Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Seekers of Soul
[Chapter 52]
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Nia and Tobias have their mission. It's time to plan their next move, and get some training in while they're at the Lexym Guild.
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Telling Maggie about their trip to Asra and Shivergleam is a tense affair. The meganium stays quiet for most of it, but Nia can see her honey-gold eyes darken after each brush with danger that they skim over, clumsily trying to fill in the gaps left in their story.
Finally, what feels like hours later, they're finished. Quiet falls over the three of them.
With a forced sort of calm, Maggie asks, âIs that everything?â
âItâs all we know so far,â Tobias hedges. âOur plan right now is just to find Xerneas. Hopefully she can prevent any of this from happening. Or at least fix the dimensional border if it does break.â
If she doesn't, the world falls apart, Nia silently adds, knowing she doesnât need to say it for it to be in the forefront of all their minds. Both the Pokemon world and the human world would be destroyed.
Nia fiddles with the soft fur of her tail, too nervous to look up at Maggie. The silence while the grass type digests everything is heavy.
Finally, Maggie sighs. Nia jumps.
âIâm going to need a hug after all of that,â Maggie says.
Nia finally looks up, relieved, and willingly scoots closer for the meganium to pull her into a hug with her vine. Nia leans against her petals, soft but firm, and breathes in her fresh floral scent. She sees Tobias getting the same treatment on Maggieâs other side.
Immediately, Nia feels a little better. Everything feels less dire when she's tucked against Maggie like this. It's still quiet, but a comforting sort of quiet. Itâs only the three of them in the herbalist quarters at the moment, Sage having been politely shooed out of the room to grab some berries for breakfast once Maggie realized that neither Nia nor Tobias felt comfortable explaining their trip with the ivysaur present. Sage had taken the obvious excuse with grace, thankfully, and is taking his time in returning.
âThank you for telling me.â Maggie says. She takes a deep breath, Nia lifting with the exhale. âI just wish you two werenât thrown right in the middle of all this mess. Youâre so young.â
âWeâre not little kids,â Tobias mutters.
âOh, donât pout.â
âI'm not pouting!â Tobias says, absolutely pouting.
Nia turns her face into Maggieâs petals to stifle a laugh.
âWhen were you planning on talking to August about all of this?â Maggie asks.
Nia pulls away to look at Tobias. He seems as unsure as she feels.
âShould we tell him?â Tobias asks, crossing his arms. âWeâre getting intel from a banished legendary, if he even believes we're telling the truth. And we donât know that heâll actually do anything even if he does believe us. He said heâd look into the fire that happened in Ghatha but nothing ever came from that.â
Nia has to admit that he has a point.
Maggie sighs. âEven if itâs not obvious, Iâm sure August is doing all he can to help. And if this is something jeopardizing not only our guild but the entire Pokemon world, I promise you he would want to know about it.â
Nia and Tobias exchange a doubtful look.
Maybe sensing that theyâre reluctant to talk to August and worried that theyâll try to put it off completely, Maggie only allows a quick breakfast of the berries Sage brings back before marching the two of them straight to Augustâs office herself. The rillaboom looks pleased to see them, a soft sort of relief on his face when he catches sight of Nia and Tobias safely back from their travels. His warm smile fades as he locks eyes with Maggie, though, his more casual posture straightening up. He waves them in without a word.
Verene seems to be out, so theyâre the only ones present in the spacious office. The leaves weaving in and out of the wooden walls are a lovely gradient of warm autumnal tones.
August takes a seat behind his desk, chair creaking. âWelcome back, Team Scarlet. Itâs good to see you both safe. I heard from the crew of the Aqua Jet and that little sableye that you both showed impressive prowess as Seekers yesterday.â
Nia murmurs a thank you. Tobias nods.
âHowever, gauging by your expressions, I must assume thatâs not why you came to see me today,â August says. âA shame. I could do with some good news, for once. What can I help you with?â
Nia looks to Tobias, so he starts them off. Retells the story once more with Nia stepping in on occasion, trading the explanation back and forth.
They mention Asra, first, to explain everything that comes after. Giratina. The protective shell of this world weakening from a preemptive crack in the very fabric of the dimension. Nia and Tobias being assigned to find Xerneas in a desperate bid for hope.
Augustâs brow knits and falls lower and lower as he listens, chin resting on bridged fingers. By time theyâre finally finished, Niaâs throat is dry. The same oppressive silence from before falls over the room, and it feels thick enough to choke on.
Augustâs amber eyes settle on Nia. âHow sure are you that Giratina was telling the truth?â
Nia tries not to let her own doubt show on her face. âW-WellâŚI guess I donât have any proof that he was? But he feltâŚhonest. And it makes sense. Or at least more sense than anything else people have guessed for why the world is breaking down, right? Could anything else cause natural disasters and make evolution stop? Or force legendaries to go dormant?â
âYou think Giratina would have something to gain from us seeking out Xerneas?â Tobias asks, eyes narrowing.
August sighs, raking his fingers back through his leafy mane. âThatâs difficult to say. Iâm no expert on either legendary.â
âBut surely thereâs enough here to merit a deeper look,â Maggie pipes up. âIf Giratina is being honest, thenâŚâ
August lets a rush of air out through his nose. âIt would be disastrous for us to ignore him, yes.â
The quiet returns like an itchy, ill-fitting sweater.
âIâll ask Alistair and Tawny to look into it immediately,â August finally says. âIf they feel that searching for Xerneas is likely to be of help and not just playing into Giratinaâs schemes, then Iâll reach out to the other Guildmasters so we can plan from there.â
Nia lets out a breath. Knowing that they arenât solely responsible for saving the whole world feels like the weight of the Lexym Tree itself being lifted off her shoulders. She kind of wants to cry. âThank you.â
August nods. âOf course. Iâm here for anyone in the guild, but a matter pertaining to the safety of the entire world? That is not to be treated lightly.â
âSpeaking of safety,â Tobias says, in a tone that would be casual if it didnât sound like it was barbed with thorns. âYou said you were going to send someone to look into the fire at Ghatha, right? And other human discrimination. Anything ever come of that?â
August gives Tobias a dry look. âPut away your fangs, Tobias. I did indeed look into the matter.â
âAnd?â
âThe investigation into the Ghatha fire has unfortunately gone cold. While they can assume it was a fire type at the convention who started it, Raiâs guild hasnât been able to determine who was the culprit. Theyâve marked it closed for now unless new information arises.â
"Yeah, and I'm sure that decision has nothing to do with the guy not liking humans," Tobias mutters.
August's eyes narrow. "Where did you hear that?"
Nia blinks, surprised, and exchanges a look with Tobias. August doesn't know? "Keegan mentioned it, back when we were in Ghatha."
"The guild's second-in-command," Tobias clarifies. "A ninetales."
"Hm." August looks past them for a moment, locking eyes with Maggie. Before Nia can figure out what the two older Pokemon are thinking, he speaks again. "That's not something I was aware of. What are your thoughts on Keegan? I haven't had the chance to speak with him myself."
"He was nice!" Nia says.
"A little too nice," Tobias scoffs.
August hums. "...Noted. Regardless, for now the investigation remains at a stand-still."
Tobiasâ muzzle crinkles, mirroring Niaâs own displeasure. While this news isnât entirely unexpected, it is unnerving, not knowing the Pokemon who made a very intentional effort on all of the human lives at the convention in Ghatha. What if they try something else in the future? The thought makes Nia feelâŚuneasy. Unsafe.
âMy scouts did also confirm your claims regarding the general perception of humans in Ghatha. It seems the aggression towards them is increasing. Considering you saw the same in Asra, I can only assume the trend continues elsewhere as well.â
âBut why?" Nia protests, voice cracking. "We aren't doing anything wrong!"
âI know,â August says, rubbing at his face. âWe know you have nothing to do with whatâs happening to our world, Nia. None of the humans do. But unfortunately, the natural disasters and mystery dungeons are only becoming more and more common. Pokemon are injured and frightened, and humans are a handy group to shoulder the blame.â
âItâs escalating, isnât it?â Maggie cuts in, voice soft. âNot just the aggression. The natural disasters. The spread of mystery dungeons. The Haven hasnât been hit too hard yet, butâŚâ
August hesitates with a glance at Nia and Tobias. âYes. Which would line up with what Giratina is claiming. The closer we get to the moment when the barrier of our dimension breaks, the more and more dangerous our world gets. And the more that tensions run high, the more rumors spread about whose fault it could be.â
Another silence. Nia can hear the walls of the Lexym Tree creak around them in the wind.
âWhat about Will?â Tobias asks. Nia looks at him, surprised that heâs even willing to bring up the yamask he dislikes so much.
âAh, yes. You mentioned wanting to visit him to see if he has any leads in finding Xerneas. My scouts didnât hear much about his group while in Ghatha, but they also couldnât find many humans at all, seeing as theyâre keeping a low profile.â
âI sent him a letter before we left for Asra,â Nia speaks up. âTelling him about Giratina trying to pull me into the distortion realm through the stream. A-And about me recovering some of my memories. If heâs written back by now, he probably left a way to find him, right?â
âShould we even bother seeing if he has information, though?â Tobias asks, face twisting. âIf we know that weâre looking for Xerneas, what are the chances he knows something Alistair and Tawny and the other guilds donât?â
âCan we risk not checking?â Nia murmurs.
Tobias doesnât have an argument for that. âI guess just flying straight to see him ourselves would be faster than waiting for mail.â
August's hand strokes at his chin. âI believe Nia is right. We canât risk missing a potential lead from a network of information outside of our own. If you are willing to track him down, then I approve your travel to seek him out in a few daysâ time. I will have the guild cover your flight costs across the sea.â
âWhyâre we waiting?â Tobias asks, frowning. âShouldnât we leave right away?â
August shakes his head. âI want to first discuss with Alistair and Tawny. If they believe seeking out Xerneas could be as beneficial as Giratina suspects, Iâll have them spread word to the other guilds to start an official search. If they believe we could be playing into a plot, then weâll put a hold on seeking out any information.â
Nia and Tobias trade an uncertain look, but eventually agree.
The three of them depart the office shortly after, August giving them a distracted goodbye as he turns to some papers on his desk.
âSo we have a few days until we can leave,â Tobias says, jumping right into it. âWhatâs our plan until then?â
âWe should probably go to our quarters first, right?â Nia says. âTo see if Will even wrote back?â
Tobias frowns, but nods.
They reach the medical floor, and Maggie stops, reminding Nia and Tobias that the meganium has a job to do elsewhere.
âOh, donât give me those yamper eyes,â Maggie laughs. She nuzzles the top of Niaâs head, then Tobiasâ. âI have a job to do as well! And Iâll still be right here if you want to stop in again later tonight.â
Tobias visibly relaxes at the reminder, and Nia thanks the meganium for her help. For listening.
âOf course! Someone has to look after you two, always running off into trouble,â Maggie says with a wink.
Nia turns to head down the stairs, but pauses when Tobias doesnât follow. The charmander is hesitating, staring at Maggie with a conflicted expression. Then he darts forward to squeeze Maggieâs leg in a hug. The meganium seems as surprised as Nia is by the unusually open affection, but after a beat her expression softens. She lowers her head to return the hug with her long neck and a vine, squeezing him tight.
Ah, right. Tobias had told Maggie about finding the home of the crobat outlaw, too. About finding the crobat's grave, and the loving family heâd left behind. Maggie had smothered him in a hug then, too, but it makes sense that heâs still feeling a bit emotional about it all.
Tobias only tolerates the affection for a few seconds before ducking free and slipping past Nia, calling for her to hurry up over his shoulder. Nia smiles as she waves to Maggie and hurries after her partner.
The two of them head to the Seekersâ quarters a few floors down. Most of the doors are closed since Pokemon are out and about doing missions in the middle of the day, but there are a few lattice windows in the halls that let in glimpses of bright sunshine and whistling gusts of air.
Their own room is just as they left it, save a thin layer of dust over everything. The wall is lined by a few wooden cabinets, along with a bookcase and chest to keep their belongings in. A large window sits on the far wall, its lattice-like roots currently opened wide. A leaf-woven curtain is pulled down over it to keep out the wind, and the sun shines through it beautifully, casting a dim golden-green hue over everything. In the center of the room lies their plush scarlet red rug, and away from the window sits their nests, resting side-by-side.
Tobias dumps their satchel next to the chest. Nia goes to the mailbox set into the wall by the door. Sheâs excited to find three pieces of mail insideâtwo letters and one thin slip of paper. She pulls them out and looks at the smallest one first. It reads 20% Off at the Kecleon Brothers Shop! with a cute little drawing of a pair ofâŚchameleons?
âThey have coupons in this world?â Nia asks, strangely amused by the thought.
Tobiasâ warmth appears at her side as he peers over her shoulder. He snorts. âThe kecleon merchants are really well-known. Good quality wares, but make sure you stay on their good side.â
âUm, okay. Why?â
Tobias flops down in his nest. âThe last âmon that tried to steal from âem left with less limbs than they started with.â
âBut theyâre so cute!â Nia says, aghast, as she looks again at the little drawing.
âSo are fairy types, and theyâre terrifying."
Nia sinks into her own nest, gently setting the coupon aside. Sheâs not sure she wants to deal with the shop at all if thatâs the reputation they keep. She lights up when she sees the second letter, thoughâitâs a cute little thing, blue, with Niaâs name written in delicate, loopy cursive.
Tobias rolls over to squint at the envelope. âWho wrote us a letter in gibberish?â
Nia blinks. âYou canât read this?â
âYou can?â
Nia takes another look at the letter. At first she thinks the problem is that the writing is cursive, but then she realizes that itâs probably because it's English. Not the native Pokemon language.
âOh,â Nia laughs, feeling a strange pang of homesickness. âItâs in English. A, uh. Human language.â
She opens the envelope with care, pulling out the stationery and smiling at the letter, which is also written in looping cursive. Tobias doesnât say anything else, but she can feel his eyes on her so she translates as she skims.
âItâs from Hazel. She says that she can make me a human bed! Oh man, you are going to love it. Youâll never be able to go back to a normal nest. And sheâll even give me the family discount! Aww!â
âShe should give you more than that after we saved her mateâs tail,â Tobias says.
âWe hadnât even met Beck yet when I sent the request! Letâs see hereâŚshe also saysââ
Nia bursts into laughter.
âWhat?â
âShe also says that sheâs glad youâre nicer to me now, but that sheâs willing to knock some sense into you any time if that changes.â
Tobias straightens up, flushing. âShe did not say that.â
Nia cackles, turning the page over to his grabby hands. âShe did! Câmon, sheâs the reason I confronted you in Afonâs Cap at all!â
Tobias makes a face, but heâs still bright red. Nia isnât sure if itâs because heâs embarrassed to be called out, or because of his behavior during their early partnership in the first place. Either way, he folds the letter back up and frisbees it at her, huffing.
Nia laughs again and tucks the letter off to the side with the coupon. Sheâll have to write the old raichu back later. Niaâs amusement dies down as she picks up the third letter.
Tobias sits up as he sees her expression. ââŚWill?â
Nia nods. Hesitantly, she opens the yamaskâs letter.
Nia,
While Iâm pleased to hear from you, I wish it was under better circumstances! Iâm relieved that you escaped from Giratina unharmed, but concerned that you had such a close call at all. If you do feel unsafe where you are, please donât hesitate to come join the community of humans we have amassed thus farâweâre growing by the day! We're just south of Ghatha, past Stonebrook and closer to Kaleido Bay. If you can find Stonebrook, they can direct you from there.
âStonebrook,â Nia murmurs, tilting her head. âWhy does that sound familiar?â
Tobias, who had scooched closer to read, frowns as he tries to recall as well. Then he groans and plants his face in his hands.
âWhat?â
âItâs where your stupid rookidee friend lives,â Tobias says, words muffled.
Nia gasps. âJunie! Oh my gosh, youâre right! We could stop by and see her! She couldââ
âWe are not inviting her to join us.â
âAw, why not? I miss her!â
âYou miss her because she doesnât pick fights with you constantly!â
Nia looks at him for a moment. âI thought you kind of enjoyed it. It's like how you squabble with Andyn."
Tobias stumbles over a retortâoutright stammersâhis face growing red again, and Nia bursts into laughter.
âOh my God, I knew it! You do like bickering with them! Why do you act like you hate them so much?â
âI do hate them!â
âMhm.â
âTheyâre annoying and loud andââ
âTheyâre your frieeends,â Nia coos, poking him in the cheek.
âThey are not,â Tobias hisses, swatting her hand away. âShut up!â
Nia can feel him heating up with embarrassment so she knows heâs lying, but she takes mercy and backs off, still grinning.
âThis is exactly why you donât need to be spending more time with either of them,â Tobias grumbles, rubbing at his cheek. âTheyâre rubbing off on you.â
Nia finally tames her delight down to a manageable level and goes back to Willâs letter.
I am thrilled, however, to hear about your returned memories, even if you had to endure a terrifying illness to find them. After speaking with more of the humans under my care who have recovered their own memories, I have to wonder if there is a correlation between severe injury or illness and the recovery of one's memories. Perhaps brushing by Deathâs doorstep unlocks a part of the brain once buried?
Huh. Nia has to take a moment to think after reading that. The handful of memories she recovered did only return to her when she was gravely ill, but she didnât think it was a direct correlation. But Will seems to be implying that nearly dying could be a trigger for that process. If Giratina is correct, maybe it has to do with them getting close toâŚleaving their new vessels? So the memories that Mew sealed away kind ofâŚloosen?
Nia shakes her head, unnerved by the reminder that she nearly died, and reads on.
I would love to discuss with you further if you do feel like visiting. Know that youâre always welcome. We have exciting developments in the works! Until then, I hope you and your partner are well.
Will
Nia sits back. âWell, heâs open to a visit, and we have directionsâŚâ
âGuess itâs settled then,â Tobias sighs. âIâll let August know tomorrow.â
âAugust said to give him a few days to run everything by Tawny and Alistair, right? SoâŚwhat should we do in the meantime?â
Tobias makes a thoughtful sound in his throat, eyes trailing over the faint pattern of leaves forming the window curtain. âWe donât want to wear ourselves out completely before traveling, but we should definitely do some training or missions or something. We need to keep getting stronger, and we need to keep rising higher in the ranks so Pokemon take us seriously.â
âThat would give us more funds, too,â Nia agrees. âSo I guess for now we just work on recuperating and take a few missions?"
âThen when weâre cleared for travel we go to the flying outpost.â Tobias finishes, a smirk growing on his face. âYou excited to get back in the air?â
Nia groans, falling back into her nest. The soft scent of straw and moss wafts up around her. âNot even a little.â
Tobias snorts a laugh. âYouâll survive.â
Thereâs a moment of quiet where Nia lies starfished in her nest, listening to the wind blow against their curtain. The midday sun has warmed their little room enough for it to feel nice and cozy.
âItâs too late in the day to start a mission,â Tobias says, snagging her attention again. âBut Iâm going to go see if Azami or Val are around to spar with.â
While he isnât outright asking Nia to join, the way he pauses to look at her makes the implied question clear. Nia perks up. âOh! Iâll come with! Iâve been wanting to chat with Val about how my auraâs shaping up anyways.â
Tobias grins, pushing himself to his feet and offering a hand to help her up. The two of them leave the cozy atmosphere of their room to wind their way down the Lexym Tree.
At the doorway leading into the training floor, Nia nearly bumps into a taller Pokemon. She hops back with an apology, craning her head up to meet their eyes. They look interestingâan olive green and tan Pokemon with a mushroom cap and a long, almost kangaroo-like tail. In their bright red claws, tucked close to their body, they hold something like a clipboard.
The mushroom Pokemon starts a polite apology, but cuts himself off as he catches sight of Tobias standing behind Nia. Niaâs own apology trails off as she looks between Tobias and the new âmon. Tobias is clearly uncomfortable, an echo of his old, closed-off demeanor resurfacing as he crosses his arms and scowls up at the taller grass type.
âTry to keep everything in one piece,â The new Pokemon finally says, tone clipped, as he slips around them and walks off.
Nia turns to Tobias with a concerned frown. âWho was that?â
âArcher,â He grumbles, good mood clearly soured. âHe keeps track of inventory.â
âOh. Um. Why was he..?â
âI used to be moreâŚdestructive, with some of the dummies. Theyâre flammable.â
âOh.â Nia stares at him, trying to parse that information. With how often they travel nowadays and how much Tobias has softened up around her, Nia always forgets that there are Pokemon in the guild who arenât fond of Tobias for one reason or another. This reason doesnât seem like a very fair one, though. âArenât training dummies meant to be attacked?â
âNot when youâre using fire, apparently,â Tobias snaps, moving past her and into the training area with his shoulders tense.
Nia hurries after her partner, relieved when she sees that not only are their mentors present, but that Val is working with Xanderâs team. The medicham is listening to something the luxio is explaining, the rest of his teammates gathered around to listen as well.
Azami is nearby, manning a different fighting area. The tsareena is watching a treecko as they attack a dummy, but she beams behind her tall collar when she catches sight of Nia and Tobias. âSpitfire! And little Riolu. Good to see you!â
Tobias ducks his chin into his scarf, but Nia thinks heâs secretly pleased to have such a warm reception after bumping into Archer. Val, Xander and the rest of Team Shellshock turn at the loud greeting as well.
Avery smiles with a delicate wave.
Felix grins, fluffy ears perking. âNia!â
âGood to see you," Xander says. "When did you two get back?â
âLast night! Sorry, are we interrupting?â Nia says, approaching the group.
âWe were actually just saying we need to branch out a bit with our sparring partners,â Xander says, giving Nia a friendly flick of his star-tipped tail. His gold eyes move to Tobias. âEither of you interested in joining us for combat training?"
âYeah! Iâve been dying to see how you squirts do in a fight,â Kry says. The fraxure cracks her knuckles to punctuate her words, as if her looming presence isn't intimidating enough.
Tobias, however, flexes his claws and steps forward to meet her. âYouâre on.â
"Ohoho! Bring it, little 'mon!"
âOh, this oughta be good,â Felix says, turning to lead everyone to the sidelines. âCâmon, weâd better clear the field for these two.â
âTheyâre going to battle right now?â Nia asks, giving Val a wide-eyed look even as she follows. They just got here! Shouldnât they warm up or something?
The medicham shrugs. âCharmander stepped forward.â
Well, she canât argue with that. Still, as Nia sits to watch, she can't help feeling nervous as Tobias crouches into a battle stance across from Kry. The fraxure lashes her tail and lowers her head with a sharp grin. Nia doesnât think the brash Pokemon would actually hurt Tobias, butâŚ
âBattle!â Val calls.
Both lizard Pokemon lunge, Tobias ducking under a slash and spinning to trip up Kryâs footing with his tail. The fraxure recovers with surprising grace and goes on the offensive again. Tobias is forced to backstep, shooting off small bursts of fire to try and gain some distance. Kry leaps right through one of Tobiasâ flames as if it were nothing more than smoke.
âWhoa,â Nia murmurs.
âHow was your trip?â Xander asks, leaning over to whisper.
âWe had an, uhâŚeventful week,â Nia chuckles. âSolved a mysterious earthquake problem, fought some outlaws, got caught in a mystery dungeon on the river, so fun times all around.â
They also found the grave of a long-hunted outlaw and met with Giratina of all Pokemon, who told them the world was ending, but Nia feels reluctant to drop all of that onto Xander so suddenly.
Felix whistles. The wartortleâs gaze is on the fight, but his fluffy ears are angled her way. âBusy, busy! No wonder Tobias is holding his own pretty well. You two just donât stop, huh?â
Nia smiles and straightens up, proudly watching her partner continue to dance around Kry. His fighting style is still more offensive than defensive, but heâs playing it smart, relying on his smaller size and speed to keep the fraxure from landing a spar-stopping blow.
âYou willing to try a round next?â Xander asks, giving Nia a friendly nudge with his elbow that nearly knocks her over.
Nia laughs, a little nervous. âSure? But, uh, Iâm not as good at fighting as Tobias.â
âSomehow I doubt thatâs true,â Avery speaks up from Xander's other side. The kirlia gives her a warm half-smile. âYou tend to underestimate yourself.â
Nia flushes under her fur and looks back to the fight, wincing as Kry nearly lands a devastating punch on Tobias. Instead, her fist slams into the wooden floor with enough force to crack it. The fraxure seems to be getting frustrated, but Tobias is starting to slow too, panting hard. He hasnât used his smokescreen yet, though Nia isnât sure if thatâs a matter of pride or if Kryâs vision would be sharp enough to see through it.
The fight continues for another minute, Tobias landing a few brushes of flames and claws on Kryâs tough hide, but the fraxure is the one who ends it. She clips the charmander with a left hook, and as he stumbles, she slams him hard in the gut with her heavy tail. Tobias staggers, and Kry takes the opportunity to pin him to the ground with her greater weight.
After a few moments of Tobias struggling to free himselfâthat tail whip must've knocked the breath out of him if he isn't using his fireâVal calls the match. Kry releases him, stepping back, and Tobias sits up slowly, wincing and rubbing at his stomach. Felix calls out a jovial âGood match!â while Val moves to Tobiasâ side. At first, the charmander seems reluctant to listen to her, but after a few quiet words he looks at her fully, scowl lessening as he nods. She must be giving him advice.
Kry makes her way over and grins down at Nia, breathing somehow unlabored. âYou next, scrap?â
Felix pouts. âYou already got your turn, Kry.â
âAnd I asked first,â Xander says smoothly, standing and moving to where Kry stood before. He doesnât sound bossy, but somehow even Nia can hear the quiet authority in his voice. While Nia and Tobias donât really have a âleaderâ of their team, itâs clear that Xander holds the title for Team Shellshock.
âYou up for it, Nia?â The luxio asks, confident expression softening.
Nia feels her heart flutter with anxiety, but Avery gives her an encouraging nod. She pads over to where Tobias is finally getting to his feet.
âGood fight,â Nia whispers to him as she passes.
âKick his tail,â Tobias says in return, though it sounds less heated than the scathing comments he used to make towards Xander.
Nia nods and gets in position, lifting her hands and crouching just a bit, feet spread wide and stable. She still doesnât particularly like fighting, even for fun, but she just tries to think of it more likeâŚa friendly sporting match.
Xander spreads his paws wide as his tail flicks. Sparks come to life and crackle across his black fur, like stars in a night sky. Nia shifts, suddenly registering the fact that Xander is nearly twice her size. Usually the thought is comforting more than anything, but facing him as an opponentâŚ
âShow âem what you did to that steelix!â Tobias shouts.
Thereâs a lull in the group's conversation that makes Niaâs ears flatten, embarrassed by the attention. However, the comment does lessen her nerves a bit. Hard to be intimidated by a luxio when sheâs faced down a metal serpent the size of a semi-truck. And she did just learn work up in the last mystery dungeon, which should make her more powerful, but that might up her attack too muchâshe doesn't want to actually hurt Xander, after all.
Nia can hear Felix asking Tobias about the steelix comment, but Val starts off their spar with a loud, âBattle!â
In complete contrast to Tobias and Kryâs fight, Nia and Xander stay frozen in place, sizing each other up. The sparks crackling across the luxioâs fur make her wary to get in close like she usually doesâhe can probably cause paralysis, right? He is an electric type. But if she doesnât get in close, then her only option is toâ
Xander makes the first move, lighting up with a flash of electricity and sending a test bolt her way. Nia rolls out of the way on instinct, but she can feel the charge in the air prickling at her fur.
Xanderâs eyes narrow. He darts forward to attack.
Nia yelps and creates a staff of aura, taking a swing to make him leap back. He does so, but shoots off another electric attack. Nia barely manages to scramble out of the way, rolling and leaping from bolt after bolt. She doesnât realize Xander is herding her closer and closer to himself until heâs suddenly slamming into her side.
The electricity in his fur stings, and the blow sends her tumbling across the floor as her staff vanishes. Xander hesitates. Nia takes the opportunity as soon as she lands on her knees to charge up a messy ball of aura in her paws and launch it at the luxio. Xanderâs eyes widen, clearly not expecting that, before he gets hit head-on in a flash of blue.
Nia winces. Yeah, she really doesnât like fighting her friends.
âOh, you learned aura sphere while you were gone?â Nia hears Avery say, excited.
Nia blinks, looking over at the kirlia. âI did?â
Tobias is also staring at Avery. âShe did?â
Nia sees Averyâs eyes widen a split-second before Xander bowls into her again. As she rolls to a stop, she notices the tingly current racing through her body, making her limbs feel numb and locked into place. She struggles to sit up but canât move. Xander takes his opportunity to pin her down, paws heavy on her arms.
He smiles. âMy win.â
Nia accepts defeat with a sigh, letting her head drop back. âI got distracted.â
Xander laughs. For a moment his claws flex, and then Nia feels the electricity in her bodyâŚrecede, as Xanderâs own sparks increase. He steps back, and Nia can move again. She blinks as she sits up, rubbing the remaining tingles out of her arms. Did heâŚtake back the paralysis? Like a lightning rod?
âGood fight, Nia!â Felix, ever the optimist, cheers.
âIt really wasnât,â Nia says. âAt least not on my end.â
âThat aura sphere caught me off-guard,â Xander encourages. âAnd I have a feeling you were holding back on me.â
âNot on purpose,â Nia assures, even as she keeps her mouth shut about how Xander hesitated too. He reminds her of her brother in the human world, Clay, so of course she doesnât want to hurt him. She imagines he sees some of his younger siblings in her as well.
As they rejoin the rest of the group, Kry and Felix pass them to spar next. Val gestures Nia to sit at her side, between her and Avery.
âSorry, I promise Iâve been keeping up with my training. I can fight better than that,â Nia says, shying away from her mentorâs inscrutable gaze.
âSo we heard!â Avery says, ruby eyes shining. âYou fought a steelix on your own?â
Nia shrugs, ears pinning to her head. âTobias and Samir weakened him first.â
âIt is still impressive, Riolu,â Val finally says. âDo not downplay your achievements. You fight hardest when there is a true threat. That is admirable in its own way.â
Nia relaxes, giving Val a thankful smile. âI just worry about hurting my friends when we spar.â
âXander can take it,â Avery giggles. âBut forget about thatâwhat other aura techniques did you learn while you were gone?â
Nia perks up as she describes her improved control over her aura. She can form a pretty reliable staff of aura now, officially replacing her trusty branch as her main weapon, and apparently even throw something like an aura sphere at a short distance, at least according to Avery. Plus, thereâs the way she used her aura to find Tobias in the mines under Asraâlike a pulse. A radar.
At that revelation, Avery interrupts. âThat could be a really useful skill to master.â
âReally?â
âAbsolutely! Other than being able to find Pokemon buried beneath rocks or snow, you could even use it in battle or in the dark if your vision is impaired.â
Nia looks down at her hands, flexing them. She supposes she did kind of âseeâ Tobiasâ aura to find him in the rubble. And she remembers when she was first learning to use her aura that Valâs energy formed a sort ofâŚsilhouette of color. Nia hadnât thought of practicing her aura as a form of vision, but Avery does have a point about it being useful in certain situations.
âWant to try it?â Xander asks, dropping into the conversation from Avery's other side.
âNow?â Nia asks.
âWhy not?â
Nia looks between everyone, but they all seem open to the idea. Tobias, sitting on Xanderâs other side, looks a bit uneasy as usual at the mention of aura, but he doesnât protest. Maybe since Nia has already seen his aura once, albeit on a very surface level, some of his reluctance has melted away.
âYouâŚdonât mind if I look at your aura to practice?â
Everyone shakes their head, save for Tobias. He just shrugs, looking down to fiddle with his scarf. That's as close to a yes as she's probably getting.
Well, theyâre all waiting for her. With a hesitant nod, Nia closes her eyes, trying to remember what she did down in the mines. At the time she was fueled by desperation, so it feels strange to try and replicate the move in a more relaxed environment. She thinks she just kind ofâŚpushed out a thin pulse of aura? Like a wave.
She tries it once, gently. Her aura barely even leaves her body, brushing against Valâs orange energy and flashing in her mindâs eye before petering out. Frowning, Nia turns up the power a few notches. Not so strong as to hurt, but not so weak that it dissipates immediately.
On her second try, the aura washes over all of them in a single pulse. Colors light up in her mindâs eye, resembling their vague silhouettes. Valâs bright, strong orange. Averyâs calming indigo. Xanderâs eye-catching red. Tobiasâ deeper scarlet. For an instant, for a moment, she sees them all, before it goes dark again.
âThat feltâŚinteresting,â Xander says, making Nia open her eyes. Heâs rubbing a paw over his chest.
Nia blinks. âYou felt that?â
Avery nods. âYes! Itâs so hard to describe. It almost feels like youâŚbrushed your paw over my arm to get my attention. ButâŚagainst my mind instead? My emotions, maybe?â
Nia cringes, immediately glancing at Tobias. He was the touchiest about her aura being invasive.
He does look a bit wary. âHow does it feel for you? When you do that.â
Nia looks down at her hand, curling it. âIâŚdonât think I focused on anyone long enough to get a read on anything? But Iâm familiar enough with all of you that it was easy to tell who was who. I could stillâŚfeel your personalities? But not any specific emotions.â
âIf you were to focus your aura more steadily, in a direct connection rather than a radius, I wonder how well you could track an opponent, even with your eyes closed,â Val says, hand at her chin.
âCould you attach your aura in some way?â Avery adds. âTag someone, so you would have a constant link?â
Nia sits back. Huh. She certainly hadnât thought of that. Sheâs glad these two are here to help. âIâŚdonât know? Iâve never tried.â
âWould you want to?â Avery asks, practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of experimenting. They clearly wouldnât mind being a guinea pig.
âSure? If you donât, uh. Mind. Any suggestions for how to do this? Since youâre a psychic type?â
âWell, you should probably start out by touching them, right?â Xander says, tilting his head. He glances Kry and Felixâs way when a small explosion goes off from their sparring. Felix is cackling as Kry shouts something at him.
âThat would likely be a good place to start, yes,â Val says.
Avery holds out a hand, smiling. Nia hesitates, then takes it, closing her eyes and reaching out with her aura.
Averyâs purple-blue aura, as curious and deep as the night sky, flares to life behind Niaâs eyelids, making up the kirliaâs silhouette. Niaâs own bright blue aura is a strong contrast to it, the two colors a beautiful mix where they overlap at their hands. But when Nia pulls back her paw, Averyâs aura vanishes. She frowns, and touches the kirlia again so the indigo flares back to life. So she does need toâŚattach her aura to them, somehow. Anchor herself?
Nia canât think of how to do such a thing, so she tries to let her instincts take over instead. Aura is all about emotion, after all. About her life energy, what she wills into being. So what if she justâŚwills her aura to connect? Wills her bond with the kirlia to become somethingâŚtangible. Something physical. Something more than the surface-level observations of aura that she's done so far, something deeper.
She thinks about Averyâs soft voice and bright eyes and the delicate way they move. How theyâre always happy to help Nia think through a problem and how their very presence soothes something anxious in Nia. Warm affection wells up in her heart.
Niaâs aura moves to follow that pull, that connection, latching onto Averyâs instead of just brushing against it. She feels a rush of emotion, of thought, that isnât hers.
fascinating eager friend proud curious
Itâs less a voice, and more aâŚfeeling of each word. Not too different from what Nia has felt in the past, but somehow more intense. Clearer. Nia yanks her hand away, startled, but between them a string of bright blue aura remains, tying her to Averyâs indigo aura and keeping their form visible behind her eyelids. If Nia focuses on it, she can still feels Averyâs emotions, distant. Like a voice from the next room over or a palm radiating warmth through a heavy sweater.
Worry friend okay?
Niaâs eyes snap open, and she feels the connection cut out, leaving her feeling almostâŚlonely. Sheâs panting like she hasnât since the early days of her aura training. Avery, Xander, and Tobias are watching her with mirrored expressions of concerned curiosity.
âI-I think it worked?â Nia says.
Avery lights up, leaning forward. âTell me everything.â
Nia tries her best to describe the experience as Felix and Kry return to the group, Kry pouting at her loss and Felix ribbing the dragon type with an elbow to her side. As soon as theyâre caught up on whatâs happening, Felix eagerly volunteers to be Niaâs next test subject.
Nia has a slightly harder time connecting to Felixâs leafy green aura, and frowns as she tries and fails to find a foothold.
âMaybe your aura is too depleted?â Avery suggests.
Nia considers that, but shakes her head. No, her aura isnât anywhere near gone. Itâs just likeâŚtrying to stick one piece of cotton to another, with no adhesive to hold it in place. With Avery, it was like thereâd been a piece of Velcro to snag onto.
Val, arms crossed and head tilted, flicks her gaze to Tobias. âCharmander.â
Tobias, who had been watching the whole process with an unreadable expression, frowns. âYeah?â
âYou next.â
Nia and Tobias shake their heads at the same time.
âNo.â
âH-He doesnât have to, really!â
âHe is your partner,â Val cuts in. âHe of all Pokemon should be the one you are most familiar with. If you two are separated, I want to know you have a chance to use this skill to your advantage.â
That isâŚunfortunately a good point. Except Tobias has been so private with his aura, from the very beginning. Not that Nia can blame him! Itâs a really personal thing. ButâŚshe also doesnât want to disappoint Val, andâ
âFine,â Tobias grumbles, scooting over to sit in front of Nia and jabbing his hand forward. âGet it over with.â
Nia blinks at him, surprised. Just like that?
Tobias flushes. âShe has a good point. Câmon.â
Nia still hesitates, but after glancing at his face one more time she closes her eyes and reaches out a hand.
Before even brushing against him, her aura leaps from her body to his, latching on like a magnet. Tobiasâ emotions filter through the string, somehowâŚlouder than Avery's. Clearer, like the reception is better.
hide hide hide calm down Nia wonât hate calm down will she get it over with alreadyâ
Nia cuts the connection herself, recoiling with wide eyes. Tobias glares back at her, none of the turmoil she just felt showing on his face.
âRiolu?â Val prompts.
âYou didnât even touch me,â Tobias grumbles. âWhy do you look so freaked out?â
âI-I didnât need to?â Nia says, more a question than a statement. âIâŚmy aura connected on its own?â
âWithout contact?â Avery asks.
Surprised, Nia nods. Her attention is admittedly torn, though, caught on the thoughts and emotions Nia felt when she connected to her partner. HeâsâŚso scared of her looking at his aura. And not because of privacy reasons, like sheâd previously thought.
HeâsâŚscared Nia will hate what she sees?
âHm.â Val looks like she expected this turn of events. âI suspect the depth of your bond with someone influences how easily you can connect to them.â
âOr maybe Nia is just getting better as she goes?â Felix suggests.
Nia canât give the speculation her full attention like she usually would. Sheâs too busy trying to tear her thoughts away from Tobiasâ suddenly worrying self-esteem, or lack thereof. SheâŚdoesnât think she can really bring it up directly, since they were kind of his private thoughts? But sheâs more than a little concerned. Sheâs confident that the two of them are friends at this point, but heâs still so scared that sheâs suddenly going toâŚwhat? Turn on him? Just because she gets a better understanding of who he is?
âTry again on Wartortle,â Val says.
Nia manages to focus back on the conversation, at least a little. Distracted, almost without thinking, she reaches out and tries to make her aura connect to Felix again, this time without touching. Her aura strains and reaches an inch or two past her body before snapping back. Completely different than it was with Tobias, where it leaped for him like a long-lost friend.
âNo,â Nia murmurs. âI think Val is right. ItâsâŚit feels completely different.â
Felix looks unusually put out by Nia struggling to connect with his aura. Val, Avery and Xander, however, just seem thoughtful. Kry is busy picking at her teeth.
Tobias is staunchly looking everywhere but Nia, face redder than usual and fingers rubbing at his scarf. Embarrassed. Nia supposes she understands how he feels, even in her distracted state. Itâs one thing to feel close to him, but another thing entirely to have tangible proof of their friendship. Then again, apparently he needs proof, if his inner thoughts are anything to gauge by.
âIf only we could speak with one of the lucario tribes,â Avery sighs. âThey must know so much more about aura and what it can do. Psychic energy can be used for telepathy and more physical techniques like telekinesis, but aura is an entirely different matter since it deals directly with life energy and emotions. Iâve heard you can even influence a target's emotional state and manipulate their aura like you would your own!â
Nia leans back, something in her gut turning over as she snaps back to the conversation at hand. Influencing othersâ emotions? Manipulating their aura, their life energy?
"ThatâŚuh, sounds a little scary, Avery."
Avery seems surprised, but then laughs. âApologies. I suppose it does. I just thought it was fascinating! And I know you would never misuse your aura, so I donât fear that kind of power in your paws.â
Niaâs unease fades a bit as she gives them a smile. Itâs nice to know Avery has so much faith in her.
âFor now, continue to explore this technique, Riolu,â Val says. She tilts her head towards the battlefield. âAvery. Luxio. You are next.â
Avery looks reluctant to leave the discussion, but sighs and stands with an unreasonable amount of grace. They give Xander a teasing smile. âThink you can win this time?â
Xander laughs, lighting up in the way he only seems to around the kirlia. Itâs kind of adorable. He nudges his teammate as they walk onto the battlefield together. âIâll certainly try my best.â
Val hums, gaze lingering on the two of them as they start sparring without her call. âCharmander, you will battle Wartortle next.â
Nia frowns. Felix just battled a bit ago. âShouldnât I..?â
âYou can fight if you would prefer to, but I can see you are reluctant. I believe you are making fine enough combat progress to focus on your aura today.â
Oh. Nia would prefer that over sparring, if Val thinks sheâs doing all right. âO-Okay! So should I just..?â
âPractice with my aura while I monitor the sparring,â Val says, still watching the battle. âConnect to me, then try stepping away to see how far you can go before you lose the connection. Take a break between each attempt.â
Thereâs no hesitation in the medichamâs words, so after a moment Nia nods and closes her eyes to connect to Valâs orange energy. Itâs not nearly as easy as Tobias or even Avery, but not any more difficult than Felix. A gentle tap to the fighting typeâs arm, and the connection, though weak, is made. Valâs thoughts and emotions, calm as a still lake, leak through.
Luxio spark more aggressive Avery work on physical strength Riolu take breaks cannot forget exhaust herselfâ
Nia tries to channel out the medicham's thoughts, feeling a bit like sheâs intruding. The thoughts are still there, but like someone murmuring nearby. She can kind of tune them out, and instead focuses on getting to her feet.
Whoa. She feels a bit woozy, as she usually does when stretching her aura in new ways. After a moment she manages to back away, one step at a time. The string between them stretches longer and longer. All Nia sees is her own aura and Valâs, the orange silhouette of her a bright beacon amidst the sea of black behind her eyelids.
Nia makes it ten steps away before she feels the stringâŚstrain, for lack of a better word. A tug on her soul. Then, one more step and it snaps. Nia gasps and stumbles, barely managing to catch herself before she can fall.
âNia?â Tobias calls, apparently watching. His brow is furrowed.
âIâm fine!â She pants. That feeling justâŚsurprised her. It was as if something she was leaning her weight on suddenly vanished.
âTake a break,â Val calls.
Nia does so, staggering back to Valâs side to sit and watch Xander and Avery exchange blows.
Thatâs how the training session continues, the others taking turns sparring, Tobias included, while Nia trains this new facet of her aura.
Avery, of course, gently interrogates Nia every time they are on the sidelines, watching Niaâs progress with fascination. The two of them hold a conversation as Nia treads back and forth, getting familiar with seeing the others through her aura. Avery is as curious about Nia and Tobiasâ travels to Asra and Shivergleam as they are about everything else.
When Nia brings up how protect and misty terrain stopped the effects of the forming mystery dungeon on their way back from Shivergleam, Avery falls silent. When Nia finishes that round of connection training and opens her eyes, Avery is staring at her in much the same way they did when Nia made the connection between aura and type energy. Like their world has just shifted on its axis a bit.
âAvery?â
ââŚItâs almost a shame you became a Seeker, Nia. The research community would be lucky to have you.â
âHas no one ever tried to use a move like that in a mystery dungeon?â Nia asks, frowning. It feels kind ofâŚobvious?
Avery hums. âIâm sure someone has, but itâs certainly not a well-documented strategy. The number of Pokemon who know such moves is already small, and the number of those Pokemon who just happen to get caught in a mystery dungeon forming are even smaller. To then also have a calm enough head to try defending rather than running? Even less so.â
âOh.â Nia suddenly feels very, very glad that her instinct seems to be to freeze and defend, rather than to fight or flee. In this case, it worked in her favor.
âMystery dungeons are a fairly recent phenomenon, in the grand scheme of things,â Avery continues. âLess than half a century old. And considering how dangerous they are to study as well as how randomly and rarely they appearâat least until recentlyâmany basic facts about how they function are still unknown."
Huh. Nia guesses that makes sense.
"So this is an incredible discovery!" Avery says, excited. "Iâll need to share with Father later and ask him to connect with the researchers and archivists at the other guilds. I wonder why those moves can interact directly with a mystery dungeon? Is the environment itself using an attack somehow?â
Averyâs voice trails off to a mutter, and Nia has to stop herself from responding. Because she knows the answer to that, thanks to Giratina. Knows that the weakening border around the Pokemon world is the cause of the mystery dungeons, and that itâs made of life energy, of aura, just like any Pokemon. It makes sense that moves, which also use aura as their base power, can interact with it.
But sharing that knowledge would mean admitting to her run-in with Giratina. It would mean sharing the news of the world ending, the news that their hopes currently hinge on finding a long-lost dormant legendary. And August is going to talk to Alistair and Tawny anyways, right? Nia doesnât want to put that burden on Averyâs shoulders. Not when thereâs nothing they can do about it. Theyâre having a good time, training together! Thereâs no reason for Nia to bother Avery with terrible news. Not yet.
Nia takes a break shortly after that conversation, starting to feel truly worn down. Tobias sits down beside her after his latest spar, panting hard after facing off against Xander. Felix and Avery battle in front of them, while Xander and Kry talk strategy and Val observes.
âHey, you crazy kids!â
Nia and Tobias tilt their heads back to see Azami hanging over them. She must be done training her own students. The tsareenaâs mouth is hidden behind her high collar, but her eyes are crinkled with a smile. âGood to see you back at the Tree in one piece.â
Tobias scoffs, but Nia feels the way he relaxes at her side. âWhat, you think we were going to lose an arm or something out there?â
Azami laughs. âI never know with you, Spitfire!â
The tsareena takes a seat on Valâs other side to watch the spar now that sheâs done mentoring her own students. After a moment, she decides to cheer on Avery. Felix sends her a betrayed look in the midst of battle that results in him getting blasted by a fairy move. Val gets up a moment later to move to where Felix is groaning on the floor, a quiet lecture about getting distracted in battle likely on her tongue.
On Nia's other side, Tobias is now arguing with Kry and Xander about offensive versus defensive strategies. Tobias insists that offensive is best, of course, while Xander leans more towards defensive strategies. Kry seems to be arguing that going on the offensive is not aggressive enough, somehow.
Nia, left to drift in the middle, sits in contented silence, letting her fatigued aura rest. She watches Val talk to Avery next. The medichamâs stoic expression is softened ever so slightly as she directs the kirlia on how they couldâve better dodged a tricky aqua tail attack earlier in the battle.
Azami leans over to whisper to Nia, âYouâre one of her favorites, yâknow.â
âW-What?â
âVal,â Azami says. She straightens up, but keeps her voice low. âShe didnât have the greatest mentor growing up, so she tends to keep her students at armâs length. But she always perks up when you and Spitfire are back in town.â
âOh,â Nia says, unsure what else to respond with. Her ears feel warm.
SheâŚwasnât expecting that. Val doesnât seem to hate being around Nia and teaching her, but Nia has a hard time believing that Val holds any particular fondness for her, either. Especially considering Niaâs inexperience with pretty much, wellâŚeverything. If anything, sheâd thought Val might find her kind of exhausting to deal with. Not that the medicham ever let that slip, but she doesnât let much of anything slip.
âTrust me,â Azami laughs. âOther than Alistair, Iâm the best Val translator in the guild. Weâre close.â
Her voice is sly, and Nia glances at the tall grass type.
Azami winks.
Oh, Nia thinks as her brows shoot up. She doesnât want to assume anything, but Azami isnât exactly subtle. Does that mean her and Val..?
Val finishes offering advice and returns to sit between Nia and Azami, stopping Niaâs moment of revelation. Still, she canât help peeking over at the two Pokemon afterwards, trying to figure out if Azami was just teasing her or not. Azami does lean awfully close to Val when they talk, and the medicham doesnât seem to mind at all. Then again, cool and collected is kind of her default state.
For a moment, Nia thinks, I could connect to Valâs aura to find out.
Then she registers that thought and tears her gaze away to watch the next spar, stomach turning uncomfortably. Sheâs going to need to be careful with how she practices this new technique. Every time she thinks sheâs getting a grasp on her aura, getting comfortable with it, something new pops up to throw a curveball and make her feel like sheâs handling a live bomb. Itâs justâŚscary. To know she holds so much power.
Val calls it quits on everyoneâs training soon after. Tobias and Xanderâs team are radiating exhaustion, and they eagerly agree to break for a late lunch. While Nia isnât physically tired, her aura is worn down to a fraction of its usual amount and that leaves her ready for a rest and a good meal, too.
âWanna come with us to the dining hall?â Felix invites, smile broad as he stands and stretches.
Nia glances at her partner. Tobias seems uncertain, but doesnât disagree immediately, so heâs probably just feeling shy about how to say yes without a fuss. Nia accepts for them both, and the group packs up to head down the Lexym Tree to the cafeteria floor.
As they leave, calling thanks to Val and Azami, Nia spots the tsareena slinging an arm around Valâs shoulders, laughing about something. Valâs mouth twitches into a small smile.
Nia bites back a smile of her own and hurries after her friends.
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