Chapter 2: Revelations

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The interior of the Sinnoh League is spacious and extravagant.

The polished marble floor is so shiny that Drew can see his own reflection in it. Looking good, as always.

This isn't his first time being here, considering his older brother's position as an Elite Four member, so he is significantly less awed than May, whose jaw has dropped.

She may be just a tad adorable.

Not that he's ever going to tell her that.

Their group is led through a set of large double doors, leading to what looks like a lecture hall, complete with chairs lined up in rows and a huge screen in front.

Drew quickly assesses their company.

Cynthia Shirona, the Sinnoh Champion, is present, and currently in heated discussion with Professor Rowan. Professor Sycamore has somehow already reached, until Drew realizes that he likely hopped into his private jet and flew here through the night.

Not for the first time, Drew feels a little bad for his own regional head professor. As the next Hoenn flight to Sinnoh is later this afternoon and the helicopter can only pack in that many people, poor Professor Birch was left behind while they all rushed here. Some professors who were caught up with their current work also opted out; both Professors Oak and Elm have chosen to stay behind in their home regions.

His gaze quickly moves onto the next two arrivals: one is a tanned girl with bushy, indigo hair, and the other a disinterested boy with plum-colored hair and a fierce scowl. They're sitting on the same row but opposite ends.

Alright then.

Since he doesn't recognize them, he supposes they must be the "Arcana" – his brother has confided in him that much.

Everyone looks up when they enter.

The relief on Cynthia's face when she sees Steven is almost heart-wrenching.

She's beautiful as always, but right now she looks very haggard. Dark eye circles, listless movements and a tired voice.

In fact, she looks like she may faint while standing up.

Steven is alarmed, hurrying over to inquire about her health, but Cynthia promptly bombards him with details of their next step and so forth, leaving him scrambling to keep up.

Drew's sharp gaze doesn't miss the way Steven holds Cynthia's arm comfortingly. Or the way she ever so slightly leans into him – just a bit more than the confines of a platonic relationship allow.

He has a strong inkling the two may have more going on than they let on.

Diantha stands beside Cynthia, offering her silent support. She had given Cynthia a hug the moment she entered earlier, because her poor friend really needed it. Right now, she's just praying that Cynthia can hang on a little longer.

May, meanwhile, has bounded over to the two Arcana. While the guy keeps up his unapproachable front, May seems to have quickly become friends with the indigo-haired girl, whom Drew hears introducing her as Iris.

Drew strolls over, leaving Wallace to mingle with the adults, and he says with a warm smile, the kind that melts any girl's heart, while flicking his hair, "hi there, I'm Drew."

Iris blinks at him, then says with a wide grin. "Sup, I'm Iris!"

He's taken aback at her very unflustered response.

May laughs at the look on his face. "Oh, I like you a lot already, Iris."

"Me too. At least more than him ." She openly nods her head towards the purple-haired guy. "I don't even know his name."

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