Elias sat on a chair, gaze fixed on the distant sky.
His eyes lingered on Mount Coronet; though it was some distance from the Crimson Mirelands, he could still see it clearly.
What made Elias frown was the dark, cloudlike swirl atop the mountain.
That was the space-time rift, said to have first appeared near Mount Coronet more than a decade ago.
And ever since, the number of space-time distortions across Hisui had risen each year.
Pokémon from outside Hisui had started showing up regularly.
By every measure, this "cloud" was an ominous sign.
Whether it was the two clans or the newly arrived Galaxy Team, everyone saw it that way.
Countless doomsday tales had even sprung up about the space-time rift.
Something that had loomed for over a decade—by rights, Elias should have gotten used to it by now.
But lately, he'd noticed—the rift seemed to have grown, spreading out wider than before.
Thanks to his sharp senses, it was obvious: the "cloud" covered a larger area than it once had.
"What are you thinking about?"
Cogita's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
A mischievous puff of breath sent a shiver down Elias's spine.
When he turned and saw it was Cogita, he let out a sigh of relief.
Still, he didn't drop his guard completely.
Not until he reached out and pinched Cogita's cheek, confirming the feel of her skin, did he finally relax.
He couldn't be blamed for acting so strangely.
After all… those wild Zoroark were disturbingly persistent, and lately they'd set their sights on him in earnest.
They'd already tried to approach him several times, disguised as Lucario, the Pearl Clan Chief, or Cyllene or Irida.
If not for his telepathy and [Aura], he'd never have been able to tell them apart.
So he treated the Cogita in front of him with the same caution.
Beside him, Cogita just rubbed her cheek where he'd pinched her, not bothering to ask why.
"What were you thinking about just now?" she repeated.
"The space-time rift. It seems to have gotten bigger," Elias replied, pointing to the distance, getting straight to the point.
"Worried it'll turn into one of those disaster scenarios from old storybooks?" Cogita tilted her head, watching him.
Elias nodded, not bothering to deny it.
Anything connected to space and time was never simple.
"Don't worry too much," Cogita said, waving off his concerns.
"If anything really happens, I'll protect you."
"After all… I want you to live as long as I do."
Cogita didn't seem the least bit concerned about the space-time rift.
And Elias couldn't help but notice—Cogita's mood seemed much brighter these past few days, as if she'd figured something out.
"Well then, I'll be counting on you," he said, managing a laugh. Her teasing did help put him at ease.
Their conversation was cut short when Cogita started pestering him for tea.
But even as he played along, Elias made sure to keep the anomaly of the space-time rift in mind.
Maybe sensing he was still worried, Cogita—rarely so earnest—put away her usual laziness and offered a somewhat vague explanation:
"Relax. Either of those two big guys showing up on their own isn't much of a threat."
"And even if both appear at once, it's not unsolvable."
"After all, you're here. And so am I, right?"
She took a sip of tea, her tone oddly confident, as if she'd already made all the necessary preparations.
Elias didn't quite understand every detail, but he got the gist and nodded, choosing not to dwell on it.
---
[After that, your days fell into a peaceful, almost boring routine.]
[But… playing with Zoroark every day, stealing time for research, or exploring ruins with Cynthia wasn't such a bad way to live.]
[The only regret was that Kamado finally woke up.]
[Though even after regaining consciousness, he couldn't stand or reclaim his position as Commander.]
"Elias, you can rest assured. As long as I'm here, the partnership the Galaxy Team promised will remain in effect," Cyllene said earnestly.
During this partnership, not only had the Galaxy Team contributed their research, Elias had also solved many of their problems.
At the very least, all the blueprints for Jubilife Village had been drawn up by him.
Cyllene couldn't imagine any reason to go against him.
Elias nodded at her promise.
"Kamado's awakening hasn't threatened your position, has it?" he asked after a moment.
Cyllene hesitated briefly before replying, "Not really. But… a few of Kamado's old followers have started forming their own little faction within the team."
"It might take some time to weed them all out."
She reported the situation honestly.
Elias nodded. It was only natural that Kamado would have loyalists.
But unless something happened that really damaged Cyllene's reputation, those factions wouldn't be able to stir up any real trouble.
"Understood. I look forward to seeing you handle them soon," Elias said with a congratulatory smile.
---
[That night, you returned home right on schedule.]
[Zoroark and Lucario, apparently preparing some kind of gift for you, had gone out together at dawn and insisted you not follow.]
[But as night fell, you realized—neither of them had come back yet.]
[It made you uneasy. You wondered if something might have happened.]
Elias was visibly uneasy for once.
If he didn't have so much faith in Zoroark and Lucario's strength—or if it wasn't still relatively early—he'd have dashed out to search for them already.
When it came to those two Pokémon, he found it nearly impossible to stay calm…
Click—
Just then, the door creaked open.
Elias's eyes lit up and he hurried over.
Sure enough, standing in the doorway was Zoroark, her signature snowy white fur unmistakable.
Behind her was Lucario, standing tall as always.
Elias finally let himself breathe again.
But then he noticed… there seemed to be someone else?
Shifting his gaze, he saw that behind Lucario, someone was floating in midair.
More accurately—a girl, apparently unconscious, being suspended gently by Lucario's [Aura].
From behind, she looked young, with shoulder-length black hair.
And Zoroark—already not in the best mood—looked even grumpier when she noticed Elias's eyes shift.
See? I knew bringing this kind of trouble home was a bad idea!
---
T/N: IS THAT... GIRANTINA????????????? BLACK HAIR???? nahhh prob akari or something no not akari platinum? dawn? whoever the mc for legends of arceus is