Lucian slept for less than two hours.
When he opened his eyes, morning light was already filtering through the temporary curtains someone had placed over the broken window.
For several seconds, he remained still, wondering whether everything that had happened during the night had merely been a dream.
The meteor shower.
The voices inside his head.
The silver Beldum.
His psychic powers.
The system.
“System,” he whispered.
A blue screen appeared before his eyes.
Lucian released the breath he had been holding.
It had not been a dream.
[Starfall Development System]
[User: Lucian Starfall]
[Available Functions:]
[Analysis]
[Missions]
[Storage]
[Knowledge Archive]
[Locked Functions: 7]
The interface was simple.
There was no artificial intelligence speaking to him or mysterious voice attempting to guide his every decision.
The system seemed to respond only when Lucian gave it an order or directed his attention toward a particular function.
He liked that.
A system that was too active could become a distraction or, worse, an influence that was difficult to recognize.
Lucian selected his name.
[Lucian Starfall]
[Age: 5 years]
[Physical Condition: Healthy]
[Mental Condition: Fatigued]
[Special Ability: Psychic Perception]
[Status: Newly Awakened]
[Psychic Compatibility: Exceptional]
[Psychic Control: Deficient]
[Warning: Excessive use of mental energy may cause headaches, loss of consciousness, neurological damage, or emotional instability.]
Lucian read the warning twice.
“Straight to the point.”
At least the system was not trying to convince him that he was invincible.
He focused on the description of Psychic Perception.
[Psychic Perception]
[Allows the user to detect surface thoughts, emotions, mental energy, and psychic connections.]
[Range, precision, and depth will depend on the user’s training.]
[Warning: Attempting to penetrate a more powerful mind may provoke an involuntary or deliberate counterattack.]
The information matched what Alaric had explained.
Lucian closed the status screen and opened the Missions section.
The mission from the previous night was still there.
[The Call of the Stars]
[Primary Objective: Find the origin of the connection.]
[Secondary Objective: Establish a voluntary bond with the unknown Pokémon.]
[Progress: 8%]
[Time Limit: None.]
[Rewards: Variable.]
[Warning: High-risk territory.]
The eight percent probably corresponded to the initial contact and his approximate identification of the Pokémon’s location.
There was no time limit.
That meant the system was not forcing him to immediately run toward the mountains.
He could prepare, investigate, and wait until Alaric considered it safe to begin the expedition.
Of course, the fact that the system had not established a time limit did not guarantee that the Beldum could wait indefinitely.
Lucian remembered its loneliness.
He closed the screen before falling into the temptation of searching for another connection.
On the bedside table, he found a glass of water, an Oran Berry cut into small pieces, and a note written in his grandfather’s firm handwriting.
Breakfast in thirty minutes.
Do not use your powers without supervision.
The final sentence had been underlined twice.
Lucian drank the water and ate the Berry pieces.
Their flavor was a strange combination of sweetness and mild acidity.
He had tasted hundreds of them during his five years in this world, but it still fascinated him that something he had once considered a video game item was an actual fruit.
Even their effects were far more complex than restoring a fixed amount of health.
The quality of the soil, ripeness, preservation method, and preparation all influenced their properties.
An ordinary Oran Berry could relieve fatigue, but those grown in the Starfall orchards contained a higher concentration of nutrients and natural energy.
That knowledge came from Alaric, not the system.
Lucian hoped it would remain that way.
He did not want his special ability to replace the need to learn.
He dressed in dark trousers, a white shirt, and a short-sleeved blue jacket.
When he tried to fix his hair, he discovered that several silver strands refused to remain in place.
After three attempts, he gave up.
He left the bedroom and found Alakazam waiting in the hallway.
The Pokémon floated with its legs crossed and both spoons resting against its knees.
It opened its eyes when Lucian appeared.
“Good morning.”
“Alakazam.”
The response was calm, although Lucian felt a faint mental pressure accompanying the greeting.
Alakazam was checking his condition.
“I’m fine,” Lucian said.
“Just a little tired.”
The Pokémon pointed one spoon at Lucian’s head before making a slow gesture with the other.
“Don’t use my powers without supervision. I already read the note.”
Alakazam nodded.
Lucian activated Analysis.
The screen appeared in front of the Pokémon.
[Alakazam]
[Partial information.]
[The target possesses mental strength far superior to the user.]
[Name: Atlas]
[Sex: Male]
[Type: Psychic]
[Ability: Synchronize]
[Potential: Undetermined]
[Strength: Undetermined]
[Foundation: Undetermined]
[Physical Condition: Excellent]
[Mental Condition: Stable]
[Compatibility with User: High]
[Detected Moves: Incomplete information.]
[Psycho Cut — Mastery undetermined.]
[Psychic — Mastery undetermined.]
[Teleport — Mastery undetermined.]
[Reflect — Mastery undetermined.]
[Light Screen — Mastery undetermined.]
[Recover — Mastery undetermined.]
[Calm Mind — Mastery undetermined.]
[Additional moves unidentified.]
Lucian showed no outward reaction.
The system had managed to identify Atlas’s name, sex, type, Ability, and several moves, but it could not calculate his Potential or Strength.
The difference between them was too great.
It was a reasonable limitation.
If he could analyze any powerful Pokémon without difficulty, there would be little point in the system’s abilities improving alongside him.
Atlas tilted his head slightly.
Lucian had the uncomfortable feeling that the Pokémon knew exactly what he had just done.
“Can you see the system?”
Atlas shook his head.
“But you noticed something.”
This time, he nodded.
The Pokémon pointed one spoon toward Lucian’s eyes and then at its own chest.
“You felt me trying to examine you.”
Another nod.
That meant Analysis was not completely undetectable.
Powerful or especially sensitive Pokémon could perceive his attention.
Lucian stored that information in his memory.
“Thank you for not throwing me into a wall.”
Atlas narrowed his eyes.
For some reason, Lucian suspected the Pokémon had considered it.
They walked through the mansion’s hallways together.
The walls were decorated with old paintings, maps of different regions, and photographs of Starfall family members standing beside their Pokémon.
Many of them belonged to better times.
In one of the largest photographs, nearly thirty people were gathered in front of the main entrance.
Lucian recognized a much younger Alaric near the center, accompanied by a Metang.
Researchers, breeders, children, and Trainers surrounded him.
Now, most of those rooms remained empty.
The mansion was still carefully maintained, but its silence revealed the absence of a family large enough to fill it.
Lucian stopped in front of the photograph.
“Did you know all of them?”
Atlas studied the image.
A quiet emotion reached Lucian.
Nostalgia mixed with pain.
He immediately withdrew.
“I’m sorry,” Lucian said.
“I still don’t know how to block it.”
Alakazam stared at him for several seconds before resting one spoon against the boy’s forehead.
A warm sensation spread through his head.
The noise of the nearby presences weakened.
It did not disappear completely, but it stopped pressing against him from every direction.
“A barrier?”
Atlas nodded.
“You’ll have to teach me how to do that.”
The Pokémon continued forward.
Lucian followed him into the dining room.
Alaric was already seated at one end of the long table.
He wore black trousers, field boots, and a gray shirt beneath a dark blue coat.
A cup of coffee and several pages covered in notes rested beside him.
Elena sat across from him, attempting to build a tower out of pieces of toast.
The structure collapsed when Lucian entered.
“You’re alive!”
“It’s good to see you too.”
Elena abandoned her chair and ran toward him.
She wrapped her arms around him before he could prepare himself.
“Mara said I couldn’t enter your bedroom because Alakazam had placed a barrier around it.”
“It was so I could rest.”
Elena stepped back and studied his face.
“Your eyes aren’t glowing anymore.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“I liked them.”
“They gave me a headache.”
“Then I like them a little less.”
Lucian smiled and took the chair beside her.
Breakfast included eggs, bread, fruit, milk, and a small portion of jam made from Pecha Berries.
Lucian filled his plate while studying Alaric’s documents.
There was a map of the Astral Mountains.
His grandfather covered it with another sheet before Lucian could study it.
“That was not very subtle,” Lucian remarked.
“And yet, it accomplished its purpose.”
“Are you planning to go to the mountains?”
“I’m assessing the situation.”
Elena raised her head.
“Can we go?”
“No,” Alaric and Lucian answered simultaneously.
She frowned.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
“You don’t need to. The answer will still be no.”
“You’re five too.”
“That’s another reason neither of us should go.”
Alaric took a sip of his coffee.
“I’m pleased to discover that at least one part of you understands the concept of caution.”
Lucian chose to ignore the comment.
“Did something happen in the mountains after the meteor shower?”
“The Pokémon in the western sector are restless. The sensors registered several magnetic disturbances, and one of the cameras stopped working during the night.”
“Which one?”
Alaric showed him the map.
Celestia Island was approximately circular, although its northern coast was filled with cliffs and small bays.
The Astral Mountains occupied most of the central region.
Three marked routes approached them, but only one reached the area where the colony lived.
A red mark indicated the final point that still had communication.
“The camera at Orion Pass,” Alaric explained.
“It is located less than three kilometers from the outer boundary of their territory.”
“Do you think the colony destroyed it?”
“If they had wanted to destroy it, we wouldn’t have found any pieces. The signal simply stopped.”
“An electromagnetic disturbance.”
“That is the most likely explanation.”
Beldum, Metang, and Metagross could generate and manipulate magnetic fields.
A colony that large possessed the ability to disrupt instruments from several kilometers away.
Elena looked at the map without understanding all the details.
“Why does Lucian want to go there?”
Alaric remained silent.
Lucian decided to give her part of the truth.
“There’s a lost Pokémon.”
“Then we have to help it.”
“It isn’t exactly lost.”
“Is it hurt?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is it hungry?”
Lucian remembered the sensation he had received.
“Probably.”
Elena took two slices of bread and began wrapping them in a napkin.
“We can bring it these.”
Alaric took the improvised package away from her.
“The Pokémon in question does not eat bread.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it is part of my job to know what Pokémon eat.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“Then prepare something it can eat.”
Alaric looked at Lucian as if holding him responsible for starting the conversation.
Lucian took a piece of fruit to hide his smile.
“After breakfast,” Alaric said, “Elena will go with Mara to the southern orchards. Lucian will come with me to the training field.”
The girl looked at her friend.
“Are you going to train?”
“It seems so.”
“I want to train too.”
“Your training begins next week,” Alaric reminded her.
“And it will not be psychic training.”
“I can try.”
To prove it, Elena stared intensely at a spoon.
Nothing happened.
She frowned so hard that her face began to turn red.
The spoon did not move.
Atlas discreetly raised one of his own spoons and used psychic energy to make Elena’s vibrate.
The girl cried out in excitement.
“I did it!”
Lucian glanced at Alakazam.
Atlas was looking in another direction with an innocent expression.
Alaric massaged his forehead.
“Finish your breakfast.”
Half an hour later, Lucian stood in one of the training fields behind the mansion.
It was a circular area surrounded by low stone walls and an energy barrier that could be activated during more intense battles.
Targets of different sizes, moving platforms, and several wooden obstacles had been placed throughout the field.
Alaric placed five small stones on a table.
“Before we begin, I need to know how much control you possess.”
“The system says it’s deficient.”
Alaric became completely still.
Lucian realized his mistake too late.
He had spoken without thinking.
“What system?”
Atlas, who was floating several feet away, opened his eyes.
Lucian considered his options.
He could lie, pretend he had been referring to an imaginary scale, or change the subject.
None of those alternatives had much chance of succeeding.
Alaric had spent decades researching Pokémon and dealing with people who attempted to hide information from him.
Furthermore, if Lucian intended to use the system to develop his partners and help the family, he needed at least one person he could trust.
“Something appeared inside my mind last night,” he admitted.
Alaric did not interrupt him.
“It resembles a screen. It can show me information about myself and the Pokémon I observe. It also has missions, a storage space, and a knowledge archive, although I still don’t know what all its functions contain.”
“Show it to me.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
Lucian opened the system and attempted to project the screen outward.
Nothing happened.
“I’m the only one who can see it.”
“Describe exactly what it says.”
Lucian repeated the information from his status before explaining the partial result of his analysis of Atlas.
Alakazam listened carefully.
Alaric showed neither disbelief nor excitement.
His expression became more serious with every word.
“Did it mention the Beldum?”
“The mission calls it an unknown Pokémon. It wants me to find the source of the connection and establish a voluntary bond.”
“What reward does it offer?”
“It says that will depend on my actions and the outcome.”
“Punishment for failure?”
“None listed.”
“Time limit?”
“No.”
“Does it order you to act in a particular way?”
“No. It only presents the objectives.”
Alaric began walking around the table.
“You will not mention this to anyone else.”
“Elena knows I heard the Pokémon.”
“But she does not know that this ability exists.”
“No.”
“And it will remain that way.”
Lucian nodded.
“Do you believe me?”
“Last night, you developed powers that vanished from our bloodline generations ago and established mental contact with a Pokémon several miles away. An invisible interface is not the hardest part to believe.”
It was a reasonable answer.
Alaric picked up one of the stones.
“Analyze it.”
Lucian obeyed.
[Volcanic Rock.]
[Quality: Ordinary.]
[Contains small concentrations of iron and Ground-type energy.]
[No special value.]
Alaric chose another.
This one had a reddish color and a smoother surface.
[Volcanic Rock.]
[Quality: Low.]
[Contains traces of Fire-type energy.]
[Possible Use: Supplementary material for the habitat of Fire-type Pokémon.]
Lucian described both results.
Alaric switched the stones’ positions several times and repeated the test.
The information remained the same.
Then he removed a small box from his coat pocket.
Inside was a blue scale.
Lucian recognized it, although he had never seen one from so close.
[Gyarados Scale.]
[Quality: High.]
[Energy Purity: 82%.]
[Condition: Well preserved.]
[Possible Uses: Research, production of mineral supplements, strengthening physical defenses in compatible Pokémon, and preparation of specialized items.]
[Warning: Must not be consumed without processing.]
Alaric listened to the report and put the scale away.
“The purity calculated by our instruments is eighty-one point seven percent.”
“Then the system rounded the result.”
“Or it uses a different method. We will need to conduct more tests.”
Lucian noticed a familiar gleam in his grandfather’s eyes.
The researcher had temporarily replaced the concerned grandfather.
“Training first,” Alaric said.
“Afterward, we will examine that ability under controlled conditions.”
He pointed toward the stones.
“Lift one.”
Lucian extended his hand.
“You don’t need to move your arms. Psychic energy responds to the mind, not the muscles.”
“I know.”
“Knowing the theory does not mean mastering it.”
Lucian recognized his own words from earlier that morning and chose not to respond.
He closed his eyes.
He tried to recall the sensation from the previous night when the objects had floated around him.
At the time, he had not needed to think.
His power had responded to fear, pain, and the need to protect Elena.
Now, there was only a motionless stone.
Lucian tried to wrap his mind around it.
Nothing happened.
He clenched his teeth.
The stone trembled.
Then it shot off the table and struck one of the wooden targets.
Alaric studied the mark it had left.
“Too much force.”
“But it moved.”
“Our objective is not to attack the stone. It is to lift it.”
Atlas returned the stone to the table.
For the next hour, Lucian attempted to raise it without launching it.
His first few attempts ended in similar ways.
The stone jumped, spun, or flew in random directions.
Once, it nearly struck Alaric, but Atlas stopped it without even looking.
Gradually, Lucian stopped thinking of the stone as something he needed to push.
He imagined a hand closing around it.
The rock rose one centimeter.
Then it fell.
“Again,” Alaric ordered.
Lucian repeated the exercise.
Two centimeters.
Four.
Ten.
Pain began to form behind his eyes.
“Rest,” Alaric said.
“I can still continue.”
“That is precisely why you need to learn when to stop.”
Lucian sat on the ground and accepted a bottle of water.
Atlas rested a spoon against his head and examined his condition.
“How bad is it?”
Alakazam held two fingers a short distance apart.
“Then I can make another attempt.”
Atlas gently tapped his forehead with the spoon.
“That means no,” Alaric translated.
“Psychic power is not developed by destroying your mind every morning.”
Lucian drank some water.
While he rested, a Pidgey descended onto the wall surrounding the field.
The small Pokémon tilted its head and observed the stones with curiosity.
Lucian activated Analysis.
[Pidgey]
[Sex: Female]
[Approximate Age: 2 years]
[Type: Normal/Flying]
[Ability: Keen Eye]
[Potential: Green Mid]
[Strength: Initial High]
[Foundation: Solid]
[Physical Condition: Healthy]
[Mental Condition: Curious]
[Moves:]
[Tackle — Proficient]
[Gust — Beginner]
[Sand Attack — Proficient]
[Compatibility with User: Neutral]
[Evaluation: Young and healthy specimen. Possesses slightly stronger wings than average for its age. Speed and maneuverability training recommended.]
For the first time, the analysis was nearly complete.
Lucian carefully read every section.
The Pidgey was neither particularly rare nor powerful.
However, its information demonstrated the system’s true value.
He could identify hidden talents, health problems, and appropriate training paths without subjecting a Pokémon to lengthy or invasive tests.
In the hands of a breeder, that ability could transform the future of countless Pokémon.
It could also turn him into a target for countless people.
Alaric noticed his concentration.
“What do you see?”
Lucian described the result.
His grandfather observed the Pidgey for several seconds.
“I know her. She was born near the western orchard. Her mother belongs to a flock that has lived on the island for years.”
The elderly man removed a small notebook and wrote down the information.
“We will test the strength of her wings later.”
The Pidgey descended onto the table, took a seed someone had left there, and flew away.
Lucian followed her flight.
“Grandfather, if the system can detect a Pokémon’s Potential…”
“You must not use it to judge their worth.”
Lucian turned toward him.
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
“But it is a conclusion you may reach with time. Potential matters. Denying that would be foolish. However, it is not the only thing that defines a Pokémon.”
“I know.”
“Knowing it now does not mean you will never forget.”
Alaric put the notebook away.
“I have known Pokémon with extraordinary talent that never learned how to battle because their Trainers treated them like trophies. I have also known Pokémon considered mediocre who defeated superior opponents through years of effort and trust.”
“The system separates Potential from Strength and Foundation.”
“Good. Make certain that you do the same.”
Lucian nodded seriously.
He did not want to collect Pokémon solely because of the color displayed on a screen.
He wanted partners capable of growing alongside him, exploring the world, and helping him rebuild his family’s legacy.
Potential would be important, but it would never replace their bond.
An alarm sounded from Alaric’s wrist communicator.
The elderly man raised his arm.
“Report.”
One of the guards’ voices came through the device.
“Mr. Starfall, we recovered the remains of the camera from Orion Pass.”
“Damage?”
“It does not appear to have been attacked. All of its energy was drained, and the internal circuits are burned out.”
Alaric frowned.
“Activity near the border?”
“Two groups of Metang were sighted near the pass. They did not cross the territorial markers, but they have never descended this far before.”
Lucian rose to his feet.
“It’s the colony.”
Alaric raised a hand, ordering him to remain silent.
“Withdraw from the sector,” he told the communicator.
“Do not attempt to recover any other equipment. Leave two passive sensors five kilometers away and return to the southern post.”
“Understood.”
The communication ended.
“Something is disturbing them,” Lucian said.
“It would seem so.”
“It could be related to the meteors.”
“That is also possible.”
“Or the Beldum.”
Alaric did not answer.
A sudden pain pierced Lucian’s mind.
It was not as intense as the previous night, but it caused him to drop the bottle.
Atlas appeared in front of him and raised both spoons.
“Wait.”
Lucian closed his eyes.
The psychic barrier was still there.
However, something was striking it from the outside.
An emotion.
Fear.
It was not his.
For a brief instant, he saw the cavern again.
The silver Beldum floated between two stone pillars while several reddish flashes illuminated the depths.
Something moved behind it.
The image disappeared.
Lucian opened his eyes.
“It’s afraid.”
“Close the connection,” Alaric ordered.
“I didn’t open it.”
“Lucian.”
“I can feel it even through Atlas’s barrier. Whatever is happening, it’s getting worse.”
Alaric remained silent.
His gaze moved from Lucian to Atlas.
The Psychic-type closed its eyes and extended its perception toward the mountains.
Its spoons began to vibrate.
After several seconds, Atlas opened its eyes and made a deep sound.
Alaric understood the message.
“The psychic and magnetic activity within the mountain is increasing.”
“Then we have to go.”
“You are not prepared.”
“The Beldum is calling me.”
“That is precisely why you are the one in the greatest danger.”
Lucian took a step toward his grandfather.
“I am not asking you to let me go alone. You can bring Atlas, Metagross, and every Pokémon you consider necessary. But if the colony is disturbed and the Beldum will only communicate with me, leaving me here could be even more dangerous.”
Alaric did not respond.
Lucian continued before losing the opportunity.
“Last night, you said a researcher must respect danger. You never said they should ignore it.”
“Using my own words against me will not make me change my mind.”
“Then change your mind because I’m right.”
Atlas turned its head, possibly to hide a reaction.
Alaric looked toward the mountains.
The clouds covering the peaks were moving in circles.
Even from the training field, flashes of blue light could occasionally be seen within them.
The situation was no longer normal.
“We will not go today,” he finally declared.
Lucian was about to protest, but Alaric raised a hand.
“I need to organize a team, study the sensor data, and contact the guardian of the route. You need to learn how to maintain a basic mental barrier and prove that you can follow instructions when your life depends on it.”
“Does that mean you will take me?”
“It means I will consider taking you.”
It was not an acceptance.
But neither was it another absolute refusal.
“How much time do I have?”
“Three days.”
Lucian looked at the stones on the table.
Three days to learn how to control an ability that had awakened the previous night.
Three days to convince one of the most demanding Trainers in Kanto that he would not be a burden.
It seemed impossible.
The system screen appeared before him.
[Secondary Mission Generated.]
[The First Step of a Psychic]
[Objective: Develop a basic mental barrier before entering the Astral Mountains.]
[Additional Objective: Maintain the barrier for ten minutes under Atlas’s pressure.]
[Reward: Basic Telepathy Technique.]
[Additional Reward: Unknown.]
Lucian read the message and raised his gaze.
“Three days will be enough.”
Alaric arched an eyebrow.
“An hour ago, you could not lift a stone without turning it into a projectile.”
Lucian extended one hand toward the table.
The smallest stone trembled.
This time, it did not shoot away.
It slowly rose until it was floating a few centimeters above the surface.
The effort caused a bead of sweat to slide down Lucian’s forehead, but he maintained his concentration.
One.
Two.
Three seconds.
The stone fell.
Lucian smiled.
“Then we’d better keep training.”