The night air over Hisui bit colder than usual, sharp enough to sting Rei’s cheeks as he pushed through the tall grass. The moon hung low over the Obsidian Fieldlands, its pale light pooling on the earth like a trail meant to guide him. He clutched his satchel strap tighter, more to steady his nerves than for balance.

“Akari… where did you go?” he muttered, breath fogging in the air.

Everyone else had turned their backs. They’d followed Commander Kamado’s decree without question, whispering doubts and fear, convincing themselves that Akari—the girl who fell from the sky—must have been to blame for the rift widening. But Rei knew better. He’d watched her work harder than anyone. He’d seen the way she calmed each frenzied noble, how she always stepped forward when others hesitated. She never once let them down. And now they’d let her down.

Rei pushed forward again, brushing aside a branch. A startled Starly fluttered away, but he hardly noticed. Every rustle made his heart jump. What if she was hurt?

“No,” he whispered, forcing himself to breathe. “Akari’s strong. She’s… she’s tougher than I am.”

It didn’t stop the worry clawing at his chest. Lantern light from Jubilife Village was long gone behind him, swallowed by the darkness. He hadn’t told anyone he was leaving—CyIlene would have stopped him, and Kamado… well, Kamado would have called it insubordination. So he left silently, taking only what he needed, trusting his Pokémon to watch his back.