We pushed deeper into the lively crowd until a man dressed like a priest caught our attention. His voice carried a gentle warmth and quiet respect that made everyone lean in closer.
"Welcome," he announced. "To celebrate the summer's end festival, we will now display the Shrine of the Maiden's greatest treasure."
He let the words settle over the gathered people before continuing. "For two thousand years, this painting has hung within the shrine. Once each year, it is removed and shown to the public during this festival."
"As I unveil it, please gaze upon it with reverence."
With a slow, dramatic flourish, he pulled back the cloth. Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave.
The painting was breathtaking. Even after centuries, its colors still glowed with life.
It showed a young woman standing on a cliff, her long hair flowing gently in the painted wind. A single red flower rested behind one ear.
Her expression held a quiet, aching longing. Her eyes were fixed on the distant sea, as if she were still waiting for someone who would never return.
Meowscarada's ears perked up. Her usual playful tail went completely still.
Lopunny squeezed my hand a little tighter. Her touch felt warm and steady against my skin.
Gardevoir's gaze lingered on the image with gentle thoughtfulness.
Then I noticed them. Two men were pushing closer to the front. One had spiky dark hair and a broader build, while the other was slimmer, with long blue hair falling neatly past his neck.
Both leaned forward at the same time, as if drawn in by the painting. Their eyes stayed locked on the woman, completely lost in her sorrowful beauty.
A strange feeling tugged at my mind. It felt like I had seen them somewhere before…
"Nyaa…?"
Meowscarada's soft voice broke through my thoughts. Her paw slipped into my hand.
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing just a little. A quiet spark of jealousy flickered in her gaze as she glanced between me and the painting. Why was Ryan staring at it like that…?
I blinked and gave her a small smile. "Sorry. I was just spacing out for a second."
But then the priest raised his hand suddenly. "Stay back! The woman in this painting perished over two thousand years ago."
His voice carried clearly over the hushed crowd. "She was in love with a brave and handsome young man. But he left her and sailed away to fight in a war."
"She waited for a very long time, hoping each day to see his ship on the horizon. But her true love never returned."
He let the silence stretch before speaking again. "Still, she waited. She never moved from that place."
"Until finally, her body turned to stone, just like the cliff upon which she stood. To this day, she waits for her love to return."
The story hung heavy in the air, bittersweet and lonely.
It was only a painting, yet it felt painfully real. The endless wait and the quiet ache tugged at something deep inside me.
Meowscarada's grip on my hand tightened. Her ears lowered slightly.
Lopunny leaned closer against my side, her hold soft but firm.
Gardevoir stepped in from the other side and gently held my arm as well, joining Meowscarada.
A quiet, shared thought passed between them. If Ryan ever left like that… we would wait for him too… no matter how long it took.
Meanwhile, the two men suddenly turned toward the priest, their voices overlapping with urgency.
"Just tell me, where is this rock?"
"Maiden's Peak is not far from this shrine," the priest replied calmly. "Walk along the side of the shrine, and you will see it for yourself."
That was all they needed. The pair exchanged a quick glance and hurried off together, still moving with that eager posture, eyes fixed ahead.
I couldn't help but smile at how tightly my Pokémon were holding onto me. The meaning behind it was clear, warm, and a little heavy all at once.
"Don't worry… I'm not going anywhere," I said softly, then gave a small nod.
"Come on. Let's follow and see what it looks like."
The three of them nodded. Their grips loosened slightly, but they stayed close as we slipped through the crowd and trailed behind the two strangers.
…
It was sunset when we reached the cliff.
The sky had turned into a beautiful canvas of orange, pink, and gold. The festival noise had faded away, replaced by the steady crash of waves and the salty tang of sea air.
There it was. Maiden's Peak.
The stone figure stood tall against the horizon, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. Her form remained forever turned toward the sea. Endless blue water stretched far beyond sight, shimmering with golden reflections.
Meowscarada's eyes widened. Her tail curled with quiet wonder.
Lopunny let out a soft breath and pressed even closer to me.
Gardevoir's gaze lingered on the stone maiden. Her red core glowed a little brighter with quiet empathy.
None of us spoke for a long moment. We simply stood there together, taking it all in. The legend, the view, the weight of a love that never ended.
The sunset made everything feel even more moving, heavier in a quiet, beautiful way.
Then a bright, energetic voice suddenly cut through the silence…
"Woo! These Pokémon are so beautiful!"