Howard had no issues talking to children. They had a boundless curiosity that the archaeologist tended to appreciate. Once people got old enough, they stopped thinking that Tyrantrums and other fossils were the coolest thing in the world. That vanishing of enthusiasm caused Howard's heart to ache.

The person that was with him called that all into question. Wasn't she a little young?

Howard hadn't been back to headquarters in a short while, so he hadn't gotten a chance to pull the file on Lasciel Elis. She was an enigma. An enigma that could be left on the top shelf, but an enigma nonetheless. Nonetheless, she had been assigned to work with him, and Howard made a point to survey any talent that came his way.

So they were on the outskirts of Fortree, where several Space-time Distortions had been detected nearby. One had been detected by the Safari Zone, and another had appeared on Route 119. Howard had been present at the second distortion, in which all sorts of strange artifacts and shards had shown up. These could be harvested for Rocket to sell.

"There's been a slew of distortions in Eastern Hoenn as of late. We can harvest items from them to sell, and that means we both make a good paycheck."

The archaeologist's cowboy hat fluttered in the wind as he looked towards his colleague.

"Do you understand?"

---

Lasciel Elis