Liam's first few days back at Everspring Academy were surprisingly normal. He sat with Vasilio and Mori in every class, ate lunch with I Am Munclax at the noodle shop across the road, and thought a lot about Cass. He enjoyed watching the 9th graders fake their way through the first few days of high school, but his first battle with Marsha proved that she, at least, was no joke as a Pokemon trainer. Her Raichu made short work of Liam's Murkrow, and only Sneasel's speed and keen senses let him regain control of the battle and score a win.
"That would have been embarrassing," said Mori with a grin. "Losing to a freshie."
"You're lucky you don't have a freshman to lose against," countered Liam.
There was one part of the return to normalcy Liam wasn't quite looking forward to: Team Virtue meetings. Liam had seen Timothy—the oldest student in Team Virtue—a few times during the last few days, and he couldn't help but agree with Werner's assessment: Timothy looked too busy to lead and train the younger kids. That left the task of mentoring to him, and Liam didn't feel up to it. Not only would he be working under Professor Werner's ever-critical eye—he also would be taking responsibility for the success (or more likely the failure) of all Team Virtue's younger members.
Liam comforted himself with the thought that most Team Virtue meetings drew only five or six students, and most of them were still in middle school. They were still learning the basics, and Liam could handle the basics.
Team Virtue always met in a green canvas tent that functioned as the school's makeshift cafeteria. No one could really explain to Liam why Everspring International Pokemon Academy used a tent instead of a real building to serve lunch—as Vasilio had put it, "Some things in Nanzo make less sense the more you ask about them." That was part of being a foreigner in Nanzo—accepting that some things, including entire buildings, had no intention of making sense.
Liam was a little late—actually, he was exactly on time, but Professor Werner had an interesting definition of "late." He found about ten students already sitting on the cafeteria stools, while Professor Werner leaned on his cane at the far end of the tent. Liam recognized some of the students as team members from last year, but there were lots of new faces, among them Marsha Cheong and Chelsea Whitaker. Liam waved awkwardly at them and considered joining their table, but Professor Werner was already beckoning him over.
"Now that you're here," croaked Werner, "Let's get started."
Liam took his place standing next to Professor Werner, feeling very embarrassed to have so many people looking at him. He tried to keep his face neutral as Werner began his address.
"Thousands of years ago, in the time known as the Spring and Autumn Period, the Four Regions—Dongzo, Nanzo, Shizo, and Beizo—were divided and leaderless. Pokemon trainers were little more than bandits and mercenaries, using their skills in battle for whatever warlord or duke offered the highest pay. In this darkest period of our history, the Hundred Schools of Battle arose. These schools sought to impose order, discipline, and purpose in the midst of violence. The four greatest of these schools were Virtue, Truth, Balance, and Power."
Liam glanced uncomfortably at Chelsea Whitaker. Werner continued in his gravelly voice.
"Each school taught a different philosophy of battle—a different path to victory. The School of Truth taught that victory could only come by acting in a natural way, with trainer and Pokemon alike moving in sync with the mysterious truth at the center of all reality. The School of Balance saw that the desire for victory often led trainers into error and folly, and sought to transcend ambition and act on the basis of internal peace."
Liam smiled to himself. Sylvia and Arthur were both members of Team Balance, but neither the overachieving younger sister or her brilliant-but-lazy older brother struck Liam as models of "transcending ambition." Werner continued:
"The School of Power looked at the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period and saw in it a need for strength, rationality, and order. They valued tactics above all—compassion, tradition, and morality were rejected as impediments to absolute victory. It was the School of Power which first united the Four Regions, and their mastery of strategy in battle has never been surpassed."
Liam's eyes flicked over to Chelsea again. She looked a little shell-shocked, but Liam reasoned that younger students often found Professor Werner's growling monologues a little terrifying.
"It was the School of Virtue that ended the School of Power's hundred-year reign. Grandmaster Kong, the school's founder, began with the simple wisdom of relationships. He saw that the bond between the Pokemon and its trainer was not a relationship of equals, but it was nonetheless based on mutual trust, affection, and discipline. Only by embracing their roles—the trainer to command and train, the Pokemon to battle and obey—could they achieve victory. Only by honoring that most sacred relationship could both flourish, and all under Heaven be set right."
Werner paused and looked around at the students.
"I know why most of you are here," he said. "You've experienced the cruelty of Team Power, or seen others experience it. You want a chance to strike back. I will teach you to fight. I will train you in the methods of the School of Virtue. But always remember this."
Werner took an old-fashioned Pokeball out of his pocket and held it out before them.
"This is what you fight for. Forget that, and Team Power have already won."
The students nodded. Liam smiled with relief. He was worried Werner would scare the new recruits away, but this was exactly what had drawn him to Team Virtue in the first place.
"Now," said Professor Werner, as if just coming back to himself, "our current novices will come around and have a word with you about joining Team Virtue. If they recommend you, and if you choose to walk this path and submit to the teachers of the old masters, you will be sworn in a receive your team jacket next week. Liam, Aziz, Jera—they're all yours."
Liam laughed nervously. Aziz, a 9th grader, and Jera, who was in 8th grade. were both soft-spoken and undeniably nerdy, and he somehow felt like a more plausible leader by comparison. He decided to start with Marsha and Chelsea and leave the middle schoolers to the others. Jera and Aziz would make more plausible "big kids" from the perspective of a 6th grader.
Liam hadn't seen much of Chelsea Whitaker that week, despite their lockers being right next to each other. He immediately noticed that she had changed a lot over the summer. Liam remembered Chelsea as a small, thin girl with curly red hair and freckles. She had been quiet and shy—almost childlike, in Liam's opinion. Now, she was undeniably a teenager. Her hair was longer and curlier, her freckles were darker, and she had made a clumsy attempt at eyeliner and mascara that made her look like she hadn't gotten enough sleep.
"Hey, bro," said Chelsea. Her voice had gotten much deeper, but it still cracked.
"Hi Chelsea," said Liam awkwardly. "Hi Marsha."
Marsha gave Liam a very stiff and formal salute.
"So you're, like, second-in-command here?" asked Chelsea.
"Heh, no," said Liam. "I'm just the second oldest. I mostly just help younger students practice. Timothy—you know him, right—he's the real second-in-command. Speaking of which…"
Liam pulled up a stool and sat down across from the girls.
"So you guys wanna join Team Virtue?"
"She does," explained Marsha, "I am just here for morale support."
"Yeah," said Chelsea. "Well, I've been thinking about joining Team Virtue. You know, ever since what happened. I wanted to… I don't know, stick up for myself better. So, uh, here I am."
"No, that's good," said Liam. "I'm glad you want to join. I joined for… well, more or less the same reason. I will warn you that, uh..."
Liam jerked his head at Werner, who was standing silently over Aziz's shoulder at another table.
"Oh, I like Professor Werner," said Chelsea. "So that's not a problem."
"Actually, we do have a favor to ask you upon that subject," said Marsha.
Liam blinked, but decided not to remark on Marsha's unusual phrasing. He was starting to get used to it.
"I heard you were like, really good in Professor Werner's class," said Chelsea, lowering her voice. "So we were wondering…. Could you help us with our Tactics homework after school?"
"Uh, sure?" said Liam. "Is that the condition for you joining Team Virtue, Chelsea?"
"No," she giggled. "Marsha is just scared she's gonna get a B."
Marsha nodded seriously, her eyes wide.
"Well, no guarantees," said Liam, standing up, "But I can help you guys out. I'll tell Professor Werner to have a jacket for you next week, Chelsea. I think I, uh, better go save Aziz from those 7th graders."
"Okay," said Chelsea. "Can we, uh, go?"
"Yeah," said Liam. "If you want. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Seeya, bro," said Chelsea.
The girls got up and left the tent. With a shrug, Liam wandered over to the table where Aziz was stuttering his way through a conversation with three 7th graders.
"Well, we, uh, we…" said Aziz, in his barely audible voice, "We practice battles, and, uh…"
"Do you think he needs help?" whispered Liam to Professor Werner.
"Let him struggle a bit longer," replied Werner. "Is Miss Whitaker joining us?"
"Yeah," said Liam.
Werner stroked his chin.
"Revenge is not the way of Team Virtue," he said. "Watch her closely."
"I don't think Chelsea—."
"You know her well?" interrupted Werner.
Liam thought for a moment.
"No. I guess not."
"She's your responsibility," said Werner. "Don't nurture her anger."
"I won't," said Liam.
He hoped he was telling the truth.
"You can save young Aziz now," said Werner, "He's floundered long enough."
Liam took the seat next to Aziz as nonchalantly as possible and introduced himself to the middle schoolers. He felt weirdly grown up, explaining the beliefs and principles of Team Virtue to younger students. Maybe, just maybe, he could get used to this.
Liam found Marsha and Chelsea at the bus stop in a state of clear agitation. They were passing a small piece of paper between them, whispering. Liam didn't want to be nosy, but his curiosity was more than gratified when Chelsea called him over and showed him the paper.
"I found this in my locker," she said, "I dunno what it means."
Liam read the paper. It said:
TEAM POWER ARE LOOKING FOR RASMUS.
The message was penned in block letters on paper that looked like it had been torn from a small notebook. Liam frowned.
"I… don't know either," he said, continuing to look closely at the paper. "Who's Rasmus?"
The girls both shrugged.
"I have never heard of Rasmus," said Marsha.
"It's so weird," said Chelsea, taking the paper back from Liam. "What does it even mean? And why put it in my locker. It's kinda… scary."
Liam nodded.
"I'd show it to Christine—uh, Miss Snyder tomorrow. If this was another student, then it's some kind of mean prank."
"Yeah," said Chelsea with a resigned shrug. "A weird mean prank."