Luther didn't leave after the opening ceremony. Cynthia's invitation arrived at the same time.
As he made his way to her temporary cottage on Lily of the Valley Island, he was still dazed.
Had Lucian not blurted out that remark, Luther would never have realized that his first-round opponent was so formidable.
"To be honest, I favor Misaki over you," Lucian had said, his expression unusually serious and completely lacking the mischievous grin he usually wore when stirring up trouble. "But your journey is so captivating that I can't help but root for you."
If there was one member of the Elite Four who truly understood Luther, it was undoubtedly Lucian.
'Even Lucian doesn't think I can win?'
The relaxed confidence Luther had displayed during the preliminary rounds disappeared, replaced by a hint of nervousness.
Meanwhile, Luther was also curious about what kind of person Misaki might be.
After all, Cynthia had invited him alone to the gathering, undoubtedly to introduce him to Misaki.
As it seemed the Pokémon League had kept Cynthia busy after the draw, when Luther arrived at the seaside villa early, he found himself completely alone.
Standing beneath the faint light by the door, he sighed and waited quietly for the homeowner to return.
Bored out of his mind, he decided to sit on the steps.
Since Milcery had been entrusted to Mai's care, Espurr was much more relaxed now, enjoying the opportunity to compete comfortably with Marill for berries.
Marill's small ears twitched slightly as it warily eyed the dimly lit, cobblestone path nearby.
Luther heard it, too... a heavy, muffled footstep, as if a colossal creature were carefully controlling its gait.
As the shadow emerged into the lamplight, Luther couldn't help but gasp.
It was a Tyranitar, standing at least two meters tall. The moment it spotted Luther, it halted abruptly, lowered its head, and waited for its Pokémon Trainer to give a command.
Compared to the towering Tyranitar, the short-haired girl, who looked barely 1.6 meters tall, seemed tiny.
Wearing a small crossbody bag, the girl patted the Gastrodon clinging to the Tyranitar before strolling towards Luther with her hands clasped behind her back. After scrutinizing him curiously, she extended a hand to Luther, who was sitting on the steps.
"Just call me Misaki."
Misaki's smile was captivating; her bright eyes shimmered like stardust under the soft lamplight.
Luther froze for a moment before scrambling to his feet to shake her hand and introduce himself hurriedly.
'Her ID photo made her look like a tomboy,' He thought, but the Misaki standing before him evoked not only awe but also an indescribable feeling.
A peculiar feeling washed over Luther, one that his limited vocabulary couldn't adequately describe.
Misaki patted the step, smoothed her skirt, and sat down beside him.
"I heard your name back in the preliminary round," Misaki said with a smile. "All the Group F competitors were talking about your Marill. I even went to watch one of your matches."
She pinched Marill's cheek and pulled a packet of snacks from her small bag. "I brought these especially for you. I hope you like them."
Marill happily took the snacks and began munching on them.
"I only just learned that you're someone Cynthia pays close attention to and has given a lot of guidance to," Luther said.
Misaki plucked a small piece from Marill's snack pack and popped it into her mouth. "Same here."
"It was because of you that I decided to enter this competition," Luther blurted out.
Misaki's words caused Luther's body to twitch slightly. He gazed at her exquisite profile, feeling disbelieving.
Sensing his shock, Misaki smiled. "Cynthia never told you about me, and I never heard anything about you either."
"But... I still found out that there's another Pokémon Trainer participating in this tournament who was secretly helped and chosen by Cynthia at the same time as me."
Misaki fixed her gaze on Luther. "That's why I entered the tournament, for you."
She brushed the dust from her black stockings, rose slowly to her feet, clasped her hands behind her back and strolled towards the nearby shore.
As if drawn by her movements, Luther followed her.
Only now did he realize the reason behind Tyranitar's strange gait earlier, it had been adjusting its pace to match Misaki's rhythm.
The salty sea breeze swept across their faces, and the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tide brought an unusual sense of calm.
"Why?" Luther asked.
A faint smile curved Misaki's lips. "To prove myself, to confirm whether you're worthy of Cynthia's attention..."
"So Cynthia won't be disappointed anymore," Misaki finished, shouting into the dark sea as if releasing some unspoken emotion.
"Do you know how many other Pokémon trainers with bonds to Sinnoh Cynthia has placed her hopes on over the years besides us?" Luther asked.
"Excluding you, Paul, Ash, and me, none," Misaki replied. "Before that, the number was twenty-nine, but in the last two years, only seven."
Luther frowned. "There should be one more, then."
Misaki pointed to the nearby Tyranitar. "I already defeated him. He's been crushed and has no ambition to compete at a higher level."
Luther's silence made Misaki's voice softer.
"Cynthia said she started searching for and monitoring these promising new-generation Pokémon Trainers three years ago. Last year, only you and I were chosen. If what Cynthia told me is true, then there will be none chosen this year."
"Cynthia is disappointed, though she won't admit it. Her actions betray her."
Of course she's disappointed. So many started out with grand dreams, but one by one they abandoned their aspirations, taking Cynthia's hope of finding her successor in the Sinnoh League, the next 'her,' with them.
Misaki crouched down, peeled off her stockings, and stuffed them into her shoes. Stepping onto the cool sand, she waited for the next wave to wash over her bare feet.
"You and I are the ones Cynthia hoped would grow into trainers capable of challenging her and becoming the future of the Sinnoh League."
Luther sighed. "Are you here to test your strength?"
Misaki froze for a moment, then slowly grasped the meaning behind his words.
"Yes, I'm here to test my blade," Misaki said, stepping forward to face Luther. Her bright eyes now radiated an intense pressure bordering on regal authority.
"I've heard countless tales of our predecessors," she continued, a scoff escaping her lips. "Those who caught Cynthia's attention were either blessed with exceptional Talent or possessed extraordinary charisma. Yet so many of them..." She scoffed, leaving her assessment unfinished.
"I lack their innate talent and their privileged starting points," Misaki said with a radiant smile. "But I work harder than any of them. My bond with my Pokémon runs deeper. I can endure the loneliness and monotony of this path far better than they ever could."
"Now, I've come to test my blade."
"If you're still holding back, be warned."
(End of Chapter)
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