When failed actress Chalcedony gives up on the neon lights and crowds to challenge the Orre League, it isn't just the champion title she's after. She's discovered she was adopted under strange circumstances. Her biological family must be out there s...
She steered her wandering thoughts back on track. Zileh thought it was normal, but she was only 14. Maybe Jet was that drunk. Maybe he enjoyed being admired by someone who didn't care whether or not he was Justy's son. She was probably overthinking it because she was hungover.
Rustie's P★DA beeped. She immediately reached for it, but it was her mom, not Jet.
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Rustie groaned. 'This is what I mean when I say my mom is an overprotective conspiracy theorist...'
Chalcedony read over her shoulder. 'How does she know who you danced with? Or about your Pokédex? Who the hell are "TG" and "AC?"'
'"TG" stands for "The Gloom," which means "Cipher" in conspiracy theorist...'
'Oh, yeah. I should've known.'
'But "AC" is a new one. I don't even know what that stands for... "all" something?'
Chalcedony typed 'AC conspiracy theory' into Roto-Search on the P★DA Dirk wasn't using while driving. The first page was all about mind-altering chemicals released from air conditioning units.
'I don't think it's this air con thing... but the fuck is this?'
On page three was a fan forum thread that mentioned the 'Alfie Cult,' also called the 'Alfie Clan.'
'It'll be that...'
Rustie sighed. 'But who even are they? Why would they be watching?'
'I think your mom's watching more obsessively than anyone associated with Alfie. Why are people so obsessed with him? He's minding his own business at the Battle Tower!'
'Hasn't he started performing again?'
'Yeah, singing covers in shitty dive bars in Wyndon...'
According to the forum thread, the conspiracy theorists believed that the small gigs, which weren't really big enough to hold all the fans who wanted to see Alfie, were secret 'cult' meetings. Tickets selling out instantly were blamed on only 'members' being allowed in.
'It's kind of obvious he doesn't want to play big shows. He just wants to sing without worrying that it's his whole career. I've watched a livestream and it was not a cult meeting.'
There was an excuse for that, too. They believed the livestreams were pre-recorded. Some went as far as saying Abbey Hawthorn's geology classes were either cult meetings, or laced with subliminal hints that 'converted' students without them realising.
'That's how they are,' Rustie said, 'They can explain literally anything.'
'Hasn't that family been through enough already? OK, people hate Alfie, but Abbey is hardly even a celebrity. Leave them alone.'
