Lucian’s final day in Pallet Town began in the same way as all the others.
He woke before sunrise.
Growlithe slept on the rug, his paws moving slightly as he dreamed.
Beldum floated near the window, motionless except for the faint glow of its single eye.
For several seconds, Lucian forgot that he would be leaving the next morning.
The room already felt familiar.
He recognized the sound of the wind against the glass, the footsteps of one of the assistants in the outside corridor, and the songs of the Pidgey nesting near the laboratory.
He even knew what time Gary would begin running through the hallway.
Lucian rose and opened the curtains.
His notebooks, several documents, and the compass Elena had lent him rested on the desk.
Its needle pointed north as usual.
Beside it was a small calendar.
His departure date had been circled in blue.
He didn’t remember marking it.
Daisy must have done it at some point.
Beldum approached.
“Only one day left.”
The Pokémon released a low vibration.
“We’ll return.”
Beldum looked around the room.
Lucian sensed a certain sadness from his partner.
Beldum didn’t display emotion in the same way as Growlithe, but it had grown accustomed to Swablu’s presence, the garden, and the laboratory’s fields.
It would miss this place too.
Growlithe woke and raised his head.
“We aren’t leaving yet.”
The Pokémon stood, stretched, and walked toward the door.
Lucian looked at the clock.
Almost an hour remained before breakfast.
“Daisy won’t be awake.”
Growlithe sniffed beneath the door.
A chirp came from the other side.
Lucian opened it.
Swablu was waiting in the hallway.
She wore the blue ribbon around her neck, along with the small silver star-shaped clasp.
The Pokémon flew into the room and landed on top of Beldum.
The metallic Pokémon descended several inches but didn’t protest.
Daisy appeared behind her.
She was still wearing her pajamas, and her blonde hair was disheveled.
“Swablu wanted to come.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
“Swablu?”
“We both wanted to come.”
“It’s early.”
“You’re awake.”
“I always wake up at this hour.”
Daisy entered and closed the door.
She looked at the suitcases.
Lucian had finished packing almost everything the night before.
Only a few personal belongings and the products he would use to feed his Pokémon remained outside.
“You already packed the books.”
“Oak said I needed to finish the report on the Fearow before noon.”
“That doesn’t require eight books.”
“I only brought three to the laboratory.”
“For you, that counts as restraint.”
Daisy sat on the edge of the bed.
Growlithe settled at her feet.
“Did you sleep well?” Lucian asked.
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly.
“You didn’t sleep well.”
“Yes, I did.”
“You have dark circles beneath your eyes.”
Daisy crossed her arms.
“You shouldn’t analyze people this early in the morning.”
“It was only an observation.”
“I hate it when you say that.”
Lucian placed the compass inside his jacket’s inner pocket.
“Were you thinking about my departure?”
Daisy didn’t answer immediately.
Swablu left Beldum and landed on her shoulder.
“A little.”
Lucian sat in the chair across from her.
“It isn’t permanent.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“But you won’t be here tomorrow.”
There was no logical answer that could change that reality.
Lucian remained silent.
Daisy stroked Swablu’s wings.
“I don’t want you to think I’m angry because you’re returning to your family.”
“I don’t.”
“Elena is waiting for you too.”
“Yes.”
“And your grandfather.”
“Him too.”
Daisy looked at the blue scarf resting on one of the suitcases.
Although the spring weather had made it unnecessary, Lucian had decided to take it with him.
“Will you keep writing to me?”
“Every week.”
“You said that last time.”
“And I did.”
“Some of your letters looked like reports.”
“I told you what was happening on the island.”
“You included a table about Beldum’s growth.”
“It was important information.”
Daisy sighed.
“Write me something that doesn’t include tables.”
Lucian thought about it.
“I can try.”
“And don’t let Elena read the letters.”
“She doesn’t read my correspondence.”
“Are you sure?”
“She tried once.”
“What happened?”
“My grandfather made her organize the Berry storage room as punishment.”
Daisy smiled.
“Then she’ll try again.”
The breakfast bell sounded from the first floor.
Almost at the same time, they heard Gary running through the hallway.
The door opened.
“Daisy! Lucian! Grandpa said that…!”
Gary stopped.
He looked at Daisy sitting on the bed.
Then he looked at Lucian.
“What are you doing?”
“Talking,” Daisy replied.
Gary frowned.
“That’s boring.”
Growlithe ran toward him.
The boy forgot his question and hugged the Pokémon.
“Are you leaving tomorrow too?”
Growlithe wagged his tail.
Gary tightened the embrace.
“You can stay with me.”
The Pokémon looked at Lucian.
“Growlithe will return to the island with me.”
Gary raised his head.
“Why?”
“He’s my partner.”
“You can get another one.”
Growlithe stopped wagging his tail.
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
“Partners cannot be replaced.”
Gary looked at the Pokémon.
He seemed to understand that he had said something wrong.
“Then I can go to the island.”
“Not without permission,” Daisy said.
“I’ll ask Grandpa.”
“You also need permission from Lucian and his grandfather.”
Gary looked at Lucian.
“Can I go?”
“When you’re a little older.”
The boy frowned.
“Everyone says that.”
Growlithe licked his face.
Gary hugged him again.
“I’ll visit you when I have my Blastoise.”
“You’ll need a Squirtle first,” Lucian reminded him.
“I’ll evolve it quickly.”
“You shouldn’t rush an evolution.”
Gary looked at him with a serious expression.
“Then I’ll ask if it wants to evolve.”
Lucian nodded.
“That’s a better answer.”
Daisy stood.
“Let’s go eat breakfast before Grandpa comes looking for us.”
Lucian spent the morning completing his responsibilities.
He submitted the report on the Fearow population, organized his observations about Rattata, and left instructions for continuing to record changes along the cliffs.
He didn’t open any new documents.
Oak made sure of that.
The professor reviewed the report in silence while Lucian waited in front of his desk.
Daisy remained beside the window with Swablu.
“The monitoring proposal is well structured,” Oak finally said.
“Evans will continue sending you records once a month.”
“Once a week would be better.”
“Once a month.”
“The first few months are important for understanding their adaptation.”
“Evans will inform me if anything relevant happens. You’ll receive a monthly summary.”
Lucian didn’t look satisfied.
Oak closed the document.
“Being far away means trusting the people who continue the work.”
“I trust Evans.”
“Then you don’t need to review every decision he makes.”
Daisy concealed a smile.
Lucian noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Oak opened one of his desk drawers.
He removed a data drive, two small books, and a sealed folder.
“These are the authorized copies of the laboratory records. I also included the reports related to the Mount Moon fragment.”
Lucian took the folder.
“Can I continue analyzing them on the island?”
“Under your grandfather’s supervision.”
“Of course.”
Oak looked at him in a way that suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced.
“The sample will remain here.”
“That’s safer.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
The professor placed the two books on the table.
One was about the social behavior of wild Pokémon.
The other was an old nutritional manual.
“You can keep them.”
Lucian studied the covers.
He had used both books throughout the month.
The nutritional manual was filled with notes written by Oak and other researchers.
“They’re valuable.”
“Books are more valuable when someone uses them.”
“I’ll return them when I come back.”
“You may, if you want.”
Lucian placed both volumes inside his backpack.
Oak leaned back in his chair.
“You learned a great deal this month.”
“There are still several areas of the laboratory I didn’t visit.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“I could return during the summer.”
Daisy approached the desk.
“You said you would come back before beginning your journey.”
“Summer is before that.”
“Then you’ll return.”
Lucian nodded.
Oak smiled.
“First, you need to convince your grandfather. I’m sure he has his own plans for your training.”
“I can speak with him.”
“I’m sure it will be a calm and reasonable conversation.”
“My grandfather is reasonable.”
Oak laughed.
“Your definition of that word needs work.”
The professor stood and extended one hand.
Lucian looked at it.
“This isn’t a permanent farewell,” Oak said.
“But you’ve completed your first formal stay as my student.”
Lucian shook his hand.
“Thank you for teaching me.”
“Thank you for reminding me why I stopped accepting students this young.”
Daisy raised an eyebrow.
“Does that mean you don’t want him to come back?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Oak placed his other hand on Lucian’s shoulder.
“You have talent, discipline, and an extraordinary ability to understand Pokémon. But you still try to advance faster than your body and your companions can endure.”
Lucian listened carefully.
“Don’t confuse knowledge with experience. Knowing what will happen in theory doesn’t mean you can control everything once it happens.”
The words carried a meaning Oak couldn’t fully understand.
Lucian possessed memories of the anime and games.
He knew about events that had yet to happen, species that many people in Kanto had never seen, and places he had never visited.
But that month had proven something important.
His knowledge wasn’t absolute.
He hadn’t known about the festival.
He hadn’t known the story of the Fearow flock.
He hadn’t anticipated Swablu’s reaction during the battle.
The world wouldn’t follow a script simply because he remembered one version of its future.
“I’ll remember.”
“And listen to Daisy when she tells you to rest.”
Lucian looked at her.
“That isn’t part of scientific instruction.”
“It’s the most important advice you’ll receive from me.”
Daisy smiled proudly.
There was no work after noon.
Daisy fulfilled her wish to spend a normal afternoon at home.
At first, Lucian didn’t understand exactly what that meant.
He discovered that it involved helping prepare lunch, feeding some of the Pokémon living near the laboratory, and sitting in the garden without turning any observation into a report. Read the latest chapters at g.com.
The last part was the most difficult.
Daisy decided to prepare biscuits for the Pokémon.
Lucian followed the recipe precisely.
She didn’t.
“You added too much honey,” he said.
“Growlithe prefers them sweet.”
“That doesn’t mean we should change the proportions.”
“It was only one spoonful.”
“Two.”
“The first was small.”
Lucian picked up the bowl.
“You also added more flour.”
“The dough was too sticky.”
“Because you added extra honey.”
Daisy tried to take the bowl back.
“They’re fine.”
“We need to adjust the amount of milk.”
“Don’t turn the biscuits into an experiment.”
“Cooking requires exact measurements.”
“My grandmother cooked without measuring anything.”
“That doesn’t mean she didn’t understand the proportions.”
Gary appeared on top of a chair.
He had flour in his hair and held a Wartortle-shaped mold.
“I made one.”
The dough he had placed in the mold was three times thicker than the others.
Lucian examined it.
“It won’t cook evenly.”
“It will be bigger.”
“The center will remain raw.”
“Blastoise would eat it.”
“You don’t have a Blastoise,” Daisy reminded him.
Gary crossed his arms.
“Someday.”
Growlithe waited beneath the table.
Every time a piece of dough fell, he caught it before it touched the floor.
“Don’t eat too much,” Lucian warned.
The Pokémon pretended not to hear him.
Beldum floated near the ceiling.
Swablu rested on top of it, supervising the kitchen from a safe position.
When the biscuits were ready, some had recognizable shapes.
Others did not.
Gary’s Wartortle had transformed into a round mass with two arms.
“It looks more like a Golem,” Daisy said.
“It’s a Wartortle.”
“Then it suffered terribly.”
Gary protected the biscuit with both hands.
“I’m not giving you any.”
“I didn’t want to try it.”
The first tray was for the Pokémon.
Growlithe received two biscuits.
Swablu pecked at a smaller one.
Beldum received a mineral supplement Lucian had mixed with a small amount of special honey intended for Steel-type Pokémon.
“That also counts as a biscuit,” Daisy said.
“It doesn’t contain flour.”
“It’s round.”
“The shape doesn’t determine what it is.”
Gary raised his deformed Wartortle.
“Then this is still a Wartortle.”
Lucian remained silent.
Daisy began laughing.
“He got you.”
“His conclusion is based on an incorrect comparison.”
“But he got you.”
Even Oak, who had just entered the kitchen, smiled.
Later, they walked through the laboratory grounds.
They didn’t bring any notebooks.
Daisy had checked Lucian’s backpack to make sure.
They visited the Snorlax sleeping near the trees.
Growlithe attempted to wake it, but a particularly powerful snore made him retreat.
They watched several Krabby compete over a shining stone beside the pond.
Gary tried to take it until Oak explained that he would probably get pinched.
They also approached the field where the Tauros trained.
The herd’s leader recognized Lucian.
It stopped on the other side of the fence and observed him.
Lucian extended one hand but didn’t attempt to use his abilities.
Tauros slowly approached.
Its snout brushed against the boy’s fingers.
“He isn’t frightened anymore,” Daisy said.
“The balloon is gone.”
“He also remembers you.”
Lucian stroked its forehead.
He didn’t need the system to know that.
As evening approached, they returned to the garden.
Daisy spread a blanket beneath the tree.
Oak brought drinks, and Gary fell asleep after spending ten minutes insisting he wasn’t tired.
The Pokémon rested around them.
“I have something for you,” Daisy said.
She removed a small package from her basket.
It was wrapped in blue paper and tied with white string.
Lucian accepted it.
“You didn’t need to give me anything.”
“Open it.”
Inside, he found a dark-covered album.
A blue star decorated the front, along with the handwritten words “Pallet Town.”
Lucian opened the first page.
There was a photograph taken on the day of his arrival.
Daisy was hugging him at the harbor, while Beldum floated behind them and Growlithe looked toward the camera.
Lucian didn’t remember anyone taking the picture.
The following pages contained photographs from the laboratory.
Daisy feeding Rattata.
Gary hugging Growlithe.
Beldum wearing its flower crown.
Swablu during the festival performance.
Lucian sitting on the floor after Growlithe knocked him down.
“That one wasn’t necessary,” he said.
“It’s one of my favorites.”
“My expression looks strange.”
“That’s why it’s good.”
There was also a photograph of the two of them sitting on the hill during the festival.
Floating lights filled the sky behind them.
Lucian turned the page.
The final photograph showed the entire group after their battle against Evans and Marie.
Growlithe was covered in dirt, Swablu rested in Daisy’s arms, and Beldum occupied almost the entire right side of the image.
Several pages remained empty.
“Photographs are missing,” Lucian said.
“Those are for next time.”
He ran his fingers over one of the blank pages.
“I’ll take it to the island.”
“Don’t let Elena ruin it.”
“Elena doesn’t destroy my things.”
“She tore one of your notebooks.”
“It was an accident.”
“That’s what she said.”
Lucian closed the album.
“Thank you.”
Daisy leaned toward him.
“I also wrote something at the end.”
Lucian opened it again and searched for the final page.
A sentence had been written in blue ink.
“So you’ll always remember that you have a home here too.”
Lucian remained silent.
Daisy began to grow nervous.
“Don’t you like it?”
“I do.”
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“I don’t know how to respond.”
“You can say thank you again.”
Lucian shook his head.
“That isn’t enough.”
Daisy observed him.
He held the album against his chest.
“I’ll return to fill every page.”
The girl smiled.
“That’s enough.”
The ship would depart shortly after eight in the morning.
Everyone from the laboratory accompanied Lucian to the harbor.
One vehicle transported the suitcases, while Lucian, Daisy, Oak, and Gary traveled in another.
No one spoke much during the journey.
Gary was the only one who attempted to maintain a normal conversation.
For nearly twenty minutes, he explained which Pokémon he would capture once he began his journey.
His list included Blastoise, Charizard, Venusaur, Nidoking, Arcanine, Gyarados, and Mewtwo.
“You can’t begin with the final evolutions,” Daisy said.
“I’ll find Pokémon that have already evolved.”
“They wouldn’t accept an inexperienced Trainer.”
“They’ll know I’m special.”
Oak looked through the window.
“I have a lot of work ahead of me.”
When they arrived at the harbor, the sailors began loading the luggage.
The same captain who had brought Lucian to Kanto waited beside the gangway.
“Welcome, Young Master Lucian. Did you enjoy your visit?”
“Yes.”
“Are you ready to return?”
Lucian looked at Daisy.
“Yes.”
The answer didn’t sound as certain as he had expected.
Oak approached first.
He handed Lucian a small metal card.
“It’s a student authorization card. It will allow you to access the laboratory’s general areas when you return, even if I’m not present.”
Lucian examined the card.
It displayed his name, a photograph, and the Oak Laboratory symbol.
“Thank you.”
“It doesn’t give you permission to open sealed chambers, use equipment without supervision, or release Pokémon.”
“I wasn’t planning to do any of those things.”
Oak raised an eyebrow.
“The clarification is still necessary.”
Lucian put the card away.
The professor placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Tell your grandfather he still owes me a rematch.”
“He says the same thing.”
“Then one of us has a poor memory.”
“Probably both of you.”
Oak began laughing.
“You’re definitely coming back.”
Gary approached, hugging his Blastoise figure.
“The next time you see me, I’ll have a Pokémon.”
“You still have several years before you can register as a Trainer.”
“I can have one before then.”
“If your grandfather believes you’re ready.”
Gary looked at Oak.
The professor pretended not to have heard.
“I’ll train a lot,” Gary promised.
“Then I’ll battle you.”
“I accept.”
The boy extended his hand.
Lucian shook it.
Gary attempted to maintain a serious expression, but his lips began to tremble.
He released Lucian’s hand and hugged Growlithe.
“Don’t forget me.”
The Pokémon licked his hair.
“Don’t do that!”
Despite his protest, Gary didn’t let go for several seconds.
Beldum approached and gently touched the Blastoise figure.
Gary raised a finger.
“You too.”
Beldum vibrated.
Finally, Daisy stood in front of Lucian.
She held Swablu in her arms.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
The sound of the sea filled the silence.
“Write when you arrive,” she said.
“I will.”
“No tables.”
“I’ll try not to include them.”
“And take care of the album.”
“It will stay in my room.”
“Don’t let Growlithe bite it.”
The Fire-type barked in protest.
“He never bites my books.”
“He bit one of the corners once.”
“He was younger.”
“I remember.”
Daisy stroked Swablu’s ribbon.
The silver clasp shone beneath the morning light.
“I still have your star.”
“It’s yours.”
“Only until I win my first official Ribbon.”
“You can keep it afterward.”
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“I’m changing the conditions.”
“You can’t do that alone.”
Lucian extended his little finger.
“Then let’s make another agreement. When you win your first Ribbon, you’ll wear the star during your next performance.”
Daisy hooked her little finger around his.
“And you’ll be there.”
“I’ll be there.”
Swablu flew toward Beldum.
She settled on top of it one last time.
Beldum remained still.
The small Pokémon sang a soft melody.
Beldum answered with a vibration.
Growlithe touched Daisy’s leg with his snout.
She crouched and hugged him.
“Take care of him.”
Growlithe barked.
“Make sure he sleeps.”
Another bark.
“And don’t let him work all night.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” he warned.
Daisy stood.
Her eyes were wet.
“You should board.”
The captain was already waiting.
Lucian raised one hand.
“Until next time.”
Daisy tried to smile.
“Until next time.”
Lucian took two steps toward the gangway.
Then he heard Daisy call his name.
When he turned, she ran toward him.
She hugged him with enough force to nearly make him lose his balance.
Lucian remained surprised for a moment.
Then he wrapped his arms around her.
“I’ll come back,” he said.
“I know.”
Daisy hid her face against his shoulder.
“But I still don’t like it.”
“Neither do I.”
She slowly moved away.
She wiped her eyes before Gary could see.
“Now go. If you miss the ship, Grandpa will say I did it on purpose.”
Oak stroked his mustache.
“I would consider it.”
Lucian boarded the vessel with his Pokémon.
He remained beside the railing as the sailors removed the gangway.
The engine started.
The ship moved away from the pier.
Gary waved both arms.
Oak raised one hand.
Daisy held Swablu and never looked away.
Lucian kept his eyes on her until the harbor became a distant line.
Only then did he sit down.
Growlithe rested his head on Lucian’s legs.
Beldum floated beside him.
Lucian removed the album and opened it to the final page.
“So you’ll always remember that you have a home here too.”
He closed his eyes.
He had been reborn on Celestia Island.
The Starfall family was his blood, his legacy, and his responsibility.
But Pallet Town had also become part of his life.
He wouldn’t have to choose between the two places.
He could protect one and return to the other.
The island appeared several hours later.
Its mountains emerged first from between the clouds.
Then the forests, cliffs, and orderly stretches of orchards came into view.
Growlithe ran toward the bow.
Beldum ascended several yards.
Lucian remained beside the railing.
Elena’s compass still pointed north.
However, he no longer needed it to find his way.
He recognized every section of the coastline.
When the ship entered the harbor, Lucian spotted several figures waiting.
His grandfather stood at the front.
Adrian remained to one side with his Arcanine.
Elena stood near the edge of the pier.
Absol was beside her.
It was the first time Lucian had seen the Pokémon outside a screen.
Her white fur was clean and shone beneath the sunlight.
The curved horn extended over the right side of her head, and her red eyes attentively watched the vessel.
Growlithe saw her as well.
His body tensed.
Absol raised her head.
They stared at each other across the distance.
Lucian immediately sensed the competition between them.
“They don’t even know each other.”
Growlithe barked.
Beldum vibrated.
“Don’t encourage him.”
The ship finished approaching.
Elena didn’t wait for the gangway to be completely secured.
“Lucian!”
She ran forward.
Adrian caught the back of her jacket.
“Wait until they secure the ship.”
“It’s already close.”
“That doesn’t mean you can jump.”
“I wasn’t going to jump.”
Adrian didn’t release her.
Once the gangway was secured, Lucian descended.
Elena freed herself and ran toward him.
She hugged him.
Lucian took a step backward from the impact.
“You’re back.”
“I said I would be.”
“You took too long.”
“It was one month.”
“Exactly.”
Growlithe ran around them.
Beldum floated above Elena.
She raised one hand and touched its metallic body.
“I missed you too.”
Growlithe placed his front paws against her.
“You too.”
Absol slowly approached.
The Fire-type dropped back to the ground.
The two Pokémon stood face-to-face.
Growlithe sniffed the air.
Absol did the same.
Elena looked excited.
“They’re getting to know each other.”
Growlithe raised his chest.
Absol lifted her head.
“It appears they’re competing,” Lucian said.
“Absol will win.”
Growlithe barked.
“Don’t provoke him.”
“I only told the truth.”
Absol observed Lucian.
Her gaze was different from the one she had shown through the screen.
She seemed to evaluate his every movement.
Lucian didn’t try to touch her.
He crouched to bring himself closer to her height.
“Thank you for protecting Elena.”
The Pokémon moved one ear.
The system appeared.
Analysis Complete
Species: Absol
Sex: Female
Approximate Age: 2 years and 7 months
Type: Dark
Ability: Pressure
Special Ability: Disaster Perception
Current Strength Category: Upper Beginner
Current Potential: Platinum
Latent Potential Detected: Diamond
Condition: Healthy
Registered Moves:
—Quick Attack
—Leer
—Bite
—Double Team
—Slash
—Razor Wind
—Pursuit
—Detect
Notable Characteristics:
—Exceptional sensitivity to environmental and energetic changes.
—Highly developed protective instinct.
—Great mobility across mountainous terrain.
—Distrustful toward strangers.
—Advanced developing bond with Elena Vale.
Potential Improvement Condition: Strengthen her sensory capacity, overcome the strain produced by Disaster Perception, and develop a battle style compatible with her protective instincts.
Lucian closed the screen.
Platinum with latent Diamond potential.
Absol was extraordinary.
However, the most important part was the final line.
Her potential wouldn’t increase through resources alone.
She needed training adapted to her nature and had to learn how to use her sensitivity without harming her own body.
Elena leaned toward him.
“What do you see?”
Lucian looked up.
She knew he could analyze Pokémon, although she didn’t know every detail about the system.
“She’s very talented.”
Elena smiled.
“I already knew that.”
Absol raised her head proudly.
“She also needs to develop her sensory endurance. Constantly perceiving danger could exhaust her.”
Elena’s smile faded.
“Sometimes she wakes up during the night.”
“Before something happens?”
“Not always. Sometimes we don’t find any threat.”
“She might be perceiving changes that are too small or too distant.”
Lucian looked at Absol.
“We won’t train that ability until we understand how it affects her.”
The Pokémon bared her teeth.
“She doesn’t like you deciding for her,” Elena said.
“Then she can participate in the decision.”
Absol stopped showing her fangs.
Lucian sensed faint approval.
His grandfather approached.
He hadn’t interrupted the reunion.
The old man observed Lucian for several seconds.
“You grew.”
“I was only away for a month.”
“I wasn’t referring to your height.”
Lucian understood.
He approached and hugged his grandfather.
The man was surprised.
Then he placed a hand on Lucian’s back.
“Welcome home.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
Lucian’s grandfather stepped away and examined Beldum and Growlithe.
“Oak didn’t overfeed you.”
“I supervised their diets.”
“And your own rest?”
Elena raised one hand.
“Daisy said he tried to work past midnight.”
Lucian turned toward her.
“When did you speak to Daisy?”
“This morning.”
“About me?”
“Mostly.”
“What did she tell you?”
Elena smiled far too innocently.
“To check whether you brought all your notebooks.”
Lucian felt that she was hiding something.
“Was that all?”
“She also told me about the festival.”
Elena’s gaze moved down to Lucian’s neck.
He wore Daisy’s blue scarf around his shoulders despite the warm weather.
Then she examined his notebook.
“Your star clasp is missing.”
“I gave it to Swablu.”
“Why?”
“She needed it to secure her ribbon during a performance.”
Elena remained silent.
“I understand.”
She didn’t appear to understand in a positive way.
Adrian concealed a smile.
Lucian’s grandfather cleared his throat.
“Let’s leave the questions for the mansion. The sailors need to unload the luggage.”
Elena took one of Lucian’s hands.
“I’ll show you everything that changed.”
“It was only one month.”
“There was a storm, a landslide, I found Absol, and they repaired part of the shelter. A lot of things changed.”
Absol walked beside her.
Growlithe positioned himself on the other side.
The two Pokémon continued watching each other.
Beldum floated above the group.
Lucian looked toward the sea one final time.
Somewhere beyond the horizon was Pallet Town.
Daisy had probably already returned to the laboratory.
Perhaps she was training with Swablu or placing another photograph inside her own album.
Lucian touched the scarf.
Then he looked at the Starfall mansion in the distance.
He had returned home.
But he wasn’t exactly the same boy who had left one month earlier.
He now better understood the size of the world waiting for him.
And he still had four years to prepare before leaving everything behind and beginning his true journey.
Four years to train.
Four years to learn.
Four years to strengthen the bonds that would someday accompany him across every region.
Elena pulled his hand.
“Come on. Absol wants to show you her favorite place in the forest.”
The Pokémon looked at Elena as though she had never said any such thing.
“It looks like you want to show me.”
“We both do.”
Absol snorted.
Growlithe barked.
Lucian smiled.
“All right.”
The group left the harbor.
Behind them, the ship began preparing for its next voyage.
Ahead stretched Celestia’s forests, orchards, and mountains.
Lucian’s childhood wasn’t over yet.
But time had already begun to move.
End of Chapter 21