The night, like soft black silk, slowly covered the town, with only a few dim yellow lights twinkling in the darkness.
Chen Kai and Thomas were settled at the mayor’s house, but they didn't see the other guest. According to the mayor, that person often went into the Vosges Mountains and only occasionally visited.
Chen Kai was a little curious but didn't think much of it.
After Thomas communicated and translated, they paid some accommodation fees as usual to express their gratitude to the mayor's family.
Soon after, a Delphox used Psychic abilities to bring out a simple but full of French country-style dinner from the kitchen. The meal was prepared by the mayor’s wife, and the Delphox was the mayor’s Pokemon, which was also the main reason he was elected mayor, though it was a male fox. Chen Kai didn't quite understand why the proportion of male Delphox was particularly high.
On the dining table, freshly baked baguette bread exuded a rustic wheat aroma, while a steaming stew, with vegetables and meat chunks bubbling in thick broth, filled the air with its fragrance. There was also the town's homemade wine, gleaming with a ruby-like luster in the glass.
However, Chen Kai and Thomas were not yet adults, so they didn't drink alcohol. They simply enjoyed their dinner with gratitude, temporarily forgetting the fatigue of their journey in the warm atmosphere.
After the meal, the two strolled into the courtyard. Moonlight spilled over them, casting long shadows.
Having brought Chen Kai to the foot of the Vosges Mountains, Thomas's guide mission was essentially complete, but he didn't seem to have any intention of leaving.
Chen Kai was the first to break the silence. He looked up at the distant Vosges Mountains, their outlines vague in the night, and slowly said,
“Thomas, we have arrived at the Vosges Mountains. Thanks to your guidance all the way, your guide mission is successfully completed. Next, I plan to explore the mountains alone.”
Thomas was slightly startled, a flicker of confusion and urgency in his eyes. He quickly said, “Chen Kai, you’re looking for something, why don’t I come with you? The Vosges Mountains are so vast, two people searching is always faster than one, and my Rattata is very good at it.”
Chen Kai gently shook his head and slowly said, “Thomas, I appreciate your kindness. And you still have classes, so you should return to Paris early tomorrow morning.”
Upon hearing this, Thomas frowned slightly: “But you helped me, I…”
Chen Kai raised his hand to interrupt him, reminding him, “Alright, just like when we encountered Tinkaton this afternoon, you and Rattata couldn’t help me for the time being. Besides, your brother is still in the hospital, and he needs you more now, doesn’t he?”
Hearing Chen Kai mention his brother, Thomas fell silent, his gaze shifting, as if engaged in an intense internal struggle. After a long time, he slowly nodded: “Alright, Chen Kai, thank you. When my brother recovers, I will definitely pay you back!”
Chen Kai smiled and patted Thomas’s shoulder: “No hurry.”
The town's night was vastly different from bustling Paris. Here, there were no lights burning all night or throngs of people.
Shortly after nightfall, the entire town fell into slumber.
After Thomas asked the mayor about the train schedule back to Paris, he quickly fell asleep due to the recent travel fatigue.
The mayor's family also turned off their lights early, immersed in sweet dreams.
However, Chen Kai, lying in the guest room, tossed and turned, his mind filled with the church dedicated to the life god.
The mysterious French script on the church door, the colorful light refracted by the stained glass, and Thomas's story of the life god, all attracted him like a magnet.
Moreover, his favorite anime was Pokemon XY, which made him even more eager to see if the life god enshrined in the Life Church was Xerneas.
Miraidon, scrolling through his phone, casually asked, “You want to see that church?”
“Yes!” Chen Kai sprang up like a carp, asking, “How did you know?”
Miraidon’s face even showed a simple and honest smile: “Hehe, I knew from your expression, because I’m also very curious. I’ve never seen this kind of architecture in the Dragon Country.”
Chen Kai nodded in agreement: “Exactly, Ho-Oh holds a revered position in the Dragon Country, and Suicune, Entei, and Raikou are likewise. But I’ve never seen temples or churches dedicated to them in the Dragon Country. Why is this life god worshipped by so many people?”
“Shall we go take a look?” Miraidon suggested.
Chen Kai crouched at the guest room door, ensuring the surroundings were quiet, then gave Miraidon an “OK” gesture, carefully opening the door, fearful of making the slightest sound.
Miraidon also tiptoed along.
Moonlight spilled onto the ground, their shadows stretched long on the surface, moving forward along the shadows of the walls.
Soon, they arrived at the church’s back door.
Chen Kai softly called out Exeggcute and gestured for it to open the door.
Exeggcute blinked its eyes, concentrating, and a soft glow emanated from it. The lock silently opened under the influence of Psychic power.
Chen Kai gently pushed open the back door and slowly slipped into the church.
Inside the church, it was quiet and peaceful. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the stained glass, like dreamlike threads scattering onto the ground, forming patches of colorful light and shadow.
It was immaculately clean, every corner exuding neatness and solemnity.
In the very center of the church stood a colossal stone statue. The statue depicted a goddess, her posture graceful, her face gentle and beautiful, her expression dignified and serene.
She gazed downwards with slightly lowered eyes, as if overlooking all beings in the world.
A faint smile played on her lips, as if she could soothe the pain and unease in people's hearts.
Her hands hung naturally by her sides, palms slightly upturned, as if accepting people's suffering and prayers, and also as if bestowing endless life and hope, interpreting the “life god” with a near-perfect feeling.
But this perfection made Chen Kai feel stranger the more he looked at it. He scratched his head and couldn't help but say, “What is this?”
Miraidon quietly approached, used a translation app, and by comparing it with the explanatory text nearby, learned that the stone statue before them was indeed the life god.
This made Chen Kai even more surprised: “Shouldn’t it be a Pokemon? A Pokemon with many horns on its head, like a deer, how can it be a person?”
“Maybe you remembered wrong?” Miraidon turned to Chen Kai and said, “It’s normal for humans to worship humans, isn’t it?”
Chen Kai stared at the statue for a long time, but still shook his head: “No, I feel something is very wrong. This so-called goddess sculpture, I think it’s more like something conceived by humans.”
“Hahahaha! You put that so well. Hahahaha! Conceived, isn’t that right? Those people would be furious if they heard that!” At this moment, an abrupt laugh suddenly rang out.
Chen Kai looked around in surprise: “Who is it!”
“Take it down, Mr. Mime, this Dragon Country person is too interesting, I want to talk to him.”
As soon as the voice fell, Chen Kai saw the light beside him distort, as if a mirror had suddenly been pulled away. Then, a figure and a pink Pokemon—Mr. Mime—were revealed behind it.