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mortimer, frankly, finds himself above these shenanigans. he is a distinguished gentleman, not fodder for the frightened hearts of young men and women seeking scares in an overdone mansion.[break][break]

alas, he is bound to minerva's will. whatever she pleases, he will do, as any gentleman would. he may sneer and sigh the whole way, but to serve his lady is a great, terrific honor.[break][break]

as such, he floats menacingly at the end of a dimly lit hallway within the haunted house, wreathed in an eerie, flickering flame that casts macabre shadows on the aging wallpaper and dusty floorboards. the mansion has been converted into a kind of tourist attraction for thrill-seekers and fans of the paranormal.[break][break]

mortimer's job is simple: scare the guests with all the ghostly panache he can muster. and, being the dramatic, ostentatious spirit he is, he does so with flair.[break][break]

as a group of tourists rounds the corner, their laughter and chatter filling the corridor, mortimer prepares himself. the hallway, lined on either side with decrepit portraits of victorian era lords and ladies, yawns before the patrons, beckoning them further and further into the bowels of madness. as they step forward, a clever use of will-o-wisp causes the portraits' eyes to glow with an eerie blue flame whenever a patron passes in front of it. by the time the tourists make it to the end of the hall, their hearts beat with tension, awaiting the darkness at the end.[break][break]

then, once they are beneath him, mortimer drops from where he hangs motionless on the ceiling. visitors release bloodcurdling screams, expecting to be drowned in the chandelier's fire, only to blink owlishly up at him once they find themselves unharmed. he hovers mere inches above their heads, heaving with silent laughter, far too pleased with himself.[break][break]

he floats back to the ceiling to prepare his trap once more. the patrons continue on, hearts pounding, hair raised, and adrenaline filling their veins. certainly, minerva would be pleased with mortimer's performance tonight.

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the invitation catches minerva off guard, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she quickly smothers it beneath a mask of cool indifference. the thought of witnessing such a display of power and speed is both exhilarating and terrifying, a testament to the raw intensity of the bond between josh and his storied companion.[break][break]

"very well," she murmurs, her gaze sharpening with the promise of something greater, something that lies just beyond the veil of the ordinary. "i would be honored to bear witness to such a sight."[break][break]

minerva watches as josh prepares himself and his partner for their demonstration, a strange mixture of anticipation and apprehension coiling in her stomach. she has seen many wondrous and terrible things in her travels, but something about this moment feels different, as if the very fabric of reality is stretching taut, ready to snap at the slightest provocation.[break][break]

as the first bolt of lightning cracks across the sky, minerva can't help but feel a shiver run down her spine, a premonition of the power that is about to be unleashed. she braces herself, her pale hands clenching into fists at her sides as she prepares to watch the world change before her very eyes.

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minerva takes illeana reyes's offered hand with as much enthusiasm as one might take a dead fish. her grip is cold and limp, letting go quickly.[break][break]

“pleased to meet you, professor reyes.” the words are more like a rehearsed script than genuine sentiment, as though her brain cannot comprehend the notion of being pleased by anything. “i appreciate your willingness to see me on such short notice.”[break][break]

minerva clears her throat, looking down at her journal before speaking again. “i don't believe in small talk,” she states bluntly, black painted lips pursing. “so i'll get straight to the point. my mother prayed to palkia before she passed.” her voice remains steady, but there's an undercurrent of unease.[break][break]

“she believed that palkia could provide her with answers about... about life and death.” minerva's fingers curl around the edge of the table. “i was hoping you might be able to shed some light on that belief, given your apparent connection to palkia?” she tries to keep the cynicism from her tone, but it seeps through like water through a cracked dam.

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minerva listens as josh speaks of his love for the beasts that capture the essence of speed and ferocity. she can understand the pull of such creatures, the draw of their untamed power and the thrill of pushing oneself to the limits in pursuit of something greater. it is a sensation she knows all too well, though she pursues it through different means.[break][break]

"the path of the divine is rarely predictable," she muses, her gaze drifting to the horizon where the sun is beginning to dip low. "and often fraught with trials and tribulations. but it is in these moments of adversity that we are truly tested, our strength measured by our ability to adapt and overcome."[break][break]

minerva's eyes flicker back to josh, studying him intently for a long moment. she wonders if he truly has the strength to face the challenges that may be laid before him, to make the hard choices that may be required of him. "only time will tell," she murmurs, more to herself than to him.[break][break]

the mention of the great one, ho-oh, brings a flicker of recognition to minerva's eyes. she knows of the deity, though she has never had the honor of standing in its presence. it is one of the many deities her mother prayed so fervently to in the waning hours of her life. "the guidance of the divine can be a double-edged sword," she warns, her voice heavy with the weight of unspoken knowledge. "but perhaps, in your case, it is a risk worth taking."[break][break]

minerva's gaze slides once more to the ashen raikou, a creature of legend bound to the will of a mortal. she cannot help but wonder what the future holds for both josh and his storied companion, what trials they may face, what heights they may soar to.[break][break]

"the bonds we forge with the divine are not for the faint of heart," she murmurs, her voice low and contemplative. "but they are a part of us, a reflection of our deepest desires and greatest fears. and in the end, they are a test of our mettle, a measure of our worth in the eyes of the gods."

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minerva's lips quirk into a humorless smile at josh's admission. "ah, the great paradox of desire," she muses, her voice tinged with a bitter irony. "we chase our dreams, only to realize that perhaps they are better left as fantasies."[break][break]

the idea of having divine power at one's fingertips is seductive, but minerva knows all too well the price that such gifts demand. she has seen the toll they take, both in the ancient stories she has read and in the lines of her own life.[break][break]

"the divine is not to be trifled with," she warns, her gaze sharpening with the weight of her words. "the gods, as they exist, do not give their gifts freely. there is always a price to pay, and it is often higher than we can bear."[break][break]

minerva wonders silently if josh truly understands the gravity of his own words, the magnitude of the powers he claims to reject. she herself has always strived for knowledge, for understanding, but even she is wary of the cost of such knowledge when it comes to the divine.[break][break]

her eyes flicker once more to the ashen raikou, studying the creature intently. she searches for any sign of the legendary beast's true nature, any hint of the cost that comes with bearing its namesake. but all she sees is a shadow, a mere echo of the greatness that once was.[break][break]

"perhaps it is for the best that you are content with what you have," she concedes at last, her voice low and contemplative. "but be careful not to let your fear of change blind you to the possibilities of growth. after all, without change, without evolution, life ceases to hold meaning."

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a wry smile curves minerva's lips, pale and sharp as the sickle moon hanging in the dusky sky. "a calling," she echoes, and it is hard to tell if she is mocking him or if there is a hint of envy in her voice. "isn't that what we're all searching for? our place in a fucked up universe?"[break][break]

the coarse language feels odd on her tongue, strangely vivid against the usual cloak of grim eloquence she shrouds herself in. yet, it feels strangely fitting, given the unorthodox nature of their conversation and these moments of raw honesty. she wonders silently if josh feels the same.[break][break]

minerva absently toys with a silver pendant around her neck, the metal cool against her skin. it bears a symbol not unlike that of a legendary creature long since lost to time, or so she imagines. "the divine may grant us gifts beyond our reckoning if we prove ourselves worthy enough to handle them," she muses, her thoughts straying to the ancient tomes and forbidden lore she had scoured in her pursuit of knowledge. "both wonderful and terrible."[break][break]

she glances at josh, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tries to gauge his reaction. it is clear that he carries his own burdens, ones perhaps not so different from her own. a testament to the weight of the world and its expectations.[break][break]

her gaze slides back to the raikou, studying the ashen creature with an almost detached interest. minerva wonders what it must be like, to possess such power and speed, and yet be bound so inexorably to the will of another. to be a shadow of something once great and terrible.[break][break]

"it seems you have found yours," she concedes, reluctantly pulling her gaze away from the beast. "but be wary, josh devlin. the very things that give us purpose can just as easily become our undoing."

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"stream snipe?" minerva questions, her words tastefully lacquered with thinly veiled disdain. she crosses her arms over her chest, her fingers drumming against the soft fabric of her sleeves. "i am afraid you are sorely mistaken if you believe i would waste my time with such... trivial pursuits."[break][break]

a humorless smile graces her lips, as if she finds the mere concept of streaming to be an insult to her intelligence. "no, 'dark wings god'," she drawls, dropping his screen name with an air of condescension. "i am not here for your amusement, nor am I interested in your online escapades."[break][break]

for a moment, her eyes flicker to the ramen shop behind him, a brief flare of longing sparking in her dark irises before it is quickly extinguished. "i simply recognized you, and felt compelled to... inquire about the nature of your character. to see if the persona you present online holds any truth, or if it is merely a facade for the masses to consume."[break][break]

minerva tilts her head, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulder like a waterfall of molten gold. "surely, you cannot fault me for such curiosity?"

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minerva watches the interaction between josh and the raikou with a sort of detached fascination. the delicate arch of her brow raises slightly at the mention of chasing the creature since the beginning of josh's journey. "a fitting word," she notes mildly, "chasing."[break][break]

though she is largely uninterested in the way of the trainer, she can understand the pull of pursuing something greater than oneself. in a way, it is not so different from her own search for the truth of what lies beyond the mortal coil. she just pursues it through different means.[break][break]

the ghost of a smile that never quite touches her eyes fades quickly as josh continues to speak of the weight of responsibility that comes with such power. the gelding of a young boy's innocent dream into reality inevitably brings nuance and consequence as gray is injected into black and white, much like the stark difference between the colors of this creature compared to its vibrant past incarnation.[break][break]

"change is the only constant," minerva muses, her gaze falling to an ancient stone at her feet. she contemplates the mark that the elements and age have left upon it, as they will inevitably leave their indelible marks on both this man and creature. "an element of life none are immune to. all life must evolve or perish. your draw to the beast being bound, your bond is inexorable and irreversible. it is commendable to wish to protect that bond."[break][break]

a touch of melancholy colors her face again, a shade too close to bitter. she contents herself to turn her face to the dirtied skies. perhaps the divine tests all.[break][break]

"humanity learns more about the creatures we share our world with every day. our understanding of legendary creatures seems... ever-expanding and evolving. much like our convictions." her manner of speech seems armored against vulnerability, absent her usual flamboyant lace, yet still restrained underneath her currently placid appearance.

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the mention of a dead champion piques minerva's interest, and her posture shifts slightly, angling towards josh as if to draw closer to the story. she is not so much interested in the details of the death, or even the reason behind the gift of a legendary creature, but rather the manner in which it was delivered. "a parting gift from the grave," she muses aloud, her dark eyes glinting with something that could be described as hunger. "how poetic."[break][break]

she is silent for a moment, considering the weight of josh's words, the fact that this creature is not only a gift from the dead but a memory of the person who gifted it. "it's a heavy burden," she says finally, her voice quiet yet filled with a darkly melodic tone. "to carry the memories of the fallen. do you feel them, josh? the echoes of the past, the whispers of what once was?"[break][break]

her eyes are fixed on the raikou, the alleged god, as she speaks, her gaze intense and piercing as though she is trying to see through the beast's very flesh and into the soul that may supposedly lay within. "i've often wondered what it would be like," she continues, her voice taking on a distant quality, as though she is speaking more to herself than to josh. "to be given the memories of another, to be able to see the world through their eyes, to feel what they felt in their final moments."[break][break]

her gaze snaps back to josh, and she regards him with a tilt of her head, the pale skin of her face nearly luminescent in the eerie light cast by the storm clouds above. "what do you make of it, josh devlin?" she asks, her lips curling into a smile that is anything but warm. "what does it feel like to carry the weight of a god's memories?"

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the sudden slowing of the electric beast sends dust and debris flying, and minerva instinctively raises a pale hand to shield her face from the onslaught. her cloak whips around her like an agitated specter, but she stands her ground, watching with hooded eyes as josh and his mount circle her.[break][break]

the young man comes into clearer view. once he has come to a complete stop and the dust has settled, minerva lowers her hand and regards him coolly.[break][break]

"i assure you, i do not spook easily," she says, her voice like silk sliding over gravestones. "though i must confess, your choice of exercise partner is rather... unexpected." her eyes slide from josh's face to the towering form of the raikou beneath him, and for a moment, her mask of indifference slips, revealing a flicker of genuine curiosity.[break][break]

"i have seen many strange and wondrous things in my travels," she continues, her eyes still fixed on the legendary creature. "but never have i encountered a god being ridden like a common racehorse."[break][break]

her gaze snaps back to josh, and her lips curve into a smirk. "tell me, how did you manage such a feat? did you tempt him with a saucer of milk? or perhaps a game of fetch?" her words are laden with sarcasm, but there is an underlying edge of something else, something that might be jealousy, or perhaps even respect.

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minerva sits in a dimly lit corner of a slumbering cafe, her presence masked by the shadows cast from the scarce light that refrains from touching her figure, save for kissing the outline of her porcelain skin. in front of her rests a worn journal that bears the scribblings of a thousand questions that plague her mind like the wailing of distant banshees.[break][break]

she is uneasy. the notion that some stranger, a supposed avatar of palkia, could answer these lingering thoughts is daunting. it leaves an unfamiliar and unwanted warmth in her chest, like liquid magma rippling beneath the cool exterior of her calm.[break][break]

as her gloved fingers trace the edges of the journal, she catches a glimpse of a figure entering the cafe. minerva lifts her eyes, sharp and calculating, hoping her gaze might find purchase upon the woman of the hour.

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minerva treads through the eldritch woods of route 120, her footing placed as precisely as the words in her novels. the air is gravid with a familiar sense of unease that seems to shadow her, cloak her, cradle her. it's an aura she's never been quite able to part from; an aura that seems to seep from her very pores. she feels it now, mingling with the forest's own eerie presence, creating a miasma of the inexplicable and the macabre.[break][break]

the trees loom around her, twisted branches scratching at the sky like emaciated fingers. beneath their skeletal canopy, the darkness is thick and stifling, almost tactile. each step she takes deeper into the murk feels like pressing against a tangible resistance.[break][break]

yet, she persists, drawn forth by the tantalizing whispers of ancient rituals and forgotten gods. their susurrations echo in her mind, more potent than any siren's song. it's a melody she's been hearing her entire life, a haunting refrain passed down from her mother. now, it propels her forward in search of answers.[break][break]

"there's an odd presence here," minerva murmurs, her voice barely a breath against the heavy silence. "i can feel it." she clutches the compass that once belonged to her mother, its needle quivering.

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a slate gray sky hangs heavy over slateport, the air gravid with the musk of coming rain. minerva valentine, young in flesh but ancient in spirit, drifts specter-like through the crowd. her lace-gloved fingers idly brush the cold silver of her many rings as she moves, an unconscious tic, a warding gesture against the buffeting sea of humanity.[break][break]

what brings her here, to this clamorous place? an unspoken yearning, a gravity in her bones that propels her ever onward. perhaps it is her ceaseless search for answers, for arcane truths hidden just beneath the skin of the world. or perhaps it is simply wanderlust, the inexorable pull of the open road.[break][break]

whatever the reason, she finds herself now drawn to the jostling knot of people gathered ahead. they are a motley assortment - young, old, rich, poor, human and pokémon. a microcosm of hoenn, all straining to see whatever lies at the center. minerva's dark eyes narrow behind the smudged panes of her non-prescription glasses.[break][break]

"what's going on here?" she murmurs, though whether to herself or to some unseen other is unclear. she shifts and weaves through the throng with serpentine grace, determined to sate her curiosity. wherever there is a gathering, there is something to be learned, some morsel of truth to be gleaned. and minerva valentine will have it, though she walk through the valley of the crowd to get it.

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