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"Along with a lot of others like it. And much as I'd like to write off those magazines myself, they apparently got something correct," Sol chimed in, gingerly revealing the Fast Ball and making very sure he didn't do anything to potentially send out that mechanical terror out. "And to tell the truth, that whole metal thing's why I used an apricorn ball. Thought it'd be less likely to get yanked... as for the other one, we can confirm its appearance. Was a lot like putting a Gallade and Gardevoir together, if you gave the former a double-bladed sword. Was enough of a Pokemon to still be caught in a ball, but that one was a lot nastier."

Giving a small wave as he walked along behind Aile, Rome would quickly be ambushed with the question from Aile about what do with the bug. Scratching at his chin absent-mindedly as he considered the possibilities for areas nearby they could do this at, a few potentials were immediately taken off the list. Mostly anywhere indoors, but also most of the locations within the school's interior like their interior courtyard just for the potential to accidentally start a plague in the student body. But....there was one idea that Rome had. "My best idea, unless we want to teleport somewhere very out of the way for this, is that large courtyard at the base of the stairs outside the school. Keeps us away from the students and gives us enough space in case something goes wrong to handle the situation ourselves." Rome said, eyes drifting towards the door leading to the outdoors.

Aile frowned, then shrugged. "Better than nothing if we just want to deal with this now... Hopefully we don't cause any more destruction." She'd start leading the way outside, putting her hands in her jacket pockets again as they walked. “Hey, Rome,” she asked, turning to the person that was steering her friend’s body currently. “If you don’t mind, now that we’re not at any sort of threat of getting ganked by any sort of cryptids, how long have you been hiding inside of Reno?” She was genuinely curious, and it seemed like he had no ill intent for any of them. For now, at least, she was going to attempt to make small talk.

Aile tilted her head, keeping her attention on Rome. “So, you’re effectively around because of that thing… That… Ziton…” She frowned, getting a bad taste in her mouth when she said its name. Arceus, how many people got the bad touch by this thing? “I… s**t, I don’t know what to say. Like, it’s a good thing you’re around, but at the same time, sucks you had to come into existence in the first place.” She would walk in silence for a moment, before thinking of something else. “So, you’ve just kind of been watching us this entire time? Or how does it work with two people in one mind?”

"Hm, pretty standard for dissociative identites," Sol remarked. "Trauma can cause a lot of effects on one's mind, and the Ziton's certainly a strong source of it after meeting it proper." A shudder followed as he uttered the Ziton's name, like he was talking about an eldritch being that might be summoned by repeating its name three times. "The reactions you're mentioning sound like what I'd imagine the whole thing would be like for a psychic, though I'll admit my knowledge on the topic's limited. As I'm sure Rome and Reno can attest, it's not a thing that's brought up until it it needs to be, and this case seems... a bit different? It's closer to the sort of thing I've mentioned than anything concerning Freth's headmate, at least."

As he thought about it, there was a lack of knowledge in other matters... both with Rome and how he came about, and with Reno. He was privvy to more in general than many of the other members, per his status and the necessity of said knowledge. But that usually pertained to the day-to-day and general mindfulness. But as he kept walking, something about Rome's answer kept sticking in his mind, and he wondered if it'd shed any light with the Ziton.

"That said, I can't speak much for the events you mention, but that timing... you said around a couple of decades, at Snowpoint Temple? That'd be around the same time Aden and I had an incident in Sinnoh's Battle Zone." He paused and grimaced, half from arm-related pain and half from unpleasant memories. "He wasn't quite old enough to have a Trainer's license yet, but he liked watching battles and thought it'd be a memorable trip, perfect lead-up for his eventual tenth birthday. It got cut short when a Ranger's Arbok lashed out and attacked him in a panic, Aden getting a bit too close before they or I registered what was likely to follow. His mother wasn't happy about my ignoring her warning, to say the least. This must sound like a random anecdote and could very well be a huge coincidence and nothing more, but after yesterday..." He trailed off short of questioning if there was a connection, the idea still sounding incredibly daft. There's no way it was anything more than eerie timing, a weird excuse to talk about the past.

The Shadow Nincada appeared from the ball, its shadowy aura immediately visible as if to reassure everyone that it was still indeed Shadowfied. However those that hadn't seen this Nincada in awhile, or at all, might notice its shadow aura was very...small, muted, diminished even. Was this the effect the Herba Mystica it had consumed had on it? Furthermore, while it was indeed a Shadow Pokemon still the Nincada seemed relatively calm. It looked at Aile and let out a low buzzing sound that didn't sound too friend and then cast a suspicious glance at the other Snagems but never turned away from Aile thus marking a distinct lack of Shadow Virus induced paranoia and aggression typically seen in those infected.

"Cadaaa..." The Shadow Nincada hissed as Aile extended the herbs for it to take, the Pokemon briefly getting low to the ground and pulling away as it took a defensive posture, no doubt making the Snagems believe it was getting ready to fight but alas it did not. After several seconds of just eyeing the herbs it got closer and closer before it took a small n** followed by another and another until it was munching down the Herba Mystica happily, ignoring everyone around it in this moment.

"Nincada!" It almost cheered as it bounced up happily upon finishing the Herba Mystica, a very strange thing to see a Shadow Pokemon do. It would bounce again, its shadow aura following it. Another bounce, the aura looking like it had a delay to follow it. A third bounce and they would see something strange happening as the aura was de-synced with Nincada and was beginning to dissolve, becoming more and more apparent as it bounced. Once the last of the aura faded away the Nincada would stop bouncing and stare at Aile in confusion for several seconds. "Niiiin..." It kind of groaned, as if in discomfort.

There would then be a bright flash of white light that came from the Nincada, momentarily blinding the Snagems. Once their vision returned to them they would see Nincada still there, however much larger in size, over double in size and a good bit bigger than the average Trapinch. The residual energy surrounding Nincada would be absorbed into the bug and once everything had settled down it would let out a happy sigh followed up by an almost song-like buzzing sound. "Nin-nin nincadaaa~" The Herba Mystica had not only purified it but also considerably increased its size. Was it permanent?

Before Aile could examine her Nincada too much it let out another happy cry before rearing back onto its hind legs, giving Aile a wave, and suddenly recalling itself to its ball. It didn't end there however as another of her Pokemon would be forced out from its ball, no doubt to their confusion. Did it just use Baton Pass? As a Nincada? How?

Aile relaxed slightly as the Shadow Nincada eventually took the Herba, watching the final leaves get eaten one by one. A grin would slowly creep onto her face and her body language would loosen a lot as the Nincada began dancing around, the Shadow Aura breaking off from the insect and dissipating into nothing. “Well, that-” She’d hold her tongue when the Nincada groaned, concerned that this was just a false effect.

Then the light came. The woman would shield her eyes, waiting until she was sure the coast was clear and she wasn’t going to get flash banged again before bringing her left arm down. Aile blinked as she noticed that it was now much larger, taking up much more of the center of the battlefield than before. It looked happy though, not at all angry and defensive like before. Some more chuckling would ensue as she let herself enjoy the moment. This was an interesting side effect that would need to be studied, but hey, the not so guy was purified! Now- Wait, did it just wave? And recall itself back-

The Paldean Wooper she had brought with her would be shunted out of its ball, looking around confused at everything happening. Why was he brought out? What was there to fight? Why was his trainer confused? “Woop?”

“I… What just happened?” She’d grab the Wooper and begin to pat him on the head with her left arm almost unconsciously, before realising what she did. “Oh, hey, I can pet you without worrying about getting poisoned,” she muttered, pulling out Nincada’s Pokéball again with her right hand. “You know? The experiment only moved forward after Raifort mentioned, potentially pulling this out of her a** to grab the attention of us Snagems possibly, that the Herba could possibly cure the Shadow Virus. I initially wanted to go get payback on that giant Klawf, Dagobah and I. Then this guy popped out of the pieces of the staff.” She leaned back and held herself up with her sand arm, making the little mud fish somewhat grumpy. “Yeah, you tried to help against the Klawf the first time, that’s how we met. Kind of. More like how we decided to get along. But the next class after the Klawft, she mentioned that and now we’re here. Trying to decide whether this day was worth it.” Aile would let herself fall all the way back and spread out, leaving the Wooper to tilt his head. “Arceus. Maybe we hunt them down, but we need to find more Herbas for that, too. Some of them went missing during that whole Academy thing, if I remember right,” she’d answer Rome, still looking up at the sky. “So, unless we have leads on more, that might be a dead end currently.”