The next day…
"Ready to go?" Lukas looked over at Aron, who was fully geared up with an outdoor hiking bag.
"Yes," Aron replied with a nod.
After searching online, Aron had found a place called Peaceful River Forest in the northern part of South Riverland City. It was relatively safe, an ideal spot for a first-time trainer to explore the wild.One step at a time, he thought—no need to rush or get overly confident just because of a few small accomplishments. In this real Pokémon world, being a trainer came with real risks; each year, many trainers lost their lives in the wilderness.
The forest was a decent drive from the city center, taking about two hours. Starting early was important.
"Okay," Lukas nodded. He pulled a Poké Ball from his belt, handing it to Aron with a serious look. "The wilderness is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees of complete safety. Take this with you. It's my old partner—it'll help put your mother and me at ease."
Aron's eyes glimmered as he took the Poké Ball and held it in his hand.
"Go on, then." Mary smiled seeing him accepting the pokeball.
Aron gave a slight nod, clipped the Poké Ball onto his belt, and headed out.
When he was out of sight, Mary looked at Lukas. "Are you really okay with this?"
Lukas chuckled. "Don't worry—he's in good hands."
---
The previous day, Aron had arranged for a driver to take him to the entrance of Peaceful River Forest.
Now, sitting in the passenger seat, he watched the scenery pass by outside the window.
The driver, a bearded, middle-aged man, glanced over and struck up a conversation. "You look pretty young—how old are you, twenty?"
Aron smiled. The driver seemed chatty, like most drivers, although sometimes that chattiness was just a tactic to take a longer route. But he didn't mind, and they continued to chat as they drove.
Gradually, they left the city center behind, entering the suburbs. After another hour, they reached the entrance to Peaceful River Forest.
South Riverland City was in the southwest region, surrounded by lush mountains and rivers, with a rugged terrain. The nearby Plateau Region meant even taller peaks and unique environments where rare Pokémon lived.
As the car moved on, the sun rose high, radiating a midsummer heat wave across the land.
An hour later, the car finally pulled up to the forest's outpost. This was one of the main checkpoints of Peaceful River Forest, where trainers were stationed year-round to prevent wild Pokémon from getting into the city. From here, it was all forest paths, thick with trees and challenging for any regular vehicle. Aron would need to walk from here on.
"Alright, I'll drop you here. Call me when you're ready to head back," the driver said, waving as he drove off.
---
At the Outpost Information Registry
"Lian?" The staff member glanced up from his ID at the young man standing in front of him, wearing glasses.
"Yes, that's me," Lian responded quickly.
"Not bad, kid! Just graduated and already an Ordinary Rank trainer?" the staff member asked with a hint of approval.
Lian scratched his head, laughing modestly. "Just lucky, I guess."
The staff member then checked another ID and turned to the tall, muscular man next to Lian. "Then you must be Takashi, right?"
"That's me," Takashi replied. With his strong build and height of nearly two meters, he looked like a fortress.
"Advanced Trainer," the staff member noted. "So you're Lian's guarantor?"
According to the Pokémon Association's regulations in South Riverland, trainers below the Intermediate Rank weren't allowed into the wild alone. But if accompanied by an Advanced-Rank or higher trainer, they could enter together—like a beginner driver needing an experienced one for a highway drive.
"That's right, I'm taking my cousin in," Takashi answered with a smile.
The staff nodded, finished the paperwork, and said, "Alright, you're all set. You can go in."
Lian and Takashi nodded in thanks and walked off.
---
As they entered the forest path, Takashi looked over at Lian, grinning. "Excited yet?"
Lian nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! Without you, though, I'm not sure when I'd be able to come here on my own."
Takashi clapped him on the shoulder with his large, rough hand. "You're our family's hope for the future, you know. We're all counting on you to become a strong trainer."
Lian winced a little. "Come on, don't tease me like that."
Takashi shook his head, his expression turning serious. "I mean it. You've made it into Imperial University. That's a big deal. You've got a bright future. A lot brighter than mine."
Lian chuckled. "Hey, you went to a good College too…"
Takashi coughed, quickly changing the subject. "Anyway, this trip into Peaceful River Forest will help you practice your survival skills for the field training at university and you'll also have a chance to catch your second Pokémon."
At the mention of this, Lian's excitement grew, his clenched his fists. After a his defeat at the Battle Club, he had been training hard for a rematch, but he hadn't been able to contact his opponent, Aron, after their first encounter. He had spent days back at the club, waiting for him to show up, but Aron hadn't returned.
"When we meet again, I'll defeat you for sure!" Lian thought to himself. Aron had already become his first real rival before he even started university.
"If I can't beat my peers here, how will I compete at Imperial University and become a powerful trainer?" he thought determinedly. "Aron, you're just the first step in my journey."