The moment Lucario linked her with [Aura], Zoroark felt like her entire world had been refreshed.
Even though she was still downstairs, she could now hear every sound from the room above with perfect clarity.
She could even make out Elias's steady breathing.
So this is [Aura]...
She gave Lucario a rare nod of approval.
Lucario snorted dismissively and returned to his meditation.
Meanwhile, Zoroark sharpened her focus.
Voices had already begun to drift down from upstairs.
Thanks to aura, she caught every word, crystal clear.
"Are you really sure you want to keep such a notoriously dangerous Pokémon by your side?"
The very first sentence struck directly at the heart of her deepest fears.
She instinctively held her breath, eyes wide.
Elias... what will you say?
---
Upstairs, in the study.
Irida stood as she spoke, leaning forward with both hands on the table.
She stared intently at Elias, watching his face for even the slightest flicker.
It wasn't that she wanted to lash out or punish Zoroark.
If Elias had chosen any other Pokémon—even one she disliked—she wouldn't have said a word.
But Zoroark was different.
Among human tribes, the species carried an awful reputation.
Every single tribe had its own terrifying legend about Zoroark.
Thanks to those stories, most people viewed them as omens of disaster—cunning monsters that brought ruin in their wake.
Irida personally felt those tales were exaggerated.
Yes, some Pokémon had aggressive tendencies by nature.
But that didn't mean all of them were evil.
Unfortunately, most people weren't willing to take that risk.
So if Elias insisted on raising a Zoroark, he was bound to face scrutiny... and worse.
She didn't want to see that happen to him.
But Elias, calm and composed, simply shook his head.
"I don't think anyone else gets to decide what kind of Pokémon I raise."
His answer was plain and honest.
Zoroark had been with him since she was little.
He couldn't imagine just abandoning her out of fear of public opinion.
Besides...
He'd never really cared what the rest of the tribe thought.
If it came down to choosing between Zoroark and the Pearl Clan, he wouldn't hesitate.
Seeing how resolute he was, Irida let out a soft sigh and slumped back into her chair.
She'd known from the start that veiled threats wouldn't change Elias's mind.
Holding her forehead for a moment, she thought in silence.
Then, finally, she looked up at him with a serious expression.
"I won't tell anyone what happened today. But you should be careful—not too many people can know about Zoroark."
Elias was already well-known within the Pearl Clan.
In Irida's eyes, it was practically a given that he'd be the next clan leader.
It would be a shame if that future was ruined over this.
Hearing her sincere warning, Elias gave no reply.
After all, he was already thinking about how to introduce Zoroark in the upcoming battle tournament.
He couldn't accept a life where his Pokémon was doomed to hide in the shadows forever.
---
[After chatting a little longer, Irida—clearly still troubled—excused herself.]
[It was easy to see she genuinely cared about Zoroark's situation.]
[But sadly... you didn't have any real way to ease her worry.]
[After seeing her off, you suddenly realized Zoroark was nowhere to be found—and for a moment, a flicker of unease rose in your chest.]
[Thankfully, with Lucario's help, you found the big fox curled up under the covers in your room.]
Under the blanket.
Zoroark was tightly curled, only her fluffy tail trailing behind.
Having heard everything exchanged between Elias and Irida, her mind was in a complete whirlwind.
Irida's concern had been crystal clear—and it aligned exactly with the fears Zoroark had carried all along.
My presence might ruin Elias's life.
And Elias's answer? It had been firm. Unwavering.
It moved her deeply... but also made her question, once again, whether she should really do as Elias asked—appear in front of everyone, unmasked.
Lately, so many things had gone right.
It made her begin to waver from the determination she once had.
Part of her had even started to believe... maybe she could take the stage during Elias's tournament.
But after cooling down, she realized—
That belief might've just been a delusion.
It was only because Elias treated her so well that she'd started thinking others might too.
With her head buried, Zoroark half-closed her eyes, troubled and uncertain.
And just then—she felt someone grab her tail.
It was Elias.
Zoroark recognized him immediately.
A second later, the blanket was pulled back.
Elias looked down at her sprawled on his futon, clearly at a loss for words.
Thank Arceus she wasn't shedding right now—or this blanket would be ruined.
"Thinking too much again?" he asked softly, tilting his head.
"...No."
Zoroark turned her face away, clearly not planning to admit anything.
Then she looked back at him and said earnestly,
"Elias, I... I changed my mind. If Lucario loses during the tournament, I don't want to go up after him."
"I don't want to fight on stage."
It was a decision she'd come to after careful thought.
But Elias didn't seem impressed.
"Too bad."
"A promise is a promise. No backing out now."
"If you won't do it, I'll just go catch another Zoroark and send her instead."
As he spoke, Elias gently ruffled her head, voice half-teasing, half-serious.
As expected, she immediately panicked.
"No!"
If he was going to send another Zoroark in her place, she'd rather go herself.
Realizing she had no choice, Zoroark gritted her teeth and muttered,
"...Fine. But same as before—only after Lucario loses."
She still didn't believe anyone could actually knock Lucario out of a match.
But even as she agreed, she let out a heavy sigh.
Elias... you're not seriously planning to let the whole world know I exist, are you?
Don't you care what they'll think of you?