The entire Stone household felt quieter than usual—reverent almost—as if aware that today marked more than just an exam. It was the threshold between youth and the future.
Albert stood before the mirror in his guest chamber, straightening the lapels of his tailored suit. Charcoal gray, with a subtle sheen that caught light like starlight, it was a deliberate choice: dignified, understated, yet undeniably commanding.
An amethyst tie gleamed against the crisp white of his shirt, and the polished gray shoes at his feet reflected his movements like glass.
For the first time in over a decade, his amethyst-purple eyes will be unhidden in public, their depth will be revealed without the distortion of the psychic veil.
He studied his reflection with a critical eye, brushing back a strand of hair that had grown longer in recent years, styled with care for this occasion.
What he saw was no longer the boy who had once hidden from the world, but a young man who was ready to step into it, free and unmasked.
The knock at the door was gentle but familiar.
"Albert? Are you ready?" Steven's voice came, steady but edged with anticipation.
Albert adjusted his cuffs before answering, "Come in."
The door opened, and there stood Steven Stone—sixteen now, every inch the image of maturity and poise expected of the heir of Devon Corporation.
His own attire was immaculate: a black three-piece suit with subtle accents of blue at the tie and pocket square, matching the gleam of his steel-blue eyes.
His ice-blue hair, carefully styled, caught the light like Antarctic ice.
For a moment, the two simply looked at each other.
Steven's eyes widened slightly, his breath catching as they fell on Albert's unveiled face. He had seen it countless times at home, yes, but something about this morning was different.
There was no privacy to it, no safety of family walls, confident, beautiful, and unafraid—this was an Albert preparing to show himself to the world.
"You…" Steven hesitated, then let a slow smile spread across his face. "You'll outshine the entire hall today."
Albert chuckled, though there was a softness to his tone. "I should hope not. I'd rather the examiners focus on my answers, not my face."
The two descended the staircase together, the polished banister glinting under morning light.
Sister Maribel, waiting at the bottom, clapped her hands together softly when she saw them.
"My, my," she said with a smile that was equal parts pride and nostalgia. "I daresay the two of you look less like examinees and more like guest lecturers."
"Hopefully the examiners will think so too," Steven joked, though he smoothed his tie again out of nervous habit.
Breakfast was light but carefully prepared—fruit, eggs, and a fragrant herbal tea meant to soothe nerves.
Joseph joined them at the table, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on both young men as they ate.
He did not speak much, but his silence held a weight of pride.
Percy, unable to restrain himself, teased them mercilessly about looking like they were attending a wedding rather than an exam.
"Dressing to impress is half the battle," Albert quipped, meeting Percy's grin with one of his own.
After breakfast, they walked out together, their shoes clicking softly on stone.
In just a few steps, they reached the waiting car. Joseph was already there, leaning on his cane, watching the two with an unreadable expression.
His eyes lingered on them longer than usual, but he said nothing, simply nodding as the chauffeur opened the door.
"Albert," he began, voice low, "you've practically memorized the entire curriculum. What exactly are we facing today? I know the broad strokes, but… tell me again. Just so it sticks."
"Five hours for the theoretical portion," Albert recited as though it were a mantra. "Six hundred and fifty points from objective multiple-choice questions, fifty points from a single big essay."
Steven nodded, already familiar, but he let Albert's voice steady his nerves.
"And then," Albert continued, "a break for lunch. Afterward, a three-hour practical session."
Steven tapped his pen lightly against the desk. "It sounds straightforward when you say it like that. But five hours… that's grueling."
Albert tilted his head, eyes gleaming faintly. "Endurance is part of the test. They want to see not just what you know, but whether you can sustain composure under pressure."
The car slowed as they reached the sprawling campus of Rustboro Academy, where banners of the Evergreen Island fluttered above the gates.
Dozens of examinees in formal or casual wear were already streaming inside, their chatter a nervous buzz.
The chauffeur stopped, and Joseph turned slightly in his seat. "Steven, this is your stop."
Steven hesitated, glancing once at Albert before reaching for the door handle. His grip lingered, though, and he turned back. "We'll meet after. Right?"
Albert met his gaze steadily, smiling softly as his voice was quiet but unwavering. "Of course. Do your best, Steven. I won't wish you luck, you don't need it."
Steven swallowed hard, then stepped out, straightening his jacket. He gave one last look—half gratitude, half something deeper—before disappearing into the crowd.
The car carried on until it reached a private helipad on the edge of the city.
Waiting there was a sleek helicopter bearing the EIG crest, its rotors idling softly.
Albert stepped out alone, the weight of silence suddenly heavier without Steven beside him. The pilot saluted briskly, motioning him aboard.
As the helicopter rose, Lilycove City unfolded below, a living mosaic of streets and harbors, until the grandeur of Lilycove University filled the horizon.
From above, the main hall gleamed like a fortress of knowledge, banners snapping in the wind.
Albert rested back against the seat, eyes half-lidded.
For years, his face had been hidden behind psychic veils, his identity cloaked.
But today, Albert Hugo Deford would step into the light—not as a researcher, not as a child prodigy shrouded in secrecy, but as a young man about to become a trainer.
The thought made his chest tighten, though not with fear.
Anticipation. Resolve. Perhaps, even… excitement.
He switched to a car, which then slowed before the gates of Lilycove University.
The sheer sight made Albert catch his breath.
The familiar sprawling campus had been transformed into an examination hub—rows of candidates lined up under banners marked Exam Allocation, staff in crisp uniforms directing the flow with practiced efficiency.
Students from every walk of life milled about: some in pressed uniforms from prestigious academies, others in modest clothes that spoke of rural beginnings.
And yet, here, all stood equal.
Each had only one goal: to become a licensed Pokémon trainer.
As Albert stepped out of the limousine that he rode right after the helicopter, a ripple of attention passed through the crowd.
It wasn't only because of his attire that drew eyes immediately; it was the aura he carried, the quiet composure that set him apart.
Looking at the casual attire of the crowd, who were also obviously staring at him. "Better overdressed than overlooked," Albert muttered to himself.
The morning sun lit his path, and for the first time, Albert's unveiled face caught the gaze of the public.
Whispers followed, but Albert did not falter. He carried himself as though this were the only natural way to be.
And perhaps, at long last, it was.