The duo reached the main path leading to the city gates as the sun began to set. Evelyn glanced over at Zarius, “I should go into my Apricorn for now – many people react poorly to Ghost Type Pokémon within cities.”

  “Okay,” Zarius replied as he pulled out the Apricorn, “How does this work?”

  “Just touch me with it – you can throw it at me, and the Apricorn will then return to your grasp.” She stepped a few feet away and gestured, “Go on, throw it.”

  Zarius did a simple underhand toss. The Apricorn bounced off of her chest plate, and then it floated in place a foot away from her. She was covered in glimmering, purple sparkles that completely shrouded her form, and then she was sucked into the Apricorn. It shone with a lustrous, purple, sparkling glow before zipping back to his palm. Putting it into his bandolier, he approached the gate.

  They were open, and guards were watching him with curious expressions. One of them spoke up, “Umm…Trainer? You okay?”

  “Fine,” Zarius replied. “Just finished a Quest, was all.”

  “I believe it may be a comment about your new physical feature addition from binding Evelyn. Find something reflective.”

  Zarius walked into town and began up toward the highest hill which had the manor house he had met Benedict at for the Quest. On the way, he did spot a window in a tavern which had begun to bustle with activity. Walking over, he was able to get a good look at his reflection.

  His ears were the same – just like Lucien’s. Same nose, mouth, everything else. The only two differences in his face were his eyes and his hair. Instead of having the hazel color iris he was born with, they were a deep, glimmering purple that flicked with Ghostflame. As he squinted, the flames amplified and seemed to surge from the edges, flaring upward before becoming wisps of nothingness. Opening his eyes fully, the Ghostflame receded, but was still there and flickering.

  His hair was still as it was before – black, medium-length, slightly ragged and in dire need of a haircut. But interspersed between the black locks were purple and light-blue ghostflames that flared up as he turned his head side to side. Running a hand over it, he could feel the slight warmth and almost substantial caress of the flame.

  “How interesting. I am surprised we did not gain the armored plates.”

  “It is interesting,” Zarius replied as he shook his head and saw the flames burst out for a moment before settling. “I rather like it. Makes me look more dangerous.”

  “A double-edged sword in some cases.”

  Zarius continued his walk up to the castle. When he arrived, he was met by two different guards. After presenting his Quest slip, and asking for Benedict, he was made to wait a few minutes before the man appeared.

  “Ah, Trainer, you finished the task?” The man asked with a slightly taken-aback expression – doubtless because of Zarius’ new flaming eyes.

  “I did. There were some types of grave robbers who were turned into undead,” Zarius replied with a dour look. “But the task was done, and the ashes were placed. Payment?”

  The man handed Zarius a small cloth pouch, “Ten silver, as promised.” He looked Zarius up and down, “You obviously know how to take care of yourself despite adverse conditions.”

  “Thanks,” Zarius replied as he turned and with a brief wave departed. Heading back to the Guild Hall, he made a beeline for the baths in the back and upon entry saw that it was already occupied. Bradley, the Water Trainer, was sitting on the far side, luxuriating in the heat.

  But once Zarius entered, the young man – more of an older teen boy, really, sat up, startled. “Oh, urm…I’ll just…” he began to shuffle out of the water.

  Zarius just grunted dismissively and disrobed, “Do what you will.” As he took off the armor he noticed that the Ghostflame wasn’t just limited to his head. It flickered off of his knees, elbows, and twisting around slightly, down his spine. “Huh, look at that.”

  “Y-you bound a new companion?” the slightly younger man asked as he sat back into the water.

  Zarius nodded and sank into the warmth. It was not as hot as he recalled, and he presumed it was due to the addition of Evelyn to his team. “Bradley, right?” he asked softly.

  “Y-yeah. You’re Zarius. New guy.” He sounded quite shy, and his shoulder plates that were seemingly fused to or even a part of his skin seemed to almost expand ever-so-slightly.

  “Mhmm.” Zarius dunked his head and made sure to clean off as best he could. Grabbing the coarse stone, he rubbed himself clean and stared blankly into the water. The practice of cleansing was meditative and calming, and he found his breath coming to him smoothly and deeply.

  “You’re from…one of those cults, aren’t you?” Bradley asked timidly. "I put the pieces together with the others...mountain dweller...from a cave..."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “And what of it?” Zarius replied as he brought his gaze up.

  “Um…I’ve heard…they sacrifice people.”

  Zarius cracked a smile, “Oh, they do. Only the willing. Only the chosen. Like me.”

  Bradley’s eyes went wide, “You were sacrificed?”

  “I was,” Zarius replied. “Then, my Pokémon chose me.” He intentionally left out the part about being a god’s Chosen.

  “What…what’s death like?” Bradley asked.

  “Peaceful,” Zarius replied. “If you are prepared for it. If the mind and body are willing, then it is calming. At least, I felt at peace before the end.”

  “Wait – so you died?!” Bradley clarified, sitting up straighter.

  “Maybe. Or maybe I was on the knife’s edge,” Zarius mused, making a slight inside-joke to himself, given he was killed by such a blade.

  Bradley scooted slightly closer, with curiosity etched across his features and his shyness rapidly fading away. “That’s incredible. Did you see the gods? The legendary Pokémon?”

  “In a way,” they replied.

  “Wow.” Bradley leaned back and looked in disbelief, “I saw one, once. But no one believed me. A huge dragon, all white, with blue fins. It rose from the seas and thunder crackled all around it.” He quieted and sank into himself, whispering, “The storm…”

  “Did what?” Zarius asked.

  “…Sunk our ship.” Bradley seemed on the verge of tears at some recollection, but shoved them down and splashed his face with the water. “My family died at sea. That’s when my Lapras, Suddsy, saved me.”

  “I know there’s a few rivers nearby,” Zarius commented as he finished scrubbing down and used the sluice-drain lever to empty the dirty water before pulling the other to refill the tub.

  “Dendemille is actually surrounded by water on all sides, except the main road leading to Lumiose – the capital,” Bradley replied, slightly coming out of his shell of shyness again. “I get to deal with most Quests having to do with the rivers. Suddsy is big. Can’t fit in this big tub, that’s how big she is.” He began speaking rapidly, and with enthusiasm as he spoke about his Bound Companion.

  “Planning on getting your Apricorns?” Zarius asked. “Add to your companion list?”

  Bradley vehemently shook his head and became fearful again, “No…no…I’m not strong enough for that place.”

  Zarius shrugged, “It wasn’t too bad. But Dark Type is naturally resistant to Ghost.”

  “You went?”

  “Mhmm,” Zarius hummed in response. “It’s how I got these,” he pointed to his eyes, and then held his arm out to point out the ghostly, purple flames.

  “Whoa…that’s cool.”

  They chuckled, “Praise me all you want.”

  Both men looked at the door as it opened. Mary, the Guild Leader, was frowning and there was a palpable sense of dread surrounding her. It oozed out of her pores, and seemed to stifle the room just as the pall over the graveyard. “Bradley, you can stay. Zarius, I need to talk.”

  “I’m comfy,” Zarius replied as he put his hands behind his neck and leaned back against the stone seat.

  “Fine.” Mary leaned against the wall. “You went to the graveyard.”

  “Mhmm.”

  She sighed in exasperation, “Well? What did you see? What did you fight?”

  “Something with a pointy head and skirt-like bottom-”

  “A Shuppet. What else?”

  Zarius looked over at her, “Undead. Then a Ceruledge which I bound.”

  Mary blinked a few times, “Undead?”

  “Yes…I killed them.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “How? They can only be put down permanently with Fire or Psychic damage.”

  Shit, Zarius thought. May have exposed something. Or, I can be creative with the order of events. “I mentioned I bound a Ceruledge – Fire and Ghost Type.”

  Mary’s gaze reduced in harshness ever-so-slightly, but there was a lingering suspicion. “Uh-huh. Well, I don’t see it around, so you must have acquired your Apricorns.”

  “I did.”

  “Good.” She pushed off from the wall, “We are short on Quests, so I don’t imagine there will be much to do around here.”

  Zarius stretched and stood up, not caring about covering his nakedness as he grabbed one of the towels in the hidden compartment and dried off. To Mary’s credit, she didn’t seem to care much, either, except a rapid up-down scan. “Corina and I are probably going to train, then. Fair warning,” he cracked a toothy grin, making sure his elongated teeth were shown. “I plan on challenging you for that gold badge.”

  “I figured as much.” She glanced at Bradley, “You should train with them instead of going to the river. Get some Experience under your belt.”

  “I’m not a real fighter…” Bradley said as he sank into the water so only his eyes and forehead were visible – along with the shoulder pauldrons of coral-like armor.

  Mary shook her head, “Suit yourself.” She looked to Zarius, “I await your challenge. I will insist on Pokémon versus Pokémon. I doubt I could stand up to your martial prowess if you are holding your own against Corina.”

  “How will it work?” Zarius asked as he reached into his pack and began pulling on some around-town, relaxed wear.

  “We set forth the terms. The standard I present is one Pokémon each. Duel until one falls unconscious.”

  Zarius nodded and slung on his belt and bandolier, “Seems fair enough.” He shoved his damaged, armored clothing into the pack before shouldering it. “Think the tailor is still open?”

  “She may be,” Mary replied as she departed.

  Zarius looked back to Bradley. He felt a bit of sympathy for the younger man, having lost both of his parents as well – but Zarius’ kin were sacrificed willingly. Bradley’s family seemed taken against his will. “My condolences for your loss,” he stated bluntly. “Thanks for sharing.”

  “I…I do…I want to get stronger,” Bradley muttered. “Can I train with you and Corina?”

  “If you think you can keep up. Check in on the morrow,” Zarius replied as he left with a wave.

  Heading to the tailor, he found that the shop was open, and the woman was sitting in almost an identical location – but instead of working on a project, she was reading a book by lantern-light. She looked up as the door shut behind him. “Ah, back again.” She narrowed her gaze, “And you look…different.” She waved her hand over her head, “Your hair is on fire.”

  Zarius kept careful mind to duck down beneath fabrics that were hung from the ceiling for storage, unsure if the Ghostflame would actually ignite it or not. “I need my clothing repaired again.”

  “Oh, gods above, you are going to run me out of black and crimson thread,” she replied. “Very well. Let me see the damage.”

  Zarius pulled it out, and after haggling for a few moments, they came to an agreed five silver. He counted out the coins and took his leave, heading to one of the taverns, intent on getting a bite to eat.

  “Hey! Zarius!” he turned, and saw Corina jogging over. She was also dressed casually, and opened the door in front of him, which allowed the sounds of drinking, merriment, and argument filter out to the night, forcing him to tuck his ears down.

  “Want to join me for a drink and food?” he asked.

  “Of course. Tell me all about the graveyard!”