[Your Mime Jr. has evolved into Mr. Mime!]
The evolution of Mr. Mime seemed to signal the Calligrapher's gradual mastery of her craft. After gifting the scroll "Winter" to a pleasantly surprised Candice, she rushed back to Hearthome City.
By then, the calligraphy competition had already concluded.
The moment the Calligrapher arrived, someone informed her of the result: Second Place.
Her poem praising Mesprit had lost to a former rival, theone who, much like her past self, possessed a handwriting style as beautiful and precise as a textbook template. As the appraiser had once said, following the template is indeed a more reliable way to win awards.
[You feel a sting of disappointment for missing the top spot, but you also understand that your personal "Way of the Brush" has only just begun.]
Indeed, the Calligrapher did not despair. On the contrary, her drive intensified. She knew this score belonged entirely to her; it was the accumulation of everything she had seen, heard, and felt during her travels with her Pokémon.
What surprised her even more was the curator's evaluation.
[You hear the appraiser say: "I never expected that in such a short time, you would be able to write such interesting characters. It is truly remarkable. Though the brushwork is still immature, I can see a powerful sense of gratitude within it. In my eyes, the emotion conveyed here is more than worthy of a prize."]
Her failure to win first place was simply because the appraiser wasn't the only judge, his personal preference wasn't enough to sway the entire panel.
But for the Calligrapher, no praise could be better, especially coming from the man who once told her that her writing was utterly boring.
Of course, after the praise, the appraiser didn't hold back on his criticism, mostly regarding her temper. Arrogance wasn't uncommon among masters in the calligraphy world, but publicly destroying artwork and injuring a respected elder was a serious transgression that could lead to a collective boycott by her peers.
If it hadn't been for her father's mediation and the appraiser's own decision to forgive her publicly, this incident wouldn't have blown over so easily. In Sinnoh, and indeed the whole world, character is a major filter through which art is judged. This might have also played a role in her second-place finish.
Humility is a virtue, and the curator hoped she would take that to heart. The Calligrapher bowed once more in sincere apology and thanks. It was her responsibility, yet the elderly victim had shown her such concern. It was a humbling realization.
[You have once again received the appraiser's forgiveness. He expresses high expectations for your future work and reminds you that the Winter Calligraphy Institute Exhibition is approaching.]
[You realize this is an event you cannot miss and begin to brainstorm a theme.]
She had returned to Hearthome not just for the results, but also to challenge the Hearthome Gym.
As it happened, the Calligrapher and the Gym Leader, Fantina, had crossed paths a few times before—mostly at high-society galas. One was a renowned rising star in calligraphy, the other a Master of Contests. However, their lives had never truly intersected until now.
Due to a sudden "calligraphy craze" sweeping through the Gym Leaders, Fantina took the meeting as a chance to trade a demonstration of her Contest techniques for a custom scroll. The Calligrapher was happy to oblige; at this stage, she wanted to see things she had never seen before.
After Smeargle, Mr. Mime, and Luxray took down Fantina's Pokémon, the Calligrapher left behind a scroll with an incredibly unique style. It featured not only traditional ancient Sinnoh script but also ancient characters from other regions at Fantina's specific request.
It was lucky the Calligrapher was so well-read, otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to fulfill such a niche demand. Kashiwagi was struck by how down-to-earth the Calligrapher had become, she even let Fantina pick the content of the scroll!
----
Leaving Hearthome City, the Calligrapher soon reached Veilstone City, perched atop steep, rocky mountains. Once isolated by its terrain, the city had become a bustling hub thanks to modern trains and highways.
[You have arrived in Veilstone City. The towering peaks and rugged landscape give you a fresh perspective.]
In her excitement, she found a spot with a panoramic view and began to write. Only after satisfying her creative urge did she head to the Veilstone Gym.
[You defeated the Veilstone Gym Leader, Maylene, and received the Cobble Badge!]
Unlike the other Leaders, Maylene was likely too shy because of her young age to ask for a scroll. But the Calligrapher felt that if she was going to do it for one, she might as well do it for all. She left Maylene a scroll with the word "Will" (意志). It represented both her upcoming trip to Lake Valor and Maylene's own fighting spirit as a young martial artist.
Maylene was overjoyed. Her dojo was missing a high-quality hanging scroll. She had often seen famous pieces in other dojos—words like "Heart," "Zenith," or "Ultimate Martial Arts"—and had been quite envious. She never expected to have one of her own.
----
The journey continued. After bidding farewell to Maylene, the Calligrapher reached Lake Valor.
Unfortunately, this lake was very different from the other two. It hadn't preserved its raw natural beauty; instead, it was a famous tourist resort. With a grand hotel, Sinnoh's most expensive restaurant, and the site of the Wallace Cup, it was a busy place.
She had to wander the lakeside for quite a while to find a quiet, secluded spot.
[You have arrived at Lake Valor. The beautiful scenery leaves you enchanted.]
Alas, just like at Lake Acuity, Azelf—the Being of Will—did not appear. The Calligrapher had to rely on literature and the natural landscape to feel the mystery of the Lake Guardian. She stayed at the Grand Hotel for a week before heading to Pastoria City for her seventh badge.
As Smeargle's painting skills reached mastery, the rhythm of its move execution became incredibly fluid. The "wind-up" time for its attacks grew shorter; it could now summon a fierce lightning bolt with a single stroke. It could even paint on water or, if it moved fast enough, leave "paintings" suspended in the air.
This growth in power was terrifying. Kashiwagi wondered if all Smeargle were capable of this. Clearly not—this Smeargle was special.
Watching the little bipedal dog hold its brush with absolute calm and finish a piece in one breath, Kashiwagi felt that Smeargle's "Way of the Brush" had reached a level of perfection.