Chapter 5 – Starting Out

The next morning…

So…that’s really me now.

Arian stared into the mirror located in the guest room in Elvira and Zenobia’s house in contemplation.

It was not long after he woke up. But he didn’t get out of bed immediately; rather, he lay under the covers for some minutes, wondering if all he had experienced yesterday was all but a dream. It did surely seem like something out of a fairy tale. Transforming into a blue-furred dog-like creature that could sense the emotions of others? Meeting magical, inhuman creatures that could talk? Being capable of techniques like turning his claws metallic and unleashing a palm attack that could paralyse his enemies? And now planning to become a mercenary of all things? It all sounded right out of the pages of a fantasy novel.

And yet he woke up in that same room again that he’d woken up in yesterday. And when he pulled back the covers…he saw that he was indeed still a Riolu.

Seeing this, he came to a conclusion.

This is no dream.

He got up after this, and looking out of the window of the guest room, he could see that daybreak hadn’t been long ago. It sounded quiet in the house, and therefore Arian presumed that the other four who slept in the house last night were not yet awake.

That meant the amnesiac human had time to kill.

He considered reading a book from the bookshelf in the room, or from the much more abundant bookshelf in the sitting room. But one look at the vanity table located in the guest room made up his mind for him. Specifically, it was the mirror he wished to look at.

And so Arian walked over to the vanity table. He stood on the stool in front of it, which gave him enough height to gaze into the mirror.

A blue-and-black furred canine stared back at him.

He blinked. It blinked. He moved his right arm. It moved its left arm. He held his left paw up. It held its right paw up.

It was absurd. It was bizarre, to look into the mirror and not see a human. To not see himself. Whatever I looked like before this.

“Ah, Arian. There you are.”

“Hm?” Arian looked over his shoulder. “Oh, morning, Zenobia.”

“And a good morning to you too, Arian,” the Heliolisk returned, crutches by her sides. “You’re up early.”

“I just woke up myself,” Arian told her. “I haven’t been awake for too long.”

“Nor have I. …What are you doing?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m just…” The human looked back at the mirror. “…Still getting used to this new image of mine.”

“You poor thing,” Zenobia expressed sympathetically. “Being taken from your loved ones into a land where no one knows you, and to be inflicted with amnesia on top of it all…I can’t be sorry enough for your situation, Arian.”

“It’s alright, Zenobia,” Arian assured. “In fact…call me weird if you wish, but I don’t really feel sad over losing my memories. Not any more, at least.”

“You don’t?”

“…I mean, I was a bit upset and panicked at first, but…now I’m not that torn over it. At the very least, I have a new name, and I’m going to have a job to do from today. So…my situation could definitely be worse. I’ll hopefully have a firm place in this world before long.”

“…I see. …But do you not want to find out who you once were?” Zenobia wondered. “If I had amnesia, I’d think I would do anything to find that out.”

“…I suppose I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious,” the Riolu admitted. “Looking in the mirror now…I do wonder. What did I look like before I transformed into a Riolu? I’m racking my brains, but…I don’t remember anything. …Come to think of it, I’m not even sure I remember what a human looks like.”

“You don’t even remember that? …Oh dear…” murmured Zenobia worriedly.

“I wonder, though…” Arian pondered. “…Does it really matter?”

“…What do you mean, Arian?”

“My memories…Does it matter whether I regain them or not?” the amnesiac mentioned. “Elvira said there aren’t any humans in Ardalion. So by that logic, I must not have come from Ardalion in the first place. Somewhere else…a different land…maybe even a different world,” he mused.

“A different world. …Surely not, Arian. You might be overthinking this.”

“…Maybe I am. But…what I want to say is that…whether I like it or not, here I am, ready to establish a new life in this world. I…could have been dealt a much worse hand. But I have some degree of power in my moves, and I have a good friend in Elvira. It’s a good place to start.”

“…I suppose you have a point. Though, it’s strange. Your story, it almost sounds like…” Zenobia drifted off.

“Like what?”

“…Forgive me. It’s probably just a coincidence,” Zenobia shut down. “But I’m surprised you’re so willing to embrace your new body just like that.”

“…Maybe I’m silly. Maybe it’s just bluster,” Arian replied. “But I want to go with the flow, you know? If this is where my life is headed, into this strange world…” Arian grinned while punching his fists together. “Then bring it on.”

“That is a positive way of looking at it,” observed the Heliolisk. “…It’s almost enviable. Some could learn a lot from you.”

“Thanks, Zenobia. …I do hope I’m not being overconfident here,” he said. I don’t really know much about this world beyond Verdant Woods. Of course, I will know in the days ahead. But for now, it’s kind of just me hoping things will work out for the best. I’m still trying to adjust to this.” He pointed at the mirror. “It’s still weird to think that’s me.“

“It must be unusual. Then again…it might be similar to evolution, where one has to get used to a new body again,” Zenobia said. “How are you about walking? You seemed fine yesterday evening,.”

“I’m fine for the most part,” the Riolu answered. “I still have some slight difficulty, but I’ve mostly got the gist of it. I don’t have to use Elvira as a crutch, at least,” he said, recalling when he first got up yesterday.

The mention of the Treecko suddenly reminded him of her. “Speaking of Elvira, is she up yet?” he asked Zenobia.

“Not yet, I don’t think,” the Heliolisk replied.

“It’s just…I’m feeling peckish. It is breakfast time, after all.” Arian hopped down from the stool. “Hmm…maybe I could give making porridge a go.”

“That would be nice of you. Shall we head to the kitchen?”

And so the two headed to the kitchen, Zenobia’s crutches clicking all the way there. When they arrived, the fire was lit, and Arian prepared the porridge. Zenobia, meanwhile, prepared some berry juice and honey, which Arian mixed into the porridge.

A few minutes later, it was ready and served up. Arian sampled some of it.

“”Mmm…delicious,” Arian remarked, upon sampling the porridge. “I like the flavour of the juices and honey. It makes it quite sweet.”

“I don’t normally go for sweet options, but I felt like doing things differently this morning,” Zenobia replied. I felt like treating Elvira, as a reward for finally getting over her fears. And it’s also a treat to you, for helping her overcome those hurdles.”

“…Thank you, Zenobia,” Arian said in response, as he returned to eating his porridge.

It was nice enough that the Riolu chose to take seconds, gladly allowed by Zenobia. During the eating of his second serving, Elvira came into the room, followed by Flora and Tamara.

“Ah…the sleeping beauties arise at last,” Zenobia remarked. “Good morning, Elvira. Good morning, Flora and Tamara.”

“Morning, Mom. Morning, Arian,” Elvira returned. “Sorry we’re up so late.”

“Late? We’re perfectly early…” mumbled Tamara, before letting out a yawn. “It’s way before my wake up time…”

“That’s your loss,” Flora replied critically. “Besides, it was you keeping the conversation going most of the night. You only have yourself to blame for being tired. And now your sleeping in means that we’re late to breakfast. …There’s still some left, right?”

“Of course there is,” Zenobia informed.

“Great.” The three girls then took their places at the table. Each took a bowl of porridge and tasted it. After this, all of their faces lit up.

“This…is really good,” commented Flora. “Who made this?”

“I did,” Arian said. “With a little help from Zenobia.”

“It’s really nice! I love how sweet it is!” Tamara praised.

“Mmm. I had a feeling it was you,” Elvira said, after sampling some. “Mom’s porridge tastes different. I should know; I grew up with it.”

“Thanks, guys.” Arian felt flattered at the praise.

“So…I’ve a question for Zenobia,” Flora asked. “Do you need to be looked after?”

“Not all the time,” the Heliolisk answered.

“Well, there you go, Elvira,” the Petilil said to her friend. “You don’t have to be all paranoid about your mom like you were. I mean, we haven’t seen each other for weeks…”

“Yeah…sorry about that,” apologised Elvira. “And sorry if I’ve been a bit patronising in the last few weeks, Mom.”

“…Don’t worry about it, Elvira. It’s proof you care for me. …At least now I know how you feel when you say I’m too overbearing,” she added, with a mirthful chuckle.

“Yeah,” agreed Elvira. “…But you might still need help with some things. And I won’t be here all the time to help you.”

“And that’s where we come in!” Tamara interjected. “Flora and I’ll look after your mom while you’re away doing merc stuff. We could even just call into her once a day to see how she’s doing, and maybe stock up on supplies if you’re low on any.”

“Thanks, you two. Granted, we’ll be staying close to home, so all this might not be necessary. Still, I appreciate it.” Elvira smiled. “You’re good friends, both of you.”

“Aw, thanks, Ellie!”

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

Soon, the pot of porridge was empty. It was left on the countertop, with Zenobia promising she would clean it later.

“So…I presume you two will be going into town, then,” the Heliolisk said, looking at Arian and Elvira.

“The four of us, actually,” Elvira corrected. “Flora and Tamara will be coming with us.”

“Yeah, we’ve gotta get home,” the Pachirisu added. “It’s been great staying here and all, but our parents are probably worried about us. We should get back to them.”

“I understand. I won’t keep you for much longer, then,” Zenobia said. “But before you leave, there is something I would like you to have, Elvira. And Arian, too.”

“For us? …What is it?” Elvira asked.

“Follow me,” Zenobia requested, and the Riolu and Treecko did so. The Heliolisk made her way to her room, and over to the wardrobe. She reached to the top compartment, while keeping herself steady on one crutch, and pulled out an item of fabric that made Elvira gasp slightly.

Specifically…it was a bag. A bag…not unlike what an average mercenary might have.

“Is this…for us?” Elvira asked.

“…Yes, it is,” Zenobia answered. “I began knitting it for you some time back, and only finished it up recently. Even if you decided not to become a mercenary, you could at the very least use it as a carrier bag for other purposes. …I knitted a similar bag for your father, as a gift for his hatch-day many years ago. He got a great amount of use out of it.”

“Yes, I remember…” Elvira stared at the bag, slightly mesmerised by it. “Thanks so much for this gift, Mom.”

“No problem. And there’s something else I have to give you,” Zenobia went over to the vanity table in the room, and pulled out a slip of paper. Elvira took it from her, and read what was written on it.

“A cheque?” she realised. “For…1,000 Poké?”

“Consider it a starting advance,” Zenobia explained. “Your father kept savings for you, when you would embark on the path to being a mercenary. There’s more in the bank – but do be aware that it hasn’t been topped up since your father disappeared five years ago. So be careful how you spend it.”

“Dad…really did all that for me?” Elvira said, feeling a twinge of emotion in her heart. “…Oh, bless him…He’s the best father in the world. You and him are the best, Mom. You’re the best parents I could have hoped for…” She opened her arms and embraced her mother.

“…Thank you, sweetie.” A grateful smile was present on the Heliolisk as she hugged her daughter back. “It means the world to me that you think that…no matter how many times you say it.”

“Anytime, Mom.” Elvira took the bag and began to walk out of the room. “We’ll get to the bottom of the Thorned Roses’ shenanigans. …Come on, Arian. Let’s go.”

“Be safe,” advised Zenobia. “The Thorned Roses will be at every corner in town. Do keep your guard up when you’re looking for clues.”

“I’ll be careful, Mom,” assured Elvira. “I’ll see you later.”

“…Take care.”

And so, the foursome left. Zenobia watched them go from the front doorstep, and waited until they disappeared into the distance. Once they did, she let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding.

I hope I haven’t made a wrong decision in encouraging her at a time like this, she mused. If the Thorned Roses find out what they’re up to, she’ll be in a world of hurt. My dear Kallias, if you can hear me… She looked up at the blue sky to the heavens above.

…Watch over our daughter. Please keep her safe.

---

Meanwhile, on the road to Ozerograd, the group of four were chatting amongst themselves.

“So what’s on the cards for you when you return to town?” Elvira asked her two friends.

“…Probably just check up on Mom and Dad, and help run the shop,” Flora answered. “Basically going back to what I’ve been doing.”

“What shop is it?” Arian wondered. “…Just out of curiosity.”

“…It’s a florist’s,” the Petilil replied. “It’s kinda small, though, and we don’t really get many customers. …Especially now. The Thorned Roses really have slowed what little customers we’ve had.”

“…A shame,” murmured Elvira. “…Maybe we should call in sometime, and help your business.”

“…That would be appreciated. Mom and Dad would like to see you too. Do come by sometime. …Well, when you have money, of course.” Flora looked over at the cheque in Elvira’s hands.

“I’ll pop in between clue-hunting, don’t worry,” the Treecko promised. “When we get to town, we’ll ask around and maybe see if anyone needs help with anything a mercenary would handle.”

“There’ll be something,” Tamara assured. “There’s always something. Regular people shouldn’t have to brave Mystery Dungeons for items precious to them…” She held onto her locket as she said this. “We’ve enough to worry about without the Thorned Roses breathing down our necks.”

“How bad are they?” Arian wondered.

“…You’ll see,” Elvira darkly alluded. “We’re not far from town. You’ll see when we get into town,” Elvira told him. “Speaking of which, we’re not too far away. When we climb this hill, we’ll look down upon it,” she indicated, pointing to a small incline in front of them.

“…How about I race you up there?” the Riolu challenged, a slight grin on his face.

“…You know what? Challenge accepted,” Elvira responded. “Okay, when I say go. One…two…three…go!”

The two of them sped off, both running up the hill. The sight was watched by Flora and Tamara, the latter of whom was smiling brightly at the Riolu and Treecko.

“I’m telling you. They’re gonna fall for one another some day,” the Pachirisu betted. “…Hey, Flora. Let’s do the same!”

“No,” Flora flatly denied. “We’re not in a big hurry. I’m not tiring myself out for nothing.”

“…Fine. Have it your way,” pouted Tamara, and walked alongside her friend up the incline. When they reached the top, they came across Arian and Elvira, both panting slightly and chatting with one another about what just transpired.

“…So you won, then,” Arian panted.

“Well, Treecko are known for being light and agile,” Elvira replied. “That’s to be expected. But I’d say if we had a longer race, you’d probably win. I read once that Riolu are very capable in regards to fitness, and usually have tons of stamina.”

“…Really?” Arian looked down at his small, yet supposedly athletic body. “…I never would have guessed this body of a Riolu would be so capable…”

“Well, you are a Fighting-type. They’re typically known for their physical capabilities,” elaborated Elvira. “And Riolu are no exception.”

“…I see.” The human then looked out at the scene from the top of the hill, and the view fixated his attention. “…Also, sorry to change the subject…but wow, that view is beautiful.”

The top of the hill offered a commanding view of the landscape ahead of them. Distant drumlins with forests provided an unusual yet interesting aesthetic to the Selenian landscape. Closer to them, Arian was surprised to see a lake lower down, an irregular shape of blue upon the green fields below. And some distance from the lake lay a number of buildings, which Arian could instantly pick out to be a town of some kind.

“Is that Ozerograd?” he asked.

“Yes,” came Elvira’s answer. “It’s only a few minutes away now. Though remember: be on your guard for the Thorned Roses. …That reminds me, I nearly forgot. We’ll have to pay a toll in order to get into town.”

“Oh. Do we?” Arian’s shoulders slumped.

“Yes, annoyingly.” Flora’s contempt was plainly visible. “Squeezing bastards…They just do it to wage their superiority over us. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to tear them a new one…”

“Right, Flora, we get it,” Tamara interjected, as if to prevent the Petilil from ranting further. By the familiar look in the Pachirisu’s eyes, they had been through this song and dance before. “Besides, there’s another way into town where you don’t have to pay the toll.”

“Is there?” Elvira asked.

“Yes. But it’s meant to be a secret,” replied Tamara, in a more hushed voice. “I know where it is. Just follow me.”

The four walked along the main path for a bit longer, before entering a wooded area. It was here that Tamara beckoned the others to veer off the beaten track, and through some grassy and overgrown lands. It was the kind of terrain that looked as though it would be very muddy in wet weather. But it didn’t appear as though it had rained in the last while, for there was little mud, and when any of the four stepped on fallen vegetation, it would crack dryly.

At one point during the trek, Arian caught a worried look in Elvira’s eyes. Hm? What’s this about? Is Elvira alright? he pondered. But if the Treecko was worried, she said nothing of it, and pressed onwards, following Tamara’s lead.

Eventually, they arrived at a small clearing in the woods. Elvira looked around her, but saw only trees and vegetation.

“I don’t see anything,” she said.

“Obviously not,” Flora replied. “It wouldn’t be much of a secret if it was out in the open, would it? We have to keep it secret, so the Thorned Roses don’t know we’re bypassing their toll payments.”

“Wait, Flora, you know about it?” Elvira queried.

“Of course I do,” came the Petilil’s answer. “But no more questions until we get in, please. We don’t want anyone overhearing us.”

“…Right,” Elvira acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Tamara had gone over to beside the base of one of the trees, where an amalgamation of branches and grass lay. Arian couldn’t help but think at first that something was off about it. It was as if it was somehow an unnatural formation, as if the process of nature had not created it.

His suspicions were confirmed when Tamara pushed the grass back…revealing a hidden passage underground.

“See?” she pointed out to everyone.

“Oh wow,” Elvira said, blinking in surprise. “I see. Does this take us into town?”

“Yep! Now come on, get in quickly,” urged Tamara.

“I’m coming,” Elvira said, and moved toward the passage. She allowed her friends to enter first. She held up the entrance to allow Arian to follow, but he denied it.

“Ladies first,” he said. “You go ahead of me. I’ll close it behind us.”

“Thank you, Arian,” Elvira replied, before entering the passage. The Riolu checked one last time to make sure they weren’t being followed, before closing the entrance behind him, making sure none of the outside could be seen from inside. Doing so did rob what little light the passage had, though. This wasn’t a problem for Arian, though; he found he could see just fine despite the darkness.

“Is it closed?” Tamara asked from the front.

“Yes,” came Arian’s response.

“Good. Let’s go.”

And so they made their way to the small, dark tunnel. The ceiling was very low, and all four had to crawl through it. It was notably dirty too, and Arian couldn’t suppress a slight grimace at the dirt that was accumulating on his fur.

He had another problem too. He was the biggest of the group of four, meaning that the tunnel was slightly tight for him. While it wasn’t a massive problem, there were one or two occasions on which he got stuck, and had to breathe in and wriggle to get out of it.

During the crawl, the conversation between Elvira and Flora continued.

“So…coming back to what you said earlier, Flora. How do you know of this tunnel?”

“Tam told me,” Flora replied. “She said it was a good way to get to the other end of town without having to pay the toll. So I began using it only recently. It has helped when it comes to gathering berries in Verdant Woods. Normally, Tam and I would do them together.”

“…How long’s it been here?” Elvira wondered. “It doesn’t look like an ancient passage. It looks like it was built recently.”

“Yes, it was,” Tamara answered. “It was built not too long ago by my dad. Jobs have been pretty light for him, and he wanted to avoid paying the toll. So he dug a tunnel to the other end of town so we could go there easier. It took a lot of work, but it’s worked well for us. It’s made my life much more pleasant.”

“…You call crawling through a tunnel pleasant?” muttered Flora.

“Hey, would you rather waste your money and have to deal with those Thorned Roses creeps?” Tamara countered. “I know which one I’d sooner leap for.”

“…I guess so,” replied the Petilil. Still doesn’t make me any less dirty, though.”

“It’s nothing that can’t be washed off, Flora,” Tamara said. “Now come on. Let’s keep going.”

They crawled onwards for what seemed like an eternity, but what was only thirty minutes at the absolute most. Eventually, they arrived at what appeared to be a wall of sorts. Only…once again, it felt different, like this wasn’t part of the tunnel.

And this was subsequently proven when Tamara pushed back the lock and lifted up what was in fact a trap door. Immediately, light hit them, and all of them blinked as they got adjusted to the change in light from the dark passage.

“And here we are!” Tamara proclaimed as she got out, helping her three companions out of the tunnel.

“…Hm? Where are we?” Arian looked around him. “It looks like…a shed?” It was indeed that; they were in a small shed, where several carpentry tools such as hammers, nails, and a few saws were present. They all looked worn, as if they had gotten plenty of use in their lifetimes.

“It’s the shed at the back of my house,” Tamara explained. “My dad built it in here so no one could see it from overhead. In fact, there’s the shovel he dug it with.” She pointed to a shovel in the corner, which had leftover soil still on the metal part. “But never mind that. I need to go see my mom and dad.” She took the lead and headed out into a small back garden, before knocking on the back door. “Mom! Dad! I’m home!”

The door opened, and the one who answered it happened to also be a Pachirisu.

“Oh, there you are, Tamara!” The Pachirisu, a middle-aged woman by the sound of her voice, immediately embraced her daughter. “We were worried sick about you! Where have you been all this time? Did you find the locket?”

“I did!” Tamara proudly proclaimed, showing her the locket. “It was in the grove, luckily. But it’s a long story. Come on! I’ll tell you and Dad all about it!”

“Of course, dear.” The Pachirisu, evidently Tamara’s mother, smiled at her. “…Ah, but let’s not forget about your friends. Flora and…Elvira!” she exclaimed, recognising the familiar face. “Come in, all of you! We’ll talk over tea.”

---

And so it came to be that Arian, Elvira and Flora came inside and sat around the kitchen table in Tamara’s house. It could hardly be called luxurious – the same could be said for the rest of the house – but it was tidy and well-kept, which did offset the plain nature of the house.

Tamara’s parents introduced themselves. Her father was Desmond, a Raichu, and her mother was Lorraine, a Pachirisu not unlike her daughter. The former was a carpenter renowned for his skill throughout the town, explaining the reasoning behind the worn tools in the shed. However, the takeover of Ozerograd by the Thorned Roses had proven troubling for him, as it meant he couldn’t source his materials as easily. As such, moneywise, Tamara’s family weren’t doing so hot right now. But they were not so badly off that they couldn’t spare a cup of tea for Tamara’s friends, Lorraine had insisted.

The tea in question was a brew of cheri tea. It was to Arian’s liking, and the Riolu found himself drinking the whole cup quicker than everyone else.

Once they’d all sat down, Tamara regaled them with the tale of yesterday; how she’d ventured into Verdant Woods to find it, how she was accosted by the two Thorned Roses members, how they were then defeated by Arian and Elvira, how they’d made their way back to Elvira’s house, how Arian and Elvira had planned to become a mercenary team, and how she and Flora stayed the night at Elvira’s house at Zenobia’s insistence.

“And that’s it, really,” Tamara concluded. “We’ve spent the morning getting our way back here, and…well, here we are.”

“Hmm…seems you’ve had an active time, my girl,” Desmond remarked. “Of course, I understand your decision to stay at Elvira’s last night. It’s just that it’s easy to fear your capture by the Thorned Roses. It’s a probable scenario in these times. You can’t blame us for worrying.”

“Indeed, dear.” Lorraine’s face grew dark with worry. “I don’t want to see you disappear like some of the townsfolk have…”

“What’s that all about, if you don’t mind me asking?” Arian interrupted. “These disappearances I keep hearing about.”

“Well…truth be told, we don’t know much about them ourselves. No one does, really,” Desmond replied. “There are certain people the Thorned Roses don’t take kindly to. Mainly those who refuse to pay the rent, and those who insult Hinnerk. Or even that Seviper right-hand of his. They just…disappear. Never to be seen again.”

“Oh no…” Elvira murmured worriedly. “And you said you can’t pay the rent yourself?”

“It’s been incredibly tough. It’s kept me awake a few nights, fearing the Thorned Roses would break in and cart us off to who-knows-where.” Desmond shivered, and Arian sensed the fear within him.

“That’s why those rogues were after me,” Tamara explained. “It’s because we’re not doing so well on the rent payment front. But we can’t do anything about it! The rents are too damn high!”

“My family’s struggling too,” Flora added. “It’s rare we get any customers these days. For a gang named after a flower, the Thorned Roses sure aren’t interested in buying any.”

“…It’s a struggle for all of us these days,” Lorraine said, a troubled look on her face. “The tyranny of the Thorned Roses can’t go on. Someone must put a stop to them. What we need now is a hero to step in and stamp them out.”

“Yes,” agreed Desmond. “Someone with heroism and selflessness. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to leap into danger and beat the Thorned Roses into the ground. …Someone like Team Marshwood. If they were here, no doubt they would be able to show the likes of Hinnerk who’s boss.”

“They would, wouldn’t they?” Elvira murmured. Strangely, though, her voice had gone quiet, and Arian could feel the sadness emanating from her.

“Who’s Team Marshwood?” he then asked.

“…Pardon?” Desmond’s expression turned to a puzzled frown of disbelief. “You don’t know who Team Marshwood is?”

“Er…no?” Arian replied. “Are they important?”

“Did you not tell him, Ellie?” Tamara asked.

“Maybe I didn’t.” Elvira took a deep breath. “Team Marshwood is, or rather, was…the name of my dad’s mercenary team. His and Melchior’s team.”

“…Oh! I see…” Arian realised. “…So that’s why you’re sad about it…It’s a reminder of your dad, isn’t it?” As a gesture of comfort, he patted the Treecko on the back.

“Any news on his whereabouts?” Lorraine inquired. “I know it’s been a while, but…”

“…No. Nothing.”

“…Ah. That’s a shame,” Desmond said, disappointed. “…Such a great man, too. Imagine my surprise when I found out my girl had made friends with his daughter. And an even greater shock when I was invited to have dinner with the man himself. You still remember that night, dear?”

“Yes, I do,” recalled Lorraine. “I was genuinely surprised by how generous and humble he was. For a world-renowned hero, he was incredibly modest, and he was lovely to talk with.”

“He was, wasn’t he?” Desmond reminisced. “…You’re lucky to have him as a dad, Elvira. He was probably as good at being a father as he was at being a mercenary.”

“Yeah, he was. He’d always tell me tales about his mercenary years growing up, and when he was out on a mission, I’d always wait eagerly for him to return. …Except now, when he still hasn’t…

“Elvira…” Arian felt for his partner.

“But my dad’s strong! He isn’t one of the famous mercenaries in Ardalion for nothing. He’s one of the only people in history to have achieved Grandmaster Rank! I’ve always looked up to him. And that’s why…I can’t truly believe he’s dead. Not until I see cold, hard evidence that proves it,” Elvira made clear.

“Atta girl!” praised Tamara. “I like your determination! With that attitude, you’ll definitely find out what’s been going on around here.”

“Yeah…You definitely have shades of your dad in you,” Desmond noted. “Maybe you’ll become as great a merc as him!”

“No. I’m nowhere near my dad’s level,” Elvira answered somewhat sadly, and Arian immediately understood why. “He was truly beyond a level most people could hope to strive for…I won’t reach his renown any time soon. And I don’t want people thinking I will, just because my dad was Fernblade Kallias.”

“Oh. I see. …Sorry,” Desmond apologised. “I’ll try to avoid doing that in future.”

“But Ellie, don’t let that get your spirits down!” Tamara encouraged. “Just ignore anyone who says you’re not living up to your dad’s name. They don’t know what they’re talking about!”

“Thanks, Tamara,” Elvira said as she finished off the rest of her tea. “Let’s go out there and start searching for clues. Thanks for the tea, Desmond, Lorraine. Come on, Arian. Let’s go.” The two of them began making their way out, when…

“Hey! You’re forgetting someone!” The two turned around, and saw a somewhat peeved Flora leap down from her seat. “I have to get home myself, remember?”

“Of course I knew that,” Elvira answered. “But I thought you’d want to stay here for a little while longer.”

“Well, I don’t. …No offence to you guys,” she said, turning back to Tamara and her family. “But I gotta get home. My parents will be getting worried about me,” Flora explained.

“That’s no problem. Don’t let us keep you,” Lorraine urged.

“Thanks.” Flora turned back to Arian and Elvira. “Well, are we going or not?”

“We are,” Elvira said. “Let’s go out into the streets and hopefully find some clues to this whole mystery.”

And with that, the three moved to leave the house. Elvira opened the door, and she and her partner went to face the world that lay beyond the door.