The internal scream Leo let out was of such high frequency that he was surprised it didn't shatter the fine porcelain tea set on the table.
[System: Warning! Host is procrastinating. If a selection is not made within ten seconds, the 'Divine Reassignment' protocol will be initiated. The Host shall spend the next twenty-four hours as a member of the fairer sex. Note: Wardrobe will be provided. It involves a lot of lace.]
"You absolute, digital demon!" Leo roared in the sanctuary of his mind. The System, as usual, offered nothing but a cold, indifferent silence that felt suspiciously like a smirk.
Bracing himself, Leo felt his face burn with a heat that could have hatched a Larvesta egg.
"Good morning, Eleanor," he said, his voice a pitch higher than usual. He stood up, walked to the head of the table, and gave his mother a quick, dutiful kiss on her cheek. "I... I hope you have a truly wonderful morning. You're looking as radiant as a Ho-Oh at sunrise."
Lorelei, who had been mid-sip of her Miltank milk, nearly choked. She set her glass down with a heavy clack, covering her forehead with one hand. "And the award for 'Most Shameless Flattery' goes to the boy in the red jacket. Seriously, Leo? Is this going to be a daily occurrence now?"
Eleanor, however, didn't seem to mind the absurdity. She beamed, her brown eyes curving into those dangerous, fox-like crescents that always signaled she was three steps ahead of everyone else in the room.
"Why, thank you, Leo," she said, her voice dripping with a sweetness that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. She gave him a light pat on the shoulder, her touch lingering just a second too long. "It's so rare for a boy your age to appreciate his mother's aesthetic. I'll have to think of a very special way to reward your sudden burst of affection."
Leo froze. That smile. That specific, playful glint in her eye.
I'm doomed, he thought, sliding back into his chair. She knows. She doesn't know about the System, but she knows I'm up to something. I've just handed her a tactical nuke of teasing potential.
Trying to pivot the conversation away from his impending social execution, Leo focused on his breakfast. The Miltank milk was rich and creamy, sourced directly from the local dairy farm on the island, and the eggs were seasoned with a blend of herbs that only a Master Breeder would know how to grow.
Lorelei broke the silence after a moment, her expression shifting from amused exasperation to her "Commander" face.
"Leo," she said, tapping her finger against her glasses. "In a few days, I'll be heading to the mainland. The Indigo Plateau has officially confirmed my appointment. I'm taking up my seat on the Elite Four."
Leo looked up, his fork paused. "So it's official? The 'Ice Queen' is moving into the palace?"
Lorelei ignored the nickname, though a small, proud smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. "It's a legacy, Leo. Our father's seat has been vacant or held by 'interim' trainers for too long. It's time an Ashford returned to the Plateau. But that leaves the question of what to do with you."
She leaned in, her gaze piercing. "I'll be living in the Executive Suites at the League Headquarters. There's plenty of room, and the training facilities are the best in the world. Or... you could stay here with Mom and continue your studies in breeding and ecology."
Leo didn't even have to think. "I'm going with you."
"Oh?" Eleanor's voice came from the kitchen, but the sound of a rhythmic tap-tap-tap on the wooden counter told Leo she was listening closely. "Is the big island too small for you now, Leo? Or is it that you can't wait to leave your poor, lonely mother all by herself?"
She stepped back into the doorway, dabbing a fake tear from her eye with the corner of her apron. "To think, I raised him from a shivering little seedling in a cave, and now he wants to fly away to the cold, grey towers of the city. My heart is truly breaking."
Despite the theatrical performance, Leo saw her other hand—the one not holding the apron—tapping a rapid, impatient beat on the table. It was a tell. Eleanor wasn't sad; she was calculating.
Leo felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew that look. If he stayed here, he'd be her "assistant" for the next year, which translated to being a glorified test subject for her new Pokémon grooming techniques and "character-building" chores.
"It's not that!" Leo said quickly, waving his hands. "I just... I'm worried about Lorelei! She's so focused on battles that she probably won't remember to eat anything that isn't a protein bar. She needs someone there to make sure she doesn't turn into a literal ice statue from overworking."
Lorelei puffed out her cheeks, looking surprisingly indignant. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much! But... having a familiar face around the Plateau wouldn't be the worst thing. The politics there can be as biting as a Blizzard."
"See?" Leo said, directing his plea to Eleanor. "It's a matter of family duty!"
Eleanor watched him for a long beat, her fox-like smile never wavering. "Is that so? Well, if it's for Lorelei's sake, I suppose I can't object. But remember, Leo... the city is far away, but my reach is quite long. And you still owe me for that 'radiant' compliment."
"I'll go pack!" Leo blurted out, finishing his milk in one gulp and practically sprinting out of the dining room.
"Breakfast isn't over yet!" Lorelei called after him, but he was already halfway to the backyard.
The Ashford estate was more than just a home; it was a living encyclopedia of the natural world. As Leo burst through the back doors, the humid, sweet scent of the forest hit him.
This was his sanctuary. Here, the System's nagging voice was drowned out by the symphony of the wild.
He walked along the stone-paved path that wound through the different biomes. To his left, a cluster of Oddish were buried up to their leaves in the rich, black soil, soaking up the morning dew. A Bellossom danced between them, its flower-skirt twirling as it practiced its Sunny Day rhythm.
In the center of the estate lay a massive, spring-fed lake. Leo watched as a school of Goldeen breached the surface, their scales shimmering like submerged jewels, while a group of Poliwag practiced their Bubble Beam attacks against a set of floating targets Eleanor had installed.
High above, the sky was a canvas of movement. A flock of Pidgeotto circled the villa, their keen eyes watching for any movement in the tall grass. In a shaded corner near the rocky outcrops, a pair of Nidoran—one pink, one purple—were huddled together, twitching their ears in a quiet, private conversation.
Leo greeted them all. He had spent five years learning their languages, their temperaments, and their needs. He wasn't just a resident; he was a part of this ecosystem.
But he wasn't looking for the small fries today. He needed space. He needed to feel the scale of the world he was about to enter.
He made his way to a high, marble gazebo that sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind whipped his hair across his face, smelling of salt and distant storms. He took a deep breath and let out a sharp, piercing whistle that echoed off the cliffs.
"Come on!" he shouted toward the clouds. "I know you're watching!"
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind. Then, the air itself seemed to vibrate.
A roar, deep and resonant like the grinding of tectonic plates, tore through the sky. From the cover of a massive thundercloud, a shape descended.
It wasn't the standard blue and red of its species. This creature was a legend made flesh. Its scales were the color of midnight, a deep, matte black that seemed to absorb the sunlight. Its underbelly and the massive, scythe-like wings were a brilliant, shimmering gold, and its eyes burned with a fierce, blood-red intelligence.
The Shiny Salamence landed on the clearing before the gazebo, the sheer force of its descent kicking up a gale that nearly knocked Leo off his feet. It stood three meters tall, a mountain of Draconic power that made the surrounding forest seem small and fragile.