Lucien padded over to it, circled in place a few times, and plopped himself down. “Comfy,” he commented with a sigh of contentment, his tail flicking back and forth as his yellow rings turned blue.
Zarius set his gear down – everything except his clothes and the sword. The belt he decided would go over his shoulder and across his chest like a bandolier, since he already had a belt with pouches holding the various items in his inventory. The moment he thought about the items in his belt pouches, he received a message in the language of the gods.
-----
Inventory:
- Claw of Yveltal
- Dark Trainer Armor
- Potion x5
- Antidote x3
- Trainer Belt
- Kalos Badges
- Dendemille (Silver)
- Backpack
- Travel Gear
- Mess Kit
- Cast Iron Skillet
-----
Interesting, he thought as he set the Backpack down and saw the listed items still hovering there. As long as it is my property, it stays on that list. Good to know if something suddenly vanishes, I know I’ve been robbed.
Wilson knocked on the door frame, “Getting settled in?”
Zarius nodded, “Looks like a sparse but comfy space.”
“It’s safe, to boot. There’s a lockbox under the bed, with a key in the lock if you want to keep your stuff secure.”
Zarius did just that, leaning down, grabbing the box, and unlocking it before shoving his items in – minus the steak which he palmed and shoved into a coat pocket – re-locking it, and placing the key in his belt pouch alongside his potions. “Alright,” he muttered as he kicked it back under. “You mentioned cooking up those steaks?”
Wilson nodded, “Yeah, upstairs. I’m a decent cook, but I like mine on the more well-done side.”
Zarius grinned and gestured to the doorway, “Lead the way up. I don’t mind cooking my own portion.”
Lucien padded over behind Zarius and nudged him, “Don’t forget to make mine rare. Just a bit of sear on the outside!”
“Already becoming a picky eater,” Zarius said with a chuckle.
Wilson cracked a smile, “Umbreon there is picky?”
“Nah. Come on, let’s cook up some food.”
Heading upstairs they did just that. Zarius snuck his extra cut of steak into the stew and helped himself to a portion of the eternal mixture once the meat chunks had cooked and warmed up. He and Wilson took turns at the stove, preparing the meat their preferred way, and both sat down as Mary came up the stairs.
She glanced over at Wilson with a dour look, “Where’s my portion?” she asked.
“In the oven,” he replied as he pointed with a fork.
Zarius was not nearly as graceful, eating with his fingers as he ripped chunks of the meat with his slightly sharpened canines thanks to his Bond with Lucien. “This is delicious,” he muttered.
“Mhmm,” Lucien agreed as he licked the fire-baked clay floor where his meaty chunks had been sitting a few seconds before.
Mary walked over and looked Zarius up and down, “Fancy weapon for a mountain person. Where’d you get it? Hmm?”
Once more, Zarius felt like someone was watching him from behind. But he kept his nerves and just cooly replied, “Found it in a cave,” which wasn’t a lie at all.
She frowned, shrugged, then went and grabbed her portion of the food before sitting down at the same table, next to Wilson, and nudging him over.
The Bayleef nearby let out a mix between a yawn and a cry and laid her head down. Wilson chuckled and finished off his steaks before standing up and patting his stomach, “I’m going to head to bed. Zarius, if you want to look at the Quest board, go for it. But in the morning the duke’s men normally put up any bounties on Pokémon or criminals.”
“Sorry, criminals?” Zarius asked. “Humans who broke the law, I assume?”
“Yeah. Trainers only get sent after ones that are really dangerous. The worst of the worst. Smaller stuff like thieves the guard’s handle.” Wilson sighed, “Hopefully no Quests of that type come in tomorrow. Well, goodnight!” he turned and the Bayleef pushed herself to her feet and trotted after him, letting out a cry of “Bay!” as she vanished down the steps.
Zarius turned his attention to Mary, whose eyes had not left him as she took slices out of and then bites out of her Centiskorch steak. “You are…strange. Normally I can see a Trainer’s aura.” She glanced down, “And their Bound Pokémon.”
“That’s my doing. Her Ability to see auras cannot discern the divine. Greater Gods are above mortal comprehension unless we take on physical form. Here, let me try something…”
Mary’s eyes widened, “What did you just do?”
“Repeat after me,” Yveltal ordered.
Zarius didn’t question or hesitate in following the command saying the script fed to him. “I was suppressing my aura. Dark types are great at sneaking around and being unseen. Having a big, shiny, glimmering aura kind of ruins the point of that.”
Mary just let out a contemplative, “Hmm,” as she kept eating. Her eyes never left Zarius. “I have never met a Dark Trainer before, so I cannot say whether or not you are lying or telling the truth. But if you did help kill that Centiskorch…then you must have good intentions.”
Zarius shrugged and ate down the last few bites of his medium-well meat. “I wanted Experience and was in the area. That’s all.”
“And the life essence, of course,” Yveltal added.
Mary sighed, “One of those Trainers. Let me guess, next you’re going to want to fight me and get a gold badge, eh?” She reached into a pouch on her hip and pulled out a gold badge with the same symbol of a mountain on it. “Beat me in a fight, and you get this. Either you versus me, our Pokémon against each other, or a duo battle with both in the fray.” She pocketed it rapidly.
“I’m not interested in fighting you,” Zarius replied. “I…I lived in isolation for most of my life. I’m just now experiencing the world. I’ve never been in a city like this before. And no one was out and about – I bet tomorrow, when I’m outside around so many people as I imagine live here…I’ll be a bit overwhelmed.” He was speaking honestly, and he did feel a little bit of anxiety at the thought that he might be in the midst of hundreds of people.
And Mary expressed something he was not expressing. Sorrow. Sympathetic sorrow. “That…I know what it is like being raised separate from others.” She gestured to her eyes, “I’ve been able to see auras since I was a child and bound a Pokémon when I was five years old. Hence my young age and prominence in the Guild Hall.” She frowned, “I am more accepted, now that I’m established…but given the…reputation of Dark type Pokémon, I would wager than you will face some level of ostracism as well.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“How’d you bind to a Ghost type?” he asked. “I thought you had to do something physical to make a Bond?”
She shrugged, “Not necessarily. Most trainers make what’s called a Blood Bond – that’s the standard way. But with certain types, there are other options. Bug Trainers, for instance, can subject themselves to their Pokémon’s poison or venom and survive the experience to forge a Bond. Fighting Trainers just have to best their Bonded Pokémon in some type of physical contest – normally a brawl.” She chuckled and shook her head, “Not that I’ve seen anyone do that.”
Zarius smiled softly, “Well, I did it the blood-based way.”
“That’s the norm.”
“I know that there’s acorns that let you forge additional Bonds. Where could I get one of those?”
She raised an appraising eyebrow, “Certain trees in dangerous or hazardous locations. Guarded by Shaymin and given only to Trainers who reach the trees. There’s a tree like that north of the city…but it is in the middle of an ancient battlefield. Lots of Ghost type there.” She smiled, “Dangerous for you, given how Dark and Ghost are effective against each other.”
Zarius tapped his fingers on the table, “What level are you?” he asked.
This question seemed to take her aback, and she responded almost as-if on instinct. “20,” she replied. “Why?”
Zarius shrugged, “Just comparing, is all. How strong do you think I’d need to be to reach the tree?”
“Probably Level 15,” she replied.
He frowned, “I’m only 6,” he muttered.
“Just do some Missions. Lots of bounties will be coming in, if my predictions are anything to go by.”
“Wait, I thought you were Ghost Type, not Psychic.”
She smiled, “I’m both. I’ve also got my mom’s old Torkoal, but that isn’t technically Bound to me. Just an old family pet.”
“Could I get two-”
“No,” she cut him off, anticipating the question. “Each Shaymin who guards each tree only gives out one acorn per Trainer.”
“They are annoying little shits, but it does keep the balance,” Yveltal stated.
Zarius chuckled at Yveltal’s comment, but played it off for Mary’s sake as him humoring her statement. “Good to know.” He glanced over at the Quest board. “I might as well take a look.”
She pointed to the left side, “Pokémon hunts are on the far left if Experience is your main focus. It’s fifty Missions to get a gold badge.”
Yeah, I think I’ll go to challenge you in a fight before I do fifty fucking Missions. He chuckled as he perused the board, Especially since against both her Types I’m going to be effective.
“You are also immune to Psychic entirely.”
Zarius looked down at Lucius, “What can you tell me about our Type?”
The Umbreon sat back on his haunches and yawned before answering. “We are super-effective against Psychic and Ghost types. Not very effective against Fighting, Dark, or Fairy. We are unharmed by Psychic, as Yveltal stated, and we are not very effected by Ghost or Dark. But Fighting, Bug, and Fairy can fuck us up.” He elongated out the curse word to really emphasize that point.
“Why didn’t that Centiskorch use a Bug type move against us then?” he asked. Mary, in the background, was nonchalantly listening in, but he didn’t care all that much as to her eavesdropping.
Lucien shook his head slightly, “Not sure. Maybe it’s combat instinct wasn’t as sharply honed as mine? Perhaps mine is heightened because of our Bond? Maybe it was enraged and not thinking clearly?”
“Or it only knew four moves and all of them were fire,” Yveltal posited. “Which just goes to show you that you should always have variety and not go all-in on a single Move type.”
Zarius nodded sagely as he looked through the various pinned postings. “Oh, this looks cool!” he reached out and snagged the parchment with words written in well-formed ink lettering. “A cat-like Pokemon spotted in the fields outside of the city. Light blue and black fur, and yellow markings. Believed to be a Luxio.” He looked up at the ceiling, and cocked his head to the side as he tried to remember anything he could about-
“Electric,” Mary interrupted, causing him to look at her. “It’s a Luxio. Probably hunting the local Miltank in the fields. It’s a daytime hunter but is a fast little fucker.” She stared at Zarius, “I think it would be a good start for you to bite.” She smiled ever-so-slightly at the pun based on what Zarius assumed was a commonly known Dark type Move.
“Then I’ll take this Mission, and this one-” he began reaching for another when he was cut off again.
“One at a time,” Mary replied. “And bring back proof of the kill for the pay.” She raised an inquisitive eyebrow, “Did you even look at the reward?”
Not really, Zarius thought. His eyes scanned down the rest of the Quest slip – most recent location, who gave the Quest, and finally a reward. “Forty silver coins.”
She let out a light gasp, “That’s more than I thought. They must have come in and updated the Quest.” She tapped her fingers rapidly, “Easily covers Guild Hall expenses for a month.”
Zarius looked up at her, “Am I expected to give some of my reward to the Hall?”
“Not required, but it is good practice,” she replied. “Ten percent is the norm.”
I should probably build up some income, he thought as he walked towards the stairs, feeling the call of sleep on his eyelids. I need to be able to buy travel rations, fix up my clothes, maybe even get them customized with armored plates or something to make me a bit harder to hurt. He glanced back at Mary, then saw his dishes, and winced. “Sorry. Let me get that.” He quickly grabbed both his and Wilson’s plates and took them to a sudsy wash bucket, scrubbing them clean before wiping them down with a rag on a wall peg.
Mary chuckled, “A villager with some manners. Interesting. Goodnight.” She gave him a little wave as she closed her eyes…but remained sitting upright.
“Ghost types are weird,” Lucien commented as he led the way downstairs with Zarius on his heels.
“Seems like it,” he replied as the two went into their bedroom. Zarius shut the door and found a strong, metal latch he slid into place before he began disrobing due to the toasty interior, and laid down on the canvas pine-filled mattress. Much comfier, he thought.
“When you sleep, I will guide you on a flight through my memories of looking down at the world from above.”
Sounds nice, Zarius thought as he shut his eyes and let himself drift off to sleep.
Zarius was flying. He could feel his two, massive, powerful wings on either side – tipped with wicked claws crackling with red, pulsating energy. An aura of black surrounded his body as he flew across the night sky over the world.
“This is our true form,” Yveltal stated. “Revel in it, for in your dreams we may relive my memories, and together become closer as beings.”
“Until both are one,” Zarius replied. He was giddy at flight, and did several dips, rolls, and dives before swooping up out of them – reveling in the amazing feeling of flight which he had nothing to compare against.
“Correct. Together, we ascend to divinity through Experience. Come, let us fly.”
Zarius flapped his wings and ascended even higher, climbing into the skies. Far above other Pokémon he saw flying. Far above the mighty Dragon type who arced skyward toward the heavens. He even saw a long, sinuous green and gold serpent wending through the sky below them.
“That is Rayquaza. He rules the skies. A Greater God, but under me in the grand scheme of things.”
The clouds vanished beneath Zarius – or, rather, his gaze pierced through, and he could see billions of glittering lights. Small, flickering candles in the vast dark. “What are they?”
“Lives. Waiting for their end. This is the purpose of Yveltal, our purpose. The purpose of a god of Death. We seek those who have met their end, and take their life essence. Xerneas creates, we destroy – thus is the cycle as it has always been.”
The world below was…flat. That alone shocked Zarius, but Yveltal quickly clarified the confusion. “It is laid flat for you to understand the layout – in reality, it is a sphere.”
Yveltal gave Zarius a world tour. The kingdom of Sinnoh was far to the North, near the frozen, perpetual snowlands of that pole of the world. Spurs of land connected it to the kingdom of Almia and Fiora to the south and southwest, respectively. Below Almia was the tiny city-state of Kitakami, and below that was Kanto. Far to the east, the Alola kingdom of islands, and the Sevii islands. From there, going west was the region of Hoenn and Oblivion on a series of separated continents south of the mainland. North of Hoenn was Johto. Pasio was directly south of Johto.
“And where we are is here,” Yveltal stated as they flew over the Kalos kingdom. “As that Trainer fellow said, very well defended and isolated compared to the other kingdoms.”
To the south over the mountains was Unova, then to the northwest of that was Paldea, and the southwest of that was Orre. Far to the west, the island kingdom of Galar.
But one distinct kingdom stood out to Zarius. The border between Sinnoh and Fiore. There were millions of small, flickering lights of lives gathering in those two kingdoms, heading towards the borderline between the two. “Military conflict?” he asked.
“I have seen such numbers gather when war was on the horizon,” Yveltal confirmed. “We can absorb the life essence of anything that dies within the radius of Harvester of Life, and that radius increases every 10 levels.”
“Then we need to get that master badge so we can travel the kingdoms unimpeded, and go and join that war to harvest as much life essence as possible!” Zarius was practically shouting as the idea came to him and he felt giddy at the idea of becoming powerful. Reveling in the bloodshed of others’ dying around him. Feeling the warmth of-
“Wars are dangerous,” Yveltal admonished. “Trainers will doubtless be involved. We will need to be stronger to survive a war on the front lines where the most life essence would be lost.”
That dampened Zarius’ mood a bit, but he still felt enthusiasm race through him. “Thanks for the geography lesson, Yveltal.”
“You are welcome. Now, let me return us to peaceful rest.”
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