Compared to the four students who looked like the walking dead, the towering Peony, at least 1.8 meters tall, was both more energetic and more flamboyant.
Leaping down from the Copperajah's back, Peony rushed ahead of the four students, seized Lucas's hands, eyes brimming with tears, and said, "I've been waiting for you so long, my kindred spirit, Pen-pen's teacher, the legendary exorcist!"
Only Peony knew how long he'd been hoping for this moment.
These past few nights he'd watched the villagers of Freezington get possessed one after another, suddenly floating in midair with no warning, muttering incoherent, dreamlike nonsense.
And it had to happen in this nearly isolated hermit village, built out in the vast snowfields.
Seeing not just Nemona, Arven, and Eri, but even Penny and Peonia fall victim to that unknown ghost or Ghost-type Pokémon in succession, Peony—who had strength like steel but nowhere to use it—was tormented inside.
After another night of anxiety, they finally welcomed Lucas, who according to Nemona could exorcise spirits with ease!
The burly Peony thumped Lucas's right shoulder hard, marveling, "My my, though we only met once over a long-distance phone call, I didn't expect, teacher, that you'd achieved so much in exorcism too!"
Lucas: "…"
If his physique hadn't gotten sturdier after half a year of farm work—his abs even showing now—he'd worry Peony's claps would knock him to pieces.
He glanced at Nemona's utterly unashamed face, then at Arven who didn't really believe but chose self-hypnosis, the dazed Penny, and the exhausted Eri, and understood everything.
Most likely Penny or Eri mentioned Lucas encountering a real ghost in Alola, then Nemona exaggerated it (she truly believes it), and this group, desperate for a cure, called him for help.
"Sigh."
Lucas exhaled lightly, hoping Nemona hadn't been boasting about him to others across Galar this month besides this.
He then smiled at Peony. "A pleasure to meet you, Penny's father, Mr. Peony."
"No time to waste—why don't we head to the village? The Crown Tundra's weather has been unpredictable these days."
He greeted Peony amiably and cut the small talk, getting straight to Freezington.
Peony blinked—normally a big goof—then followed Lucas's gaze to see Nemona and the others interacting with a Vulpix and a Pokémon he didn't recognize.
When Peony focused on Penny, he clearly saw how awful her condition was.
Even paler than her already fair skin, dark circles showing despite her thick frames, and dry, chapped lips…
At the end of the day, they're just teenagers.
Peony wasn't dumb. He got Lucas's point and nodded firmly. "Alright, let's go back to Freezington now."
"They all respect you. If you're here, maybe they can finally sleep."
The trip to Freezington wasn't far, and though the deep snow made walking hard, Copperajah made an excellent mount in the tundra.
Its broad back easily seated several people. The gentle swaying lulled the already exhausted students toward sleep.
Kids who are still growing can't resist that kind of drowsiness.
By the time a small village built on the snowfields appeared in Lucas's sight, it had begun to flurry, delicate flakes filling the view.
Nemona and the others had fallen completely asleep, showing how long they'd been on edge.
Except for Penny, the three kids had encountered a haunting incident while traveling abroad—an immense pressure.
Outside Freezington, Copperajah stopped on its own, evidently aware that its size would only wreck things inside the village.
They dismounted. Seeing Peony preparing to carry the four kids back one by one to his temporary home, Lucas said, "Let me help."
Peony froze, but Lucas moved first.
With two adults present, Lucas sent out Ceruledge and Swampert. Ceruledge carried Nemona princess-style; Swampert hefted Eri; Lucas hoisted Arven onto his back; and Peony cradled Penny like a treasure. Together they entered the village.
To deter wild Pokémon, Freezington was ringed by wooden palisades. The village wasn't large—maybe only a dozen or two households—very sparse.
Rumor had it there were other tiny settlements in the Crown Tundra, or solitary people living out in the snowfields.
These were notes Lucas had picked up from his research.
With Arven on his back, Lucas walked through a silent Freezington.
It was only midafternoon, two or three o'clock, yet no one was out. The few fields lay strewn with tools, crops wilted despite the hard-won growth in this icy land.
From experience, Lucas could tell they'd been neglected for some time.
Everything pointed to the haunting having pushed this village—standing firm in harsh Crown Tundra—to the brink of collapse.
"It's worse than I thought…"
Lucas murmured too softly for even Peony to hear.
Swampert, carrying Eri, studied the surroundings, as if sorting out the tangled auras.
Ceruledge, blades sheathed and edges turned away, carefully adjusted its hold to avoid nicking the student. Its calm gaze swept the village; as a Ghost-type, it could sense its own kind to a degree and read traces of their movements.
But so far there was no strong aura—nothing like a place ravaged by Ghost-types for over a week. Almost no traces.
Unless the Ghost-type could fly.
If not a Ghost-type Pokémon, then something else was at work—or a true ghost even Ghost-types couldn't explain.
As Lucas's gaze fell on a damaged statue by the fields, Arven mumbled in his sleep—either groggy or napping unusually in daylight.
Snuggling into Lucas's back, Arven rubbed his face against him nostalgically and muttered a few indistinct sleep-words.
"Dad…"
Lucas stiffened, face turning odd.
No way.
Buddy, I'm only seven or eight years older than you—calling me that is a bit much, no?
Peony, perhaps preternaturally sharp-eared, leaned in, all gossip. "What what! My kindred spirit—could Arven be your son!?"
"Didn't see that coming! You look under twenty—baby-faced, huh?"
Before Lucas could scowl out a denial, their conversation—already at Peony's house door—was overheard by someone waiting inside.
With a creak, the door opened, and at the first words, Peony froze.
"Incredible. I don't recall my dad being this oblivious."
"Even if this reliable baby-faced trainer journeyed all the way here to help and made mistakes in his youth, you shouldn't poke at his sore spots so loudly!"
The speaker, revealed behind the door, was the opposite of Penny—cheery, even wearing a miniskirt in this frozen world: a young gal.
Peony's elder daughter, Penny's big sister: Peonia.
"It's not like that, Peonia, let me explain!"
Panicking at the thought of being iced out by his daughter, Peony flailed, oblivious to Penny—jostled about—wearing the twisted look of someone trapped in a nightmare.
Deadpan, Lucas murmured, "…Kind of want to go home. Maybe just take Penny and the others back to Paldea."
…
A moment later.
The fireplace crackled, tossing sparks as it devoured logs.
Warm red light filled the room, a refuge from the ice-bound world outside.
By the hearth, the four students lay on a rug under thin blankets, sleeping soundly.
Peonia and Peony knelt on guest cushions, heads bowed in shame, not daring to meet Lucas's eyes as he lounged, a guest turned host, in the Appletun beanbag chair.
They were in the wrong.
If Lucas, who'd come all this way, really took Nemona, Penny, Arven, and Eri and left tonight, what would the two of them do?
Cancel the ruins expedition? Give up exploring the Crown Tundra caves?
No way!
Clowns no more, they humbled themselves, hoping the exorcist Nemona touted would solve Freezington's nightmare rather than abandon them.
A cup of perfectly hot boiled water melted the chill in Lucas, warmth blooming inside.
He sighed almost inaudibly, then looked down at Peony and Peonia and began on details.
For example: any known Ghost-type activity near Freezington? Any strange items villagers had brought back?
More importantly: when did the haunting start, did it only occur late at night, and were there any patterns to the possessions?
Peonia and Peony exchanged a look. Peony began: "Our ancestors built here for safety. There are almost no high-threat wild Pokémon nearby. Ghost-types? Never heard of them."
"As for strange items—none that I know of."
"…Though that statue in the village center looks like it's missing something. Very suspicious."
Peonia picked up the thread.
"I think so too. The horse looks abstract enough, but the rider's head is missing a chunk!"
"Maybe an ancient spirit is dwelling in the statue…"
For once, father and daughter agreed, eyes shining as they looked at each other.
If Penny were awake, she'd be dead-eyed, muttering, "Idiot dad, idiot sis…"
"Ahem."
Lucas coughed. With these two goofballs, no wonder Penny hid her family ties.
Jolted by the reminder, the pair froze and continued.
The hauntings began about a week after Penny's group arrived in the Crown Tundra.
Peony had taken the students all around: the red tree, the ruins in the snowy valley, mining Water and Ice Stones, climbing several peaks…
After a day of exploring, the night they excitedly discussed their next captures, the village was struck by hauntings one after another.
Ever since.
At night, villagers were on edge—afraid, curled up, clinging to each other, praying not to be possessed.
By day, they salvaged the quiet to sleep or refuel; even the fields were neglected.
Hence the ruin and desolation Lucas saw.
After listening, Lucas rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Something moving in the village is a fact."
Peony and Peonia glanced at each other, delighted.
As expected of a master—so quick to a conclusion!
"…Forget it."
One look at their faces and Lucas knew what they were thinking, silently praying for the thousandth time that Nemona hadn't bragged about him elsewhere in Galar.
He sighed and glanced toward the door, thinking the time was about right—his two Pokémon should be back.
Sure enough.
A dozen seconds later, two figures dusted with snow opened the door and entered the cozy house.
Ceruledge and Mimikyu, whom he'd sent to scout the village and surroundings.
By the way, Ceruledge, whose hands are blades, cannot open doors. Mimikyu had to tiptoe and extend Shadow Claw to manage it.
Inside, seeing Lucas's questioning look, both shook their heads—no useful clues.
"I see…"
So even weakened by the loss of faith, the King of Bountiful Harvests could still infiltrate without leaving traces?
Seeing them hang their heads, Lucas smiled, rubbing Mimikyu's head and, with restraint, patting Ceruledge's shoulder.
"It's okay. Good work."
Now they could only switch from proactive to reactive, waiting for night to see if the king would appear.
That would be the time to resolve things.
But today was July's last day; they probably couldn't get back to Paldea for Naranja Academy's opening ceremony tomorrow.
He messaged Director Clavell to explain and put in leave for the four students as well.
As for their families, they'd wait till the kids woke.
He stood and told the duo, "Ceruledge and the others didn't find Ghost-type traces. We'll act tonight as needed."
"You two watch over them. I'll walk the village and see if any villagers are awake—maybe we'll learn something new."
They blinked. Peonia nudged Peony with her eyes: she'd stay, so he should guide Lucas around.
Peony cheerfully stood, straightened his red explorer's outfit, grabbed an item from a side table, and followed Lucas out.
Outside, the flurry thickened toward real snowfall.
Lucas glanced at the sky blurred by falling flakes, recalled Ceruledge, and kept only Mimikyu hiding in his shadow and Vulpix in his arms.
To villagers, he and a blade-armed knight might look like robbers. Ceruledge's twin swords were too obvious.
Mimikyu could hide—convenient.
Vulpix was pure cute buffer, making Lucas look more harmless, friendly, trustworthy.
Just as he set off toward other houses—
"My kindred spirit—wait!"
Peony called out, using a carved wooden object as a snow-hat.
Lucas turned with Vulpix in his arms—then froze.
On Peony's head sat a carved… broccoli?
"Vul~?"
Vulpix found it abstract; a broccoli-capped Peony was even more abstract. Remembering its mother's teachings, it covered its eyes with its tiny paws.
Lucas snapped back, eyeing the wooden broccoli. As if remembering something, he asked, "Where'd you get that?"
Peony grinned, striking a pose. "Heh, I think I just picked it up by the road. Great for blocking snow. You want it?"
"…I do."
Lucas nodded.
"No helping it—since you're my kindred spirit." Peony handed over the perfectly sized carving. "Here."
"Thanks."
Lucas put Vulpix down, took the larger-than-his-head wooden broccoli, examined it, then, under Peony's curious stare, walked to a field corner.
There stood a damaged wooden statue.
As Peony and Peonia had said, the craftsmanship was rough and the style abstract.
But you could tell: a Pokémon missing the top of its headgear riding a wise-looking horse.
Without hesitation, Lucas set the broccoli into the gap.
It fit perfectly, flush.
Peony stared, stunned, mouth working.
Just then Vulpix noticed something. It looked past the statue.
"Vulpix~!"
Prompted by Vulpix, Lucas looked over.
Out beyond the village, in a snow-laden grove, a small green figure hovered, watching him with a regal gaze.
Peony followed his line of sight and blurted, "What a big green head! Is that… a Pokémon made from broccoli?"
Lucas: "…"
"Koron… koron rei."
The Pokémon gave Peony a long look, then turned to Lucas and uttered some unintelligible cries before gliding deeper into the trees.
Lucas needed only a moment to understand. Scooping Vulpix, he vaulted the fence and gave chase.
His mind raced.
Despite the snow blurring his vision, he was certain: that Pokémon was the legendary Calyrex—the King of Bountiful Harvests!
The ancient, faith-forsaken monarch of Galar—Calyrex!