Soaking in a Hot Spring

Upon arriving at Volcanion's home, Yan Yang was greeted by a massive cave that perfectly matched its rugged appearance.

White steam faintly curled around the entrance, carrying a distinctive scent of sulfur and minerals. The soft sound of flowing water came from within, making the place feel primitive yet strangely grand.

Yan Yang nimbly jumped off Volcanion's back, curiously poked his head inside, and rushed in.

"Hey—brat! Mind your manners! Don't touch anything, and don't you dare wreck the place!" Volcanion let out a warning growl behind him.

"Got it, got it! I'm super well-behaved!" Yan Yang answered without looking back, though he did not slow down.

The moment he stepped into the cave, the light dimmed slightly, but the temperature rose noticeably. The air was warm and damp.

Just as he had expected, several natural hot spring pools of varying sizes lay deeper in the cave. Their waters were a faint milky white, bubbling away as fine bubbles rose to the surface. Wisps of white mist drifted upward, shrouding the entire cave in a hazy veil.

With such natural hot springs, plus Volcanion—the "Steam Mythical Pokémon"—living here for so long, the energy it gave off had undoubtedly raised the springs' effects to another level.

Why hadn't he invited the others along? Yan Yang knew perfectly well that with Volcanion's awkward personality, it probably would not agree to let a whole crowd of "outsiders" flood into its private territory.

A sense of boundaries was still necessary. Relationships had to be built step by step, and only by keeping things measured could he deepen their bond.

He casually looked around.

The cave was quite spacious, and the rock walls were smooth, clearly having been carefully "polished" by their long-term resident. Some gleaming mineral crystals were even piled up in the corners.