Jubilife Village.
By the time Steven made it back, it was nearly noon. He headed straight for Captain Cyllene's office on the first floor of the Galaxy Team headquarters.
Standing before the closed door, he raised a hand and knocked.
Thump-thump...
"Come in."
Captain Cyllene's voice, as precise and clipped as ever, came through the door. Steven pushed it open to find her seated at her desk, working through a stack of file reports.
"Captain Cyllene," he said.
She looked up at once, her calm eyes settling on him. Setting the documents aside, she studied him in silence — as if to say, I'm waiting for an explanation.
"Last night I heard a loud thunderclap and thought it seemed unusual," Steven began evenly. "So I went out to check on it, and I've only just gotten back."
Cyllene nodded, her expression easing slightly. "I sent members of the investigation team to look into it as well. Since you were there yourself, do you have anything to report?"
"I found where the lightning struck — near Ginkgo Landing, just as it's marked on the map," Steven said. "While I was there, a Pokémon glowing with golden light attacked me. It was in some kind of berserk state."
Cyllene's brow furrowed. "The Forest King?"
Steven blinked at the term. Akira had only ever called it "the King," without saying which one.
"The Forest King, Kleavor, lives near Ginkgo Landing," Cyllene explained. "But that shouldn't be possible — the Forest King is under the care of Lian, of the Pearl Clan. How could something like this have happened?"
Steven caught the unfamiliar term at once. "Captain Cyllene, what is the Pearl Clan?"
"A group in the Hisui Region devoted to a deity they call the Sinnoh Grandeur," Cyllene said briefly. "They hold deep reverence for the Kings and Queens." As she spoke, she rose and walked a slow circle around him.
Queens, too? Steven thought. That was easy enough to guess — a female Pokémon of King status would simply be called a Queen.
"Something wrong, Captain?" he asked, noticing she'd stopped studying him.
Without answering, Cyllene returned to her chair. "You were attacked by the Forest King and came away without a scratch," she said gravely. "It seems that, like Aya, your strength rivals that of a King."
Steven scratched his cheek with one finger, his eyes drifting to the Abra floating near her desk. It was true enough — compared to Cyllene, Akira, and the others here, his own strength stood well above the rest. Still, he had yet to meet a truly powerful Trainer in Hisui.
Though I suppose they aren't called Trainers here — Tamers, was it?
He hadn't yet met the Galaxy Team's commander either, only heard Akira mention him once or twice. Surely a man like that would be formidable in his own right.
"Given that you ran off on your own without regard for your safety, you should be disciplined," Cyllene said. "However—"
"However?"
"However, since you've brought back useful information, I'll waive the punishment. Consider this a verbal warning instead."
Steven nodded, doing his best to look properly repentant. "Understood, Captain Cyllene."
Not that it would have mattered much either way, he thought. If she really had tried to punish him, he'd simply have walked. Jubilife Village wasn't the only place he could get by, and he had no intention of putting up with unfair treatment here. Ever since Dialga had entered his life, his patience for such things had already worn thin. It was only that the investigation team gathered information faster than he could on his own — leaving would only slow him down.
"As for your assessment to formally join the team..." Cyllene considered for a moment. "You'll need to subdue the Forest King."
Steven stared at her. You're handing a newly recruited — no, an intern member — an assessment where he has to subdue the Forest King?
"Subdue... what exactly does that involve?" he asked, resigned.
He supposed he couldn't complain — who else could even attempt it? Anyone else assigned this task would likely have no chance at all. But what "subduing" actually required, he had no idea.
"Subduing calls for something called a Quelling Balm — it's the King's favorite food," Cyllene explained. "You'll need to find Lian, who looks after the Forest King locally. They'll walk you through the rest." Her tone remained level. "Even though our teams are separate, you'll be helping to subdue the King, so they won't give you any trouble."
"Understood," Steven said with a small nod. "I'll head out now, then?"
"Mm." Cyllene nodded and returned to her paperwork.
Steven let himself out, quietly shutting the door behind him.
She really does hand me the difficult jobs, doesn't she, he thought with a sigh. He hadn't felt this exasperated even during his time in the Hoenn League. But putting on airs simply wasn't in his nature, so he let it go.
He turned, meaning to head to Yumanting for something to eat, but just as he reached the entrance of the headquarters, something slammed into his chest.
Steven staggered back a few steps before catching his balance.
"Ow!"
He looked down to find Akira sprawled on the ground.
"Why are you running so fast?" Steven said, annoyed. This kid's head is like a rock.
"I was coming to tell Captain Cyllene I couldn't find you!" Akira said, just as irritated, pushing himself up and dusting off his backside.
"Well, go report then," Steven said, stepping aside.
"Thanks," Akira said, and dashed off to knock on Cyllene's door.
Once Akira had gone inside, Steven leaned against the doorframe and began counting down under his breath.
Ten, nine, eight... two, one—
Right on cue, Akira came stumbling back out, hair a mess, apologizing as he pulled the door shut behind him.
"Brother Steven!" he said, stomping over with a huff.
"Since when am I your brother?" Steven asked, chuckling at how harmless Akira looked — certainly less intimidating than one of Cyllene's cold stares.
"I still want you to teach me more about taming Pokémon! Isn't this a good way to get closer to you?" Akira said, not bothering to hide his motives.
After all, Steven had ten Pokémon with him — hardly anyone in Hisui could tame that many at once.
"You really don't hide anything, do you," Steven said with a laugh, slinging an arm around Akira's shoulder. "I suppose I'll have to make time to teach you, then."
Akira beamed.
"I'm only kidding, though. If you turn out to be hopeless at it, don't blame me."
Akira's grin faltered.
"Ha, I'm just teasing. I'll teach you properly."
Akira brightened again, laughing.
Steven looked at the young man beside him, a small smile crossing his face.
Heh. This isn't so bad.
...