[se] True light

This place was more busy than usual. Míngzé had gone out that day to enjoy the good weather together with his Ninetales. The pokémon stood at his side, acting partially as a guide. She was not fond of busy places which is why he’d chosen a trip through the calmer parts of Sanctum City. There was nothing calm about this spot however. It took him a moment to understand what was the cause.

Easter, of course. Now everyone was praying to Xerneas, asking for good fortune, a healthy life, love. As if their prayers would ever be heard. Once upon a time when he was but a child, he’d prayed too, together with his parents. Then everything went to shit and he had never done so again.

With a shake of his head he turned to leave. A wet nose touched his hand, a gesture he now recognized as his pokémon trying to get his attention. “What is it?” he asked right before he heard a voice that was directed at him. Confusion clouded his face, together with mild frustration. The voice was not one he recognized, but apparently he knew this person from somewhere. “No, I’m sorry I can’t say I do,” he said as he forced the corners of his lips into a smile. He turned towards the other. It was anything but easy to recognize people based on their voices. “Have we met somewhere before?” At his side the Ninetales was eying the man, her tails swaying slightly.

Voices. They sometimes sounded exactly the same. Míngzé tried his best to remember where he knew this man from, but came back empty. At least this one asked if he remembered him instead of simply assuming so. It was something he could appreciate.

Míngzé cocked an eyebrow, still not understanding what he was talking about. Perhaps some kind of grand feast? A previous festival? He could not be sure. All it took was one word to let the flood of memories back in. Of course, the lake. Míngzé clenched his jaw and heaved a sharp breath. “Right, how could I forget.” There was a tightness in his chest. It was shame. He still remembered the state he’d been in, his inability to do anything useful. The city was big, why did they have to cross paths once more?

“Yeah, I’ve been fine, good, perfect even.” It was all in the past now and he rather forgot it happened at all. If this man remembered him, it meant he also knew how he’d reacted back then. “Although I came to the conclusion that it’s best to stay far away from the forest at night.” There was a weak smile on his lips as he attempted to make light of the situation. To pretend it had no effect on him at all.

His attention slipped back to the prayers going on further away. “Did you come here to pay your respects?” It surprised him how many people were there.

Míngzé made a smile appear on his face. It was difficult to think back to and so far served more as a confirmation of his own incapabilities than anything else. Yet, if he had tried anything more, it might have ended in even a bigger disaster. He could not save everyone but so far he had been able to save himself. That had to count for something. “Can’t exactly blame you, it is not exactly a scenario you want to repeat. I bet it’s safer during the day.” Although enough wild pokémon roamed through the woods to make it unsafe anyway.

The other confirmed that he was indeed here for a prayer. Míngzé hummed softly, letting his attention wander for a moment. It was impossible to hear what people were saying, they were only a faint murmur in the background. “That’s admirable,” Míngzé said, sincere in his words even though he didn't necessarily share the same beliefs as this man. “No, I haven't done that in quite some time, and I don't have any plans to do it anytime soon.” He shook his head a little as he held his hand to the side until he found Jiǔ’s head. “We were simply enjoying the good weather and ended up here.” If he had remembered it was this time of year again, he would have avoided this place.

So much was happening right now in Cerynia, even when it felt like it was but the beginning. Strange people walking the streets, Deities speaking to people, powerful artifacts. Míngzé wondered how many people were aware of the things happening right underneath their noses. Even if they did, he doubted their prayers would have much effect.

The other offered to go somewhere else and Míngzé nodded. Jiǔ rose to her feet, ready to follow her companion. “Good idea.” Otherwise he would simply return home instantly to spend the remainder of the day between those four walls.

Míngzé waited for the man to start moving before he would follow him. “With everything that happened back then, I believe we’ve not properly met, I’m Míngzé,” he introduced himself. If they’d done so back then, he had forgotten all about it. “Ming is fine too.” A nickname that originated from school, when all the kids failed at either pronouncing or remembering his name.

The park would also be busy this time of the year, a lot of people that wanted to enjoy the first warm days. Which was fine to him. “The park is fine, Jiǔ needs to stretch her legs anyway.” She walked close to him, always scanning her surroundings. Míngzé wished that she would run around more, but with her background he doubted that she would behave as a normal pokémon any time soon.

A doctor. That was good to know. Vaguely he remembered that they’d dropped her off at some clinic, but back then he hadn’t fully realized that it was his. “I fear I did not pick up on a lot last time,” Míngzé said, trying to make light of the whole situation. His state of panic back then was not something he was proud of. So much had happened since too, that all of it felt irrelevant now. “We were lucky to have you there.” Even though in the end they still needed help from another party as no one was able to protect themselves against the powerful haunter. “I’ve spoken to Djodie too after it all happened. She seemed to be doing fine, all things considered.”  

The ice back then had caused him to falter, the fear of falling into the water had been too great. If something had not propelled him forward last time on the beach, he would also never have gone into the water. It was the idea of having nothing around you that scared him the most. Not even ground under your feet.

“I think nothing simply prepares you for a situation like that unless you are a trained professional,” Míngzé sighed. The most important thing was that Lamar had tried something and that it somehow worked. They soon neared the park. The ground underneath his cane changed from a smooth texture to a more rough one. “Let’s walk.” That way his pokémon could stretch her legs some more.

Míngzé halted at the sudden bright light in the corner of his eyes, one of the few things he could perceive. His brow knitted together. “What’s that?” he asked. It did not feel like it was a threat causing him to remain calm. By squinting his eyes he tried to see it better to no avail. Jui however growled softly at the ongoing transformation.

Their walk came to a stop when the pokémon that had apparently been there all along started evolving. His Ninetales stood next to him, her body pressed against his leg. It was clear that this situation made her nervous. Her whole body was tense. Míngzé tried to soothe her but it did not seem to work. As the evolution continued, it only got worse. It even felt like she was shaking a little. That she bared her teeth was something he completely missed.

“An Amigou?” Míngzé questioned in an attempt to treat the situation as normally as possible and hopefully ease his own Pokémon's tension. He still did not fully trust her and it was also difficult to read her. Nothing had happened so far, but sometimes it felt like something was bound to happen. Míngzé placed a hand on her when he felt her taking a step forward. Instinctively he grabbed a piece of her fur, which resulted in a growl as she shot his hand a glare. Luckily she deemed the other pokémon more important and quickly looked their way again.

The man said something regarding the evolution of his own pokémon, but it flew over his head. He was preoccupied with his own pokémon, fear gripling at his chest. What he feared was what would happen if the pokémon lashed out. “I— I’m not sure.” Underneath his touch he could feel the slight trembling of her body. The mere fur he held was not nearly enough to stop her if she decided to do anything. Right then he did not trust her. Not that he thought she would do anything to him, but he could not be too sure about others. “She has been through some stuff, although I do not know what exactly,” Míngzé explained. It might help him if he did, but he doubted he would ever learn about it.

“Come on, we’ll continue walking, maybe that will help,” he said, although his voice lacked conviction. Míngzé tugged softly at the Ninetales, urging her to come with him. It seemed to work. She followed him closely, but he could not see how she kept glaring at the newly evolved pokémon.

Witnessing an evolution was something almost magical. It would’ve been the same now if it was not for Jiu’s reaction. The way her muscles tensed as soon as the evolution began worried him. Did she see the transforming pokémon as a threat? It surely seemed like it by the way she stood in front of him. “I’m terribly sorry for her behavior,” Míngzé said as they were walking again. He silently prayed that his pokémon would leave it at that, that nothing worse would happen.

With a worried expression he looked down on his pokémon. At times like these he really wished he could see how she looked and behaved, it would help him well. “Not that long, we’re still getting to know each other,” he explained to the other. “She’s quite unpredictable from time to time.” This earned him an almost apologetic look from her, but a growl still followed when her attention turned back to the other’s pokémon. Again Míngzé tried to shush her but he did not feel like it was working.