"Professor, do you have any Pokemon that can use ga Punch and Body Slam?" John called his ntor, Saul Badman.
The skill training center at Riverstone University didn't offer those moves, so he had to look elsewhere.
"What Pokemon are you training?" Saul asked.
"Vigoroth. I'm laying the groundwork before it evolves into Slaking," John explained.
"Slaking, huh... I'll recomnd soone to you. He specializes in Normal-type Pokemon, and I believe there's a breeder who has experience with Slaking." Saul hung up and sent John a contact card via text.
The card displayed an old man in white sitting cross-legged on the ground, a large character for "Tranquility" on the wall behind him. The na attached was "Heart Ape."
John recalled the last ti Saul recomnded soone to him—it had been a seasoned Elite Four trainer. Could this guy be one too?
Probably not. Draconia didn't have a Normal-type Elite, and he hadn't heard of any famous Slaking trainers.
Still, if Saul vouched for him, he must be soone worth eting.
John quickly added him as a contact and sent a ssage.
John: Hello, Master. Are you there?
Since the profile picture matched the man on the card, calling him "Master" felt appropriate.
Heart Ape: Are you Lil Saul's student, John?
John froze. Lil Saul?
Saul Badman was one of the top professors at Riverstone University, a strict and highly respected figure. But this guy was calling him Lil Saul like so old friend.
What kind of person was this?
John quickly corrected himself. "Yes, sir. I'm John, one of Professor Saul Badman's students."
Heart Ape: Good. Co see before 1 PM. If you're late...
Heart Ape: I'll be asleep.
He followed up with an address.
John glanced at the clock—10 AM. Three hours to go. Plenty of ti.
He recalled his Pokemon and got ready to leave. Just as he was about to head out, Saul called again.
"Swing by my office first. I've got sothing for you to bring."
When John arrived at the professor's office, Saul handed him a small ceramic wine jar.
"Give this to him. Consider it his fee."
John stared at the jar. "Tuition fees... in the form of wine?"
Seed like this "Heart Ape" was a man who appreciated a good drink.
He hailed a cab and headed toward the old district of South Aetherre, arriving at the address provided.
The place was an old house near the river. The paint on the doorfra had long since peeled, but the faded characters still read Justin's Hall.
A gym?
Aetherre had an official gym, but it was nad after the province and located downtown. This one was in the old district—probably a private gym from decades past. Before regulations streamlined the system, cities used to have multiple small gyms, but most had since disappeared.
John knocked on the wooden door.
The door creaked open by itself.
Inside, the gym was simple and sparse. From the entrance, he could see all the way through to the back. A dry jujube tree stood in the courtyard, shading a stone table set with a teapot and cups. An old Persian lay curled at the foot of a rocking chair, where a white-haired man rested. Several fallen leaves scattered across the yard.
Further inside, an old-fashioned hall displayed a single large character: Tranquility.
Sothing about the calligraphy pulled John in. Just looking at it, his mind cleared, his racing thoughts settling into calm.
"You must be John." The old man opened his eyes at the sound of the door.
"That's . Are you Master Heart Ape?" John asked.
The old man laughed. "Did little Saul tell you to call that?"
John shook his head. "I just thought it was respectful."
"Master's too formal. I'm just an old acquaintance of your professor. You can call Justin .Justin Sane."
"Nice to et you, Mr.Sane ." John stepped forward and handed over the wine jar. "Professor Saul asked to bring this."
"Oh? Wine? Let see!" Justin Sane's eyes lit up as he uncorked the jar. Instantly, a rich aroma filled the air.
"Dragon's Roar?" He chuckled. "Tsk tsk, Saul really cares about you. I haven't slled this in years."
John had never heard of it. Must've been one of those rare brews made from berries found only in exotic places.
"If Dragon's Roar is the fee, I need to give you sothing of equal value in return," Justin said, rubbing his chin. He gestured toward the still painting in the hall. "Release all your Normal and Fighting-type Pokemon. Let's see how they react."
John followed his instructions, tossing out Pokeballs.
Blaziken, Hariyama, Vigoroth, and Sargle erged.
As soon as they appeared, all four Pokemon fixated on the painting. The shift in atmosphere was imdiate.
Hariyama, usually brimming with energy, sat cross-legged, deep in thought.
Blaziken stood frozen for a mont, then followed suit, sitting down.
Vigoroth, known for its restless nature, seed confused. It stood motionless, lost in contemplation, but didn't sit.
Sargle's eyes glead. It took a few cautious steps closer to the painting, as if staring at sothing sacred. Then, it grabbed a piece of paper and, using its tail as a brush, started sketching the character for Tranquility.
Justin Sane grinned. "Your Sargle's got so wisdom. Interesting."
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