"I can't say that hearing that doesn't disappoint me to some degree. You have so much that you can offer to the world and humanity at large, especially since you'll be the only human god out of all the gods and thus our representative by default. Though admittedly your decision is no surprise either as your isolative habits are well known." Oak said honestly with a helpless sigh. "Becoming the only human god doesn't automatically assign me the role of being THE human god. If that was the case many of the gods would represent whole typings of pokemon and that simply isn't true."-
" You'll find that as far as the gods are concerned race matters little to them, what domain they represent and how they act towards their fellow gods does however. " I explain calmly as I begin to prepare some snacks and drinks in my kitchen area. One thing I pride myself on was that my hospitality was immaculate even for uninvited guests like the good Professor. "Oh my! Is this the insight that you've obtained through your ongoing ascension or something else?" he asked with a bright curious expression.-
"Something else, I've met and interacted with several gods by now. Rayquaza, Groudon, Palkia, Dialga, the lake trio and even Ar-ceus. While existing on a higher level of life than all of us mortals they are more or less just people with their own personalities and way of looking at things. It's just scaled up from what you are used to and with a few extra social rules meant exclusively for them." I explained without holding back. I place a glass of oran, pecha and mago berry juice with cinnamon infusion on my new coffee table in front of him alongside a simple sandwich with fresh baked bread, fried Pidgey, homemade pickles and a spicy mustard sauce.-
He looked at the spread with a surprised look but took a curious experimental sip of the drink and his face lit up. He picked up the sandwich next and took a large bite out of it and smiled as he chewed it. I smiled seeing this as I always enjoyed seeing someone else enjoying my cooking. I got to work eating my own food as we sat in relative silence for a good ten minutes. I finished my food first as I disregarded manners and decorum while eating and thus ate quite fast. -
"I must say I've never had fried Pidgey so tender and juicy before, what's your secret?" Oak asked curiously with a satisfied sigh after he was done eating. "Pinap berries, specifically the enzyme they possess that breaks down meat rapidly. I've long since extracted a concentrated version of the stuff and if spread out over a meat briefly before a salt brining the meat becomes tender and juicy. The best part is that you can't taste the Pinap berries at all after cooking." I explained casually.-
"It would seem the rumors Cynthia started about your culinary mastery are true. I would have never even considered using Pinap berries in this manner. I wonder what other secret uses the various berries might have?" he said with a deeply thoughtful look. "Quite a few actually but I think i'll keep that information to myself since I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. On to more important matters however. I imagine you'll need to return to your duties soon yes?" I asked and he nodded. "I took the day to come here and "try" to convince you to leave the region while getting your measure but that is the most I can spare, deadlines and schedules to keep after all." he said with a helpless shrug.-
I nod in understanding "That's one of the reasons I don't plan to ever become a professor myself to be honest. The tightening of restraints the position places on your freedom would annoy me like nothing else. Right now I am free to explore the mysteries of the world at my leisure making it a joy rather than a chore. You must understand that feeling yourself no?" I asked and he smiled and nodded.-
"In my youth I too fell in love with making new discoveries and understanding things no one else had yet. I sometimes wonder what my life may have been like had I not chosen the path I did but one more like yours, unfettered by duty or responsibility." he said with a far off look. "Best not to think about what ifs, never leads to pleasant places in my experience." I say seriously. "Indeed, I should know better but it's a sore temptation for old men like me." he said with a sigh. "I can see why, what with the end being the last monumental step left for you in your life." I said disdainfully.-
Not disdain for the man himself but the mere idea of death being the only thing of true substance left for him. It feels like a surrender to me but I had the sense to understand that seeking immortality rarely pans out for anyone much less someone already in their twilight years like Oak. Hell I understood that if not for my system I'd likely still be stressing over my mortality too. Now however from the position of ever encroaching ascension my mind was clear of that struggle and saw it arrogantly.-
I didn't want to become so haughty divinity arrogantly seeing everyone below me however and squashed that sort of thinking with understanding of others. I will be the first to admit I am not a people person or friendly at all for that matter but I was not going to totally disconnect myself from humanity so easily. Anyways Oak mostly just casually hung around for the rest of the day. He looked over all of my pokemon a bit for research purposes but mostly studied the interaction between the plants in my yard.-
It was a subtle science but one he seemed to take great joy in. I prepared dinner slightly earlier than normal so he could join us and went all out this time. Stews, stir fries, pies, puddings, skewers, tacos, pastas and curries. The meal had many different types of dishes of every flavor profile you could imagine from sour to spicy.