Hearing that Scyther and Happiny were largely unaffected by Abra's psychic leakage gave Xiu a measure of relief. "Well," He managed a small, humorless smile, "that's one rare piece of good news today."
Director Bao Ba found it hard to comprehend Xiu's calm acceptance. Most people, upon learning they'd been exposed to potentially mutagenic psychic radiation, would be panicking. Xiu's reaction was… unsettlingly stoic. Bao Ba's surprise only deepened when Xiu spoke again, his voice suddenly earnest.
"Director," Xiu said, standing up abruptly and bowing deeply, formally, towards Bao Ba. "If it's possible… please, I need to ask you a favor. Could you… could you take care of Scyther and Happiny for me?"
The request, combined with the formal bow, startled Bao Ba. He quickly stood up, moving forward to gently but firmly lift Xiu back upright. "Whoa, hold on! No need for that! What are you talking about?" Even Alakazam, who had remained impassive throughout, seemed to flicker its gaze towards Xiu with renewed interest.
"It's like you said, Director," Xiu explained, his expression earnest, though tinged with a deep sadness. "This situation with Abra… it's not just my problem anymore. My ignorance, my attachment… it's already potentially endangered Scyther and Happiny. Continuing to keep them close to Abra, close to me while I'm exposed… it's irresponsible. It will only harm them further in the long run."
He looked towards Scyther and Happiny, who were watching the exchange with confusion. "They both have good potential," Xiu continued, his voice softening slightly. "They deserve better conditions, proper training, a safe environment to grow. Following me… they've only endured hardship and danger. It's bad luck for them, being tied to me. It would be better… better for them… if we separated here."
He finally looked back at Bao Ba. "As for Abra… its condition is my responsibility. I took it in. I have to see this through. I believe there must be a solution, some way to help it control its power."
Scyther, though not possessing Abra's telepathic clarity, seemed to grasp the gist of Xiu's words – separation. It reacted instantly, agitatedly. 'What's going on? Why separate?' Conflicting emotions seemed to war within it; its body tensed, limbs twitching almost uncontrollably. Its multifaceted eyes darted towards Bao Ba and Alakazam, identifying them as the perceived source of this unwelcome development. A low, threatening buzz started deep in its chest, hostility radiating outwards.
Seeing Scyther's distress, Xiu quickly stepped towards it, placing a calming hand on its shoulder. "Easy, Scyther! It's okay!" He quickly established a direct telepathic link via Abra, projecting reassurance and explaining the situation more clearly – Abra's condition, the potential danger, his decision to prioritize their safety.
Scyther stilled under his touch, processing the mental explanation. Then, a wave of strong, conflicting emotions washed back through the link into Xiu's own mind, staggering him momentarily.
"You promised!" Scyther's raw thought echoed, sharp with accusation. "You said STAY! Together! You said WORK together!"
Images flashed through Xiu's mind, seen through Scyther's perspective: Xiu's determined face during training, his hand outstretched in their earlier agreement, his words about sticking together. The intensity of Scyther's feeling of betrayal, its confusion and anger, hit Xiu with unexpected force. The side effects of untrained telepathy became apparent – the sudden influx of raw emotion, the mental feedback loop, left Xiu feeling dizzy, his own mental state fraying.
"The situation's changed," Xiu projected back, struggling to maintain his composure, his face visibly paling from the mental strain. "Staying together now… it only brings you harm." He forced a weak smile, reaching out physically again towards Scyther. "Forgive me…"
But Scyther jerked back, avoiding his touch, its eyes filled with a complex mixture of anger, fear, and hurt.
"Enough."
A calm, clear thought interrupted the tense standoff, resonating not just in Xiu's mind, but seemingly directed at Scyther as well. Abra floated slowly forward, positioning itself between Xiu and Scyther.
"You do not have to do this," Abra projected calmly to Xiu. "This is my burden. I will leave."
Xiu's forced smile vanished instantly, replaced by disbelief, then anger. He whirled towards Abra. "Absolutely not!" He projected back fiercely, then added aloud, his voice sharp, "I'm the one in charge here, Abra! Listen to me!"
He immediately switched back to telepathy, trying to regain control. "I know what I'm doing. Don't interfere. You all listen to my decision."
"Leaving is the logical solution," Abra countered calmly, its mental voice unwavering. "You yourself taught us to analyze situations and choose the optimal path. My presence endangers you all. My absence removes the danger."
"Leaving?" Xiu repeated aloud, incredulous, his earlier composure shattering. "What good would that do? Where would you go? Back to the wild? Alone? In your condition? You'd just be waiting to die!" He ran a hand through his hair, agitated. He walked back over to Scyther, gripping its shoulder firmly.
"Listen to me, Scyther!" He commanded, forcing the insectoid Pokémon to meet his gaze. "Abra cannot survive alone right now. I have to stay with it, figure this out. But you and Happiny… you still have a chance at a normal, safe life— a bright future, away from me and away from danger. Don't worry about us. Trust me. Trust my ability to handle this." He softened his grip slightly. "And… look after Happiny for me. Keep her safe."
He then turned abruptly, scooped up the bewildered Happiny, and tried to press the small Pokémon into Scyther's arms.
Scyther, completely unprepared, instinctively bent its arms outwards, sharp scythes pointing away, creating a makeshift, awkward cradle for the confused Happiny. Panic flared again in Scyther's eyes, overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility and the implication of Xiu's actions.
But while Xiu was focused on forcing Happiny onto Scyther, Abra acted. With silent, swift determination, it floated directly towards the open study window.
By the time Xiu realized what was happening, Abra was already outside, hovering momentarily in the air.
"Hey!" Xiu cursed, spinning around. He rushed to the window, leaning out frantically. "Abra, come back! Listen to me! This is my decision!"
Abra ignored him, already drifting further away, disappearing into the evening sky.
Xiu watched its retreating form, his eyes narrowing, frustration and determination hardening his expression. He climbed onto the windowsill. "Abra!" He yelled, his voice ringing with desperate confidence. "Catch me!"
And then, he jumped.
Even Bao Ba, witnessing the scene from across the room, leaped up from his chair, eyes wide with disbelief. 'Jumping from a second-story window? Is the boy insane?!'
The fall was only four or five meters. Xiu barely registered the sensation of falling before he felt himself abruptly stop, suspended in mid-air, enveloped in that familiar blue psychic glow.
Abra had returned instantly, catching him effortlessly, floating silently before him.
Xiu hung there in the air, looking directly into Abra's now-open eyes. A confident smirk spread across his face. "Weren't worried I might actually hit the ground, were you?" He asked rhetorically. "Because I knew you'd catch me."
Feeling the unwavering conviction radiating from Xiu, Abra's mental voice held a note of helplessness. "This is unfair to them. Me leaving is still the optimal solution."
"Optimal?" Xiu countered sharply, still suspended in mid-air. "Since when is abandoning your partner optimal? Do you think Scyther and Happiny – or I – would just be happy if you sacrificed yourself? Do you think your 'logic' accounts for loyalty? For friendship?"
Abra fell silent mentally, unable to refute the emotional argument.
"You need me," Xiu stated firmly, his voice softening slightly but losing none of its intensity. "More than they do right now. And I need you. Trust me, Abra. We will find a way to solve this problem with your powers. There's always another way, always a path forward. My ingenuity and perspectives… they're different from that of Pokémon— I can see what you can't, and with it, we can find a solution together."
"But you could die," Abra projected, the thought heavy with concern, its eyes seeming to pierce through Xiu's confident facade, sensing the underlying risk.
"Oh?" Xiu laughed, a genuine, almost reckless sound this time. He looked utterly unfazed. "Who doesn't die eventually?" He met Abra's gaze, his own eyes holding a strange mix of weariness and fearlessness. "Besides," He added nonchalantly, "I've already died once. Do you really think I'm scared of doing it again?"