Seeing the terror of a Gym-level Pokémon, Xinhai fell silent for a moment before looking away.
"Gardevoir," he called softly.
Gardevoir, who had been quietly following behind Xinhai, immediately stepped forward.
Light swirled in her red eyes. With her hands held loosely together, a blue droplet radiating the aura of life condensed in her palms.
However, as Life Dew formed, something that astonished Xinhai and all his companions happened.
The instant the droplet condensed, the pale green motes floating in the air seemed to be drawn by something. Like moths to a flame, they surged in from all directions and automatically gathered toward the blue droplet.
The moment the pale green motes fused into it, the blue began to fade, replaced by a gentle emerald-green luster.
The droplet slowly spun in Gardevoir's palm, giving off an even richer, warmer aura of life than before.
What had originally been pure healing energy now seemed infused with some fundamental vitality—the gift Celebi had bestowed upon this forest while sleeping within the Tree of Nature.
"This is..." Xinhai's gaze sharpened as he looked at the droplet in Gardevoir's palm, both surprised and puzzled.
He was more familiar with the move Life Dew than anyone. Gardevoir had used it countless times, and every time it had been a pure blue, carrying the cool, gentle quality of the Water type.
But the energy contained within this emerald-colored droplet had already far surpassed the scope of an ordinary Life Dew.
A trace of surprise also flashed through Gardevoir's red eyes. She used Confusion to hold up the now emerald-green droplet, letting it float between herself and Xinhai as though awaiting his judgment.
Xinhai carefully examined the droplet, sensing the Life Energy within it, so dense it nearly overflowed. Then he looked up at the pale green