Sparrow Household, Saturday, 6:00AM
I woke up early as usual, as we were trained to do so at an early age. Sitting up, I stretch and got ready to go downstairs, on my way I heard two voices that seem to be bickering about something.
"I've told you many times Samael, not to leave your Vileplume in the kitchen sink! Why would you even put him there"
"Excuse me, but for your information as I've always said he likes it there."
"Well then excuse me for reminding you again and again, what if Austin somehow manage to get poisoned?!"
"Relax, I've trained my Vileplume not to release poison when it's unnecessary now... There won't be a repeat of what happened last year" Samael murmured but Ansel heard him spot on.
With Samael stating that, silence envelope the kitchen. But was broken by an outrage cry.
"SAMAEL!"
"Oopsies"
Suddenly more than awake now, Austin raced through towards the kitchen immediately. And shouted "Big brother Samael, your back!!! And good morning!" having said that Austin proceeds to dive in between the crossfire, hoping to cease their argument.
'Seriously, I do love my brothers and am grateful for them, but I sometimes question whether they really went to war or a comedy skit..just kidding I'm grateful that they didn't become an emo edge lord spreading mushrooms here and there. But seriously they behave more like my rowdy students in the past..... Why did that made me feel like an accomplished father (・–・;)ゞ.'
"Ah Austin, good morning, but please do get out of my way for now, I need to do some major cleaning as there's a big pile of trash behind you."
"Oh how you wound me, I, your twin, is hurt!" Austin and Ansel stared dryly at Samael for a moment.
"Big brother Samael, did you watch how the grannies and kids interact again in the Aqua Blue clan?"
"Hehe, my dear Austin is spot on"
Replied Samael with playfulness while Ansel is left seething in the background. Before Ansel could shout again Austin said that he was hungry, thus dispelling the previous fight, if you can call that one a fight of the twins.
'What a lively and eventful morning I woke up to'
The breakfast that followed past by peacefully after that.
After breakfast, it suddenly hit Austin that the family is complete with no brother in war at the moment, Joy and confusion colored his face before asking his brothers why they're both on leave.
"Brother Samael, did they sent you back for a temporary leave?"
Grinning Samael replied with a bright "Nope!"
Seeing his little brother became bewildered, made him laugh out loud "Silly! I asked to be on a 1 or 2 month break, to spend time with and to personally witness your 'Awakening Ceremony' as they dubbed it" Samael grinned happily and smugly as if proud of himself, he then turned his smug grin towards Ansel as if saying 'how's that I'm the better brother' making Ansel huff in exasperation.
"Speaking of the Ceremony, I think it's better to explain to you now what they will tell you in advance, instead of just standing like a Psyduck there, and given our circumstances, it's better for you to have no more reason to visit those sly elders after this ceremony"
Turning my head towards Ansel with surprised clear in my face I said " I thought this ceremony had no need for elders to be involved." Samael nodded and said "Normally that is the case, if we are ordinary clan members that is, but no. Our ancestors are one of Elite households this clan has, you have learned what marks are last year right?" Austin nodded tersely to which Samael continued "Marks given via defeating gyms are like the base form of marks, they grow stronger the more you bond with the element of said marks, creating complex and unique marks. When a trainer steps onto the stage of Elite and above, those marks powers will be passed down, though not in full power. That makes the Elite households unique and powerful and is given more attention by the clan than the ordinary clansmen. Our Sparrow Household may have the least people but is known for one unique mark that is only unique in our family" Samael explained with a rare serious look on his face making Austin unconsciously straighten his back. While the two were talking Ansel excused himself to attend to his Vileplume as Samael continued "Until now, no Pokemon Professor had the time and power to analyze the mark but it is a known fact that it is a new element, for now it is dubbed as 'dragon immunity' mark, as there are some Pokémon showing the same signs as this mark, some conducted research but is met with failure due to those pokemon having dual types in which the dragon immunity is one of their types" as Samael said this Austin mentally screamed 'FAIRY TYPE!!!' causing his eye to widen in disbelief, 'To think our household had that type of mark!' Austin started getting giddy making Samael grin playfully "Hahaha let's go back to our supposed topic before we strayed again from the the topic, I'll tell you more about marks and how our family's marks work later" to which Austin nodded eagerly soaking the information like sponge.
"One of the reason why we have to go to the elders is, like I said we are from a unique elite household, the second is a choice of your own, of course this choice is limited to elite household"
"Choice?" Austin asks confusedly, Samael nodded and continued "Yes, the reason why they called it 'Awakening Ceremony' is because Elite Household children at the age of 4-5 have their ancestry's marks awaken. Your awakened mark depends on the genes you have and what affinity is more compatible to you. Unlike the Aqua Blue and Blazing Red Clan, us Evergreen Clan have an additional unique type of mark, which is the support mark, the other two marks includes battle and balance mark. The more vibrant the mark, the more talented they are at support, those that have darker color however are more on the heavy hitter sides or more specifically, a battle type, like me."
"Then what about Brother Ansel?"
"Ansel is one of the rare balance type, as the type suggest, they are capable of both support and attack, making them more formidable and versatile" Samael grinned openly, proud of his twin. "Whoa(✷‿✷)" Austin's eyes are practically shinning in this new information given to him. At this he really looked more like his age is, making Samael motivated to continue.
"Due to have these types, you are given a choice, support types are tasked to be eligible breeders and at least have an instructor certificate and a time limit of 2 years, after that you are tested on whether to you will be kept here to help in pokemon nurturing in general and do research or to head to the battlefield as a support, of course while you're doing the test you can go and collect gym marks as to not waste time. Same as the support type, balance types need these certificates as well but they are required to participate in battles when called. As for the battle types they are taught multiple battle tactics within a 1 year limit frame and the remaining 1 year is for us to get as many marks as we can." Austin nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing Austin like this made Samael remember something reverting back to his seriousness he firmly grabbed Austin's shoulder as said firmly "Austin, never, and I mean never let those guys who calls themselves elders, ever manipulate you to do their bidding, I know that you possess an unusual intelligence for your age, and for that I'm grateful. They might call themselves Elders but the only Elders in the Evergreen Clan that really deserve that title and have the power of an elder are the left and right hand man of our patriarch, you don't have to bow down to them as all they have in their names are that empty titles in the eyes of us Elite Households, because in truth they're only Intermediate trainer at most and Adept trainer at best and an old age" Samael again said with seriousness although Austin is feeling perplexed at Samael's unusual behavior 'I've never seen him be serious consecutively' nonetheless understanding the implications he nodded seriously too matching Samael's demeanor. Seeing this Samael couldn't help the chuckle of fondness he let out and ruffled his hair.
"The third reason is the most anticipated one which is picking a starter Pokemon" Samael grinned smugly seeing his little brother become more visibly excited than ever. "But why do we have to go to the elders for that?" questioned Austin
"Well you will get to pick a pokemon egg that will hatch in about 6 months and another pokemon egg from me and Ansel as your starter"
"Is that why brother Ansel left to attend Vileplume most of the time and also why Vileplume had been very moody and clingy to me?!" Austin questions in disbelief
"Hahaha, yes what else did you expect?" Samael asked back "Well I thought you left an ice powder somewhere from your Cloyster that Vileplume accidentally found and ate some of it" Austin said which was answered by Samael's posture turning stiff, which made Austin narrow his wide eyes. "Ahahaha..(´-﹏-`;)...anyways, the pokemon the clan has chosen are estimated to have high potential and me and Ansel's Vileplume are in the Grand Stages bordering near Elite Stage so it is a guarantee that the Oddish that will hatch is of high potential!" Samael said changing the topic, Austin let him slide because of the aspect of having his pokemon! For that he let his mind wander to form up a plan and of wonder of what mark/s he will have and get. "Ah before I forgot, the pokemons you will choose from are dependent on your marks" to this Austin nodded his head.
That day and the next were spent with the twins teaching Austin what the do's and don't for his starter Oddish and his possible mark affinity and effective elemental combinations. It is also decided that if Vileplume lays more than one egg, he gets to chose which one he feels more bond with.