Scene Six: Unspoken
"You lot look drenched! Travelers from outside the city, I presume?" The innkeeper, a polite and well-dressed young man with a Chatot on his shoulder, greeted us with a friendly smile.
Will nodded in acknowledgment, pushing soaked hair out of his face. "From Bytold. We spent multiple nights in the Old Forest on our way, so this will be a treat."
Sira eyed the people of the inn like she'd switched bodies with Infernix. A big trio of men with a Machoke, Primeape, and Scrafty watched us from a nearby table. A pretty girl twirled her braid between her fingers with her eyes on Will, petting a dark-colored Meowth on her lap.
But Sira's sharpest focus was on a mysterious figure who leaned near the door, hidden beneath a brown cloak that shrouded his face. By his side, a Zoroark lurked in the shadows.
"We should get settled quickly. Do you offer food in-room?" Sira inquired, her tone sharp and assertive.
The innkeeper nodded, his Chatot mimicking the gesture. "Of course. Will you be taking one room, or multiple. Meal included, they go twelve gold apiece."
Will grimaced, glancing into his satchel uneasily. He muttered under his breath, "That is a steep price." It was twice the cost of the Fallen Unicorn in Bytold, and the strain on our budget was evident. He looked to Sira for her input. "Two rooms?"
Sira scowled at him, her dark eyes never leading the cloaked stranger by the door. "Why waste money? Just one suits me, so long as there's room and a damned shower." She clearly didn't trust the room, and sharing a room would make it easier to keep an eye out for each other.
The innkeeper acknowledged her choice with a short bow. He held up a finger to his Chatot, who picked up off his shoulder and fluttered to a wall behind them, grabbing a keyring with its talons. The innkeeper left from behind the desk to check the room ahead of us, his Chatot clutching the key in tow. While he was gone, Will leaned against the counter to face us.
"Seems we will wait out the storm here tonight. The clouds earlier suggested this should be brief. Gone by tomorrow, and we can go about our business." Will remarked, trying to maintain his sense of optimism.
"You call this a storm?" Sira retorted. "Go to Orden once, I dare you. It's just a shower."
Will smirked, but went on. "Tomorrow we can check out the League Registry," he said with a look at me. "I would like to go to the Grand Hospital as soon as time allows. Then we shall see what we can do about that Keeper."
"And once our mission is complete, I'll be off with Snacks," I said. Both Will and Sira looked surprised, for whatever reason. I glanced away. "I have a mission I need to carry out. We'll work things out here and do what we can against the Keeper. For your squad." I met Will's glance. "But then I must go."
The door opened, letting a freezing breeze into the room that made all three of us shudder as a young couple entered with a Ralts and a Timburr. The wind blew astray the hood of the cloaked man near the door, which he hurriedly fixed. In that instant, though, I caught a glimpse of his hair. Could it be…?
Unconsciously, I took a step toward the figure. Sira reflexively reached out to me, but I didn't get far. Snacks hopped out of my arms and emitted a series of friendly chirps at the man. The cloaked figure turned his head, and I saw violet eyes that first flashed to my wrist, then regarded me levelly. It was him.
When he realized I saw his face, he wrapped his cloak around himself and ducked out the door, his Zoroark in close pursuit, both disappearing into the storm outside.
"What the…?" I murmured to myself, stunned. I hardly noticed that most of the room was looking at me. Snacks tilted her head, looking confused and a little sad. I picked her up.
"What was that?" Sira asked in a low hiss. Will looked equally concerned.
"I traveled with him," I told them quietly, wary of the onlookers in the inn. "Kioru was his name. He's the one who helped me reach Bytold. He gave me this bag, my knife. He showed up right after I met Snacks."
"Stay the hell away from him."
I turned to Sira in shock. She had an oddly wary look in her eyes, glaring a hole through the door. She even looked a little pale. "Why? He helped me out and—"
"Room's all checked out," the innkeeper's voice made me jump. His Chatot handed the key to Will with a squawk, who accepted it with a grateful nod. "First one on the right up the stairs. The kitchen staff can have dinner brought up to you in about a half hour. Enjoy your stay, lady and gents. And that adorable Eevee."
"Absolutely," Will assured him with a polite grin, and he led the way up the stairs as the innkeeper moved on to help the young couple who'd entered after us.
We passed a fogged window at the top, where I briefly lapsed to stare out into the outside storm. Rain raced down the panes of glass in rivulets. Snacks pawed the glass, as though she could stop its trails with her paw pads. It was now pitch-black outside, illuminated only by sporadic sheltered lanterns and flashes of lightning that briefly pierced the darkness. Rainwater poured from the rooftops of brick and wooden buildings in sheets, pounding the cobblestone roads below.
A brown-cloaked figure and a Zoroark darted down the road beside the inn. He halted in the middle of the road, raising his hooded head to the tumultuous sky. I could see the white tinge of his hair from here. Lightning clapped across the sky, immediately slapping the streets with a resounding flash and deep boom like it consumed the entire Capital. Snacks emitted a squeal and dived into my soaked clothes.
It left me blinking away spots in my vision. As quickly as the flash abated, Kioru and his Zoroark were gone without a trace, swallowed by the unforgiving tempest.
Will ushered me over as he was already unlocking our room, breaking my reverie. I followed, looking at my new friends and wondering if they, too, might run from me in time, flinching at my name and braving storms to avoid conversation.
The room exceeded our expectations, certainly a step up from our lodging in Bytold, which somewhat justified the steep price. However, it was apparent that accommodating three people and their Pokemon in this space might prove a little cramped. The main room boasted hardwood floors and a large, wood-framed bed with a plush-looking mattress against one wall. Bookshelves lined most of the walls, except for the entrances to the second room and the bathroom. A fine maple wardrobe stood ready for our belongings, taking up a portion of one wall. The second room appeared to contain only a folding bed, accompanied by a curtained window overlooking the city outside.
Will stretched his arms wearily, his face reflecting the exhaustion that weighed on all us. "I know not about you two, but I feel the weight of the day. Let us prepare for rest. Once our food arrives, that will mark the end of my day."
I didn't relent entirely. I turned to Sira. "Sira, what do you have against Kioru? He helped me when I first arrived here. You helped me, too, so I'd say both of you are good people."
She turned away, her gaze frozen to the distant cityscape visible between the curtains of the window, the ominous rumble of thunder an ever-present backdrop. "He's from Orden, too. Did he ever tell you that?"
A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room, casting a transient light over us. I couldn't shake the chill that crawled down my spine as I recalled the eerie dream I'd had in the forest. I tried to push the unsettling feeling aside. "No, he never mentioned that. But you're from Orden as well. I don't see how one's place of origin automatically defines their character. Unless you have something to tell me?"
Sira remained silent for a moment, focused on the task of unlacing her tall boots. I sensed I was provoking her, and I wasn't sure why I felt so uneasy about the situation.
"Just trust me," she finally muttered, her tone guarded. "The last time I saw him, he was in bad company. Anyway, are you planning to soak the entire room, or will you take off those wet clothes? I, for one, prefer our inn room to be dryer than the outside.
I decided to take her advice, but I couldn't help feeling like there was more to the story. As I wrestled out of my wet boots, I joined Will and Sira in stowing away my weapons and bag in the wardrobe. All three of us sent out our Pokemon, keeping their unoccupied Pokeballs nearby in case they decided to go back. Will rummaged through his bag before disappearing into the bathroom briefly. When he returned, he'd swapped his wet clothing for a dry undershirt and beige pants, revealing his well-defined muscles. Across his shoulder, there was a faded scar that bore a striking resemblance to a jagged lightning bolt.
With a lack of dry clothes, I borrowed an extra shirt and pants from Will to change into. I had to fasten the pants almost twice around to not fall around my ankles. Sira opted for black sweatpants and a baggy shirt. It did little to shy away from the appeal of her curvy figure.
As we settled on the couch in the second room, awaiting dinner, the lingering scent of rain permeated our space. I felt comforted by the close proximity of my two friends, their scents growing increasingly familiar. Will carried an earthly aroma that reminded me of the forest, while Sira exuded a sweet fragrance that evoked images of flowers stained with blood.
Snacks lay in my lap, taking a light nap, while Glimmer curled up by my feet. Valor perched gracefully on a nearby shelf, and Rocky rested comfortably in Will's lap, while Blaze settled at his feet. Sira, with an absent demeanor, gently stroked Infernix, who appeared quite content, and Embera and Shadowfang lay by her feet, resembling a pair of vigilant guard-dogs.
Will's voice cut through the room's quietude. "So you plan to leave Harohto after we finish up with the Keeper?" Will asked. His tone was casual, but I sensed an underlying gravity in his words.
I nodded, continuing to stroke Snacks. "I'm not entirely sure where I'll be headed yet. All I can say for certain is that it won't be here."
"Your goal has something to do with Snacks, does it not?" Will's question was more direct than before, his curiosity evident. It was the kind of query that demanded a sincere response. "Come now, my friend. Surely, after all we have gone through, you do not still doubt my intentions. Perhaps you are not quick to trust, but we have faced a great trial together. If anything, I feel a bit more deserving of understanding the reasoning behind this unwavering determination."
Sira chimed in, her tone challenging. "What's there to be afraid of? If we didn't want you around, there was a whole forest to ditch your sorry ass in, or we could have eliminated you. Do you think you could've outrun us in that twisted old wood? Or survived a fall off that plateau? Hell, I could've just not saved your ass in that river, and you and Snacks would have been Gyarados food. You survived because we chose to help you."
I wasn't sure whether to take comfort in that or not, but her demeanor lacked hostility.
"Do you understand how to Travel yet?" Will asked gently. "Leaving Harohto likely involves Travel, or you have been heading in the wrong direction. The only other reliable way off this continent is by ship from Lynnport – a journey that takes several days from south of Bytold, circling the Border Range, then traveling along the coast. If you wish to use Travel, you would be wise to learn how – or to accompany somebody who does."
I took a deep breath, my fingers nervously tracing the inside of my wrist. Snacks lifted her head from my lap, sensing my unease, her eyes flickering with curiosity. "Yes, it has to do with Snacks," I admitted, my voice tinged with uncertainly. "But it's more complicated than that."
"Well, don't keep us in the dark," Sira said. "We're in something together now. We both saved your ass. Let us try to help."
Taking a deep breath, I began to unravel the tangled threads of my story. "As you know, I woke up in the forest near Bytold, with no memories of who I am or where I came from. Snacks was there, waiting for me. I don't think she's officially my Pokemon, but she's been by my side ever since."
I looked down at Snacks, who looked up at me with her expressive eyes, as if to reassure me.
"It didn't take long to learn about Snacks' unusual ability," I went on. "She can transform into any of the Eeeveelutions at will. So far, to date, I've seen her become Vaporeon twice and Flareon once. But I have reason to believe that she can transform into more."
Will's eyes widened slightly, and he exchanged a knowing glance with Sira. I looked down at Snacks, who didn't remove her gaze from me. With that, I reached for my wrist.
"There is one thing I've been keeping from you," I admitted, and pulled back my sleeve slightly. As Will and Sira knelt closer, I held out the mark on my wrist – a light blue symbol of three wavy lines, intersected with a cross of some kind. "I don't know the full details of how or why it's there, but I'm certain it's connected to my past. I also believe it's linked to Snacks and her ability."
Sira leaned forward, and she lightly touched the emblem on my wrist. As usual, her touch sent sparks down my skin, eliciting an unwitting response from me. Her fingers still on my wrist, she looked to me for a moment, then back to Will. Will nodded very slightly.
"Do you… know of the Elemental Stones?" Sira asked quietly.
"Elemental Stones?" I asked, still very aware of Sira's fingers on my wrist. "Like the Dusk Stones around the city, or…?"
"Not evolution stones, although they may be similar in origin," Will said. "The Elemental Stones are the very foundation of the elements that exist in our world and in Pokemon. Fire. Water. Grass. Earth. Wind. Electric. Ice. Light. Dark… There are more, at least eighteen known elements – Steel, for one."
He held out his arm, and without so much as a look, Valor flew over to land there. Even smaller than most Braviary, having her directly in front of me made her size unignorable. At a gesture from Will, she spun around and spread out her wings.
"The Elemental Stones are massive structures that are kept secret from the world," Will was explaining as Valor came over. "As I said, they are the source of each element. Humans and Pokemon work in tandem to protect these sacred stones from prying eyes. One way to do so is by breaking off chunks of the stone, which can be held and utilized by Pokemon."
At first, I didn't guess what Will was trying to show me. Then, something shimmered in a peculiar way on her back. Among the steel feathers, there seemed to be a small silver shard. A similar material, but somehow irrevocably different. Looking at it, I felt a strange pulse of energy. The symbols on my wrist shimmered.
"In Valor's case," Will continued, "she carries a shard of the Steel Stone. It is important to keep hidden, so it is embedded in the small of her back, normally quite blended with the rest of her steel plumage. This shard grants her abilities and strength beyond even what a typical Syaotoan Braviary possesses."
Sira gestured to her dormant Infernix. Among the bones decorating his spine, something stood out a little just under the curve of one of the bones.
"A shard of the Fire Stone," Sira said gravely, unusually serious. "I'm different from Will in that Infernix already had this when I met him. We were both pretty young when we met, and he was just an Ordenite Houndour, with that stone sticking out of his back. Joining up with him, I helped to protect this shard of stone. And when that stone became jeopardized, well… Now I'm here."
Will nodded solemnly. "Valor and I are just protectors of a small shard, passed down from one who protects the Steel Stone. All carriers of a stone shard are connected in some way, a mutual desire to protect an element of this realm."
My eyes widened in awe and realization, taking in the significance of what they just shared with me. Elemental Stones, the source of all the elemental power in the realms…
"So Kioru knows about Snacks and your mark?" Sira asked sharply, jolting me from my shock.
I nodded. "Yeah, actually. He helped me understand the bit of what I know now. When we saw Snacks transform for the first time… what?"
Sira's expression had gone quite dark. Only now did she yank her fingers from my wrist, startling Valor back into flight and making Infernix's head pop up, alert. "I told you he was in bad company last time I saw him. Also told you I had to protect Infernix by leaving Orden. Those… are pretty fucking connected."
Now Will's look sharpened as well. "You mean Vincent Ordenstraum…?"
Sira nodded, glaring a hole through the floor currently. "For a long time now, he has been seeking to gather shards of the stones for himself and his vassals. The amount of power he has steadily gained over the last several years…"
A haunting image returned to me. The dark emperor, his foot on Snacks' cage, clutching a dark crystal in his hand…
"But Kioru helped me," I protested, rubbing my wrist absently. It was warm where Sira's fingers had been. "Without him, how could I have made it to Bytold short of stumbling my way there?"
Sira gave me a dirty look. "Maybe he groomed you. Snacks' power… there's no way that isn't connected to the stones somehow. No other Eevee I've heard of can control their forms so freely."
"But she doesn't have any shards attached to her like Valor or Infernix," I said. I started scratching under her chin, as though searching for any crystals I hadn't noticed before. The only odd thing out on her was the little band Kimball had given her, which she luckily hadn't expended yet. "You also didn't explain what this symbol on my wrist is about, but I'm guessing, like I thought, it has to do with those stones."
Both looked at me for a long moment. Then, in unison, each one made a different movement. Will lowered the shoulder of his sleeveless shirt. Sira brought the collar of her shirt down to between her breasts. Both turned to face me. Etched on Will's shoulder was something quite similar: three straight lines with a sort of small gear etched into the center. It was colored a deep, metallic grey. Sira's was a sort of stylized flame made with three red lines, an 'x' etched in the corner.
"You mean…?" My gaze wandered back to my wrist.
"I have not seen other guardians of any stones but the Steel Stone myself," Will confessed. "I know not what your symbol means, but what is implied is clear to me: you are a guardian yourself. Perhaps it is you and Snacks, or perhaps another Pokemon you own somewhere, but you clearly have some responsibility to the Elemental Stones. And I do not suspect Snacks is not involved."
I lowered my head a little. Snacks was sitting upright in my lap, looking up at me with her huge, expressive eyes. "That means these Elemental Stones must be tied to getting my memory back. Then… that is where I have to go."
"To the Elemental Stones themselves?" Sira asked disbelievingly. "Impossible. They're carefully guarded and kept a secret. Hell, I don't know where the original Fire Stone is."
"I know where the Steel Stone is," Will said softly. "It is not unreasonable to assume that by using Travel, we could find more stones." His fist clenched unconsciously. Rocky was looking at him, almost awestruck. "Sira, if you are right… If Vincent Ordenstraum pursues the stones, then that puts a lot of people in danger. Beyond that, it puts the balance in danger."
Sira gave him a guarded look. "So, what, we go to the stones to warn people about him or something? I left Orden to protect Infernix – to protect our shard of the stone. Do you know what happens when a shard is destroyed? Or when it's removed from a Pokemon?"
Will's expression was grave. "I do, Sira," he said sadly. "I am well aware. That is why I must protect the Steel Stone. I owe a strong debt to the protector of the Steel Stone, and I understand the intricacies of that balance."
"But aren't you afraid for Valor?" she demanded, hugging Infernix a little closer. "I don't shy away from protecting the stone, but right now, I'm doing that – by keeping us far from that bastard emperor. If he were to get a hold of Infernix…"
"I think I saw him in a dream." The words tumbled from my lips, restrained for a while. I looked to Will, who looked quietly surprised, and to Sira, who looked silently horrified. "After we talked about Syaoto and Orden, I dreamt about them. It was weird and surreal, and probably wrong, but I couldn't ignore the end part. I saw a dark figure, his foot on a cage. In that cage… was Snacks. And in his hand, he had a shard of a black crystal."
I hugged Snacks a little tighter, rubbing my wrist. "So that's why I have to go. I feel like if I don't rise to action, he'll find us. Maybe he's already after Snacks. If you're right, and Kioru was here because of Snacks, then he knows I'm here. I need to go find these Elemental Stones. I know Snacks is connected somehow, and so am I. Maybe I have a Pokemon abandoned somewhere, protecting one of these stones by itself while I'm off wasting time, no recollection of them whatsoever. I can't waste any more time."
My words sunk into them, and I could feel their eyes on me as I looked only at Snacks.
"You're right," Sira admitted. "If Kioru was scouting, then Vincent knows you and Snacks are here. Now, he would know I am, too."
"We will have to move fast," Will said. "I have things I must do. Ryoku, you should still register as a League Trainer – it will make accessing Travel a lot easier. I need to find my crew. And, we need to do something about the Keeper."
Sira groaned. "The Keeper? But if this is about the stones, and Infernix's life is on the line—"
"It is about the stones," Will cut her off. His smile grew a little bigger as Sira stared at him. "I suspect one of the stones has been under our noses for the last few days."
Sira shot to her feet, disrupting all three of her Pokemon in her sudden enthusiasm. "No freakin' way!" she exclaimed. "You don't think –!?"
Will covered her mouth, disrupting his own team in how quickly he followed her. "Remember where we are, Sira. We keep this tidbit between the three of us, especially when once we are certain."
There was a knock at the door, which made all three of us turn sharply. Every dog Pokemon in the room's head swiveled. Will had a knife in his hand I didn't think he'd have kept on him. Then his shoulders relaxed, and he gave us a sheepish smile. "Of course. Food."
That fueled Sira faster than the prospect of the Elemental Stones by far. We greeted a server and chef at the door, who wheeled in a cart of food. A succulent roast beef of some kind, perfectly seasoned with herbs and filled with stuffing, sat at the center of the cart. It was surrounded by platters of grilled corn on the cob, creamy mashed potatoes, a bowl of delicately spiced fettucine alfredo, and a full Caesar salad adorned with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The aroma alone was enough to make our mouths water.
The chef carried two bowls as well. One was heaped with various regional berries, the other a stack of some other kind of meat in cutlets. The server provided us with cutlery and paper plates, so we loaded up on our first proper meal in days – honestly, my first time to memory – and set our Pokemon up for a meal of equal splendor.
We kept topics light as we happily savored our meal, avoiding the implication Will had encroached upon minutes ago. Once our plates were clean, Will rose from his seat, stretching with a contended sigh. "If everything is settled for tomorrow, then we should turn in. It has been an exceedingly long day for us, and tomorrow might prove just as demanding."
I nodded in agreement, glancing at Snacks, who had already curled up among Glimmer's soft wool and fallen asleep. "Sleep sounds like a great idea."
As Sira got up and headed to the other room, I noticed that Will had set up his belongings in this room, which had a one-person couch. Sira had placed her things by the bed. Unconsciously, I'd also set my things down near the bed, but I'd been trying to glean information from Sira and paid very little attention to the fact. "Uh, where are we sleeping?"
Will, now already settled on the couch with his feet up, looked over at me. "You will take the bed with Sira," he told me. "I am here, of course, to keep watch over the window and be with the Pokemon. We agreed that you should have the bed since you are still recovering from the fall. And, well, Sira also requested the bed. It does happen to be a two-person bed…"
I felt myself, from head to toe, flush scarlet. "You… what do you mean?" I stammered, my words trailing off as an uncertain threat.
"Is there a problem?" I froze, turning slowly to face Sira. Her hands were on her hips, one pillow from the bed tucked under her arm, and a mischievous grin played on her lips. "You wouldn't make a girl sleep on the couch, would you?"
"What? No!" I exclaimed, shooting Will a scathing glare. "Will, why don't you…?"
Will made a soft tutting sound. "You are still recovering. I am quite accustomed to the forest floor, and the couch suits me perfectly." He raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer to me. "Unless you are trying to remain chaste for a certain innkeeper back in Bytold…?"
Sira took a curious step closer. "What did you just say?"
Blushing fiercely, I stammered. "N-Nothing, just…"
I reserved an even darker look for Will, who choked. He quickly pretended as if he'd choked on a fistful of corn he'd snatched up, but I doubted Sira was fooled. I straightened up. "Very well. I guess… we're off to bed…"
"Good," Sira muttered drowsily. "I wasn't about to give up that comfy-ass bed for your sake." She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the bedroom. "Don't worry, kiddo. Nothin' bad's gonna happen. I'll keep one eye open all night."
She shut the door to Will's room behind us, and I wasn't sure I liked the idea of any of this. Sira managed to be equal parts sexy and intimidating in a combination I might never be ready for. That, and Will swindled me into this, I knew it.
"Right side is mine," Sira declared as she claimed her side of the bed. I timidly moved to the other end, feeling somewhat out of my depth. I contemplated sleeping shirtless, as I usually did, but I didn't quite feel at ease enough, so I just slipped under the covers.
When I glanced back, I was met with the sight of Sira shamelessly removing her shirt and pants, stretching luxuriously by the bed. I attempted to avoid staring, knowing she'd probably kill me if she caught me at that moment, but her well-toned figure drew my gaze like a moth to a flame.. Her fitness was undeniably attractive, and her lack of clothing only served to leave me mesmerized in a way I might never witness again as long as I lived.
As I watched her, I noticed a long, serpentine scar that extended from the nape of her neck down to just below the hem of her underclothes at the small of her back. It didn't appear to be an old scar, either. Her usual high-necked shirt concealed it perfectly. The timing of this discovery couldn't have been coincidental, and my thoughts quickly turned to her fear of Vincent Ordenstraum and how she mentioned that she had to protect Infernix.
"What are you staring at?"
I practically jumped out of my skin when Sira snapped at me. I wondered whether she had a third eye hidden somewhere on her back until I noticed the mirror wedged among the books on the shelf, where her crimson eyes beset into a glare.
"Haven't you seen a girl before, kid?"
I didn't know how to respond, so I retreated under the blankets where I might avoid the intimidating girl's wrath. I wasn't sure what scared me more about her: how easily she could kill me, or how much I found myself liking her.
My avoidance tactic didn't seem to work as she pounced on me above the covers. I let out a surprised noise of anguish and managed to wriggle my head free of the blankets, where I came face-to-face with a barely-clothed Sira. Her expression wasn't murderous, oddly, but her brows were furrowed and she had a playful smirk written all over her face. Her sickly-sweet scent invaded my senses.
"Gotcha," she murmured, and pinched me under the blanket. I nearly cried out, but caught myself as I remembered Will in the next room. "Next time you wanna check me out, why don't you check for mirrors first?"
I hesitated, staring into her excited, fiery eyes. "Sira, that scar…"
Every inch of playfulness evaporated from her face. "Oh. That." She rolled off me in a fluid motion, settling into her own side of the bed. "Would've been better if you were lookin' at my ass."
I didn't voice that I, in fact, had spent a good minute looking at that as well. I watched the ease of her movements, the details of her body as she moved, the way her muscles stretched as she bent over, and definitely her backside. I wanted to press about the scar, too, but I could already tell it was a sensitive topic. We'd breached a lot of those today – I wasn't sure she could handle another.
"Get some sleep, kid," she murmured sleepily. "Like Willy-boy said, could be a long-ass day for us." She added a dozing chuckle. "And not like it's the last chance you'll ever have to check me out, either, if that's what you were really up to."
I felt myself blushing furiously, burying my face in the blankets. At least she seemed to pass out quickly, so I didn't have to worry about her reaction.
After some time of trying to sleep, I got to my feet and perused the bookshelves. There was a vast medley of books, anything from Harohtian history to understanding Pokemon elements. I picked a few and lay awake for some time, reading well into the night.
