Uxie was able to relay Eris's silent answer to him - and a general overview of what Mesprit just chirped. "So…we're in somewhere else entirely, where the rules of reality sometimes don't apply. And we gotta look for the way out."

He let out a sigh. "Great. Well, at least I'm dressed for the occasion. We won't find anything just by standing around. Come on."

He made his way forward, walking over what felt like brick. He hadn't even realized he was already walking along a pillar, spiraling around it. Uxie watched, getting a first-hand view of the odd physics present in this distorted world.

"If you see anything, let me know. Or let Uxie know."

Unbeknownst to the pair, they weren't the only ones here; there was already something that had taken notice to them - but it didn't show itself or approach them.

Not yet.

Eris Halla

Hideo's lack of sight was perhaps a key part in keeping him from getting more confused in this strange dimension, simply following along even as the laws of physics became mere suggestions. There was more than one moment when the two kids weren't even walking on the same plan, sometimes parallel to each other and sometimes perpendicular.

Ignorance was bliss, in this case.

As the two walked across what looked like water, but was as solid a stone, something floating above the pair. Uxie brought it to Hideo's attention quick, the eyes the creature held staring at the two kids and their Pokemon. It didn't seem to be like any other Pokemon they'd encountered before - another one of those weird things that popped up near the core?

"...it's just floating there?" Hideo asked. These things were always hostile when they appeared, but this one was just watching. As if waiting for a reaction from them first.

"Think we should try asking it where the exit is?" Would it even understand them? Could it even communicate?

Eris Halla

It was better than nothing. The creature hadn't immediately attacked them, so there didn't seem to be any harm in at least trying to ask it something, even as everyone's Pokemon stood on guard.

He kept a hand on his Sygna Suit, ready to fully activate it if things went bad.

"Excuse me! Do you know where to find the way out?!" The strange creature's attention turned to him, all the eyes it held focused on him. He could even feel it - in part because he began to feel the familiar pokes in the head - a psychic-type looking through his mind with no desire for subtlety.

He could also feel an assurance from Uxie - that his mind was shielded from anything more than just this probing.

The purple orb in the center of the creature changed color, before shapes began to form. In time, a more distinct picture formed, one of their world, viewed from a distance.

Just as suddenly as the probing started, it stopped. And a strange voice came from the creature.

"F O L L O W"

The creature floated off, one pair of eyes watching where it was floating, the other pair keeping an eye on the kids and their Pokemon. Hideo held the side of his head, a small feeling of dizziness left with him. It'd only take him a moment to shake it off.

"Unless you got a better idea…I say we follow."

Eris Halla

It was a strange sensation to be sure; it was like the thing had actually tried to psychically pick at his brain. His other Pokemon were much more gentle when they took a look at his mind (most times, he didn't even notice).

The sygna suit was already paying off. As did Uxie's protection.

A familiar hand guided him along, following the strange creature. Their guide matched their pace, keeping its distance while watching around them. It knew the terrain well - and seemed aware that the two kids (and Reiner) couldn't float around on their own, floating over just the terrain they could walk over.

Even when that terrain seemed to be nothing but air.

"It's one of the friendliest things we've met," Hideo noted, "Going to the Ultra Sea, I mean. Nothing else that's shown up did anything other than attack the first chance it got. Pretty sure this is the first one to even talk."

A bit of conversation - though he doubted he'd hear an answer.

In short order, they'd find a thin square floating at the end of a path, translucent green energy coating it. It'd be a bit hard to notice for those who could see, but behind the energy was the distinct outline of Granite Cave's exit.

Further obscuring it was the creature that guided them there, floating in front of the portal. All its eyes were on the kids and their Pokemon - and it was in their way.

"...think it wants something?" Hideo asked.

Eris Halla

Hideo almost jumped, hearing Eris's voice. She'd been silent so long that he was left with nothing to say - in part because none of the strange things he'd encountered in the Ultra Sea ever spoke more than the average Pokemon.

He kept himself calm, just focusing on making their way out of this place. Though they had to get around this thing first.

"Let me try something," he said, getting out of Eris's grasp. He walked ahead, Uxie floating next to him. His plan was simple, yet reliable: go up and thank it, then ask it to move. Uxie could keep him safe, and his Sygna Suit could offer some protection as well, in case this thing got violent towards them.

Plus, he had Eris to back him up.

"Thanks for-"

Two of the creature's tentacles swung in front of Hideo's face - neither hitting, but he could feel the stale breeze as they passed by. The image of a green eye appeared in the creature's main "body", the eyes it held gaining a green hue, matching that of the eye.

With that, the creature drifted off - bumping into a floating piece of rock.

Hideo stood there a moment, baffled. "Well…uh…guess that's it then?" He didn't feel any different. Uxie floated up in front of him, gently lifting the lids of his eyes - and seeing that they were still there, green and nonfunctional as always. "I don't feel anything off, other than a pixie opening my eyes."

One might hear the strange creature from before bumping into a wall in the distance.

"Anyways, I guess we might as well try this portal. Think it's better than just standing around and doing nothing."

Eris Halla

Hideo had felt baffled regarding what just happened; Uxie hadn't explained any of it to him, and he couldn't gauge much from having a pixie open his eyes. Even Eris seemed concerned about him. He didn't feel off at all, and if it was something he just wasn't feeling, someone might've seen it and pointed it out to him.

It's only once Eris outright says it that he realized what just happened. "...oh. Guess it was, uh, good that I was the one it did that to. Hope it learns to adapt soon though." He already had enough challenges moving along the ground; flying in three dimensions with no sight was not going to be easy.

His eyes shut the moment Uxie's hands were off them. Hideo rubbed his eyes for a moment with one hand, unaccustomed to having them pried open for so long.

His other hand, was once more taken by Eris - whose words made Hideo's cheeks redden. "O-oh, uh, thanks?" he responded, awkwardly trying to think how to respond. "I…grew them myself?"

He rarely ever showed them, and rarely received genuine compliments about them.

"A-anyways, let's go." The portal was ahead of them, and there was nothing else in their way. Hideo could hear Uxie land on his shoulders, a quick Skill Swap giving it the Illusion ability - the familiar Ralts disguise covering its body.

As good a guarantee as any this was the right portal. And sure enough, it would be, landing them right at the entrance of the Granite Cave. The real one.

Though the portal wouldn't last long, disappearing shortly after they passed through it.

Eris Halla