Bestia: an ancient energy that allows Pokémon to use their powers. Lucca Aska is a plucky Brionne raised as a hero in a world devoid of Bestia, where Pokémon must use weapons and armour to survive. Destiny has chosen Lucca and five other outcasts to...
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"Y'know, I wasn't expecting this place to be a dungeon," Azu commented. "For a place called the Lightworks, it sure Is dark."
Dark was an understatement. It was pure black in here. The only things visible besides themselves were clouds of frost that gathered against walls and corners. There was enough of this white frost to give away that this place was a maze, almost like it was the walls themselves giving off the frost. Everyone's breath also came out as smoky puffs, yet the place felt hot.
They'd spent a night here and Mimia already felt like he was going crazy from this mixed temperature. What kind of place had all the visuals of an ice cold frigate, yet was hot enough to make his fur damp with sweat? Just a few steps forward he bumped his nose into a wall and squeaked in annoyance. There was no frost here so it was impossible to see, but a few punches confirmed there was a sturdy metal wall before them.
"So just like the other fountains, this place is going to challenge us. Ruby, could I ask for a little light, please?" Lucca said.
"Hnng. I hate being a walking lamp," Ruby grumbled as she flared her back. Oddly, her flames didn't illuminate the area at all. She got a white glow around her for about a one metre radius, and nothing was visible through it. "Er... I'm no genius, but I'm pretty sure this isn't how light is supposed to work."
"Some kind of magic is blocking all light, besides what they want us to see... Using the frost sounds like the obvious solution, but there's probably more to it," Azu swayed as she thought aloud.
Mimia zoned out to their discussion a bit. Besides the obvious mysteriosity of this dungeon, something else was bothering him, something only he would pick up. This place smelt of a stench he wanted to forget. It was territory that had been marked.
"Lord Lucca," Mimia barked to get everyone's attention. Lucca nodded to him.
"Mimia's got something. Should we follow you?" he replied. Mimia nodded, and then led the way with his nose.
The obvious solution to this dungeon was to follow the frost after all. The further they went, the more it made sense, as the white clouds seeping below the walls took them on a winding path through the dark maze. Some ferals must have taken up residence here and probably weren't expecting someone with as keen a nose as Mimia to make short work of this challenge.
However, for Mimia, there was a bigger issue. The deeper they got into the maze, the stronger this nostalgic stench became, and yet he seemed to be the only one who could detect it. It was never enough to disgust him, but it was strong enough that he crinkled his nose every now and then.
Nostalgic... It is nostalgic. I never thought I'd feel this again, he realised, and lifted his head for a moment. I'm not supposed to go back to the pack after cutting ties, but why is their mark here of all places? And with no other packs to challenge the territory, the smell is strong...
