After a long inner struggle, Zorua finally gritted her teeth and decided—she'd go see Elias one more time.
Even if it meant risking capture by humans, it was still better than freezing to death on the tundra.
Either way, death was likely. At least this path gave her some chance at survival.
With that thought in mind, Zorua cautiously entered the Crimson Mirelands.
Even after more than a year, not much had changed.
The ground was still covered in swamps and muddy terrain—difficult to navigate, especially for a small-bodied Pokémon like her.
If only I could evolve already...
Thinking of the rare evolved members of her species, Zorua's eyes gleamed with yearning.
Lost in thought, her legs carried her by instinct toward the little cabin where Elias lived.
When she saw the flowers and plants around the house, clearly cared for by human hands, she let out a soft breath of relief.
Good... he hasn't moved.
She leapt lightly onto the roof and scanned the surroundings.
After confirming that the human girl named Iridia wasn't around—and thus she wouldn't run into her—she hopped down, dashed into a patch of bushes, and transformed into the familiar form from her memory: Iridia.
She looked down at her hands and nodded, satisfied, before making her way toward the cabin.
---
Meanwhile, Elias was inside, fiddling with the Poké Ball Cogita had tossed him earlier.
After testing it, he'd found that the Diamond Clan's version of the ball...
Well, while not completely useless, it was pretty close.
Sometimes the mechanism wouldn't even open properly—the button would jam at the worst times.
So expecting it to actually capture a Pokémon? Forget it.
Still...
As flawed as the device was, Elias didn't think the core idea was impossible.
With better materials and improved construction, maybe it could become a working Poké Ball someday.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard two light knocks at the door—knock knock.
The sound was soft, almost tentative, suggesting the visitor was nervous.
Setting the prototype ball aside, Elias frowned slightly and looked toward the door.
Cogita was out these few days, and Irida had just left that morning.
So who could it be?
Puzzled, he walked over and opened the door.
Standing on the other side was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl.
"Irida?"
Elias blinked in surprise.
She had left in the morning, and it was now just early afternoon.
Given the distance, she should've only just arrived back at the Pearl Clan—how could she already be back?
Did she forget something?
Seeing that she hadn't been recognized, Zorua exhaled in relief and nodded quickly.
Then, before Elias could say another word, she ducked her head and slipped inside.
The moment she spotted the soft futon in the room, her legs gave out and she flopped down onto it.
As her body sank into the warm bedding, she closed her eyes and let out a long sigh of satisfaction.
After over a year of surviving in the wild, her nerves had been stretched to the limit.
On countless freezing nights, huddled on cold rocks beneath shrieking winds, she had longed for this very futon.
She had to admit—humans might be annoying and deceitful, but in some things... they were cleverer than Pokémon.
Elias turned and stared, speechless at the scene unfolding in his home.
He had been about to ask why Irida was back so soon—when a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
That quiet demeanor... that sleepy, languid sprawl...
Wasn't this exactly like the "Irida" who used to visit him more than a year ago?
Narrowing his eyes, Elias took a step forward and stood in front of the girl curled up like a cat.
He asked gently, "The roads are icy in winter. Why go out of your way to come see me?"
His voice was calm—no hint of suspicion.
Still lounging with her eyes half-lidded, Zorua waved her hand lazily and yawned, looking every bit the picture of drowsy indifference.
This was her tactic—she had learned that silence was the best defense.
By sleeping the whole time, she gave Elias no reason to question her.
But this time...
Elias had already sensed something was off.
Seeing her behavior now only confirmed it—it was the same "Irida" from before.
So... she'd come back?
Elias rubbed his temples.
Cogita wasn't home—his strongest backup was gone.
Even with years of training, Elias was still a child, and his psychic strength had limits.
If this "Irida" suddenly went berserk, he wasn't sure he could fight her off.
And the worst part?
He still didn't know what she was.
And fear, after all, came from the unknown.
After a moment's thought, Elias decided not to startle her.
He sat down on the futon as well and asked casually,
"You hungry?"
"Want me to make you something?"
Zorua's eyes lit up instantly at the mention of food.
She tried to keep her composure, but her stomach was already growling, and she'd started to salivate.
She gave a calm little nod under Elias's gaze—though inside, she was already drooling.
Elias's cooking is so good… I've always known that.
"All right, go ahead and nap. I'll cook something."
With that, Elias turned and headed out of the house, exhaling quietly as he went.
If only the visitor hadn't taken human form, he wouldn't feel this much pressure.
Based on her remembered preferences, Elias grilled a simple fish and brought it back inside.
The moment he stepped in, the smell of the cooked fish filled the room—and Zorua's nose twitched violently.
The scent nearly overwhelmed her self-control.
She almost leapt at the plate by instinct.
During the past few months in the frozen wastes, she had eaten little but scraps and foraged roots.
After setting the fish down, Elias watched "Irida" devour it in large, desperate bites, and felt the tension inside him ease.
In the wild, only weak Pokémon went hungry.
Powerful ones—like Gyarados or Abomasnow—never had to worry about food.
And if this mysterious creature was this starved, she probably wasn't all that strong.
If it came to a fight, he was fairly confident he could handle it.
"Here, drink some water. Don't choke."
Seeing her cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk's, Elias kindly handed over a cup of water.
Now that the pressure was off, he realized...
This little creature was actually kind of cute.
Maybe even... cuter than Irida herself?
The thought startled him.
Elias coughed lightly, brushing it off.
It must be because I'm so used to Irida by now.
Yeah. Definitely can't let her know I ever thought that.
---
T/N: cogita is so fineeeeeee