At sunset the first day of ranked matches at the Battle Chateau came to an end.

The trainers who had been granted titles strolled through the castle in pairs, still buzzing with excitement.

“Larvitar’s Earthquake actually one-shot Grant’s Tyrantrum!”

“After all, it is Teacher Lu’s Larvitar…”

“Teacher Lu’s skill shows itself even in his breeding foundation.”

The dying light gilded the Battle Chateau with a layer of gold;

ripples shimmered across the fountain’s surface as a maid walked through the corridor.

Lu Ye stood on the second-floor balcony overlooking the courtyard, recalling Kalos’s culture without surprise.

The Pokémon world already had small kingdoms like Geosenge Town and Michina, and King AZ was a household name in Kalos picture books.

Staring at the Flabébé dancing in the garden, Lu Ye drifted into thought.

It was said that King AZ had tried to use an ultimate weapon to bring back his beloved Flabébé, but the war caused by that weapon destroyed everything. The resurrected Flabébé left King AZ in disappointment, plunging the king into despair. The weapon’s radiation granted King AZ eternal life so he could not die;

from ancient times he wandered until the present day, falling from king to a homeless man roaming Kalos’s streets.

“What a romantic and tragic story.”

Lu Ye and Haunter gazed down at the castle garden together;

Sylveon wrapped one ribboned feeler around his arm, sharing the melancholy of dusk.

Footsteps sounded behind them;

butler Yikong, wearing a monocle, spoke respectfully:

“Marquis Lu Ye, do you intend to continue participating in tomorrow’s ranked matches?”

Lu Ye calmed himself and asked curiously, “How many days do the ranked matches run?”

“The ranked matches occur once a month and last three days. Other trainers will visit the Chateau tomorrow.”

The butler said, “You may stay in the castle;

everything has already been taken care of.”

Lu Ye wanted to ask how the Battle Chateau actually made money.

With champions and Elite Four–level trainers visiting, of course it would be profitable.

Lu Ye nodded and said, “I’ll do random pairings again tomorrow. Thank you.”

“Most humble of me. I will arrange challengers of the same rank for you.” The butler bowed. “Someone will escort you to your room. I take my leave.”

Led by a Victoria-style maid, Lu Ye made himself comfortable in a room of the Battle Chateau.

The interior’s décor matched the Chateau’s atmosphere perfectly.

Lu Ye lay back on a soft sofa and called Cynthia.

When the call connected, Cynthia’s gentle, magnetic voice came through with a smile:

“How do you find the Battle Chateau?”

“I’m not used to it,” Lu Ye said. “But I did manage to win a promotion match.”

“Will you need to stay a few more days?”

“If all goes well and I reach Duke, I’ll head straight to Unova.”

Lu Ye glanced at the Larvitar watching Togepi play a game nearby and said, “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Larvitar is about to evolve.”

There was a brief silence on the other end. Cynthia said softly, “Whether it evolves or not, the bond with your Pokémon won’t change.”

Lu Ye couldn’t help but smile a little and said, “That’s pretty much what I said.”

They chatted for a long time.

Cynthia mentioned that Caitlin had been gloomy lately;

her psychic powers had nearly gone out of control several times.

“She’s blown up a few more game consoles.” Cynthia complained with a headache.

“Heh.” Lu Ye smiled in amusement.

Just the wail of a golden defeatist!

After hanging up, Lu Ye looked at Larvitar. Their eyes met.

“Yojji?” Larvitar blinked, puzzled.

Lu Ye took out the Everstone he had prepared in advance and looked at Larvitar intently:

“There’s a decision I need you to make yourself.”

Sensing Lu Ye’s serious expression, the room fell quiet. The little ones peeked over, watching.

“Regardless of whether you evolve, my attitude won’t change. I want to understand what you truly want, Larvitar.”

“Yojji…” Larvitar studied Lu Ye’s expression.

Although only a few months old, Larvitar was astonishingly mature;

its battle record was remarkable, even scoring a solo shutout against a Mega Haunter during its pup stage.

But that alone wasn’t enough.

Larvitar wanted to protect everyone more and grow into a dependable battle force for the team.

“Yojji!” Larvitar’s gaze hardened. It shook its head and took a half-step back from the Everstone.

Keep getting stronger, Larvitar!

Lu Ye paused, sensing the intention transmitted by the Power of Transcendence, his feelings becoming complicated.

A chill crept down his spine, aware that the risk of being trashed would multiply—

Yet there was a strange happiness!

Perhaps it was because Larvitar was thinking of itself and the little ones.

Even if its understanding was flawed and no one truly needed its protection, Larvitar’s pure motive and fervent wish still moved Teacher Lu deeply.

“Gengarrr~~ﾍ(;

´Д｀ﾍ)” Haunter held a handkerchief in its mouth, eyes brimming with tears, looking touched.

The juniors have grown up~

“Gah!!(´థ౪థ)σ” Sirfetch’d cried a river of tears.

No wonder it’s the hatchling I raised—good job, Larvitar!

“Ka-may…ヾ(⌐■_■)” Blastoise pushed up his sunglasses and looked at Larvitar.

Although staying unevolved gives you an advantage in early paralysis strategies… whatever, I’ll respect your choice!

The Rotom Pokédex lit up with a teary expression.

“Beep beep… Long live understanding, Rotom~ o(TヘTo)”

“Buui…” Sylveon’s cobalt eyes sparkled, staring at the Larvitar wanting to grow stronger, like she’d seen in that Eevee under the meteor shower…

Seeing Larvitar make its own choice, Lu Ye smiled faintly and said:

“Do your best in tomorrow’s match, Larvitar.”

Larvitar nodded hard, eyes resolute;

its quasi-legendary aura was unmistakable.

“Yojji! (▼へ▼メ)”

Kalos, Battle Chateau.

Dusk thickened. In the distant plains, tufts of grass swayed and a flock of Skiddo grazed low.

Violet raised her SLR camera in high spirits, and suddenly a figure appeared in the upper-left of the viewfinder;

she looked up and was startled.

“Grant? What are you doing up there?”

“Rock climbing.” Grant replied calmly from his high position, with no protective gear.

Violet’s expression was complicated. “I have to hand it to you…”

Both counts as Earls of the Battle Chateau, Violet and Grant had battled several times and knew each other’s temperaments.

Rock climbing was not only Grant’s hobby but also warm-up training for battles.

“Isn’t your ranked match already over?” Violet asked.

Grant leapt down from the wall, clapped his hands and said helplessly, “Actually, it’s another matter—”

He replayed how he wanted to hand his badge to Teacher Lu but couldn’t find a proper way to do it, and said:

“I have no appropriate reason to present my badge to Teacher Lu.”

“In other words, if he were to approach me and challenge me to an all-out battle in person, that would be terrible…”

Just a single Larvitar had shut down both of Grant’s main Pokémon.

Grant, while not fully comprehending the gap between himself and Teacher Lu in a full battle, was deeply shaken.

Handing the badge to him directly was better than being kicked out by a Pokémon challenge or being shut down and carried off in a full match…

“That’s basically it.” Grant sighed.

Violet thought for a moment and said, “I have an idea.”

“What?”

“Why don’t you mail the badge to the café in Miare City?”

Violet said, “That café Teacher Lu hasn’t opened yet… it’s already gaining a reputation in Miare City.”

“I see.”

Grant brightened, taking out the rock-shaped “Cliff Badge” from his pocket and said:

“Not a bad idea!”

June 28, Monday.

The day after the ranked matches.

Because it was a weekday, fewer trainers were at the Chateau than the previous day, but many still arrived.

Korrina was among those who hadn’t left.

Battle Chateau cafeteria.

Korrina’s long blonde hair was tied into a ponytail;

she covered her mouth and yawned.

“Morning, Master.”

“Didn’t sleep well?”

“I was so excited about today’s match with Violet that I couldn’t sleep all night.”

Korrina sat in the seat across from Lu Ye and said.

“That’s a bit much,” Lu Ye said, sipping his coffee.

“Not at all! I heard that powerful Aura Guardians can substitute meditation for sleep!”

Korrina widened her eyes seriously;

the whites were rimmed with red.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Lu Ye said. “I’ll try it when I get back.”

Korrina froze for a moment.

Oh right… Teacher Lu is an Aura Guardian—

She tried to probe Teacher Lu with her faint aura. Her expression immediately fell.

The gap was too big;

her confidence took a hit!

Korrina moped as she chewed her bread.

Lu Ye said, “May I see your Lucario?”

“Of course.” Korrina agreed readily and pressed her Poké Ball. A column of white light burst out, revealing Lucario’s outline.

“Lucario!” Lucario’s expression was cold, like a loyal guardian;

its eyes glowed red.

Lu Ye tried to sense it with the Power of Transcendence and said regretfully, “A physically oriented Lucario doesn’t need to use meditation to raise special attack EVs… next time try Bulk Up and Swords Dance.”

“Huh?” Korrina was taken aback, realizing her Lucario indeed had a different style from her grandfather’s Lucario.

According to Teacher Lu, that might actually work…

While Korrina pondered, Lu Ye casually channeled a bit of Aura into Lucario, which closed its eyes appreciatively.

Korrina called, “Lucario?”

“Lucario!” Lucario immediately snapped to attention and resumed its seriousness.

Aura from the Tree of Beginning is pure, benevolent energy for most Pokémon.

Whether those who wield Aura are pure is another matter…

Lu Ye cleared his throat and asked, “Are there other Gym Leaders coming today?”

Yesterday he had only obtained one badge all day.

Teacher Lu was secretly pleased.

It looked like he didn’t need to worry about Violet and Grant;

the Bug Badge and Cliff Badge issues were handled!

Korrina thought for a moment and said, “Hmm… I think there’s a Gym Leader coming from afar—Mr. DeFu from Vernal Town.”

Across generations, almost every region had a snow-covered town with a Gym.

In Kalos, Vernal Town was a place that was snowy year-round, and its Gym Leader was the spry old gentleman DeFu.

Korrina said admiringly, “Mr. DeFu is Kalos’s eighth Gym Leader… a passionate trainer who specializes in guiding newcomers and bringing out their strength!”

“Does he have an Abomasnow?” Lu Ye asked.

Korrina confirmed, and Lu Ye realized.

This is the ice-type Gym Leader from the animation who used Mega Abomasnow against Ash’s Greninja.

Tough on the outside, gentle inside—DeFu was praised as “a blazing yet solid ice.” Compared to Liu Bo’s nearly heartless rigorous tutelage, DeFu was more beloved by trainers.

Although Ice types have many weaknesses, they hit a wide range of targets and can be a sharp double-edged sword.

“Throughout history Ice types have produced strong trainers.” Lu Ye thought of Liu Bo and Lorelei’s “Ice Dolls” and sighed.

“By the way, Master.”

Korrina lowered her voice: “Mr. DeFu is also a Marquis. There’s a good chance you’ll be matched with him.”

Lu Ye was slightly surprised and pondered:

“That doesn’t matter;

just don’t give me the Ice Mountain Badge…”

“No way! When a Gym Leader favors a trainer, they naturally give their badge—that’s tradition~” Korrina laughed.

Lu Ye: “…”

Lu Ye: “I remember now… Ami joined earlier than you;

you should call her senior.”

Korrina: ???

That’s my rival… now I have to call her senior?

Korrina flushed scarlet, momentarily at a loss for words.

A maid approached Lu Ye and whispered:

“Marquis Lu Ye, your random match opponent is ready.”

“Which trainer?”

“It’s Mr. DeFu from Vernal Town.”

The dark Poké Ball at his side trembled;

Lu Ye felt the little one’s fierce battle intent.

He closed his eyes and recalled that decisive, cold, kinglike glare.

Lu Ye nodded lightly and replied:

“I’m ready too.”