Chapter 33: The Woman from Two Thousand Years Ago

Xia You and his companions merged into the crowd, moving slowly forward alongside the other tourists.

The street was lined with two rows of stalls offering all sorts of delicious snacks and various trinkets. Seeing Ash’s interest, Xia You bought a few snacks to share with everyone.

When he noticed Misty lingering in front of an accessory stall before walking away in silence, Xia You stepped up to the stall, carefully selected a hairpin, and bought it for her. Misty wore a smile; though she didn't say much, her expression clearly showed how much she cherished the gift.

As in previous years, the festival was incredibly lively. As they walked further, they even saw a woman in elaborate costume dancing with exotic flair to the rhythm of music and the cheers of the crowd.

Unlike the lighthearted trio, Brock had no heart for the festivities. He followed behind with his head down, looking lovesick. He was clearly still pining for the woman at the harbor, muttering to himself under his breath.

"Wait a moment!"

A raspy yet resonant voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

Xia You turned around to find a white-haired old woman, less than a meter tall, leaning on a cane and wearing a purple robe. She had a wide mouth, dry skin, and, most notably, a pair of piercingly sharp eyes.

Brock, still lost in his infatuation with the woman from earlier, was so startled by the old woman's appearance when he turned that he tumbled backward and landed on his backside.

"Whoa! A withered... a withered old Kappa!"

"Who are you calling a Kappa!?" the old woman snapped indignantly. She then scanned Xia You and Brock, adding mysteriously, "Listen well, you must be very careful of beautiful women, or you will surely meet with misfortune today!"

"What kind of talk is that!" Misty pouted, glancing quickly at Xia You before adding, somewhat bashfully, "How could I possibly bring him misfortune?"

"Fool!" the old woman barked. "I’m talking about beautiful women, not a wet-behind-the-ears little brat like you!"

"What!? You called me a little brat!" Misty bristled instantly; clearly, the remark had struck a nerve.

Beside them, Brock seemed thoughtful after hearing the warning, but Xia You, knowing full well that she was a disguise conjured by a Gastly and that they had been targeted, simply smiled and brushed it off, paying her words no mind. Misty, however, was not about to let this old woman ruin such a rare festival trip.

"What utter nonsense! Come on, let's stop paying her any attention and get out of here."

With that, she pushed Xia You on the back with one hand and tugged Brock by the ear with the other, turning to leave.

The destination of the festival was a shrine at the edge of town. As they arrived with the crowd, they saw an old priest striking a bell and drum to mark the hour.

"Everyone, quiet down! The Maiden Shrine's treasure is about to be unveiled!"

Beside the priest stood a scroll, though it was covered by a white cloth, hiding its contents from view. The people gathered around the shrine as the priest continued, "This painting is a sacred treasure passed down in our Maiden Shrine for two thousand years. It is displayed only once a year during the summer festival. Now, please, everyone, observe it with your hearts."

With a flourish, he pulled away the white cloth, revealing the painting to all. It depicted a woman in a full-body portrait, her eyes staring straight ahead, her hands clasped to her chest as if in prayer. Although the painting was black and white, lacking any color, it still conveyed the woman's beauty and a profound sense of sorrow.

Beside them, Brock was astonished, for the beauty in the portrait was the exact woman in the white dress he had seen at the small harbor earlier that afternoon!

The priest’s voice, like that of a narrator, echoed through the air: "Two thousand years ago, there was a young couple who loved each other deeply. But because of war, the man was conscripted and had to set sail with the army. Before he left, he promised that he would return victorious once the war was over.

The woman waited for many years, but in the end, the man never returned. Her endless, agonizing wait eventually turned her into a rock, standing on the cliff’s edge, where she remains to this day, still waiting for her man."

It was a truly tragic legend, and as the people heard it, their spirits grew heavy.

Brock, as if possessed, suddenly spoke up: "Then, if I may ask, where is that rock now!?"

"Eh?" The priest was taken aback. "You don’t know about Maiden Rock?"

...

Night descended upon the land.

On a seaside cliff, a lone wooden cabin stood in isolation. When Xia You and his companions climbed the rugged mountain path and rounded the cabin, they saw the stone statue of a woman perched on a crag offshore.

Over the passage of time, the statue seemed to have merged with the cliff itself. The waves crashed against the rocks, and in the distance, the lights of Maiden’s Peak flickered; even from this distance, the muffled sounds of the festival’s joy could be heard. Here, however, it was as lonely as the legend suggested.

Gazing at Maiden Rock, Misty whispered, "Do you think this rock really was that woman?"

"Who knows," Xia You replied, shaking his head. "At least I don't see any signs of manual carving."

It was now ten o'clock at night. Dark clouds suddenly drifted over the moon, and a breeze brought a chilling cold. Acting on instinct—perhaps sensing that something was about to happen—Xia You pulled out two Poké Balls. With a flash of blue light, Charmander and Jolteon appeared at his feet. The flames on Charmander’s tail and the flickers of electricity on Jolteon’s fur not only illuminated their surroundings but also gave him a sense of reassurance.

"There's nothing much to see here anyway. Let's head back to town."

Compared to the lively streets, Misty had no desire to linger. But just as she turned to leave, she saw the door of the cabin behind them slowly creaking open.

*Creak...*

At first, she thought it was just the wind, but the next second, a vague, glowing figure drifted out from within.

"Eek! A ghost!!"