Chapter 21 - Dan

  As the train glided smoothly along the elevated monorail tracks on the eastern edge of Tenera, the ndscape metamorphosed dramatically. The lush greens of the expansive forests surrendered to the stark, dark brown sands of a sprawling desert, a shroud of desotion creeping in. On Elduran's right, the ocean stretched infinitely, its waves crashing rhythmically against the shore—an unyielding reminder of nature’s power. Elduran surmised that in just over an hour, they would arrive in Dirthrow.

  Elduran observed Aisha as she removed a sticker from its backing, affixing it to the back of her ptop screen. The design was a dirty brown liquid drop, and curiosity prompted him to ask, "Where did you get that?"

  Startled, perhaps because he initiated the conversation, Aisha replied, "It's just a sticker they gave me with the coffee. It's the emblem of their city."

  "Their city's symbol is a dirty water drop?" he questioned.

  Despite the challenges of the previous day, Aisha managed a smile. "It's not a dirty water drop; it represents a drop of pine tree sap, which is basically their main source of wealth."

  Elduran's curiosity deepened. "Dasos's main source of wealth is pine tree sap?"

  Aisha looked at him incredulously. "Why does that surprise you? It's used for making glue, fire starters, natural skin salves, excellent for waterproof patching, and it’s even used in medicine. Dasos essentially has an endless supply of sap. That’s why they practically revere their trees, only cutting what they need for construction, while timber exportation is forbidden."

  Elduran nodded. "That makes sense. I thought the university and perhaps nightlife were their primary sources of income."

  Aisha eborated, "Oh, that too. Kaphepra University is the most prestigious art institution in the region, offering degrees in art, music, design, and architecture. The nightlife is also considered the most vibrant in any Tenera city. I suppose when you have a city full of artistically-inclined students, one naturally feeds into the other."

  Elduran pondered briefly whether she had truly taken the time to read about Dasos City st night, in her frazzled state, or if she had absorbed information about every conceivable city in Tenera before even arriving. Both scenarios puzzled him. Rising to his feet, he moved toward his bag; Cyndaquil was asleep on the table as he passed by. Marill lounged atop his bag, and he attempted to access the side pockets without disturbing him too much. He didn’t stir, and it seemed both he and Togetic understood Elduran never intended to harm Aisha. They showed no signs of hostility toward him, perhaps thanks to Hattrem expining the situation. Togetic was across the aisle, being petted by two young girls, whose parents had sought Aisha’s permission—permission she readily gave, knowing Togetic could use the diversion. Elduran noticed a change in Cyndaquil too; normally lively, he seemed to mirror Elduran, keeping emotions bottled up, exhibiting a quiet strength. Though proud, Elduran couldn't help but wish Cyndaquil would drop the facade and be himself again.

  He found what he had been searching for—the business card he had received from Larsa. Returning to his seat, he flipped the card over, searching for the barcode to download the app. Pulling out his phone, he scanned it. While it installed, he gnced at the text message from Larsa; there it was, his Pokéseeker ID number—a ten-digit code. Aisha raised an eyebrow in curiosity until she reached over and seized the card from him. "You went to the Pokéseekers?" she inquired.

  "Yes, I sold Aerodactyl and Flygon. Oh, and they hired me to work for them," Elduran replied, copying and pasting the number into the app.

  "Shouldn’t we discuss these things beforehand? I thought we were a team," Aisha said, a hint of frustration in her voice.

  "We are a team. I just couldn’t risk you pushing to donate those two to L&P. We need the funds, and you know as well as I do that selling to the Pokéseekers was the right choice," he asserted as his app validated his ID number.

  "That’s not how a team works. Being part of one means sometimes doing what you don’t want to do, and being open to discussions and being flexible," Aisha countered.

  "Like you did? You certainly listened when we warned you not to walk into a trap," Elduran shot back.

  Aisha fell silent, halting the words that threatened to spill from her lips. After a moment, she continued, "You’re right. I’m the st person who should lecture you on teamwork."

  Elduran sighed, "I’m sorry. That was uncalled for."

  She turned to him, her gaze steady. "It was the truth. But I would have agreed with you about the Pokéseekers. We do need the money, even if L&P would have been the safer choice. How much did they pay you?"

  "They paid us 120,000 cetis," Elduran replied.

  "That’s actually much higher than I expected. How exactly does your job with them work?" Aisha asked, her curiosity piqued.

  Elduran recounted the details of his meeting with Larsa, including the crucial information about the Watchers being on the Pokéseekers' no-sell list.

  "First Faen, now you. It seems you both have a way of working toward uncovering the Watchers. Have you activated the app yet?" she asked, her interest escating.

  "Yes, I have."

  Aisha snatched the phone from his hands. After examining the screen, she excimed, "It’s a map of Tenera with a few red dots. Clicking on them reveals details about the Pokémon, the accuracy percentage of their locations, and approximate monetary value. There aren’t many—only five at the moment, mostly to the west. The closest one is around Zest City to the north." She paused, gasping, "They’re asking for a Garchomp. What kind of Pokémon are they hiring you to retrieve?"

  "She offered me a job; however, the choice to act is mine. If they request a specific Pokémon and I deliver, I receive half of the profits. Should I bring anything else, my payment is significantly reduced," Elduran expined.

  "We'll aim to undertake several of these endeavors. If they recognize your value, you could earn citizenship in Tenera without collecting all the badges," Aisha remarked.

  "I doubt it works like that. She mentioned that by August, if I haven't secured citizenship, my employment will be terminated," Elduran replied.

  "That's because she assumes you'll just be average at your job. But believe me, they have the ability to sponsor you—it's costly, but if you're valuable, losing you would be costlier. We'll take on as many contracts as we can; we need the money too."

  Elduran turned to her, studying her closely, "You've really grown from what we've just been through. The old Aisha would probably have told me the opposite—to quit as a Pokéseeker, ciming those poor Pokémon were being wrenched from their natural habitats."

  Aisha shifted uneasily. "All we need is for them to attack us first, then I'll feel better about it," she said with a strained smile. "But resisting the urge to keep a Garchomp and letting it be trained by someone else—that's tough when you relinquish that much power."

  Elduran averted his gaze to the window. "Fuck dragons. Still, I'm not cut out to be a Pokémon trainer. You will do the capturing; I can't use Pokéballs."

  "Are you serious? You're still refusing to be a trainer while working as a Pokéseeker?" Aisha questioned.

  "Yes," he replied pinly.

  Aisha refrained from pressing him further and returned her focus to her ptop. Elduran caught sight of Mew on her screen, as she was engrossed in reading about the legendary Pokémon. He felt a spark of curiosity to inquire but recognized that she cked the solution to her queries. Choosing to leave the matter alone, he allowed a few moments of silence to pass. Cyndaquil remained asleep before him, and although he felt the pull of slumber, he knew rest would elude him despite his efforts. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the impending confrontation with Dan—specuting not on the means of reaching him, but on how he'd confront him once there.

  "Shit," Aisha excimed, her voice cutting through the chatter, drawing curious gnces from half the wagon's occupants. Flustered, she pulled her knees up, positioning the ptop as a shield against the inquisitive eyes.

  "What happened?" Elduran inquired.

  "I think I've finally figured out why Mew hasn't been able to gather any information on Dan or the others," she replied.

  "And why's that?" Elduran pursued.

  "It's because they know Mew is there. More precisely, they are aware a psychic-type Pokémon is nearby," Aisha expined.

  "I thought we already suspected that they were aware of being watched," Elduran mused.

  "They're beyond suspecting; they know they're under surveilnce," Aisha countered.

  "How's that possible?" Elduran pressed.

  "They've employed a common safeguard to counter psychic Pokémon and their teleports, as well as ghost Pokémon passing through walls," Aisha revealed.

  "A dark-type Pokémon, then?" Elduran ventured.

  "Exactly," Aisha confirmed.

  "But why haven't we ever spotted this dark-type Pokémon on camera, or why hasn't Mew detected it? I understand dark types are harder to sense, but Mew's vision is still functional, isn't it?" Elduran questioned.

  "Because it's hiding," Aisha stated simply.

  "Hiding or not, it would have to eat eventually. They can't be that meticulous," Elduran asserted.

  "This particur Pokémon doesn't need to eat," Aisha crified.

  "You already know which one it is?"

  "Yes, I do," Aisha affirmed.

  "Are you absolutely sure, or just specuting?" Elduran probed.

  "An hour ago, I was specuting. Now I'm certain. I pored over the footage Tia provided, and I actually saw it," Aisha decred.

  "You saw it? Then how have we missed it all along?"

  "The only way Mew or anyone else wouldn't have detected it is if it were a ghost-type Pokémon, effectively hiding in the walls, sensing Mew while remaining unseen," Aisha elucidated.

  "That means a ghost-dark type Pokémon," Elduran pondered aloud. "Sableye fits that description, but it's primarily dark type and wouldn't phase through walls. Are there other dark types that are primarily ghost?" He trailed off, eyes widening as the realization struck him.

  Aisha fixed her gaze on him before handing over her ptop, the screen frozen on a video of Dan’s cluttered room. The bed was prominently dispyed, with Dan seated at a desk to its left, engrossed in a book. Above the bed hung a rge portrait, an aerial view of Dirthrow that commanded attention. Fnking the bed were two nightstands, each topped with a mp, casting light over the chaotic scene. The room was in disarray, filled with luggage, dishes, gsses, clothing, and books strewn across the floor and piled on the bed. The walls bore the marks of neglect, discolored in numerous areas. Elduran continued to scrutinize the space until his eyes finally caught it. There, beneath the right nightstand, y a cylindrical stone, tapering at the top, positioned on its side with its smaller edge pressed against the wall. Concealed in pin sight, beneath that nightstand, was the mightiest non-legendary ghost Pokémon of all, a Spiritomb, its keystone unmistakably visible while its form melded seamlessly with the wall.

  "I hate to say it, but we were all deceived," Aisha mented.

  "Bst it, and your strongest Pokémon, Candy, might stand a chance given that only fairy-type moves have an edge over it. Yet, she's vulnerable to both its types—ghost and dark. It's a definite no. Spsh and Gale hold up better, not as fierce in offense but considerably more resilient defensively."

  "Elduran, I refuse to risk my Pokémon in this situation," she decred, as Hattrem let out a clear sound of discontent. Aisha noted her disapproval before turning back to Elduran. "You're being reckless. He has no idea we’ve caught on to him. We must approach this with caution and precision," she urged.

  "It's fine. I don't require your Pokémon. Mew will support me," Elduran replied with assurance.

  "I'm not convinced that Mew can overpower a Spiritomb; it's a direct adversary to Mew's entire nature," argued Aisha.

  "But legendary Pokémon are known for reviving after being defeated. They'll return, eventually. No need to be disheartened," Elduran reassured.

  "Stop it, right now, you're acting like me. You're the reckless one," Aisha chided.

  Elduran reclined, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. "You're right, but I can't help myself. I intend to confront him. In a few hours, one of us won't be breathing."

  "Or possibly both," Aisha whispered, her eyes filled with sorrow. "And you'll drag my boyfriend down with you."

  "He doesn't have to know," Elduran insisted.

  "But he does. He's already at the station, informed and ready. He wants to accompany you," Aisha pointed out, gesturing to the opposite window, where Togetic was joyfully pying with the children, "Dirthrow is already coming into view."

  "I'll do my utmost to talk him out of it, but he’s a grown man—" Elduran started, only to be cut off by Aisha.

  "And he has every right to gamble with his own life, just as I did, doesn't he? Is that what this comes down to? Rather than shouting at me and insisting it wasn't my fault, your pn is to watch everyone I care about perish around me to settle the score? My boyfriend will surely be one of them, right? Candy, you think she'll ever talk to me again if I don’t let her come with you? Look at the way she’s staring at me right now," she gestured toward Hattrem, who was alternating her gaze between her Pokéball and Aisha, "She thinks I'm going to recall her; she's practically ready to psychically tear her own Pokéball from my grasp. And you, you absolute knucklehead," she choked out as tears streamed down her cheeks, "I see you as the older brother I never had. I care for you more than I’m willing to admit," she sighed, resting her elbow on her thighs and burying her face in her palms.

  "I meant to say, he is a grown man and can choose his own path. However, with Faen’s assistance, I’m not going to lie—our odds of all making it out alive are significantly better," he replied, rising to retrieve his bag and draw out the case containing the essences. He returned with a single vial and his quiver. As he meticulously applied drops to each arrowhead, all sixteen arrows transformed into fairy arrows as well as his knife, he still needed to repce the two he lost yesterday, one he could not find, the other, was rotting inside Corviknight's gut. Turning back to Aisha, he continued, "Listen, I know I told Jabari I would bring Anaya back in one piece, but bringing Faen back safe is a far easier task. You have no idea just how skilled a fighter he truly is. I swear to you; I will bring him back."

  Aisha seemed to finally admit defeat, then she stared at Hattrem, "Candy, I love you, and you're not my possession. If you genuinely wish to accompany Elduran and Faen, then you may. Pokéballs are not tools of ensvement in our bond. They provide benefits—faster healing, traveling with us to pces where you wouldn’t typically go, better rest, and ensuring you have a perfect environment when needed. I would never dream of using it to keep you from where you want to be. I can hand you your Pokéball if you don’t trust me, but ideally, I’d prefer if Elduran could hold onto it for me. He excels at recalling and resummoning you to gain the upper hand. But please, also respect my desire to stay back and ensure Gale and Spsh are safe. They share my belief that our next battle should not be rushed or driven by loss."

  Hattrem leapt onto Aisha's p, wrapping her in a joyful embrace. Aisha returned the embrace with warmth. Cyndaquil observed this exchange with a gaze that betrayed his longing, yet as Elduran turned his head to peer out the window, noting their imminent arrival, Cyndaquil’s expression shifted to one of anger, his small voice addressing Elduran.

  "Cyyyyn," he uttered passionately.

  Elduran regarded him once more, "No, you cannot come. You’ll only cause complications," he said firmly.

  Cyndaquil’s frustration boiled over, the fmes on his back fring to four feet, until Aisha swiftly recalled him. "He can do as he pleases; he is my Pokémon, remember?"

  Elduran rose and began to gather his belongings. Turning to Aisha, he said, "Please, take my bag and Anaya's painting with you." Aisha obliged, picking up his bag.

  Surprise painted her features, "It's a lot lighter than I expected, not going to lie."

  As Elduran moved toward the exit, he felt renewed, nearly at his destination, the mental fog lifting. His clear objective shielded him from unwanted memories. He returned to himself, turning to Aisha with a genuine smile, "Most of the weight in that bag is the coffee I stow in there."

  Exiting the train, Elduran spotted Faen, bristling with armaments. A shotgun slung across his back, a knife sheathed on his left arm, a handgun in the holster on his right. Elduran began to approach, but Aisha dashed past him with Togetic, Marill, and Hattrem in her wake, enveloping Faen in a hug she was reluctant to end. Elduran joined them then.

  Faen gazed at Elduran across the top of Aisha's head. Their eyes locked, and Faen offered a slight nod. That was all Elduran needed. As a soldier, Faen understood the stakes as well as anyone. They could not afford to colpse and weep; someone had to carry on the battle.

  Aisha finally let go of him. Elduran approached the pair even closer. He put a hand in Faen's shoulder, "you should not come with me, I can manage on my own."

  Faen did not even turn his head to look at him, "the hell I am not. Let's go pay that asshole a reaper visit."

  Elduran was caught in a maelstrom of emotions, feeling both joy and sorrow simultaneously. He understood the crucial role Faen would py in the approaching battle, yet his gaze was drawn to Aisha. The very thought of anything happening to Faen was unbearable; it wasn't out of concern for Faen himself—he was fully aware of the risks he faced—but for Aisha. Their love was still in its tender infancy, and though Elduran would have never imagined these two together, given their starkly different natures, he had to concede they truly complemented each other.

  "Faen, do you have the pink spray for your shotgun?" Elduran inquired.

  "I do, though I wasn't entirely certain what to select," Faen said, pulling his sleek bck short-barreled shotgun from his back. From his pocket, he also produced a small case containing essences—far from ordinary. He chose one of the two pink vials and affixed it to the specialized slot at the base of the muzzle. As the bullets were fired, a delicate mist would simultaneously spray, enveloping them in the enchanting luminescence of fairy essence. He then picked up another pink vial, a small cylindrical tube, and inserted it into the designated slot beside the muzzle of his handgun. This would replicate the effect, allowing the fairy essence to coat the rounds as they were discharged.

  "You refer to fairy essence as pink spray? How utterly original. Are you not even curious about the enemy you face?" Aisha scoffed.

  "I reckon Elduran will fill me in on the details as we head over," Fean remarked, securing the shotgun on his back and the handgun in its holster. The room was full of wary eyes trained on him.

  "Hypocrites," Elduran chimed in, "they think it's strange for a man to arm himself with a shotgun, yet half of them own a Pokémon capable of demolishing a house."

  Aisha sighed, "That's not it. Nobody batted an eye when you were carrying that assault rifle, or even three at once. It's the essence coating that stirs concern. While legal, it makes bullets exceedingly lethal to Pokémon. Most people own Pokémon, not firearms, so it's only natural for them to instinctively protect their Pokémon."

  "Sure, whatever," Elduran blurted out.

  "Alright, let's leave the crowd behind," Aisha suggested as she led Elduran and Faen away, tracing their steps eastwards until they were beyond the city's reach. It was near the spot where Elduran had once confronted Zane in Cyndaquil's first significant battle. He had performed admirably, truly holding his own. He needed to stop dwelling on those past events and focus on the task at hand, he reminded himself.

  "Aisha, what's going on?" Elduran inquired.

  "You'll be up against a Spiritomb. What do you pn to do if an all-out battle breaks out? I mean, the building will probably come crashing down. And after that? What about the police? How are you going to expin to them that you just killed someone? You’re the one who said we can’t risk revealing ourselves to the public, not knowing who might be a Watcher," Aisha replied.

  "Damn, he has a Spiritomb?" Faen muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. He then turned his attention to the other two. "Aisha, based on what you told me st night, that they’re not involved with the mayor; I think they were being truthful. I told him that I believe Dan is incredibly dangerous and that he was behind the assassination attempt on Jabari’s life. I also mentioned my wish to investigate further. He officially named me a detective, though only when I choose to be. I will say that Dan attacked me, and I had to defend myself. For some reason, Steven just gives me everything I want. Tia is quite suspicious of him, but she advised me to stay away from the pen yesterday. I didn’t disclose to her why I was there, only that he summoned me. She mentioned there’s plenty of battery left, so she wanted to maximize the recording."

  Elduran, visibly flustered, began pacing in circles, anger simmering within him, his hands clenched into tight fists. Faen and Aisha stood by, simply watching him.

  "What troubles you, Elduran?" Faen inquired.

  Aisha offered a weary smile. "He clearly had the urge to mutite the fellow, and that’s rather difficult at present. Hard to justify why a detective would sever a couple of his target’s fingers."

  Faen massaged his temples. "Damn, that's right. I can't fathom how we'll expin that to the cops when they arrive. Still, the fucker deserves it."

  Aisha started to protest, paused, and then, unable to restrain herself, burst out, "You two are utterly hopeless."

  Elduran settled down, "lucky bastard. The things I envisioned doing to him—how will you expin my presence there?" Elduran inquired.

  "Steven knows about all of us, well except Aisha. He knows you were in APSO with me. So, calling on my buddy soldier to help, that would be the easiest to expin," Faen said.

  "Simple enough," Aisha began, "just cim you required backup for the interrogation, and then accuse him of assaulting you with a Spiritomb, a Pokémon banned in every region," she stated.

  "Yes, that should suffice," Faen agreed.

  Elduran turned to Hattrem, "Candy, are you absolutely certain you want to accompany me?"

  Hattrem immediately nodded. Aisha sighed and moved towards her, kneeling and wrapping her arms around her. "Under no circumstances are you allowed not to return to me, Candy. Don’t even consider it," she whispered, as Hattrem hugged her back, clearly delighted that Aisha trusted her to make her own decisions.

  Elduran began his return to the town, saying, "Alright, let’s go."

  "I'll accompany you, but I’ll remain outside the building. I apologize; I’m just not prepared to fight again this soon," Aisha said, seemingly addressing Faen.

  "It’s alright, sweetie, today it’s my turn to fight," Faen reassured her.

  Without gncing away, Elduran replied, "Faen, you wish to take the lead? I daresay you’ll be the most formidable among us in just a few moments."

  Faen shifted uneasily, "Please, no. You handle that. Just let me be a weapon."

  "You’ll need to lead a team soon enough; I thought it best to let you get a bit of practice," Elduran said.

  "Faen, I believe that is a wise idea," Aisha began, "Elduran is not exactly in the best state of mind at present, objectively speaking."

  "She speaks the truth; I am not. Vengeance drives me fiercely. I'd be grateful if you assumed the lead," Elduran admitted, turning his head to meet Faen's gaze.

  "I... I'm uncertain...I feel that...oh, to hell with it. Very well, I'll lead. Besides your bow and arrow, what else do you possess that could serve as a weapon? I need to know our arsenal," Faen replied.

  Elduran smiled and redirected his gaze forward. "You'll make a fine leader. I have a Furret that will attack anyone it sees, including us."

  Aisha interjected, "I doubt it will be much help. He asked for weapons he could actively use, like Candy, for instance."

  With a grave tone, Faen countered, "I disagree. The Furret can prove useful, even if it shes on anyone it sees. Although, it's not much against a ghost type, it should still hold its attention for a few seconds. If we deploy it, we merely need to ensure it's aimed at a target, not at us."

  "Like I said, you’ll make a great leader," Elduran reiterated.

  "Keep that creature away from Candy," Aisha warned, as Hattrem silently tried to soothe her telepathically. Aisha snapped but quickly regained her composure, "I do trust you all, but...you're right. I’ll keep quiet," she murmured, then she softly whispered something to Faen, words Elduran couldn't discern.

  They quickly arrived at the hotel. Faen embraced Aisha one final time, and without hesitation, he stepped inside, Hattrem close behind, with Elduran bringing up the rear. Audrey was seated behind the front desk, visibly startled and frightened as Faen pointed the shotgun directly at her.

  Faen took out a detective ID card with one hand and showed it to her. "Stay where you are, when we are done upstairs, we will be questioning you," he said as he made it up the stairs.

  "Alright, alright," she excimed, lifting her hands and ducking behind her desk, noting that Elduran continued to aim an arrow directly at her.

  Elduran gred at Audrey, fury simmering within him, indifferent to her age or the fear she clearly felt. She had disseminated the intelligence about the watchers' base, the meeting involving them and the mayor. She had followed instructions to the letter in the event of being discovered, yet he found it impossible to forgive her. He retrieved his phone, sending a text message to Aisha, cautioning her to follow the old woman should Audrey attempt to leave the premises.

  They both knew which room belonged to Dan—the st door on the right, on the third floor. Faen leaned against the wall beside the door, his head inching closer, straining to catch any sounds from within. He shot a gnce at Hattrem, who first met his gaze. He nodded subtly, and then she turned her attention to Elduran, sensing the immense dark energy radiating from the wall. Dan was aware of their presence, yet through it all, she conveyed to Elduran that she could feel Mew's essence. While they were taken aback by the sheer magnitude of the energy, Hattrem successfully forged a connection; the legendary Pokémon's remarkable power was sufficient to resonate with at least another psychic.

  Elduran whispered softly to Hattrem, instructing her to gradually create a noise-cancelling bubble. She complied, and a faint, barely visible sphere began to expand within the confines of the room. With a nod from Elduran, Faen kicked the door with force, leaving only the bottom hinge intact as it swung inward. He aimed carefully with his shotgun and, in an instant, rolled forward into the room, narrowly dodging a massive Shadow Ball that whizzed past him and exploded on the wall behind him. The sharp bark of two shotgun bsts followed. Elduran charged in next, finding Mew already engaged in combat, battling the Spiritomb. Meanwhile, Dan was stationed in the bathroom, taking shots at Faen while skillfully shifting from cover to cover. His focus remained solely on Spiritomb, relentlessly weakening it with fairy-infused bullets, while Mew unleashed a barrage of Dazzling Gleams, deftly avoiding incoming Shadow Balls and Dark Pulses.

  Spiritomb was remarkably agile, retreating into his rocky keystone as he deftly dodged no fewer than three shots from Faen. Elduran was acutely aware that Faen had one shot left in his shotgun—its capacity was 8 plus the extra one in the chamber for a total of 9, and Elduran had counted eight shots fired thus far. Dan had taken a shot from the bathroom, the bullet whizzing just past Elduran, who y concealed behind a fallen desk. He needed to move. As Elduran shifted position, he loosed an arrow toward the bathroom, hoping Dan would step into view, but he stayed hidden. Regardless, that would certainly give Dan pause before peering around the bathroom wall to take aim at them. Elduran then nocked another arrow, releasing it toward Spiritomb, who once again evaded by retreating into his keystone. Damn, he hated ghosts.

  Hattrem hurled scattered debris towards the bathroom as Dan managed to hit her squarely in the chest. Elduran hurried back to assist Hattrem, leaving Spiritomb to Faen and Mew. Being a Pokémon, a single bullet wasn't enough to fell her, not by a long shot; but a hail of bullets was a different matter. She faced Dan alone. Despite the injury, she unleashed a Psybeam followed by a small Moonbst, nearly obliterating the bathroom floor. Yet that stubborn adversary still had ground beneath him. From around the corner, Dan fired again, striking Hattrem once more. Fueled by rage, and visibly weakened, she hoisted the entire bed and flung it against the stone wall, causing little damage. Just as Dan prepared for another shot, Elduran caught him off guard. This time, an arrow struck, piercing Dan’s wrist and causing his gun to tumble down through the gaping hole in the floor.

  Elduran dashed toward the bathroom, flinging his bow to the floor and unsheathing his knife. As he entered and turned right to confront Dan, he saw a gun aimed directly at his chest, clutched in Dan's left hand. Elduran jerked aside; the bullet struck his left shoulder instead, and he rolled to the ground. He seized Furret's Pokéball, knowing that all he needed to do was unleash it in that bathroom, and Dan would cease to exist. But then, they would be left with no answers; the dead had no voice. Suddenly, Cyndaquil appeared—from where, Elduran couldn’t fathom—commencing a Fme Charge that burst through the bathroom, ricocheting off the wall opposite the door. With a burst of energy, Cyndaquil propelled himself with another Fme Charge, colliding with Dan. Elduran assumed as much, for he couldn’t witness the impact firsthand, but he heard a groan and saw a gun skittering across the bathroom entrance. Then came a heavy thud. Despite the searing pain, Elduran rose putting away Furret's Pokéball and retrieved the knife from the floor. Stepping inside, he saw Dan and Cyndaquil on the floor below. Dan was stretching for the first firearm that had fallen on the lower level from before; it was almost within his grasp. A fierce determination was etched on Cyndaquil’s face as he got up, ready to incinerate Dan, fme already gathering on his mouth. Yet, Dan had already seized the gun, his hand swinging toward Cyndaquil, his aim intent on firing a shot.

  Elduran instinctively hurled the knife just as a bullet was fired. The bde sailed, embedding itself in Dan's abdomen, while Dan's shot went wide, missing Cyndaquil completely. Quick as lightning, Cyndaquil feigned using Ember as he switched to using Quick Attack, dodging skillfully and striking Dan on his left fnk. Elduran marveled that the man remained conscious.

  "Forge, if he makes a move, scorch him bit by bit," Elduran commanded.

  "Cyyyn," Cyndaquil replied, eager to incinerate all of Dan, yet he relented to start with Ember on Dan's right foot. Dan groaned in agony, writhing to free himself from the fmes as Elduran indulged Cyndaquil's mischief.

  As Elduran surveyed his surroundings, he noticed Hattrem was in poor shape. Overcome with rage, he forgot to ask Aisha for the Pokéball—a careless mistake. How had she forgotten too? They both were still not at their best after yesterday's ordeal. Turning swiftly, he saw that Cyndaquil had already singed both of Dan's feet.

  "Forge, find Aisha. And push that handgun away from him," Elduran ordered from his vantage point.

  With a quick burst of speed, Cyndaquil sent the gun skidding across the room. A loud crash signaled the door now had a gaping hole. "Good boy," thought Elduran. He turned his attention again. No knife, and his left shoulder too weak to draw a bow. He pulled an arrow from his quiver with his right hand, approaching Spiritomb. The fact that it was holding its own against Mew was frustrating. Each time it slipped into its keystone, it shrugged off damage—what a load of Tauros shit. Mew teetered on exhaustion, another Dark Pulse grazing both Elduran and Faen, who had to roll backwards to safety. Faen started to reload his shotgun with icy calm, wearing no expression. He advanced toward Spiritomb, pulling Elduran to a wary halt. Something about Faen at that moment exuded confidence.

  As Faen advanced, Spiritomb, fresh from another hit on Mew, turned its attention to Faen, unching a Shadow Ball. Remarkably, Faen evaded, firing back at Spiritomb mid-roll. The creature shrieked. It readied another Shadow Ball, but Faen's shot forced it back into its keystone. Emerging, Spiritomb charged another attack only to have Faen fire again, driving it back. As it reappeared, a dual-wielding Faen hit it with his handgun, following up with the shotgun at point-bnk range as it reeled. Mew, rejuvenated, was upon Spiritomb, dazzling it with gleaming light. A formidable Dark Pulse loomed, but Mew shielded Faen with Protect, allowing Faen to swing around and deliver another shotgun bst.

  With a quick flick, Elduran tossed an arrow to Faen. "Faen, catch!"

  Catching it deftly with his right hand, Faen let his shotgun fall, took aim with his handgun, and as Spiritomb retreated into the keystone, drove the enchanted arrow's tip into the rock. "Let's see you crawl out of that rock now, filth," he taunted.

  Spiritomb struggled to escape but could not. Cyndaquil returned, without a Pokéball or Aisha.

  "Cyyyyn," he murmured.

  "She isn't outside?" Elduran asked, dialing Aisha on his phone.

  "Yes?" she whispered.

  "Come quick, I need Candy's Pokéball. She's hurt," Elduran said urgently.

  Aisha hung up, wasting no time, already on her way.

  "That keystone needs demolishing. The arrow's enchantment won't st forever," Elduran noted.

  "We've got time," Faen assured him.

  Elduran knelt beside Hattrem. Though breathing was bored, she had just psychically extracted both bullets. A formidable Pokémon indeed. She would recover. Elduran wrapped a pillowcase around her to staunch the bleeding.

  "Candy, you've fought bravely. Keep this bubble a bit longer," Elduran coaxed softly. "Aisha's coming for you."

  He rose to his feet, stepped outside the room, and descended the stairs. At the end of the hallway, he reached the st door on the right on the second floor, its lower side marred by a gaping hole. With a swift kick, he forced it open. Inside, he found the bathroom, and there y Dan, surrounded by a pool of blood, his feet—two charred remnants—barely resembling anything human. The shoes were reduced to ashes, and his feet were stripped of skin, rendered unrecognizable. All Elduran could see was the fury etched across Dan's face. Their eyes locked, and Elduran chose to py along, matching his gaze with a smile. Detective work or not, he was determined to enjoy this encounter.