Alain
Charizard had already returned to his normal form by the time I reached behind the bush and picked up the device. The presence I sensed earlier was gone. Whoever had been watching us had fled leaving this behind.
Charizard's gaze settles on the object in my hand. He lowers his head and releases a short rumble, recognition flickering in his eyes as he lightly taps the device with one claw.
This is the same thing nearly every Trainer on Pasio carries. The nurse at the Pokémon Center offered me one when I arrived. I remember refusing without much thought. Poryphone. The name comes back to me as I turn it over in my palm. Embedded at the center of its frame below the screen is the crystal. A Sync Stone.
I close my fingers around the device, already intending to return it, when the screen lights up and begins to ring. I stare at it for a moment. Then I turn it off. The ringing continues.
Charizard glances at me, then at the device again, letting out a low huff through his nose. The sound does not stop. Whoever is calling is persistent, or worried.
I tap the screen. The display remains dark, but sound crackles through the speaker.
"Froakie, let me see. Hey, no. Ouch!"
There is a brief scuffle, followed by a wet, sticky sound. The audio shifts, and a face fills the screen.
A man with messy black hair and blue eyes leans into view. He freezes the moment he sees me. His expression hardens instantly.
"Who the hell are you? Where is—" He clicks his tongue and drags a hand down his face before cutting himself off. "Just tell me your name."
"Alain," I answer evenly. "Do you happen to know the owner—"
"Of course I know who it belongs to!"
The screen jolts as he sets the device down against something solid. His voice grows louder as he starts pacing back and forth, boots thudding against the floor. "For the love of Arceus, I knew something like this would happen. Sorren, Sorren, Sorren. It has not even been a full day and he already lost something?"
My eyes narrow slightly.
Sorren.
A small blue shape hops into view, blocking the camera. Froakie stares at me curiously, tilting its head. Behind me, Charizard lets out a low huff, a thin trail of smoke curling from his mouth in acknowledgment. A second later, a dark blue arm reaches into frame and scoops Froakie up. Toxicroak croaks once as the man returns, this time bringing over a bag.
"Send me the coordinates to your location," he says sharply. "I am flying to Pasio."
"That seems unnecessary," I reply, cutting in before he can continue. He stops dead.
His glare snaps straight through the screen. "Unnecessary? We are talking about my brother. Today he lost his device. Tomorrow it could be something worse. What if his life is in danger? I should never have encouraged him to go on this journey."
He starts shoving items into the bag with irritated movements, muttering under his breath as if I am no longer part of the conversation.
"There is a Pokémon Center nearby," I say calmly.
He whirls back toward the screen. "Why didn't you say that earlier, you damn idiot?"
I blink once. "You did not give me the chance. Nurse Trista would know what to do with a lost Poryphone," I continue. "And his name is Sorren, huh?"
"That is none of your business," he snaps instantly. "And do not lurk around my brother. I don't trust you."
The screen goes dark. The call ends.
I never caught his name…
I lower the Poryphone slowly, the forest silent again except for the rumbling from Charizard. "Guess we need to visit the pokemon center"
The walk to the Pokémon Center does not take long. I recall Charizard to his Poké Ball along the way, the familiar weight settling at my side as the forest thins and the lights of the building come into view. The glow spills softly onto the path, bright against the darkened sky.
Once Nurse Trista is within sight, I head toward her without hesitation.
"Nurse Trista?" I called.
She turns instantly, pink hair catching the light as a warm smile spreads across her face. "Yes? Oh. Alain."
"I did not think you would remember my name," I say after a brief pause.
"We met earlier today," she replies easily. "How could I forget already? Besides, you stood out."
That earns a slight furrow of my brow. "Stood out?"
She folds her hands in front of her, studying me with calm attentiveness. "Most people who came today were either here to apply for the tournament or to form teams. You did neither. Nurses tend to notice things like that."
"And," she continued, voice gentle, "you look like someone who is searching. Like you are trying to find your place on this island."
I do not answer. She lets the silence sit, then smiles again, lighter this time. "But that aside, what can I help you with?"
I reach into my pocket and pull out the Poryphone, holding it out to her. "This. I found it in the forest while training. It belongs to a trainer named Sorren. I was hoping you could return it to him,"
She accepts the device and connects it to a small machine at the counter, fingers moving swiftly as data scrolls across the screen. The faint hum fills the space between us.
"Sorren, you say?" she asks, eyes narrowing slightly in recognition. "He is currently resting in one of the rooms. I can bring him over and you can return it to him yourself, Alain. Would you like that?"
"That would be unnecessary," I replied at once. "I am here to return what he lost and nothing more."
I am not here to make friends.
She studies me for a moment, then nods. "As you wish, Alain."
She pauses, then adds more softly, "And try talking with people on this island. You might find answers to whatever is troubling you."
I hesitate, and reply. "I…will."
Her smile returns as she secures the Poryphone behind the counter. Before I turn away, she looks up again.
"Would you like to spend the night at the Pokémon Center?"
I shake my head. "I would rather not. I prefer the open air. I will spend the night in the forest."
She clicks her tongue lightly, arms crossing in an almost maternal way. "Just because there are no wild Pokémon in Pasio does not mean it is safe to sleep outside."
For some reason, I do not mind the scolding.
"I can take care of myself, Nurse Trista."
"And worrying about trainers is part of my job," she replies without missing a beat. "Good night, Alain."
"Good night, Nurse Trista."
I step outside, the doors sliding shut behind me as the cool night air greets my skin. The lights of the Pokémon Center fade as I move farther into the quiet, finding another open patch of grass where Charizard and I can continue training beneath the stars.
Sorren.
I turn the name over in my mind as the forest settles around us.
I wonder what kind of trainer he is.
And what this place has in store for me.