Silas was still lost in thought, sketching out the formula for his new Pokéblock, when a sudden, radiant light burst from beside him.
"Vee…!"
The blinding white glow spread across the darkened bathhouse, illuminating the night.
Silas froze mid-sentence, eyes widening.
"Wait-Eevee?! You're… evolving?!"
Without even thinking, he shot upright from the hot spring-water splashing everywhere. He was half-dressed, bare-chested, wearing only his standard expedition shorts, but that didn't matter right now.
He hurried to the edge, dripping wet, watching in stunned disbelief.
"Of all times to evolve… you just had to do it while soaking in a hot spring?!"
He almost laughed at the absurdity. Still, the sight filled him with awe.
Pokémon evolution was always a mysterious thing–even now, the scientific community barely understood it.
Some evolved after fierce battles.
Some transformed peacefully in their sleep.
Others… simply changed while eating a snack.
So, really, maybe a hot spring wasn't the strangest trigger of all.
Silas took a deep breath and steadied his heartbeat.
"It's night, and there's no Moss Rock or Water Stone anywhere nearby… which means…"
His eyes gleamed.
"Moonlight evolution-Umbreon!"
The light grew stronger-pure, elegant, divine. Even though Silas had witnessed evolution before, this moment still made his chest tighten with awe.
Finally, the glow faded.
Standing before him was a sleek, black-furred Pokémon. Its coat shimmered faintly under the moonlight filtering through the bathhouse roof. Golden rings adorned its ears, tail, and forehead-glowing like halos in the dark.
A pair of deep crimson eyes met his. They were gentle, yet filled with the quiet dignity of the night.
"Umbreon…" Silas breathed. "The Moonlight Pokémon."
"Umbre~!"
The newly evolved Pokémon tilted her head, blinking with a dazed but adorable confusion, as if still adjusting to her new body.
Compared to Eevee's fluffy fur, Umbreon's body was smooth and sleek, her tail long and elegant. The gold bands gleamed faintly with each movement-a living jewel of the dark.
Silas felt his heart stir. He stepped forward, smiling softly, reaching out to pat her head
but Umbreon quickly stepped aside, avoiding his hand.
"Huh?" Silas blinked. Then realization struck, and he smacked his forehead with a laugh.
"Right, Umbreon… I forgot."
When emotionally excited, Umbreon's body secretes a toxin-like sweat from its pores-a natural defense mechanism.
He glanced at her drooping ears and guilty eyes. Despite her elegance, she looked like a scolded kitten.
Silas crouched down beside her, voice warm.
"Hey… it's okay, girl. Once you learn to control it, I'll be the first to give you that pat, alright?"
He grinned. "I'll be waiting for the day your glow doesn't sting."
Under the silver moonlight filtering through the mist, the boy made a quiet promise beside the steaming spring.
Umbreon blinked once, then softly padded closer, her movements graceful and silent.
"Umbre~!"
She leapt gently back into the water, ripples blooming around her sleek frame.
When she emerged again, the thin film of toxin had been washed away, leaving her fur glistening clean and fresh.
She bounded happily to Silas's side and rubbed affectionately against his leg, her golden rings gleaming beneath the moon.
A Pokémon born of the night,smiling softly beneath the moonlight.
After checking out from the onsen, Silas hurried back to his Pokémon Center room.
"Alright, Umbreon," he said as he grabbed his Pokédex, "time for your first status check."
The red beam returned her briefly to her Poké Ball, and the scanner chimed.
Pokédex Entry
________________________________________
Umbreon – The Moonlight Pokémon.
When an Eevee's bond with its Trainer reaches its peak and it evolves at night, its body adapts to darkness.
When excited or threatened, it secretes a poisonous sweat from its pores to ward off foes.
Level: 20
Gender: Female
Type: Dark
Height: 1.2 m
Weight: 30 kg
Condition: Excellent growth; strong potential
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Helping Hand, Sand Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes, Quick Attack, Confuse Ray, Feint Attack, Pursuit, Shadow Ball, Protect, Double Team, Refresh
Egg Moves: Yawn, Wish
_________________________________________
Silas closed the Pokédex, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Welcome to your next chapter, girl."
The next morning, he left Pokemon centre, Umbreon walking proudly beside him.
The air grew warmer as they descended the rocky trail toward Lavaridge Gym, steam rising from the volcanic vents ahead.
Soon, the Lavaridge Gym came into view-its red-tiled roof gleaming in the sunlight, surrounded by ancient walls built from volcanic rock.
Silas whistled lowly.
"No wonder this place produced an Elite Four member. The heritage runs deep."
Unlike Petalburg's newly founded gym, the Lavaridge gym sprawled across the hillside, its structure more like a palace than a battlefield.
As Silas approached the entrance, he noticed a dozen elderly men sitting in the shade of the trees nearby, chatting leisurely.
He approached politely. "Excuse me, gentlemen-is this the Lavaridge Gym?"
The group exchanged knowing looks before one silver-haired man in a brown shirt smiled warmly and adjusted his glasses.
"Heh, sure is, lad. You must be here to challenge Flannery, hmm? Fiery girl-takes after her grandfather."
"Thank you, sir." Silas bowed slightly before walking through the gates.
Inside, he could already see Gym apprentices training in pairs.
But before he left the old men behind, he glanced over his shoulder one more time.
The chubby elder was still smiling faintly and Silas's mind clicked.
So that's him…
He hid his grin.
'If I'm not mistaken, that's Moore-the former Hoenn Elite Four member, and the retired Gym Leader of Lavaridge Gym.'
A small grin tugged at Silas's lips.
'Guess my habit of greeting every elder finally paid off.'
It seemed his manners had paid off. Earlier, when he'd greeted every elderly local along the way, he hadn't realized one of them would be that man.
Having lived two lives, Silas's fragmented memories often revealed unexpected advantages.
The current Gym Leader, Flannery, was known for her fiery, outgoing personality but her grandfather, Mr.Moore, was the true foundation of this Gym.
Even without direct contact, leaving a good impression on him could open unseen doors.
Silas's expression softened into a calm smile.
'In this world,' he thought, 'every connection is a chance-every greeting, a potential path.'
He glanced toward the gym's grand interior, where firelight danced across the training floor.
"You climb by using every foothold," he murmured. "Even the smallest one might lead to the summit."
And with that belief-the quiet fire of ambition burning behind his eyes-
Silas stepped forward.
The Moonlight Pokémon followed close behind, her golden rings glowing softly as dawn broke over the Fire-type Gym.
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(End of chapter)