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Something soft brushed against his cheek.
Warm. Fuzzy.
Kael stirred, groaning as a dull ache pulsed behind his eyes.
When he blinked awake, the first thing he saw was a pair of curious black-and-white eyes staring right back at him.
"Pancham?"
The little panda yelped in surprise, squeaked, and bolted out of the room, its stubby legs pattering against the wooden floor until it vanished down the hallway.
Kael sighed, leaning back against the pillow.
He scanned his surroundings: a small, simple room with white sheets, a bedside table, a folded blanket, and nothing else.
His abdomen throbbed faintly.
When he pulled the covers aside, he found a thick bandage wrapped around the wound Lucario had left.
"Figures."
He pinched the cloth, tore it easily with one pull, and peeled it away.
The glossy black skin beneath was already smooth, no sign of the injury remaining.
He smirked, pressing a palm to his stomach. "Good as new."
For a Pokémon like him, part fighting, part ghost, and the product of countless experiments, healing this fast was nothing unusual.
Lucario's blow had looked nasty, but the Aura Master had clearly held back.
---
Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.
"Yo!"
Haus's booming voice filled the doorway as he strode in. "Recovering fast, huh?"
Kael shot him a flat look. "Because someone's partner ran me through."
Haus rubbed the back of his head with a laugh. "Heh. Call it… a standard entry test."
He clapped his massive hands together.
"Anyway, congratulations, you passed! Welcome to the Ignis City Fighting Dojo!"
Kael didn't answer, just nodded curtly. His eyes drifted past Haus to the small Pancham now peeking shyly from behind the man's leg.
"Cute," Kael muttered under his breath. "Hard to believe you evolve into that muscle-bound Pangoro I fought in my last life's tournament…"
Haus, oblivious, continued speaking with his usual enthusiasm.
---
The dojo, Haus explained, was unlike any League academy.
Here, Pokémon weren't forced into Poké Balls or micromanaged by Trainers.
Each one was given its own room and encouraged to grow freely in the vast, natural training grounds that surrounded the main complex.
"Freedom builds strength," Haus said proudly. "We guide them but they find their own path."
Kael listened in silence. He appreciated the idea of freedom, strength, and self-direction.
But he also knew the League never did anything without a reason.
Haus went on:
"Since you're a special case, I've hand-picked mentors to help you refine your basics. Can't say where your path will go, but we'll build a foundation solid enough to carry any future form."
Kael's ears twitched. "Mentors, plural?"
Haus grinned. "You've earned the extra attention."
He explained that once Kael's mentors signed off on his progress, he'd have two choices:
Partner with one of the dojo's human trainees as their Pokémon companion, or
Stay on as a mentor himself, helping raise the next generation of fighters.
Kael pretended to consider, but his real plan was already set.
He'd train, grow stronger, evolve then slip away when the time was right.
No walls. No routines. No leash.
---
Haus finally wrapped up his speech, still smiling from ear to ear.
"Right then, that's about it."
He crouched, scooping up the hesitant Pancham that had been clinging to his pants.
"Keep up the good work, kid. I've got high hopes for you."
Kael gave another small nod stoic, distant, polite.
Playing the cold type was intentional.
Experience had taught him that too much friendliness only drew trouble and attention he didn't need.
Haus turned to leave, but then paused mid-step.
"Oh! Almost forgot." He checked his watch.
"It's seven a.m. sharp. Your first mentor will be waiting for you in the Verdant Bamboo Grove in one hour." He pointed exaggeratedly at the wall clock. "Don't be late!"
Then, whistling cheerfully, Haus exited the room, the Pancham waving goodbye with a tiny paw.
---
Kael stared after them for a moment, exhaling.
"…Right. One hour."
He looked down at his perfectly healed abdomen, then out the small window where sunlight filtered through a canopy of leaves.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Would've been nice if he told me where the hell the Verdant Bamboo Grove actually is."
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