The thought of sending Elias back to the Pearl Clan left Cogita feeling strangely frustrated.
Ever since Elias appeared, her once plain and tedious life had finally gained a hint of color.
Even just following him around each day, recording how he interacted with Pokémon, had become a source of joy.
And compared to other babies, Elias was quiet, never crying or causing trouble — exactly the kind of temperament she liked.
More importantly...
After raising a baby for an entire year, why should she just hand him over for nothing?
Having found this justification, Cogita nodded to herself, feeling quite pleased with her reasoning.
Still, she decided she would at least take Elias to the Pearl Clan for a visit.
Not because she had thought it through very deeply.
It was simply because, when she had first found Elias, she had sent a letter to the Pearl Clan's leader, informing them that she had taken in one of their tribespeople, and would return him once the tribe had rebuilt.
At the time, Cogita had never imagined she would end up regretting that decision.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have dug such a deep hole for herself so casually.
Sigh...
Letting out a soft breath, Cogita gently rubbed her temples.
The situation was what it was now. What she needed to think about was how to persuade the Pearl Clan's leader to let her keep Elias.
---
[As the days passed, in your still-forming world, the figure of Cogita— clad in her black silk dress — and the friendly Pokémon around you became essential parts of your life.]
[Unlike most people of this era, you naturally believed that humans and Pokémon should coexist harmoniously.]
[Living a full and lively life, you soon reached the age of two.]
"Sister?"
At two years old, Elias was able to speak fluently.
Seeing Cogita, all neatly dressed early in the morning, he tilted his head in confusion and asked softly.
"Today, we're going to visit the Pearl Clan," Cogita said, adjusting her black veiled hat.
"If not for that blizzard... that would have been your home."
She never tried to hide Elias's origins from him.
In her view, covering up the truth was both meaningless and deceitful.
She had always sought truth herself — and hoped Elias would, too.
On the other hand, Elias only half-understood her words, but he nodded seriously.
The Pearl Clan... he'd heard Cogita mention them before.
But since they were so far away, all he knew was the name — he had no real sense of what the place was like.
---
[Before noon, you and Cogita set out together.]
[Perhaps mindful of your young body being unfit for long treks, Cogita had somehow procured a Wyrdeer as a mount.]
"Don't stare — this Wyrdeer came willingly to carry you," Wusi said with a sigh, hoisting Elias onto the Pokémon's back.
With her skills, catching a Pokémon wouldn't have been difficult.
But this Wyrdeer had genuinely approached on its own, drawn by its fondness for Elias.
Reassured by her words, Elias pressed his small hand against the Wyrdeer's flank and instantly sensed a wave of joy radiating from it.
Sensing Pokémon's emotions —
it was a strange new ability he had recently discovered.
One he hadn't even had the chance to tell Wusi about yet.
---
[Seated securely, you and Cogita set offtoward the pure white tundra.]
[Thanks to the Wyrdeer's swift pace, you arrived at the tundra by afternoon.]
[Though the sun hung high in the sky, the wind still cut like a knife — a stark contrast to the Crimson Mirelands' warmer climate.]
"This is the pure white tundra," Wusi said, stepping down and helping Elias dismount.
"Stay close to me. This isn't like back home — there are dangerous Pokémon here."
The tundra was a high-risk zone, home to fierce and volatile Pokémon.
Even with Elias's unusually strong affinity for them, an attack was still possible.
"I understand," Elias nodded.
In truth, he didn't need Wusi's warning.
He could already feel several gazes resting on him from nearby.
Most were friendly and affectionate, much like the Pokémon he met near the Crimson Mirelands.
But one gaze...
carried a faint trace of malice.
Frowning slightly, Elias glanced in the direction the malevolent gaze came from — only to see a sheer cliff face.
Whoever it was clearly didn't intend to show themselves yet.
---
[Alert but composed, you and Cogita continued across the snowy plains, eventually reaching a more settled area.]
[Here, the ground was much flatter, and the surrounding ridges bore signs of human work, making them easier to climb.]
[As you arrived, a man with golden hair came forward to greet you.]
"Miss Cogita, I presume? I am the leader of the Pearl Clan. Welcome," he said warmly.
A rare sight, given the frigid atmosphere of the tundra.
In contrast, Cogita only nodded lightly, keeping her expression distant, completely different from how she behaved at home.
Thankfully, the clan leader didn't seem bothered by her coldness.
His eyes were already lighting up when he spotted Elias standing beside her.
Learning that one of their lost tribe members had been found alive —
for a small, struggling tribe like the Pearl Clan, this was huge.
Every additional member meant more hands to work, more life for the future.
In a primitive era like this, manpower was invaluable.
Yet what surprised him— was that, sensing his eager gaze, Cogita subtly shifted, half-hiding Elias behind her, her beautiful eyes suddenly gleaming with a trace of guardedness.
"In fact," Cogita spoke first, her voice calm, "there are some matters I wish to discuss with your clan."
At her words, the clan leader's heart sank slightly.
He realized —
This wasn't going to be the straightforward reunion he had hoped for.
Suppressing his disappointment, he nodded and led Cogita and Elias into the clan settlement.
Elias followed behind, curiously taking in everything around him.
It was his first time stepping into a human settlement outside of his secluded home.
As he gazed around in wonder, a soft melody suddenly floated into the air.
A flute — light and graceful, yet not shallow.
There was an earthy, primitive charm woven into its notes.
Sensing Elias's curiosity, the clan leader cleared his throat and said:
"That's my daughter, Irida, practicing her flute."
"What do you think? Beautiful sound, isn't it? She's probably just a little younger than you."
"I'll introduce you two later."
At the mention of his daughter, the leader's face softened with rare tenderness.
Elias nodded with a soft "Mm."
He, too, thought the flute's tone was beautiful — and somehow, it seemed to carry a faint, special resonance.
Almost like the invisible energy he sometimes unconsciously released...
the kind that could attract special Pokémon.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly felt a light pressure on his shoulder.
Looking up, he found Cogita smiling sweetly at him.
Elias: ?