In the Sunlight Gym, Aiden and Nemona were preparing tonight's dinner in the kitchen.
"Teacher Aiden, are we having sandwiches again today...?"
While reluctantly handing over ingredients to Aiden, Nemona weakly posed a soul-searching question.
Before coming to Paldea, she never imagined that the regional cultural differences would be so significant that even daily meals would be entirely different.
Who eats sandwiches every day as their main meal? Even the food of Galar and Unova had something else to offer!
"Hmm? Actually, other things are fine too, but maybe we need to buy some ingredients from Cabo Poco?"
After Nemona's complaint, Aiden suddenly became enthusiastic, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to head out of the gym.
"Eh? No need!!! Teacher Aiden!"
Nemona suddenly realized her near-fatal mistake and immediately grabbed Aiden's wrist.
"I think Teacher Aiden's sandwiches are incredibly delicious, and I'll never get tired of them even after ten years!"
"I love sandwiches the most!"
"Is that so."
Aiden helplessly stopped in his tracks, with a tinge of regret on his face.
He thought he finally had the chance to regain his cooking skills...
"Bui!"
"Ri!"
Facing away from Aiden, Eevee raised its big tail, and Riolu gave a thumbs-up while looking at Nemona.
Well done! We almost saw the trainer's nauseating cooking again!
It's not that Aiden is a dark cuisine master; it's just that whatever he makes looks too avant-garde...
Anyway, sandwiches are more acceptable.
Just as Nemona and Aiden's two Pokémon silently united, the gym door opened.
"Hi, Brother Aiden, and Nemona!"
The somewhat revived Arven appeared with a cheerful smile.
In his hands, he carried two heavy cloth bags.
"All the ingredients you asked me to prepare are ready, Brother Aiden."
The moment he noticed his arrival, Nemona's eyes instantly brightened.
Great, it's Arven, the culinary expert. We're saved!
…
With Arven's addition, the Sunlight Gym became noticeably livelier.
Especially his cooking skills honed from long-term solo living brought meaning to this otherwise redundant kitchen.
"Whew—I'm full!"
Nemona wiped her mouth with her arm heartily and looked expectantly at Arven.
"Arven, living alone must be lonely. Why don't you stay at the Sunlight Gym as an apprentice like me?"
We really need you!
"I guess not. I'm actually not very good at raising Pokémon, so I haven't thought of becoming a trainer."
Arven scratched his head helplessly.
"Rather than finding my future, I have more important things to do right now."
"By the way, how's Mabostiff recovering?"
Aiden could roughly guess what Arven meant, so he proactively asked.
For Arven, this Mabostiff, who had accompanied him since childhood, was extraordinarily significant and had become, in some ways, the sole meaning of his life...
A pitiful kid.
Upon hearing Aiden's question, Arven's expression vanished momentarily, and he choked up several times but still forced a smile.
"There's no immediate danger to his life now, but..."
"Because he seemed to have expended too much energy in Area Zero, all his bodily functions are irreversibly weakening."
"Now we can only sustain his injuries with Revival Herbs. I'm not quite sure yet how to treat him specifically."
"..."
Aiden instinctively glanced at Miraidon, who was napping on the floor after eating.
Although Miraidon's injuries didn't look severe, they weren't much better than Mabostiff's.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"Yeah."
Arven nodded and took out two books that appeared quite old from his backpack.
"I found these two books in the manuscripts left in the lab. Information about Miraidon is recorded in one of them."
Aiden and Nemona each took one.
"The Scarlet/Purple Book?"
Looking at the familiar handwritten text in her hand, Nemona thought for a moment and then slammed the table.
"I remember now! Isn't this that second-rate urban legend novel!"
Both books were written by the same person, the adventurer Heath from two hundred years ago. The content was largely similar, both about his experiences inside Area Zero.
However, Paldeans generally didn't believe in the authenticity of the content and considered him a well-packaged fraud.
Those who knew about Paradox Pokémon, besides the vanguard team that entered Area Zero with Dr. Sada/Turo, were only a few top league officials.
Of course, there was also Aiden, the exceptional existence.
Flipping through the Purple Book in his hand, the content felt quite fresh to Aiden.
In the game, one could only see a small part of it in the school library, so his understanding was rather one-sided.
Only after reading the handwritten manuscript of Heath, the lone promoter and believer of Dr. Heath, did one understand why Paldeans didn't take his books seriously.
Pokémon from the past and future, entities inhabiting the hollows of Area Zero from nearly 100 million years ago, the origin of Terasterallization, and special phenomena capable of summoning Pokémon through time and space...
These corresponded to the Paradox Pokémon, the sleeping Terapagos, and the time machine built by Dr. Sada/Turo.
If Aiden hadn't known beforehand that all this was true, he probably wouldn't have believed it either.
At the end of this book, there was mention of a legendary secret seasoning, said to possess miraculous powers capable of healing any injury and even unlocking a Pokémon's potential.
These five seasonings seemed to have been brought out of the hollows of Area Zero by Heath's expedition team two hundred years ago.
"Are you planning to search for the Herba Mystica?"
After closing the book, Aiden knowingly asked.
"Yeah, as long as there's a glimmer of hope to cure Mabostiff, I will definitely try!"
Arven clenched his fists and showed a resolute gaze.
Aiden slowly nodded and looked once more at the yawning Miraidon beside him.
So it's the Path of Legends...
The Herba Mystica are crucial for Miraidon too.
Besides healing injuries, they also help it regain its lost power.
For example...
Climbing mountains, diving into water, gliding, and surfing?
Noticing Aiden's suddenly strange gaze, Miraidon let out an indignant snort.
Why are you looking at me? I'm just a mode of transportation. Don't expect me to help you find the legendary seasoning!
"Actually, I've heard some rumors about the Herba Mystica recently."
As Aiden and Miraidon stared at each other, Arven spoke again.
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