[Four or five days passed without a single sign of Yveltal, as if it had completely vanished.]
[Team Flare hypothesized that it might have entered another deep sleep.]
[Yet, both you and Lysandre frowned at this conclusion, feeling uneasy for reasons you couldn't pinpoint.]
...
"Cogita, we seem to be out of mushrooms. Did you buy more?"
Stepping out from the cottage, Elias called to Cogita, who was relaxing in the courtyard.
Daily cooking couldn't rely solely on Berries; they needed other ingredients, like vegetables or meats, which required regular trips to the market.
Normally, Elias took care of this himself, but recently he'd been swamped with Team Flare's affairs and assisting Delphox in training.
Thus, grocery shopping naturally fell to Cogita.
Unfortunately…
She seemed to have completely forgotten the matter.
Hearing Elias's question, Cogita's expression grew visibly awkward, her cheeks reddening slightly.
After a moment's pause, she shook her head, feigning calm.
"No."
Her tone was perfectly indifferent, as though it had nothing to do with her.
Seeing this, Elias sighed helplessly.
They already didn't have much food left, and mushrooms were essential if he wanted to prepare anything decent.
He glanced up at the sky, considering.
Today he'd finished things earlier than usual, so it wasn't too late yet.
From the cottage to the nearest vendor and back would take roughly two hours—still manageable.
"Should I go buy them now?"
Seeing Elias's expression, Cogita cautiously offered.
Elias felt relieved seeing Cogita volunteer.
She used to be even lazier.
"Just have Enamorus go instead," he suggested after thinking it over.
Enamorus could fly, making it one of the faster Pokémon available.
As for Cogita... he felt less confident in sending her alone.
Hearing this, Cogita felt vaguely insulted but still nodded obediently.
She raised a slender finger, beckoning gently behind her.
In response, Enamorus swiftly appeared at her side. Having heard their conversation, it had no objections.
But before Cogita could give an order, hesitation flashed across her face.
Right now, Enamorus represented the cottage's strongest fighting force.
Delphox had grown stronger, but she was still slightly lacking.
Having Enamorus leave—even briefly—made Cogita feel uneasy.
Considering this, she slowly stood and walked inside.
Looking at Elias's busy figure, her lips curled slightly.
"Elias, I don't feel comfortable sending Enamorus away," she openly expressed her concern.
No one could predict when danger might arrive.
Hearing her words, Elias paused, briefly lost in thought. Cogita had a point, especially since Yveltal's whereabouts had become uncertain.
Still, he only assumed she was feeling uneasy and didn't think more deeply about it.
"Should I go myself, then?" Elias asked.
Cogita's eyebrows knitted slightly, clearly displeased.
She'd meant for Enamorus to stay and protect Elias; he'd completely misunderstood her intentions.
"Let Enamorus and that red fox go with you," Cogita huffed lightly, annoyed.
"What about you?"
Elias hesitated again.
"Just hurry back," Cogita responded calmly. "I have no grudge with Yveltal. It won't randomly come causing trouble for me."
Seeing her confident attitude, Elias nodded, agreeing to her plan.
...
[Under Cogita's arrangement, Enamorus and Delphox both accompanied you away from the cottage.]
[Diancie, whose slow movements made her unsuitable for a quick errand, pouted unhappily.]
[Yet, after considering reality, she obediently stayed behind.]
...
"Don't worry, we'll be back soon."
Elias gently rubbed Diancie's head, reassuring her.
He also felt more at ease leaving Diancie at home; at the very least, her digging skills had reached an impressive level.
"Alright then…" Diancie reluctantly agreed, still pouting.
Nearby, Delphox appeared visibly pleased, eyes gleaming with excitement.
She was finally tasting the benefits of becoming stronger.
If she kept improving, she might not even need Enamorus around one day, as she'd be strong enough on her own.
Imagining this future, Delphox felt warmth surge through her chest.
"Stay safe on your way!"
...
[Amid farewells, you and your two Pokémon quickly headed towards the forest's edge.]
[Cogita's cottage was situated deep within the forest; reaching your destination would still take some time.]
[Fortunately, thanks to psychic power and flying abilities, your pace was swift.]
...
As they neared the forest's edge, Elias, who had been rushing ahead, suddenly frowned.
He sensed something foul in the air—a scent of decay.
It was as if something had been dead for a long while, spreading an unsettling feeling around.
"Speed up; let's hurry out of here," Elias commanded his Pokémon as an uneasy feeling settled over him.
Once they reached the forest's outskirts, they'd be safely out of danger.
However…
At that very instant, Enamorus abruptly halted.
Floating midair, she stared ahead, expression heavy and alert.
Noticing her reaction, Elias and Delphox quickly stopped as well.
Using psychic energy, Elias swiftly scanned the area ahead, spotting dense black mist filling the forest.
Within the haze lurked something unseen, exuding a deeply unsettling aura.
Most disturbingly, on the mist's perimeter were rows of lifeless trees.
These once-vibrant trees were now shriveled husks.
As a Pokémon of springtime, Enamorus felt both shock and anger at the scene, desperately wanting to rush in and restore life.
Yet, remembering her mission to protect Elias, she forcefully restrained herself.
She knew the black mist was extremely dangerous.
Whoever created this was undoubtedly an incredibly formidable Pokémon.
She couldn't afford the risk.
Simultaneously, Elias had already noticed the forest's abnormal condition.
He narrowed his eyes, inwardly cursing his luck.
---
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