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The storm had passed.
The air, rinsed clean by hours of downpour, carried a faint scent of wet grass and earth. A fragile rainbow shimmered faintly at the horizon, arcing above the pale morning clouds as sunlight returned, soft and golden.
Along the roadside, the heavy trucks stood silent, water still sliding from their dented metal frames.
Their reflections quivered in the puddles below ghostly reminders of the chaos that had nearly consumed them.
A small camp had been set up beside the convoy. People moved quietly among the tents, sorting supplies, tending wounds, and burying the dead.
The crackle of a bonfire in the center sent warmth and comfort through the group, its orange glow painting hope into faces that had forgotten what peace felt like.
---
Wrapped in a clean white towel, Scarlet sat near the fire, shivering slightly as she cupped a steaming mug of tea between her hands. Her crimson hair glowed faintly in the flickering light.
Across from her sat Kael and Earl one a dark, silent Pokémon, the other a small boy trying to find words to bridge the silence between them.
"Thank you… for saving us," Scarlet said softly, leaning forward, her golden eyes sincere. "I owe you my life."
Kael opened his mouth to reply, but only a pair of low growls came out.
He exhaled through his nose, then tapped Earl on the shoulder.
Earl blinked, then quickly translated:
"He says it was just a coincidence he happened to be passing by."
Scarlet smiled faintly and nodded. Even if he treated it lightly, she knew better. That Machop—no, that being had stepped between them and death itself. Gratitude wasn't enough for what he'd done.
In her heart, she made a quiet promise: one day, somehow, she would repay him.
---
She took a sip of tea, its sweetness cutting through the lingering bitterness of fear. Her gaze shifted toward Earl, sitting upright beside Kael.
He can understand Pokémon speech…?
The thought intrigued her.
He didn't look like one of the prodigies from the big cities too small, too timid, his clothes too plain. But there was something sharp behind those green eyes.
Finally, she asked, "Are you two… traveling together?"
Earl met her gaze, then nodded slowly. "He saved me too."
Kael shifted slightly, uncomfortable under both their stares.
Earl's voice dropped, softer now. "I used to live with my parents in the Town. Yesterday…"
The story hung in the air brief, fragile, yet heavy enough to silence the camp.
The fire popped, sending a spray of embers skyward.
Scarlet lowered her eyes, hiding the sympathy welling within them.
The boy's tone was too calm for someone his age; his loss was too recent.
After a pause, she spoke again, forcing a faint smile. "Do you want to be a Trainer someday?"
Earl's head snapped up, eyes bright. "Of course! But… do you think I can?"
"You have talent," Scarlet said firmly. "You hear them, don't you? Their voices. That's something rare even among us."
It wasn't flattery. Communication beyond instinct was a gift very few possessed. If nurtured, it could grow into a bond strong enough to rival even elite Trainers.
The boy's face lit up instantly, excitement replacing the grief. He leaned forward, asking question after question, his curiosity burning anew.
Kael folded his arms, staring into the fire, the faintest trace of a smile ghosting across his expression.
---
'So this is what it's like' he thought. 'To just… exist. Not for points or missions. Just to watch people live.'
But reality never strayed far.
Before he could "enjoy life," he still needed strength enough to move freely through this world without fear. Without it, even a simple peace like this was temporary.
That was why he would go to Ignis City next. Earl's destination had become his as well. It was a chance to see how humans had rebuilt after the Cataclysm… and to learn how Trainers truly fought and survived.
And when he evolved—
When his power crossed that final threshold then, maybe, he'd travel the world without restraint.
The thought made him glance toward the horizon, where clouds slowly drifted apart.
---
By the time his thoughts settled, the convoy was ready to move. Scarlet rose to her feet, brushing mud from her knees, and bowed deeply to Kael.
"Thank you," she said again.
Then she turned to Earl, placing a hand on his shoulder. From her belt pouch, she took out a small, round metal badge red and white like a Poké Ball, engraved on the back with her League ID.
"This is my Trainer's badge," she said. "Give it to Fina at the League outpost in Ignis City. She'll take care of you."
Earl nodded solemnly, tucking the badge close to his heart and fastening the button on his pocket.
Scarlet smiled, then straightened, her expression firm once more.
The world was still broken but for the first time since the rain, there was warmth in her eyes.
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