Showing no delight in his expression, Zephyr took a quick look in front of him, scanning the many young pokémon gathered in the place, all of them much younger than him. Not a single one of them had evolved even once, he noticed. They weren't cubs, but Zephyr was clearly older than them. Other than the many children, the only pokémon even remotely close to him in age were the Sylveon and the Weavile sitting by his side.

Hanging his head, he sighed. "How did I get dragged into this again?"

"Because you're a complete pushover!" Vetr said, grinning wide, showing her teeth. "You're way too easy to convince. Did your parents never teach you how to utter the word 'no'?"

Zephyr stared at the group of kids again, scratching his itchy neck. He counted around twenty of the little ones. "Do I really have to do this?"

"You'd be doing me a great favor. Ever since I became this node's leader we've all been pretty busy with the transition. Most of these kids' trainers and teachers have their hands full helping us organize a committee to decide what to do about Zvonimir's issue, so we're really understaffed here. We're out of teachers, so some of our members will have to substitute them for the time being. And, y'know, you're one of our members, even if you hardly ever come visit."

Yes, that he understood. In times like this everyone in the Cerulean Warbler had to lend a shoulder so that things ran smoothly, but Zephyr still didn't understand why Vetr had called him out of all people. "I bet there are guys better prepared for this than me."

"Yeah, probably. But they're all busy, that's the problem," Vetr said, shrugging in a laid back manner. "C'mon, it's not that hard. I'm sure you'll do a superb work with the kids."

Zephyr watched as the kids playfully brawled, scrunching up his nose. "I'm not sure. I've never really worked with kids, you know?"

Kizuna, sitting inches away from him, moved even closer to him. "Don't worry, Zephyr! I'll lend you a paw or two or four!"

"I don't think you have much experience with children either, Kizzie," Zephyr said. After all, she left the Observatory only a few months ago, so it's not like she'd had much contact with them.

"Doesn't matter! I mean, if you mix pink with yellow you get a peach color, so that can only mean this will go peachy! We'll do great, I know it!"

Vetr tapped the side of her oversized claws against her chin, smiling. "When I told the messenger to contact you, I only asked him to bring you here. Didn't expect you to bring a copilot."

"She happened to be with me in the Crane when the messenger arrived, and she wanted to tag along," Zephyr explained. He fired a short glance at the Sylveon, who was eyeing the playing kids with a serene smile. "Uh, I suppose this is not a problem, right?"

Vetr threw a quick look at the Sylveon before responding. "Nah, I'm not going to reject free help. Plus, she looks pretty non-threatening, so I'm sure she can help you win the kids over. Some of the younger kids might find you scary and imposing with all those spikes, but I'm sure they'll feel safe around a dainty, inoffensive-looking lady like her."

"Yep! I'm as inoffensive as they come!" Kizuna excitedly proclaimed. Zephyr wasn't sure that was something to take pride in.

"So can you guys do this for me?" Vetr asked. "It will be just a few hours, until our reunion concludes and their usual trainer comes back. You'll be substituting him for just three or four hours."

Just three or four hours? She said it like it was nothing, but that seemed like way too long for Zephyr. "But what exactly are we supposed to do?"

"Oh, y'know, train them. Remember when you were a kid and your teachers taught you the basics of combat and self-defense? You now gotta teach them the same things."

"But…" Zephyr wriggled about without really moving, not feeling comfortable in his sitting position. "I'm not a professional or anything. I wouldn't really know what to teach them. I'm in no position to…"

"Nonsense! You're a defender, so you're more than capable of teaching them how to fight!" Vetr's voice sounded authoritative, but encouraging at the same time. "What, you think they're not going to accept you as their mentor or something?"

"Well, fighting coaches are usually older and more experienced. I mean, I'm not that older than them, you know. I was in their place, like, a decade ago."

"So what? Let me remind you I'm younger than you, and I became a leader. Excuses you have left: zero." Vetr gave Zephyr a moment to reflect, but after a while he still looked pretty much unconvinced, so she opted for a different approach. Her mouth curled up into a congenial smile and she slowed down her voice. "C'mon, Zephyr. They're kids. You're a defender, that's enough for them to admire you. I'm sure many joined the defender guild motivated by defenders like you. You're everything they wish to be."

A hint of a smile appeared in the corner of Zephyr's mouth, which Kizuna noticed, ever the perceptive one – at least when it came to Zephyr. Seeing they were closer to convincing him, Kizuna decided to give him a final push. "Don't worry, Zeph! You won't be alone in this. I'll be lending you a hand! C'mon, I'm sure it will be fun!"

After a short pause, Zephyr gave them a weak nod, looking down to his white spikey collar. As a member of the Cerulean Warbler, it was his responsibility to help. "Just today, right?"

Vetr fidgeted with her claws, avoiding meeting his gaze. "Er… we'll see."

"Uh?"

"I told you. We're all really busy trying to take Zvonimir down. We have ignored him for far too long, and we're slowly approaching the point where the scarcity of Adamantium may become noticeable. We better do something quick. Zvonimir was our old leader, so in a way the whole node feels responsible."

"I see." Zephyr nodded his head understandingly. It was of the upmost importance to stop Zvonimir as soon as possible, so he could understand why the teachers and trainers of the node would be called to help. Due to their knowledge of the art of battle, their insight could prove vital to their victory against the colossal bat. "How's it going, by the way? Any news?"

With a sullen expression and holding back a sigh, Vetr shook her head. "No. Not good news, anyway."

"Vetr, have you tried facing him yourself?" Kizuna asked her. "Like, you're an ice-type, so you've got a really nice quad advantage over him."

"I tried, yes. A few times. As have most defenders on the Warbler or other nodes." She tried to smile, but her gaze looked crestfallen. "This is not merely a matter of exploiting type advantages. He's like in a different whole level than any of us."

"But we're much more numerous than him," Zephyr said. "It's just a single guy."

"Just sending troops without rhyme or reason won't work either. We need to think this through, that's why I want the clearest minds of the Warbler to gather up to devise a good plan. And while they're busy doing that they won't be here to teach the trainees, so we'll have to take turns substituting for them."

"Well, as long as it's just provisional. I guess I can do it." Zephyr seemed to have finally agreed, although it's not like he was ecstatic about it. "Can't say I envy you, though. Do you really think you can lead us to victory against our old boss?"

Vetr folded her arms and clicked her tongue. "I don't have high expectations, to be honest. The more I look into the issue, the more it seems like a forlorn cause. If not even Garm, master strategist, has managed to down Zvonimir with the many resources of the Garnet Oriole, I'm not sure what much else we can do."

"I never expected our old boss to be this strong," Zephyr said, tapping his feet on the floor. "How come not even entire battalions can take him down?"

"Numbers don't matter when he can thrash all our guys with a single Dragon Pulse. It's all because of that Draco Plate thing's damn fault. It makes his already devastating dragon attacks even more overwhelming."

The obvious solution was to have him fight fairy-types, since they were naturally immune to dragon moves, but fairy defenders were extremely uncommon in the Heptagonal Ring, and even then, they'd still have to contend with the Noivern's powerful Boomburst. There was no easy answer, that much was clear.

"So I can leave the newbies to you two, right?" Vetr asked. Kizuna nodded right away and Zephyr followed soon after, his sluggish movements showing a lack of motivation. "Good! Teach them many things, okay? I mean, it's not like this is their first class. They know the basics already, just instruct them on classic battle strategies and the like. And don't get nervous, if you just show them a few flashy moves I'm sure you'll win them over in no time."

It was Kizuna who responded. "Sure! Leave them to us!"

Vetr smiled. At least one of them was enthusiastic about it. "I'm sure the kids will love having an actual defender impart classes for once. Oh, and make sure you turn that frown upside-down, Zephyr. Can't motivate them if you aren't motivated yourself."

Zephyr stretched out his body to cast off the dullness on his bones and muscles, as if he was preparing for a fight. "Very well. I can't promise I'll do a good job, but I'll at least try."

"I know you'll do fine." Relieved that she had finally managed to convince him, Vetr waved the duo goodbye, and after informing the pupils about their new provisional instructor, she took her leave.

Zephyr stepped to the front, Kizuna walking a short distance behind him to his right, catching the attention of the young trainees that were now starting to gather in a rather chaotic semicircle around them. The Jolteon didn't feel all that nervous in spite of the many eyes jumping between him and Kizuna, since he had never been particularly shy. Kizuna did felt jittery, but it was more out of anticipation than bashfulness. She loved being the focus of attention.

After clearing his throat, Zephyr began to speak out loud, trying to maintain a strong and firm voice. "As Vetr just told you, I shall be your trainer and instructor today. My name is Zephyr, and my Sylveon companion here is Kizuna."

"But Kizzie's fine too," she added with a smile, contrasting with Zephyr's stern mien.

"See? I told you that was Zephyr!" an Electrike whispered to a nearby Farfetch'd.

That mention of his name made Zephyr raise an eyebrow. It's not like it was strange for a kid to have heard his name, Zephyr enjoyed a moderate popularity in the Warbler as an elusive defender that rarely showed up at the node. He wasn't the most famous of defenders, not by far, but it's not like he was unknown. Zephyr had already met a few dozen fans in the past, but it surprised him a little that such a young kid would be one of them.

"Oh, I think I remember it now!" a Helioptile sitting by the Electrike's side said. "In the tournament he fought against the black dog guy with all the yellow circles!"

They must've been talking about his battle against Skoll during the first round of the Warbler's tournament to choose a new leader. He was frankly surprised anyone would remember him for that. "Ah… yes, that was me. I lost, though."

"So what? That battle was super badass!" an excited Cacnea said. "Most fights in the first round were over in seconds, it was a super boring round! There were only a few cool fights in the entire round, and yours was one of the best!"

Holding the same opinion, the Electrike gave a fervent nod. "It was super cool when you used all those splashy electric attacks, and all the other moves too! I totally think you should have won!"

"Yeah, you fought really well!" a Litleo said.

Now, Zephyr wasn't shy, but having the kids gushing over him like this forced a bashful smile out of him. It was a bit awkward to receive so much praise, especially considering he lost that battle. If anything, he had expected the children to disregard him and his lesson because of it, but here they were applauding him with elated adoration for a defeat. Perhaps this wouldn't go that wrong, after all.

"Um, so who is she?" a Mawile asked, pointing a finger to Kizuna. "Is she a defender too?"

"Ah? No, Kizzie is here to assist us," Zephyr said.

"I'm learning to fight too, but I'll help you with anything you need!" Kizuna's gentle figure and demeanor along with her warm smile made her look friendly and approachable. If Zephyr were alone they might have felt a little intimidated, but Kizuna's presence helped them relax. "And I know lots of things about pokémon of all species and moves of all types, so if you have any question, don't be shy to ask!"

Zephyr was no teacher, so most of his battle knowledge came from his own fights and concerned mainly electric-moves and quadruped movement. While Zephyr liked to learn about different battle styles, he was no scholar on the matter, and he would likely have trouble teaching a pokémon of a different type or with a dissimilar morphology how to fight.

Luckily, he had Kizuna by his side. If they combined his battle expertise with her extensive knowledge about all pokémon species in the Heptagonal Ring, they could ostensibly teach about any pokémon how to fight. Zephyr would have to adapt his teachings to each type and body shape, but he thought it was doable. Challenging, but doable.

"It's very important to keep a good fighting stance." Zephyr walked next to an Electrike that held a stiff posture, his eyes unblinking and his breathing heavy. "Don't force it. Keep a natural, flexible stance. If your stance becomes too mechanical and rigid, your opponents will see your attacks coming a mile away. Above all, your stance should benefit your balance and mobility."

The Electrike eased his posture a bit, the muscles on his legs still tense. "Like this? I think this is pretty close to yours."

"Don't try to mimic another defender's stance, develop your own. Search for a stance that comes naturally to you, one you can hold almost instinctively."

"Oh?"

"For instance, your legs are shorter than mine, so you don't need to bend them that much. You should also keep your head a little lower, I only keep mine high because of my collar. Also, while my tail is pretty small, yours can easily shift your center of balance so you have to take that into account too. Just copying my stance won't do."

This time more relaxed, the Electrike loosened his muscles and adopted a more natural stance for a critter of his small size. "Ah, I think I got it. I have to find my own style, something according to my body and size."

"Yes, you seem to have gotten the gist of it." Zephyr smiled at the little Electrike, tilting his head back, feeling… pride, perhaps? Heh, the Electrike reminded him of himself a little. "Note that you should always slightly modify your stance depending on the opponent you're facing, to adapt to them. And obviously, once you evolve into a Manectric you'll need to readjust your stance to your new bigger body."

"Yes! I think I will evolve into one soon. Mum evolved when she was around my age."

"Does evolution… hurt?" a Litleo asked, a worried expression on her face.

"That varies from species to species," Kizuna said. "Evolutions that cause more drastic changes may sting a little, but even then it's just a moment! Overall, it's a bit of an awkward experience, but it doesn't usually hurt. It may take you some weeks to get used to your new body, though! But in your case, don't worry. Your evolution only makes you grow bigger and gives you a beautiful mane, but not much else changes as a Pyroar so you have nothing to be scared about!"

"You know so much…" The Litleo gaped at her as if hypnotized, marveling at her vast knowledge. Kizuna had advised not only the Litleo, but any other pokémon that asked her. The Litleo wondered how she could come to know so much about so many different species.

A Helioptile stared at Kizuna, and then turned its head to Zephyr. "Hey, is she your, uh… your mate?"

"Mmh? You could say so."

Kizuna's tail started wagging rapidly, not only because of Zephyr's answer, but also because of how he answered. Quickly and without hesitation. She would have jumped at him right there and right now, but there were kids watching and what she had in mind wasn't exactly –

Anyway, whatever admiration the Electrike felt for Zephyr seemed to have multiplied sevenfold. "Whoa, seriously? Not only are you a defender, but you even managed to woo a pretty girl like her? I wish I can one day become a strong defender like you and find a cute mate like Kizzie!"

Zephyr wasn't entirely sure on who wooed who, but still appreciated the compliment.

While the Electrike idolized Zephyr, the Litleo was more partial to Kizuna, eyeing her with adoring eyes. "I'm sure if I become a strong and wise defender I'll have boys falling for me all over the place!" Given this was the Warbler, maybe she wasn't too far off.

He tried to repress it, but Zephyr ended up letting out a short laugh. "Well, well, you guys are a little too young to be obsessing about finding a mate yet, aren't you? For now, focus on your training and improve yourselves, okay? Develop yourselves first of all, and when you're happy with the person you've become, everything else will take care of itself."

Zephyr stared at them with the pride of a father observing his children. Most of them were, he thought, quite competent and skilled, and he held no doubts they would one day make great defenders and wonderful warriors.

"Now, the best way to learn is to actually try things yourselves. I can guide you, but you should ultimately develop your own personal fighting styles appropriate for your species and circumstances. So how about some practice? C'mon, find a partner to spar against and try what you've learned. Feel free to incorporate your own ideas, just make sure not to harm yourselves or others."

They needed not be told twice, eager to put into practice what they've learned. In a matter of minutes, they had all split into several small groups engaging in multiple mock battles. The two older eons watched them attentively to make sure they wouldn't accidentally hurt anyone. Zephyr observed the trainees like a watchdog, blinking scarcely, until he felt a familiar warmth set on his right shoulder. He didn't need to turn his eyes to recognize it. He knew it was Kizuna leaning her head on him.

"Kids are so cute," she said in a soft whisper.

Zephyr smiled, absentminded. "They are."

"I want one of our own."

If Zephyr had twisted his head any faster, he might've snapped a vertebra. "U-Uh? Kizzie?"

"But, like, not now. Sometime in the future." Kizuna gave herself a mental pat on the back for her quick reaction. Good save. "I mean, we're kinda busy enjoying our love and all that right now. Maybe in, like, a decade or so."

"Oh." It's not like Zephyr disliked the idea. Having a lil' Eevee running around and calling him Dad, someone to raise and teach everything he knew… hey, now that didn't sound that bad. It was oddly charming, and kind of exciting in its own way. Of course, they were still sort of young, plus they had their hands full with the Beacon and the chroniclers, but maybe in a few years' time…

It was more concerning that Kizuna was a chronicler, so how exactly would that work? Kizuna had never heard of a chronicler of either sex having children. But that, at any rate, was a problem for another day. Zephyr hadn't rejected the idea and had a very subtle smile on his face that Kizuna managed to catch. His implicit approval was more than enough for her.

Suddenly, a third familiar voice surprised them. "We're done at least. Everything okay on this end?"

Zephyr waved his paw to welcome the just arrived Vetr. So their reunion ended already? And it was early too. Vetr said it might take them up to four hours, but Zephyr figured only around two hours had elapsed. "Everything's good, yes."

"Good to hear." Vetr glanced over the trainees to check they were all safe and fine. They were the future of the Warbler, and as its leader, Vetr had to ensure they wouldn't come to harm. "Hey, real sorry you've had to go through this, but we're seriously undermanned right now."

"No, please don't mind it. I know you guys have your hands full. Besides, the kids are adept, well behaved and full of enthusiasm. It's been a real pleasure working with them, I assure you."

Vetr was taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, much more receptive than before. She had expected him to be angry, or at the very least annoyed. "Glad to hear. It took us a little over four hours, but we're finally done with the gathering. Their old teacher can take over from here."

Over four hours? Funny, it hadn't seemed like that long to Zephyr. He raised his head up, and behind the Adamantium ceiling of the node he could see the sun starting to set. Evening already, uh?

"So how did the meeting go?" Zephyr asked. "Figured a way to defeat our old boss at last?"

Vetr crossed her arms, letting her head hang low in a downcast manner. "We talked about sending a small crew tomorrow, mainly to patrol and study the area, and find if we can use anything to our advantage. You can come if you want. Some defenders from other nodes are coming too."

"Oh? I doubt I'd be of much use."

"We could use all help we can get. But don't get your hopes up. Our expectations for this quest are low. If this mission ends a failure – and it likely will – I will have to organize some more future meetings with the brains of our node."

"What about their classes?" Kizuna asked, one of her bows pointing to the still sparring kids.

"We'll have to borrow their trainers again some other day, so…"

"You'll need substitute teachers again in the future," Kizuna finished the phrase for her. "You can always call us! Just make sure you knock on the door first. It's only polite, and it prevents embarrassing scenes."

"You wouldn't mind?" Vetr's eyes lit up for a moment. "I mean, there are more defenders. We all have to lend a hand in times like this, don't feel forced to take on everything yourself."

"No, it's okay," Zephyr said in a reassuring, convinced voice. "Other defenders might have more important matters to attend to. I barely ever drop by the node, it's the least I can do." He didn't consider himself intelligent enough to devise a good plan of action or powerful enough to take Zvonimir down, but he still wanted to help in any way he could.

"As long as you're okay with it…" Vetr tried to hide her excitement, but the fidgeting of her claws made it evident. To be honest, one of the reasons she called Zephyr for this position in the first place was simply because he was a close acquaintance. It was already awkward enough having to designate someone as a teacher – they were fighters, not caretakers! – and forcing a random unfamiliar defender to help as a trainer didn't sound like a popular measure for her first weeks as a leader.

If Zephyr was willing to volunteer to the position of substitute trainer, that would only make things easier for all of them. Vetr certainly appreciated it. It was hard to find a member of the Cerulean Warbler willing to teach and train the new generations. Most Warbler defenders abhorred any activity that didn't involve fighting or watching others fight, so Zephyr was a precious exception.

Needless to say, Kizuna was more than thrilled with the idea of spending more time with the kids, but even Zephyr looked forward to it with expectation. It had been fun. He wouldn't mind repeating the experience again.

Lumis walked the streets of the Garnet Oriole with shaky steps, glancing in every direction as if he feared someone would assault him out of nowhere. He felt a bit paranoid, having been called into the Oriole earlier this morning and not yet knowing why. Right after waking up, Lumis found a courier at his house's door, and the letter he carried was sent by the Oriole's leader himself, Garm. The Lucario wanted to meet with him as soon as possible, although the letter didn't specify why, an odd detail that deeply unsettled the Espeon.

Receiving a citation from the Oriole was usually not good news, and if it came from Garm himself, it was usually horrible news. Had he done something bad? Lumis, like most citizens, always made sure not to break any laws. He wanted no trouble. At any rate, not responding to Garm's summon would have been a grave offense, so Lumis had no other choice than to come see the Lucario to his Haecceity.

Maybe it was something silly after all. Maybe he was worrying for naught.

Lumis had unconsciously slowed down his pace, dreading the moment he would arrive to the red Haecceity, but he could only delay the inevitable for so long. Eventually, he found himself before the massive cathedral-like building that acted as the node's Haecceity, its crimson walls giving it an even more imposing vibe. A single pokémon, a Nuzleaf guard, stood before its only door.

Almost trembling, Lumis approached the grass-type, who noticed him almost immediately. The Nuzleaf analyzed him in silence for a moment before speaking. "A purple feline-like pokémon with twin branched tails. You must be Mr. Lumis, am I right?"

Mister. How very formal. Although, given where they were, perhaps it was almost informal. At least he wasn't calling him Sir or Squire. "Ah, yes. I was summoned here by Garm – uh, by Mr. Garm." He wasn't sure if the use of Mister was appropriate to address Garm. Perhaps Lord would have been preferable?

The Nuzleaf didn't seem to mind, at least. "Yes, we were waiting for you. You're a little late."

Late? But the letter didn't even specify an appointed time. Did they expect him to leave everything as soon as he received the letter and come running to the Oriole? He had to drop by his node's laboratories to tell them he couldn't come today. He was always punctual, darn it!

"Well, no mind. Follow me inside. I'll bring you to our leader."

Lumis did as ordered, meekly tailing after the Nuzleaf. This was the first time he saw the Oriole's Haecceity from the inside, and it was striking to say the least. Majestic and luxurious, the inside resembled a small labyrinth, and Lumis was thankful he had the Nuzleaf to guide him through it. He could have probably found Garm's chamber on his own, the maze wasn't big, but it would have taken him some time and he didn't want to arrive any later.

After a short walk of no more than a few minutes, the Nuzleaf stopped before a spacious circular room, much bigger than any other Lumis had seen before. The Lucario sitting in the center of the room made it clear they had reached the Haecceity's audience chamber.

"Thank you for leading him here. You may return to your duties." The Lucario spoke in an imperial voice, commanding and yet not threatening. Some of the Heptagonal Ring's leaders could be mistaken for normal citizens, but that wasn't Garm's case. At first sight, you might even assume the Lucario was some form of king or royal figure.

The Nuzleaf excused himself politely and withdrew to his original post at the Haecceity's entrance, leaving Lumis alone with Garm. The first thing the Lucario did, even before giving Lumis a chance to speak, was to close his eyes and raise a paw. A ghost-like bluish flame engulfed his paw. "State your name and species."

Tense, he spoke. "Lumis. Espeon."

The flame on Garm's paw lasted some more seconds before it died down. Only then did the Lucario reopen his red garnet eyes. "You don't lie." It became clear that the Lucario had just read the Espeon's aura to confirm he was not an impostor. Given there was a trickster Zoroark on the loose, Lumis found it reasonable. "Your aura is tainted by shades of blue and black, denoting fear, anxiety and mistrust. Please, cease your worries. My summoning is no motive for alarm."

"Why was my presence requested?" Lumis asked, not any less fretful than before.

"First of all, I would like to apologize for sending such a vague and unspecific letter. This is a delicate matter that should be kept away from prying ears, so the secrecy was required. I summoned you here today to request your collaboration with a certain task."

Wait, that was it? They just needed help with a job? Lumis felt an immense relief, his breathing slowing down to a normal rate. Dear goodness, and here he was getting scared over nothing. If Skoll was here he would have called him a scaredy-cat.

"What is it?" he asked. It's not every day you get to work with the Oriole.

"I take it you're at least acquainted with Ivy, the elder daughter of the Beryl Calandra's leader."

Lumis nodded his head and cooed a soft 'yes'. They were not merely acquainted. She was a good friend and possibly the future mate of his best friend.

"Yesterday, at a late hour, she sent a retinue of defenders and couriers to the Garnet Oriole to deliver a shard to me. The Garnet Oriole's shard, ironically."

This wasn't news to Lumis. Skoll already briefed him on it the previous day, as soon as he returned to the Nightingale. Come to think of it, now that they had finally managed to catch Kay and Keira, the twins were likely there in the Oriole, in one of its prisons. "Yes, I was told. A friend of mine was present and informed me about it."

"Oh? Then I will go straight to the point. Some time ago, you asked to analyze the Beryl Calandra's shard, which we unfortunately lost to the Beacon."

Ah, yes, how could he forget. The first shard they managed to find before the Beacon, but Lumis asked to study it and then they lost it. He felt guilty about it, if it weren't because of his curiosity this wouldn't have happened and the Oriole would have two shards now. Meanwhile, the Beacon easily had three or four or five shards. Lumis lost count.

Lumis bowed his head down, filled with remorse, bending until his neck started to hurt. "I'm really sorry about that."

"It was unfortunate, but you're not to blame. Our mistake was not prioritizing the shard's safety and underestimating the Beacon's resources. If anything, the burden of blame should fall on my shoulders." Even when being apologetic, Garm still managed to look majestic and regal. "Studying the shard was a wise suggestion. We learned some things about it thanks to you, but not nearly enough. If we want to be able to anticipate the Beacon's plans, information is a must. That's why I'd like you to study a shard more thoroughly."

His ears stood up and his tail started to gently wiggle, but his face remained expressionless. "I would willingly collaborate, but is this a risk we should assume?"

"This time, I won't gamble with our luck. We will keep the shard under the attentive gaze of a respectable defender every hour of the day. The shard will not be allowed to leave or enter a node except under a defender's supervision."

While Lumis really wanted to give that shard a thorough look at the laboratory, he didn't want another shard to be lost because of him. "Will that be enough?"

"Now that Kay and Keira are out of commission, the shard-gathering capabilities of the Beacon have diminished significantly. I trust there should be no issue."

Well, if it was a direct order from Garm he couldn't refuse, right? Lumis didn't feel argumentative right now. After all, he probably liked Garm's idea even more than Garm himself. "I have no objections, then."

"Please, wait at the lobby at the Haecceity's entrance. I'll fetch the shard and bring it to you along with a powerful defender in brief. He will keep you company until you reach the Azure Nightingale, where he will guard you until you find an appropriate defender in your node. Following Soren's consideration, I would recommend the Flygon Jormund."

Lumis wasn't acquainted with many defenders in his node, but Jormund was well-known all around the node as one of the most proficient fighters the Nightingale's defender guild had to offer. He had no doubt the insectoid dragon would keep him and the shard safe.

While Garm went to retrieve the shard he securely safeguarded, Lumis retraced his steps through the labyrinthine passages of the Haecceity until he found a small waiting room located near the entrance. Thank goodness he had a decent memory, not on Kizzie's level, but still good enough.

He waited, and while Lumis was not impatient by any means, loitering around doing nothing for long periods of time was an activity that no sane person would deem enjoyable. So it's only normal than his expression softened when he heard approaching footsteps after a few minutes, signaling the end of his wait. However, his receptive ears didn't fail to notice that the steps were conspicuously fainter than those of a Lucario, and more importantly, that they were coming from the opposite direction one would expect. It wasn't someone returning from Garm's room, but someone entering the Haecceity from the outside.

Lumis initially assumed it was the Nuzleaf, but his suspicions were confirmed wrong when the intruder finally stepped inside. His face grew pale – no, 'pale' doesn't cut it. It was as if blood had completely drained from his face. He wondered, as he mutely stared at her, how come he hadn't recognized her delicate and nimble footsteps.

Freya. He tried to call the Mienshao's name, but his vocal chords refused to emit any sound. The only noise he managed to muster with his dry throat was a strenuous gulp, finding even the very act of swallowing unpleasant. In one hand, Lumis had wanted to meet with Freya ever since he was told she was allied with a criminal group, but now that the moment had finally arrived… He was scared of what he would find out.

Much to his relief, Freya showed no hostility when she took notice of the Espeon's presence. In fact, she openly smiled to him. "Lumis! Haven't seen you in months, that I haven't. Well, the Beacon's taking most of my time."

Just a few words in and Freya was already openly admitting she was with the Beacon. Lumis had carefully planned how to tactfully ask her about it, but it seemed like he didn't even need to ask at all. The Mienshao kept grinning widely, showing no shame or regret.

"So you really are…" As if instinctively, Lumis made an attempt to ask her again, but desisted. What was the point? He already knew Freya was with the Beacon. There was no benefit in asking two, or three, or any number of additional times. He didn't want to believe it, but deep inside, a part of him had already accepted it. "Why?" That's what he wanted to know, more than anything.

Instead of answering his single-word question, Freya hid her mouth behind one of the large veils of fur dangling from her arms, her eyebrows arching into a questioning frown. "What's with that tone? I understand if you're angry, but that's no excuse to lose your manners."

"I'm not angry," Lumis assured. He wanted to think he wasn't angry, but he wasn't really sure himself. What he felt was disappointment and a biting feeling of betrayal. "Why did you join the Beacon?" he asked again. He wanted that question answered. He needed that question answered.

"That?" Freya turned her head away from the Espeon, but her eyes kept their focus on him. "Does that really matter?"

"It does."

They glared into each other's eyes for a moment, until Lumis broke contact, hanging his head in a dejected manner. Freya let out a grunt of satisfaction as she walked forward, this time not looking at the Espeon. "I don't want to answer that."

"Why not…?"

Even though Lumis made no effort to block Freya's way, she still stopped in her tracks, her gaze affixed on the entrance to the small labyrinthine passages that led to Garm's chamber. "Why would I tell you? You wouldn't want to know."

"Well, obviously, but still…" That was a good point, though. Why did Lumis want to know? Would that change anything? Perhaps he was just desperately clinging to any semblance of hope left.

"Goodness, don't give me that face," she said in a stern voice, although her expression looked pleading. "You're gonna make me feel ashamed. Are you thinking I have some heroic kind of reason? Some noble or honorable justification? Hah. I wish that was the case. Then I could tell you without having to avert my gaze." True to her words, she averted her gaze. She crossed her arms and once again she smiled, but her eyes betrayed her melancholy. "Selfishness. That's my reason."

"What do you…?"

Freya looked neither proud nor ashamed. "I wish I had a better excuse, but I don't. I'm selfish, that I am. I'm doing this because… I want to. I can't give you any better reason."

Lumis stared her down, refusing to look away this time. Now that the Mienshao was right in front of him he wouldn't be contented until he got a straight answer out of her. "You don't expect me to be satisfied with such a vague explanation, do you?"

"You can barely call it an explanation at all." Freya let out an untimely laugh. "Look, Lumis, you would be disappointed if I told you, I'm sure, so just let it be. I'm glad to see you after all this time, but I came here to take care of something and I should get to it already. We'll catch up some other time."

It was then that an important question came to the Espeon's mind, one he should perhaps have asked the moment he saw Freya enter. Why was she there? What was she doing in the Oriole's Haecceity of all places? She couldn't possibly know about the shard, could she? No, that was not possible. It was only the previous day that Kay and Keira were apprehended and the shard sent to Garm. The Beacon couldn't have found out in so little time.

Lumis chose to remain silent, not wanting to give away the presence of the shard in the Haecceity. If Freya found out she would fight for the shard, and not only would they risk losing it, but that would also permanently and irreversibly mark Freya as a criminal in the eyes of the Garnet Oriole. So far she had only assisted the Beacon, but had not involved herself in any incursion.

"So the furless fell, uh?" Freya's comment made Lumis wonder who she could be speaking about. "I heard it was Skoll who took them down. Impressive."

There was no doubt. She spoke of Kay and Keira, the so called preternatural seraphs that Skoll helped catch the previous day. How in the world did she find out so fast?

"So the shard is here, uh? The jackal has it."

The realization hit Lumis like a cold winter wind. Of course, why else would she be there? Freya came to the Garnet Oriole's Haecceity to obtain the shard, to take it from Garm's hands. "How did you know they brought the shard here?"

Freya raised a hand up, her index finger pointing to the ceiling as her hanging whips covered part of her body. "The Beacon's got good eyes. Besides, where else would it be but here? It's obvious you would send it to the jackal for protection. A bit ironical, that we found out so easily because of that."

Indeed, behaving in such an obvious manner was perhaps not the best of ideas. Perhaps they should have sent the shard somewhere else to throw them off? But it shouldn't matter in the end. Even with her type advantage above Garm, the Lucario should still have no trouble fending off the Mienshao.

And for better or worse, the Lucario had just entered the room, holding the shard between his paws. A Haxorus walked by his side. Garm wasted not a second and pointed a paw at Freya, reading her aura.

"It's evident you harbor ill intentions. No aura reading would have been necessary." Garm handed the shard to the Haxorus, his eyes carefully studying the Mienshao's form. "I presume you're one of the Beacon members. Ms. Freya, was it?"

"What a great memory, jackal. No wonder everyone admires you so much, o great hero." Sarcasm this thick could probably be cut through with a Bisharp's blades.

"What happened to the Nuzleaf gatekeeper?" Garm asked.

"I kindly asked him to move away. He refused. I'd suggest hiring someone who can follow simple commands next time." A dark-type Nuzleaf wouldn't pose much of a threat for the fighting-type Freya, so it surprised no one that she had defeated him with ease.

"I assume you came for the shard."

"Great assumption! Perfect, like everything you do." Unlike when she talked to Lumis, Freya's voice was now filled with resentment. "Although to be fair, the shard merely gave me an excuse to come here. I've wanted to pay the great jackal a visit for some time now."

Garm moved his arms in front of his chest, fearing an attack. In spite of Freya's constant adulation, her contempt-filled voice wasn't that of an admirer. "If you wish to remain unharmed, give yourself up peacefully. Show no resistance."

"Let me give that some thought." As soon as the last of her words left her mouth, Freya was already in front of Garm. She landed a swift blow on his stomach, right under his guarding arms. "I already gave it some thought. The answer, you probably won't like."

Freya grinned to herself. The move she just used, commonly known as Fake Out, was a horribly weak but deceptively fast move that used the element of surprise to get in a cheap hit and leave the opponent dazed for a brief moment. It only worked on an unsuspecting foe, so it was best used right at the beginning of a skirmish. Now that she had made Garm flinch with her attack, she trusted she could land another stronger hit amidst the confusion.

To her surprise, Garm struck her with a precise kick, not showing even a wince in his face. Freya recoiled a small distance, landing near Lumis. She stared at the Lucario, her widened eyes showing more curiosity than anger. "What now? How come you didn't flinch, jackal?"

"My Inner Focus helped me retain my composure."

Freya needed no further explanation. The ability Inner Focus allowed one to remain calm in dire, sudden situations, providing a helpful immunity to flinching. She would know, since that was her ability too. "Not too proud of sharing an ability with you."

"Freya, stop that!" Lumis said, tentatively taking a step towards Freya but still keeping his distance. Never mind her getting caught, what worried Lumis the most was her ending up hurt if she battled the Lucario.

"No, I'm fine, worry not." Truly, Freya did not look hurt. Garm's attack didn't have much of an effect since he held back, something that Freya deeply detested. "I should now teach him to take me seriously."

Freya extended one of her arms to Garm with an open palm, as if she were offering him a tribute. But instead of a gift, what appeared in her hand was a ghoulish flame that burned in a faded cyan coloration.

"Aura?" Garm was the first to recognize it, thanks to being highly experienced with auramancer techniques, but Lumis and the Haxorus had no trouble identifying the ghostly fire either.

Aura – it is a terribly complex subject that has puzzled philosophers for ages, and I'm afraid it escapes this humble troubadour's limited understanding of the world. In layman terms, aura is a physical manifestation of one's will, more or less. It's usually used to measure another person's disposition, but if focused with ill intent, the aura flames can take the form of a semisolid sphere of concentrated energy that directly hurts the opponent's psyche, and not their physical body. Because of this, trying to avoid the attack in the material plane is impossible. This is a well-known move that few pokémon can use: Aura Sphere.

Freya's hand trembled as she gave form to the spectral fires dancing right above her hand, shaping them into a ball-like object. This required an absurd amount of concentration; if she made a false move, the unchecked aura could potentially burn her hand. Freya was certain her skill was enough to control it, and a contented smirk appeared in her mouth when that was proven to be true.

Garm's eyebrows arched in response. This was no joke. It was, in most cases, literally impossible to avoid an Aura Sphere. It was the kind of attack that directly assaulted the mind and not the body, so no matter how he jumped or skipped around, he would still end up hurt. He would only tire himself if he pointlessly tried to avoid it, so he closed his eyes and braced for impact. While unavoidable, a good mental constitution could lessen the damage significantly.

The rotating, pulsating sphere shined bright blue as it accelerated towards the Lucario, who wasn't used to being on the receiving end of an Aura Sphere. He gritted his teeth as the attack impacted against his chest, but made no grunt or yelp otherwise. As Lucario were part-steel, that had been quite hurtful, but Garm refused to show even the slightest hint of pain in his expression. Freya was unexpectedly strong, but he figured he could still withstand a few more attacks like the last one.

"Sir, are you okay?" the Haxorus asked.

Garm nodded with a perfectly stoic expression. "I am. Focus on keeping the shard safe." Perhaps he had misjudged the Mienshao. That wasn't the Aura Sphere of a novice. The size, the speed, the form, the way the aural energies mixed in synchronous harmony; Freya knew what she was doing. While not on his level, she came awfully close.

"This is how you use the aura, jackal!" The corners of Freya's mouth twisted with a sentiment of scorn. The Lucario was older, and yet she was staring him down like a misbehaving child.

"Vermin, watch your mouth!" the Haxorus roared in anger. "Surrender this instant!"

With the palm of his paw open, Garm extended an arm to Freya, glaring at her with inexpressive eyes. His gaze portrayed neither compassion nor fury, just a mechanical compulsion to fulfill his mission: apprehending the criminal before him. "Yield, relinquish your association to the Beacon and collaborate with us. Accept my magnanimous propoundment or you shall be given the common outlaw's treatment. We will consider you a criminal."

"I wouldn't want it any other way." Freya's smile widened into an audacious and defying grin, almost as if mocking the Lucario.

He didn't take that kindly. Not letting out a single word, and his expression not showing even the slightest change, he violently shook his hand and hurled a rotating orb of concentrated energy that took no more than a few seconds to form.

Garm's own Aura Sphere, no doubt. His most feared attack, and it was now on its way to Freya. Its substantial damage potential and unavoidable nature should make it a cause of concern to Freya, but she did nothing more than smiling lightly. She accepted that dodging it wasn't a possibility, and willingly accepted the attack. It would be a quick and easy way to gauge Garm's power and skill.

But somehow, even though Freya moved not an inch, Garm's Aura Sphere missed its assumed target and clashed against the solid floor, disappearing at once. Lumis and the Haxorus reacted with surprise at the apparent impossibility taking place before their eyes, since Aura Sphere was by definition a move that never missed its target. Freya, on her part, clicked her tongue as she glared at Garm with an air of indignant displeasure, knowing there was only one possible explanation.

"What a select show of hubris and insolence, missing your opponent on purpose. Truly the highest exhibition of sportsmanship, jackal."

"Let that be a warning. Your actions and choices are not without consequence. Choose the path you want to follow wisely. Atone or we will have to subdue you, by force if necessary."

"Please, Freya, give up already," Lumis said in a pleading tone. "This has gone for long enough."

"Don't fret! He thinks he has me cornered, but that is nothing but a frail delusion." She slowly, laggardly treaded towards Garm, her eyes continuously scanning him from head to feet searching for the slightest sign of movement. "Admittedly, engaging him at the range he's most comfortable with wasn't the wisest of choices, that much is true."

Aura was Garm's strongest ace, and long distances only gave him more opportunities to exploit it. He was also a decent close range fighter, but Freya's nimbleness and superior agility gave her the upper hand at close quarters, even if Garm physically overpowered her. Or at least, she hoped that would be the case. Steel-types weren't known for their speed.

As she drew closer to him, Garm didn't move. He was mentally preparing himself to intercept any and all attacks she tried to throw at him, for it was obvious she had every intention of attacking. Giving no warning, Freya suddenly accelerated her relaxed pace, darting to Garm at an unprecedented speed. Given her trajectory and the direction her eyes were drawn to, Garm anticipated an attack from his right flank, but made sure to keep an eye on his left too. It looked too obvious, which made him wonder if this wasn't just a trick.

He turned out to be half-right, half-wrong. Freya's attack did indeed come from Garm's right side, but also from the left. Jumping to his chest and making sure she didn't accidentally impale herself into his spike – that would be a really silly way to fall – Freya swung both of her arms in unison, the long veils of fur hanging from her arms lashing at him like a pair of speedy whips, making a piercing sound as they clashed against his arms. A decent trick, making him wonder which direction she would come from and then attacking from both sides at once.

Still, this tactic seemed too crude for Garm. Too basic, it was something a newbie would come up with, and from what he was told this Mienshao was an experienced defender. While he wondered if there was some kind of trickery involved he noticed that, while he had stopped her arms with his own, Freya's legs were still free. It was easy to foresee what came next.

Turning her body around in the air only slightly, Freya threw an unrestrained kick in Garm's direction. She knew the smallest miscalculation could send her feet straight into Garm's spike, but she trusted her accuracy to hit against his stomach instead. A powerful High Jump Kick at this close distance would be lethal for about any pokémon with a weakness to fighting-type moves.

But Freya was unlucky. With an elegant sidestep, Garm moved away from danger, away from the reach of her kick. Too late to stop or improvise, Freya kicked the air and fell to the ground, her whole body painfully slamming against the red floor. Upon standing up – slowly and not without a pained grunt – she noticed her aching left arm and the strain on her right leg and knee. She must have hurt herself on the forceful landing.

"So you saw that coming too," she said in a discouraged voice.

Garm nodded. No smiles, no shows of pity. "Your aura betrays your intent. It's like you're outwardly projecting everything you're about to do."

Perhaps it wasn't immediately obvious to Lumis, since he wasn't an expert when it came to battling, but Freya had lost. Garm knew. The Haxorus knew. And as much as she wanted to think otherwise, Freya also had to accept the truth. High Jump Kick was an astonishingly powerful attack, but precisely because of that, missing it wasn't without consequence. The force applied to the kick made it impossible to stop once started, not even by the user, so if the kick failed to meet an opponent the only choice was to continue until its user crashed against a wall or the floor. When using this sort of attack, you either hurt the foe or end up hurt yourself.

Freya felt as if half of her vitality had left her. She could still fight, but it would be a considerable risk, one she wasn't willing to take. "It would be stupid to keep fighting, that I can't deny," she said with a sour smile.

Neither Garm nor the Haxorus dropped their guard, but hearing her words brought immense relief to Lumis, although he hid it behind a stern façade. "You should have given up a long time ago. What were you playing at?"

"Giving up? You misunderstand. I'm not submitting. I ought to leave with whatever little energy I have left."

Lumis' ears fell flat. He had jumped to conclusions. "What? Please, don't further complicate things, Freya. This is a perfect opportunity to turn yourself in. Let's end this already."

The Mienshao seemed to doubt for a second, her gaze jumping between the door and the Espeon. Garm appreciated the attempt at negotiation. It would ease matters. "You should follow his advice. You're in no position to fight back, much less resist. You seem hurt. We shall treat your wounds."

Freya flexed her left arm and emitted a low groan, more out of frustration than pain. Her arm seemed mostly okay, what worried her was the soreness on her right leg. "I'm probably okay," she concluded after stretching her leg a few times.

"You can't escape from an aura reader," the Haxorus said in a threatening tone. "Don't even try."

"Is that what you think? Jackal, your personnel is lacking in imagination."

Freya held her hands close, her palms facing each other. Was she preparing for another Aura Sphere? It looked like it from Lumis' perspective, but Garm knew that the gap between her hands was too wide to effectively gather aura. No, the move she was about to use, while also a fighting-type move, wasn't Aura Sphere. She was likely charging up a Focus Blast, Garm guessed.

In a way, those two fighting-type moves were like polar opposites, or perhaps like two sides of the same coin. While Focus Blast was stronger than Aura Sphere, it was also much more inaccurate. Aura could be molded with determination and resolve, but Focus Blast directly tapped into the user's mental focus, making it uncontrollable at best. Given Freya's current situation, using such an unreliable skill seemed more like a liability. More likely than not, it would miss her target.

However, accuracy was a non-issue when your target was immobile and just beneath your feet. To their surprise, her attack wasn't directed at Garm or any other living being present, but at the floor under her. The reason why became immediately apparent. The explosion caused extensive clouds of dirt to surround Freya, concealing her position.

A clever gambit, trying to escape amidst the commotion taking advantage of the reduced visibility, but no amount of dust would obstruct aura readings.

"I know what you're thinking." Freya's voice clearly revealed her position inside the cloud of dust, defeating its purpose in the first place. She didn't seem to mind. "Even if I do this, you can still find me with your aura. You can't lie to aura after all, right?"

Stretching an arm as if he was reaching out to her, Garm visualized the position of her aura, and thus hers. Freya was still in the middle of the dusty cloud – wait, no, she was approaching him from his right, at a frenetic speed. And somehow, she was now simultaneously targeting his left flank and jumping over him – except that she was actually in front of him and slightly to the left and slightly to the right and – what in the world was going on?

The small explosion sounds that followed gave Garm a clear idea of what was happening around him. Freya hadn't moved. The aura he was detecting wasn't the one Freya's body emitted; rather, she had thrown a flurry of small aural spheres all around him, and he had mistakenly confused them for her. She had first negated their eyes with dust, and now she had negated his aura sense with decoy aura signals.

"You still have much to learn about aura, maladroit father killer."

As her voice echoed through the spacious corridors of the Haecceity, Garm fired a burst of small aural orbs just like Freya before, hoping to maybe hit her with one of them. No such luck.

"Allow me." Hoping it wasn't too late, the Haxorus let the shard fall to the floor and unleashed a Razor Wind attack, sending an intense gust of air that closely resembled a cyclone to clear the dusty clouds. However, time wasn't on their side. They found no one behind the curtains of dust, only the door Freya had presumably escaped through. At the very least, she hadn't taken the shard with her. "Shall I follow her?" the Haxorus offered.

"No." Garm seemed lost in thought for a short moment, gazing at the exit door with empty eyes. "Pick up the shard again. You shall be accompanying Mr. Lumis to the Azure Nightingale."

"Right now?" the Haxorus asked. "Isn't capturing her a more pressing matter?"

"Her arrival means the Beacon knows the shard is here," Garm said. "It's no longer safe here, at least not for now."

"Would it be safer at a different Haecceity?" Lumis asked.

Garm closed his eyes, considering it for a second. "Not many leaders are competent fighters. For the time being, we should focus on putting the Beacon off the trail, have them lose track of the shard's location. That should be our priority."

"Ah, yes. That's reasonable," the Haxorus said. "They might attack our Haecceity again, so the shard would be safer elsewhere. So what was my mission? I only have to lead the violet malkin to the Azure Nightingale while keeping the shard safe, right?"

"Yes. A defender of their node can relieve you then."

"Very well. I'll keep both him and the shard safe."

Lumis was understandably silent. More than usual. He heard their conversation, but he was honestly not paying much attention. Too many things going on his mind right now, most of them related to Freya. This was the first time they had met ever since she joined the Beacon, and the reunion had left a bad taste in his mouth. He thought he could convince her to leave the Beacon, but that was nothing but an innocent fantasy. Well, at least she wasn't hostile to him. That little detail assuaged him somewhat, it wasn't all lost.

Garm, Lumis noticed, also seemed quieter than usual. While the Lucario couldn't be said to be boisterous, he tended to be a little more talkative than this, but now he only spoke to relay his orders to the Haxorus. Lumis could only assume that it had something to do with Freya's odd choice of words before she parted. Did he hear correctly? Did she call the Lucario a father killer?

But it couldn't be. Lumis was certain Freya's father met his end in a rather unfortunate laboratory accident. It wasn't like with Skoll's parents, the accident that took Freya's father's life was catastrophic in comparison. He was one of the most respectable and influential scientists in the Nightingale after all, so his loss was a big hit for the whole node. Needless to say, Lumis wasn't going to ask Garm about it directly. That didn't strike him as a good idea, too disrespectful.

However it may be, it seemed like he would have a second chance to analyze another shard. It was a thrilling idea; it would give him an opportunity to determine whether there were any significant differences between the different shards. Perhaps his findings would cast some light on the nature of the shards and their relationship to Adamantium.