Trial of Sand: Astrum

The moment Astrum opens his eyes, he sees red. Red gates taller than he could ever reach, repeating on down the hall whichever way he looks. Lights string from the tops of the gates, almost resembling coffins hung in respect, or, sacrifice. He has never been here before, being far too new to ever need to come here. He can feel Astrophel trembling in his Poké Ball, and the man places a gentle hand on it, as if to reassure the little Quaxly.

By Astrum's will, he is going to make sure that none of his own Pokémon ever grace these halls, or he'll beg forgiveness of them.

The ravenette blinks as a figure approaches, cloaked in gray and wreathed in gold. There's a deep sense of foreboding as the figure, SETA, approaches, and even though Astrum had heard about them, having scoured forums upon forums for information on the Everworld ever since he learned about the Pokémon left behind here... The hairs on the back of the man's neck stand on end and he has to resist the instinct to fight or flee when the color fades and drains from his surroundings, and the air turns stale and cold. Instead, Astrum bows deep, head inclined towards the ground, and waits only until SETA comes to a stop before him to speak.

"Hello, Guardian of the Everworld. My name is Astrum, and I do not appear before you to collect a fallen friend," the ravenette starts as he straightens back up to meet the figure's gaze. Though Astrum can't really see SETA's face, he keeps his eyes trained on the golden mask and his expression fairly neutral, but respectful. "Neither have I come to give up one of my own. Instead, I am here to give one of these poor souls a new home, one where I would hope that they find true happiness."

Astrum doesn't care the species or level, or any specifics of that matter. All he knows is that this is a den of lost souls, and he intends to reach out a hand to them.

Code or not, these Pokémon don't deserve to rot away here for eternity.

"I understand that there is a test before anyone can guide a lost soul from this place, and I am prepared to do whatever you request..." Astrophel's Poké Ball wriggles once more and the ravenette places a hand on it again, once more to calm. "Granted that your request is a reasonable and fair one. I'm not here to lose a friend, but gain a new one."

Maybe such a statement would be perceived as rude, but the man would stand by it. If rescuing a Pokémon from these haunted halls requires the sacrifice of another, then he'll simply have to return again some day with a different solution... Somehow.