Eterna Forest had very little sunlight due to its large canopy of trees.
As Eric and Cynthia navigated through the forest, Eric couldn't help but frown slightly.
'The Ghost-type energy here... it's underwhelming,' Eric thought.
When he had stepped into Lavender Woods back in Kanto, the ghostly aura had crashed into him like a physical tidal wave, making his skin prickle and his heart race. Here, the energy was the same as any forest.
Then why did Alka rank Eterna Forest alongside Lavender Woods and Mount Pyre as the ultimate evolution ground for a Haunter?
Well, he would figure it out soon enough. For now, though, Eric pushed the thought aside, choosing to focus on training his younger Pokémon.
"Shinx, dodge and use Spark! Growlithe, cut off its escape with Flame Wheel!" Eric commanded smoothly.
A wild Level 19 Kricketune chirped in alarm as Shinx darted to the side, his body crackling with electricity, before slamming into the bug-type. The Kricketune tried to scurry away, but Growlithe had already rolled into a fiery wheel, crashing into its flank and knocking it unconscious.
"Ralts, Disarming Voice on the Bidoof!"
A melodic, pink wave of fairy-type energy rippled through the air, sending a nearby wild Bidoof tumbling into the bushes.
A few feet away, Cynthia was instructing her own Pokémon. A small, joyful white, red and blue bird fluttered gracefully through the air.
"Togetic, Magical Leaf," Cynthia said elegantly.
Togetic twirled, summoning a flurry of glowing, razor-sharp leaves that flawlessly dispatched a pair of wild Dustox.
Cynthia's Togetic was at Lvl 27.
Through the continuous skirmishes that went on for more than an hour, both trainers made excellent progress.
Growlithe, Shinx, and Ralts all levelled up, their movements becoming significantly sharper under Eric's guidance.
The two trainers then took a break and rested under a tree for a few minutes.
"By the way, Eric," Cynthia said, her voice went from a casual tone to a slightly serious, curious one. "Back in Kanto... Do you know who they were? The people who attacked the estate?"
Eric shook his head.
"I don't," Eric answered honestly. "The League has been feeding the media a narrative pointing toward Team Rocket. But based on how they dressed and acted, they definitely weren't them."
"So they're an unknown group..." Cynthia mused.
"I asked Blaire about it," Eric continued, recalling their brief conversation at the dinner in Saffron City. "She told me not to look into it. Not yet, anyway."
"What did she say?"
"She said it's an open secret, but one that is strictly gatekept. According to her, we'll learn exactly who they are when we officially reach the Pseudo-Elite level. She said it was the exact same rule for her."
Cynthia's fists clenched slightly at her sides. "Pseudo-Elite..."
It would still take her some time to reach that level. But she would reach it soon enough.
The two then lapsed back into a comfortable silence, continuing their journey until the thick trees suddenly parted.
They stepped into a wide, dead clearing. At the far end, surrounded by a rusted iron fence, stood a massive, dilapidated mansion. Its windows were cracked, the wood was rotting, and an unnatural, freezing fog hugged the foundation.
"This is the Old Chateau I told you about." Cynthia said from the side.
The exact moment Eric crossed the threshold of the iron gate, it hit him.
Whoosh.
A suffocating wave of Ghost-type energy slammed into his chest, making his breath hitch. The energy was equal to the outer layer of Lavender Wood.
'So is this why Alka recommended it?' Eric thought as he looked around curiously. The density of the energy here was staggering, and was perfectly contained within the mansion's perimeter.
As they pushed open the heavy wooden front doors, the interior revealed a grand, rotting foyer. The air was thick with dust and the smell of ancient decay.
They didn't even get a foot in when suddenly, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase.
It was a young girl with pale skin, wearing an old-fashioned dress. She didn't look at them as she turned the corner and glided silently down the hall, her feet never touching the floorboards.
A moment later, an elderly man dressed as a butler emerged from the dining room. His face was gaunt, his eyes hollow. He slowly floated past them, carrying a spectral silver tray, before vanishing through a solid wall.
"Say, Cynthia, how are you with ghosts?" Eric said, turning to look at Cynthia's expression.
"You're talking as if it is normal to run into ghosts." Her voice was tense, but she didn't lose her cool demeanour as her hand hovered over Gabite's Poké Ball. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, albeit a bit unnerved by the ghostly human apparitions.
Eric, however, was perfectly calm. Having played the games and watched the anime, he knew the buttler was a Haunter.
"Gardevoir," Eric said, releasing his elegant psychic-type. "Do me a favor and tell the big guy to drop the act."
Cynthia blinked, looking at Eric in confusion. "The big guy?"
Eric didn't bother explaining as he looked at Gardevoir.
Gardevoir closed her eyes, a soft pink light radiating from her form as she sent a telepathic pulse through the mansion.
Almost instantly, the freezing fog in the foyer violently swirled together. The spectral image of the butler melted away, as a massive purple ghost with two large hands appeared in his stead.
It was a Haunter, but it was nearly twice the size of Eric's.
"Haunter..." the massive ghost grumbled, its voice full of sorrow rather than the mischievousness it was famous for.
Gardevoir opened her eyes and turned to Eric. Even she carried a sad expression as she established a psychic link between them.