The vote is finished.

Results: Espeon (10 votes), Sylveon (9 votes) Umbreon (2 votes)

The battle between Espeon and Sylveon was on fire.

* * * * *

After Kay's previous meeting with Maris, he decided that choosing Maris would be the choice with the higher possibility of going out from this safely.

When Kay returned home, he tried to act normal in front of his family. He joined them for dinner and forced himself to smile and respond when they spoke to him.

But inside, his mind was racing with plans and possibilities. As soon as dinner was over, he excused himself and went straight to his room.

Sitting at his desk, Kay took out a piece of paper and a pen. His hand trembled slightly as he began to write.

He addressed the letter to Maris Tideswell, explaining briefly who he was as it was hard for Maris to remember him.

He requested an appointment, saying that he had urgent information regarding the truth behind the Arcanine dungeon accident.

Once he finished the letter, Kay folded it neatly and placed it in an envelope. He sealed it carefully, making sure it was secure. Tomorrow, he would deliver it to Maris's castle himself.

As Kay leaned back in his chair, staring at the letter on his desk, he felt a mixture of fear and anxiety because he knew the risk he was taking by challenging powerful figures like Eliot.

The next morning, Kay set off for Tideswell Castle, hoping Maris would respond quickly and agree to meet him.

Eevee trotted by his side, its fur shining in the sunlight. Kay had decided to leave Growlithe at home.

It wasn't the time to reveal that he had bonded with two Pokemons, it might draw too much attention.

As Kay approached the massive gates of Tideswell Castle, he recognized the same two security guards he had encountered during his previous visit.

Their stern expressions softened slightly when they saw him, though their professionalism remained intact.

"What brings you here today?" one of the guards asked as Kay stopped in front of them.

Kay held up the envelope. "I'd like to deliver this letter to Mr. Tideswell. It's very important."

The first guard gave him a skeptical look. "Alright, hand it over. I'll make sure it gets to him. If you've written your address on it, the response will be sent to your house."

Kay hesitated. "Could I give it to Mr. Tideswell directly?"

The guard frowned, confused by Kay's insistence. "That's not possible. Letters are delivered to him through proper channels. He doesn't meet with just anyone."

Kay tightened his grip on the letter. He didn't feel comfortable handing such a critical message to a middleman.

But before he could argue further, the second guard, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.

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"If the letter is as important as it seems, and as you've already met Mr. Tideswell before, perhaps there's another way." He glanced at his colleague. "We could let him wait while I ask the master if he wants to meet him personally."

Kay's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Thank you!"

The first guard raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Why bother? We've got protocols for this. Just take the letter and let the system work as it should."

"Also, I don't know why you treat this guy in such a way, you are normally very harsh with other visitors," The first guard added.

The second guard cleared his throat and stood his ground. "This feels different. The boy seems serious, and it wouldn't hurt to ask. If the master doesn't want to see him, we'll handle it as usual. But it's worth a try."

The first guard crossed his arms. "Fine, do what you want. But you'll take responsibility if this goes sideways."

"Of course," the second guard replied confidently. He turned to Kay and gestured for him to follow. "Come with me."

Kay felt a wave of relief wash over him. He quickly retracted the letter from the first guard's outstretched hand and followed the second guard past the gates.

Eevee stayed close, its ears twitching as it curiously observed the grand castle grounds.

The walk toward the main entrance was quiet, the second guard leading the way with a firm, purposeful stride.

Kay followed the guard through the castle, his steps uncertain. As they walked, Kay noticed they weren't heading in the same direction as his last visit.

The halls grew dimmer, and the air felt colder, with fewer decorations adorning the walls. It was as though they were heading into a less-used part of the castle.

After several minutes, Kay grew uneasy and asked, "Is the place still far?"

The guard glanced back, his face impassive. "No, just a few minutes more, and we'll be there."

As they turned a corner, the guard pointed toward an old room at the end of a dark hallway.

Even from a distance, Kay could see that the lights in the area were dim, and the door looked weathered with age. "You'll wait there," the guard said casually.

Kay frowned. This place was nothing like the grand, polished waiting room he had seen before.

As they approached, his unease deepened. Dust clung to every surface, and the air was stale, as though no one had been there for years.

The guard opened the creaky door and gestured for Kay to enter. Eevee, ever curious, went in first.

Kay hesitated at the threshold, peering inside. The room was in bad shape; dust covered every corner, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling.

"Is this the only place I can wait for Mr. Tideswell?" Kay asked, turning back to the guard. "Isn't there—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the guard shoved him forcefully into the room. Kay stumbled forward, nearly falling as the guard slammed the door shut behind them.

"Hey! What are you doing!" Kay shouted at the guard. The guard didn't respond and just looked at Eevee with a cold expression.

Then the ground beneath Kay began to tremble. Cracks appeared in the dusty floor, and a Graveler emerged, its rocky form towering over Eevee.

"Eevee, watch out!" Kay yelled.

But the Graveler moved rapidly, delivering a devastating blow that sent Eevee flying across the room. Eevee let out a faint cry before collapsing, unconscious.

"No! Eevee!" Kay cried, rushing to scoop up his fallen companion. He held Eevee close, his heart pounding with fear and anger.

The guard smirked, picking up the envelope that had fallen from Kay's hand during the struggle. He opened it and began to read, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"HAHAHAHA!" the guard laughed mockingly. "Eliot was right! He figured you'd try to talk to Maris despite his warning. He even predicted you'd write something like this."

Kay's blood ran cold at the mention of Eliot's name. Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

Eliot must have been keeping tabs on him all along, ensuring that he didn't step out of line.

The guard continued, his tone mocking. "Eliot didn't want to deal with you so soon. He said you'd be more useful alive for a while longer. He wanted to use you as a doll to vent Tideswell's anger. But since you made the stupid decision to contact Maris, well, you left us no choice but to take care of you permanently."

Kay's eyes narrowed in fury as he clutched Eevee closer. "Eliot…" he whispered, piecing it all together. "He's behind this."

The guard smirked, ripping the letter and tossing it onto the dusty floor. "Nothing personal, kid. But the reward for this job? It's way too good to pass up."

The guard folded his arms as he leaned against the doorway, and spoke. "As you're about to die, do you have any last wishes?"

Kay's mind was racing, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I just want you to answer one question," he said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. "How long has Eliot been surveying me?"

See you in the next chapter...

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