Inside there were grunts milling around, obviously a security measure. What Elaina was most interested in were the people in the center. There were thirteen in total, which was odd because that meant either someone brought two apprentices or no apprentices at all.
A palpable tension settled over the grand hall as Sabrina's group stepped inside. The thirteen figures assembled in the center, forming various groups. Eliana's gaze swept over them, her mind cataloging faces and power levels with practiced ease. Some were familiar faces from the anime and games, their public personas a stark contrast to the aura of calculated menace they now exuded.
Standing with a rigid, almost severe posture was Koga, the former poison-type gym leader of Fuchsia City. He was now part of Johto's elite four. His face was mostly obscured by the lower half of his ninja mask, but Eliana could feel the sharp, focused intensity of his mind honed to a razor's point.
Beside him stood a younger woman, her movements fluid and quick, her features a clear echo of the older man's. Eliana recognized her instantly, Janine, Koga's daughter and successor. Her eyes, a striking shade of lavender, darted around the room, missing nothing, assessing every new arrival with a practiced coolness. She was the current gym leader of Fuchsia City.
Her attention was then drawn to a woman leaning against one of the grand marble pillars, her long, silver hair a stark contrast to the dark background. Her expression was one of cool amusement, her lips curved in a slight, knowing smile. This was Karen, a member of Johto's elite four, a master of dark types.
Beside her was a young man with sharp features and an intense, watchful gaze. He seemed to be the oldest apprentice Eliana's seen so far since he didn't look like a teenager. His dark hair was styled meticulously, and he carried himself with a quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance. She didn't recognize the boy, but she assumed he was Karen's apprentice. That might be cause for worry in the future, but all of her Pokémon had something to counter dark types. Not to mention Gallade as a whole could take care of the immunity on his own.
Not far from them, a man stood out from the crowd, not for his posture, but for his appearance. He wore a flamboyant, deep purple coat with high, stiff collars that framed his face. His hair was a similar shade of purple, styled in a way that was both elegant and somewhat theatrical. Eliana recognized him instantly. This was Will, the psychic-type member of Johto's elite four, a master of psychic types, just like Sabrina. His eyes were closed, a serene smile on his face, but Eliana could barley feel the thrum of psychic power emanating from him.
He's certainly not as strong as Sabrina is, his psychic presence is pretty lacking. Although he's an elite four member so his Pokémon have to be strong. Eliana frowned, Wait there's no one next to him. What's he doing here without an apprentice.
Well half of Kanto's gym leaders and the majority of Johto's elite four, Giovanni knows what he's doing, Eliana pondered as she turned her attention to the other side of the group.
Standing there with an absurd amount of arrogance was a boy her age, with a shock of vivid red hair that fell over determined, cold eyes. He was dressed in a dark, sleeveless jacket over a black shirt. Eliana recognized him instantly. Silver, the rival of Johto and the boy who had stolen a starter from Professor Elm's lab. Eliana thought it was odd that he was here but moved past it.
Standing stiffly beside him was a woman with striking, layered crimson hair. Her expression was haughty, her lips painted in a matching shade of red. She looked at Silver with a mixture of pride and possessiveness. Eliana couldn't identify the woman for the life of her so she chose to briefly look over her mind. Her name was Ariana, and she was not only an executive of Team Rocket. But she was also Giovanni's wife.
Eliana looked at Silver again with suspicion, it pained her to think she'd have to work with him in the future. Especially if this was going the way she thought, there's no way the boy wouldn't be one of the ones to pass.
Next to them was a tall, broad-shouldered man with neatly combed blue hair and a sharp, white suit. He had an air of calculated authority, his smile polite but not reaching his cold, assessing eyes. Again, Eliana was clueless as to who this was so she brushed his mind, Archer, another executive. Standing beside him was a young man with a serious expression, his blonde hair cut short. He stood at attention, his posture perfect, a clear subordinate to the executive. This must be Archer's apprentice, he looked to be the same age as Karen's apprentice.
Then there was a man, with teal hair, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. He had a sallow complexion and a perpetually bored expression, punctuated by a lazy, almost contemptuous smirk. Executive Proton. His apprentice, a boy with slicked-back brown hair and wide, nervous eyes, seemed to be trying to mimic his mentor's nonchalance but failing spectacularly. He would be fun to play with later on.
So that left the next duo to be the final member of the Rocket executive quartet was a round-faced man with a shifty, perpetually guilty look. His suit was rumpled, and he kept adjusting his tie as if it were constricting him. Eliana did not recognize him either and was extremely confused when the image of a completely different man came up when she looked into his mind.
Petrel…? Eliana searched her memories for anything on him, Oh yeah, he's the one who used disguises.
The boy next to him didn't look to be anything impressive, but considering who his master was that would change. The low murmur of conversation died. The grunts standing guard straightened their postures, their faces becoming impassive masks. Every eye, including Eliana's, turned towards the grand staircase at the far end of the hall.