"So eh, S-Serena, what are your plans for now?" He could hear his voice stutter, but Eljiah was determined to ask her this. It was his only chance. Serena shrugged, just like what he had expected. She never really had any concerns about the future, which Eljiah envied. He was always looking forward to something, but she could just live in the present without a thing to worry about. "W-Well, if you'd like to, you could of course come along with me! I'd like some company, and you're really nice and smart, so eh-" Even before he could finish his sentence, Serena gratefully accepted his offer. Something told him that she was secretly already hoping for it, and he was proud of himself for daring to ask it.
The weather was amazing. A bright sun shined on their heads, with not a single cloud in the sky. Helioptile also really seemed to enjoy the sunny weather, as he was more energetic than ever before. He kept jumping from Eljiah's to Serena's shoulders and back, like he couldn't remain motionless for more than five seconds. Eljiah thought about how much they looked like a couple right now. The only thing that could've completed the picture even more was if they were holding hands.
"What are you blushed for?" Serena's question made him snap back into reality. "Eh, nothing, really! I was just lost in my thoughts." Serena chuckled. "You sure were, you haven't said a word in a long time! Come on, let's hurry, Lumiose City should be around the corner!" She increased her pace, and Eljiah followed right behind her. They were going back to Lumiose City, to tell professor Sycamore about the great news. Well, that was why Eljiah wanted to go back, at least. Serena probably just wanted to go shopping there, which was fine with him.
As soon as they entered the city, Serena's eyes widened, going from left to right, checking out all the possible shops to go. "Hey, I really want to go shopping, I hope you don't mind it. Let's meet up at Sycamore's Lab, okay?" Eljiah nodded, already knowing that would be her plan. Serena left, and within seconds she was lost in the crowd of people. He walked onwards to the Pokémon Lab, wanting to prove Sycamore that he didn't make a mistake when he entrusted him with Helioptile.
As soon as the doors closed behind him, a wave of peaceful silence came over him. Finally, he was freed from the loud and noisy crowd on the streets of Lumiose. Immediately, he was noticed by Brandon, the male scientist from the Lab. "Oh ho, look who's back! It's the team Flare boy! And, tell me, how did your little adventure go?" Eljiah flashed his shiny new badge, and Brandon's mouth literally fell open. "H-How did you... You actually got a... A badge?" Eljiah just smiled, and walked past him, satisfied with his reaction.
Elijah wasn't egoistic or anything like that, not at all. He was one of the most humble persons you'd ever see. The only thing he couldn't handle was when people wouldn't trust or believe him. Then, he'd do anything and everything he could, just so he could prove them wrong. And most of the times, he succeeded in it too, which made him happier than anything else. The satisfaction he got from seeing Brandon's mouth fall open, was impossibly compared with anything else. It was just amazing to see.
No matter where he looked, professor Sycamore was nowhere to be found, and nor was Clara. Eventually, Eljiah decided to go to the Pokémon Climate Resort. As soon as he walked inside of the grassy field, a Fennekin ran up to him and jumped into his arms, pushing Helioptile away. He didn't mind it though, as he went back to his old friends in the Resort. Eljiah petted the Fennekin a little more, before hearing Sycamore's loud voice somewhere on the other side of the Resort: "Clara, watch out!", followed by a the sound of something metal falling on the ground.
Eljiah immediately hurried in the direction the sound came from, while still holding Fennekin in his arms. Professor Sycamore climbed down from a huge ladder that reached all the way up to the ceiling. "Hey, you're back already? I didn't expect you to return this soon! What happened?" Eljiah proudly showed him the Bug Badge he received from Viola. Unlike Brandon, professor Sycamore just smiled at him. "I knew you could do it, there was no way you'd fail. Me and Clara just finished repairing the hole in the ceiling, that´s what you probably heard. Listen, why don't you come with me to the room across the hall, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Eljiah followed the Pokémon professor, and they sat down in one of the many couches the room had. "That Fennekin you're holding, she really seems to like you, doesn't she?" He had already forgotten he was still holding the rare Pokémon, but Fennekin didn't seem to mind it. "Eh, yes, I'm sorry about that. Should I put her back in the Resort?" Sycamore shook his head. "No, that's not what I was getting at. I've been concerned about Fennekin's health for a few days. She has been very sick, and didn't want to play with any of the other Pokémon in the Resort anymore. Now that I see you with here, it all suddenly makes sense. Eljiah, would you like to take Fennekin with you on your journey?"
The Fennekin looked at Eljiah with a smile on her face. He wondered if she'd understood what professor Sycamore had said, because it seemed like she did. Eljiah nodded at the professor: "Yes, I'd love it! And I'm sure Fennekin would like to come with me as well." Again, the Pokémon professor smiled at him. It seemed like, no matter what he asked, he really already knew the answer. That smile was his satisfaction of correctly predicting the outcome of the situation. "Fine, then that's setled. Now that you have your first official starter Pokémon, you can truly begin your journey. There will still be a lot of people who don't trust you, but I know you can change their minds, Eljiah. You can do that, I'm sure of it."