Eternal Love
Scattered through all Hisui, twenty pages bearing each a different poem can be digged from the ground. According to their description, these Old Verses [ふるいポエム Old Poems] were written by a single author, as they all share the same handwriting. This naturally begs the question on the identity of the writer.
Part of a series of old poems that have been unearthed around the Hisui region. Judging from the handwriting, it appears they were all written by the same person.
Taking in account the vast knowledge they possess about the ancient culture attested through their literary production, Old Verse 2 confirms the author is a Sinnohan. Their people disappeared long ago to a point memory of their faces started to fade. They describe their days as “endless”, comparing their solitude and feelings to a being residing at the end of the earth — a clear nod to the “world’s end” sought by the clan founders as a metaphor for the Hall of Origin. In short, the author is an immortal human acquainted with Arceus, and if the Hero’s lifespan was extended by the Alpha Pokémon, then the same must be true for this mysterious figure. We’ve already touched upon the reasons for this condition, the poet will be the main culprit behind Giratina’s damnatio memoriae after the dragon destroyed Celestica, and Old Verse 12 further reveals they will rest in Hisui “in eternity” until “the one carrying the mission will appear.” But is there more we can infer on their background before they took the role of the immortal?
ENG:
O you, who at the world’s far-off end dwell, I know your wish — it is my wish as well. My own beloved is now gone from me, departed to a place I cannot reach. My old companions have left me behind, their faces faded into days gone by. Still to my breast I clutch this hopeless dream, a futile wish for us once more to meet. Oh you, who at the world’s far-off end dwell, I know your wish — it is my wish as well. But ours are cold and endless winter days, warmed only by memories locked away.
JPN:
地の果てにいるものよそなたの気持ちはわからなくもないわたしが懸想する人は遠い場所に去ってしまったわたしが共に過ごした人々は遠い昔に消えてしまったもう一度会えるならとかなわぬ思いを抱え続ける地の果てにいるものよそなたの気持ちはわからなくもないだが永遠の冬を生きるのだ愛する日々を胸に秘めて
You at the earth’s end, I can somewhat understand your feelings. The person I fell in love with has gone to a distant place. The people I spent time with have disappeared in the distant past. I wish we could meet again. I keep holding on to (this) unfulfilled wish. You at the earth’s end, I can somewhat understand your feelings. But I live in an eternal winter, hiding in my heart the days of love.
The original version of Old Verse 2 makes it way more obvious that, while the author expresses feeling of nostalgia for their now forgotten clan, this is a poem lamenting the loss of a specific loved one. While Japanese is often ambiguous when it comes to number, here we have a clear pluralization for the “people” [人々] that have long disappeared, which is absent for the “person” [人] the author fell in love with. This would be pointless if not to remark a singular. Moreover, this person seems to have met a different fate from other Sinnohans: they didn’t simply disappear with time; the poet runs under the assumption they reached a distant place instead. There’s one figure perfectly matching the profile: the Hero.
When the ancient adventurer was engulfed in one of Giratina’s distortions, survivors started to scatter all around the world in his search. Even without evidences, people just couldn’t accept the man simply perished in the disaster: he had to be somewhere. Members of those expeditions eventually settled in foreign lands, either forgetting their mission or accepting the harsh reality: the Hero was nowhere to be found. Generations may have passed in the meantime, and Sinnohans started to lose their cultural identity. It would take an immortal body to carry on the will of the now fallen civilization, keeping close to their heart the memories of days gone by: the poet, or to better say the poetess, could never let go the man that warmed her life as a shining Sun. Soon, she was the only one who could remember him, not as a mythological character of past tales, but as the human being he truly was. He existed, she was sure of that, and no matter how many endless winters she had to endure, she would’ve always clutch to that hopeless dream of meeting him again. Maybe it was just a delusion, but can you blame a lone undying to lodge for a happy ending while centuries went by?
For about 700 years, in the time between Celestica’s downfall and the Alph’s arrival, the woman was deprived of any human interaction. At least, she had the Pokémon. The bloodlines of the ten Noble Pokémon remained preserved until the clans took over their administration, and it seems unlikely their populations were kept under control without trespassing into each other’s domains. More likely, the author took care of the descendants of the Pokémon in her beloved’s retinue, bringing them ritual offerings so that at least most of the original shrines would be left intact. Indeed, Old Verse 14 confirms she befriended a Wyrdeer and traveled across Hisui on its back, much like the mount we use in the game.
ENG:
The fieldlands rush by underhoof as Wyrdeer carries me astride — Companions of mine run with us and Pokémon dash alongside. We come to stand where wind had swept and old days play before my eyes… The memories come running through, linking this place to times gone by. Time and space here blend together and enfold my heart as I remember.
JPN:
アヤシシの背に乗り原野を駆け巡る走る友もいる駆けるポケモンもいる風が抜ける場所に立ちあの日々を思い出す駆け抜けた記憶場所があの日の思い出をつなぐ時と場所はまじりあいわたしの心をつつみこむ
Riding on Wyrdeer’s back, I race through the wilderness. There are companions running, and Pokémon dashing too. Standing in a place where the wind blows, I recall those days. Memories of running through, connecting the place to remembrances of that day. (This) place intertwines with time, enveloping my heart.
This poem can appear cryptic at first: who are these “companions” running with her, since they are remarked as different from the Pokémon alongside? Despite localization claiming the old days “come running through” while in the described location, these are more accurately memories of running through, the verb 駆け抜ける [kakenukeru] derived from the same 抜ける [nukeru] used shortly before to describe the wind blowing. In other words, these companions aren’t physically present during the writing: the author is merely remembering days gone by, when her people still inhabited the land of Hisui.
The second part of the poem switches from remembering specifically plural “days” [日々] to a more ambiguous 日. Arguably, the focus is now on a particular occurrence. Indeed, the verse associates the remembrance to the place where wind blows specifically, and this almost certainly refers to Windswept Run [風抜け道, Wind-Through Path]. The name strongly hints to a relation by itself, but the confirmation comes from Old Verse 14 having being buried here among all locations — this incidentally reveals we can associate the poems to where we find them.
Given no infrastructures remains here from the time of Sinnohans, the event the poetess is recalling must pertain an intimate moment occurred far from the crowdy cities. Maybe the Hero simply offered a ride on his Wyrdeer, a small moment of freedom now locked in her heart for good.
Maiden in Black
More can be inferred on this character acknowledging her identity. If she truly is an immortal, then where is the author at the time we explore Hisui? In reality, we know her well. Upon our first meeting, Cogita [コギト, Cogito] introduces herself as our guide, appearing relieved that at long last she will be able to fulfil her duty. This, of course, perfectly mirrors the duty of the author expressed in Old Verse 12: to remain in Hisui until the one with the mission appears. And what greatest mission there is than one entrusted by Arceus itself?
“Dear me, lost one… It seems I’ll be able to fulfil my duty at long last, thanks to you. Indeed — I am to guide you, lost one. For the task of preventing great disaster falls to you. The rift in space-time must be mended, lest time and space themselves be thrown out of balance.”
To no surprise, the woman reveals to have Sinnohan blood — the high stature, light hair, and teardrop-shaped ornamentation on her dress are all features shared by later descendants. However, it should be noted she calls herself a descendant, merely tasked to carry on the folklore by her ancestor across the generations — even betraying some sort of bitterness toward the short-sighted ancients who left nothing behind. This assertion, however, reveals to be deceptive.
“Ah, yes. A tale whose origins lie a millennium or two years ago… Those were the days of the ancient Sinnoh people, from whom I am descended across many generations. These forbears of mine worshipped Arceus as the Pokémon that created the Hisui region. And I have heard of certain fragments — plates, as they are called — that were given to the ancestors of Pokémon such as Kleavor and Wyrdeer.”
“Kindly spare me your doubts, young man. I know the old words and what they bid us do. How true they are isn’t mine to know. And regardless of their truth, I am bound to pass them on. How callous of my ancestors–to leave their legends to their children without a single thought for the hardship it would cause them! But…here we are. You know your duty, and you’ll do it. Won’t you?”
For instance, Cogita is far too knowledgeable to be a mere lore-keeper, particularly fitting for a name deriving from the Latin “cogito” [I think]. Not only she describes in detail the figure of Arceus, but she even has grasps on the many dimensions behind the space-time rift, and she is aware of the method to craft the Red Chain — an implement that from our current understanding wasn’t used since the mythical era. More specifically, making the divine shackles emerge in Shrouded Ruins appears to be a “pact” made at the time of Sinnohans, likely by the last strays of the civilization after the destruction of Celestica. In other words, these people were aware of both the mission we’ll carry and the poetess’ duty across the ages. Yet, they all eventually left in their search for their prophet, leaving her completely alone. Wouldn’t anyone start to feel a bit of resentment against those who abandoned them?
“So it was true… The pact our people have passed down for all these generations has been kept. At last, I can set this burden aside!”
In all likelihood, Cogita is just pretending to be younger than she really is. She has no reason to reveal her personal story to us, and for an undying living in seclusion for thousands of years it’s easy to close your heart to others. The only thing that matters is the fulfillment of the mission, and as such she guides us to meet the Lake Trio first, to collect the remaining Plates then — perfectly mirroring the Hero’s journey. In particular, Cogita reveals to know the items’ true nature as Arceus’ fragments, and even informs us of the locations of the specimens preserved in Snowpoint Temple, Moonview Arena, Lava Dome Sanctum, and Prelude Beach. Yet she apparently has no idea she had been using the Pixie Plate as a cutting board all along. This, of course, is absurd: the woman surely doesn’t lack wit, she must’ve been aware of the item she was keeping. More plausibly, she simply waited for us to fulfill all the other missions until grating us one final reward.
“What do you mean, a plate? Let me see that again! Hmm. This does rather look like one of the plates you’ve been tracking down. While the engravings upon it made it less than accommodating as a cutting board…whatever ingredients crossed it certainly gained a more pleasant flavor. Perhaps that was the board’s power — the plate’s power, rather.”
If we accept this implication, then it’s easy to see how the old author and Cogita perfectly match with one another: both are Sinnohans knowledgeable of the ancient myths, and both are waiting for someone with a mission to appear so that they can offer their guidance. And the more we investigate on both characters, the more appears clear the two are one and the same. Despite its apparent triviality, Old Verse 13 gives us a glimpse on the author’s everyday life.
ENG:
Sootfoot, humble root — harvest it, and peel it. Broiled, baked, or steamed will do, just let nobody steal it. Mash the root, then knead the mash, then once more heat it over — grill it only till it browns — use Ember, not Flamethrower. Now harken well, and listen closely: the wise adore potato mochi. A day spent eating all in reach, is no day wasted, if you ask me.
JPN:
ケムリイモを採るケムリイモの皮をむくケムリイモに火を通す焼くなり煮るなり好きにしろ火の通ったケムリイモをつぶすつぶしたものを練ってこねるあとは焦げ目がつくまで焼けポケモンの技でいうならひのこでよいかえんほうしゃはやりすぎイモモチを好きに食う一日が過ぎる
Pick the Smoke Potato. Peel the skin of the Smoke Potato. Cook the Smoke Potato with fire. Grill or boil it as you like. Mash the Smoke Potato that has been cooked. Knead the mashed mixture. Heat until it gets a charred crust. In terms of Pokémon moves: Ember will do, Flamethrower is too much. Eat the potato mochi as you like. And one day ends.
More than a poem, this is a recipe for “potato mochi” [イモモチ]. The author describes in detail the various steps to bake a delicious cake, revealing her passion for cooking. Maybe she started to experiment with food as a distraction for her endless wait: an existence this long was itself a burden, so why don’t lift it a little with a good meal? And another day ends.
Consistently, Cogita reveals to be particularly fond of cooking. Not only she tasks us the mission to retrieve wooden logs to craft new cutting boards, but her house is littered with bowls and food pestles in greater number than any of the clans’ tents — and mashing is one of the steps necessary for potato mochi, according to the verse. Moreover, we can notice various herbs on the wall, among which we can recognize some Hearty Grains we can use to craft sweets like Jubilife Muffin and Grain Cake.
“Secret? Your expectations need tempering, I fear. This wood is merely for fashioning myself new cutting boards.”
The raw material for potato mochi is the “Smoke Potato” [ケムリイモ]. Like localization alludes at the beginning, this is the Japanese name of Sootfoot Root, which is why its description underlines these tubers can be mashed for use in cooking. No smoke potato, however, can be found in Cogita’s house, and that’s because they only grow in Crimson Mirelands, Cobalt Coastlands, and Alabaster Icelands. Harty Grains, on the other hand, can be gathered in Coronet Highlands — much closer to the maiden’s retreat.
A tuber used for crafting Smoke Bombs. It can be mashed for use in cooking, but it can also be dried and ground to produce a fine powder.
The grains, however, are mainly present in Crimson Mirelands, and it’s in the mire we find Od Verse 13. This strongly suggests it’s here cooking started to pick Cogita’s interest, and this isn’t the only detail connecting the poetess to the area.
Chants from the Shrine of Spring
Upon visiting her in the post-game, Cogita will entrust us with the task to find the Forces of Nature. Quelling Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus will reveal the quartet’s fourth member was always at the woman’s side, ferrying her across the region. Indeed, Old Verse 17 reveals the author’s familiarity with Enamorus — and an extract of the same poem is quoted word by word by Cogita:
“’Once there was a god of field, and once there was a god of spring. Upon Hisui’s winds it wheeled, brought life to every growing thing…’ Was that how that old verse went?”
To dedicate a verse to the gods of spring and field, Cogita must’ve been in good terms with the harvesting shrine in Gapejaw Bog where they were revered. In fact, it can be inferred she eventually took the role of the temple’s priestess. Not only this background is coherent with her education and her knowledge of the ancient myths, and with her connection to the mirelands, but it also explains why she among others was chosen by God for the mission: she wasn’t a random villager, but an affirmed religious authority to begin with. After all, Enamorus does eventually answer her prayers and became her companion, and if the Pixie Plate had to be passed down to someone after the Hero’s quest, that is the maiden overrunning the herald of spring’s place of worship. Cogita even takes as granted she will live longer than the player, alluding to the Love-Hate Pokémon returning to its former owner once we pass away — if the pact was for her immortality to cease with the fulfillment of the mission, she clearly grows skeptical of the notion, even joking about it at the photography studio. And she may be right, considering Enamorus doesn’t seem to be roaming in the wild in the current era.
“Her company, when I have the pleasure, is of great help — she ferries me hither and yon across Hisui. But I’ll leave her in your care for now, I suppose. Indeed — even you can hardly expect to live for all time, surely, but she will be in your care for now.”
“This ‘photography’ invention will let my beauty live on eternally. Come, lost one. Stand by my side.”
If the cult of Enamorus links Cogita to Gapejaw Bog, then the Reveal Glass [うつしかがみ, Reflecting Mirror] in her belonging also originates from here. While this legendary artifact was firstly introduced in Generation V, Legends: Arceus reveals it’s actually Sinnohan in manufacturing, the one handed over by the poetess presenting a handle symbolizing the fourth beast, which ended up broken in its modern iterations.
A looking glass that reveals the truth. It’s a mysterious mirror that returns certain Pokémon to their true shape.
As we’ve already mentioned, the Forces of Nature’s Incarnate Formes are けしん [keshin], referring to the physical embodiments of Kami and other divine and mystical beings. Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, and Enamorus shape themselves as anthropomorphic beings to interact with our dimensions, while their true appearance is their Therian Forme — something Laventon was able to realize.
An example of what is known as a “form change,” though I suspect this strange avian guise to be Tornadus’s true form. Tornadus has been sighted crossing the ocean while in this form.
Therian Formes are れいじゅう[reijū], “sacred beasts” inspired by the Four Symbols of Chinese mythology — the Black Tortoise is a turtle with a snake entwined on its back. Much like the true shape of Enamorus reflected in the magical mirror.
Now it should be clear why Cogita started her literary production in Crimson Mirelands, Old Verse 1 buried in Gapejaw Bog specifically. Given the poem speaks of the clans’ founders in past tense, she didn’t dedicate herself to literature up until many centuries spent alone. Maybe it was specifically the coming of new folks across the sea to have sparked in her heart the wish to leave something for the people of tomorrow. Their ancestors, after all, abandoned them all without a guidance.
For a while the poetess remained in the mirelands. We can find Old Verse 2 in Shrouded Ruins, the fact this love letter was left here may suggest the place holds some sort of significance for the former couple. Maybe Cogita visited the site at some point to expand her religious background, and it’s here she met the Hero for the first time. Indeed, if she was granted immortality only after Celestica’s downfall or shortly before, it would mean the Hero may have reached the end of his mythical journey when the woman was yet to be born. A priestess from the countryside must’ve looked at the capital’s prophet like a nun does to Christ, with the only difference the Messiah still walked among them with undying blood in his veins. At some point, she must’ve realized he, too, was simply a human — their relation does retroactively explain why Alder started to develop feeling for Cynthia in the animated product, as a unconscious reminder of his first and only love.
Eventually the woman moved to Cobalt Coastlands, Old Verse 3 was left on Aipom Hill — the secluded area is fitting for a residence, considering Iscan will also later build his nearby. In this period she likely started to consider writing for others, as the poems shift from a personal to an informative tone. The third composition is the one in which Giratina’s omission is more evident, and the proselytism continues with Old Verse 4. Its presence in Firespit Island suggests a first contact with the clan overlooking Arcanine at the time, and establishing a relation with the new people may be one of the reasons she moved in the first place — assuming Crimson Mirelands didn’t became too violent in the ongoing conflicts.
Location for Old Verse 5 is quite emblematic, as she wrote of Celestica’s demise while visiting the Spring Path leading to Giratina’s domain. This of course yet again remarks the dragon involvement in the end of Sinnohans, but we’re again in front of a more personal work — and as such she doesn’t hold back in showing despise for the clans’ cultural appropriation. The days were passing incessantly, and the one with the mission was failing to appear. How many centuries where still ahead for her until the rest? Maybe for the first time, her faith was starting to crack. She needed answers.
Old Verses 6 and 7 were written in Alabaster Icelands. These are poems speaking of the Lake Trio, the latter focusing on Uxie specifically. Indeed, the author apparently stopped in Hibernal Cave, at the site of one of the tablets engraving the Hero’s quest, before finally reaching Lake Acuity. If there was someone who could’ve resolved her doubts, that was the God of Knowledge. But whether she found the cavern shut or she actually managed to met the Legendary Pokémon, she apparently returned home without the craved renewed hope.
The return journey crossed Coronet Highlands judging by Old Verse 8 written near the Lonely Spring, likely used as a resting place. Old Verse 9 marks her return to Crimson Mirelands, and here in Sludge Mound she starts to wonder how many days will lie ahead, all while recalling the coastlands traditions of laying bones in a river — again showing a profound comprehension of various ancient religious practices.
ENG:
I set the bones of Pokémon adrift upon the river. I let my memories flow on, adrift upon the river. And to the ocean they will flow, perhaps around the world they go. How many bones in days now gone have I now set adrift from me? How many bones in days to come will I yet set adrift to sea? While every gift with which I part takes a sliver of my heart.
JPN:
ポケモンのほねをかわにながすわたしのおもいでもかわにながすやがてうみへとながれせかいをめぐるのだろうかこれまでにいくつのほねをながしたことかこれからもいくつのほねをながすだろうかながすたびにわたしのこころもきえてゆく
Setting adrift the bones of Pokémon, letting them flow into the river. Even my emotions, letting them flow into the river. Will they eventually flow into the sea and go around the world? How many bones have I set adrift until now? How many more bones will I set adrift in the future? Each time I set them adrift, my heart also fades away.
This feeling of uneasiness characterizes the next literary period, one of continuous wandering in the desperate search of a purpose. Through Old Verse 10 we can see how unavoidable the thoughts of the one beloved can be, even reaching the far-off islands of Tranquility Cove. In the attempt to overcome this existential dread, she eventually tried to reconnect with the spiritual roots, up until visiting the Temple of Sinnoh where the eleventh poem rests. After this, she apparently came to accept she had simply to wait for her role to be fulfilled. Maybe Arceus did answer at the top of the mountain, or maybe she just decided to accept the god’s benevolence as the only mean to avoid insanity. In the meantime, there was nothing left to do. Mindlessly wandering in the desolate Icepeak Cavern where Old Verse 12 ended up, scattering words to the wind, made as much sense as anything else.
The thirteen verse coincides with Cogita’s new interest in cooking. For someone who came to terms with the idea countless ages might still waiting, it’s only natural to search for an activity to keep the mind busy. But to work in the kitchen you need ingredients, and beside the more common Sootfoot Roots and Hearty Grains, the swamps offered more unconventional materials. We find the verse in Cottonsedge Prairie [毛槍の草原, Cottonsedge Grassland]. This field lies east to the river stemming from Lake Valor, and while it surely was known by Sinnohans looking at the beaten trails, vestiges of old roads, the place doesn’t seem to ever have held any historical or religious significance. It was simply a remote area in the outskirts, maybe once housing a village considering the Gastly infesting it, and in more modern times an Alpha Vespiquen made use of its remoteness to set its hive — an Alpha Carnivine nearby shows instead the marshy environment reached these coasts too. The Dazzling Honey obtained from here must be of high quality, and the endemic population of Paras serves a good stock for tochukaso. Truly a chef’s heaven!
The Combee and Paras community expands to the south up until reaching Droning Meadow [羽音の原, Field of Buzzing Sounds], but its name betrays the reason why the place isn’t ideal for human to settle: an Alpha Yanmega and its swarm of Yanma made it their dome, molesting the rest of the fauna with their shock-wave-inducing wings. Locals of the unnamed Sinnohan village may have been once fascinated with the crater to the very south, a small trail does lead in what now became a little lake. But any specific, if any, is now completely lost to history.
Until this point Cogita never returned to Obsidian Fieldlands. It makes sense for a region littered with memories spent with the Hero to represent a taboo for the poetess, but that mental barrier eventually fell as she wrote of Old Verse 14 in Windswept Run. An immortal mind does have plenty of time for its wounds to recover, and this step forward surely shows emotional maturity on the author’s behalf.
The last part of her production is mainly composed by religious texts, maybe partially for for the clans — Old Verse 18 did become known matter in the Diamond Clan at least. We see a consistent back and forth from Coronet Highlands where she established her house to Obsidian Fieldlands she grew attached to — it is possible a second retreat existed here at some point. From Obsidian Falls to Cloudcap Pass, from Ramanas Island to Fabled Spring, and back to Floaro Gardens, Cogita gave to the world every last bit of her wisdom. Echoes of Sinnohans were now etched in black ink, ready to reach the future if someone considered them worthy to pass on. The pattern has its only exception in Old Verse 20: the very last writing is again more intimate, a poem dedicated to the man who shined like the Sun. It was left to Bonechill Wastes. Maybe in the hope the Hero could finally melt that endless winter.
Legion’s Mischiefs
Located east to the modern Celestic Town, the Ancient Retreat is where Cogita lives at the time of Legends: Arceus. More accurately, this is called 古の隠れ里 [Ancient Hidden Village]. A “hidden village” [隠れ里] traditionally refers to a secluded settlement, often established by nobles in retreat or as a refuge for soldiers of defeated army. These towns specifically characterized Feudal Japan — spanning from 1185 AD to 1603 AD — and if the chronology is even slightly mirrored in the Pokémon World, we can frame its construction between 600 and 200 years before the events of the game.
Indeed, the retreat was probably settled around the religious production period, when back and forth from the highlands became more consistent. This means the clans already took over since multiple centuries at the time. The name “village” does imply more people used to live here, and given the tent architecture is based on the clans’ model both outside and inside, the maiden likely worked together with the foreigners for a while. Only, the shade was changed to green — this reflects association with Arceus’ jade, and also remarks her neutrality towards the ongoing animosities.
Much was borrowed from the clans’ culture. Outside a typical wooden bridge allows to cross the river intersecting the area. The many bowls inside are also identical to the items we find in other tents, and a frame for clothing was likely borrowed too considering the unique black dresses are so well preserved. Naturally, the inside lacks the small shrine for ancestor’s worship, a cult completely foreign to the maiden, and no portraits are present either: she has no interest in display one of the founders’ icons, and seeing every day the glorified iconography of her lost loved one wasn’t something she was going to handle either. Finally, the lacquered pot inside seemingly suggests early contacts with Ginkgo Guild occurred too.
But why this reconciliation now of all times? Most likely, the reason is to search in Spiritomb. The last Forbidden Pokémon was sealed 500 years ago according to the Pokédex, in a period where the clans were the only inhabitants of the region if we exclude Ginkgo Guild’s outposts. However, the ritual of binding was not performed by the teams: the legion of souls was fixed to an Odd Keystone by a “traveler” with the help of a “mysterious art” [不思議な術]. When this character came from, and how did they know how to tame such a fiend?
It was bound to a fissure in an Odd Keystone as punishment for misdeeds 500 years ago.
All Spiritomb’s mischief and misdeeds compelled a traveler to use a mysterious spell to bind Spiritomb to an odd keystone.
In all likelihood, the traveler was none other than Cogita. The term 旅人 can also be used to refer to a nomad, a person moving from place to place, which matches the poetess’ description before taking roots in the Ancient Retreat. Moreover, it makes perfect sense a Sinnohan with a deep understanding of the mystical world would know the mechanism behind Shrouded Ruins massive Spiritomb’s binding. Indeed, Legends: Arceus confirms the connection between the site and this particular Spiritomb.
In Jubilife Village we can meet the character of Vessa. The small girl wears contemporary clothes, hiding in plain sight among the colonizers, but her dialogues soon start to show some oddities. She will introduce herself narrating the story of a being that hundreds of years prior brought Hisui on the verge of destruction, and that was sealed using a mysterious spell. Now that that magic has weakened, she tasks us with recollecting wisps scattered across the region in the Odd Keystone she gifts us.
“Hundreds of years ago, a being that brought calamity to this region was sealed away by someone using the power of a strange magic. But now, for some unknown reason, the magic has come undone and the seal is broken. After the seal was broken, a whooole bunch of wisps scattered across Hisui… A hundred and seven of them in total. With the Odd Keystone I gave you, you’ll be able to gather them all. See, the wisps are normally invisible. But not to the holder of the Odd Keystone.”
Clearly, Spiritomb is the aforementioned fiend. After gathering all 107 wisps, Vessa will redirect us in Shrouded Ruins as the only place the ritual of binding can be performed again — evidently, here the original confinement took place, Cogita luring the beast where the ancient magical net was still the strongest. The little girl will then reveal her true colors: she lied to us; in one last bit of mischief, she made us collect the wisps omitting there was one final piece for the keystone to be fed. While asking to close our eyes to complete the ritual, she mutters about the old traveler that used the mysterious art, hoping for their forgiveness. Then, she disappears, and a Spiritomb shows in her place.
“But…we’ll need to go to the Shrouded Ruins. That’s the only place the sealing will work…”
“First of all, a confession. I may have told you one teeny-tiny lie. About the wisps…there are actually 108 of them. I’ve been holding on to the last one — could you put it in the Odd Keystone with the others?”
“Here it goes, the final wisp… After this, the traveler who used that strange magic will finally forgive me…right? Ah. Close your eyes for a sec, would you?”
“Making you gather all those wisps was my last bit of mischief… Thanks for playing along. Please…don’t forget about me…”
In other words, Vessa was the last soul of this Spiritomb — her Japanese name ユラ [Yura] is actually an onomatopoeia for the Pokémon’s cry before battle [ユラーッ, Yurā]. The fact she was the only one able to manifest in physical form suggests she was the legion’s leader, meaning either the strongest or the one bearing the gravest sins. This has quite ominous implication if her form is indicative of appearance before passing away: what could a child of her age have possibly done to bear such destructive desire in her heart?
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t answer this question. The ambiguity mainly comes from the impossibility to date this specimen’s birth: if it formed 500 years ago, then the souls may come from those killed in one of the clans’ wars. Maybe this Spiritomb was born out of vengeful spirits of the Pearl Clan who targeted the Diamond Settlement with the intent to eradicate their murderers — at least that can be inferred by the seal taking place in the nearby Shrouded Ruins. If so, maybe Vessa’s ire was just that of a child swearing revenge for the loss of her family. But we can’t exclude the Pokémon was more ancient either. A survivor from the first binding that hid until regaining its energy had all the interest to bring destruction upon whoever settled near the former temple.
Whether the truth is, Vessa seems to have ultimately developed feelings of regret towards her actions. When the seal starts to break — something we don’t see for the early confinements, likely due to a more refined ritual — she actively seeks to restore it, and before disappearing in the amalgamation she wonders if the traveler who took her down can finally forgive her — this again strongly hints to Cogita’s involvement, as she speaks of the sorcerer like someone currently alive, despite centuries have passed since.
If Cogita truly was the nomad saving Hisui from Spiritomb, then it makes sense the clans came in better terms with their savior. The Ancient Retreat was established on the mountains with their behalf, and originally some grateful villagers must’ve set nearby — 500 years ago is coherent with the timeframe given by Feudal Japan. But while this surely affected the woman’s everyday life for a while, she outlived this company too, and when we pay a visit a single hut remains. However, we are not the first to come in a while: a young man preceded us, and we can only imagine the train of thoughts of the immortal writer when a Sinnohan appeared in front of her eyes. Was the one with the mission finally arrived?