"Princess Mira, I came here today for another matter."
After finishing his explanation regarding the abolition of the serf system, Aven finally turned to the real purpose of his visit.
Mira was momentarily taken aback. She straightened her posture slightly, lifting her chest, and replied with a composed expression, "Please speak, Prince Aven."
"Yes. First of all, it concerns Meteor City."
When Meteor City was mentioned, Mira was naturally very familiar with it. Although the two cities were separated by both the Aspiration Mountains and the Meteorite Mountains, exchanges between them had always existed.
After all, the magical beast gear and various ironwares produced in Meteor City were items that Aspiration City desperately needed. Even though transportation costs were extremely high, Aspiration City was still willing to purchase them from Meteor City.
Especially back when the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild still existed, they had exclusive control over a trade route that led directly to Meteor City. Aven himself had relied on that very route to safely escort his caravan to Meteor City in the past.
Thus, upon hearing Aven bring up Meteor City, Mira naturally assumed that he intended to reopen or strengthen the trade route between Aspiration City and Meteor City. In fact, the Pokémon Domain had always been making efforts in that direction.
Now, the Pokémon League had completely replaced the role once played by the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild, and in some respects, it was even more powerful than the guild had ever been…
However, in the very next moment, Mira suddenly widened her eyes, staring at Aven with disbelief. What had she just heard? The Lord of Meteor City had already sworn allegiance to Aven?
"Aven—wait a moment. Let me catch my breath," Mira said, pressing a hand to her forehead, looking as though she could barely process the information.
She knew Aven would never lie to her, but the news was simply too shocking. What exactly had Aven done to make the Lord of Meteor City swear loyalty so directly and decisively?
Soon after, she heard about the Sorcerer Organization—how Aven had personally captured four king-level Pokémon belonging to the sorcerers, and had taken a large number of sorcerers prisoner, with only the Grand Sorcerer and three core cadres managing to escape.
After a brief silence, Mira found it much easier to understand. Meteor City must have witnessed Aven's overwhelming strength and been thoroughly convinced by it, sincerely choosing to join the Pokémon League—just like the nobles of Aspiration City had done.
The discussion then moved deeper. Aven explained the true purpose of his visit this time, and the moment he mentioned the Guardian Deity Heatran, the female lord's attention was instantly and completely seized.
"So, it's news of a Guardian Deity…"
"Now that we know of a Guardian Deity's existence, we absolutely cannot allow the Sorcerer Organization to succeed."
Mira nodded gravely, her expression solemn. "Aven, we must reach Heatran before the Sorcerer Organization does."
"During this process, if there's anything Aspiration City can assist with, you can state it directly. As long as it's within our ability, Aspiration City will do everything possible to fulfill it."
Aven nodded and spoke frankly. "This time, my main purpose in coming here is to communicate with Azelf."
"When it comes to subduing Heatran, the Sorcerer Organization will certainly mobilize all its forces. Without Azelf and the other Lake Guardians' assistance, it will be impossible to wrest Heatran away from the Sorcerer Organization."
This was the most difficult problem Aven currently faced. A Pokémon Domain without a Guardian Deity simply had no way to confront the Sorcerer Organization head-on.
"You're suggesting that the Three Lake Guardians leave their respective domains and go to the volcanic island on the other side?" Mira hesitated slightly.
For the Three Lake Guardians, they lived within their own respective alternate spaces. Leaving those spaces required an enormous expenditure of power, and the farther they traveled from their own domains, the greater the consumption would become.
She could not guarantee how much their strength would be weakened once they arrived at the volcanic island. If they were unable to contend with the Sorcerer Organization, then even the Three Lake Guardians themselves might be placed in danger.
"I'm aware of that as well," Aven replied. "That's why I want to personally go to Lake Valor and confirm it with Azelf."
"If they truly cannot take action, then we may have no choice but to give up competing with the Sorcerer Organization for Heatran."
Upon hearing Aven's words, Mira nodded in silence. After all, only Guardian Deities could oppose other Guardian Deities—this was the strongest force in the world.
Once the two had reached an agreement, they immediately set out for Lake Valor, heading toward the island at the lake's center, where Azelf's temple stood.
Ever since the previous battle, Azelf had once again fallen into slumber. As such, the only way to communicate with the sleeping Azelf now was from within its temple.
Of course, forcibly awakening Azelf was not impossible. However, the cost to both sides would be far too great. Unless they reached a point where awakening Azelf was absolutely unavoidable, neither of them would attempt such a thing lightly.
After entering the temple, Mira skillfully began the ritual to communicate with Azelf. Waves of seven-colored energy emerged within the temple, transmitting their message to Azelf in another world.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the multicolored light gradually gathered, forming a hazy, illusory figure of Azelf. This was not Azelf's true body, but merely a manifestation of one of its avatars—nothing more than a phantom of spiritual consciousness.
"Mira, Aven," Azelf asked, "you have called upon me. Has something happened?"
"Lord Azelf, we do indeed have something to discuss with you," Mira said, bowing respectfully as she explained everything in detail.
"You speak of Heatran?" Azelf's expression grew serious.
"Heatran is a deity born from the power of Palkia and Dialga."
"Therefore, through Heatran's connection to Palkia and Dialga, it is possible to locate Palkia and Dialga themselves."
This was a secret known only to Azelf. Hearing it for the first time, both Aven and Mira were stunned, their mouths slightly agape. Finding Heatran could lead them to Palkia and Dialga?
One had to understand that throughout the entire Sinnoh region, no one had ever truly seen the Creation Trio. This might very well be the closest they had ever come to Palkia and Dialga!
"So, Azelf," Aven stepped forward and asked, "can we obtain your help?"
At that moment, images involuntarily surfaced in his mind—the statues and murals he had once seen in the ruins within Abyssal Caverns, which recorded legends of the Creation Trio.
Since the Grand Sorcerer had already been to the Ruins of Return and had even mastered the methods to open the Spirit Realm space and the Mysterious Lake, it proved that the Grand Sorcerer knew far more about the ruins than Aven did.
Under such circumstances, it was impossible that the enemy was unaware of the Creation Trio. Aven even had a faint feeling that everything the Grand Sorcerer was doing ultimately pointed toward one goal—the Creation Trio themselves.
"I understand, Aven," Azelf replied slowly.
"If it concerns Heatran, then I believe we must offer our help."
"I think Mesprit and Uxie would make the same choice as well. As long as the three of us stand together, we can unleash the greatest power that belongs to the Three Lake Guardians!"
(End of Chapter)