[France blinks, a flash of vague shock over his face.]

My God, it has been a while.

[He stares around for a bit, like he's trying to remember something and failing. When he returns his full attention to Merlin, he's got a strange expression on, a bit lopsided with amusement but strangely old.]

It's still strange for me to experience the passage of time like this. I think you've been gone for two years now. We've explored the majority of both Johto and Kanto, although occasionally this place has continued its love affair with spontaneous generation.

[Crystals everywhere included.]