Luxray's arrival did more than just fill a gap in the team, it ensured the Calligrapher would never get lost again.
The big cat possessed a naturally keen sense of direction, and its gold-and-red pupils could see through any object, a trait used to track escaping prey or find lost children. Nighttime writing sessions became much easier too, Luxray simply used its eyes to illuminate the paper, sparing her from squinting under moonlight or worrying about a campfire accidentally setting her work ablaze.
The only downside was the drain on Luxray's energy. Without timely replenishment, the electric feline would fall into a deep, prolonged sleep. Because of this, the Calligrapher usually kept Luxray in its Poké Ball while traveling, rarely bringing it out for battle.
Since making her promise to Mime Jr., the Calligrapher deliberately increased the little mimic's battle time. Seeing her in action, Kashiwagi finally understood that Smeargle's strength didn't come from nowhere, it was the product of the Calligrapher's own hard work.
[Before you poured all your passion into calligraphy, you had trained several Pokémon, Smeargle and Luxray were among them.]
Kashiwagi realized he could officially strip the "novice trainer" label from her. She simply hadn't traveled before, she had certainly raised Pokémon. When she had become obsessed with her art, her "old friends" stayed behind at her various Sinnoh villas, cared for by private staff. Whenever she visited for a change of pace, she would spend time with them.
Just as she did now in Jubilife City, where she welcomed her fourth partner~
[You received Altaria, your childhood playmate! Your traveling party has grown.]
Another childhood playmate.
Kashiwagi marveled at how broken the [Wealthy Family] talent was. It wasn't just about money, even while she was off doing other things, professionals were maintaining her Pokémon's growth for her.
The reason she brought Altaria along was simple: she happened to be in the area, and she loved its beautiful singing. In her eyes, whether challenging a Gym or writing calligraphy, she needed a background soundtrack to truly find her strength.
Rich people really have their own way of doing things, Kashiwagi thought.
----
Canalave City.
Facing the vast, magnificent sea and the giant liners coming and going, the Calligrapher felt the sea breeze and wrote a single character: "Sea" (海).
She was quite satisfied with this piece and decided to use it as her entry for the upcoming competition. While a single character might be unusual for a contest, it was the best work she could currently produce, alongside her earlier piece, "Forest."
However, her unique outdoor practice soon drew a crowd.
And then, she was recognized.
[You were cornered by calligraphy enthusiasts. Many expressed regret over your recent silence, while others voiced high hopes for your future works.]
Seeing her barely escape the mob, Kashiwagi found it strange that there were so many calligraphy fans here. She hadn't been recognized nearly as much in the more bustling Jubilife City.
But once he saw the Canalave Library, he understood. As the most storied library in Sinnoh, its collection was the most comprehensive in the region, fostering a deep cultural atmosphere. Historians and scholars flocked here in droves.
To learn more about the Lake Guardians, the Calligrapher also headed to the library. While browsing the stacks, her path was suddenly blocked by a blue-haired man wearing sunglasses.
[You encountered an ancient script enthusiast. He is fascinated by your writing, which he claims looks like ancient civilizations brought back to life, and asks you for a piece of your work. From the whispers of bystanders, you learn he is Lucian of the Elite Four.]
No way!
Kashiwagi's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe she was famous enough for someone as high-profile as Lucian to personally ask for her art. Even more shocking was her response: she refused.
[You explain that you find it difficult to write in your old style anymore and tell Lucian about your new journey. Lucian is disappointed, yet he respects your decision.]
[Feeling a spark of joy, you decide to gift him one of your older works instead. Realizing he also owns a Mr. Mime, you ask him to give your Mime Jr. some pointers.]
Despite only having one badge, the Calligrapher didn't show a hint of stage fright. She had Mime Jr. battle Lucian's Mr. Mime. Though the match ended in a swift defeat, the Calligrapher still learned a great deal.
"Well, I didn't learn anything... what a rip-off," Kashiwagi muttered, resting his chin in his hand. He lamented the limitations of the pixel art style, he would have loved to receive a personal lesson from an Elite Four member himself.
The scene shifted to the Canalave Gym.
The Gym Leader here was Byron, Roark's father. After the "steel-bodied" man found out the girl had left a piece for his son, he shamelessly pestered her until she agreed to give him one too. To get the challenge over with, she complied.
Byron specialized in Steel-types and, like his son, used a Pokémon revived from a fossil: Bastiodon. However, at the current difficulty level of a second Gym, he was no match for her. Byron was quickly defeated.
After some deliberation, the Calligrapher left Byron a piece that said "Steel" (钢铁). She even wrote it using Byron's own shovel as a tool. Such an avant-garde method was something she never would have considered before, but now she was open to anything.
Of course, she viewed this piece more as a decorative artifact than actual calligraphy, so she left it for Byron's collection rather than using it for the contest.
----
The Gym Challenge Concluded.
The Calligrapher departed Canalave City.
Kashiwagi was a bit disappointed she didn't encounter Darkrai, Smeargle was, after all, the reason Darkrai's signature move, Dark Void, had been nerfed into the ground in the real world. If her Smeargle could have learned Dark Void, her win rate in the League would have been astronomical.
Unfortunately, her luck didn't stretch quite that far.
Lake Verity, her destination, was very close to Canalave. By cutting through the forest rather than taking the main road, she could reach it in less than two days. With an Altaria for aerial recon and a Luxray for navigation, she had no fear of the woods.
She marched in with her head held high. Over the past few days, she had undergone "special training" in her own cooking which was reaching a level where it was actually edible and she was eager to test her skills.
After a few days of camping under the stars, she successfully reached her goal: the legendary home of the Lake Guardian.
Lake Verity.
As a writer of ancient scripts, she was desperate to understand the feelings of the people who first created them. She had come here specifically to experience the world through their eyes.