After getting her grandfather's permission, Korrina immediately dug out the books and research she'd collected on the Diamond Kingdom and began poring through them.
Meanwhile, Rex and Mai headed into Shalour City to gather supplies for wilderness survival. Since their destination was likely to involve underground exploration, they prepared gear similar to what they had brought during their expedition into Meteor Falls.
After all, the two had survived nearly a full month in those subterranean caverns—this time's journey, even if tough, was unlikely to be as long. For them, it wasn't exactly intimidating.
"How's it going? Find anything useful?"
When Rex and Mai returned, night had fully fallen, and the fortress-like Shalour Gym was aglow with light. By then, Korrina was surrounded by stacks of books and papers.
"Based on the material I've gone through—especially the book that first mentioned the Diamond Kingdom—if it really exists, then it's most likely located somewhere in Reflection Cave, between Shalour and Geosenge Town."
"Reflection Cave is known for its bizarre layout and rich mineral deposits. Many species of Kalos-native Pokémon live there—it's basically a wild paradise. Only strong trainers tend to go exploring that region; rookies usually avoid it."
"The biggest problem is its sheer size and labyrinthine structure. If we don't know where the Kingdom's entrance is, it's like finding a needle in a haystack. That's also why all those past expeditions came up empty-handed."
Korrina rubbed her temples in fatigue. Despite all her effort, the lack of solid clues was getting her down. She started to wonder if she had underestimated how hard this would be.
"Don't stress too much, Korrina. No one's ever found the Diamond Kingdom before. I'm only going because it's worth a shot," Rex said. "If we find something, great. If not—well, we'll just treat it as a good training trip."
And he meant it. All Rex had was some scattered memory fragments from a past life—he had no real leads. Whether or not they succeeded was up to fate.
"Yeah, Korrina, it's better not to get your hopes too high. Just think of it as a journey."
Mai was the most easygoing of the three. She wasn't too interested in the Diamond Kingdom itself—she just wanted to get out and move for a while.
"You're right. I guess I was just getting ahead of myself. But now I'm even more determined—we will find something."
Encouraged by the two, Korrina perked up again. True to her energetic nature, once she committed to something, she gave it everything she had.
The three spent the rest of the evening combing through old notes, hoping to spot a lead—but despite working late into the night, they found little of use.
Still, they resolved to set out first thing in the morning. After all, no amount of bookwork could substitute for firsthand experience.
"It's late. You two should get some rest—we've got an early start tomorrow."
Seeing Korrina still buried in pages, Rex gently stopped her. Mai chimed in by tugging her away, insisting she needed sleep.
Reluctantly, Korrina gave in.
——
After a peaceful night's rest at the Shalour Gym, Rex woke up on the dot—without any need for an alarm. At this point, he had trained his body to respond exactly when he willed it to.
"Alright, time to go!"
After a hearty breakfast, the trio prepared to set off for Reflection Cave.
Korrina's flying mount was a Talonflame, a local species commonly used as transportation in Kalos. This one wasn't hers but belonged to her grandfather, Gurkinn—who, while known for training Fighting-types, had caught many other species as well.
Mai flew on her Altaria. After weeks of training, the dragon-bird had mastered Tailwind, improving its aerial endurance and control. It chirped happily and immediately flew over to greet Swellow, clearly still fond of the one who once trained it in flight.
Once everything was ready, the three soared into the sky. From the courtyard below, Gurkinn watched them go, his hands clasped behind his back.
He wasn't concerned about whether they found the Kingdom—he cared more about what his granddaughter would learn along the way.
Reflection Cave wasn't far from Shalour, so they didn't rush. Instead, they took their time, admiring the sights along the route.
Both Korrina and Mai had been cooped up for quite a while, training day in and day out. While it had improved their strength, it had also left them a bit stir-crazy.
So now, soaring over open fields, forests, and streams, everything looked beautiful. They even waved at wild Flying-types they passed—many of which, sensing no danger, didn't flee.
Rex spotted plenty of Fletchling, the most common bird in Kalos, earning their nickname as the region's "starter flyers."
Other species like Jumpluff, Butterfree, Vivillon, and Yanmega fluttered in and out of the trees. The rarest sight was a Dragonite, though it was carrying a trainer on its back.
Wild Dragonite weren't something you'd expect to see around these parts—it'd be like winning the lottery.
Eventually, Reflection Cave came into view—a massive network of cliffs and tunnels, partially visible from above, its entrance cloaked in dark stone and forest.
Even from the air, it looked like a maze.
They didn't fly deep into the interior. Not knowing the Kingdom's exact location, they landed at the cave's outskirts.
From here, the search would begin on foot.