The moment Aaron stepped off the transport and onto the stone platform of Hearthome University, the first thing he noticed was the atmosphere. It felt charged in a way that Theo never had, as if the air itself carried the weight of ambition. There was an odd sensation beneath his ribs, not nerves exactly, but something sharper, a kind of alertness that made every sound seem clearer. The university grounds stretched out before him, vast and meticulously kept, with wide paths paved in pale stone that glimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Students moved in every direction, most of them older than him, carrying satchels or boxes or dragging their trunks behind them. Their conversations filled the air with overlapping bursts of excitement, worry, and barely contained anticipation. Some looked confident, walking with long strides as if they already belonged here. Others seemed to move cautiously, eyes wide as they tried to take in everything at once.
The towering entrance building stood straight ahead, its white walls gleaming as though freshly polished. A wide archway carved with intricate designs of ancient Sinnoh legends framed the front doors. The carvings depicted figures of old, surrounded by wild Pokémon, each scene carefully etched into the stone with centuries of history behind it. Above the archway, the Hearthome University crest glistened in gold. Aaron recognised the symbol immediately: a stylised crescent encircling a star, representing guidance and excellence.
He paused for a moment, breathing slowly as he tried to ground himself. His trunk felt heavier than it had earlier, not from weight but from the realisation settling deeper inside him. This was the beginning of something that would change everything. The first step away from the familiar, from the fields and woods of Theo, from early mornings watching his parents prepare for duty, from evenings spent reading quietly while Lila rambled about whatever she had imagined that day. He felt none of the panic he had feared. Only steadiness.
"Move along, students. Enrolment queue to the left. Hostel queue straight ahead," a woman in a navy robe called out.
Her voice snapped him back to the present. He gripped the handle of his trunk and began walking, letting the flow of students swallow him naturally. His steps were deliberate, neither rushed nor hesitant. He scanned the crowd as he went, quietly observing faces the way he always had. Some students walked with their parents, still giving final bits of advice. A few had their first partner Pokémon perched on their shoulders or following close behind. Others travelled alone like him, standing a little straighter to make up for the absence of family beside them.
The enrolment area was well organised, though the sound of chatter made it feel almost chaotic. Several long counters had been set up beneath a wide canopy. Staff wearing the same navy and silver colours as the university uniforms stood behind each desk, calling out names and checking documents.
Aaron took his place in the queue. The student in front of him, a boy with sandy hair and an anxious expression, kept tapping his foot, muttering things under his breath as if rehearsing them. Behind Aaron stood a girl with long auburn curls, her eyes sharp and observant in a way that suggested she was already analysing everyone around her. She glanced at him once and then looked away without comment.
When it was Aaron's turn, a woman with neatly pinned dark hair glanced up from her tablet.
"Name?"
"Aaron Roberts," he replied, his voice steady.
"Town?"
"Theo Town."
"Age?"
"Ten."
Her fingers moved rapidly across the screen. "Entry score ninety four out of one hundred. Very good. You will be placed in the standard trainer curriculum track unless you choose specialisation later. Confirming enrolment now."
A soft beep sounded as she tapped the screen again.
"Collect your student badge from the second desk. Then proceed to the hostel registration area. You are staying in the North Hall, room two hundred and thirty four."
She handed him a slip of paper with directions. "Welcome to Hearthome University."
He nodded in thanks and stepped aside.
The second desk provided badges, each made of sturdy silver metal engraved with the student's name, identification number, and the Hearthome crest. When the assistant passed him his badge, Aaron held it for a moment, feeling the cool weight of it against his palm. It felt strangely symbolic, like an anchor to this new chapter.
Once he pinned the badge onto his jacket, he moved with the stream towards the hostel registration area. The grounds grew louder as more students gathered, and the noise blended into something almost musical, a mix of excitement, hope, and the first hints of competition.
North Hall stood a short walk away from the main building. It was a four storey residence crafted from light grey stone, with climbing vines growing along the walls in controlled patterns. Large windows lined each corridor, giving it a warm, open feeling. The entrance was wide and welcoming, with benches outside where families sat, either offering last minute advice or taking deep breaths before saying goodbye.
Inside, the hall smelled faintly of polished floors and freshly laundered bedding. Staff members guided students through the corridors, ensuring no one seemed lost. A tall man with a calm expression and a clipboard approached Aaron as he entered.
"Room number?" he asked.
"Two hundred and thirty four," Aaron said.
The man nodded. "Second floor, left wing, third door on your right. Your roommate has arrived already. Do not worry if he seems quiet, he is adjusting as well."
Aaron thanked him and made his way up the stairs. His footsteps echoed softly in the corridor, mixed with the sounds of trunks being dragged, doors opening and closing, and occasional bursts of laughter as new students met their roommates for the first time. Light streamed through the windows, casting long lines across the walls.
When he reached his room, the door was already slightly ajar.
He paused for a second, straightened his jacket, and then pushed it open.
The first thing he saw was the sunlight. The room was brighter than he expected, with a large window facing the academy grounds. Two beds stood neatly apart on opposite sides, each with a small desk and wardrobe. The right bed had already been claimed. A single suitcase lay open on it, and a pair of neatly folded grey shirts rested on the pillow. A stack of notebooks sat on the desk beside it, arranged with careful precision.
And standing beside the wardrobe, adjusting a hanger that did not require any adjusting, was a boy.
He turned at the sound of the door. He was slightly taller than Aaron, with light brown hair that fell just above his eyebrows, and clear grey eyes that held a kind of calm intensity. His posture was straight, almost formal, and there was something unmistakably thoughtful about the way he looked at things, as if his mind was always a step ahead.
"Hello," the boy said, his voice even. "You must be the roommate."
Aaron gave a brief nod. "Aaron Roberts."
The boy's expression shifted subtly, an almost surprised warmth touching his features. "Clen Rowan."
The surname registered immediately. Rowan. As in Professor Rowan. The most renowned researcher in Sinnoh. The man associated with the study of Pokémon evolution, histories, patterns, and biological development. Aaron had seen his name on countless papers and textbooks.
Clen did not seem the type who liked having attention drawn to his lineage, so Aaron made no comment.
Instead, he lifted his trunk slightly. "Do you mind if I take this side?"
"Not at all," Clen replied at once. "I thought it best to wait for you rather than chose everything myself."
Aaron set his trunk by the empty bed. The room fell into a brief, comfortable quiet.
Clen watched him for a moment before speaking again. "Where are you from?"
"Theo Town," Aaron said.
Clen nodded, considering it. "That is east of Eterna, near the older conservation zones. My grandfather used to mention the area whenever he worked on forest pattern studies."
Aaron sat on the edge of his bed. "Yes. My mother works as a wildlife officer. She spends a lot of time out there."
"That explains the posture," Clen said without any hesitation. "You walk like someone who already knows how to handle a field scenario."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Clen gave a mild shrug. "An observation. Possibly both."
It was the first moment any humour appeared on his otherwise calm face, and it softened his expression immediately.
Aaron began unpacking. His training gloves went into the top drawer, his folded uniforms into the wardrobe, and the notebook onto the desk. He placed Lila's stone carefully in the corner, where it could catch the light. Clen watched silently at first, not in a nosy way, but with the same attentive manner of someone who noticed details naturally.
After a few minutes, Clen began unpacking more of his things too. His books were numerous, each thick and worn at the edges, clearly read multiple times. He arranged them in tidy stacks, then began sorting his clothes by colour and fabric type. It was meticulous enough that Aaron glanced at him once.
"You always organise things like that?" he asked.
"It reduces chaos," Clen replied in a matter of fact tone. "Most people underestimate the value of clear surroundings. Disorder makes thinking harder."
Aaron gave a soft, amused breath. "My sister would disagree. Her room looks like a Buneary storm passed through."
Clen allowed a small smile. "Siblings often operate by their own logic."
There was a short pause before Clen added, "You are ten, yes? Most students here are eleven or twelve."
Aaron nodded. "I started Junior College early. Same with the test."
Clen absorbed this thoughtfully. "Ninety four out of one hundred is a strong score. You must have worked consistently."
"I did," Aaron answered simply.
Clen gave a small nod, the kind that conveyed respect rather than politeness.
The door suddenly burst open, and a boy with curly dark hair stuck his head inside.
"Orientation in ten minutes," he announced. "Professor Mara said to gather in the courtyard."
He disappeared again before either of them could respond.
Clen adjusted the collar of his shirt. "We should go. They will not wait for stragglers."
Aaron stood, pinned his badge properly, and followed Clen out of the room. The corridors were fuller now, with students emerging in groups, some chatting excitedly, others walking in silence like Aaron.
Outside, the courtyard was vast, with rows of benches arranged neatly and a long marble podium at the front. Several faculty members stood there, each wearing the same navy robes with silver embroidery. Their expressions ranged from stern to welcoming.
Students gathered, filling the benches quickly. Aaron and Clen took seats near the centre. A light breeze brushed across the courtyard, rustling the leaves of the decorative trees planted along the walkway.
A woman stepped forward. She had strong features, dark brown skin, short cropped hair, and a presence that commanded respect without saying a word. Her eyes scanned the crowd sharply.
"First year students," she began, her voice carrying with effortless authority, "welcome to Hearthome University. You were not chosen by chance. Each of you has met the highest academic standards in the region. Your task now is to prove that you were worth choosing."
A hush settled across the students.
"You will be assessed constantly, not only in theory but in practice. You will learn survival skills, battle strategies, field research techniques, and ethical responsibilities. Some of you will struggle. Some of you will excel. Most of you will fluctuate between the two. What matters is that you do not break."
Aaron listened closely, noting the way she spoke. There was no softness in her tone. Only truth.
Clen leaned slightly closer and murmured, "That is Professor Mara. She teaches the wilderness module. My grandfather says she is brilliant but terrifying."
"She looks both," Aaron whispered back.
When the orientation ended, students split into groups to collect schedules and welcome packs. Aaron received his timetable, neatly printed and colour coded by module. The list included wildlife studies, history and ethics, applied training strategy, physical conditioning sessions, and a weekly field practical.
Clen glanced over his shoulder. "Our timetables are identical."
"It makes sense," Aaron said. "First years all follow the same track."
Clen nodded and folded his timetable with the same precision he applied to everything else.
They walked back towards the hostel, moving through the steady crowd. Some students were already forming small clusters, discovering shared interests or hometowns. Aaron noticed a few glancing around with mild panic, clearly overwhelmed by the size of the university. Others strutted confidently as though they already owned the place.
Clen spoke quietly without looking at him. "Most people here expect to be among the best. It makes them behave oddly."
Aaron gave a small hum of agreement. "My father said something similar."
"Is he a trainer?" Clen asked.
"A ranger."
Clen looked thoughtful. "That explains your posture even more."
"You keep talking about my posture," Aaron said.
"It is fascinating," Clen replied plainly. "You walk like someone expecting a challenge."
Aaron did not argue. He suspected Clen was right.
Back in the room, the light had shifted, becoming warmer as afternoon settled over the city. Clen sat at his desk, writing something in a narrow notebook with smooth, fast strokes. Aaron unpacked the last of his things, placing his thermal blanket and water filter neatly beneath the bed.
A comfortable quiet settled between them.
Clen eventually closed his notebook. "Do you think you will adapt quickly?"
"I will," Aaron said. "I do not see much use in doing things halfway."
Clen nodded approvingly. "Good. It is the only sensible approach."
Aaron sat back on his bed, glancing again at the small stone Lila had given him. It caught the warm sunlight perfectly, glowing faintly. Something tightened inside him, but not painfully. It felt like a reminder.
He was here. He had made it.
And though the world ahead was larger and far more demanding than anything he had known before, he did not feel small. He felt ready.
Clen stood and stretched lightly. "We should explore the grounds before evening. Familiarity makes tomorrow less daunting."
Aaron rose at once. "Let us go."
They left the room and stepped back into the corridor, walking side by side. Two students, ten and nearly eleven, each carrying their own history and expectation, stepping into a place that would shape them both.
The university grounds stretched ahead, bright and vast, waiting.
Aaron Roberts walked forward.
Not with hesitation.
Not with doubt.
Only with purpose.
And this was only the beginning.