"Where... am I?" he muttered, eyes widening in awe as he took in the natural beauty of the land around him. His clothes had changed too, his old T-shirt and jeans now replaced with something far more suitable for an adventurer—a dark green tunic, a sturdy pair of boots, and a brown satchel that hung from his shoulder. Takashi reached into the satchel instinctively, and something cold and metallic brushed against his fingers.
"Right," he whispered. The system. He had almost forgotten.
With a single thought, a holographic screen popped up in front of him, its interface strangely familiar, reminding him of the role-playing games he used to spend hours playing back in his world. The words on the screen were glowing in a soft, blue light.
[System Activated]
Mission Objective: Introduce Pokémon into the world of Teyvat. Integrate them with the inhabitants and establish a bond between both worlds.
Reward: The key to returning home.
"So this really wasn't a dream..." Takashi let out a breath, excitement mingling with disbelief. He looked down at the Pokéball resting in his palm—a smooth, metallic sphere, split between red and white, with a familiar button at its center.
--------------------------------
Teyvat.
The residents of Mondstadt watched the cheerful girl in the middle of the road with gentle eyes.
A little girl in red clothing, carrying a small backpack, was hopping along, singing happily, "The Spark Knight is here, this is Klee! Though I just got out of confinement, it doesn't matter, once you finish cleaning up the last twenty, want to go blow up some fish together..."
She noticed a newly opened shop a short distance ahead, with the sign reading "Mondstadt Sprite Store." Feeling curious, she spread her hands and ran over to the entrance of the shop.
"Hmm? Could it be a new grilled black-back bass shop?" She stood at the entrance, craning her small head to look inside for a while but couldn't find an answer.
"Welcome, little miss." Takashi walked up to the counter, offering Klee a friendly business smile.
Klee carefully observed the person, handsome and elegant—he probably wasn't one of the minions of the big villains or an Abyss mage.
Despite Klee appearing only five years old, she was an elf, capable of punching hilichurls, trampling underfoot any demon lord, and spreading her explosive spark from Windrise to Yaoguang Shoal.
The counter was filled with many gadgets she didn't understand, each round and plump like the bombs she carried in her backpack.
"Big brother, do you sell Mondstadt hash browns here? Klee just left home and is feeling a bit hungry."
"We don't sell Mondstadt hash browns here."
"What about grilled black-back bass?"
"Nope."
"Do you sell Golden Crabs then?" Klee's face changed, and her neck instinctively shrank back.
"We don't sell Golden Crabs either." Takashi was nearly ready to fall to his knees.
"Hmm... but Klee's hungry." Klee folded her hands over her chest, twisting nervously as she looked at Takashi.
"Alright, you win." Takashi took out some hash browns he had made that morning and gave her a serving.
"Not as tasty as grilled black-back bass." Klee took a couple of bites and commented.
"Kids shouldn't be picky eaters." Takashi rested his cheek on his hand, watching her munch on the hash browns.
"Hehe, big brother is very kind to Klee. I'll tell you a secret—Klee just sneaked out of confinement." Klee grinned mischievously.
"Oh, really?" Takashi watched her lazily, wondering if his sales target for the day would be unmet and he'd have to act as a babysitter for free.
Klee's little feet swung back and forth on the chair, her eyes wandering to the pokéballs on the shelves. "Big brother, do you make bombs too?"
"No, those are Pokéballs."
"Pokéballs? They're not meant to capture Klee, are they?!" Klee was suddenly surprised.
The continent of Teyvat was full of slimes and hilichurls, and no matter how many were eliminated, they would always reappear with Mondstadt's wind, while an elf like Klee was super rare.
How could an elf be put inside a ball?
Klee wanted to give it a try.
"What's inside these Pokéballs is different from elves..."
"???" Klee looked confused, with three question marks floating above her head.
Takashi walked to the shelf, casually picked up a Pokéball, and tossed it to the ground. A flash of white light appeared, and an Oshawott jumped out of the Pokéball, performed a few somersaults in the air, and landed perfectly, proudly showing Klee the shell on its chest.
"Ta-da..."
Klee was instantly charmed, her eyes twinkling. She had never seen such an adorable little creature, as cute as Dodoco.
Unlike the wild monsters, fierce and large as cows with sharp fangs.
"Big brother, can Klee hug it?" Klee clenched her small fists, eager to give it a try.
Takashi hesitated; generally, a Pokémon could only stay outside its Pokéball if it had a new trainer.
But when he looked down at Klee's pleading little hands and saw tears almost welling up in her eyes, he couldn't help but soften. "Just for a little while, Klee won't lie."
Who wouldn't be moved by that?
Takashi sighed, "Alright, just for a little while."
"Yay!" Klee lunged towards Oshawott, holding it in her arms like a plush toy. It was so soft, just like cotton candy.
"What's its name?" Klee asked as she hugged Oshawott.
"Oshawott."
Just as he finished speaking, a commotion came from the doorway. Were the Knights of Favonius heading out again to wipe out slimes?
With a whoosh, a group of knights stirred up dust, and two guards stood at the entrance, saluting solemnly toward the door, "Reporting to Acting Grand Master Jean: Spark Knight Klee has been located at this sprite shop."
Jean, carrying a subtle fragrance, walked in, covered in dust.
Her white cloak danced behind her, silver armor accentuating her graceful figure, a one-handed sword glinting at her waist.
Jean's hips, the soul of the Knights of Favonius—truly without deception!
She spoke in a low, mature voice, "Klee, you've run away again."
"The door of the confinement room was blown open by the wind. It wasn't Klee's fault at all." Klee hugged Oshawott tightly while feebly explaining to Jean.
Jean looked down and saw Klee holding a strange creature, then looked at the young man beside her—refined and handsome.
She remembered. He had come to the Knights of Favonius a few days ago, applying to open a sprite shop in Mondstadt.
Takashi placed his hand over his chest, returning a knight's salute. "Acting Grand Master Jean."
"You weren't trying to abduct Klee, were you?!" Jean eyed him with a trace of suspicion.
"You've misunderstood, Acting Grand Master. This is a sprite shop, conducting honest and legitimate business." Takashi explained.
Jean looked down at Klee, who was playing joyfully with Oshawott. Since Klee's parents had gone on adventures far away, Klee had been entrusted to the care of the Knights of Favonius.
Jean was practically Klee's guardian, always worried about the trouble this little girl might cause. Even within the Knights, paperwork was often interrupted because she had to keep an eye on Klee.
She had never seen Klee this happy before—playing so cheerfully with such a strange creature.
She was instantly intrigued.
"Can you tell me more about these sprites?" Jean crossed her arms, looking serious.
"Of course. Sprites are mysterious and fascinating creatures that can be found in the sky, oceans, mountains, forests, plains, towns, and even deserts..."
"That sounds interesting. I've seen many monsters across Teyvat, but none as cute as the one before me," Jean said warmly.
"Hmm, maybe what I'm saying sounds too dry. But, in our shop, we have a full range of sprites—905 kinds, all documented in the Pokédex."
That many?
Jean was momentarily taken aback.
"Seeing is believing." Takashi picked up a Pokédex and handed it to Jean.
Jean opened it, seeing an array of sprites flashing across the screen—some cute, some fierce, some mischievous, some stubborn, some beautiful... they were all strange and unique.
"How about you try drawing a sprite of your own?" Takashi suggested.
"A personal sprite?"
"Yes, and the sprite also chooses its trainer based on personality and preference. It's a two-way connection."
Jean nodded slightly; it did sound interesting.
She pressed the draw button, and the Pokédex screen quickly flashed before slowing to a stop on "Charmander."
Jean looked at the gemstone-like eyes and the flame at the tip of its tail. Its cute appearance made her ask, "Can I see it right away?"