The amphitheater emptied into a dozen wide stone pathways, the massive crowd of first-years buzzing with nervous energy as they were herded towards the allocation fields. Ryuga walked with a confident stride, his Dratini coiled happily on his shoulders, its violet eyes taking in the sights. He felt a hundred gazes on him, a mixture of awe, jealousy, and challenge. It was a familiar pressure, but today it felt different—sharper.
Okay, first challenge: Placement Battles, he thought, his gamer instincts kicking in. This is basically the tutorial level. A chance to gauge the competition and—
"Ryu! Hey, Ryu, wait up!"
A familiar, cheerful voice cut through his thoughts. He stopped and turned, a genuine smile breaking across his face as a girl with a bright, fiery red ponytail bounced through the crowd towards him.
"Elara! There you are," Ryuga said, his tone losing its analytical edge and becoming warm and relaxed. "I was looking for you in the crowd."
"Yeah, well, unlike you VIPs in the front row, some of us from the middle-class section had to fight for a view," she teased, giving him a light, playful punch on the arm. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "So, I saw you met Valerius Argent. Don't worry, he's just mad his hair gel costs more than my house."
Ryuga laughed. "You think so?"
"I know so," she said with a confident smirk. She leaned in, her eyes falling on the Pokémon around his neck. "Whoa... so that's him, huh? He's... beautiful."
"Kyuu?" Dratini lifted its head, looking at Elara with curiosity.
"This is Dratini," Ryuga said softly. "Dratini, this is my best friend, Elara."
Dratini gave a happy chirp and nudged Elara's outstretched hand.
"Wow," she breathed, her smile softening. "He's amazing, Ryu." Her expression then shifted to one of pure, unadulterated excitement, her hands balling into fists. "Okay, now it's my turn! Come on!"
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him along, her energy infectious. They arrived at a massive, sun-drenched field lined with long tables. Behind each table stood a stern-looking academy professor, and laid out before them were rows upon rows of Poké Balls. This was where students who weren't Pendragons received their first partner.
"Okay, this is it!" Elara said, her hands trembling slightly. "Wish me luck!"
She got in line, bouncing on her toes. When her turn came, a kind-faced professor smiled at her. "Welcome to the academy, young lady. We have three excellent partners for you to choose from today."
He gestured to three Poké Balls. Elara took a deep breath, her eyes scanning each one as if trying to see into its very soul. After a long moment, her hand decisively landed on the one in the center.
"This one," she said, her voice full of certainty. "I choose this one."
"An excellent choice," the professor nodded.
Elara stepped back towards Ryuga, clutching the Poké Ball to her chest as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. "Okay... here we go."
She pressed the button, and the ball opened with a flash of red light. A small, turquoise creature with a large green bulb on its back materialized on the grass. It blinked its red eyes, looked up at Elara, and let out a curious, friendly cry.
"Bulba!"
"Oh!" Elara knelt down, her face alight with pure joy. "Hi there, little guy. I'm Elara. It's... it's so nice to meet you."
The Bulbasaur waddled forward and gently nudged her knee, a silent sign of acceptance.
Ryuga smiled, watching the scene. "He's perfect, Elara. A great partner for you."
"He really is," she whispered, her eyes shining.
"ATTENTION, FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS!" a voice boomed from loudspeakers across the field. A giant screen flickered to life, displaying hundreds of names. "YOUR PLACEMENT BATTLE PAIRINGS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED! PLEASE FIND YOUR DESIGNATED BATTLEFIELD AND PREPARE FOR COMBAT!"
Ryuga and Elara shot to their feet, their new Pokémon partners looking up, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere. They looked at each other, the same determined fire in their eyes. The time for introductions was over.
"Ready for this?" Ryuga asked, his hand resting on Dratini's head.
Elara scooped her Bulbasaur into her arms and grinned, her confidence radiating like the sun.
"You bet I am."