The second town did not announce itself.
No banners.
No dramatic gates.
No crowd welcoming new arrivals.
It simply existed.
Nestled between low hills, its buildings were built from stone rather than painted wood. The streets were narrower. The air carried the scent of iron and dry grass instead of baked bread.
Shunya slowed as he stepped fully into it.
The ground felt firmer here.
Less forgiving.
Pikachu walked at his side, ears alert but not tense. Its movements had grown quieter over the past days—less bouncing, more awareness.
"This place feels… heavier," Shunya murmured.
Pikachu gave a soft "Pika," as if agreeing.
Trainers moved through the streets with purpose. No one lingered near the entrance. No one wasted steps. Even the Pokémon here seemed leaner—muscles defined, eyes sharper.
This wasn't a beginner's town.
It was a crossing point.
---
Shunya found lodging easily enough. The cost was higher than in his starting town, but not unreasonable. He paid without hesitation.
Coins left his pouch.
Experience replaced them.
After settling in, he stepped back outside rather than resting.
The sun hung low between the hills, casting long shadows across the stone road. At the far end of town stood a structure unlike the others—wide doors open, the steady rhythm of impact echoing outward.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Shunya approached without rushing.
Inside, trainers sparred—not wild brawls, not chaotic displays. Controlled exchanges. Measured strikes. Pokémon moved in precise patterns, attacks landing inches from contact before stopping.
A training hall.
Not flashy.
Not loud.
Intentional.
Pikachu stepped slightly forward, watching closely.
One trainer paused mid-drill and glanced toward Shunya.
"New arrival?" he asked.
Shunya nodded. "Just reached today."
The trainer studied him briefly, then looked at Pikachu.
"Electric type," he noted. "Good for speed. Poor for impatience."
Shunya didn't argue.
The trainer gestured toward an empty section of the hall. "You can use the space. No interference. No reckless battles."
Shunya bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
---
He didn't start with attacks.
He stood opposite Pikachu, just as he had in the forest clearing days ago.
The stone floor was cool beneath his feet.
The air inside the hall carried tension—not hostility, but focus.
Shunya raised his hand slightly.
Pikachu adjusted its stance.
He shifted his weight.
Pikachu mirrored him.
No sparks.
No commands.
Other trainers glanced over occasionally, then returned to their drills.
Minutes passed.
Then longer.
Eventually, Shunya lowered his hand.
Pikachu released a single controlled burst of electricity toward a stone target at the far end of the hall.
The strike was clean.
Precise.
No wasted energy.
The mark it left was shallow—but exact.
Shunya exhaled slowly.
The trainer who had spoken earlier approached again.
"You're not chasing output," he observed.
Shunya shook his head. "We're working on control."
The trainer nodded once. "Control builds foundation. Power without it collapses."
He turned to leave, then added, "Stay as long as you like."
---
That evening, as Shunya stepped outside, the sky above the hills had darkened into deep blue. Lanterns flickered along the streets.
He felt it clearly now.
The first town had been a beginning.
This town was a refinement.
Coins could be earned again.
Strength could be built again.
But direction—
That required choice.
Pikachu hopped lightly onto his shoulder this time.
Not from excitement.
From trust.
Shunya looked toward the hills beyond town.
"There's more ahead," he said quietly.
Pikachu's tail flicked once in response.
He didn't know what the next town would bring.
He didn't need to.
The road did not test loudly.
It tested slowly.
And Shunya was no longer walking it blindly.