They walked, along the soft grass, the thundering clouds, the mounds where tunnels and caverns peered up and broke into open air. His pace was no longer quiet, or hesitant- It was as if he knew these places as intimately as he knew himself. The way a sword was to be swung given its balance, the distance to the next drilbur den- it was the same.

Ta'si kept pace with him easily, watching everything even as she skirted around rock and ditch, tails kept high off the ground with every step. "What do you think we'll find out here, Ta'si?" He asked, speaking not of the pokemon that called this land home, but of something else, something other.

The quiet vulpix did not answer.

Verai gave her a gentle smile. "Good job," He said, continuing to strike at the obelisk. Again, again, the clang of metal and stone. It was a familiar noise, something that had echoed in his bones for years, and now- even now had followed him, despite how far he had tried to run from it.

Was it futile, then, his attempts to run from it?

Ta'si pawed at the metal, scraping a bit more ore free. She sat, tails swirling around her haunches as she looked up at the spire. Lightning flashed, and thunder roared. But she did not flinch, merely looking up at the sky.

Verai hummed, taking the ore, and gently petting the vulpix's ears. "Come along. Let's get osmewhere a bit warmer."

With care, Verai found another orfice, carefully descending into one of the caverns. Stray pokemon scattered as they went, Ta'si looking around curiously. Verai just hummed, moving to where wood had been stored, and started to make a fire. "You know, this is one I usually come to... Kazuki and I fought a duraludon here." He mused.

The flame hit, the klink gone spinning, squeaking as it did. Ta'si hopped a bit, clearly pleased. "Good job, little one," Verai praised, starting to melt down the ore. Ta'si kept her attention on the klink, tails lashing again as she lunged, throwing her whole weight against it.

He watched the armor form- his now familiar breastplate, greaves and pauldrons beside- and Verai could only remember how easily Kazuki could tear through it in a fit of rage. That made it fair, right? His fingers brushed over scarcely-cooled metal. Kazuki often walked away from their fights in high spirits, but battered far worse than Verai was.

Would-

Verai shook his head, and focused his attention instead of Ta'si, listening to her as she fought the klink.

Verai moved, going to pick up the vulpix, tucking her against his chest. "Good job, Ta'si," He repeated, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She gave a soft whuff, pressing her muzzle into him, tails wrapped loosely around his arm. "The professor will be happy with another gift, don't you think?"

Still holding her, he moved to take up his own armor, and retrieve the fallen klink.