The GravesFamily Compound
As John approached the ancient mansion on Arcanine’s back, several Graves family disciples emerged from the shadows to intercept him. Their postures were alert but not hostile, clearly this was standard protocol for protecting their ancestral home.
However, the moment John produced the Aura compass, their demeanor shifted to respectful deference. Without a word, they gestured for him to follow, escorting him through winding mountain paths toward what could only be the entrance to the sanctuary itself.
The path led to a natural fissure in the cliff face, a space-time rift that pulsed with otherworldly energy. Seated cross-legged beside the dimensional tear was an elderly man with snow-white hair, accompanied by an equally aged Lucario. Both radiated the serene stillness of eternal guardians.
Even from a distance, John could assess the Lucario’s strength through its unconsciously leaked aura. The reading was unmistakable, at minimum Elite Four level, possibly higher. This wasn’t just any family retainer; this was a master of the ancient arts.
Neither the elder nor his Pokemon partner acknowledged John’s arrival, maintaining their meditative vigil. Taking this as permission to proceed, John approached the spatial rift directly.
Standing at the threshold, he could feel waves of pure energy washing over him like a tide. The sensation was intoxicating, no wonder his teacher and senior had emphasized personal Aura training. Even without entering, simply meditating beside this rift would accelerate one’s development exponentially, much like the Graves elder was demonstrating.
John stepped through the dimensional gateway, and reality shifted around him.
Inside the Avian Sanctuary
Though still nighttime, John found himself transported from mountaintop to forest floor in an instant. Thanks to his trained Aura Sight, the darkness posed no obstacle to his vision.
He stood in a small valley surrounded by lush woodland that stretched to the horizon. Gentle breezes set the emerald canopy swaying like an ocean of leaves, while the sounds of diverse Pokemon echoed through the night air. The entire ecosystem thrummed with vibrant life.
But what captured John’s attention most was the ambient Aura energy, so concentrated it was nearly visible, like ethereal mist drifting through the air.
"Incredible," John breathed, already releasing several of his Aura-capable Pokemon. "Training here for one day would equal a month of normal practice!"
This explained the time-limited nature of the sanctuary’s opening. Every moment spent outside this realm was essentially wasted potential. Those trainers who’d chosen to rest at the way station would likely regret their caution once they experienced what they’d missed.
Even for trainers and Pokemon lacking Aura talent, simply resting in this environment would naturally enhance their physical capabilities. The energy here was that pure, that beneficial.
"It’s late already," John decided. "We’ll rest first and begin serious training tomorrow morning."
He arranged his team in a meditation circle: Greninja, Hariyama, Blaziken, Vigoroth, and Arcanine. Like parched earth receiving rain, they immediately began absorbing the abundant waveguide energy around them.
Here, Greninja’s Aura Sphere charging time dropped to one-fifth its normal duration. At this rate, the ninja Pokemon would master advanced Aura techniques in record time.
Among John’s newer captures, Arcanine also showed promising Aura sensitivity, another pleasant surprise.
"Gardevoir, if you would," John requested, releasing his psychic-type partner.
Gardevoir appeared with characteristic grace, using Teleport to relocate John and his training team to a secluded valley several hundred meters from the entry point. With the rocky cliff face as their foundation, she helped John establish a Secret Power base camp.
Since the hideout existed within the sanctuary’s bounds, it maintained the same concentrated Aura density as the outside environment. Perfect for overnight training.
John settled in for the night while his five Pokemon continued their waveguide meditation. Even the normally hyperactive Vigoroth ,still subdued by the calming effects of John’s earlier "tranquility training", remained focused on his practice despite losing his Vital Spirit ability’s usual restlessness.
John woke early the next morning to find his Pokemon still deep in Aura meditation. The overnight training had visibly strengthened their aura control, particularly for Gardevoir, who was naturally gifted in energy manipulation.
After preparing breakfast and spending an hour on his own Aura Sphere practice, his personal Aura development being crucial for enhancing his orb artifacts’ power, John decided to pursue a secondary objective.
"When you enter a new area, what’s the first priority?" he asked himself with a grin. "Treasure hunting!"
John produced his treasure detector, a specialized device he’d acquired during his adventures. If this sanctuary contained such potent Aura energy, there had to be a source, likely in the form of rare items or even legendary Pokemon artifacts.
The detector immediately locked onto a target with unwavering precision, its needle pointing steadily in one direction without the slightest tremor.
"Bingo! Legendary-grade items confirmed," John’s eyes lit up with anticipation. He beckoned to Gardevoir, who was taking a brief break from her meditation.
While Arcanine would normally be his preferred mount, the golden Pokemon was still deep in aura absorption. His other mount options, Tyrantrum and Salamence, would be too conspicuous in an area likely inhabited by powerful wild Pokemon.
Better to maintain a low profile while exploring.
"Garde..." Gardevoir enveloped both herself and John in psychic energy, lifting them smoothly into the air. They glided through the forest canopy following the treasure detector’s guidance, John supplementing their flight with his Azure Orb’s power to practice aerial maneuvering.
After roughly a kilometer of flight, John suddenly collided with an invisible barrier. Despite the clear forest vista ahead, he couldn’t advance another meter.
"The sanctuary’s boundary?" John wondered aloud. This was his first experience with spatial limitations in a mystic realm.
Curious, he began following the barrier’s perimeter. Rather than a straight line, the obstacle curved in a perfect arc. As they traced its path, the treasure detector’s needle slowly rotated, maintaining its lock on whatever lay beyond the invisible wall.
After more than an hour of aerial reconnaissance, John returned to his starting point, having completed a full circle.
"Not a boundary," he realized, studying the perfect circular pattern. "This is a protective barrier. Whatever the detector found is sealed inside this invisible dome."
The treasure detector’s unwavering focus confirmed his theory, the legendary item was hidden within this protected space, waiting for someone skilled enough to breach its defenses.