After this thought crossed her mind, Lorelei wanted to search the cave immediately.
However, the sky was already filled with stars, so she controlled her emotions and decided to wait until morning before taking action.
Although there was no significant difference between night and day inside the cave, physical fatigue still required rest to recover.
Late at night, Kai lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
The moonlight streaming through the window was gentle and bright. Taking advantage of the light, Kai retrieved the Ultra Balls containing Zapdos and Articuno from his belt, which he had previously switched from Great Ball with the help of Professor Cerise.
He held the Ultra Balls aloft and murmured to the legendary Pokémon inside, "You two haven't been out to stretch your wings since the Indigo League. But don't worry, once I find Moltres, I'll let you battle to your heart's content."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Ultra Balls trembled simultaneously before suddenly opening. Zapdos and Articuno emerged, their majestic forms illuminating the room.
The temperature in the room plummeted. As Articuno's feathers shimmered, snowflakes drifted gently to the floor.
Zapdos, meanwhile, crackled with electricity, filling the room with flickering flashes of light.
Startled by their sudden cries, Kai hurriedly reached out and pinched their beaks.
"Hey, keep it down! This isn't our house be careful!"
It was clear that the two Pokémon, having been confined for so long, were restless and excited by the prospect of battling Moltres. Since they were already out, Kai decided to let them stretch their wings.
Unfortunately, the two Pokémon proved too curious and energetic. Articuno glided gracefully around the room, examining every corner, while Zapdos spread its wings enthusiastically, knocking books off a nearby shelf.
Luckily, the carpeted floor muffled the sound of the falling items, but the commotion still caught someone's attention. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, approaching rapidly.
In a flash, Kai returned Zapdos and Articuno to their Ultra Balls. Moments later, Lorelei's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Is everything alright in there? I thought I heard a noise."
Kai hurriedly tidied up the room as he responded, "Nothing to worry about just accidentally bumped the bed."
"I see. By the way, I brought you a glass of milk. Is it a good time to come in?"
Realizing everything was back in order, Kai opened the door.
Lorelei stood outside, dressed in pyjamas, her freshly washed hair falling over her shoulders.
She held a steaming glass of milk in her hand, her sharp eyes sweeping the room for any signs of unusual activity.
Satisfied, she handed the glass to Kai. "Drink it while it's hot. The lake's cold currents make the nights here especially chilly. This will help you sleep better."
Smiling, Kai accepted the milk. "Thanks. I was having trouble falling asleep, so this is perfect timing."
After Lorelei left, Kai downed the milk in one gulp and sighed softly. Although many people knew he owned Zapdos and Articuno, he still guarded this secret carefully. The fewer people aware, the safer it would be for him and his Pokémon.
After breakfast, the group. Kai, Lorelei, and Sabrina donned thick clothing, prepared lighting tools, and ventured into the cave.
As the first person to discover the site, Lorelei had named it Frozen Waterfall Cave, inspired by its icy cascades.
The cave's entrance was narrow, but as they moved deeper inside, it revealed a sprawling icy wonderland.
The path sloped downward, the ice beneath their feet treacherously slippery. Sharp icicles hung ominously overhead, and the flashlights cast an eerie blue-green glow on the frozen surfaces.
Leading the way, Lorelei cautioned, "Be careful. Some areas have thin ice that could collapse underfoot."
"We'll be careful," Kai assured her.
Thanks to his experience on Seafoam Islands, Kai was familiar with navigating icy terrains. He stayed close to Lorelei, occasionally turning to assist Sabrina.
Although Sabrina could have easily used her psychic abilities to float across the more dangerous sections, she chose to hold Kai's hand and walk carefully instead.
Lorelei glanced back and, seeing the scene, smirked knowingly.
"A single man and a single woman travelling together..." Lorelei thought, her grin widening. "Sabrina says she has no interest in Kai, but I don't buy it for a second."
The sound of cracking ice echoed beneath their steps as they descended deeper.
Lorelei remarked, "This cave extends several hundred meters downward and has multiple layers. At the bottom, there's an undercurrent that connects to the sea."
Surprised, Kai asked, "An undercurrent? How did you even find that? Did you dive into the freezing water yourself?"
Lorelei chuckled. "Of course. It was a form of training."
Kai gave her an admiring thumbs-up. "That's dedication! I wouldn't have the nerve to jump into water that cold."
They pressed on, eventually encountering wild Pokémon such as Dewgong and Shellder. Kai and Sabrina paid them little attention, allowing the Pokémon to vanish into the icy depths.
However, Lorelei's expression darkened. Although they had yet to encounter Team Rocket, the cave's quietness unsettled her.
"Something's not right," Kai muttered, noticing the absence of activity. "Is it always this quiet here?"
Lorelei shook her head. "Not at all. This cave used to be teeming with Pokémon. For it to be this empty... something must have happened deeper inside."
With that realization, they quickened their pace. The temperature dropped further as they descended, and the cave's twisting passages became more maze-like.
"If not for Lorelei guiding us," Kai thought, "anyone who wandered in here by accident would be hopelessly lost."
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