“By ‘place,’ do you mean the realm you’re fallen into, or the void we’re in…?”
You look down sheepishly, meeting Eevee’s eyes. The poor thing is looking around warily, hair standing up straight. You can tell it’s confused, too- even less understanding of this all than you are. It’s a question that both of you have been plagued by, so…
“… Could you explain both?”
The Dragon Master nods.
“To the best of my ability…
This void is the simpler one to explain. It’s a sort of… in-between area, from what I’ve gathered. A dark place where nothing exists, while reality readies the next location for people like you. I do not, however, think we are SUPPOSED to see OR enter it…”
He hesitates for a moment.
“… But things don’t work how they were meant to. Not anymore.”
“Not anymore…?”
“Well- that lends itself to the other half of the question,” he mutters, covering his mouth with his free hand, “but I’m not sure where to even begin.”
You stare at the man, trying to will away the dread that you feel at both his hesitance, and the aura of concern that radiates off of him, punctuated by the song quieting to a near whisper. The silence is more unsettling than the music- you hate how much emptier it makes things feel.
“You said… you said I’d 'fallen’ here, right..?” you ask. You hate the slight tremor that enters your voice.
“What did you mean by that?”
“… You’re quite observant. I can only imagine how far that trait has taken you,” he remarks, smiling sadly.
“When I say 'fallen,’ I suppose… It’s the best way to describe what’s happening. For lack of a better word, every step you take here is a step farther and farther down a Bunnelby hole, leading from your home straight into ours.”
Lance turns to look straight ahead, closing his eyes. A regretful expression.
“This world… it lies far below your own. Not just beneath the Earth, but buried below- what I think, at least- is reality itself. It’s like our universe exists in layers, and this… this, is the deepest one. Colorless and forgotten, inhabited by ghosts reduced to shells of their former selves.”
That crimson gaze lands on you again, shimmering in a way you would mistake as tears welling up if all of his bloody tears weren’t the exact same.
“I hope you can find it in yourself to not hold those poor souls’ malice against them. Kanto is not what it used to be, nor its residents. It would be so easy to ignore the reality of this- to forget and live blissfully in ignorance. Many, aside from I, have somehow lost that knowledge time and time again. And it would stay that way, if not for….
…
… I don’t want you to worry about me, young trainer. Please, save that energy for yourself. You’ll need it.”