"No, no! I couldn't train an Applin." Howard laughed nervously. Man, he was standing next to a celebrity. If Walsh or any of the Underbosses knew that Howard had gotten close to Freya just to ask for an autograph, his head would end up on a spike.

"I'm a historian and translator. Your section on Draconid runes was a massive breakthrough in my field. I've referenced it in dozens of articles and papers. I never had a chance to make my own translation, but I can appreciate the work you put into it."

After several long months of screaming, crying, and banging his head into a desk, Howard could appreciate the work that went into translations. Few people thought about how long it took to make something like this. Instead, they took it for granted.

The archaeologist went to shake Freya's hand, before looking at the book and chuckling. He handed his copy and an Aerodactyl pen to Freya. What, did he think that she'd want to shake his hand? Idiot. He was going to take a Swanna dive off of Sky Pillar when this was over.

The reflection of Freya's Illumina Dratini gleamed in the archaeologist's eye.

"Could you address it to Dr. Howard Slayte?"

---

freya morningstar

"I was!" Howard's eye widened in surprise. "How did you know it was me? I left that comment anonymously."

He looked genuinely baffled, and he was. Was the League's spyware so advanced that it could trace a phone that was ten years out of date? He knew that Rocket had a series of techies who tried to tap into the League's communications, but that was a different matter entirely!

He had signed his name, admittedly, but the account had been anonymous! He really needed Xenon Antheil to teach him how this whole 'computer' thing worked.

"They did, though. Thank you for asking! Amongst them were pieces that I'm connecting to Sky Pillar." He held out his fingers, counting off. "Meteor fragments from Meteor Falls... Hoyeon wood carvings... Star charts... Effigies... It was a fantastic shipment!"

Much of which was currently sitting in an apartment above a laundromat in Rustboro.

"But I suppose you're more knowledgeable than me about Sky Pillar and Meteor Falls, hm?" Howard laughed. "Will you be publishing more papers and books on the subject?"

---

freya morningstar

"I did!" Howard blinked at the councilwoman with his one good eye, seemingly confused. "Yet the account was anonymous, so it should've hidden it, no?"

Several thousand years of Draconid bloodlines could not have prepared Freya Morningstar for this. Dozens of battles, council meetings, and years of hard work had allowed her to reach the spot she now held. Yet all of that wouldn't prepare her for the absolute mindfuck that was about to bounce off her as the prior sentence sprang from Howard's mouth, much like a Dratini leaving its underseas den.

This man was an idiot. Forget a 'whole new level of misunderstanding'. Freya's level was at the ground floor, and Howard's was at the top of Sky Pillar.

"You're more than welcome to!" Howard beamed at her. "I plan on making a donation to GIDEON GRAVES's museum. I work there, after all. As for Calcifet..."

Howard chuckled nervously, eye flitting from side to side. His expression was very clear: do not.

Bad blood?

---

freya morningstar

There were only so many archaeologists of note in the League. Freya Morningstar was a Dragon-type specialist. Remiel Calcifet was chosen by Zekrom. Howard knew almost every archaeologist and historian in the region, and it wasn't too difficult to sniff out Rocket's first Admin Fox. His stench permeated the highest part of the League.

No matter where Remiel went, his shadow would follow him. His failures would not allow him to walk away from Team Rocket. If Remiel was a shining beacon of Galar, Howard was the shadow that basked in that glorious light. The stains of Admin Fox would never wash out. Not now, not ever.

Remiel had been born lucky. Everything he had was due to circumstance and fortune. Howard didn't have that, so he was still in Rocket.

"Oh, I'm aware that he is. We work at the same museum, after all." Howard blinked once. The two had danced around similar projects while the Crown Prince was in Hoenn. Remiel had always placed in higher positions. "He's one of the smartest men I know. I'm glad that he's on our side."

That piece of shit.

"I have, actually. It's a marvelous piece of architecture, and one of Hoenn's grandest displays of pride. You can't be a historian here and not visit it." Howard chuckled good-naturedly, glad to leave the topic of Remiel drowning in the trash. "But I confess, I'm worried about its integrity. It's so close to Sootopolis..."

The threat of Team Rocket, as always, remained dormant, swinging overhead.

---

freya morningstar

"Really? Truly? That's excellent news!" Howard breathed a sigh of relief. "Protecting our past is how we preserve the future. Sky Pillar is far too important to let those hoodlums trespass onto!"

Interesting. Of course, Freya Morningstar would say that. She was a government official, sworn to defend Hoenn from any threats. A powerful dragon tamer, capable of commanding anything from the most feeble Tatsugiri to the greatest Salamence to kneel. She was the epitome of potential reached. There was one small snag, however:

Freya was a politician. Politicians lied.

Was Sky Pillar truly defended? Did Freya care about the Draconid site, or was it simply a ploy? He didn't know her. He couldn't verify it. As a historian, Howard liked to trust but verify. History needed to be held by those who respected it. If Freya didn't respect it, then she didn't deserve to hold a spec of Sky Pillar.

"Excuse me, miss Freya?" Howard chuckled nervously, eye flicking from side to side before leaning in. "The Head Professor you're talking about... It's Eva Morales , right? Could you..."

The words hung in the air.

"...get her to sign my compendium too? Please?" Howard's eye sparkled. He bowed his head. "Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease...?"

---

freya morningstar

It was impressive how quickly Howard's mind bluescreened. If Freya looked at Howard's single remaining eye, she'd see the last vestiges of sentient thought disappear into nothingness. It was like watching the sun burn away the last vestiges of mist in the morning.

Then, Howard's mind started working again. The sparkle returned to his eye.

"Seriously...? Howard asked, awestruck. "You'll get it signed? I can get my compendium signed by a Head Professor? You'd do that for me, a stranger?"

There were practically dancing Miniors floating around his head, Howard's eye was sparkling so much. If there was ever someone who embodied the phrase 'glowing with excitement', it was Howard Slayte in this precise moment.

"I'll meet you and pick it up! I have to go to Ever Grande in a few weeks, anyway." Howard thought about his deal with illeana reyes. His collection of signatures was picking up. Soon, it'd rival his collection of Kyle Lopez bobbleheads. "Besides, if you send it to my apartment, my landlord will probably throw it out."

The archaeologist bowed his head, deeply grateful. Maybe Freya was one of the 'good' politicians, after all. He couldn't gauge her authenticity when it came to being passionate about Sky Pillar, but he could appreciate this action. Even if she had spurned the past, Howard would not.

A fool chopped the trunk of history, a brute torn at the leaves, and a wise woman? She dug at the roots.

"Thank you again. I'd kill to meet Dr. Morales and ask her about Ursaluna biology, but I suppose that'll have to wait." Howard sighed and nodded at the book that Freya still held. "Keep it safe, would you? It was written by you, but it remembers me."

A book remembering its owner?

---

freya morningstar