Outside the door.
Diancie knocked softly, her expression showing signs of nervousness.
After thinking it over repeatedly and hesitating for a long time, she finally decided to come see Elias at Cogita's place.
Now she had finally gained control over herself, no longer unconsciously absorbing mineral energy around her.
It was finally time to see him.
Even though…she might end up being coldly ignored or blamed, she'd already prepared herself.
After all, she couldn't avoid seeing Elias forever.
Just as Diancie prepared to knock again—
Click—
The wooden door creaked open, revealing Cogita's gloomy face.
"What are you here for?"
Cogita asked curtly.
Judging by Diancie's slightly breathless appearance, she must've rushed here without rest.
Cogita couldn't understand—since she was clearly exhausted, why didn't she just wait till tomorrow morning and slowly make her way over?
Instead, she'd interrupted the rare moment of alone time Cogita had with Elias.
Seeing Cogita's obviously bad mood, Diancie shrank her head back slightly.
"Am I disturbing you?"
She asked a bit sheepishly.
Indeed, at this hour, humans usually prepared dinner. It was inappropriate for her to suddenly intrude like this.
But unexpectedly for Diancie, Cogita didn't bother being polite today.
Instead, Cogita nodded her head slightly, speaking in an indifferent tone:
"Yes, you're disturbing me."
"If you have anything to say, come again tomorrow."
Right now, Cogita's only thought was to quickly send this troublesome Diancie away and return to what she'd been doing before.
Diancie: "…"
Hearing this, Diancie felt somewhat hurt.
Usually, although Cogita didn't exactly welcome her, she'd at least maintain some courtesy.
She wouldn't normally chase her away so bluntly.
Diancie thought perhaps it really was because she'd chosen the wrong time.
But…
Since she'd already come here, she wouldn't leave until she'd accomplished her purpose.
"Well... I'm not here to mooch dinner."
"I came today to see Elias… Can I?"
Diancie scratched her head and asked Cogita.
She thought that with Cogita's personality, the woman wouldn't actually refuse this request.
Under Diancie's expectant gaze, however, Cogita gently turned her head away.
"You can see him tomorrow morning."
As she spoke, her eyes subtly drifted over Diancie's expression.
Sure enough, the Pokémon's reaction was just as Cogita expected.
After a brief pause, Diancie practically exploded.
"Why?"
Diancie puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Cogita in displeasure.
"Elias is mine!"
After saying this, she didn't forget to emphasize the point.
Back then, if Cogita hadn't promised she had a way to awaken Elias, Diancie never would've left him in her care.
Now, Cogita was actually refusing to let her see Elias, igniting a wave of anger in Diancie's heart.
Seeing Diancie's furious expression, Cogita's lips curled slightly, and she asked casually:
"You really want to see him?"
As she spoke, she gently touched the diamond necklace hanging at her chest.
"Of course!"
Diancie nodded immediately.
At the same time, she noticed Cogita's fingers lightly stroking the diamond pendant, causing a subtle tension in her heart.
Thankfully…
She'd confirmed long ago that the diamond on that necklace wasn't the one Elias slept in.
"Then come inside."
Cogita's voice sounded once again.
She beckoned Diancie with a finger, then turned around and walked into the cottage first.
Seeing Cogita enter, Diancie blinked blankly for a moment, then quickly hopped after her.
Inside, the first thing Diancie noticed was the meal laid out on the table.
The dishes were plentiful, still steaming hot, clearly just freshly made.
Diancie immediately felt even guiltier.
Indeed... she'd arrived at a very inappropriate time.
Yet, remembering she was about to meet Elias again, excitement still rose unbidden in her heart.
Having not seen him for nearly a hundred years, her longing had already built up immensely.
Many times during those years, she'd thought about coming to see him—
Even if Elias was still asleep, even if she could only catch a brief glimpse of him, she'd have felt satisfied.
But each time, hesitation restrained her.
After all, meeting Elias before she could control her mineral absorption would've only harmed him.
Now, finally, she could meet him again!
"Don't even think about sneaking a bite."
Perhaps because Diancie's intent stare at the food was far too obvious, Cogita didn't forget to warn her while rummaging for something.
"I wasn't going to!"
Diancie quickly replied, regaining her senses.
She wasn't especially interested in human food anyway.
Besides, considering Cogita was the type of human who could stay secluded for decades without stepping outside, she assumed whatever food Cogita made couldn't possibly taste good.
She was afraid of being poisoned.
Hearing Diancie's disgusted tone, Cogita snorted disdainfully.
Afterward, she took out a small wooden box and handed it to Diancie.
"Here—the diamond you wanted."
Cogita said calmly.
Hearing that, Diancie froze in place.
The box handed to her was covered in a thick layer of dust, obviously unopened for a long time.
Besides… didn't Cogita just fish this out from a random pile of junk?
"You kept Elias in such a place?!"
Diancie snatched the box fiercely, glaring at Cogita as she questioned her angrily.
She instantly regretted leaving the diamond with this woman.
Given the sorry state of preservation, Diancie didn't dare imagine Elias's current condition.
With heartache, she gently blew off the dust covering the box. Nervously, Diancie slowly opened the wooden lid.
Click—
With a crisp sound, what entered her vision was a box filled with diamond shards.
Diancie's body went completely rigid, frozen as if someone had pressed pause.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
The diamond Elias had slept in, though cracked before, had still retained its shape and luster.
But now, the shards inside this box had clearly lost all their shine.
They looked like ordinary stones, dim and lifeless.
Most alarmingly, Diancie could barely sense Elias's presence from these fragments.
It was so faint, she wondered if it was merely an illusion.
"You… What have you done?"
After regaining her senses, Diancie asked shakily.
Scenes flashed vividly through her mind like a film reel.
Suddenly, Diancie recalled something strange—Cogita was a human, yet she'd lived unchanged for nearly a century.
Diancie had always been puzzled by this, and now, seeing the diamond's sorry state, a terrible suspicion suddenly surfaced in her heart.
Could it be…that the reason Cogita had lived this long was because she'd been using Elias as a sacrifice?
The instant this horrifying thought crossed her mind, Diancie felt her heart skip half a beat.