Beldum refused to leave Lucian’s side throughout the entire journey back.
It did not matter that Atlas attempted to examine him.
It did not matter that Alaric explained—first patiently and then with increasing firmness—that they needed to confirm the stability of his core.
Whenever anyone came too close, the small silver Pokémon positioned himself between Lucian and the possible danger.
His red eye illuminated, and a faint layer of psychic energy surrounded his body.
He appeared more adorable than threatening.
At least until a stone the size of Lucian’s head rose from the ground and began to tremble.
“Beldum,” Lucian said.
“No one is going to hurt me.”
The stone did not descend.
Atlas floated in front of them with both spoons resting against his chest.
Beldum watched him suspiciously.
“He was the one who protected my mind inside the mountain.”
The tension weakened slightly.
“He is also much stronger than you,” Lucian added.
“Throwing a rock at him would be a bad idea.”
The stone fell.
Atlas raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t need to look so pleased with yourself,” Lucian muttered.
Alakazam turned in the air and continued along the trail.
Lucian was walking on his own again, although Alaric had protested for several minutes before allowing it.
The dizziness had disappeared, and Atlas confirmed there was no obvious damage to his mind.
That did not mean he had completely recovered.
Every step reminded him of his fall in the valley.
His knees hurt, his head remained heavy, and using psychic energy caused a faint burning sensation behind his eyes.
Even so, he preferred to walk.
Alaric moved beside him, prepared to catch him at the slightest sign of weakness.
“I’m not going to faint,” Lucian said.
“That is exactly what you claimed before losing the ability to remain on your feet.”
“I never lost consciousness.”
“A distinction only you would consider important.”
Beldum floated closer to Lucian and brushed against his shoulder.
“Pain?”
The Pokémon’s telepathy remained clumsy.
Every word arrived accompanied by simple emotions and images.
“A little.”
Beldum turned toward Alaric.
Accusation.
The elderly man perceived it through Atlas.
“I did not cause his injuries.”
Beldum transmitted an image of Alaric forcing Lucian to walk through the mountains.
“I chose to come,” Lucian clarified.
Another image appeared.
Lucian running toward the cavern while Alaric remained behind.
“I chose to do that as well.”
Beldum fell silent.
Then he projected a simple conclusion.
“Lucian makes bad decisions.”
Adrian burst out laughing.
Rhea had to cover her mouth.
Even Atlas appeared amused.
Alaric nodded with complete seriousness.
“You learn quickly.”
“I’m glad to see everyone is getting along,” Lucian replied.
The group reached Oracle’s sanctuary shortly before noon.
The bells began to ring as soon as Beldum crossed the hidden trail.
Bronzong opened its eyes and observed the small silver Pokémon.
Beldum moved closer to Lucian.
He did not hide, but he kept part of his body behind him.
Oracle descended.
“The star has chosen.”
“He chose to keep both families,” Lucian replied.
The bells produced a soft tone.
“One root can drink from two rivers.”
“You could speak that clearly more often.”
Bronzong tilted its body.
“Clarity makes young minds lazy.”
“And riddles waste the time of busy people.”
Alaric placed a hand on Lucian’s head.
“Do not argue with an ancient guardian.”
“He started it.”
Oracle released a sound resembling the chiming of several small bells.
Lucian suspected it was laughing.
Beldum floated toward Bronzong.
Both Pokémon remained facing each other.
“The voice sleeps,” Oracle said.
“For now,” Beldum replied.
His words were clearer than before.
The guardian rang one of its bells.
“Then learn before it sings again.”
Beldum transmitted determination.
Oracle directed its gaze toward Lucian.
“And you, blood of the stars, must learn the difference between sharing a burden and stealing it.”
Lucian understood the warning.
During the resonance, he had attempted to take on part of Beldum’s pain.
If he repeated that without limits, he might damage his own mind or weaken his partner’s ability to overcome difficulties.
“I’ll remember.”
“Remembering is not understanding.”
“Then I’ll try to understand.”
That answer appeared to satisfy the guardian.
The sanctuary wall opened and allowed them to return to the ravine.
Asterion was waiting at the observation post.
The enormous Metagross stood as soon as he saw Alaric.
Then his eyes turned toward Beldum.
The small silver Pokémon stopped.
Two magnetic fields met.
The air vibrated.
Lucian felt several metal tools inside the post move across the tables.
Asterion did not belong to the colony.
He had grown up beside Alaric and spent most of his life traveling through different regions.
Even so, he was still an adult Metagross facing an unfamiliar Beldum.
Beldum cautiously approached.
Asterion remained motionless.
“He is my partner,” Lucian said.
Metagross turned one eye toward him.
“New.”
Asterion’s voice was deeper and more orderly than Beldum’s.
It did not arrive through exact words, but as a mental signal Atlas helped interpret.
“Yes.”
“Small.”
Beldum rose several centimeters.
“Not small.”
Asterion compared his enormous body with Beldum’s.
The difference did not support the argument.
“Very small,” he concluded.
Beldum used Take Down.
Alaric reacted before Lucian could.
“Enough!”
Asterion stopped Beldum with psychic energy less than half a meter from his face.
The small Pokémon continued trying to advance.
Metagross examined him.
Then he carefully placed Beldum on top of his head.
Beldum stopped struggling.
A sense of confusion traveled through the bond.
Asterion began walking toward the landing area with the silver Beldum resting on the cross covering his face.
“I think he likes him,” Rhea commented.
“Asterion helped raise several Beldum when he was younger,” Alaric explained.
“He knows how to handle them.”
Beldum attempted to descend.
Asterion slightly increased his magnetic field and kept him in place.
“Beldum doesn’t seem to agree,” Lucian said.
“The others reacted the same way.”
For the first time since leaving the colony, Beldum willingly moved away from Lucian.
Although willingly might not have been the correct word.
The return journey was calmer.
Lucian sat behind Alaric while Beldum remained on Asterion’s head, protected by the Metagross’s magnetic field.
Atlas floated nearby and regularly checked the mental condition of both.
From the air, Celestia Island no longer appeared quite so large.
Lucian knew it was an illusion.
Below them were territories he had yet to explore, Pokémon tribes with their own rules, and family secrets hidden for generations.
And this was only an island near Kanto.
Beyond the ocean were entire regions.
Kanto.
Johto.
Sinnoh.
Unova.
Kalos.
Alola.
Galar.
Paldea.
Some were perhaps unknown to most of the world at that time, but Lucian knew they existed.
Remembering the sheer size of the world made the mission in the mountains seem small.
Not less important.
It had simply been the first step.
The mansion appeared in the distance.
Lucian noticed a figure waiting in front of the gates before Asterion began to descend.
Elena ran toward them as soon as Metagross touched the ground.
“Lucian!”
He barely had time to climb down before she embraced him.
The impact almost knocked him over.
“You said you would come back before I had time to miss you.”
“Technically, I returned on the same day.”
“That doesn’t count.”
Elena held him tighter.
Lucian felt her relief through his barrier.
He opened a small door and allowed the emotion to reach him.
“I’m fine.”
She stepped back and noticed the dried blood beneath his nose, the dirt covering his clothing, and the marks on his knees.
“That doesn’t look fine.”
“They’re minor injuries.”
Elena turned toward Alaric.
“Why did you let him get hurt?”
Alaric looked at Adrian.
“Your daughter has a very direct way of asking questions.”
Adrian crossed his arms.
“In this case, I would also like to hear the answer.”
“Everyone returned alive, and the threat was contained.”
“That didn’t answer anything,” Elena said.
Lucian took her hand.
“I ran toward a dangerous place before they could stop me.”
She looked at him again.
“Why?”
Beldum descended from Asterion’s head.
Elena’s eyes widened.
The silver Pokémon floated until he was beside Lucian.
“Because of him,” the boy answered.
Elena became motionless.
So did Beldum.
They examined one another with nearly identical suspicion.
“He looks different from the pictures,” she said.
Beldum transmitted a question to Lucian.
“Pictures?”
“Elena has books about Pokémon.”
The girl stepped forward.
Beldum retreated.
“Can I touch him?”
“You’ll have to ask.”
Elena appeared confused.
“Ask Beldum?”
“He is the one you want to touch.”
She considered that for several seconds.
Then she placed both hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly.
“Beldum, may I touch you?”
The Pokémon looked at Lucian.
He did not answer for him.
Beldum returned his attention to Elena.
He noticed the blue ribbon tied around Lucian’s wrist and then studied the girl’s clothing.
He recognized her presence from the memories shared during the connection.
“Ribbon,” he transmitted.
Elena could not hear the word, but Lucian repeated it.
“He recognizes that you gave me the ribbon.”
“I told it to help you come back.”
Beldum moved slightly closer.
Elena slowly extended one hand.
Her palm touched the Pokémon’s metallic surface.
It was colder than she had expected.
“He’s beautiful.”
Beldum released a satisfied signal.
Then he positioned himself between Elena and Lucian.
The girl frowned and moved to one side.
Beldum moved with her.
Elena changed direction.
Beldum blocked her again.
“What is he doing?”
Lucian sensed a mixture of protectiveness and an emotion resembling jealousy.
“I think he’s still learning how much space he needs to occupy when protecting me.”
Elena placed her hands on her hips.
“I knew him first.”
Beldum did not understand every word, but he understood her tone.
“Partner,” he responded mentally.
“Friend,” Elena said, even though she could not hear him.
The two remained face-to-face.
“This is going to be interesting,” Adrian muttered.
Mara appeared in the doorway.
“The doctor is waiting in the infirmary, and if you continue arguing in the courtyard, I will personally come and collect all of you.”
Not even Alaric challenged that threat.
The infirmary occupied part of the mansion’s lower wing.
It had been designed to treat both humans and smaller Pokémon, although serious cases were transferred to the breeding center’s medical facility.
Dr.
Helena Ward waited beside a Chansey.
She was a woman with dark blonde hair, rectangular glasses, and an unimpressed expression.
“Which of these two is my patient?” she asked upon seeing Lucian and Beldum.
“Both,” Alaric replied.
“Excellent. Two psychic patients who will probably try to tell me they feel fine.”
Lucian decided not to mention that he had already done so several times.
Helena pointed toward a bed.
“Sit.”
Then she indicated a reinforced platform.
“Beldum, there.”
Beldum remained beside Lucian.
“You can stay close,” Lucian told him.
“They only want to examine us.”
The Pokémon obeyed with obvious reluctance.
For the following hour, Helena and Chansey performed several tests.
They examined Lucian’s reflexes, blood pressure, pupils, and brain activity using a device placed around his head.
Atlas supervised the mental examination.
The results were better than expected.
Lucian suffered from psychic exhaustion, several minor muscle strains, and bruises on both knees, but he had not sustained any permanent damage.
Beldum was also stable.
His core contained an unusual mixture of psychic, magnetic, and astral energy, but the three were separated by the barrier created during the ritual.
The astral energy occupied only a small portion and remained inactive.
“He must not battle for at least one week,” Helena declared.
Beldum protested.
“You also cannot train your powers for three days,” she added, looking at Lucian.
“Three days is too long.”
“I can make it five.”
Lucian closed his mouth.
“I like her,” Beldum transmitted.
Lucian looked at him.
“You aren’t the one forbidden from training for three days.”
“One week.”
“That did not improve my situation.”
Helena gave Alaric a list of instructions and left to prepare mineral supplements compatible with Beldum.
When they were alone, Alaric closed the infirmary door.
“Now we are going to discuss the system.”
Lucian had expected that conversation.
Adrian and Rhea had already returned to the breeding center.
Elena remained outside with Mara after protesting that she also wanted to listen.
Only Alaric, Atlas, Lucian, and Beldum knew the truth.
“Show me the rewards,” the elderly man said.
Lucian opened the interface.
[Mission evaluation completed.]
[The Call of the Stars]
[Rating Obtained: S]
[Factors Considered:]
[The target was rescued.]
[The entity remains sealed.]
[No deaths occurred.]
[The conflict with the colony was resolved peacefully.]
[The user risked his mental integrity beyond the recommended limit.]
[Evaluation penalty applied.]
Lucian frowned.
“It penalized me for taking a risk?”
“For once, the system demonstrates good judgment,” Alaric said.
“We wouldn’t have completed the mission without that risk.”
“That does not mean you should make it a habit.”
Lucian continued reading.
[Rewards:]
[Function Unlocked: Development Plan.]
[Function Unlocked: Partner Synchronization.]
[Access granted to the first level of the Breeding Archive.]
[Item Obtained: Foundation Essence ×1.]
[Item Obtained: Purified Astral Fragment ×1.]
[Ability Improved: Psychic Perception.]
[Storage Capacity Expanded.]
[Special Reward for Exceptional Bond: Potential Path available.]
Alaric listened to every item carefully.
“You will not extract either object until we know exactly what they do.”
“That was what I planned to suggest.”
“Liar.”
Lucian ignored the comment and opened the first function.
[Development Plan]
[Allows the creation and updating of personalized plans for nutrition, training, rest, move mastery, and evolution.]
[Accuracy will depend on available information, the user’s knowledge, and completed analyses.]
[Warning: Recommendations do not replace direct observation or guarantee results.]
Alaric nodded in approval.
“Useful, but not infallible.”
“Exactly.”
Partner Synchronization allowed Lucian and Beldum to share simple impressions over a limited distance, provided they both accepted the connection.
It also displayed Beldum’s general condition without requiring Lucian to constantly use Analysis.
The Breeding Archive was more impressive.
Thousands of titles appeared before Lucian, although most remained locked.
The first section contained basic information about nutrition, juvenile development, recovery, anatomy, and habitat construction.
It did not provide absolute answers.
It organized knowledge from different methods and allowed him to compare them.
For someone who wanted to become both a breeder and researcher, it was a reward more valuable than any powerful attack.
“This could take years to study,” Lucian said.
“Then begin tomorrow.”
“The doctor prohibited psychic training, not reading.”
“Tomorrow,” Alaric repeated.
Lucian closed the archive.
Then he selected Potential Path.
The screen changed.
[Beldum]
[Current Potential: Diamond Low.]
[The target possesses an extraordinary genetic and energetic foundation.]
[Estimated Potential after a properly prepared evolution: Diamond Mid.]
[Additional Paths Detected: 3.]
[Insufficient information to display complete requirements.]
[Necessary Factors: Core strengthening, magnetic mastery, mental stability, physical development, purification of astral resonance, and bond with user.]
[Warning: Attempting to force an increase in Potential may cause irreversible damage.]
Lucian felt a mixture of excitement and caution.
The system confirmed that Potential could improve.
It also made clear that doing so would not be easy.
“We will not use any resource to alter his Potential until we understand his condition,” Alaric said.
“Agreed.”
“That includes the Purified Astral Fragment.”
“Especially that.”
Beldum floated between them.
“Stronger.”
Lucian touched his metallic surface.
“Yes, we will become stronger. But we will do it correctly.”
“Together.”
“Together.”
Alaric removed a small wooden box from one of the cabinets.
He placed it on the table.
Inside was a Poké Ball unlike the ordinary kind.
Its upper half was dark blue, with silver lines forming a star around the central button.
“This belonged to your father,” he said.
Lucian looked up.
Alaric rarely spoke about his parents.
“He never used it. It was created for his first partner, but he selected another one when he began his journey. I kept it because I thought it might belong to you one day.”
Lucian picked up the Poké Ball.
It possessed no special function or increased capture rate.
It was a symbol.
“You do not need to use it today,” Alaric continued.
“The system can recognize your bond, but the League requires an official registration if Beldum is going to leave the island with you in the future.”
“I’m still too young to be a Trainer.”
“The family can register him as a Pokémon under your care. When you turn ten and receive your license, ownership will officially transfer to you.”
Lucian looked at Beldum.
“The Poké Ball won’t change anything. You can leave it whenever you want and return to the colony whenever you wish.”
Beldum examined the object.
“Together inside?”
“I can’t enter it.”
Confusion.
Lucian explained how it worked through a series of images.
Rest, transportation, and protection.
He also showed Beldum that he could refuse the capture.
The Pokémon processed the information.
Then he struck the button with his head.
Red light surrounded his body.
The Pokémon entered the sphere.
The Poké Ball descended onto the bed.
It did not move.
There was no resistance.
The button produced a soft sound.
Lucian held the sphere for several seconds.
Then he opened it.
Beldum immediately reappeared and collided with his chest with enough force to knock him onto his back.
“We need to work on the way you demonstrate affection.”
“Together,” Beldum repeated.
Alaric allowed a small smile to appear.
“Welcome to the Starfall family.”
That night, Beldum entered Lucian’s bedroom for the first time.
He examined every piece of furniture, moved the books with magnetic energy, and remained in front of the repaired window for several minutes.
Lucian showed him the shelf where he kept his Pokémon figures.
Beldum found the broken Rapidash.
“Explosion,” Lucian explained.
The Pokémon looked at the new window.
“Lucian makes bad decisions.”
“I’m beginning to regret teaching you that phrase.”
Beldum carefully placed the figure beside its broken pieces.
Then he positioned himself next to the bed.
“Are you going to sleep while floating?”
“Guard.”
“You don’t need to guard me.”
“Danger.”
Lucian understood that he was not referring to the mansion.
Beldum feared that the mountain’s voice would return during the night.
“Then we’ll keep watch together.”
He lay down and turned off the lamp.
Beldum remained near the window, illuminated by the moonlight.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Lucian opened Partner Synchronization.
He did not need to maintain a conversation.
He merely allowed a feeling to pass through the bond.
Safety.
Home.
Beldum answered.
The room filled with a calm that belonged to neither of them alone.
Before falling asleep, Lucian looked at the new Poké Ball on the table.
Five years separated that moment from the official beginning of his journey.
Five years of training, study, and growth.
When he left Celestia Island, he would not do so as a novice who had only just met his first Pokémon.
He and Beldum would have years of experience together.
And that was only the beginning.
Somewhere within the breeding center, a young Growlithe raised his head.
He had sensed a new presence arriving at the mansion.
The red-furred puppy left the place where he slept and followed the unfamiliar scent into the gardens.
From there, he observed Lucian’s window.
A silver silhouette floated behind the glass.
Growlithe tilted his head.
Then he wagged his tail.
The Starfall family had just welcomed a new member.
And Lucian’s future second partner had just discovered that he had competition.