The morning sun poured through the grand windows of the Alucard estate's main hall, spilling golden light onto the marble floors and crystalline chandeliers. Outside, the sprawling grounds buzzed with activity—the meticulous choreography of servants, diplomats, and trainers preparing for the day's grand event.
Today was my tenth birthday.
But unlike most children's birthdays, this day was not just a celebration of age it was the day I stepped closer to the legacy my family had laid out for me since birth. The world outside saw a privileged boy about to begin his trainer journey; inside these walls, far older and darker games were set in motion.
Guests arrived in a procession of silk, tailored suits, and the quiet rustle of whispered influence. The luminaries of Kalos's political, scientific, and Pokémon circles filled the great hall each aware that this event was more than a ceremony. It was an unveiling.
Adrian stood beside me, his expression unreadable but eyes sharp as daggers. Elise's calm presence steadied me, her smile never wavering as she greeted the gathered elite.
Magnus, ever the silent observer, lingered at the periphery, his eyes flickering with a mixture of pride and caution.
Hawthorne, impeccable in his service, subtly directed the flow of guests and conversations, ensuring not a single moment faltered.
When the speeches began, mine was brief but measured.
"Today," I told them, "is not the start of my journey, but a continuation of paths walked by those before me. I step forward not just with hope, but with the weight of legacy, the drive of discovery, and a determination to shape what is to come."
Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd.
The highlight of the public ceremony was the presentation of my first official partner: a flawless Eevee.
Bred through decades of the family's genetic mastery and aura-imbued techniques, the Eevee was a living testament to bloodline and science.
As its Poké Ball was presented, the room's gaze turned to me.
Embracing the gravity of the moment, I knelt down, opening the Poké Ball and letting Eevee emerge, its fur shimmering with health and vitality.
Its eyes met mine—not just curious, but knowing.
"We share more than a bond," I whispered quietly, feeling the pulse of aura ripple through us. "We share a promise."
But as the crowd's applause swelled at the surface, beneath the estate's marble and gold, deeper wheels turned.
Magnus led me through a concealed corridor, away from the eyes and ears of the celebration.
The path ended before a reinforced door unknown to most, and untouched by public knowledge.
Heart pounding, I stepped inside.
The vault was vast and dimly lit, the air thick with the faint hum of psychic energy.
There, resting atop a pedestal, was a Master Ball—perfect and forbidding.
Magnus's voice was quiet but clear.
"The guardian awaits."
From the shadows, a presence unfolded immense, calm, and impossibly sharp.
Mewtwo.
Its eyes locked with mine in a moment heavier than any ceremony.
"You have grown," Mewtwo's voice echoed silently in my mind, firm but measured. "Not merely in years, but in mind, strength, and understanding. The path you choose from here will shape the fate of many."
I met that gaze evenly, aware of the ancient pact binding us.
"I seek not only power, but balance. Guidance beyond battle. Harmony between strength and wisdom."
Mewtwo's psychic aura crested and settled like waves.
"Then you are worthy of this alliance. Know that you will not walk this path alone."
Magnus stepped forward.
"The world you see is but the surface. Beneath lie forces of secret governance, ancient debts, and intertwined destinies."
Mewtwo extended a psychic link—an unspoken transfer of knowledge, warnings, and the heavy responsibility of guarding not just power, but purpose.
The private initiation ended, but its weight lingered heavily.
Back in my chambers, Eevee curled beside me gentle and resilient. The Master Ball resting under lock and key in the vault was a silent promise and an unseen sword.
Outside, the estate's laughter and light rituals dwindled into the calm of dusk.
I sat, reflecting on the day.
The public lens saw a boy embarking on a journey—exciting but ordinary.
But within, I carried the knowledge of my family's secret alliance, the ancient guardian watching over us, and the power waiting to be wielded.
Tomorrow, my journey would truly begin.