The beauty of Lake Verity never quite seemed to fade, despite how many times the Lanturn visited. The gently rippling and crystal clear waters of the lake itself, reflecting the foliage-covered island at the center in its nearly mirror-like surface, the copses of trees surrounding it providing a natural hideaway, letting only the lightest of breezes pass over the lush grass that covered the ground right up to the shoreline. It really was the perfect place for Skye to clear her mind: a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Jubilife City, yet she regularly walked the journey in only a couple of hours.
Emerging into the picturesque glade, however, as she began to hear voices from just up ahead, the Lanturn realized that - though the Staraptor wasn't currently with her - she still wouldn't quite be alone this time.
"Skye! It's good to see you again!" came the greeting from Professor Piper amidst the small handful of scientists scattered along the lakeside. A clutch of equipment in a wide range of looking complicated had been set up in various spots, one or two aides manning each setup, while the Roserade at the head of the group oversaw the readings and recordings on her trusty tablet. At least that was what Skye assumed was going on, she had never claimed to understand a great deal of whatever work the folks at the laboratory carried out.
Even so, she couldn't help smiling in return at the warm greeting the professor always gave when she was out in the field, age not having dampened the Roserade's enthusiasm one bit. "Hi there, Professor," Skye replied, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
"Oh no, not at all," Piper assured her with a calm shake of the head. "We're just here to fill back some of the holes in our data after that break-in yesterday." She glanced down at her screen for a second, deftly flicking a finger across the surface. "If you could slow the sweep a little, please, Bubbles."
The Bibarel nearby nodded, and began adjusting the apparatus slightly.
Professor Piper turned her attention back toward the visitor. "How's Roisin, incidentally?" she inquired. "Not too mad after her run-in with Officer Barkley, I hope?"
"No more so than usual," Skye told her with a slight shrug. "She was meeting someone at the gym earlier this morning, from what she told me."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it's all settled, in that case," the Roserade smiled softly. "Now I'd best get back to work, I'll leave you to it."
"And I'll keep myself out of your way," the Lanturn replied with a smile of her own, heading over to an empty, open spot a good few yards away and sitting down on the grass. Legs crossed, hands cupped, eyes closed, but still finding herself facing away from the lake, and away from the scientists. Both Skye and Piper walked two very different paths, and superstitions were curious things.
After a few moments, though, the voices of the others began to fade away, along with the wind in the leaves, the sun on her back, and even the scent of the grass beneath her, as Skye allowed herself to drift off into that familiar state she had spent years cultivating. Serenity. Tranquility.
Peace.
Slow breaths in and out anchored the Lanturn to this plane, her mind as calm and still as the lake in the world she had left behind, with just a single thought standing like an island of its own in the very center. One question that Skye had tried many times to seek the answer to.
"How can I help Roisin find herself?"
Minutes passed. Skye remained deep in her meditation as time continued to pass, focusing on that question, trying to detect any changes around her in that ever-present ocean of energy. Waiting patiently for the powers above to hear, ready for the universe to send her an answer.
Then, a gentle gust of wind washed over her, warmly caressing her skin and drawing a faint chime from the seashell charm around her neck. And upon that breath, Skye sensed, was carried a soothing voice, which effortlessly came to rest upon that island in her mind.
