Rowan slowed down, taking deep gulps of air. Felix had sent off his meeting request to Vrid, Rowan had quickly received a reply within the hour. It would be a week, but Vrid had agreed to meet with him when time allowed. Instead of spending that week in idleness, Rowan took up exercising. Having gotten very little since he awoke in this world, he feared he would be too out of shape to be useful to anyone.
"150...laps," Rowan said out loud between breaths. Words failed to describe the exhilaration he felt when he began sprinting. His stamina was leagues above what he expected and the world around him flashed by as he reached top speed in the blink of an eye. Despite this, he was still able to make out the details of his surroundings as he all but glided across the dirt and snow.
Having no reference proved troublesome however. With nothing to compare himself to, Rowan had no idea whether or not he was truly fast in this world. The most he could do was to practice daily and make sure he was fit for duty.
"Maybe Chloe could teach me some things," Rowan thought to himself as he gazed at the sky above. The expanse above him was once again overcast. He made a mental note to ask about their place on a map. "There's still too much I don't know about this world."
Since Chloe's strange outburst, Rowan had been bunking with Fergus. The arrangement worked out for the both of them as every other night was spent sharing stories around a bottle of liquor. Rowan wanted to talk to Chloe and finish their discussion of becoming an official member, but each time he had either just missed her, or she was busy with something. Even the cleaning of 'his' room was postponed for the time being.
The only real complaint about his sleeping arrangement was the sheer humidity the room had. Often he woke up in the middle of the night with his fur damp, forcing him to go outside for a couple hours to allow it to freeze and to be shaken off. The thought brought an idea to mind for his work outs.
"Tomorrow I'll see about adding some jumping obstacles," Rowan said to himself, his breath returning to normal. The sheer recovery speed of his pokemon body baffled him.
"It would seem you're getting closer to mastery over yourself," A voice echoed within his mind. Rowan immediately recognized its owner.
"And I've asked you to stay out of my mind without permission," Rowan countered as he sat up in the snow. "Nice to see you though, Vrid."
"My apologies," Vrid replied, bowling slightly. "I'm still unused to communication in this manner. I'll be sure to remember to start with vocal speech this time."
"It's whatever. I don't mind it really, but the mind is my last refuge for me. I wouldn't intrude on anyone's property without their permission," Rowan said as he stood and looked up to the pokemon.
"Indeed. Then may I continue?" Vrid asked. Rowan nodded. "I received your message. You wished to discuss something with me?"
"First, let me thank you for everything. I understand that your team has been giving Chloe's team money, even if it was to get to something in return. Things would've been much more complicated without your assistance," Rowan said as he dipped his head. He didn't know how a pokemon like himself was supposed to bow, but did his best regardless. The stoic expression of the Alakazam softened somewhat.
"It was no problem. Circumstances demanded action from us, and I saw an opportunity to learn about humanity. Much of our knowledge on them has been lost to us. Your... other self has been extremely enlightening, even if it's been encased in ice for now."
"I... We can talk about my human body later… Thinking about it still gets me a bit woozy. Don't know why," Rowan said, uncomfortable in their current subject. "I asked for you because I'd like to make a trade, knowledge for knowledge."
Vrid brought his hand to his beard, stroking it as Rowan explained what had happened a few days ago when he was supposed to become a full-fledged member of Team Union, purposely omitting what Chloe had said.
"If I can't read the language here, Fergus said my application wouldn't be accepted at some sort of headquarters… Can you help teach me?" Rowan asked, bitterness seeping into his tone slightly as he made his request. "In exchange, I can give you the alphabet and its usage for humans."
"That's a simple enough request," Vrid replied. Rowan could feel great excitement emanating from the psychic type. "I can implant the knowledge within your mind, but I must warn you, the experience isn't a pleasant one, and I recommend we perform it indoors."
"I don't care. If it works, it's worth it," Rowan adamantly replied.
Before he could blink, he and Vrid were suddenly inside the building's common quarters. Rowan wondered if all psychic types were capable of this, or if Vrid was just that powerful. Hopping onto a couch, Rowan got comfortable as Vrid floated in front of him.
"How does this work? You said it 'wouldn't be pleasant' right?" Rowan asked, mimicking Vrid's tone.
"I can implant your mind with my knowledge and understanding of our language, but the process is… uncomfortable for non-psychic types. It's like overfilling a canteen beyond capacity. Your mind will be able to handle it, but I expect you'll have terrible headaches until you become accustomed to its presence and it melds with your own." Vrid explained. Two spoons manifested into the air between them as Vrid gathered his power.
"That's it? I get a headache?" Rowan scoffed. "I had those all the time before I came here. Let's just get it over with."
"As you wish."
His breath caught in his throat as he felt a tendril from Vrid's mind burrow into his own. No amount of preparation could have made the process any easier as he felt his very mind both expanding and contracting around the foreign invader. Summoning every ounce of his will, Rowan fought his instinct to cry out in shock,
His vision flickered and swam as he felt memories that weren't his own forming in the recesses of his consciousness. Rowan grit his teeth, his lips curled into a soundless snarl as he felt a pressure build within his head. The effects of Vrid's help were beginning to take root.
Physically he felt fine, but his mind felt tense and constrained, overloaded with the information he wasn't ordinarily meant to handle. Flash after flash of foreign memories took center stage as Vrid shared his knowledge with him.
Suddenly, as quick as he came, Vrid vanished from his mind, leaving his addled brain to process the gift he had just been bestowed. Rowan's vision slowly began to return to normal, but something didn't feel right. His mouth tasted of copper and his ear felt moist.
"Rowan! Are you okay?" Vrid asked out loud, concerned. Something wet fell and landed on his paw. The scent of blood was in the air; Rowan assumed it was his own.
He tried to move, but his body was slow to respond. His efforts resulted in him slipping from the couch, crashing onto the floor below. This wasn't at all in line with what Vrid had said about what would happen.
"I am so sorry Rowan," Vrid hastily apologised. "I did not take into account how a human mind could react. I have already contacted Team Vigor's nurse, help will be here shortly.
"What's happening to me?" Rowan demanded. His vision finally stabilized, but his limbs were still slow and heavy. The fact he could move at all was sign enough for him to maintain his composure.
"I am uncertain," Vrid nervously replied. "I am speaking audibly so as not to burden your mind unnecessarily. but if I had to guess... While you've become acclimated to your Glaceon body on a physical level, your mind is still too human to be compatible with memory memetics."
A rag floated into his field of vision and dabbed itself on his maw. Rowan noticed the rag dyed crimson as it pulled away and vanished, replaced by another. As Vrid cleaned up him, Rowan couldn't help but be concerned.
"Alright, but why am I bleeding?" Rowan asked, suppressing his fear.
"Ah, that's normal," Vrid reassured him. "It's not unusual for capillaries in soft tissues to rupture. It actually supports my theory, written language is small in comparison to something such as mathematics, but you still showed symptoms."
The door flew open without warning, slamming against the wall behind them and causing Vrid to flinch. Chloe rushed in as an Audino waddled in behind her, hesitant to follow behind the angry pokemon.
"You!" Chloe growled as she stomped over to Vrid. The psychic type quickly surrounded himself in a barrier, fearing the arctic fox's fury. "What did you do?"
Without warning Rowan's head began to ache. The force of the pain felt like his head was splitting into two from its force. Gritting his teeth Rowan slowly stood up, his body fighting his commands to move. The more he forced himself, the more the pain intensified. Chloe's lips were curled into a snarl as a rumble resounded in her breast.
"I apologise Chloe, I agreed to help Rowan, but there were effects we didn't foresee!" Vrid quickly replied, his hands in the air despite the barrier between them.
"Bullshit!" Chloe roared. "Look at him! He's a mess! And don't think I can't smell the blood!"
"Chloe!" Rowan yelled, the effort wracking his brain in ripples of pain. "Calm down! He really was trying to help!"
With a gasp, Rowan was forced to sit. If he didn't he would likely fall and pass out. The Audino quickly went to his side, examining him thoroughly. He quickly thanked the pokemon as she began cleaning his ears of dried blood.
Chloe whirled around, confused, but stayed between Vrid and him.
"What kind of 'help' could he offer to leave you like that?" Chloe asked, her upstanding fur relaxing moderately. Her gaze stayed locked onto Vrid.
"I offered to trade some of my memories to learn how to read…" Rowan confessed as his head dipped, avoiding her gaze. "I… didn't want to be a burden."
"What? Why?" Chloe asked, her eyes going wide as she whirled around to him. "No one thinks of you like that!"
"Now it all makes sense," Vrid murmured as he floated closer, only stopping when Chloe gave him a glare. Seemingly finished with her duties, the Audino quickly bid them farewell after giving Rowan strict instructions to rest and drink plenty of fluids.
"How could you possibly think that?" Chloe exclaimed. Vrid sighed in relief as her focus was shifted away from him. The psychic type maintained his barrier regardless.
"Because Chloe…" Rowan started. "What have I done to help anyone since I've been here? I've done nothing but lay about and eat your food. You said that the others will be returning for their own mission, what will they think when they see me? A lazy, good for nothing, that's what."
"I see…" Chloe murmured. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"You've been too busy the past week. You're the team leader, it's your job to worry about more things than just me." Rowan said bitterly. "Everything I try is just blowing up in my face."
"Rowan," Vrid said gently. "I know that it doesn't seem like it, but you're much more valuable to Union than you know."
Rowan gasped as another wave of pain washed over him. Vrid's brow furrowed and Chloe sat next to him, allowing him to lean on her.
"How do you figure?" Rowan asked through a soundless snarl as he weathered out the migraine.
"Vrid…" Chloe said quietly. "Can we be alone?"
"Of course," Vrid replied, giving her a bow.
"Wait!" Rowan yelled. "Do you think the memory thing worked?"
Vrid stroked his beard for a moment. Chloe seemed to be interested in his answer as well, her ears cocked in his direction.
"I am unsure, Rowan," Vrid finally answered. "The only way to know for sure is to try it, however I believe that can wait. I will return in another week to check up on you, for now just rest."
"Next time, I'll be there, right?" Chloe asked Vrid, glaring at the pokemon.
"That is correct," Vrid nodded before mentally adding, "I wouldn't dare come between a female and her ideal mate."
"Not another word!" Chloe soundlessly snarled at him.
"I see," Rowan sighed. "I'll let you know if I find out it worked or not the next time I see you. Thanks for the help anyway."
After Vrid vanished, Rowan hung his head. Despite his best efforts, he still failed yet again. This time over something as simple as learning to read.
"Chloe…" Rowan asked tiredly. "Can you help me to Fergus' room? I'd like to lie down."
"No," Chloe refused flatly. "This time I'm putting my foot down. You're going to my room and getting some proper rest. I've seen you outside at night. There's no chance I'm letting you get sick because you're too stubborn to share a room with me."
"Yes ma'am"