I was standing in the courtyard of what had been my home for my entire 16 years. I could feel the cobbles beneath my boots as I took in the scene of my masters and trainers standing around me. It was the day that I was to finish my training, a feat I had accomplished 3 years ahead of schedule, to become the King's Assassin.
"Jarek," Master Stone began, "you've completed your training, though there's one final mission before you're ready." He said holding my gaze as my body subconsciously tensed at the mention of one last test.
"Jarek, your final mission. Kill the trainers." Master Stone's voice remained firm and unwavering, my body responded to his words immediately. Pulling my sword from its sheath as I charged the closest trainer. I didn't know why I was supposed to kill the trainers, but I had been raised since birth to obey my Masters.
As my sword was closing in on Trainer Roland, everything slowed. Slowing until my sword was frozen mid swing, mere inches from the trainer's throat. I couldn't move my body only able to see through my periphery that everyone else had also frozen.
Faces mixed with fear, desperation and surprisingly even anger that was directed at Master Stone from Master Elias. That's when I heard it, the soft melodic voice, that seemed to come from all around me.
"Your soul was too pure to be left to rot in the darkness of this world. Make a new life here."
I was confused by the words as surely my soul had already begun to rot. I knew that in my role as an assassin I would tread in the darkness of the world. I had killed many people already as part of my training. How could my soul be pure?
My vision blurred and faded, the cold grey of the cobbles beneath my boots shifting to soft, bright green grass that swayed in a gentle breeze. My first instinct to take notice of my new surroundings which brought new things to be confused by.
The courtyard had been high up in a cold mountain, but now my surroundings consisted of stretches of grass and trees that surrounded me near a dirt road that seemed to bisect the greenery. The creatures in the trees looked nothing like the ones I grew up studying besides minimal similarities.
The next thing I noticed was that my magic felt different, it didn't feel like it should. Muted and foreign to me, struggling against my pulls for it. That led to me searching for my weapons, realizing I was completely unarmed was nearly overshadowed by the strange new clothing I wore. My familiar charcoal grey stealth gear had been traded out for pieces of similar tones, yet new style and cut.
I squashed any panic that attempted to take hold, after all a clouded mind makes mistakes. Being in an alien environment I would need to be operating at full capacity to survive. Besides, I did not need weapons to be deadly.
I stepped up to the path that cut through grass and followed it with my eyes. One way led into a dense forest, and the other snaked up to a town in the distance. I could make out the shape of a strange building atop a hill that looked unlike any I had ever seen.
Before I could even make a decision on the path I would take, I sensed the presence of something or something's approaching. I stepped back from the path and crouched low into the tall grass. It didn't really conceal me, especially with my darker colors standing out against the bright green, but at least I wouldn't be standing for all the world to see.
Out from the forest in the opposite side of the path stepped an elderly man with a white coat and a yellow, winged creature that walked on two legs by his side. I could feel its strength even from here, resonating the same as an A rank magical beast. Was this man a beast tamer?
I observed them and years of training, as well as gut feeling told me that this man wasn't dangerous. In fact he somewhat reminded me of Master Elias. Master Elias had always encouraged my curiosity and desire for knowledge. He taught me how to use my skills observation to fit in anywhere.
I doubt he ever thought I would end up in this strange situation, but I knew I could rely on his training for this. I stood from the grass and walked to the road, stretching my lips in to a practiced smile. One meant to put the other at ease and calm them with a friendly expression, and it seems it worked as intended.
"Hoho! I didn't see you there, young man. You must be Jarek from Littleroot Town, yes? Professor Birch told me you'd be coming, but he didn't say it would be a week early." The man spoke cheerfully as he walked towards me. His beast lumbering alongside him with a near melancholy expression.
"Ah you know how the Professor can be, haha. He has a lot going on after all." I responded vaguely, though I kept my alert hidden below the surface. How did this man know my name? Is this the voice's meddling? Before I could think on it anymore, the man broke into a smile as he nodded.
"Yes, yes. Birch is definitely a busy man. Well no matter. The Pokemon for your group should be coming in any day now, so you aren't too early. You can stay at my lab until it's time for your Pokemon journey. You must be excited?" He waved a hand at the building at the top of the hill, but I was hung up on multiple tidbits he had given me.
Lab. That was a place for researchers, so he must be a Professor as well. Though I couldn't understand what these Pokémon were. What group I was a part of, not even what journey I was supposed to be going on. A Pokémon journey at that. Just where was I? Nothing seemed familiar to me at all. Beasts I had never seen. Clothes I had never owned or seen. So many things I would have to learn about, and it seemed I would only have a week at this man's lab before I was expected to go on this journey.
Ah, yeah. Though you could say I'm a little nervous as well." I chuckled, adding a nervous tone to it as I shook the man's hand. He nodded again in understanding.
"Nothing wrong with that as long as you don't let it paralyze you, or keep you from chasing your dreams and achieving your goals." I could appreciate his wise words, falling in to step beside him as we walked to his lab.
"Thank you for your help today, Dragonite. Go get some rest." He said to the large creature and responded with a trill before launching off the ground into the air. I was captivated by the beast as it flew.
"Dragonite is a special pokemon, though any pokemon can be special if cared for and trained responsibly. Promise me, Jarek, that you'll take care of your pokemon diligently." He said from beside me as I watched the Dragonite fly off.
"Yes sir, of course. Caring for something properly means it will care for you in turn." I had never had a pet nor had I been a beast tamer, but I figured it had to be similar to staying on top of the upkeep of weapons and tools. Items taken care of would be less likely to fail you when you needed it.
"Good. Now let me show you where you'll be staying. You might even meet my grandson, Gary. He's about your age I'd guess." The professor spoke while entering the lab.
"I turned 16 not long ago." I said which earned a nod from him.
"So you're a year older. I hope you will get along with him. He's a bit of a hot head, but he is a good kid."
"Is he also apart of my group?" I asked curiously.
"Yes! Indeed he is. Him, Ash, and another boy named Ron will all be starting their journey at the same time as you." He replied when a new person approached once she locked onto the Professor. She had red hair and green eyes held behind large round glasses that were partially covered by her bangs. She had a small and mousey appearance, so I used a gentle smile in greeting as to not scare the girl who seemed only a couple years older than me.
"Professor Oak! You've finally returned." Her gaze landed on me for a second and she seemed to be distracted as he cheeks flushed, but she quickly turned back to the Professor and continued. Now I knew that his name was Professor Oak. "The Pokemon for this years trainers have just arrived. I was looking at the readings and they seem to be a very promising selection." She said excitedly as she passed a closed that held paper to it.
I was trying to not be overwhelmed by all the strange things I had seen since entering the lab as I didn't know if these things were commonplace or not. It wouldn't do to have my cover blown by being enamored by something that was typical. But the more that I saw started to make me think I wasn't in my world anymore. Had the voice's words been literal when it said "Make a new life here."?
Though there was something else that my thoughts focused on. Trainers. "Kill the trainers." Had been the last order I received from Master Stone. Was it a coincidence that this place had trainers? How could I start over and make a new life if I still followed that last order. Was i supposed to choose which to follow? Was I supposed to follow either of them at all? My head swam as I shook the thoughts away, just as Professor Oak replied to the woman.
"Thank you, Selene. This is Jarek, from Littleroot, could I ask you to look after him if he has any questions or concerns while he's staying here? Jarek this is one of my aides, Selene." He introduced us and I shook her hand gently with a smile, which caused her to hid herself behind the board.
"Of course Professor." She responded before turning and scurrying back from where she came.
"Hoho. It seems she likes you, Jarek." The Professor chuckled as he turned to me.
"Please don't tease me, Professor." I replied with feigned embarrassment, which only caused him to laugh more.
"Yes yes. Well let me show you to your room, and then I'll give you a tour of the lab. Perhaps I'll even let you get a peak at the Pokémon for you group. Though you'll have to keep it a secret." He winked at me with that last bit and I nodded sincerely.
"Good."
Just what was this strange world I found myself in. Metal boxes flashed with small lights and chirped with quiet noises. I had heard that labs were where the smartest people researched and developed new things, but was I so far behind to not even understand what I was looking at? I had a lot to learn in this week…