[b]Kotori Shirohane - Seto: Chapel of the Martyr | Wednesday[/b]

Looking up, Kotori saw that the attack had been a resounding success. Relief washed over her as she saw the Shadow reeling from a direct strike to the chest from Akane - but more importantly, both she and Rui were unharmed after Kotori's healing magic had done its work. Yet just a moment her eyes widened when the reeling Shadow surged forth with desperate ferocity and brought all four of its clawed hands forth to grab Akane - but Kotori's fears subsided just as quickly when Rui and his persona, Askr, broke the Shadow's grasp with clean cuts along all four arms. Recoiling from this unrelenting assault, Rui saw the opportunity they had been waiting for and called for a final attack into the opening that he'd just created.

Knowing what was coming all too well, used the Shadow's body as a spring to catapult herself away from it - though not without taking the opportunity to inflict a last blow to repay the Shadow's attempt at imprisoning her in its hands. Just a moment later, the shadows within the chapel, having crept back into every dark crevice as Kotori's healing spell ended, were once more cast away by a stark light - this by a double lightning strike as Kotori called upon Kikuri-Hime to keep the weakened Shadow in place for just a moment longer in order for Katsuro to finally finish it off with his more powerful offensive magic.

This time, however, the shadows remained banished. The unnatural darkness receded as the Shadow began to lose the power to sustain itself, flaking away in wisps of black smoke that dissipated within moments. Before long, the entire form had collapsed - and revealed the golden-eyed double of the boy that was still behind the group standing where the Shadow lay just seconds prior. With the immediate threat vanquished, Kotori could finally catch her breath - albeit not without a worrying glance in the boy's direction as he strode forth to meet his other self; her to date unrealised fear of what might happen should someone refuse themselves a second time springing forth once more.

However, his first words were quick to settle this fear. He made no attempt at denying his other self - instead, he wholly agreed with what his mirror image had said. Though Kotori still felt a slight unease at having been made privy to another's private struggles yet again, a small smile still found its way to her lips - much like everyone present, she'd gone through much the same process and, ultimately, had found some peace of mind therein. And judging by the way the boy was whole-heartedly embracing the feelings he'd been keeping hidden from himself, this seemed to do him no less good.

Seeing its purpose fulfilled, there was nothing left for the golden-eyed boy to smile - even as, much like his shadowy form before, he too began to vanish from sight. However, rather than turning into black smoke, he instead seemed to become a soft blue light, slowly rising and gathering above the boy as a familiar card descended into his hand. And as he drew upon this new-found power within himself, the blue glow above him grew in intensity - though never becoming painful to the eye - before revealing a new form, clad in long robes of red and white; reflecting the boy's restored faith in its appearance before fading from view as he turned to face the group that had come to his aid and addressing Rui.

Knowing what happened after she had gained her persona and seeing it mirrored many times since, concern clouded Kotori's expression as she glanced between Rui and the boy speaking to him - the fatigue easily being enough to overwhelm almost anyone in a matter of moments. Still, as Rui gave a brief explanation - seemingly waiting for much the same - Kotori had managed to rest up enough to turn her thoughts to the other group, hoping that the four of them - Kaminari, Shizuka, Sato and Jun - had managed to get through whatever challenges they'd faced unharmed.

It took her just a moment before she shook her head at that thought - after all, besides Jun, they were all undoubtedly experienced enough to make short work of anything in their way.