Diamond Kingdom and Terrifying Rumors

After staying in Lumiose City for two days, Xia Chen set off for Kalas Mountain, which Diantha had mentioned.

He had originally planned to visit Valerie in Coumarine City first, but after learning that she was in the Sinnoh Region preparing for the third Grand Festival, he decided not to go.

Most of Kalos's mountain ranges lay in the rugged east, but Kalas Mountain was an exception.

It was the highest peak in western Kalos, situated between Coumarine City and Shalour City.

As it happened, Xia Chen had taken the eastern route when he last came to Kalos, so he had yet to visit the bustling west coast.

This trip would conveniently fill out his travel map of Kalos.

Whether Team Flare knew its limits or was preparing some kind of move, Lysandre never came looking for Xia Chen before he left Lumiose City.

He was happy to have the peace and quiet.

If Lysandre did not come bother him, Xia Chen would not go looking for trouble with Team Flare either.

Riding Milotic westward, he left Lumiose City in the morning and arrived at Kalas Mountain by evening.

Of course, using Koraidon or Deoxys as transportation would have cut the time by more than tenfold. But Milotic had been wanting Xia Chen to ride him lately, so Xia Chen indulged him.

Xia Chen landed in the village at the foot of Kalas Mountain that Diantha had mentioned.

Though it was called a village, the place known as Fragrant Wood Village was about the size of an ordinary small town.

It had every service facility one could need, including hotels and restaurants, as well as a proper Pokémon Center.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xia Chen did not rush into the mountain. He settled down in Fragrant Wood Village