Chapter Forty-Eight: A Shadowed Corner

As the sun set in the west, candles were lit early in an unnamed ancient castle somewhere in the Sinnoh region.

The candlelight flickered faintly, casting an ominous atmosphere over the entire castle.

No human voices could be heard, only the moaning of the wind in the corridors, occasionally interrupted by the cawing of Murkrow, making it seem as if the whole castle had slipped into night ahead of time.

At last, as if unable to endure the castle’s oppressive air any longer, the sun silently vanished. The moon, shrouded by dark clouds, gave way to a gentle rain, its sound soft as a lullaby sung by a tender mother. Amidst it, the rustling of leaves echoed like the murmurs of a baby in a cradle.

At this moment, another gust of wind swept through the wide-open doors of the castle. Almost simultaneously, every orange-red candle flame was snuffed out, as if hundreds of maids had gently blown them away.

The castle was plunged into stillness. The night fell like ink, swallowing the ancient halls and casting all into profound darkness. In the courtyard, the Murkrow flapped their wings and fled. Their silent, hurried flight suggested they had glimpsed some approaching horror.

It wasn’t long before all traces of life seemed to have vanished from the castle.

Silence deepened into deathly quiet.

Yet, just as this silence enveloped the entire building, a cluster of purple flame suddenly appeared within. One by one, chandeliers lit with violet fire materialized in the halls.

Although these flames illuminated the castle, they gave off no warmth. The halls remained cold, but were now filled with a mad, chaotic revel.

One after another, Lampent, Litwick, and Chandelure emerged from the air, grinning and carousing. They surged into every chamber, dragging out the fainted Pokémon they found and began a wild feast.

Meanwhile, in the castle’s council hall, six individuals sat around a round table. Eleven other seats remained empty.

Listening to the crazed, cackling laughter of the Lampent outside, a man wearing a Tornadus mask dug at his ear in irritation and said, “Would someone kindly quiet those mad dogs? It feels like needles stabbing into my ears. I’d be so grateful.”

His voice was flippant.

To his left, across two or three seats, a person in a Giratina mask tapped the table lightly. Instantly, all the Chandelure outside fell silent. Not another sound crept in.

“Oh! My deepest thanks, Lady Ghost! Praise your kindness!” Tornadus cried theatrically, his voice echoing through the empty chamber, drifting endlessly.

“Enough, Flying. We’re here for business, not to watch your performance,” said a cold voice from across the table—a person in a Groudon mask.

Flying chuckled under his mask. “Earth, is what I do really any concern of yours?”

“You’re disturbing my thoughts,” Earth replied icily.

Flying seemed ready to retort, but another voice interrupted.

“Please don’t quarrel in the council room, you two. If there’s something you can’t resolve civilly, take it outside and settle it in the courtyard,” said a woman in a Mew mask. Though her tone was gentle, her words were firm.

“Hmph!” the two of them snorted in unison, but both fell silent.

“If I may speak plainly, Lady Psychic,” said a man in a Kyogre mask, his voice calm and pleasant, “since Mr. Arceus is absent, may I ask who called this meeting? And why only us?”

Even as he finished, a deep male voice sounded.

“I…”

Three seconds passed.

“Also…”

“Enough, Steel, I’ll speak for you,” Flying rudely cut off Steel, the man in the Dialga mask.

“Lady Psychic, like Water, I too am curious about Mr. Arceus summoning us without appearing himself, as well as his purpose,” Flying said, still with his usual levity. This time, however, Earth merely stared at the Mew mask, as if trying to see through it.

But he could not, nor did he dare.

Rules were rules.

Psychic picked up a mask from the table. Now accustomed to the darkness, the others could just make out its form.

Arceus.

“You… killed him?” a faint, almost insect-like female voice clearly reached everyone’s ears.

Flying involuntarily leaned back. Water folded his hands under his chin, his eyes twinkling with an unreadable smile. Steel straightened his posture. Earth clenched his fists, one hand slipping beneath the table.

Ghost simply stared at Psychic.

Psychic remained impassive, quietly setting the mask down before speaking gently, “Arceus said he’s discovered a clue to his place of slumber, and cannot come in person. He asked me to preside over this meeting. As for why you were all summoned…”

“…it’s because you have each faced the Tablets directly.”

The five others fell silent, waiting for her to continue.

“Recently, an ‘emissary’ discovered a clue to one of the Tablets. However, she lacks relevant experience. The Tablets are not new foes to us, but none of us has ever defeated them. Thus, I ask you to write down the key points of your past encounters and give them to me. I’ll pass on your insights to help the emissary obtain the Tablet.”

“We have no obligation to do this,” Water said again.

Psychic looked at him and replied, “I will offer sufficient compensation on behalf of Arceus.”

Flying whistled. “Not bad. I have no objections. I’d love to get my hands on the Flying Tablet, but it slipped away. If this emissary succeeds, I might learn a thing or two from her.”

He paused, then added with a smile, “But let’s see the terms first.”

Without another word, five paper cranes flew from the corners of the council hall, each carrying a pen, and landed before the five. The cranes unfolded into two sheets—one bearing the terms, the other blank.

Each person read the sheet before them, then quietly began to write.

Soon, even Flying, the slowest among them, set down his pen.

Seeing this, Psychic said, “Thank you all. You may leave now. This month’s regular meeting will proceed as usual.”

Without another word, the five picked up their sheets with the terms, summoned their Psychic-type Pokémon, and teleported away.

Efficient and decisive.

Outside, wind and rain swept the castle, as darkness reclaimed its hold.