Another week slipped by, and the change in Eevee was unmistakable. Her once-scruffy coat now gleamed with a healthy sheen, her movements quicker and more assured. Where she had once been hesitant to even approach him, she now trotted by Albert's side with quiet confidence.
Rotom hovered, projecting its weekly report in crisp blue light:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Name: Partner Eevee ♀ [Light Indigo]
Level: 11 (Rookie)
Type: Normal
Nature: Mild
Ability: Adaptability
Weight: Normalized
Coat Quality: Excellent
Energy Index: Stable
Friendship Value: 154
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Albert smiled faintly as he watched the data scroll. "Good. We're on track."
The last week hadn't only been about Eevee. Albert had trained alongside her, blending his morning meditation with her endurance runs, syncing his psychic breathing patterns with her emotional states.
Where Eevee learned patience and stamina, Albert had sharpened his concentration—extending the reach of his Detect, refining his Telekinesis, and strengthening his shields.
Now, as Eevee curled up after a brisk garden session, Albert turned his gaze to Rotom.
"Run my status next," he said.
The plasma ghost whirred excitedly, sparks flickering.
Name: Albert Hugo Deford
Profession: Master Researcher | Master Breeder | Master Doctor | Rookie Trainer
Job: Psychic User [Level 72]
Current Psychic Power Index: Pseudo Elite Psychic
The display shifted into his skills, dividing into categories.
Psychc [Level 72]
Amount of Psychic Power: Low-Advanced
Telepathy [Level 65]
Non-Language Barrier: Can understand regardless of language.
Telepathy: One-way, Two-way, & Group.
Effective Range: 163 meters
Detect [Level 61]
Surface and Dimensional Mapping: Surface, Underground, and Air Detection
Effective Range: 153 meters
Teleport [Level 52]
Teleport Limit: 3 Individuals
Effective Range: 130 meters
Empathy [Level 71]
Emotion Sensing and Emotion Depth
Intention and Nature Detection
Effective Range: 178 meters
Telekinesis [Level 81]
Effective Range: 202 meters
Weight and Force Limit: 680kg
Abilities: Levitation, Shield, Psychic, Force
Mind Control [Level 71]
Eidetic Memory
Memory Reading
Mental Fortification
Memory Altering
Effective Range: 178 meters
Morphology [Level 43]
Transformation Object: Inanimate Objects, Plants
Effective Duration: 43 minutes
Effective Range: 43-meter circumference
Albert exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as he let the numbers sink in.
Seventy-two. Higher than most psychics quadruple his age. Strong enough to rival pseudo-elites, but not yet perfect.
Rotom's tone shifted to its usual cheerful commentary:
"BZZZT! Status confirmed! Trainer Albert Hugo is statistically in the top 0.01% of recorded psychics worldwide. Potential growth: vast!"
Albert smirked at the screen. "The numbers are good, Rotom. But I don't use my powers to win my battles."
He glanced at Eevee, who peeked up from her cushion with a soft chirp, sensing his voice through their budding link. "Discipline, skill, and foresight of my Pokémon—that's what matters."
Still, the quantified feedback mattered.
For a long time now, Albert could measure his own mind in the same way he measured Pokémon: levels, ranges, thresholds.
It had given him structure, a way to plot his own growth as clearly as Eevee's.
Even though he will not battle Pokémon himself, his current powers can safeguard his budding Pokémon's safety.
Nevertheless, he won't display his powers unnecessarily so that Eevee, or his future Pokemon, would take it as a crutch when in the wild or in Pokemon battles in general.
He closed his eyes briefly, letting his breathing settle back into its usual rhythm.
The hum of the field was calm, broken only by Eevee's soft yawn and the crackle of Rotom's static.
Then the sharp ding of his computer terminal cut through the quiet.
Albert turned, recognizing the distinctive alert of his trainer account's inbox.
He slid into the chair, fingers gliding over the keys as the message opened.
Sender: Prof. Birch, Littleroot Laboratory
Subject: Evergreen Island Government – Starter Allocation Program
Albert's eyes narrowed slightly as he read.
Dear Candidate Albert Hugo,
On behalf of the Evergreen Island Government and the International Pokémon Association, congratulations on achieving Rank 1 in the Pokémon Trainer Licensure Examination. As part of the Evergreen Initiative, the top 100 scorers within Evergreen Island each year are entitled to receive one government-sponsored starter Pokémon, chosen from carefully curated batches.
Given your rank, you have been granted first priority selection of this year's allotment. The Pokémon available for your choosing have been raised in controlled environments for optimal health and potential. You are hereby invited to Littleroot City in Petalburg Province to personally claim your Pokémon at my laboratory.
Please schedule your visit at the soonest possible time. We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Professor Birch
Littleroot Pokémon Research Laboratory
Albert leaned back, lips curving into a faint smile.
This was how they planned to reward the top scorers—an official starter under government sponsorship, one of only a hundred slots in the entire exam cycle. And he would be the first to choose.
Eevee padded up onto the desk, her ears twitching as she looked at the glowing screen.
She gave a curious call, then brushed her forehead against his arm.
Albert reached over, stroking her fur thoughtfully. "Looks like we have a trip to make, partner."
Rotom bobbed eagerly in the air, sparks dancing around its frame.
"BZZT! Big choice, big choice! Starter Pokémon priority one!"
Albert's smirk deepened. "Indeed. First pick of the batch. I'll need to consider carefully… but that can wait until Littleroot."
He closed the email, eyes lingering on the government seal at the top of the message.
Another door had opened—one that would test not only his judgment, but his foresight in choosing the right partner to walk beside Eevee.