The streets buzzed with energy, yet the moment Lorelei and I stepped onto the main road, an unspoken shift occurred. Conversations hushed. Eyes turned. A quiet, awed respect filled the air.
"That's Lorelei.""She dominated Tobias… and only used Ice-types.""She's always been strong, but that was on another level."
People didn't whisper doubts—they acknowledged her.
Lorelei, the Ice Queen of the Elite Four, had just reminded the world why she belonged at the top.
She didn't react to the attention. No smugness. No need for validation. She simply walked, composed as ever.
To her, this was just another day.
I followed beside her, keeping my expression neutral. The weight of curious stares lingered on me too—people wondering who I was, why I was with her. But like her, I ignored it.
Let them wonder.
After a few minutes, Lorelei came to a stop. I stopped too.
We had arrived at our destination—the Pokéfood store.
Breakfast at the Hotel
Back at the hotel, we sat at a small dining table, watching Eevee devour its Pokéfood.
Lorelei, sipping her tea, spoke in her usual measured tone. "Some Pokémon take time to trust humans. The key is patience. Feed them from a distance, let them approach on their own terms. Trust goes both ways."
I nodded slightly, keeping my gaze on Eevee.
Trust, huh?
"This time, I got the Pokéfood for you," she continued, "but next time, you'll be picking your own. Learn the different types—every Pokémon has different needs."
"Okay," I said simply. "So there are different flavors?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Some prefer seafood, others spicy, some even enjoy sweets. You'll figure it out with time."
I didn't say much more. Neither did she.
That was just how we were.
I glanced at her from across the table. She had always been calm, always held herself with quiet confidence. But after that battle with Tobias, something felt… different.
She wasn't just strong—she was unshakable.
Had she always been like this?
Or had something changed?
Inside the Pokéfood Store
The store was stocked with a massive variety of Pokéfood. Seafood-based, spicy, plant-based, specialized diets—it had everything.
I went straight to what I needed:
Whole wheat Pokéblocks for Eevee.A first aid kit.A small collar.A bag of sweet Poké Puffs.
Efficient. Simple.
While browsing, I noticed something—Lorelei wasn't next to me anymore.
I sighed but didn't let it bother me. Instead, I made my way to the counter, where I found her already waiting.
She glanced at me. "Where were you?"
"Looking at the pet store. Then I lost you."
She raised an eyebrow, but that was all. Instead, she nodded toward my haul. "What did you get?"
I listed my choices, and after a short exchange, we left the store.
Back at the hotel, Eevee greedily devoured the Pokéblocks. Watching it eat was oddly satisfying, the little Pokémon completely absorbed in its meal. I rubbed its head while adding more Pokéblocks to its bowl.
Then—
Ding!
A translucent screen appeared in front of me.
Mission Complete!
Befriend a Pokémon.
Reward: Psychic Talent Unlocked.
I blinked. Wait, what?
A new window appeared.
Name: Aster
Rank: None
Age: 3
Aura: [Locked]
Psychic: Beginner 1
Skill: Healing Touch I [Expand]
Pokémon: Eevee
Then, even more notifications.
Capture a Pokémon.
Reward: Unlock shop function.
I stared at the screen. Psychic?
What did that even mean? Did I have telekinesis? Mind reading? I clenched my fist, trying to feel… something.
Nothing happened.
No sudden rush of power. No floating objects. No voices in my head.
I exhaled slowly, pushing the thoughts aside. This wasn't something I could figure out immediately.
For now, I had another mission:
New Quest: Capture a Pokémon.
Reward: Unlock shop function.
I looked at Eevee, still munching away, completely unaware of what had just happened.
So, my first real step as a trainer begins now.
In the Garden – Testing My New Power
Later that day, I wandered into the Elite Four's private garden. It was a secluded training area, surrounded by tall trees, the scent of fresh earth and crisp air filling the space.
Lance was off to one side, training his dragons. The ground trembled as a Dragonite launched a Hyper Beam into a training dummy.
Agatha sat on a stone bench, sipping tea with Lorelei, the two of them discussing something in low voices.
I, however, had something else in mind.
I took a deep breath and focused inward.
What did Psychic Beginner 1 mean?
I closed my eyes, trying to feel anything different within me. A tingling sensation brushed the edge of my mind.
Then—
A flicker of energy.
It was faint, but there. Like a hidden thread waiting to be pulled. I reached for it—
A sudden pressure formed around me, like my senses had expanded. My skin prickled, and I felt… aware. Not just of myself, but of everything around me.
I could sense Eevee behind me. I could feel the heat of Lance's Dragonite, the slight fatigue in its muscles after its training. I could even faintly sense the emotions of the people nearby.
I opened my eyes, startled.
This… wasn't telekinesis.
This was something deeper.
An awareness. A connection.
Before I could process it further, a new notification appeared.
Skill Unlocked: Extrasensory Awareness I
Allows the user to sense living beings and their emotions within a short radius. Strengthens with training.
I exhaled sharply.
This was different from Healing Touch's ability as it didn't require touch to be a requirement, it could be used on multiple people and more.
I didn't just unlock psychic abilities—I had a way to develop them.
And this was just the beginning.
"You're doing something, aren't you?" Lorelei's voice cut through my thoughts.
I turned to see her watching me, her sharp eyes filled with something unreadable.
For a second, I thought about denying it but I didn't.
"…I think I unlocked something," I admitted. "I can feel things. People, Pokémon… their emotions."
Lorelei studied me for a moment. Then, surprisingly, she nodded.
"That explains it."
I blinked. "Explains what?"
She sipped her tea before answering. "I was wondering how Eevee bonded with you so quickly. Pokémon are naturally drawn to those who understand them. Whether you knew it or not, you were already using your abilities."
That… made sense.
She leaned back, her gaze thoughtful. "Psychic talent is rare, but it's powerful in the right hands. If you train it, it'll be more than just sensing emotions."
I clenched my fist.
"I want to train it," I said.
She smirked slightly. "Good."
For the first time, I saw something in her eyes- not just approval but expectation.
New Path, New Challenges
As the sun began to set, I stood in the garden, watching Eevee play in the grass.
I had started the day thinking it was just another outing with Lorelei.
But now?
I had unlocked a new power.
I had a mission to capture my first Pokémon.
And I had a path to becoming something more.
For the first time, I felt it.
The beginning of something big.