothingness.) Come along, Virtuoso. Let us quit this horrid place, hm? Before the eyes study my methods too closely.

Rene: Huh? How’d you– well, save it for later. I ain’t staying in this place while I listen to the explanation, no way. 

(The two would traverse down this path, more and more blankness growing on either side of them. Eventually, they were walking in a pure, blank void. No horrors, yet no dreams, either. Velare hadn’t stopped, however, walking without looking back, his arms folded behind him. After who knows how long, he would stop, a cane materializing in his right hand and tapping lightly on the “ground”. With a knowing nod, he pointed towards the “horizon”. Blank at first, but the mirage of Il Teatro, intact and undamaged appeared, phasing in and out of reality before settling. The Maestro then began to walk towards it, more of Mitakihara’s scenery from years prior filling the gaps between the old Conductors and their destination. Another short walk, and the foyer of a quiet, yet functional and well-lit Opera House surrounded the pair.)

Velare: Home sweet home, a reprieve amongst the nightmares.

Rene: (He plants his hands on his hips, staring at Velare rather than their surroundings) And just what the hell do we owe all this to? I thought the Dreamscape was bein’ out of control right now. Even that young kid that Nebbia picked can’t do it. 

Velare: Niko Segawa, the heiress to the Dreamscape. I’ve given her the title of Diva, though I doubt she will ever willingly use the moniker. Those days are long gone, I fear… (A rather dramatic sigh as the Maestro shakes his head.) With her, plus two other Conductors I have foreseen before I lost the Oracle’s sight, our tale wraps up rather neatly. (He hesitates, knowing when to reign in his usual demeanor, especially around René.) But that did not answer your question. A risky bit of information, that, in case the walls secretly have ears. But the Diva does not fully know the nuance of this place in full. This is… a pocket, carved out for the dead to hide in. A metaphysical ‘panic room’ so to speak. I tried to seek out Yui’s mother, but I feel I would have an easier time coming back from the dead than getting Yuma Amaya to trust in me enough to hide her away from all of this. 

Rene: Yeah, that’s probably true. … A refuge for the dead, huh. Is it okay for me to be in here, while I’m still alive? This ain’t your sneaky way of telling me I got shanked in my sleep, I hope. 

Velare: Of course, my friend. This space is mine, after all. (Another pause. With anyone else, Velare would’ve left the vague statement alone, to leave whoever he would be talking to wondering. The Virtuoso was different, however.) …You must keep this under wraps, mon ami, but to tell it truthfully. This realm was Kae’s barrier, no? Do you really think anyone, anyone short of another, more powerful Angel could really control and manipulate every inch of the realm? I simply found one such spot, one outside of any controlling influence, that’s all. …With The Oracle’s help, naturally.

Rene: (He heaves a sigh, running his hand through his hair.) Unflappable as always. I know it’s you we’re talking about, but I’m amazed you’re managing to keep it together. It’s bad enough being here when I sleep, let alone if I was dead and here all the time like you, copain. 

Velare: Heh. Sharp as ever, my friend. Sharp as ever. But, do you not feel better, even now? In this corner, a calmness in the midst of Hell itself? (He adjusts the collar of his shirt, turning with a bit of flair and a smug grin.) Rest, my friend. We must find the other permanent resident of this place and grant her reprieve. (Turning to glance back at him, Velare wears a rare, serious expression.) …But I cannot deny that it is good to see you again, Virtuoso. We have all the time in the sleeping world to talk. I will tell you all you need. But not here, and not now. Forgive me, but you can understand my urgency to save Yui’s mother, no? Against a common foe, we’ve a need for the raw strength of Yuma Amaya.

Rene: She ain’t my biggest fan, either, I’m sure I don’t need to say. But I still owe her more’n a few favors. Gotta try, right? If we find any of those young Puellae too, that’d be all the better.  

Velare: (A warm smile crosses the Maestro’s face.) That’s the spirit. We will need to find a semblance of unity to stand against the threat that awaits on the other side of the curtain. I must hurry. Their arrival is upon us, mon ami. Ah, but I did not tell you about them, did I? Let’s see, where to begin…