James slowly opened his eyes as warm sunlight spilled through the hospital window. His body felt lighter, the pain and fatigue dulled by proper rest and care. Turning his head, he noticed his coat—blue and regal—neatly folded on the chair beside him. His white pants and black shirt had been freshly stitched, and his black belt was placed beside a small medical bag.
Charmander, his shiny companion, was curled in a soft basket nearby, snoozing with gentle puffs of breath. On the bed beside James, Eevee lay curled up tightly, her big eyes blinking open as soon as she noticed James was awake.
James smiled softly. 'I really made it... I'm still alive.'
He quietly got out of bed and changed into his clothes. He tied his long, flowing hair into a ponytail. The weight of his coat settled comfortably on his shoulders as if reminding him of the journey ahead.
(Image here)
Nurse Joy entered with a clipboard in hand and smiled warmly.
"Good to see you up, James. You're healing well."
James bowed slightly. "Thank you for everything, Nurse Joy. You and Chansey saved me."
She chuckled softly and handed him a small satchel. "Here's a travel kit. It has a few potions, some bandages, berry pouches, travel food, and a storage bag. And your Pokémon are healthy now too."
Right on cue, Officer Jenny walked in, her cap slightly tilted.
"Well, look who's finally up," she said with a half-smile.
James rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
Jenny handed him a small pouch of coins. "That's your bounty reward. Those Rocket grunts had wanted posters. Turns out, knocking them out earns you more than just good karma."
James widened his eyes. "I... get paid for that?"
"Yup," Jenny nodded. "Catching or stopping criminals earns reward money. Not a bad first mission, huh?"
James bowed deeply, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you… both of you. I won't forget your kindness."
Joy placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Stay safe, James."
Jenny added with a small smirk, "And stay out of trouble...Kid."
With a final wave, James exited the hospital, stepping out into the morning sun with Eevee perched on his shoulder and Charmander walking proudly at his side.
A chime echoed in his mind.
[New Mission Unlocked: Begin the Journey!]
[Objective: Reach Saffron City and register as a Trainer, officially beginning your journey to become the symbol of justice.]
[Reward: ???]
James grinned. 'My journey really starts now.'
Later That Day: By the Lake
James found a quiet, secluded area near a shimmering lake. The water rippled gently as birds chirped from the trees above.
He sat down and called out to the system.
"System... how do I train the aura properly?"
The system responded in its calm mechanical tone.
[To train your elemental aura, concentrate on your bond with a type-aligned Pokémon. Try shaping, controlling, or simply maintaining the aura. Progress depends on control and emotional focus.]
James took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
He first focused on the Fire Aura.
A sudden warmth built up in his chest and flowed into his arms. Orange energy flared around his hands, unstable and hot. He winced as the fire sputtered and scattered.
'Come on... control it!'
He gritted his teeth and tried again, shaping the fire in his palms. After several failed tries, sweat beading down his forehead, he managed to create a small, stable ball of flame—about the size of a baseball.
With effort, he tossed it gently toward the lake. It sizzled as it hit the water.
James fell to one knee, panting. 'So tiring… but incredible…'
Next, he tried the Normal Aura. A white, calm glow surrounded his body, but it flickered like candlelight. Maintaining it required intense focus.
The system chimed again, explaining the stages of Aura growth.
[Aura Growth Path: Beginner → Adept → Intermediate → Advanced → Master]
After resting and catching his breath, James stood up and smiled at his Pokémon.
"Alright, team. Let's get stronger."
He first used Appraisal.
[Eevee: Silver Potential | Moves: Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Swift, Bite]
[Charmander (Shiny): Gold Potential | Moves: Scratch, Ember]
James grinned. "You two are amazing."
He turned to Eevee. "Eevee, use Quick Attack, but zigzag! Learn to change direction while speeding—confuse the enemy, understand?"
"Eevee!" she barked and immediately dashed into a zigzag pattern, her silver fur blurring. Though she always slowed down when turning, she will probably get the hang of it soon.
"Charmander!" James turned to his baby dragon. "Keep using Ember. Focus on duration and strength. Try to make the flames last longer."
"Char!" the shiny lizard nodded and began firing Ember upward in short, fiery bursts. Though being a baby, it couldn't maintain it for more than 3 seconds, it pushed through like a true dragon.
As his Pokémon trained, James sat nearby, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. He began meditating, focusing on the two auras in his body—fire and normal. Slowly circulating them, he started to feel their presence becoming more natural.
After about an hour, he called his Pokémon back.
Charmander collapsed in his lap with an exhausted yawn. Eevee curled up by his side, panting but proud.
James opened the travel kit and shared berries with them before eating his own food. The warmth of training and food filled the group with satisfaction.
As the sun began to set, James sat under the tree, gazing out at the painted sky of reds and golds.
"I'll do it. I'll walk this path... and protect the weak. Just watch me."
[Mission Progress: 10%]
[Aura Familiarity Improving… Keep training, Type Master.]