Chapter Text
Mallku and JP returned to the town about an hour later, finding it not quite sundown, but close. They moved down the hill, passing an Ariados guard who stopped them for a quick check before letting the two continue in.
Despite being called a town, Supernova Shore was more of a settlement than anything else. It was too large to be a village, especially after recent years, but the efforts to improve it as a living space (rather than a home for commercial institution as Solar had always intended) were never quite able to prosper long-term.
As such, it had found its footing on viable business ground.
Soon, Mallku and JP had reached the main road, passing many more pokémon and the countless houses and buildings lined around the dirt pathways. Mallku waved to a few friendly faces, receiving a few gestures in return.
The Weavile pointed to a site where several pokémon were at work constructing the frame to a large shed. “Solar says they’re going to be expanding the town to build more independent trades. Although the guild runs the economy, he thinks that allowing for more financial independence will draw in more craftsmon.”
JP merely sneered in response, the lantern sagging in his claws.
“C’mon, it’s not all boring!” Mallku groaned, throwing up his arms. “There’s some fun to it!”
The Magby exhaled a puff of smoke. Mallku pitifully shook his head.
And yet, the truth was… he was right.
Supernova Shore was just under a century old, founded by Solar and his wife after they left a prior guild.
”I wanted a change of pace. I wanted to make an impact in slow times. Did you know this area used to be considered ‘cursed’ before I came here, Mall? Everyone thought I was delirious. And then we made one of the best guilds in the continent. No one judged me after that.”
“When I was a kid,” Mallku continued, ignoring JP’s dismissiveness. “I dreamt of working here. It was the one thing I wanted most.”
JP remained quiet.
“It took a lot of bravery t-“
“I don’t care,” the Magby spat, avoiding eye contact. “Just stay quiet, old man.”
“I-“
Mallku had a response coming but didn’t say it. He rubbed his arm, looking away.
The rest of the walk to the guild was silent.
The building was a step-up in quality compared to the majority of the town, with brick walls and tall windowpanes lining the exterior. An Espurr passed as Mallku and JP slipped inside, meeting cool air which wafted around them as they entered.
“You’re back so soon,” the Inteleon at the counter said as they made their way forward. He brandished a pen with a click, straightening his tie and the badge adorned on it. “What do you have for me today?”
Mallku scratched the back of his head. “I wasn’t planning to go very far. Just a quick trip into the dungeon nearby.” He pulled out a pair of damaged glasses, placing it onto the counter. “Fickle Specs, Maria Jigglypuff, second floor.”
Vector accepted it before quickly jotting down on a piece of paper. “The client will be alerted right away. I’ll handle your rewards and points by tomorrow morning.”
The Weavile nodded, softly smiling. “Thanks man.”
“It’s part of the job,” Vector replied with a chuckle.
Mallku turned his attention back to JP, his shoulder slouching as he sighed. “I guess I have to take you back home too, huh?”
The Magby grumbled, walking away. “Like I need you to watch me.” He turned around, spitting towards Mallku before continuing on his way. “Get a life, old geezer.”
Once the kid was completely gone, Vector awkwardly coughed into his arm. “Where’d the kid learn that insult?” the Inteleon murmured, shuffling papers.
“I thought I’d grow on him by now,” Mallku groaned. “Guess not…”
“Kids can be jerks every now and then. I hate to see a kid grow up to a bully, but there’s only so much you can do, I’m afraid. You can always talk to his parents if it becomes a recurring problem.”
The Weavile nodded, crossing his arms. “I’ll think about it.”
“As you will.” Vector organized all the documents on his desk before stretching and leaning back. “Why does Pixel always give me the hard paperwork? That Ribombee can fly around town delivering letters, spreading news and helping organize events but can’t spend a single minute in here correcting documents with me...”
“Your sister must be pretty busy, huh.”
Vector shrugged. “Our dad never gave us breaks when we were kids anyways. Always making us work, even past sundown.” The Inteleon sighed, mopping his face with a rag. “Did I seriously have to get the desk job? Pixel goes out and commutes with the locals while I’m stuck in here filing papers and signing off manuscripts. I suppose that’s what having a half-sister is like,” the Inteleon murmured under his breath, a muted laugh following.
Mallku scratched at his scarf. “You don’t have anyone who can do the job for you?”
“Bingo. As busy as this place gets, there’s not many who are actually around to keep it operating behind the scenes. Solar’s always overseeing the town, Cannab’s always managing the funds, Chili’s always keeping track of names. The list goes on.
“And you see how lively this town is, and you think ‘Hey, maybe there’s someone who can fill in for you when you’re not there!’, but nah. I’m the only one with the desk job,” Vector said with a shake of his head. “Pixel wonders why I’m always so tired, but I don’t think she sees how long and boring my shifts get when I’m cooped up in here every day.”
“I guess that makes sense, yeah.”
Vector got up, opening and exiting the gate attached to the desk. He looked slick when he wasn’t slouching, but the uncomfortable movement of his hands said otherwise.
“Speak of the devil,” the Inteleon said, gesturing to the door.
Pixel pushed open the glass with all her might, the Ribombee just barely managing to squeeze through with the doll-sized bag thrown over her shoulder. She panted as she flew towards the counter, landing next to Mallku and Vector.
Pixel’s voice dribbled out a low mutter as she righted herself. “Snow is preparing to arrange a marriage with her fiancée, Jasmine said the freight ship should be here by Tuesday, Thomas has plans to build a tent near the outskirts of town...” She gathered her bearings with audible fatigue, taking a deep breath. She turned to Mallku, in which her eyes immediately lit up. “Oh! I didn’t see you there! How did the training in the dungeon go?”
Vector smirked, crossing his arms. “Ask the grumpy kid that just left.”
“It could have gone better,” Mallku admitted.
“Where have you been?” Vector questioned. “We were just talking about you.”
The Ribombee dusted herself off with a satisfied smile. “I flew downtown to the market to talk with Snow, and we had a long discussion over tea.” The fairy’s eyes appeared to glimmer as she recounted the details. “I’ve received the role of administrator in her wedding, and I’ve prepared a priest and several matchmakers to help me organize it. Snow’s girlfriend will be assisting us too.”
Vector smirked. “A wedding?” He turned to Mallku. “Well? Will you be there? Or am I going to be the only odd mon out?”
Pixel’s cheeks puffed with annoyance. “Come on, guys! It’s a town celebration! Everyone here knows each other, so why not show your enthusiasm by going?” She closed her eyes, turning away. “Plus, both of you are always working, never out in the sunlight. That especially goes to you, older brother.”
The Inteleon rolled his eyes. “I didn’t ask for this job, Dad assigned it to me. Guildmaster doesn’t like me taking breaks anyway.”
Pixel sighed, placing her nubs on her hips. “I need to convince Solar to give you a new position.” She giggled, hiding her smile. “Maybe somewhere by the fields, next to that cute Lurantis you like.”
Vector groaned. “I don’t. Have. A crush on her.”
“That’s what they all say,” Pixel teased with a wink. She turned to Mallku. “Sorry you have to get in between our little sibling banter. Mr. Stuck-Up here just needs someone to keep him alert, hehe.”
Vector facepalmed, hiding his embarrassment. “Whatever you say, sis.”
Pixel flew to hang her bag up against the employee’s coatrack before returning shortly after. “Now then. I imagine you have places to be Mr. Mallku? Are you heading to your dorms for now?”
Mallku immediately thought back to Jirachi. I can’t just leave it there alone tonight…
“This is unrelated but, can I take food with me outside the cafeteria?” he asked nervously.
“I don’t see why you can’t,” Vector answered. “Just leave some for the rest ‘s all.”
Can gods starve!?
“Thanks.” The Weavile took a deep breath, moving towards the door. “I’ll uh.. be back. Going to the forest to collect something.”
“Stay safe!” Pixel cheered.
The movement of doors fell silently, and soon, Vector and Pixel were talking with each other.
~
The Poltchageist behind the counter was giving him an uncomfortable stare.
“What have it, you…”
“Some bread and a few berries, nothing more,” Mallku answered.
The ghost drifted back to the table behind them, covered with all types of prepared food and parcels. “Much, how… specific, yes?”
Mallku tapped his claws. “Uhm, probably no more than three?”
“Berries, what...”
“Huh?”
“Type.”
“Uh.. dark and ice…?” the Weavile mumbled.
The ghost only grew more annoyed. “Berries. Kind. Name.”
“I don’t know wha-“
The Manectric next to Mallku turned over his shoulder, groaning. “They’re asking what berries what you want. Just answer, my god. You’re holding the line up for everyone else.”
“O-Oh, whoops.” Mallku was suddenly more aware of the pokémon around him. “Any is fine, sorry. Can I have the food to go, by the way?”
The Sinistcha dropped the plate in front of him, grumbling as they moved to serve other guild members.
Mallku held up a claw. “Wait, but I didn’t ask for a pla-“
His voice died in his throat.
“S-Sorry, nevermind. It’s fine.”
He awkwardly shuffled out of the cafeteria.
I guess I’ll have to find my own bag, then.
~
Soon enough, he was already there.
A gentle claw brushes over a patch of shrubbery, revealing a hidden path off the beaten trail.
Mallku glances back and forth before eventually sighing, covering his tracks with a few swipes and drags of his feet. After returning the spot to its original appearance, he urgently followed down the path, clenching his teeth.
“Do gods like bread? Surely, they’ll accept it right?” he wondered.
What happens if I mess up with this?
He shuddered.
What happens if the guild finds out? Am I danger? What if they find Jirachi before I do?
Strung over his arm was his worn guild bag, storing three loaves of bread and several Mago berries. If he was smarter, he would have bought food from the town’s market. Instead, like the creature of habit he was, he shopped at the guild’s… salad bar.
I mean, it is just bread. Plus, even if they don’t like it, they can have the Mago Berries I brought alongside me. And everyone likes sweet food!
Yeah. Of course that was a good decision; why would he think otherwise?
Right?
Mallku’s eyes flickered about as he recognized a sign up ahead- the one leading to the dungeon. His feet skyrocketed, nearly missing a root that was just a step ahead.
“Gotta be somewhere around here!”
The sign was mostly snapped apart, but from what of the remaining ink was readable, he was able to make out the warning bound to the text.
Vag ant’s Hollow- C tion for Disto tions! Explor s/Rescue s Only
Right. Dungeon hotspot.
Have to be wary for glitchy terrain and signs of a space-time leak.
Mallku picked at his scarf, glancing around. Though he felt like something was about to jump him, the forest was calm, and there was no indication of possible mystery dungeons from what he could see.
I hope they didn’t get caught in the dungeon while I was gone, he sighed.
Mallku stood in front of the sign for a moment before turning around, searching for the three he had seen earlier.
What were they even doing there? I thought gods were supposed to be hidden from pokémon? Did someone else put them there?
His questions were held to a pause as his ears flicked, signaling a brief stop.
“Nghh..”
Mallku assumed a defensive pose, trying to find the source. The voice was.. young, yet stark, and he almost wouldn’t have believed there was a noise at all if he hadn’t seen a weak ember fly out from underneath a bush, scorching a small flower.
“Who’s there?” he shouted, prepared to throw off his bag and fight. All he got was a responding grunt, almost as if ignoring his question. “I uh… I’m not afraid to fight!”
Mallku waited for a few moments before relaxing as no further noise was made. He cautiously stepped towards the dying ember, recalling the real reason he came as his eyes recognized a blur of yellow and orange.
The… “gods”. Right.
Jirachi.
“Hey, uh, you alive…?” the Weavile asked, brushing away a leaf to reveal Jirachi, Victini and Heatran. Filtered sunlight leaned on their bodies, which were just as bruised and beaten as an hour earlier. Out of all of them, Jirachi seemed the most awake, grunting in its slumber as its muscles appeared to twitch. It yawned, throwing an arm to reach for something-
Mallku winced, jumping back as it nearly grabbed his foot.
Too close.
“Uh… I’ll just leave this here,” he mumbled. He set his bag down, preparing to take out the slices of bread and Mago berries before hesitating.
If I just leave the food in the open, it’ll be gone before they wake up. Some feral might take it.
Mallku glanced back, watching as Jirachi coughed and snorted, lazily grasping a handful of dirt in its sleep. The dirt rested on the hand before falling back, returning to the soil.
“I can’t just leave them alone either.”
One of Jirachi’s eyes opened, frightening Mallku with a gasp. His feet swerved, slipping over a root and sending his face right for the ground. The thud came like a shockwave, waking the rest of the mythical up.
Crap!
“Nghh…” Jirachi yawned, wiping dirt from its face. Its head gradually rose, glistening like a corpse from the grave. “Arceus…?” it said, eyes fluttering in unfamiliar light.
Mallku stumbled back, brushing off loose dirt from his fur. “H-H-Hey, uhm…”
Jirachi’s expression grew with shock and fury as it saw the Weavile in front of it.
Its mouth opened, but no sound came.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up!” Mallku shouted in a panic. He tossed a loaf forwards, which landed at Jirachi’s fingertips. “You can eat bread, right? Here, h-have some.”
The mythical gave him a confused stare, before snatching up the loaf.
“Damn Arceus…” they muttered under their breath.
Mallku scratched at his scarf, glancing back and forth. “O-Oh. So you can eat it or…?”
Jirachi groaned, throwing up their arms. “Stupid mortal! For fuck’s sake, either leave or stop making this awkward! Do I look like I’m going to hurt you!?”
“Sorry?” Mallku responded.
For a pokémon this size, it sure talks greater than its size. There's a legendary pokémon made up of a buncha smaller guys that transforms into an even bigger guy, right? I sure hope this little one isn't like that, yikes.
Jirachi turned away, munching on their bread. “Whatever, thanks for the food.” With no manners at all, the mythical ravenously gulped down a large bite. “I’m not in the mood to be captured right now, so fuck off, will you? I’ve seen enough to know that you mortal freaks are only ever capable of destruction.” They grumbled some more as they ate. “Baiting me with food, huh? You’re already a step smarter than the last guy.”
“Come again?” Mallku asked. What are they on about?
Jirachi glanced back to shoot a mean stare at him. “Let me spell it out for you, mortal. You’re not worth my time. Scram.”
The Weavile sighed, standing up. With it looking like the polite approach wasn’t working, he tried something different. “L-Listen okay, I’m not here to take advantage of you! I only saw you lying here earlier, so I came back to bring something to eat. I don’t know much about legendary pokémon, but I saw someone in need of help, so I came.”
“First off, it’s mythical. Second, I don’t even need your-“
Jirachi paused.
“What did you just say?”
Uh.. crap, how do I respond?
“I brought you food because you were in need of help?” I guess I’m trying the honest approach.
The psychic stopped for a moment, staring down at their bread.
Expressionless.
Mallku’s lip curved.
“Why would you help me?” Jirachi asked bitterly. “Mortal.”
Mallku sat down next to them, rubbing their back. “Because that’s what I do. I help people. I help all kinds of pokémon.” His smile was soft. “And I helped you, y’know. If I hadn’t seen you out here, you could have starved.”
Jirachi’s eyes went wide for a moment.
“Starved?” they repeated.
“Yeah?”
Jirachi shook it off, hissing. “God! If it wasn’t for that damn son of a-“
They attempted to float upwards, but nothing happened.
“Huh?”
“Is something wrong?” Mallku asked.
“I can’t fucking levitate!?” Jirachi screamed. They threw their loaf of bread into a bush, panting. “No no no nononono, what did those assholes do!?” They tried to use Psychic on a nearby branch, but the branch didn’t move an inch. They squirmed. “What happened to me!? Why can’t I use moves!?”
Jirachi turned their attention to a Skwovet overhead, which was climbing up a tree. They held up a finger to Mallku, saying, “One damn second.”
A flash of grey light burst from their fingertips, firing directly towards the feral. It hit it directly on the nose, creating a short explosion of color as the feral dropped dead on the ground in front of them, recoiling from the hit.
Jirachi panted, wiping some sweat off their brow. “Okay. I can still use Flash Cannon. That’s one.”
Mallku, of course, still had no idea what was going on.
He stood up, rubbing his shoulder.
“Did you like, lose your powers or something?”
Jirachi hissed. “Damnit, looks like I did.” They turned to him, looking slightly annoyed. “Listen, mortal. I’m in a really tough spot right now, and I don’t have time for bullshit. Since you know I’m here, you may as well help me.” They scoffed. “What’s your name? Answer.”
The Weavile tapped his claws. “Uh.. Mallku. Sorry for the bad introduction by the way.”
Jirachi shook their head. “It’s whatever.” They glanced back to Victini and Heatran, who were still asleep. “What the hell am I going to do with these freaks…” they muttered.
“Come again?”
“Nothing,” Jirachi replied, as they coughed into their arm.
“Okay.”
Jirachi flexed their fingers, staring down Mallku. “Let’s get something straight, mortal. You are not above me. And you will never be above me.” Talking down to him made Jirachi smirk a bit, but Mallku felt that the mythical was hiding something. “From now on, you’re under my rule, mortal. If I tell you to do something, you do it. A whiny asshole stole everything from me, and now I’m using you to help me take it all back.”
Mallku was still confused, but nodded? How am I so calm about this!?
“Look at me bullying peasants around,” Jirachi muttered under their breath with a larger smirk, quiet enough that he couldn’t hear. “Wouldn’t Keldeo be proud of me? Stepping down to that idiot’s level, how pathetic.”
“Anyways!” the mythical said, reaffirming their tone and staring at Mallku. “Let’s not make this a weird, pet thing. Because… unlike a certain someone… I don’t engage in imaginary fetishes, and that is exactly why we’re staying on strictly business terms. No ‘master’, no freaky power dynamics, none of that, that’s disgusting,” they finished with a sickened groan.
Mallku looked at Jirachi blankly. “So uh… like friends?”
“Sure, whatever, just don’t make it weird,” Jirachi muttered. “Another thing I’ll have you know. The only reason I and my two other freakers are stuck like this is because that damn asshole Arceus wrongfully banished us.”
They took a step forward, making Mallku wince. “I hate Arceus. They took everything and more from us. They ruined our lives. They do nothing but ruin the world they created, like some sort of freaky puppet master with no emotion or empathy. And it won’t be long before they ruin yours too.”
“I…” Mallku rubbed his arm, awkwardly smiling. “Uh, okay. So he’s like the bad guy? Huh, I didn’t know the creator of the universe was such a mean pokémon. I guess I was wrong about that the entire time, huh.”
Jirachi’s grin grew voraciously.
“You’re learning. You’re learning quick. You’re already the most perfect mortal I’ve ever met.”
“Uh, thanks,” Mallku murmured. “So what can I do to help you then? I have some money and good contacts if that’s anything. You three looked pretty beaten up earlier, it’s the least I can do.”
Jirachi played with their tassels, thinking. “Good, good. We’ll collect some disposable pieces, and we can finally take back what’s ours.” Their eyes locked in on Mallku. “You will never regret what you have done after all this.”
“Uh… okay.”
“But we need power,” Jirachi argued. “Riches, pokémon, strength, a way to crawl back into the Hall of Origin. I can handle that last one, but the rest is going to be up to you.”
Mallku gave an uneasy smile, nodding. “I’ll try.”
“Trying isn’t enough.” Jirachi held up a handful of dirt, balled up in their fist. “People will do nothing but beat you into the ground and call you worthless. They’ll take everything from you, lock your friends away, and destroy your very world. Do you seriously want that? Are you really going to tolerate ANY of that!? We need to kill Arceus. It’s the only way we can stop them for good.”
Mallku tilted his head, confused. “…What happens if we kill them?”
This is a lot of weight to bear. Am I seriously capable of going through with this?
Jirachi chuckled apprehensively. “I become the ruler of the universe, obviously, and all the evils of the world die with Arceus. It’s the only way that makes sense. It has to be. The world will be better under my rule, anyways. And oh, don’t worry. You’ll be at the right hand of my throne, commanding all mortals to bow down to me.” Jirachi snickered. “You’ll be the last person I ever think of throwing away, promise. Don’t you want that? To do good? This is the best way you can achieve that dream. By helping me achieve mine.”
Jirachi dropped the dirt in their hand, letting it fall to the soil before rubbing it in with their foot. “From now on, we beat people into the ground. But we can’t do that if we play nice. Not when pokémon betray you and laugh at you with their greedy tongues, those wretched, poor excuses of bastards. Azelf, Mesprit, Uxie, Dialga, Palkia. We need them dead to truly save the world. All gone. Forever.”
Their voice suddenly grew cold, their stare colder. “Do you understand, Mallku?”
The Weavile backed up a bit. “Uh…”
What have I just gotten myself into?
~
It was the next day when Mallku was knocking at the guildmaster’s doorstep.
“Come in! Come in!”
He twisted the knob lightly, feeling the sweat unravel from his claws as he opened the door. He turned to see Solar reading a book at his desk, the Ninetales wearing his reading glasses as he flipped a page over with a paw.
“Your excellency, sir.”
The room was dimly-lit, softly illuminated by the rays of oranges that pressed their way through the window blinds on the other end of the room. Solar’s desk sat on the left wall, amongst the many books and shelves scattered around him.
Solar looked up from his book, smiling. “Why, if it isn’t my good friend Mallku. Have you come for updates on the new recruits? You’ve been doing an exceptional job teaching them the ways of the guild, I’m thoroughly impressed.”
Mallku began biting his claw, glancing away. “Er, i-it’s something else actually.”
“Oh?” Solar said. He lifted his book away with a wave of psychic energy, placing it back on its shelf. “Come forward, have a seat,” he beckoned.
He levitated a bar stool cushion that was located across the room, sitting it down just in front of his desk.
“Th-thank you,” Mallku replied, taking the seat.
“Now, what brings you here?”. Solar put a paw on his desk, leaning forward. “You can always tell me anything.”
The Weavile rubbed his arm. “Uh… I had a question. I-I also came for some advice, I suppose.”
Solar nodded. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s er… a little complicated.” Mallku sighed, holding up his claws. “And you promise you won’t tell anyone? Even if it’s a problem that’s uhm, larger than ourselves? Does that make sense?”
“Larger than ourselves…?“ the guildmaster repeated under his breath. For a second Mallku thought he had completely lost the Ninetales in his confusion before relaxing when Solar’s proud expression returned. “I know you trust me the most out of everyone in this guild, which is why I must say that although you may be nervous, I only have as much faith as you do in yourself.”
His look was brazen. “If you came here to speak to me and me only about this subject, then you must surely believe that I am the person whom you should talk to.”
Mallku glanced back down at his badge, holding it in a claw.
”You must surely believe that I am the person whom you should talk to.”
He placed it back on his scarf.
“Well uhm, about that. You know I don’t have anyone else to turn to, anymore.”
“I understand.”
Mallku shook his head. “I just don’t know if I do.” He glanced away, feeling his neck burn with an unprecedented itch. “Do you know about the pokémon Jirachi?”
“Hm, not very much. Are you talking about the one from the books?”
“I uhm-” Mallku’s voice went low. “I-I-I found them in the forest yesterday. Just sleeping on the ground. I talked to them when they woke up. And I kind of... need help?”
Solar only looked the slightest bit surprised. “O-Oh, is that… not a normal occurrence? What do you need help with?”
Crap. Am I in trouble?
Mallku sighed, still looking away. “L-Listen, I won’t burden you too heavily. I just need some advice and maybe some time away from the guild. That’s all.”
Solar closed his eyes, musing. “I imagine this Jirachi character must be giving you a problem.” He sat straight, gesturing towards the Weavile to look him in the eyes. “Is this anything I should be concerned about myself?”
“N-No, I don’t think so. I would prefer if it wasn’t, honestly.”
“Alright, then. I will leave it at your discretion and yours alone. While you’re here, however. I must put into question, what do you need of me?”
“Uh, nothing big,” Mallku mumbled. He tapped his claws on his chair. “Well, I guess having somewhere to move Jirachi would be a good start. I can’t just leave them in the forest, but moving them into town might draw some suspicion. And th-they’ve got two friends I saw yesterday- even though they never woke up even after Jirachi went back to resting, so I guess I’ll have to factor them in as well.”
“I just don’t know where to move them,” he admitted, continuing. “Based on what I talked with them about, they seem pretty weak at the moment, so they can’t fly or anything or teleport away. If I take them anywhere, we’ll have to move on foot.”
Solar took it all in, nodding along. “And remind me again why this pokémon is important?”
“It’s a-apparently because they’re a mythical pokémon?” Mallku faltered. “I don’t really know the details. It’s not something the average mon knows about, anyways. I was really shocked myself to see Jirachi too.”
“So you’re telling me I’m only hearing about this now, huh?” Solar laughed. He got off of his seat, drinking from a bowl of herbal tea by the window. “I suppose we barely know anything more than we think.”
Mallku got up as well. “Yeah, I guess so. Should I uhm. Open the blinds?”
“Nono, keep them closed, I like it that way, ahaha.” The Ninetales took a big sip as Mallku leaned on the sill, directly next to him. “I’m sure we can work something out, Mall. You seem to deeply care about this issue as you have gone about it.”
Mallku sighed, looking outwardly. “I guess so.”
Solar took another sip from his bowl. “Care for tea?”
“I’m good,” Mallku responded awkwardly, holding up his claws. “I ate this morning anyways.”
“Never doubt a ghost who can cook,” Solar countered with a smile. “What? Too modest to partake in a drink with your guildmaster? You know I don’t bite.”
Mallku sighed again, more nervous. “I.. don’t know.” Jirachi’s smirk flashed in his mind. “I’m just a little lost right now. And I, well, it looked like Jirachi was more serious about this than they were implying. And I can’t just leave them behind. They looked pretty hurt, it was hard to say no.”
Solar took a sip. “Hm, I suppose you’ve found a new path then?”
“I… guess so,” Mallku replied, hesitant. “It’s something I’ll have to figure out.”