Inside the room.
Only after Dianna had left did Diancie slowly lift her head from between her arms.
Recalling the words spoken by Her Highness just now, Diancie pressed her lips together.
Dianna was right. If Elias knew she hadn't continued the training plans he'd carefully created for her, he'd definitely feel disappointed.
After all… those plans had been meticulously designed by him, taking considerable time and effort.
But although Diancie understood this clearly, right now she had no interest in training at all.
Every time she thought she might never see Elias again in her lifetime, despair would overwhelm her completely.
An indescribable anxiety rapidly filled her heart, suffocating her so much that she could barely breathe.
Thus, until she found a way to awaken Elias, she didn't want to do anything unrelated to that goal.
"Elias, you'll understand me, right?"
Diancie rested her chin on her hands, staring at the diamond on her desk.
...
[After realizing your own growth was inexplicably slow, you began investigating the cause bit by bit with your limited energy.]
[Fortunately, after careful inspection, you confirmed the changes in your growth had nothing to do with Diancie's efforts.]
[The Ghost-type Pokémon methods she'd practiced on you were ineffective, yet harmless.]
[But the true cause affecting your recovery remained undiscovered.]
[However, what was certain was—if your growth continued at this sluggish pace, Diancie might truly never see you awake again.]
...
Kalos Region, a certain forest.
A small wooden cottage with a charming garden rested quietly amid dense trees.
Beside the cottage flowed a little stream, with a rose-encircled courtyard and an elegant tea table set at its edge.
This was Cogita's new home in the Kalos Region.
After several years of hard work, she'd managed to recreate this place in the exact style of her old house back in Hisui.
Apart from lacking the uniquely marshy terrain of the Crimson Mirelands, even the surrounding scenery was nearly identical to before.
Evidently, Cogita had put considerable effort into building this home.
At this moment—
In the cottage's garden, Diancie sat rather stiffly on a chair, awkwardly holding a cup of hot tea.
Seated opposite her was Cogita, who was leisurely toying with the diamond.
After repeated failures, Diancie had once again come seeking help from this human.
Several years of contact had allowed her to reluctantly accept some of Cogita's excessively intimate actions toward Elias.
Though it still hurt whenever she witnessed these things, she'd become less panicky compared to the beginning.
Of course, the most crucial reason... was still Cogita's vast knowledge.
Unlike herself—a Pokémon hastily learning from books—Cogita possessed a truly immense store of wisdom. Diancie felt this keenly after spending some time with her.
It forced her to swallow her pride and ask for help.
If it's her, maybe she really can find a way after interacting with Elias for so long…
This was currently Diancie's greatest hope.
"All the methods I tried...seemed useless," Diancie muttered softly, fidgeting nervously with her hands.
Hearing this, Cogita's fingers gently stroking the diamond paused for a moment.
She helplessly glanced at Diancie, lips twitching slightly, but ultimately chose not to discourage her further.
Diancie's approaches from a few years ago had been fairly normal.
But after realizing they were all ineffective, she'd recently started grasping at straws.
For instance…
Just two days ago, Cogita had personally heard Diancie contemplating taking the diamond to Nurse Joy in the city to administer an injection.
Even Cogita herself had stood frozen for a few seconds at the absurdity.
Giving a stone an injection... Only a mineral Pokémon like Diancie could think of something this bizarre.
It wasn't hard to imagine the other methods Diancie had attempted.
But unlike before, after years of research, Cogita actually had discovered a feasible method.
Thinking of this, Cogita gently wrapped her hand around the diamond and finally spoke up:
"I thought of a new method recently; it might actually work."
Her voice sounded quite casual, but there was an unmistakable confidence hidden beneath.
Hearing this, Diancie froze for a moment, then her eyes immediately lit up.
Bang—!
She slammed her small hands on the table, leaning eagerly toward Cogita.
"Really?" she asked breathlessly.
This was easily the best news she'd heard in years.
Previously, even Cogita had always shaken her head helplessly, telling her there was nothing more she could do.
Before coming here this time, Diancie hadn't dared hope for much.
She would've been satisfied if Cogita simply offered a few more suggestions as usual.
But to her shock, Cogita had suddenly given her this incredible surprise.
Seeing Diancie's excitement, Cogita nodded lightly.
"Yes, I only figured it out recently."
"What is it?"
Diancie leaned even closer, eyes becoming increasingly urgent.
"It's a secret."
Unfortunately, Cogita simply smiled, showing no intention of revealing more.
At that, Diancie immediately puffed her cheeks in displeasure.
Her irritated expression made it clear she was deeply dissatisfied with Cogita's attitude.
Ignoring Diancie's little protests, Cogita calmly continued:
"If you trust me, then hand over the diamond to me."
"I have a way to fully awaken Elias."
"As for the exact time it'll take... I'll tell you later. But it'll definitely be much shorter than the thousand years it would've taken otherwise."
With each condition stated, Cogita raised another finger covered in her white silk gloves.
Upon hearing the last condition, Diancie's body sagged limply back into her chair.
"You!"
She glared fiercely at Cogita, wanting desperately to protest.
But after being given a brief glance by the other woman, she reluctantly swallowed her objections.
It was true—at this point, she had no other methods left.
If she ever wanted to see Elias awake again, trusting Cogita seemed the only option left.
But didn't that mean she'd have to temporarily part from Elias?
And worse, she wouldn't even know for how long...
"Can we… not separate...?"
Diancie whispered pleadingly, trying one last negotiation.
"Absolutely not!"
Surprisingly, Cogita dropped her smile, outright refusing.
Her voice had turned significantly colder and harsher than before.
Diancie recoiled slightly, startled by the sudden severity.
"No. As for why—you'll know yourself soon enough."
Cogita's eyes briefly flickered to the sparkling diamonds on Diancie's body, speaking faintly.
If she hadn't been attentive enough, she might never have noticed the subtle changes in Diancie at all.