Chapter 25: Class B

  I woke up with a heavy head, as if someone had crushed my brain against a wall. The soft light in the room blinded me at first, and I had to blink several times to adjust. I noticed the distinct smell of disinfectant and saw machines with green and blue screens. “A hospital?” I thought, dazed. It took me several seconds to remember that the last time I was conscious, I had taken a serious hit at the Pokémon Tower.

  When I tried to move, I felt a dull pain running through my arm and side. I had bandages and an IV connected to my wrist. Everything was very confusing, but at least I seemed to be alive.

  As soon as I looked up, I realized I wasn’t alone. A pink-haired nurse, dressed in the classic white and pink uniform, approached me with a kind smile. She had a name on her badge: “Joy.”

  I would have asked if she knew all the Joys in the world or if they were family. I remembered the stories that all these nurses looked the same, and I felt the urge to laugh, though I didn’t know how to express it.

  As she examined me, she spoke in a comforting voice:

  —You’ve finally woken up. You’ve been asleep for several days, dear. Are you in any intense pain?

  I opened my mouth, but my throat felt dry, as if I had gone centuries without water. I moved my head in a shaking motion, trying to pronounce a word. Nurse Joy checked my pulse and adjusted the IV.

  She told me that I was stable, that my wounds were minor, but that I had been asleep for four days. When I heard that number, I felt dizzy—four days. And before that, I vaguely remembered being away from home… yes, at least a day.

  —Your mother is here, —Nurse Joy said— She came several times to check on you, stayed for hours. But she had to go home to rest and change. She’s on her way back now. She’s been very worried about you.

  Not even two minutes passed before, almost as if on cue, my mother appeared through the door. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, but her expression changed dramatically the moment she saw me awake. Her anger came first, stronger than any sign of relief:

  —Aspen Meloc, for the love of Arceus! —she exclaimed, approaching with firm steps— Where the hell have you been?! You disappeared for two days without a word and ended up unconscious in a Pokémon Center, in a coma for another four days! Do you have any idea how I felt?!

  I lowered my gaze to my hands, uncomfortable. I knew her anger came from concern. Since I couldn’t interrupt her, I just sat there, listening to her scolding—how I had left home without a trace, how she had learned from the police that I had been found nearly unconscious, how she couldn’t live like this.

  With my hoarse voice, I couldn’t find a way to explain that everything had been part of a complicated chain of events—the Pokémon Tower, the battle against a suicidal Gastly, my need to become stronger, the conflicts with the Poison Clan and the Academy. Every word in my mind swirled together without forming a coherent explanation. And she kept scolding me, her face red with frustration.

  —Do you know how many calls I had to make?! —she yelled— How many times I came to this hospital without being able to sleep at home? You had my heart in a vise. And the worst part is, this never ends—you get involved with dangerous people, you disappear for days. You’re not a child anymore, but you still shouldn’t be doing this!

  Nurse Joy, with tact, excused herself to give us privacy. My mother, breathing heavily, collapsed into a chair beside my bed, looking at me with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, her fury turned into relief, into silent sobs. I wanted to reach out to comfort her, but it was difficult to move my aching arm.

  —I found you in such bad shape… so fragile… —she murmured, her voice trembling— For a moment, I thought the worst. They say your injuries weren’t that serious, but that you suffered a physical and mental collapse, and you slept for days. Don’t you see how dangerous this world you’ve gotten into is?

  I didn’t respond immediately. I lowered my gaze, understanding her distress. Finally, in a weak voice, I murmured:

  —I’m sorry… Mom… But I can’t turn back, even if I wanted to.

  She sighed, stroked my forehead, and wiped her tears.

  —Yeah, I know. At least you’re relatively okay. Tomorrow, your suspension from Kanto Academy will be over. They’re discharging you today, and you’ll be back in class tomorrow. From what I understand, your wounds are healing, but no one can explain why you slept so long. They think your brain needed to shut down from stress.

  I nodded, shivering at the memory of the mental chaos I had experienced in the Pokémon Tower. My mother looked at me with a mix of resignation and sorrow.

  —Please don’t scare me like this again. And… don’t die, okay? I don’t even know what to say to you anymore. Your grandmother and I argued, as always, but this time I have to agree with her—you can’t just drop out of the Academy without consequences.

  After that, she apologized, saying she had to return to work. She gave me a soft kiss on the cheek and left the room.

  Shortly after, my grandmother entered, cane in hand and a deep frown on her face. She seemed irritated, probably because of the argument with my mother. She approached my bed, inspecting me with a sharp gaze.

  —You look less pale, —she remarked— Still as stubborn as ever. So many days unconscious… —She clicked her tongue— Your mother says she cried a river. Bah, do you realize the mess you caused?

  I stayed silent, somewhat embarrassed. My grandmother huffed.

  —Anyway. Congratulations on the Gastly. In case you forgot, yes—you caught a ghost in the Pokémon Tower. One with the ability Shadow Tag. Though its personality is… peculiar. Training a Pokémon like that won’t be easy. But I suppose it’ll be useful sooner or later.

  I felt a surge of pride despite everything.

  —I named him ‘Creepy.’

  My grandmother rolled her eyes.

  —You have the same sense of humor as your father… and that’s not a compliment.

  I felt slightly offended—Creepy was a great name—but I didn’t argue. My grandmother informed me that I’d be discharged today and that the Academy had already been notified of my “recovery.” The next day, my suspension would end, and I had to attend class—no excuses. She mentioned “new developments” but didn’t specify what. Then, without further ado, she said it was time for me to be more independent and left the room.

  A few hours later, I signed my discharge papers and headed home, my legs aching during the trip. I didn’t feel at full strength yet, but at least I could move on my own.

  When I arrived, I greeted my grandmother briefly and went straight to my room, wanting to rest. I remembered Dozy, my Grimer—I wanted to spend some time with him. I took out his Poké Ball and released him.

  He appeared, his sludge purple with a yellow stripe around his mouth. Sometimes I forgot that Alolan Grimer were supposed to be green, but Dozy was purple because he was shiny. That was also why many mistook him for a Kanto Grimer.

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  He looked at me with concern and moved closer to hug me. Then, lazily, he muttered brrrruug and settled into a corner to rest. It amused me—his habits hadn’t changed; he was a professional napper. But still, I was touched that he cared about me and that he was fully healed.

  I decided to release Noizy as well—the noisy Zubat I had caught relatively recently. She appeared and immediately began fluttering around my room. I noticed that at first, she perched on my head but then preferred to settle on the coat rack. I felt a small flicker of joy—at least she wasn’t avoiding me or trying to escape.

  I had the impression that Poison-type Pokémon felt comfortable with me, or maybe it was my own affinity with poison. Perhaps my grandmother was right when she explained that when someone is born with or develops a connection to a specific type, it becomes easier to train Pokémon of that type.

  I reflected on my Gastly, Creepy. I hesitated to let him out, as his crazy and somewhat macabre personality intimidated me, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to deal with another scare in my fragile state. But in the end, my curiosity won.

  I released him, and his gaseous form floated near the ceiling, those glowing eyes staring at me with a mischievous grin.

  He startled me a little, I admit it, but I also felt a certain satisfaction in having him under my care. I remembered how his ancestor, Gengar, had “allowed” me to take him from the Tower.

  After a few minutes of light conversation and murmurs (Dozy deep in his nap, Noizy clinging to the coat rack, and Creepy floating around chuckling), I lay down to sleep. Despite having rested for four days, I still felt mentally exhausted.

  That night, I slept with all three of my Pokémon out. Even my grandmother didn’t interrupt. Maybe she realized I needed to strengthen that connection.

  The Next Morning

  By morning, I woke up with the certainty that I had to return to Kanto Academy. My suspension was over, and there was no way out of it. Inside, a nervousness gnawed at me.

  With everything that had happened—the cave, the Tower, my hospitalizations—I was terrified of facing school again. But I had no choice.

  I put on the mandatory uniform and went downstairs for breakfast, finding my grandmother already at the table. Neither of us spoke much. She only warned me:

  —Don’t do anything reckless, and don’t let your Gastly out.

  I nodded and headed toward the Academy.

  Upon arrival, I checked in at the reception desk to resume my classes. That’s when I received an unexpected surprise: I had been promoted to Class B.

  I was stunned. I thought, “How the hell did I go from Class E to B without even finishing the Cerulean Cave trial?”

  The professor in charge explained in an indifferent tone that my “exploits” in the cave and the Tower, though secret to most, were enough for the administration to consider promoting me. I felt a mix of pride and fear.

  Being in Class B meant a higher level of difficulty and, most importantly, it required me to live in the Academy’s dormitories as a resident student.

  I tried to protest:

  —I don’t want to stay in the dorms… I’d rather—

  —Don’t even think about it, —the professor cut me off— Your family already approved it. You need supervision. Class B has different expectations.

  Overwhelmed, I couldn’t argue further. They led me to a small auditorium where I was supposed to have class. When I entered, I was immediately struck by the atmosphere. There were about forty students, all with intense gazes or hardened expressions, exuding an aura of experience in battles or rigorous training. They didn’t look fifteen at all.

  I felt like an intruder. Lowering my head, I walked straight to the back rows, not wanting to interact with anyone.

  Luckily, no one recognized me. Or if they did, they didn’t say anything. I sat down, inhaling deeply to calm myself.

  A few minutes later, the door opened, and Vera entered—the psychic girl with long, dark red hair, the one who first tried to kill me and whom I later helped in a battle against another psychic, though I mostly did it for my own survival, thinking they might help me fight Niko if they took down their rivals.

  My heart skipped a beat in fear when I saw her. I could still remember how terrifying she looked when she lost control. She looked serious, walked straight to the front of the room, and sat down without looking back.

  “Please don’t notice me,” I begged mentally, unsure of how I should interact with her.

  Almost immediately, another figure stormed in—Kara, the fierce fighter with a brutal aura and wild eyes, running with a heavy backpack on her back. She plopped down in the center, as carefree as ever.

  I felt relieved to see her. With Kara, I thought I got along better. But neither she nor Vera noticed me.

  I was about to greet Kara when an elderly professor walked in—he had a strange mustache, black glasses, and an air of a former Gym Leader. I heard murmurs:

  “That’s Blaine… the former Fire-type Leader,” and similar whispers.

  He stepped onto the podium and spoke:

  —Welcome to Class B, young trainers. Since there are some new faces, I’ll explain once more how this class operates. The teaching methods here are different from Class F, E, or D. We emphasize field learning through expeditions, and final exams are based on direct duels against classmates or professors. Moving up or down in rank depends on your performance.

  The tension in the room was palpable. Many of my classmates carried themselves with confidence, as if battles were second nature to them. I shrank into my seat, trying not to stand out.

  Professor Blaine continued:

  —Before we proceed, you need to form your groups for the expedition to the Seafoam Islands. As you know, it’s an archipelago with icy caves and a variety of Water- and Ice-type Pokémon. Your research will focus on a Pokémon of your choice found in the area. Most of the groups are already set. Let’s see…

  My brain froze.

  “Expedition? Seafoam Islands? When the hell was this organized?”

  Clearly, it had happened during my suspension. I looked around, realizing I didn’t know anyone, and noticed that Vera and Kara seemed just as lost. Maybe they had been suspended like me. Perhaps they didn’t have a group either.

  —Ah, here we are, —Blaine said, checking a list on his tablet— Missing members: Espern, Auralis… and Meloc. You three will form a new group.

  The blood drained from my face.

  Vera Espern and Kara Auralis—two girls deeply involved in the world of the clans. I was certain that wherever they went, trouble and chaos followed. And now I, who seemed to have the same curse, was being put in the same group as them.

  I was sure nothing good would come of this.

  I lifted my gaze, and they turned to see who “Meloc” was. When their eyes met mine, the world seemed to stop.

  Vera stared at me with a calm irritation, pressing her lips together in clear displeasure. Kara, on the other hand, grinned with an almost wild excitement, as if she were thinking, “What a coincidence!”

  The contrast between them was stark, sending a shiver down my spine.

  I felt the urge to scream internally.

  “Why does life keep throwing me into situations with two girls who, while strong and attractive, have shown me a level of madness I don’t want to relive?”

  “Stay calm,” I told myself. But my stomach clenched with anxiety.

  I thought, “Well, Vera is like a psychic bomb who nearly killed me, and Kara fights giant Pokémon with her bare hands and is a battle maniac. What could possibly go wrong?”

  Yeah, not reassuring at all.

  —Perfect, —Blaine declared— We’ll organize the expedition in a couple of weeks. You three will work together. Seafoam Islands is a frigid and dangerous place, especially in the deeper caves. You’ll need to battle, investigate, and—if you choose—capture a Pokémon for your report.

  I nodded, swallowing hard. Vera jotted something down in her notebook, avoiding my gaze. Kara, on the other hand, shot me a playful wink from across the room, her eyes sparkling with excitement—which only made me more nervous. I sank into my seat, feeling like the chaos was just beginning.

  When class ended, I didn’t dare approach them. I hoped that if I slipped away unnoticed, I could come up with a plan to get through the expedition. But I knew that sooner or later, we would have to talk—there was no other way to coordinate a trip.

  Now, at the Academy, I was officially a resident student, meaning I had to stay in the dormitories. My mother, my grandmother, and the administration had all agreed on it without giving me a say. It stung a little, but maybe it was inevitable.

  I left the classroom with a mix of panic and sadness. On one hand, I didn’t want to get involved with them, but another, less rational part of me wished that, upon seeing me, Kara would call out, “Hey, Aspen!” and Vera would offer some sign of friendship.

  I thought that after what we had been through in the cave, we had forged some kind of friendship. But it seems that was not the case.

  Kara gave me a smile with a hint of madness, while Vera looked outright displeased to be on my team. That was worse than indifference.

  I felt a hollow ache in my chest—maybe we had never really been friends, just forced battle companions, just like now.

  I lowered my gaze, let out a long sigh, and walked through the hallways of Class B, looking at my new classmates. They all simply ignored me.

  Blaine’s words still echoed in my head: “Seafoam Islands, a freezing and dangerous place.”

  I needed to buy winter clothes, try to get along with Vera, and also figure out how to control Kara’s impulsiveness. Just thinking about it was already starting to stress me out.

  There was no way to avoid it.

  With that thought pounding in my head, I headed to the administrative office to find out which dorm room I had been assigned.

  There was no turning back now—I would be staying at the Academy, dealing with whatever problems came my way, and facing this expedition alongside my new teammates.

  I had no choice but to take a deep breath and tell myself:

  “I survived an explosive Gastly, a clan of poisonous ninjas—including their heir… What could possibly go worse?”

  I smiled bitterly. Deep down, I had a feeling the real problems were only just beginning.