Chapter 10: A Beginning Chosen
That night, sleep didn't come easily.
Aarav lay on his bed, one arm folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling fan as it turned lazily above him. The house was quiet—too quiet. Not empty, just still, as if it had learned to exist without expecting anyone to speak.
He shifted slightly.
There was a faint warmth under his sleeve.
The Poké Ball tattoo.
He pressed two fingers lightly against it.
Ting-Lu was there.
He didn't know how he knew that. The Master Ball was sealed, subspaced, hidden by something far beyond normal technology—but the feeling was unmistakable. A presence. Not words. Not thoughts. Just… emotion.
Calm.
Curiosity.
A subtle pull, like something listening.
"…You shouldn't be able to feel anything in there," Aarav murmured.
And yet, Ting-Lu did.
Maybe it was the system. Maybe it was because Ting-Lu wasn't a normal Pokémon. Or maybe it was simply because bonds didn't obey rules the way systems wanted them to.
Aarav exhaled slowly.
Tomorrow, he thought.
Tomorrow, I'll go back into the forest.
Not to fight. Not to train.
Just to let it out.
Let it walk. Let it exist. Let it feel the sun and soil without people staring or panicking.
"A picnic for a legendary calamity," he muttered. "That's probably a first."
The thought made him smile faintly.
He rolled onto his side.
He was thirteen now. Or close enough. In this world, that mattered.
It was early—but not unusually so—to register as a trainer. Plenty of kids did it younger, even if they didn't start challenging gyms immediately.
The League's offer replayed in his mind.
Scholarship. Starter Pokémon. A clear, safe path.
And he didn't want it.
Not because he disrespected starters.
But because he understood them too well.
Limited choice.
Only a handful of species, all carefully balanced.
Predictable move sets early on.
Everyone starting from the same line.
There was nothing wrong with that.
But it wasn't him.
"I don't want a copy-paste beginning," he whispered.
He wanted a Pokémon that chose him.
Not one handed over by an official.
He wanted to build something slowly. Honestly. With intent.
And beyond that…
The void.
He needed to bring more Pokémon out someday.
Not for power—but because they were his. Pokémon that had been waiting, preserved, cut off from the real world.
But the rules were clear.
Only one Pokémon for now.
More required experience.
World-altering actions.
(Things that can influence the world or people)
Things that mattered.
Aarav frowned.
"What even is my goal?" he asked the ceiling.
He didn't have one.
Not yet.
He wasn't chasing the Champion title.
He wasn't dreaming of fame.
He wasn't even sure he wanted to battle seriously.
But one thing felt solid.
He wanted to live.
Not rush. Not grind endlessly. Not chase numbers.
Live fully.
See the world.
Change things when they needed changing.
Help Pokémon and people when he could.
And enjoy it.
"…That's enough for a start," he decided.
Sleep came after that.
---
Morning arrived with soft sunlight and the sound of a passing delivery Pokémon outside.
Aarav ate a simple breakfast—bread, fruit, water—then pulled on a clean shirt and jacket. He checked his reflection briefly, brushing his hair into something presentable.
He paused at the door.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Let's make it official."
The League Registration Office wasn't far.
A modest building near the city center, marked by the familiar League insignia. Trainers of all ages passed in and out—some excited, some nervous, some bored.
Aarav took a breath and stepped inside.
The lobby was bright and open. Screens displayed registration steps. A counter ran along one wall, staffed by League clerks.
A woman at the front smiled when she saw him approach.
"Trainer registration?" she asked.
"Yes," Aarav said.
"First time?"
He nodded.
She gestured to a terminal.
"Fill this out. If you need help, let me know."
Aarav moved to the terminal.
Name: Aar A.
Age: 13
Residence: Cortondo outskirts
Guardian: None (League oversight)
He paused briefly at the Pokémon section.
Starter Pokémon Selection
He tapped DECLINE.
The system prompted him once more.
Are you sure?
"Yes," he said softly.
The terminal accepted it.
The clerk glanced over.
"No starter?" she asked, mildly surprised.
"I'll find my own partner," Aarav replied.
She studied him for a moment, then smiled.
"That's allowed," she said. "Just… be careful."
He nodded.
After biometric confirmation and a short rules briefing, the terminal chimed.
TRAINER REGISTRATION COMPLETE
A small card slid out.
Aarav picked it up.
Trainer ID.
His name printed cleanly across it.
Real.
Official.
A path opened—not chosen for him, but available.
The clerk leaned forward slightly.
"You're registered now," she said. "You can carry Poké Balls, interact with League facilities, and accept basic trainer work if you want."
"Thank you," Aarav said sincerely.
As he turned to leave, a familiar warmth pulsed beneath his sleeve.
Ting-Lu reacted.
Not urgently.
Just… aware.
Aarav smiled faintly.
"Soon," he thought. "I promise."
Outside, the city moved on as usual.
Trainers arguing about routes. Pokémon lounging beside their partners. Vendors calling out lunch specials.
Aarav stepped into it all, feeling something he hadn't felt since waking up in the forest.
Possibility.
He didn't have a perfect plan.
He didn't have a full team.
He didn't even know where he'd be in a year.
But he was registered.
He was free to choose.
And for the first time since his second life began, that felt like enough.