Chapter 22 - Painting

  Elduran heard footsteps overhead. From the floor above, Faen and Cyndaquil peered down at him and Dan through the gap in the ceiling—their floor, his ceiling—depending on how one saw it. Without dey, Cyndaquil leaped down, circling Dan with a slow, menacing growl. Mew appeared out of nowhere.

  "Elduran, you might want to address that bullet wound," Faen remarked from above.

  "It can wait; I have a score to settle first," Elduran decred, his eyes locked on Dan sprawled on the floor. Blood pooled around the knife embedded in Dan's abdomen, and his feet were scarcely recognizable, thanks to Cyndaquil's thorough work searing them to a crisp. A sudden pain surged through Elduran as a bullet exited his shoulder wound. He gnced at Mew, who was intently observing the bullet suspended in the air. Elduran nodded to Mew, though he now needed to staunch the bleeding. He tore the bottom of his shirt and, using his teeth and right hand, swiftly secured it around his shoulder and armpit. "Mew, let Forge and me handle this; he killed Anaya, Luna, Blue, and Viv," Elduran said as Mew connected with him telepathically, offering apologies for not being there and transmitting immense support that bolstered Elduran's resolve. Mew also made it clear that Dan was reserved for him and Cyndaquil.

  Dan dispyed no trace of fear. Even if Elduran chose to spare him, walking again was a distant dream. Yet convincing himself he might survive, might glean some answers, seemed a better course. His gaze brimmed with malice as he fixed his eyes on Elduran. "How did you survive? Who the hell are you? How the fuck do you have Mew working for you" he demanded.

  Above, Faen settled on the floor, legs dangling into the void below. "A Watcher unfamiliar with you, thankfully. Not as clued in as we assumed. Remember the Ho-oh you unleashed in Saffron a while back? This is the man who brought it down. As for Mew, I think you have it backwards, we work for them I think" he remarked.

  Elduran caught what seemed like a flicker of fear in Dan's gre, but it vanished as swiftly as it emerged. He opened his mouth to speak, only to be wracked with a bout of blood-spattered coughing. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on, "You think we're with the Watchers? How pitiful."

  Elduran merely grinned, "So you're not aligned with the Watchers. Why, then, were you doing their dirty work?"

  Dan returned the grin with his own. "We were hired for research, you buffoon. But you had to ruin everything for us. Especially that security guard," he said, narrowing his eyes at Faen, "and that wretchedly insignificant professor." His expression hardened. "How? How did you survive the ambush? Did you flee? Did you ever go there?"

  Elduran drove his boot into the man's ribs. As the wretch ceased his moaning from the agony, Elduran stooped closer, murmuring, "They all lie dead—your three fucker comrades and that worthless excuse for a trainer you brought in."

  "Worthless excuse? Do you even know who you killed?" Dan questioned, struggling to suppress the ughter that slipped from his lips, each chuckle punctuated by a pained grunt. "Killing him...oh how much you will regret doing that," he murmured, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.

  Kneeling beside his head, Elduran delivered a sharp sp to keep him alert. "Forget the trainer. If you want to survive, you better start spilling the locations and how your organization operates."

  The man’s hand instinctively went to his cheek, as if to shield it from another impending strike. "I told you, you mindless fool, I'm not with the Watchers, although I do suspect I’ve been unwittingly working for them. You see, I was hired to research the behavior of legendary Pokémon, both in harmony and in isotion, all to amplify the devastation of a Yveltal attack. I’m... an information broker with a penchant for research. I also served in the army, special ops—though anti-personnel, not dealing with Pokémon, in the Kanto-Johto region. Every penny I earned went into crafting that jewel of mine, the train that links Pewter City's forsaken mines to the bustling ones in Bckthorn City. I established that quaint little town underground, positioned perfectly, all centered around the resort I built—one of the most breathtaking locales on the continent. I possess significant wealth; let me live, and I will repay you richly," Dan insisted.

  "You own the Railroad Cave Resort? Any gnce at the news would imply your enterprise skirts perilously close to legality. By preemptively disrupting the proposed train line between Viridian and Cherrygrove, you’ve effectively isoted New Bark Town and Pallet Town, leaving their future prospects in ruins. Resources now hesitate to invest there, as you've shifted the focus to more affluent towns, favoring centrality to the irritation of both governments. Curiously, reports never revealed the owner’s identity. Who'd have thought I’d be assisting both Johto and Kanto from such a distance? However, given your failure to meet my conditions, I suppose it’s high time I undertake some serious cleaning today," decred Elduran.

  "Curse you. Individuals like you, soldier boy, will forever remain destitute. Savor your wretched existence, though I have a feeling it won't endure much longer," Dan sneered.

  "Confide in me the manner in which they approached you, and I might have Forge tend your wound to stem the bleeding until the medics arrive," Elduran proposed, while Cyndaquil, with an unwavering gaze, continued its deliberate circling of Dan. Concurrently, Mew reconnected with Elduran, confirming that Dan's rescue was out of the question. Elduran reassured Mew that Dan was already dead.

  "I can offer you a fortune, yet you refuse it; speaking to you won't save me. Besides, there's little left to discuss," Dan remarked, blood staining his lips with each cough. As Faen shifted his position on the ledge above, a few stones tumbled down. "Oh, pardon me," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Please, go on. This is quite entertaining. I can't say whether Elduran will spare your life if you talk, but you probably should try. His torture techniques are rather revolting."

  Terror etched across Dan's features; he was not a man ready to face his end. Yet, the dread of torment and imminent death likely propelled him beyond his limits. "You two were leagues beyond me. Even with Spiritomb, it's hard to fathom my defeat. It all makes sense now why Spiritomb was unable to locate Mew despite its relentless efforts. It sensed their presence, yet the realization that the intruder was a legendary Pokémon never occurred."

  Elduran recognized that he had been intentionally deying, looking as though he might faint at any moment. He needed to push the man further, though additional pain might just cause him to colpse entirely. "I must admit, having a Spiritomb outside its Pokéball so you can still wield firearms was truly ingenious. It’s a tactic I can see working with many Pokémon, aside from the risk of them being stolen. It's a legitimate strategy. While you lose the advantage of recalling your Pokémon—a significant drawback—you do have my respect for taking that approach." Elduran hoped for reciprocation, aiming to outwit him in this cat-and-mouse game. He continued, "But it's evident you choose death, so just lie there and meet your end," Elduran concluded, rising to his feet and turning to depart.

  "Wait! Alright, I'm not entirely sure how this whole Watchers contact business goes. But if the one who hired me turns out to be a Watcher, then, well, I was simply summoned to my resort after receiving a letter threatening that, should I refuse to cooperate, a legendary Pokémon would y waste to my establishment. So, naturally, I suspected I was dealing with a member of the Watchers, though the term 'Watcher' was never explicitly mentioned in any of our discussions," Dan decred.

  "Did you meet with this person more than once? How many times exactly? How did you arrange these meetings?" Elduran inquired.

  "You guys are incredibly dense. That person is none other than the old dy downstairs," Dan replied with a smile, blood trickling from his mouth.

  Elduran came to a startling realization; the grand house was not hers by virtue of their payments, but because she was the boss. She hadn't merely ensnared them by uttering prescribed words—it was her own scheme all along. She orchestrated their actions like a maestro with a fiddle.

  "You're kidding me, right? Audrey's actually your boss?" Elduran demanded incredulously.

  "None other, you fool," Dan replied with a smirk.

  Elduran's expression grew solemn as he bent down to withdraw the knife from Dan's abdomen, eliciting a howl of pain. With a wink at Cyndaquil and a lingering gnce at Mew, he dashed out of the room.

  "What are you doing? You promised to set me free," Dan excimed as Cyndaquil began to engulf him in fmes, and soon, all that reached Elduran's ears were his screams.

  Elduran paused briefly, turning towards the scene, "That's for Anaya, Luna, Blue, and...and Viv, you wretched bastard."

  Elduran observed Faen already stationed on the stairs, a shotgun in one hand and a handgun in the other. After exchanging a gnce with Elduran, Faen simply proceeded down the steps. Reluctantly, Elduran acknowledged his incapacity for battle; wielding the bow would remain impossible for days to come. As they descended, Audrey had vanished, and Aisha burst in, sprinting with all her might.

  "Damn, she's gone," Elduran excimed.

  "Faen, Elduran, you're okay," Aisha gasped, breathless.

  "Aisha, it turns out Audrey is in charge, we were fooled. Head upstairs and employ Spsh to quell the fmes; Dan must be feeling like a barbecue by now. He's on the second floor, with Candy directly above him on the floor above. Proceed to that familiar room on the right on the third floor, secure her in her Pokéball. There’s a hole in the bathroom—a perfect spot for Spsh to fight the bze if Forge hasn’t managed to douse it. I suspect he used Quick Attack to handle it, but just to be safe, take action," Elduran said.

  Aisha seemed less surprised than Elduran had anticipated. She embraced Faen, her eyes meeting Elduran's as she expined, "I watched her leave the hotel just moments after you entered. Instead of heading home, she turned north, so I decided to follow. As she made her way decidedly toward the train station, I revealed myself and startled her. Out of nowhere, she released a Muk—I hadn't expected her to have any Pokémon, which caught me off guard. Thankfully, Spsh managed to dey her just long enough as the train departed. The next one wasn't due for another five hours. That's when you called. Despite that, I noticed her continuing north. I sent Gale to follow her from above, trusting that Mew would easily track him with some guidance."

  Elduran found himself gazing at her, unblinking. Today, Faen and Aisha bore the brunt of the work. "Aisha... you did really well."

  Aisha released Faen and tossed Cyndaquil's Pokéball to Elduran, who caught it as she dashed upstairs just as Mew descended. Faen approached Elduran, carrying a first aid kit.

  "We don't have time for this," Elduran protested.

  "It seems we do," Faen countered. "Aisha has Audrey tailed, and unless she's pnning on hiking to another town, she's stuck here. We just need someone to keep an eye on the train station while the rest of us scour the area to take care of her. We've got about four hours, maybe a bit more, and I only need five minutes to patch that wound. You also appointed me team leader, so zip it."

  Elduran realized he was defeated; his usual cold efficiency in the face of danger, for the first time since leading his second unit all those years ago, had truly deserted him today. Faen was right—this wound demanded attention. He first removed his quiver, then his shirt, and settled into one of the chairs encircling the room. "Faen... thank you for today. You are indeed destined to become a great leader."

  Faen began tending to him, "you know, I prefer you when you're not quite so...polite. It feels strange."

  "Understood," replied Elduran, waiting patiently for Faen to finish just as Aisha and Cyndaquil descended the stairs.

  "I'm taking Candy to the Pokémon Center, I'll be right back," she announced.

  Having completed his task, Faen approached Aisha and gently rested his hands on her shoulder. "Don't return here. Wait for me at the house. I'll remain to expin the events to the police. A burned corpse could easily be expined with Elduran having a fire Pokémon. Elduran, since they haven't arrived yet, you should leave and take Forge with you; otherwise, we'll both have to give statements, and Audrey might slip away. I hate to ask, but you need to endure just a bit longer," he instructed, releasing Aisha and shifting his focus to Mew. "Mew, I'm quite sure you'd like to accompany Elduran. By the way, thank you for your help with that Spiritomb."

  Mew and Faen shared a telepathic connection, their smiles confirming their bond. Together, they had bravely taken on that monstrous creature—perhaps the most formidable non-legendary Pokémon in the world, at least in Elduran's eyes.

  Aisha turned her gaze to Mew. "Mew, please keep Elduran safe," she implored, receiving a nod in return before she departed the hotel.

  "I shall fetch your bow from upstairs and return it to the house," Faen offered, retrieving Elduran's quiver in the meantime.

  "Alright. Forge, Mew, we have one more hunt for the day. Forge, catch her scent," Elduran instructed. Cyndaquil dutifully approached her desk, sniffing keenly. Moments ter, Elduran was exiting the hotel, following Forge. Mew kept pace nearby, completely invisible.

  Jabari immersed himself in his daily studies at the library. Seven books sprawled open before him, almost mirroring the chaos of those thugs, albeit with a crucial distinction—if anyone approached, he'd willingly share any book they desired. All except the one marked 'travel through time'; that tome was of paramount importance. Somehow, Jabari specuted, their aim was to have Dialga relocate Xerneas and Zygarde out of the current timeline. The theory was pusible, for without those two, Yveltal would be an uncontrolble force. Yet, something eluded him. Css level 9 threats like Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza had been dealt with in the past; indeed, they each razed a city, but eventually Pokémon trainers or the military subdued them. If Yveltal were to attack, surely trainers or the army would neutralize the threat more swiftly than Xerneas or Zygarde could make their way to restore bance to Yveltal. Why, then, would the Watchers go to such lengths to remove Xerneas and Zygarde from the equation? Why not study Palkia as well; couldn't they use them to banish Xerneas and Zygarde to another world, with Palkia as master of space? Perhaps distance allowed Zygarde to transfer life force to any Zygarde core left here. Yet, being marooned in the past might thwart such efforts. Endless questions abounded. Jabari doubted Dialga's ability to propel a Complete Forme Zygarde through time—a css level 10 threat? It amazed him still that Mew ranked only level 6 on the threat scale, considering its power. And the thought of Elduran surviving a Kyogre attack seemed beyond belief.

  He was struggling mightily to concentrate on his research today, but his mind wouldn't cooperate. The ck of contact with Anaya since yesterday gnawed at his sanity. Something was amiss; apparently, her phone had been broken during an encounter with a Drapion, and after yesterday's arduous trek, they were too exhausted to reach out to anyone. They had arrived very te at Dasos. Faen did have a word with Aisha, who mentioned that nothing was found at the coordinates they had visited. Relief should have been his companion, were it not for the fact that Faen was clearly a poor liar, his expression betrayed everything. He felt certain they had been ambushed—a brutal battle perhaps—where Elduran and Aisha might have lost a Pokémon, casting a shadow over the group's spirits. He understood the need for time in such circumstances, but nagging doubts persisted that Anaya had lost either Ink or Brush. It would be just like her to have them join the fray despite their ck of battle readiness. He felt almost certain this was the reason she was avoiding a conversation with him—the discussion that would make her feel vulnerable. His fiancée could be foolishly stubborn at times.

  His phone buzzed on the table, and he snatched it up eagerly, hoping it was a message from Anaya. Disappointment washed over him when he saw it was from Tia. He nearly set the phone back down, assuming it would be another list, more items to grab from the supermarket on his way back from the library, even though her house was just across the pza. Ironically, the supermarket was nearer to her than to him. That detail seemed irrelevant to her. She refused to leave her computer. Whether she was attempting to hack into systems, constantly monitoring Dan’s activities, or immersed in video games, she never spared a moment to cook, despite being quite the chef compared to him. Still, there was something that pushed him to read the text.

  It was an urgent SOS message, imploring him to return to the house at once. He didn’t quite know how to interpret it. If it were truly critical, she would have called first; yet, he acknowledged that for Tia, text messages held more weight than even phone calls. Deciding to go with the flow, he neatly closed and stacked the books on one of the small, dark green tables scattered throughout the library. He wasn't permitted to return them to their rightful pces on the shelves; the staff would collect them and do so. Just as he gathered his notebook and pen, Meltan, nestled in the rge pocket of his chest, tugged insistently for his attention. Jabari leaned against the wall, unzipping his jacket to let Meltan peek out.

  "Meeel," it murmured softly.

  Jabari had an inherent knack for comprehending Pokémon. It often took him only a few weeks to bond with those he considered his own—even though they weren't technically confined to Pokéballs, they felt like family. With Meltan, the connection formed in just days. Perhaps its mythical essence had something to do with it; he couldn't be sure, but it was the only reasoning he could deduce. Looking down at the creature, its metallic nut and solitary bck eye, resembling a bck pearl, gazed back at him through the slightly open zipper. "I know it’s early, but Tia sent a message asking me to return. She says it’s important," he said.

  Meltan's eye did a slow rotation around the interior of its nut, "Mel."

  Jabari chuckled, "Yes, I know she's careless sometimes. Still, there might come a day when she genuinely needs us, and I'd regret ignoring a call on such a day."

  Meltan's eye appeared to float at the center of its nut, seemingly gliding through the air. It was likely utilizing some form of electromagnetism to maneuver its eye. "Meel."

  "I agree. Let's go check on her," Jabari resolved. Meltan retreated into the pocket, its liquid form adeptly molding to the space like it always did, giving the illusion only the nut was there. Jabari appreciated the mythical Pokémon's companionship, content to spend six hours each day within his jacket's confines while he delved into research, prepared to defend him should anyone dare threaten him in the library.

  It took him just five minutes to traverse from the library desk to the front of the house. Renovation was nearly finished, with only the upstairs flooring left to complete. The construction crew generously assisted Tia, Faen, and him in moving all their belongings and furniture from the second floor to the first as they worked on the upper levels. Presently, everyone slept together on the first floor, a vast shared space. Jabari cherished this arrangement; it allowed him more time to engage with the three children and the Cubone. Taylor was blossoming into a remarkable cook. Tia had provided him with some cooking videos that seemed a bit advanced for Jabari, yet he was astounded by the fifteen-year-old's progress in merely four days. Taylor was a natural talent. With the kitchen installed yesterday, he could fully develop his culinary skills, now having ample space to work, unlike the folding tables around the cramped range he was previously using.

  Tia was unsettled by this arrangement since it required her to constantly lock her ptop whenever she left her desk, whether to visit the bathroom or get something to eat, which were the only times she typically got up. The three kids were aware that the group harbored a grudge against Dan and his companions, but they didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what they were up against. Eventually, they would find out, and Jabari was adamant that they should be informed. Aisha disagreed; she believed it was better for them to first begin working there, strengthen their bonds, and realize that they truly had a future—not just a pce to sleep thanks to her kindness, but a meaningful role they could fulfill. She might have a valid point; Jabari was too tender-hearted for this, and despite his gentle nature, the three kids definitely admired Aisha more, even though she was the one who insisted they contribute. In this matter, he decided to let her take the lead on how to manage them.

  Jabari stepped inside. In the far right corner, Tia sat engrossed in her ptop, headphones on, oblivious to his entrance. An enticing aroma filled the air. He gnced to his left and smiled—definitely Taylor cooking again, accompanied by the sound of a cooking video. Though Taylor remained out of sight—hidden within the confines of the kitchen—Jabari decided to greet him before approaching Tia. He swung open the double self-pivoting doors and entered. There was Taylor, precisely as expected, with young Tress lending a hand. She stirred a pot atop the stove, bancing on a small stepping stool to better reach. From the video pying, Jabari deduced that Taylor was attempting sagna—a commendable choice, he mused.

  "Hello, Chef," Jabari greeted.

  Taylor gnced up, surprised; he hadn't even noticed Jabari's entrance. "Ah, you came early today. I wanted this to be a surprise. I'm making sagna."

  Jabari smiled warmly. "I'm sure it will taste amazing. Tress, those stirring skills are impressive."

  Tress chuckled, "I'm training to become a sous chef," she decred, casting a pyful look at Taylor. "Did I say it right this time? I think I got it right!"

  With a serious expression, Taylor replied, "Yes, you finally got it right. Now keep stirring."

  "Where's Jake?" Jabari inquired.

  "Upstairs helping the workers," Taylor answered.

  "He really enjoys the bor, huh? Well, good for him. We’ll need someone handy around here," Jabari said as he stepped out of the kitchen and back into the main room. "Keep it up, chefs," he called, but they were too engrossed in their culinary efforts to acknowledge him.

  As the doors swung closed behind him, Meltan slipped from beneath Jabari's jacket.

  "I didn't notice you come out as we entered, so I figured you must have fallen asleep," Jabari remarked, gncing down at him.

  "Meeeel," Meltan replied, his tone mild.

  "Oh, I understand—five minutes can be more than enough time to doze off," Jabari grinned, continuing toward Tia.

  When Tia caught sight of Jabari’s arrival, a look of urgency crossed her face; she stood and gestured for them to approach.

  "Come, you need to see this right now," Tia urged, settling back into her desk chair.

  Jabari moved around the desk, positioning himself directly behind her as Meltan leapt up onto the desk to get a better view. She clicked a button, and the screen flickered to life. Dan appeared; a handgun gripped tightly in his hand as he advanced toward the bathroom. But it was what lurked in the scene that sent chills down their spines. Meltan too seemed visibly unsettled. Their pyful demeanor faded, and they stood transfixed. There, looming in the shadows beside the bed, was a Spiritomb. For all their efforts, they had gleaned nothing of Dan until now. With a handgun and an illegal Pokémon present, his possession of both implied that he wasn’t even using a Pokéball on one of the most perilous Pokémon in existence. Just who was this Dan, anyway? Jabari couldn't shake the thought from his mind.

  "He has a Spiritomb?" Jabari said.

  "I wish this was the most shocking aspect of what I am going to show you," Tia said as she started the video.

  A door swung open before the camera, toppling onto the floor right in front of the ptop positioned nearby, as Spiritomb unleashed a shadow ball towards it. Moments ter, they watched Faen rise from the ground and roll aside once more, narrowly dodging another shadow ball, while continuing to fire his shotgun at Spiritomb. As Mew joined the fray to aid Faen in his battle against Spiritomb. It was Elduran to appear right in front of them, accompanied by Hattrem. Could it be that Candy had evolved? Elduran evaded a bullet, but it seemed that it struck the ptop instead, as the video abruptly ended.

  "How long ago did this happen?" Jabari inquired; his brow furrowed with concern.

  "About an hour back," Tia replied, her voice trembling slightly.

  Jabari gnced at his phone, frustration mounting as he noted the absence of any messages indicating their arrival. "Have you heard anything from them?"

  Tia met his gaze, anxiety evident in her eyes. "Nothing. What unsettles me is that Anaya and Aisha were missing from that video. I can’t help but wonder, what could possibly lead them to attack Dan without coming to us first?" she murmured.

  A chill of dread coiled in Jabari's stomach; Tia had a valid point. "You think… Aisha and Anaya… No, it can't be. Please, don’t even entertain that thought."

  He turned and quickened his pace toward the door, prompting Tia to rise and follow, Meltan did the same. Just as he swung the door open, Aisha stood there, clutching clearly Elduran's backpack with both hands. She shifted her gaze from him to Tia, uncertainty etched on her face.

  Jabari stepped aside, motioning for Aisha to enter. As she did, he gently closed the door behind her. Aisha set Elduran's backpack on the floor, and then removed her own, letting it fall beside the first. Silence filled the room. Jabari felt an itch in his mind, a question he was too frightened to voice. Tia, unusually quiet, wasn't her usual self either. Typically, quick to pose questions without hesitation, she was likely grappling with the same concern, dreading what the answer might be.

  When Aisha turned to face them, tears were already streaming down her cheeks. "I am sorry," she managed to murmur, clearly struggling to say more, but found herself utterly unable. There was no need for further words. Both Tia and Jabari understood precisely what she meant. Anaya was no longer among the living. Even Meltan grasped the reality of the situation. They all cherished Anaya's presence, unlike Mew, who had only recently begun to warm up to her. His fiancée was gone. Tia's knees buckled, and she colpsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrolbly. Jabari's beard was soaked with tears, though he couldn't pinpoint when they first began to fall.

  "It's all my fault," Aisha mented, "Had I not agreed with Anaya to pursue this lead, she would still be..." Her voice trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

  Tia rose, her gaze burning into Aisha. "Don't you dare even suggest it was your fault. At least you and she believed you were following a clue. Me... I'm the worst of all. I supported her choice, even though deep down, I knew it was a trap. I just hoped Elduran would manage to dissuade you two before you got there. I was only trying to show her how to treat a sister right. Even in her death, she has shown me once again how wrong I was, how much of a failure I truly am," she screamed. It wasn't long before Jake, Taylor, and Tress arrived in the main room, all of them silent, their eyes fixed on the three of them.

  "Aisha, you're back," Taylor remarked. "What happened?"

  Aisha looked at him and even managed a small smile. "We lost Anaya... Can I have some water, Taylor?"

  "Oh... of course. I'll be right back," Taylor replied, hurrying into the kitchen.

  "What does it mean that you lost Anaya?" Tress asked, her curiosity piqued.

  "It means she's dead, you fool," Jake responded harshly.

  "Jake, please go back upstairs. You're not helping," Tia said with more politeness than Jabari thought possible.

  Jake complied, nudging Tress into the kitchen just as Taylor emerged with a gss of water, rushing it over to Aisha. Aisha took the gss and drank it all in one gulp.

  Tia started to approach Jabari, who remained silent throughout. Not a single word escaped his lips. While others were busy arguing over bme, his mind was fixated only on what truly mattered: he would never see his beloved again. The rest was insignificant. No one was at fault, not even Anaya. He knew that in his heart. Anaya was not one to relent—such was her nature. That was the woman he had fallen in love with. Once she made up her mind, no one could sway her. The thought brought a fleeting smile to his face. But it was quickly overshadowed by a grief beyond measure. Tia halted in front of him. Their eyes met, wordless, both awash with tears. She embraced him, resting her head on his chest, her sobs finally unrestrained. Jabari embraced her in return, and Meltan hopped onto his shoulder, receiving a gentle hug around his neck.

  His sorrow was gradually giving way to anger. He fixed his gaze on Aisha. She noticed and expressed gratitude to Taylor for the water before politely requesting him to leave them to their privacy. With some reluctance, he complied, retreating into the kitchen. Aisha then approached and settled into a seat on the couch by the front door.

  Jabari tightened his grip on Tia. "We've seen the footage of the fight with Faen, Elduran, and Dan. Please, don't tell me there's more bad news."

  "They're alright, both of them. Candy took several bullets, and I had to rush her to the Pokémon center. But really—don't worry about that. Take your time to mourn. Elduran and Faen are managing on that front," Aisha replied with a weary voice.

  Tia abruptly pulled away from Jabari and fixed her gaze on Aisha. "Like hell I am."

  Aisha remained unperturbed, "Even I abstained from the battle, Tia. I just…I couldn't find the fight within me today."

  "You, the strongest trainer among us, refrained from seeking vengeance against Dan? How pathetic," Tia scorned.

  Jabari gnced at Aisha, finding himself also too drained to reprimand Tia for her childish behavior. Unlike Tia, he completely empathized with Aisha, recognizing his own need for soce in mourning his beloved. Yet, Aisha seemed entirely unaffected by Tia's biting remarks.

  "Dan is dead, the deed is done—all four of them are gone," Aisha said, her eyes fixed on the ground.

  "He is?" Tia asked.

  "Burned alive by Forge," Aisha replied.

  "Good," Tia remarked.

  Aisha looked up at her, "Does it make you feel better?" she inquired, her eyes locking with Tia's hesitant gaze. Tia remained speechless. "No—it doesn’t make me feel better either," Aisha finished.

  Jabari pieced it all together, realizing that his own grief had blinded him for too long. "Who else did we lose, Aisha? Who else did they take from us? Did Brush or Ink survive?"

  Aisha stood up, walked to her bag, retrieved a Pokéball, and unstrapped the tube from Elduran's pack. Approaching him, she spoke softly, "Brush...did not make it. Ink is in need of support, but he's improving," she said, handing him Grafaiai's Pokéball. She then extended the tube to him, "This is a painting she created two days ago," Aisha murmured as fresh tears escaped her eyes, "It's fwless, even though she said it was like a captured memory painting, she had a name for it..."

  Jabari allowed a brief smile, "blitz painting."

  "Yes, a blitz painting," Aisha repeated, her gaze lowered, trying to conceal the fresh wave of tears.

  Jabari embraced her tightly, her hands clenched in fists. "Now, tell me who else we lost, not just those linked to Anaya."

  Aisha remained silent in the embrace, as if frozen in pce. "I lost...Luna," she admitted, the words almost strangled from her throat. Jabari hugged her a little tighter, a gesture of unspoken support, allowing her to continue, "But Elduran...he suffered the most. Blue...and Viv...are both gone. He's not coping well. He...hasn't shed a single tear."

  "It's okay, Aisha. This burden isn't yours alone to carry. We're all here for you," Jabari reassured her.

  Finally, he felt her arms wrap around him in return as she embraced him back. Her words about Elduran, the seriousness in her tone, left no doubt—Elduran was in a dire state.

  "He released Cyndaquil. I've caught him for now. At least...I hope it's only temporary," Aisha said.

  That confirmed it. Elduran was in desperate need of emotional care, or perhaps someone to punch some sense into him.

  As Tia began to make her way back to her computer, she paused, turning to Aisha with a piercing gaze. "Why on earth didn't you tell us? Why didn't you call us yesterday?"

  Aisha, with a resigned look, didn't need to articute the obvious. Jabari himself could answer that. "Come on, Tia, you already know why. Faen and the others did us a favor. Had we rushed in recklessly, we could have been killed by the Spiritomb, endangering Meltan and Mew in the process. It's done—they're gone. Let it rest."

  Feeling a shift at his back, Aisha released a heavy sigh. "I wish that were the end of it. But it isn't. The real mastermind behind all of this was always—Audrey."

  "That scheming old crone," Tia decred.

  Aisha began recounting everything that had occurred to Tia, from yesterday's trap to today's events. Jabari listened with half an ear, pacing the far side of the room, yet managing to catch most of the crucial details. He reclined onto his bed; though it was still te morning, fatigue weighed heavily on him. He doubted sleep would come, yet simply lying down offered some respite. He released Grafaiai from his Pokéball. The moment Grafaiai appeared, he bounded onto the bed and nestled beside Jabari, clinging to his shirt with both hands, not uttering a sound. Meltan too joined them, settling onto Jabari's chest. The silent comfort of the Pokémon was remarkable. Neither spoke a word, yet their presence suffused him with an immense sense of comfort, emanating wordless support.

  With careful precision, he extracted the painting from its tube. He unrolled it gently, mindful of not disturbing Grafaiai or Meltan. The painting portrayed a ke on the left, dominating the scene, while on the right, a colossal mesa rose above the ke, the desert extending before it and to the side. It was evident that the painting had been rolled too soon, the paint hadn’t fully cured, resulting in several creases. Yet, to Jabari, this mattered not. What y before him was the most beautiful painting in the world.