"It's done." Caleb watched as Shinx's eyelids twitched before withdrawing his hands.
Shinx slowly opened its eyes in Isa's arms, its bright golden gaze curiously surveying the surroundings.
Isa stared blankly at Caleb's hands, her expression one of shock, "This is... The power of the Viridian Forest from the Kanto region?!"
In her youth, she had been a Trainer who loved traveling the world and had naturally heard of the Viridian Power. Back then, she had even lived in Viridian City for a long time to investigate it.
Caleb looked at his own hands, deliberately feigning ignorance, "It's called the Power of Viridian?"
Isa nodded thoughtfully, "Yes! It's a miraculous ability granted by Viridian Forest in Kanto. That means... you might actually be from Kanto!"
"I have to inform Officer Jenny about this!" Isa said, heading toward another room.
Once she left, the three children crowded around Caleb, their eyes sparkling.
The oldest, a blond boy, asked, "Are you our little brother?"
Caleb looked at the three kids, each a head taller than him, and fell silent for a moment before answering, "No, I'm not."
One of the younger boys, with brown hair, frowned in confusion, "Then why are you here? Only kids without parents come here."
Caleb: "..."
He had no response to that.
Just then, Isa returned from the room. Seeing the scene, she sighed helplessly and explained, "Sylvain, Elio, Nino, don't scare our little guest. He was taken from his parents by bad people and can't find his way home right now. He'll be staying with us for a while."
The only girl in the group asked eagerly, "Then can I call him little brother?"
The other two boys also looked at Isa expectantly.
The orphanage hadn't welcomed a new child in years. They had been longing for a little brother for a very, very long time.
And this new little brother was so cute, too.
Isa hesitated for a moment before turning to Caleb, who stood quietly to the side. She said, "Young Terrence, don't be scared. Your big brothers and sister are good kids, they won't bully you."
Caleb could already tell. Being stared at with such anticipation by three young children made his scalp tingle.
The girl, Nino, declared, "That's right! Big sister will protect you!"
The oldest, Sylvain, thumped his chest proudly, "Big brother will protect all three of you!"
Elio scratched his head, glancing helplessly at his older brother and sister, "You two took all the good lines!"
Sylvain thought seriously for a moment before suggesting, "You can protect little brother and sister! Since I'm the oldest, I'll protect all three of you!"
Caleb, who was now being promised protection by three seven-year-olds deadpanned...
'I don't need protecting, thanks.' he thought.
Isa smiled warmly at the scene, "Alright, kids, let's go prepare lunch! What do you say to potato pancakes with fresh mushroom vegetable soup?"
"Yay! I'll help wash the vegetables!" Elio cheered, bouncing after Isa toward the kitchen.
Sylvain turned back to Caleb, pressing him firmly onto the stool by the heater, "You just wait here for us."
Caleb: 'I suddenly feel like a useless burden...'
With the four gone, the living room fell silent.
The Shinx Caleb had saved affectionately nuzzled his leg with its fluffy body.
Terrence, who had been warming himself by the heater, finally sidled over and teased, "So, how does it feel to be doted on by three older siblings?"
Caleb shot him a glare.
Terrence immediately clammed up, shivering as he tucked his paws into his fur, "Bro, just catch me in a Poké Ball already. It's way too damn cold out here. This fur coat is useless!"
After his last Instance's misadventures, Caleb now carried dozens of standard Poké Balls in his inventory at all times.
Luckily, this Instance didn't have the same restrictions as the survival one, preventing players from bringing items in...
He glanced at the Smeargle and asked, "You sure?"
Terrence nodded eagerly, "Yeah. Let me experience what it's like to sleep inside a Poké Ball for once."
"Fine."
Making sure no one was watching, Caleb pulled out an empty Poké Ball from his inventory and recalled Smeargle into it.
The ball didn't even shake before sealing with a successful capture.
Caleb twitched his lips and checked the stats of this unique Smeargle:
«Smeargle (Terrence Jones)»
- Level: 1
- Gender: Male
- Type: Normal
- Ability: Technician
- Egg Moves: None
- Known Moves: Sketch (Ice Beam)...
- Held Items: Perfect Stat Boosts ×1000, Hyper Potions ×200, Poké Ball ×5, Revival Herb ×10...
'Mhm... Looks pretty weak.' Caleb mused.
'But that last section, held items, are those from his player inventory? Also, could they be stolen by using the move Thief?'
Caleb pondered for a moment before deciding it was worth testing...
After making sure no one would come out of the kitchen, he released Mimikyu alongside Smeargle.
The moment Terrence popped out, he immediately started gushing about his experience, "So comfy! It's seriously comfy in there! Like taking a hot bath after being exhausted and then lying on sun-warmed blankets!"
Caleb ignored him and glanced at Mimikyu, then instructed, "Mimikyu, use Thief on this idiot."
Hearing this, Terrence's eyes widened, "What the hell are you doing?!"
But before he could react, Mimikyu's shadowy claws lashed out, smacking him so hard he was sent flying and knocked out instantly.
Caleb: "..."
Mimikyu turned around, curiously pushing a round Poké Ball out from under its Disguise.
"So it does work..." Caleb contemplated for a moment before using the Viridian Power to heal Terrence.
Soon, Terrence woke up, glaring furiously, "What was that for?! Why'd you attack me?!"
Caleb held up the stolen Poké Ball...
"What's this?" Caleb smacked the ball away... only for a flash of white light to burst forth, revealing a Charmander with a blazing tail flame.
"WHAT THE–?!" Terrence yelped, scrambling to pick up his Poké Ball.
Caleb summarized bluntly, "That was Thief. It can steal items from your inventory."