Pokémon: Out of the Woods | A Galar, Unova & Sinnoh Fanfiction

Chapter 70: The Motive

Heather was glad that Daeng was yet to battle. Most people remained in their seats. A drunk man on his way to the bathroom did shout something about Victor, but otherwise, she only received distant glares. Tansy stayed there. She didn't want to go where Heather was going now, but Jamie and Pluto walked with her to the high street. It was reasonably quiet. They were safe. Pluto wandered off down another alleyway. He wanted to repay Bede for his hospitality, so he found the natural ingredients store to buy what he needed to make dinner for everyone and their Pokémon.

The bell jingled as Heather and Jamie stepped in to the bookshop. A different assistant stocked the shelves. The sound of chatter drifted down from the café, but they were the only people in the shop itself until Desiderio peered out of the back room. He beckoned them in.

'I was just watching your battle. Congratulations!'

'Thanks.'

Daeng's battle now played on the old TV flickering on a table.

'Oh – and this is?'

Jamie shook his hand. 'Rasil. I'm her dad.'

'Lovely to meet you! I'm Desiderio, the owner of this little shop. I usually travel all over Galar to spread the joy of reading, but, well, I've been rather fed up. Not to worry! You're not here to hear about that.'

Heather once thought that Pluto was unreadable, but no matter how hard she tried, it was utterly impossible to tell what Jamie was thinking. She wondered if Desiderio noticed, or if he was so lost and miserable that most things, let alone a random stranger's unreadable expression, went over his head. It was probably the latter.

'So, here it is!'

The book was wrapped in brown paper on the desk. Desiderio took care not to handle it too enthusiastically as he slid it into a plain plastic bag.

'It's disgusting that anyone would blame you for Victor's death, but do be careful about being seen with this book. It may well encourage them.'

He gently laid it in Heather's open hands. She was surprised by how heavy it was. It was like an iron block.

'Wow... I'm really not religious, but... holding this does kinda feel special.'

Desiderio laughed a little nervously.

'Just don't start protesting.'

'The Original Book, eh?' Jamie said with a distant smile, 'I can think of a few people who'd kill to get their hands on that. Where did you find it?'

Although there couldn't possibly be anyone lurking in the alleyway or amongst the piles of books, Desiderio glanced around. He lowered his voice.

'The Church of the Split Hero... it's a rather unassuming one, opposite and then left from the Barks & Blastoise shop. That's admittedly where the priest who first requested that book from me preaches... the one who was responsible for the protests. He's made many copies. So I doubt he'll notice that I "borrowed" the original!'

'Dude!' Heather exclaimed, 'Are you sure?! You didn't have to steal it for me! These people are dangerous!'

'Not to worry. Better me than you. You're the future, after all! And I'm certainly feeling my age...'

'Dude! No! You're still really young!'

And you have to meet Neptune! Dude! He's spent his whole life since he was 13 wishing he was ever given the chance to die for you, because he would! You can't die on him!

'Anyway, that man used to respect me. Whether he still does, I've no idea, but I'm sure he'll want another rare book at some point, so I doubt I'm in any danger!'