Chapter 4: None but Shadows
Seth stared blankly at the girl, of course with the way her two captives spoke, it was obvious she was a girl, but why did they want her? And why did she seem so calm? Shouldn't she be at least annoyed with being staffed in a sack? The other two crowded around Anca as she attempted to survey her surroundings, her own icy-blue eyes showing confusion, "w-where am I? Where did those two take me?" She now looked to the three of them for answers.
The girl spoke up first, clearing her voice before beginning, "welcome to Phenac City, the watery jewel of the desert," the way she spoke seemed more at home with a brochure than an answer to a recently captive girl.
"You were saved by this guy, he beat them like amateurs!" Came the boy's voice as he motioned with his hand towards Seth then to his Espeon and Umbreon, "him and his Pokémon of course"
Anca looked towards him, then her eyes trailed down to the brothers at his heels, "oh, aren't they cute!" She yelled before bending down to stroke them, Espeon growled and Umbreon snapped at her, both of them alert, their fur standing on end.
"Careful, they bite," Seth spoke as she withdrew her hand to avoid Umbreon's fangs, her startled eyes turning to him.
"Er, thanks for the warning," she replied before calming herself and looked back at him, "you didn't happen to see them use any…peculiar Pokémon?"
"If you don't count the fact that they were poorly trained, over-confident and generally weak…then no," he was waiting for them to move so he could get to this Stadium and try his luck.
"Hey, if you have any problems, why not go and see the Mayor?" The boy answered, seeming to think very highly of this Mayor.
"Yeah, I have shopping to do, the Mayor will hear you out though, I'm sure" the girl slid in, Anca turned to Seth as if ready to ask him a great favour.
"I hate to sound forward but I was wondering if you could…escort me for a while, I have a few people on my tail and you see strong enough"
"Fine, whatever, lets just go now," Seth started to walk away, hearing Anca following behind him.
The boy called to them from behind, "hey, the Mayor's house is up that stairway, on your left," he tilted his head in acknowledgement as he continued up the steps.
The girl hurried to speak to him as the Pokémon circled their master protectively, "thanks for helping me…"
"Seth," he answered as he carried on, "and don't worry about it, asking me to escort you has probably put you in even more danger…" Seth turned and walked towards the building, eyes scanning the doorway.
"What! Seth, what do you mean by-" She was cut off as Seth put his hand forward in a motion for her to step, a great figure stepped out of the entrance, a man of huge stature. His body covered in tight blue material, he wore torn pinkish material in what closely resembled a loincloth or even a skirt. His hair seemed to float as if on a non-existent breeze. He turned to them, Seth in particular; his voice was slow, calm and seemed to flow easily.
"Hello young trainer, I like what I see in your eyes, fufufufu, I have a feeling we shall meet again some day," he turned and left through a small exit beside the Mayor's house. Seth stared after him, the man must've been mad, yet there was something about his eyes that troubled him, a certain menace.
"What was that about?" Came Anca's voice through the mist of his own thoughts, "…Seth?"
He snapped himself out of his trance and moved to the door, Anca standing still as she observed him, her eyes showing a vague hint of concern, Seth made her jump as he spoke to her abruptly, "you coming or what?" Anca sighed before running up to join him as they stepped through.
A man spotted them and hauled himself from his chair before walking around his desk to stand in front of them, he was a portly man, dressed in great attire, his balding head held to grey buns of hair, making his appearance almost comical, "hello? And what may I do for you two?"
Before I could speak, Anca came forwards; I decided to leave her do the talking as I looked around, "Mr Mayor…"
"Please, call me Es Cade," interrupted the Mayor as I watched the silent TV.
"Mayor Es Cade, I…I saw it," the TV was now showing pictures of the Snagem Base.
"Oh, a what did you see?" The Mayor enquired, his hands held behind his back as he leaned forward slightly.
"I saw a Pokémon that gave off a black aura, they are really powerful and attack people," Seth turned at this notion, Pokémon were dangerous, yet a Pokémon that freely attacked humans was a very dark notion.
"My, that does sound horrible, if it will help, I shall order an investigation," the Mayor smiled as he said this, speaking again before turning to go to his phone, "we can't have them harming a lady as pretty as yourself"