While this world's wild Spirit Beasts weren't as ubiquitous as the wild Pokémon that could be seen everywhere in the Pokémon world, they were still extraordinary creatures that had been bonded with humans since ancient times, so it wasn't unusual to spot a domesticated one accompanying people around town.
Ash had imagined huge, majestic Spirit Beasts towering over their human partners.
However, after reaching the bustling commercial center of this small town, she felt a bit disappointed to find that the largest Spirit Beast she'd seen so far barely reached its owner's waist.
As small and cute as they were, these Spirit Beasts didn't quite match the majestic images she'd had in mind.
This wasn't the high-powered world where people rode majestic Spirit Beasts through urban jungles.
Here, it was more like people walking with their pets.
They couldn't be recalled into special balls or capsules either—there is no convenient items that can put their Spirit Beast away.
Instead, Gaia's Spirit Beasts were more like ordinary animals: they stayed by their owners' sides, ready anytime and anywhere.
However, with their small sizes, Ash wondered who would protect whom in a real crisis.
The initial thrill for coming to this world was slowly giving way to a more practical view.
She was coming to terms with the fact that this world, called Gaia, was not the same with the anime or game she was familiar with.
It had its own unique rules and reality.
Ash finally sighed, "Guess it's time to head home."
After wandering around the commercial center for about ten more minutes, she felt a pang of hunger.
She'd seen everything there was to see, and knew she'd need to broaden her understanding of this world beyond what any single outing could provide.
Ash realized she needed to spare some time to fully re-learn everything about Gaia's Spirit Beasts.
It didn't help that the original owner of this body only had vague knowledge about these creatures—mostly what was taught in school or mentioned casually by classmates.
Maybe her family's financial struggles had kept them from learning more about the mysterious world of Spirit Beasts.
The thought made her feel a little sad.
Not for herself, but for the original owner of this body.
Now, though, she supposed to be she the one who'd have to deal with that lack of resources.
As Ash wandered through the streets, her stomach rumbled in protest, the smell of fried snacks from nearby food stalls making her realize just how hungry she was.
Back in her previous life, she would've gone over without a second thought, ordering a handful of fried skewers.
But now—she glanced at the 10 beastdollars in her pocket, which she'd have to stretch for the whole week.
Buying even one snack seemed like a luxury she couldn't afford.
"So hungry…" she muttered, finally understanding why she had fainted from low blood sugar in class earlier.
She hadn't even noticed her hunger before, mostly because she too caught up in the thrill of arriving in a new world.