Before Eliana had realized, she had spent a whole week in Saffron City. The next few days fell into a comfortable, yet unsettling, rhythm. Mornings were for wandering, for letting the city's currents wash over her. Either she and Raichu or she and Kirlia would explore, tracing the veins of the metropolis. Staryu stilled preferred not being in crowds if it could help it.
They watched from a distance as a Silph Co. executive was escorted from the building by two grim-faced men in suits, his mind a frantic, unreadable mess of betrayal. He was the one chosen to clean up Mr. Kim's mess. They watched as Team Rocket continued to infiltrate the place, most of the employees worked for them. Either through personal gain, blackmail, or whatever other reason caused them to betray the company.
They followed groups of young trainers bragging about their plans to challenge the Saffron Gym, their thoughts a cocktail of naivety and overconfidence. And subsequently the mysterious disappearances from said gym that no one seemed to investigate. Eliana was 90% sure Sabrina was responsible for that. She was also 90% sure Sabrina keeping tabs on her, she could feel she was being watched at all hours of the day. But that could also just be a random person, Eliana was keeping her options open, therefore the 90% certainty.
And they found Raichu's "victims", the second day in the city. The first was a pimp on the street that tried to get Eliana to work for him. He was taken care of quickly. The second and third were an unfortunate couple that had the misfortune to be alone in a park with Eliana and her murderous mouse. The two didn't even have time to think before Raichu was upon them. Eliana got some ncie jewelry as well as a Nidorna and Nidorino pair to sell in the underground.
All in all, Eliana and her team were very familiar with Saffron City. Familiar enough that they were starting to get bored enough to once again think about the gym. The fear towards the gym leader that had once settled in Eliana's mind was still there, but her curiosity was starting to win. Besides if she wanted to learn more about being a Psychic, she'd have to go to the place eventually.
Eliana walked out of her room, she didn't want to challenge the gym just yet, she just wanted to watch. To get a sense of Sabrina, to feel her power from a distance. It was a form of reconnaissance, a way to understand the city's apex predator without entering her main territory. Because clearly the whole city was her domain but Sabrina didn't seem to step in if it happened outside of her gym.
Eliana and Kirlia found their way to the gym. It was an unassuming building, but it hummed with a power that made the air feel thick and heavy. Raichu had wanted to be out for this but Eliana felt that her oldest Pokémon should be next to her for this. Staryu seemed to be getting a personality as it had teased Raichu only to get a smal shock in revenge. Once they reached the outskirts of the gym, Eliana saw a few people were milling about outside, but none of them seemed willing to go in.
Eliana found a bench across the street and settled in to watch. She sent her mind out, a cautious, feathery touch. She remembered the violent attack from her last attempt, so she was careful not to touch the central sun of Sabrina's power. Instead, she skimmed the periphery, listening to the thoughts of those outside.
*...my cousin went in there... came out... not the same...*
"...they say she can turn you into a doll...*
*...no thanks, I like my mind right where it is...*
The fear was almost a physical presence, a cold spot in the warm city air. Eliana then hesitantly skimmed the minds of those inside, the people in there were more likely to be psychics after all. She was honestly surprised to find th same fear that those on the outside held.
*…almost died for disobeying…*
*Please no!*
*What do I do, what do I do, what do I…*
Eliana found herself frowning slightly. What was Sabrina doing to these people? Her father, from the small bits she had read, was a kind, cowardly man. But from the thoughts of everyone around, Sabrina seemed closer to Eliana's behavior then her father. Where did she come from?
Kirlia looked curiously at his trainer, pointing out aside from Sabrina all the psychics here seemed quite weak.
She found a particularly weak psychic that was just staring at a blank wall. ...just have to focus, just have to focus... The thought was a frantic, repetitive loop. ...can't let her in, can't let her in...
Then a new thought entered the young psychic's mind, a thought that wasn't theirs. It was cold, clear, and utterly devoid of emotion. You are failing.
The psychic's body went rigid. A small whimper escaped their lips. Then they collapsed to the ground, their mind a chaotic mess of terror and despair.
Eliana recoiled, her own mind echoing with the psychic's fear. Sabrina hadn't even been in the same room. She had reached out from the center of her power and crushed that person's spirit with a single thought. It was a message to all who could feel it.
This woman is much more than just a gym leader, Eliana realized, a chill that had nothing to do with the evening air seeping into her bones as a force pushed into her mind.
Eliana's body stiffened with surprise as Kirlia looked at her with concern.
Eliana gasped, her vision swimming, she leaned forward and took a deep, shuddering breath. Kirlia put a small hand on her back, a silent gesture of support. Eliana looked up at the gym, her expression unreadable. Sabrina had just confirmed what Eliana had been suspecting. But it didn't seem to be a threat, not yet at least. Sabrina's will had been issued and Eliana had no intention of refusing.