With a level 4 Pokéblock crafting skill, Caleb was more than qualified to be considered a top-tier Breeder.
And top-tier Breeders were held in the same esteem as regional Champions, Elite Four, or even leading Professors — all prized figures nurtured by their respective Leagues.
However, to sell Pokéblocks through official channels, one still needed a Breeder's License.
He remembered how Veggie had taken the Beginner Breeder exam and got failed by that Jigglypuff-faced examiner who looked down on everyone.
Just goes to show how tough the licensing exam really was.
Lately, he'd even seen clips online of trainee breeders venting their frustrations about the exam. Stuff like:
"This one looked like a Ditto but turned out to be a disguised Zoroark!"
"Wait, no — it was a Ditto that had transformed into a Zoroark that was pretending to be a Ditto?!"
The questions were just pure chaos.
Luckily, Caleb remembered pulling a "Beginner Pokémon Breeding Handbook" from the system during his first lottery draw.
And the exam questions? Yeah — they were identical to what was in that book.
Not just "kinda related" — full-on copy-pasted.
So, honestly, Caleb wasn't worried at all. He planned to head to Kanto in a few days and snag that license.
The thought alone lifted his mood.
Even that Poochyena barking at him earlier looked kinda cute now.
He stepped into the Pokémon Center — and immediately spotted three familiar figures.
Bea, Maylene, and Korrina.
The latter two seemed to be comforting Bea, who stood stiffly between them.
When they noticed Caleb approaching, all three froze briefly.
"What's going on?" Caleb asked.
"Caleb, Bea… she…" Korrina started.
But Bea suddenly cut her off. "Caleb! Please accept me as your student — teach me how to battle!"
She bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, her voice filled with sincerity.
Maylene: ?
Caleb: ?
Okay, what is going on? Why does everyone suddenly want me to teach them how to battle?
Is my strategy that hot now?
Caleb secretly preened a little.
Still, he looked at the deeply-bowed, sun-kissed girl in front of him and said, "Maybe start by standing up?"
Bea didn't move. Still bowing, still silent.
Caleb: ?
…So we're just ignoring me now?
Korrina and Maylene exchanged awkward glances behind her. They clearly didn't know what to do either. They couldn't force her upright — Bea was stubborn as hell.
Caleb remembered in Twilight Wings, after losing to Leon, Bea had silently taken a Corviknight taxi to the Galar mountains to train in solitude.
A young teen, still growing, pushing herself to the brink — so much that even Machamp, known for its endurance, collapsed from fatigue.
She trained through injuries, even when Machamp refused to spar with her. When a cave collapsed and trapped her with the Machop line, she journeyed alone to find a way out.
And in doing so, she discovered beauty in the cave — and in herself.
Afterward, she apologized to her Pokémon, and together, they found the exit.
Even though she hadn't yet battled Leon here, her iron will was just as apparent.
She wanted to win. Always. Probably something instilled by strict parents who trained her harshly in the dojo from a young age — all because she showed some talent.
But that focus on physical strength came at a cost — her emotional growth lagged far behind. She forgot how to smile.
Caleb gently pulled her up by the shoulders. "Alright, I'll accept you as a disciple. But you have to stand up first."
After all, the first line of our anthem is "Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves."
Also, just watching her stay like that was stressing him out.
When Bea heard his words, she straightened slowly, staring at Caleb with stubborn resolve.
"First, tell me — you lost to Brawly, didn't you?" Caleb asked seriously.
Bea flinched, then nodded slightly.
"…Yes."
The image of her Grapploct being destroyed by Medicham flashed in her mind.
It wasn't a level gap. It was her own inexperience that cost her the match.
That kind of loss — to someone she knew she could've beaten — hit hard for someone like her.
"So, you want me to train you, so you can go back and beat Brawly?" Caleb continued.
Bea hesitated for a moment. Then nodded again. "Yes…"
Having her true motives spoken aloud made her drop her gaze in shame.
To ask for training just for revenge… she felt pathetic.
How childish can I get? Bea thought bitterly. Weak. Desperate.
Caleb, sensing her inner turmoil, smiled warmly. "There's no shame in that. Fall where you fall, and get back up in the same place."
"And don't let winning or losing weigh you down too much."
He glanced over at Maylene. "Look at Maylene — lost battle after battle, and she's still doing great."
Maylene: ???
Bro. That's your pep talk?
Still, when Bea looked her way, Maylene forced a smile and gave a stiff nod.
"Y-Yeah, Caleb's right."
She basically bit through her own tongue saying it.
Then Bea looked back at Caleb. "Have you ever lost?"
"Oh, me? Nah."
Caleb thought for a moment, then grinned.