Dawn Hurst Town,
Lanterns burned low along the outer warehouses, and the deeper one walked into the Black Market district, the more the air shifted—less salt and industry, more incense and something metallic beneath it.
Elise walked alone. Her pace was steady, her expression calm without her normal smile. This meeting required a certain image and For Eilise, swapping faces is very easy.
She walking willingly into the den of the Sisterhood of Salvation only because she knew that her boss was probably a little bit stronger than the leader of this organization and that this was almost enough to guarantee her safety.
Although Elise viewed the Sisterhood of Salvation as a bunch of crazy women, she knew this group was just crazy, not stupid.
Or they wouldn't have survived against the Company of Toxin for so long.
Besides, it's very rare for this sexist group to attack a female trainer
She turned into a narrow alley draped in red cloth banners that moved softly in the night breeze. At the far end stood three women in blood-red robes. Their faces were half hidden beneath lowered hoods. Each wore a thin crimson ring on her right hand.
They did not block her path. They just waited.
"Elise," one of them said pleasantly, as if greeting an old friend.
"You know me?" Elise replied.
"We know everyone in this town." the woman answered, and stepped aside.
They led her through a side entrance into an old warehouse converted into something resembling a chapel—if chapels were built without symbols of good or evil. The walls were bare stone. Candles flickered in iron stands. Red fabric hung from the ceiling like falling blood.
At the center sat a single woman in darker robes, embroidered with faint black patterns. Unlike the others, her hood was lowered.
Her hair was silver-white. Her eyes sharp and almost amused.
"Elise of the Genius trainer Alex's circle," she said softly. "I am pleased you accepted our invitation. Welcome to Sisterhood of Salvation. My name is Vera."
Elise found a letter in her new home a few days ago containing an invitation.
You must know that Elise's home is always monitored by at least one of her Pokémon, and the fact that the Sisterhood of Salvation was able to successfully place a letter was quite impressive.
Elise stopped three meters away. Close enough to speak quietly but far enough to react if needed.
She said. "I prefer the true over rumors, and the true is that your people have been watching us."
A faint smile curved the Vera's lips. "We observe everyone and observation dont necessarily mean hostility....That depends only on our intention."
A low murmur of laughter rippled through the robed women along the walls. It was not mocking. It was… delighted.
The silver-haired Vera lifted one hand slightly. Silence returned instantly.
"You think we are unpredictable," Vera said. "Dangerous because we do not divide the world into simple categories but... You just don't understand us and our belief"
Elise really couldn't understand this group of women. Even since her childhood, she had been a very materialistic child and even had a strong attraction to very powerful people and trainers. That's why she had an attraction to her boss, whom she saw not only as a strong trainer but as a mentally strong person.
"I don't," Elise replied evenly. "but i know, you like killing men and belive that evil is good or something like that.
"most woman will thanked us in the future," Vera said lightly. "Corruption removed. Suffering ended. Balance will be restored. Most women will soon understand us."
Elise replied. "There was nothing balanced about those dead male bodies."
"Balance is not symmetry," the Vera answered. "Balance is truth."
Elise, who heard this, had only one thought, This bitch is completely crazy. How can you call killing only man, and call this balance?
Vera gaze sharpened.
"Tell me, Elise. Do you believe evil is a force?"
Elise did not answer immediately.
"I believe actions have consequences," she said finally. "And people choose them."
The Vera's smile widened. it looked very abnormal on her beautiful face especially when you observed her eyes in that smile. Elise would best describe it with the words "an angel face but demon eyes and smile".
"Good. Then you already understand us more than most."
One of the robed members stepped forward and placed a small wooden box on a nearby table. The lid was open.
Inside lay a blood-red ring.
"We do not ask for you to join us," the leader said calmly. "We do not demand belief. We simply offer… coexistence."
Elise's eyes flicked briefly to the ring, then back to the woman.
"In exchange?" she asked.
"You can expand carefully," Vera replied. "as long you do not interfere with our rituals. You do not attempt to 'fix' us. And when we remove rot from this town, you do not stand in our way."
"And if your definition of rot includes our allies or even us?"
"Then we will speak again," Vera said gently.
Elise had only one thought: Not only crazy but also very arrogant.
"You're competing with the Company of Toxin," Elise said. "Not us."
A faint shadow crossed the Vera's expression at the name.
"Botulinum builds cages," she said quietly. "Ranks. Chains. Control. We prefer… freedom."
Elise said gently "Freedom tends to create chaos."
"Chaos is honest and perfect."
The silver-haired Vera stood slowly. The movement was fluid, almost graceful. "We are not your greatest threat, But we can become your greatest inconvenience if you choose incorrectly."
A threat.
Elise held her gaze. "And what do you want from us right now?"
The Vera tilted her head slightly. "Respect. Distance. And perhaps," she added with a faint smile, "future cooperation if you can become the leader."
The candles flickered as a draft moved through the hall. Elise stepped forward and picked up the red ring. It was cool to the touch. Simple. Unadorned.
She did not put it on. "I'll deliver your terms," she said.
Vera was a little disappointed that Elise had simply ignored her last words, but she understood that such things take time.
"Tell Alex this," she added in a slightly cool tone. "We do not fear your strength or your connections. So consider carefully whether you want to become our enemy."
Elise turned without another word and walked back toward the entrance. The red-robed women parted silently.
Outside, the night air felt colder.
The Sisterhood of Salvation was not structured like the Company of Toxin not was it methodical like the Hunter Guild.
It was just belief without restraint and that made it dangerous in ways statistics could not measure.
As Elise disappeared into the darker streets of Dawn Hurst Town, one thought lingered in her mind: Vera is far too arrogant for a late elite trainer. Is it because she's crazy, or is it something else?
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