Chapter 2

Arian

Did I dream it all?

That was the first thought that came into Elvira's head when she woke up that morning. Yesterday's end had been a wild one, with her bringing the passed out Riolu back to her house. She'd had the Fighting-type laid out on the bed in their guest room, and with the help of her mother, was able to assess them medically. Luckily Zenobia, who was partially trained in the field, confirmed that the Riolu didn't appear to have any injuries, nor was it suffering from some kind of ailment, and would be able to make a recovery. That was a relief for Elvira; the thought of the Riolu being at death's door didn't sit well with her. As well as that, when they woke up, Elvira would be able to glean the answers to the questions that had been in her head since her discovery of them.

Heading to the kitchen, the Treecko headed to the kitchen to make that morning's breakfast. As she retrieved oats to make some porridge, she heard the familiar noise of her mother's crutches becoming gradually louder. Turning around, she saw Zenobia enter the room and sit down at the table.

"Morning, Mom," she greeted.

"Good morning, Elvira," returned the Heliolisk. "...You look rested. That's good. I feared you would be sleepless after your discovery last night."

"...No. I was quite tired last night after all that running about getting medicine for the Riolu," Elvira replied. "...By the way...is the Riolu okay?" she added, her expression becoming worried.

"...I checked on him this morning, when I woke up," Zenobia informed. "He looked better than he did when you brought him in. But...he still hasn't woken up from his slumber."

"Oh…" Elvira was disappointed. To say she wasn't curious about the mysterious Riolu would be a lie. Then, one thing occurred to her about her mother's description of the washed-up Pokémon. "Wait…'he?'"

"Oh, yes. I actually heard him mumble in his sleep. I couldn't catch exactly what it was, but...his mutters definitely sounded masculine. A boy, then. Potentially around your age, given his looks. ...Although that can't be fully proven yet. It's a reasonable guess, though."

"My age…" Elvira murmured, taking in that point.

"Who knows? Maybe you two will hit it off," Zenobia suggested. "But we shall have to wait until he wakes for that to happen."

"Maybe so," came the Treecko's reply, as the heat from the porridge came to the boil. "...Should I leave aside some porridge for him, then?"

"Of course. He may well be very hungry. A bit of food should do him no harm."

"Okay, Mom."

Elvira doled out the porridge into three bowls and moved two of them to the table, where she and her mother ate their breakfast. Then, after they had finished, Elvira brought the third bowl to the guest room.

There, on the bed, lay the Riolu. He was still unconscious from yesterday. But at least he drew breath, and fairly healthily at that. No doubt he would make a recovery. But most pressing was his lack of conscience, and Elvira couldn't help but be worried at that.

He's been unconscious for quite a while, she recalled, thinking back to sunset the day before when she found the Fighting-type's body on the beach. The Grass-type put the bowl of porridge on the bedside table, and looked at the sleeping Pokémon, the questions from yesterday beginning to return to her. How did he end up on the beach? Is this Riolu from around here? Or is he from somewhere else? Is he even from Ardalion?

Elvira sighed. Sadly, she could not know the answer to those queries until the Riolu rose from consciousness. In the meantime, she laid the porridge down next to him, and patiently waited for any signs of movement from the passed out canine.

A few minutes later...that was exactly what she got.

The Riolu's nose twitched at the scent of the porridge. His ears also followed suit, and then, with a slight groan, his eyes blearily began to open.

"...Urgh…My head..." He sounded tired, but also somewhat pained. Maybe both. His eyes opened some more, revealing the wooden ceiling of the guest room. "...Wh-Where am I…?" he mumbled. And indeed, what Zenobia had said was true: the Pokémon's voice was masculine.

"Oh, you're finally awake!" Elvira began. "I found you washed up on the nearby beach. Good thing I found you. You really looked worse for wear."

The Treecko noticed the Riolu turn his attention to her. It was at this point that she noticed an oddity about the Pokémon. His eyes were an unusual colour for his species; an emerald green colour. That's strange, Elvira thought to herself. I thought a Riolu's eyes were normally red? ...At least from what I read about them.

Along with that peculiarity, confusion, as well as a slight amount of fear, dotted his gaze. This, she expected. After all, he didn't look familiar to her, and she probably didn't look familiar to him.

What Elvira did not expect was the question he posed to her.

"Y-You...You can talk?"

"...Er…yes?" answered the Grass-type. "...Of course I can talk." Her brow furrowed in confusion. It was such an unbelievably elementary question: it was a given that just about every Pokémon could speak. But the Riolu looked genuinely surprised and confused at the mere act of her speaking, as if he'd never seen a Pokémon speak in his life before.

"But…that can't be. ...How can I understand you? And...what even are you? ...Some kind of gecko?" the Riolu queried, looking at Elvira in a way that suggested he was unable to fully comprehend what he was seeing.

...What? What's he saying? It's like he doesn't even know what a Treecko is...And what's this about 'understanding me'? "...I'm a Treecko," explained Elvira. "...A Grass-type Pokémon? Usually lives in forests? Evolves into Grovyle, and then Sceptile?"

...Based on the narrowing of his befuddled stare, it was clear that none of what she was saying was ringing any bells.

"...Have you never seen Treecko like me?" she prodded.

"...No. Never," replied the Riolu. "This...has to be a dream, right? I mean...a creature like you...there's no way you're real, and talking to me. ...That's impossible...isn't it?"

The last sentence was spoken with a tinge of fear and unsurety, and it made Elvira's reply, one that would've been full of protest, die at her lips. Slight pity crept into her, and so the Treecko replied, with a response of a less forceful nature.

"...You aren't dreaming, Riolu," Elvira informed him. "This is reality. And I am very much real, and talking to you, just as you are talking to me. We're both Pokémon, after all. We can understand one another just fine."

The Treecko thought her explanation was clear-cut, and made it clear to the Riolu that he was not dreaming. However, a most unusual response came out of the other Pokémon's mouth, one Elvira found a tad bewildering.

"...A Pokémon? No...that's not true. I'm not a Pokémon," the Riolu replied defensively. "I'm a human." Once the words came out of his mouth, though, Elvira couldn't help but notice a slight degree of panic in his voice, as if he didn't want to believe what he was hearing.

A human?...Okay, this is getting weird. How's that possible? "You don't look like a human," Elvira said to him. "You look like an ordinary Riolu to me."

"...A Riolu? Wh-What's that? I'm not a Riolu, I'm a..." He broke off briefly, and brought out his right hand as if to prove otherwise to the Treecko. However, he froze upon seeing a black paw, with blue fur along his forearm. His expression was overtaken with shock and startlement, confusing Elvira even further.

"...Wh-What in...B-But how?" the Riolu uttered. He threw off his blanket to see the rest of him, hoping he was hallucinating, only to become more horrified when he saw the lower half of a Riolu's body. "...Wh-What is this?! I'm not meant to be a Pokémon! What kind of insane dream is this meant to be? ...I'm a human. I'm meant to be human...How...how is this possible?"

"...I'm not sure," replied Elvira, feeling inner panic at the Riolu's own alarm. "...But is it true? Were you really human once? Looking at you now...it's somewhat hard to believe."

"But it's the truth!" insisted the Riolu. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth and nothing short of it. Please...I'm not lying. I really was human once. I was, I swear!"

Elvira was unsure of what to make of this. The words coming from the other Pokémon's mouth sounded truly ridiculous. Anyone else would dismiss his words as the ravings of a madman, and think him deranged. And the thought did occur to her that since he had washed up on the beach, he may still have been wracked with confusion and out of a normal frame of thinking.

But at the same time...from her point of view, the pleading eyes of the Riolu were not the eyes of a liar. He seemed to have such certainty in the fact that he was once human. And the shock in his eyes when he saw he was a Riolu...that couldn't have been faked. Therefore, despite how farcical the concept of a human suddenly becoming a Pokémon sounded...Elvira couldn't help but find truth in his words.

"...You don't seem like you're lying," she eventually said. "I suppose then...I'll believe you. ...But surely you would remember being transformed from a human to a Pokémon? What happened before you washed up here?"

"Well…" The Riolu hesitated, as he tried to recollect his memory. However, in a few moments, a despairing look came into his eyes. "...I-I don't know. I can't remember anything…"

"You can't remember?" Elvira responded, worried. "Oh no...Nothing? Nothing at all? Not even a name? You must have a name."

"A name…" The Fighting-type desperately racked his brains to find his name. A name. Any name. But once again… "...No. I don't know what my name is. No, no, no...how could I have forgotten it? My name...Who am I? Who am I?" He began to hyperventilate.

"Shh, it's okay. It's alright. Take deep breaths. Calm down," urged the Treecko. Listening to her, the other Pokémon breathed in and out more slowly, and gradually stopped hyperventilating. However, the shock of what he was going through right now was not lost on him.

"...I can't believe it…" the Riolu mumbled. "Turned into a...Pokémon. ...How could this be? ...It all feels so strange, too…"

"I can imagine. It'd probably be weird if I was suddenly turned into a human with no recollection of how it happened," Elvira replied. "...N-Not that I know what you're going through. Sorry if I'm making it seem like that."

"...It's fine," said the Riolu mutedly. "You're just trying to sympathise. ...Thanks, um...Treecko? Is that what you said you were?"

"...Oh, Treecko's the name of my species. There are more Treecko in the world like me," explained the Grass-type. "But I do have an individual name to go by. My name's Elvira. It's nice to meet you. ...I'm sorry. I was so focused on you that I forgot to introduce myself," she apologised, bowing her head slightly. "My apologies."

"It's alright." There was a brief silence as the canine looked at Elvira, wondering what to say next. Then, something she'd said earlier came back to him. "...You said you...found me washed up?"

"I did. You were washed up on the beach not far from here," elaborated Elvira. "I...couldn't just leave you there. So I brought you back to my house, where Mom and I set you up here."

"...Oh. Thanks," the Riolu replied. "...Still, though...how did I wash up on a beach of all places? ...What happened to me before that? ...If only I could remember…!" he muttered in annoyance at his lost memory.

"I...couldn't tell you," was all Elvira could presume for that. "I only found you on the beach. I don't know what happened to you before that. ...Maybe it's what caused your amnesia? In storybooks, it's often a whack on the head that makes someone lose their memories. ...But then again, you weren't badly injured around the head. ...I wish I could help, but...all I can offer at this point is guesswork. I'm sorry..."

"...It's not your fault," replied the Riolu. At that point, he looked to his side, and noticed the porridge at the bedside table. "...Is this for me?" he asked.

"Yes. ...You should eat it before it gets cold," advised Elvira.

"...Noted." With that response, the Riolu dug into the meal. Finding it to be not too cold, he ate more of it, finding its taste palatable. Before long, the bowl had been finished.

"...Did you like it?" asked Elvira.

"...I did," said the Fighting-type. "It was nice." He was smiling a little now. Perhaps a little food was all he needed, the Treecko thought to herself, inwardly congratulating herself on this small victory.

"Good. I was...kind of afraid you might not like it. I still don't exactly have full confidence in my cooking skills yet. I admit that sometimes in the past, I've burned a few meals…"

"No, it's alright! It was fine, really," insisted the Riolu. "Thanks for making it."

"It was no problem," Elvira said modestly.

"...Say...Elvira. Would I be able to get out of bed now?" the Riolu asked. "I kinda want to stretch my legs a bit. And maybe...see a bit more of this world I woke up in."

"...I think you're alright to do that," Elvira permitted. "But take it easy, just in case. You only just became conscious again. You might be a bit unsteady on your feet."

"...I'll keep that in mind." After saying this, the Riolu took this initiative to manoeuvre himself out of the bed. His feet - or rather his paws - made contact with the ground, and he stood up...only to wobble on his feet, unused to this new stance.

"Steady," urged Elvira, catching him before he fell.

"Sorry," apologised the Riolu. "It's just...I'm not used to standing this way. A human's stance is a bit different from this one."

"I...see. Then I'll help keep you stable," offered the Treecko. She stretched out her hand, and the Riolu took it. Once again, he found the sensation of his paw touching her hand a tad unnatural.

"Yet another thing I'll have to get used to," he muttered. "Paws…"

"...Hopefully you adjust quickly," Elvira replied. "It must be weird, being in your situation."

"...You can say that again," returned the Riolu. "Anyway...should we walk?"

"Yes. But let's not go too far. ...I suppose we'll just walk about my house." Elvira moved forward, her hand gripping the Riolu's paw as she moved into the hallway. "My house isn't that big, but...we have all we need. It's...homely." She walked down to the end of the hallway and into the kitchen.

"This is the kitchen. Not much in it, really...just a table, a few chairs, and the stove." The Treecko gestured to what she had mentioned. "Oh, and also where we stockpile our food." She pointed out a pantry. "If you ever want any berries, that's where they are."

"...Okay," the Riolu absorbed. "What else is there?"

"Come on. I'll show you."

That was what the two Pokémon did for the next while. Elvira showed the human-turned Pokémon around her house, showing him the various rooms about her fairly frugal house. It showed the lifestyle of a family that lived simply, but comfortably. 'Frugal comfort' was what Elvira labelled it as. It was a concept the Riolu didn't argue with.

"If you wanna live that way, then that's fine," he said to her. "As long as you have what you need, and you're happy, then...I suppose you'd be content with what you have."

He was also gradually getting used to the stance of Riolu as he was walking around, and Elvira could gradually ease off on supporting him. She didn't let go completely, as he still had slight trouble walking.

"And I am content with it," the Treecko replied. "Now then...in here's our living room." They stepped inside, and what was there made the Riolu's eyes widen slightly.

The living room was fairly normal, with four armchairs in the room, a small table beside two of these chairs, a sofa, another table, a rug laid out in the centre of the room, and a fireplace that no doubt brought great comfort when winter set in and the weather got cold. But what drew the human's attention was the fairly large bookcase that stood in the room as its pièce de résistance and the most luxurious item he had seen so far in the house. It was a clear exception to the 'frugal comfort' that Elvira had spoken of earlier.

"Oh hello!" a voice greeted. "I see you're awake now." Turning to see who the voice's owner was, the Riolu saw a Heliolisk sitting in an armchair, smiling warmly at him.

"...Er, hi," he returned, blinking slightly at the sight of the electric lizard.

"Hi, Mom," Elvira greeted. "I'm just showing him around our house. He's healthy enough to be walking around." She turned to the amnesiac Riolu. "This is my mom. Her species is known as Heliolisk, just so you know."

"Oh...okay." So this is Elvira's mom? the Riolu thought to himself. ...She seems nice.

"So then, Riolu," Zenobia said, making the human turn his attention back to her. "...Would you care to tell us your name?"

"...Oh. ...Um…" He fidgeted awkwardly about this question, knowing that the answer would be just as awkward. "...I don't remember what my name is."

"He has amnesia, Mom," Elvira elaborated. "He can't remember anything - where he's from, who his parents are, none of that. He doesn't remember a thing."

"...Oh dear," remarked Zenobia sympathetically. "You poor thing...But don't worry. Until you regain your memories, you can stay with us."

"...Really? Just like that? ...But we just met." The speed at which she offered him refuge surprised the Riolu. I mean, I'm grateful, but…

"I know that. But you seem trustworthy," Zenobia replied. "You seem like an innocent soul to me. I couldn't say no to someone in need. And besides, where would you go? Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is charitable, and not everyone would be willing to give you aid. I, however, am willing to let you stay here until you find your feet again."

"...Thank you, Ms...um…"

"Oh, call me Zenobia, dear," the Heliolisk said, smiling. "I would gladly help you more to get you re-adjusted to the world, but well...my position has been compromised a tad." She showed her broken leg to him.

"Ouch," the Riolu winced. "Does it hurt?"

"At times. It should heal after another while, but that won't be for another few weeks. So Elvira will mostly be around to help you. But I'll be around to talk, if you ever need an ear."

"...I'll keep that in mind." The Riolu turned his attention to the bookshelf. "...You have a lot of books."

"We do. It's a collection that's accumulated over the years," Zenobia informed. "I haven't had time to read them all, unfortunately. ...But maybe that's an upside to this broken leg: I can finally get cracking on some of them."

"...I suppose that would be an advantage. Still, though...hope you get better soon."

"Thank you. You're very kind…" The Heliolisk was about to speak the Riolu's name, but stumbled when she realised she didn't have it. "...Ah, forgive me. I forgot that your name is not known to us yet."

"...Oh…" The Riolu looked down apologetically. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be sorry," urged Elvira. "...Maybe we can think of a name for you? It'd be less complicated if you at least had a name to go by. At least until you find out what your old name is."

"That's an idea," Zenobia agreed. "Hmm...what name would you like to be known by, Riolu?"

"Oh, um…" The Riolu, slightly disconcerted at being put on the spot like that, began racking his brains. Something that would suit him, a moniker he could go by, a name to make his place in the world…

...But after a minute of thinking, he came up short. "I can't think of anything," he told the two disappointedly.

"Take your time," advised Zenobia. "A name is a big deal. It's not something that should be hastily thought of immediately. I should know; it took Kallias and I a long while to come up with Elvira's name. It's something that requires mulling over. We won't rush you. ...Until you do, how about we just call you Riolu?"

"...Okay," he agreed. "It's something, I guess. I'd be alright with that for now."

"That's that settled. But do tell if you have a name in mind," Zenobia replied. "...Hmm...maybe the focus should be getting you accustomed to these surroundings. Elvira, would you show him?"

"Of course, Mom," obliged the Treecko. "Come on, Riolu. Let's go outside." She turned and headed for the front door, with the human-turned Pokémon following her. When the door was opened, he stepped out into the fresh air for the first time since his awakening.

It was a refreshing change from the house. Out here, Riolu felt truly in tune with nature, and the breeze felt nice upon his fur. It was an unusual sensation for an ex-human to feel, but he found it to be a nice sensation nonetheless. Plus, combined with the scene before him, of a sunny morning with light reflecting beautifully off the sea, along with the scene of greenery before him. Verdant grasses and viridian trees graced the Riolu's vision. He could also see a beach at the bottom of the hill on which the house stood. It was a sight for sore eyes - not that the human had such a condition right now, but the scene was and would be an important one to him, he felt.

This was what the outside of this new world looked like. And based on this first taste...it was a pleasant one, attractive in his eyes. Maybe I'll be fine here after all, he thought to himself. This world doesn't look too bad.

But even with that thought, and how nice the world looked, it was still unfamiliar, and so anxiety remained in his stomach, about being away from a world he knew, a world he was familiar with, and thrust into this world he knew nothing of in an entirely new body which he was still getting accustomed to.

"...Riolu? Are you alright?"

"Huh? What?" The amnesiac was brought back to attention by Elvira, who was looking at him worriedly. "Sorry, I...must've zoned out there. Did you say something?"

"...I was going to bring you to the beach where I found you washed up," the Treecko informed. "But...you don't look too well all of a sudden. Are you ill?"

"No, I'm fine," came the reply. "I just spaced out. Really. That's all it is." It wasn't the full truth, but Riolu didn't wish to make Elvira worry about a problem that didn't have an immediate fix to it.

"...If you say so," Elvira responded. "On we go then. Down there's where we're headed." She pointed to the golden sands at the bottom of the hill, and headed in that direction, with Riolu following her close behind.

They reached it in no more than three minutes. Riolu looked around at the strand, and breathed in. The sea air tickled his nostrils, and felt refreshing, especially now that he was nearer to it than before.

"So this is where you found me?" he queried. "...Not the worst place I could have ended up in," he lightly remarked. "It looks nice."

"Yeah...I like this beach very much. I've a lot of fond memories of this place," Elvira told him, as they walked down the shoreline. "I often walk here when I have things on my mind. ...That's actually what I was doing yesterday evening when I found you. It was around...here," she said, stopping and pointing to a general area where some seaweed and seashells lay scattered. "Good thing I found you when I did. This end of the beach isn't well seen from the road. You might not have been rescued for some time."

"...Thanks, then," Riolu responded. "...But I wonder. How did I get here in the first place?"

"...Hmm...I don't know about that one," admitted Elvira. "A number of the beaches in Selenia are storm beaches, so a lot of stuff tends to get washed up, like driftwood and seaweed and that kind of thing. ...Maybe even people. Maybe you're not the first person that's washed up on Selenian shores."

"...Selenia?" Riolu cocked his head. That wasn't somewhere that sounded familiar to him.

"...Oh, of course. You would've forgotten this world," the Treecko realised. "Selenia's the name of the country we're in now. It's on the western coast of the continent of Ardalion. There's a load of other countries too, like Alba, Dresilia, Miletos, and Eldisholm. ...Are these names ringing any bells?"

"...No." As far as he was concerned, the countries Elvira had listed were mere gobbledygook to him. "I don't know any of those places."

"...Oh well. It was worth a try," Elvira sighed. "...Hmm...this beach is south-facing...I wonder...if it's from the south...maybe you came from Eldisholm?"

"...Maybe?" shrugged Riolu. "I...don't know where that is."

"I'll show you. We have an atlas at home." Elvira turned back and walked back up the beach, with the amnesiac human choosing to trail her. "We'll figure it out there."

As they walked, Riolu couldn't help but think back on the talk about the countries of the world. So this is Selenia, he thought to himself once they'd reached the road. It appears to be a green and lush place, with many trees and forests and woods and the like. It doesn't appear to be somewhere that's freezing or blistering. ...Doesn't seem so bad. I can get used to this. ...Hopefully.

The last thought was one that reminded him of this unfamiliar world, one that was alien and completely foreign to him. Will I get used to this world? One of creatures of all different shapes and sizes…nothing like the one I'm used to.

But then what was I used to? Riolu then realised. I can't remember a thing of my life before this. Other than that I was a human. ...Was my old world like this? He looked around at the sights before him: green fields, green trees, lots of trees, limestone rocks. It's not really this that surprises me...it's just the people. He looked over at Elvira. A world of talking creatures known as Pokémon...this will take some getting used to, alright. He quickened his pace slightly, seeing as he was lagging behind a bit. Luckily, Elvira didn't notice the difference as the two of them approached the door, and walked inside.

"Oh? Back so soon?" Zenobia queried, once the duo had returned to the living room.

"Yes, Mom. It just occurred to me that Riolu doesn't know anything about our world," Elvira informed her. "So I'm gonna show him the map of Ardalion." She pulled out a book from the shelf, entitled Ardalion: A Map of Our Land, written by someone by the name of Xenophon Euryalus Argyris, duke of Mystras. Another unknown name to the amnesiac, though he was curious about the placename drop of Mystras. I'll find out eventually, he thought to himself.

Elvira opened the atlas to the first two pages. On it was an illustration of a landmass, which on the page's top-right corner, in fancy calligraphy, read 'Ardalion'. So this is the world I'm in now...Ardalion. He processed the word in his mind.

He looked down at the map. Ardalion was divided into a number of countries, with that same calligraphic writing penning each of their names. Within those countries also lay a name in bold depicting what Riolu guessed was the capital city of each country. He processed each of the names written on the map.

To the west lay the Tsardom of Selenia, with Iria as its capital.

To the north was the Tanistry of Alba, with its capital city being Breifne.

To the north-east lay the Dresilian Empire. Its capital was Padavonum.

To the south-east was the League of Miletos. Its capital city lay in Metaxai.

And finally, to the far south, the Kingdom of Eldisholm was situated. Gimrei was its capital.

"So this is Selenia, where we are now," Elvira told him. "It has lots of forests and green fields, and some mountains too. There's even an area of karst rock completely unique to anywhere in Ardalion called the Karstlands, located around here." She pointed to an area to Selenia's central east, not too far away from the country's eastern border and what seemed to be a dominating mountain range. "What you saw of Selenia outside there is pretty much what our country is like."

"...Okay," Riolu understood. "...What about the others?"

"Well...I've only left Selenia on a few occasions, so I can't truly confirm whether these all are true or not. I'll tell you what I've heard from others." The Treecko pointed to Alba. "Alba's desert through and through. Very dry and arid and sandy and...all the other things a desert is. There are a number of oases, though, as well as a major river called the Istwyth, so there are spots of relief in there. The people are quite warrior-like, and speak through their fists more than words. Apparently every twenty years they have this big tournament to decide the next ruler of the country. At least, from what I've heard.

"Dresil has much better land than Alba or Selenia. It's hot there, but wet enough that crops grow very well there, and as a result, they've built a powerful country that can thrive on its many resources. Selenia in comparison gets too much rain for good crop growth that a powerful empire like Dresil can be built upon. And Dresil has a culture deeply proud of its history and heroes of the past. ...A bit too proud, sometimes. They can be quite snobbish about it, or at least from what I've heard.

"Similar to them is Miletos." Elvira's finger drew a bit further south to the aforementioned country. "They're like Dresil; a powerful country based on fertile soil who are proud of their history and heritage. But they have mountains to the south here, near the border with Eldisholm, so they're not quite as flawless in land as Dresil is. The two countries are allied, in fact, in a pact that dates back many, many years. They're the richest and most powerful countries in Ardalion, known as the Eastern Alliance.

"And then there's Eldisholm." Elvira pointed to a sizable peninsula at Ardalion's southern coast. This is...a bizarre country when it comes to climate. It has active volcanoes and volcanic storms, but yet at the same time, they also see frequent blizzards and snow. Fire and ice...seemingly coexist in this country. Apparently there's such a phenomenon as hot lava freezing over down there."

"...What?" Riolu's brow was furrowed in confusion. "How does that work? Wouldn't the lava melt the ice?"

"Don't ask me; I wouldn't know. That could just be a rumour. In fact...no one's really sure what Eldisholm is like. No one outside of the country would know. You see...Eldisholm isn't well-known to most of us outside of it."

"...Why's that?"

"It's isolationist," Zenobia answered. "Eldisholm shuts itself off from the world, and doesn't allow anyone to enter its borders. It's been that way for generations, and they've barely budged an inch towards any kind of change. There are all kinds of rumours as to why this is, but it doesn't change the fact that relations between Eldisholm and all other countries of Ardalion are frosty at best. ...No pun intended." She allowed herself a slight chuckle at that.

"Hmm…" Riolu looked at the map, at the isolationist country. "...Didn't you say I could be from there, Elvira?"

"...Well...kinda just based on the fact that Eldisholm is south from where we are. That's all it was based on, really," admitted the Treecko. "We're about...here." She pointed to a location within Selenia, along its southern coast near a town named Ozerograd. "And if you came from Eldisholm…" She traced a finger from the peninsula to Selenia. "Then it's entirely possible you could have drifted from there. ...Mom, what do you think?"

"...An interesting theory," Zenobia replied. "But I would place my money more on Riolu here originating from somewhere other than Eldisholm. The currents around Eldisholm are treacherously dangerous, to the point that anyone who dares to swim or end up in that current are quickly drowned. Rumour has it that the waters are infested by swarms of Dragalge and Dhelmise, and it's why you don't see any sea traffic to the south. Those Pokémon are infamous for sinking ships, and a number of wreckages of merchant ships recently has made many merchants travel overland or sail around Ardalion's north instead of down south. ...I don't think he could have drifted from Eldisholm. But in that case, then where could he have originated…?"

"...That is a mystery, alright," murmured Riolu. Just how could he have ended up on that beach in the first place? Drifting from Eldisholm was ruled out, and the lack of merchant ships travelling made the possibility of him falling overboard unlikely as well.

"Well, surely there's someone somewhere who's missing a Riolu?" Elvira said. "...They must be really worried, whoever they are. You must have parents or friends or brothers or sisters somewhere on Ardalion who are missing you right now. What should we do? ...Oh, if only the guild were still around, we could send a mission to them and ask them to hunt down the people who Riolu belongs to." Her face then fell. "...A shame that's not an option anymore."

"The guild?" queried Riolu. "What guild?"

"...Oh, you...would've forgotten," realised Elvira. "...When it was still around, the mercenary guild in Iria was full of some of the most renowned mercenaries in Ardalion. They weren't just from Selenia; the guild accepted anyone who was willing to become a merc into its ranks. The Irian Guild helped everyone who had a problem in society, from the young to the old to the poor to the rich, and they were incredibly reliable. If you gave them a mission, chances are that it would be solved quite quickly! And they're not like some mercenaries who take on dirty missions like assassination plots and larceny; no, the Irian Guild had a clean sheet of honour that no other guild on Ardalion could hope to strive for!"

"...Sounds pretty grand," Riolu remarked, seeing a clear sparkle in the Treecko's eyes, as if she was a devoted fan of the Irian Guild. "...But what do you mean, 'was'? As in past tense? Did something happen to it?"

Zenobia mournfully sighed. "...The Irian Guild as we used to know it is no more, unfortunately. ...To put it simply, Selenia has been in a bit of a turmoil of leadership as of late. Five years ago, the tsar of our country was overthrown, and his replacement...is notably restrictive."

"...That's putting it mildly," muttered Elvira.

"I know that, Elvira. Anyway, the Irian Guild heavily opposed the new leadership, and blocked any kind of missions from the tsar, which does happen sometimes. However, the new tsar didn't take kindly to it, and...burned down the guild. On top of that, the members of the guild that opposed the new leadership are now outlaws with bounties on their heads."

"...Oh dear...that doesn't sound good," remarked Riolu. Already, he was eating his earlier thoughts about Selenia being a peaceful place.

"No, not at all. And it has been a great loss to us all," mourned Zenobia. "The Irian Guild was very efficient in their work, and employed some of the best mercenaries in Ardalion. It was an organisation envied for their professionalism in working for the common 'mon's problems. It was also far more independent, which complemented the efficiency of it. There were no strings attached to opportunistic lords, barely any double-dealing or cheating out of deals; they were a well-respected organisation, whose loss leaves a great hole in our hearts."

"...I see. That is a shame," murmured the amnesiac sympathetically. "If only there was a way to restore it to its former glory…"

"Unfortunately, that won't happen under the current tsar," Zenobia said, resignedly. "If the Irian Guild is ever going to be properly reestablished and have a shot at returning to the height it was once at, Tsar Mitrofan - that's his name, by the way - must be deposed of. ...But then we hit upon a notable problem: who would replace him? House Ruslan - the previous house that ruled Selenia - is no more; all members of that house are now dead. Just who would be a good replacement for our tsar?"

"...Oh, I see what you mean," Riolu realised. "You can't just pick anyone to be the leader of your country. You might even end up with someone who's worse than this Mitrofan guy, or whatever his name is."

"...Spot on, Riolu," the Heliolisk praised, with a hint of surprise. "You catch on quickly. That is my worry too: what if the next leader is worse than the current one?"

"But is that a reason to just sit about twiddling our thumbs while the tsar walks all over us?" Elvira replied, before sighing deeply. "The state Selenia's in...it can't go on. If only there was someone willing to rise up to the challenge and overthrow Mitrofan...Someone heroic enough...just like…" Her voice drifted off, and a melancholy look came into her eyes.

"...Like who?" Arian prompted, noticing the prevalent sadness in the Treecko's expression. Actually, it was more than just that. Somehow, it was as if he could physically sense her sadness. "...Elvira...is something the matter?"

"..." No response came immediately from the Grass-type.

"...Elvira…" murmured Zenobia, her tone one of empathy, and evidently knowledgeable of why glumness had come over her daughter.

"...I...I want to be alone right now," Elvira said, in a voice touched with emotion. And without waiting for a response, she hurried out of the room, leaving a saddened Zenobia and a confused Riolu behind.

"...What was that all about?" wondered Riolu, breaking the silence.

"...Remembrance of what happened in the past," Zenobia informed mournfully. "...I don't blame her for her sadness. She cherished her father greatly, after all…"

"Wait, wait, hold up," interjected the human-turned-Pokémon. "Elvira's dad? What does he have to do with this? ...You know, now that you mention it," he realised. "I haven't seen any sign of Elvira's dad since I woke up." He looked back at Zenobia's downcast expression, and at that moment, it hit him as to what this may be all about. "Is...Is Elvira's dad…?"

"...We do not know," was the Heliolisk's simple response, after a brief silence. "Nor do we know of the exact circumstances under which he disappeared. ...His name was Kallias. He was a mercenary working for the Irian Guild before its fall. Elvira adored and looked up to him, and I loved him dearly."

Her gaze followed over to a series of pictures on a table by where she was sitting. Among them, Riolu noticed a picture of an unfamiliar Sceptile wearing a blue and green scarf. Next to it stood a picture of Zenobia and a younger Elvira, along with that same Sceptile, all wearing smiles. That must be him, he thought, noting the resemblance between him and the Treecko. Elvira's dad...

"So when Elvira was talking about someone who could stop the tsar...she was talking about her dad?" Riolu presumed, thinking about what was being said earlier before the Treecko left the room. "What...happened to him? ...If you don't mind me asking."

"...One day, he had a mission. A mission that was secret to the point that he could not tell anyone about it. Not even me or Elvira. He returned to us to inform us of this, and left that evening. ...That was the last we saw of him. It was five years ago, not long after Mitrofan had seized power. And we haven't seen hide nor hair of him since," Zenobia informed, sorrowfully.

"Five years? That's...That's a long time," Riolu remarked, somewhat shocked. "...I'm sorry for what happened."

"...Your support is appreciated. ...I'm not sure we've truly come to terms with his disappearance," the Heliolisk continued. "Elvira, especially, has found his loss hard to get over. When Kallias was still around, she idolised him, and wanted to join the Irian Guild and become a mercenary just like him. ...But since his disappearance, as well as the fall of the Guild, progress towards that has halted in its tracks, and now she's unsure of where to go next in her life. I wish I could help her out of this funk she's in right now…"

"...Poor Elvira…" the canine said sympathetically. "That must be hard, losing her dad like that. ...I, um...I'd like to help her as well," he proposed. "If I can."

"...You would?" Zenobia's eyes widened in surprise at the proposition. "...You don't have to go out of your way to do that, Riolu. You've only just woken up with amnesia."

"But you're the only people I know here," Riolu pointed out. "And not to mention, Elvira did save me, and brought me back here to be nursed back to health. I want to repay her for what she did for me. It's only fair, right?"

"..." Zenobia was silent for a minute. "...The way you say that...forgive me for saying this, but...you almost sound like how Kallias would say it. He was a perfect mercenary - always willing to do any job, no matter how low the reward was or how difficult the perceived challenge of the mission was. He helped a countless number of people, and many are indebted to the favours he did for them. He was one of the most selfless men I knew. ...I was lucky to have someone like that as my husband.

"That same tone, one willing to help others...I see those same traits in your eyes. ...I would appreciate it if you could help Elvira," the Electric-type said. "She's my only daughter, and I hate seeing her like this. In the olden days, when her father was still around, she was far more brimming with enthusiasm. I would love nothing more than that happiness to return to her. If you could make it happen, then I would be all too grateful, Riolu."

"Well, I don't know if I'll do that well...but I'll try my best. It's the least I can do for her after she rescued me," Riolu replied.

"She just needs a push in the right direction," Zenobia said. "Maybe you'll be the one that manages to get her back on track, Riolu. ...Which brings me onto what I intended to discuss with you."

"What would that be?" queried Riolu.

"Your name. I'd rather not just call you Riolu all of the time. There should be something about you which differentiates you from the rest of your species," the Heliolisk answered.

"Did you come up with one?"

"No. I would rather not force a name upon you. ...So I'll therefore bring this out." Zenobia got up, and went over to the bookshelf on her crutches. She reached out to the bookshelf, and brought out a medium-sized book, though it was rather small compared with the bulk of some of the books on the shelf.

"...A Glossary of Some of Ardalion's Leaders, Warriors, Heroes and Saints?" read Riolu, when she brought it back to him.

"Yes. In there should hopefully be a name that you feel suits you perfectly," Zenobia said. "It's an extensive list, but...there's bound to be something in there."

"Okay…" Riolu picked up the book and sat down in the chair next to Zenobia, before opening it on the first few pages.


Acantha. Little is known of this figure, but it is known that she was the mother of Persephone, the first queen of Miletos and lover of the hero Metaxas. Supposedly, she was a widow who took over the running of her husband's lands after he died, something quite surprising for the mother, a would-be dowager queen of Miletos. Her resolution as a female leader was not forgotten by the Miletan people, and Acantha became a common name amongst women. It is still popular today, most ironically, despite Miletos's regressive attitude towards the fairer sex in nobility into a position of submission.

Achilles. The forty-third archon of Miletos, and the father of the current Miletan ruler, Archon Pyrrhus. Seen as a figure of grandeur, his thirty-three year rule was seen as indulgent in cultures of the past, with an architectural revival of the ancient Miletan style woven into the construction of new buildings. Many sites in Metaxai and other Miletan cities received a makeover in what many saw was for the better. Achilles also did well in strengthening relations with Selenia, which has a history of terseness with the Eastern Alliance, and managed to win over Tsar Lavrentiy. However, it could be said that the establishment of this relationship came at the cost of strong relations with Dresilia, and the latter began to feel neglected by its historic ally. Despite Achilles' and Archon Pyrrhus's assurances, this feeling of neglect has not healed today.

Aesir. One of the legendary Five Heroes who fought the Tyrant King in the twilit days of the One Kingdom of Ardalion, in the War of the Tyrant. The sight of his golden-maned nine tails immortalised him in the history books, and has since been a frequent mention in poetry. He founded the Kingdom of Eldisholm in southern Ardalion, and to this day remains its king. Since then, however, Eldisholm has become an isolated kingdom, refusing to allow outsiders to enter its borders. On a few occasions, Aesir has sought to come out of his shell and lift these restrictions, but on every occasion, his mind has been changed, and the hope of Eldisholm becoming like the rest of Ardalion remains a fantasy to this day.

Afanasiy. A ward of the Hero Ruslan, and a clever strategist that guided his lord and later tsar to many victories on the battlefield. He remained by Tsar Ruslan's side at all times, earning the title of 'Shadow of the Tsar'. Many servants beholden to House Ruslan today strive to reach a standard similar to the relationship between Afanasiy and Ruslan.

Agrippa. A general of Dresilia, and a close friend of Emperor Octavian. The bond between them was said to be as close as brothers, and Octavian trusted him enough to name him as his heir apparent. Regrettably, death took him before he could ever accede to the throne. But between his many feats as general, among which being able to establish a truce with warring Alba, a seemingly impossible feat at the time, there is no doubting the great deeds Agrippa carried out for his country.

Áine. Alba's first ever leading banríon. Under her leadership, the historic tournament of Alba, one that determines the country's new rí, became one where killing, a frequent sight before that, was now forbidden. It did not sit well with the tanistry's staunchest warriors, but she preached that temperance and the will to hold back was sometimes necessary as a ruler. Unrest broke out during her tenure and she became a short-serving ruler in the end, but the rules of the Alban tournament were forever changed by her, and to this day, her peaceful nature is fondly remembered by many Albans.

Aneirin. A historic warrior of Alba. It was under his leadership of Alba's warriors during the Ceredigonian War against Dresilia, that in the face of overwhelming odds against them, that the Albans, with the utility of guerrilla tactics against their foes, managed to run the Dresilians into a stalemate, and eventually, upon the depletion of supplies and troops through the desert heat and rough conditions, forced them into a retreat. Aneirin was hailed as a hero by his people, and Rí Taliesin was grateful to him to the point where he allowed him to marry his daughter, Lady Olwen. Upon his death, he was allowed to be buried in the Benbecule Pyramid along with his rí and spouse. He is remembered as one of Alba's finest warriors to this day.

Aonghas. The sixth rí of Alba. He is more commonly known as Aonghas Fola('Bloody Aonghas') due to his dictatorial and autocratic reign. Suspicions of cheating by him in the tournament led to the purge of those who had surmised this idea, and when a rebellion arose to overthrow him, blood ran in rivers, even from those who took no part in it. Fear grew of his reign of terror, and therefore, conspirators led by Tánaiste Talfryn killed him by poisoning his chalice of wine. It was this crimson reign that inspired Áine to inspire with her initiatives of peace, and when she became the very next ruler of Alba, the implementation of changing the tournament ended up being widely supported by the people, who were still scarred by Aonghas's terror.

Apollo. The tenth archon of Miletos. He was noted for his achievements in building aqueducts that carried water from the fertile tributaries of the Ferax to the Miletan cities that had difficulty procuring water in times of drought. Even today, many of these famous aqueducts still stand, as a testament to his finest achievement. However, other parts of his reign were not so fondly remembered, such as the failure to keep King Aesir from returning Eldisholm to isolation after he had previously decided to lift the restrictions between the peninsula and the rest of Ardalion.

Ariadne. A queen of Miletos, and the wife of Archon Bellerophon, the twenty-first archon of Miletos. She was thought of as a caring and benevolent queen, and worked to found the Maidens of Metaxai, a charity group run by nuns who gave alms to the poor that still exists today. A number of orphans were also adopted by her, and became part of the royal family. However, some nobles were discontent with bringing commoners into the royal sphere. Conspiracy theories surround her mysterious cause of death, which, while generally seen as suddenly falling gravely ill and succumbing to that illness, some have thought to be from poisoning, schemed by a malcontent noble.


None of these names really resonated with Riolu. Most of them were the names of kings, queens and warriors, and it felt like each one had a great legacy behind their names. That, he felt, wasn't a great fit for him. He didn't want to be a pretender and take on an epithet he felt he could not live up to. Something a bit more humble, he thought to himself. Surely there was a hero who was a bit more modest than most?

He continued reading. But the very next name stuck out to him.

Arian. A saint renowned for his piety and humbleness. He was a close ally of the Five Heroes, and founded the acclaimed and historic Skalisty Monastery off Selenia's shores. He worked hard to keep the peace and sheltered many during the War of the Tyrant. His generosity was without comparison, and although he in his humble way may not have desired it, he was canonised a saint in 211. His nature of living modestly and eschewing luxury truly marks a sense of humbleness few people, if anyone, have been able to match.

There we go, Riolu thought to himself. Finally, someone with a visible sense of humility. "Arian...Arian…" he repeated the name. Something seemed...right about it. No, not just right…

...It's fitting.

"I think I've found one," he said to Zenobia. "I rather like the name 'Arian.'"

"Ah, just like Saint Arian," the Heliolisk replied. "...That's quite a nice name. Yes, I think that would be a perfect name for you, Riolu. ...Or should I say 'Arian' now? Is that the name you want to go with?"

"Yes. I like that name. ...My name is Arian," the Riolu said to himself, allowing a smile to cross his face.

He had a name now. Even if it probably wasn't the name he'd had before he came here, it was a name he liked, and would stick with. It was the first step to finding his footing as an inhabitant of this world. On that front, there was still plenty more to be done, but the newly named Arian allowed himself to revel in this victory.

"Then we shall call you Arian," Zenobia said to him, smiling as well. "...You should inform Elvira about this. She should know of your new epithet."

"Oh yeah…" the amnesiac murmured, remembering the Treecko. "...Do you think she'd want to see me right now, though? She seemed a bit...emotional when she left just there, like she was gonna burst into tears. And she did say she wanted to be alone for a bit."

"...Maybe so. But I find that in times of grief, what we need most is the company of others to shoulder our burdens," Zenobia replied. "And I can attest to the fact that Elvira, although she says things like that, will always want someone to confide in. Why not go and comfort her? It may be the first step towards repaying her kindness."

"Me? But...we barely know each other. And Elvira might be a bit...emotional right now. I don't want to say something to risk getting her to hate me."

"Elvira isn't one to bear grudges," assured the Heliolisk. "Unless you actively insult her, I can't see her hating you. She'll at least know that you are trying to help."

"...Well, if you want me to...I guess I'll go to her," Arian decided, turning and heading for the door. "Wish me luck."

"I will. May Jirachi give you his blessing," wished Zenobia, as he left the room.

The Riolu walked down the hallway. Thankfully, he remembered from the tour Elvira had given him earlier where her bedroom was. He stood in front of it, contemplating what he would say to her, before giving three tentative knocks on the door.

"Elvira?" he said. "Can I come in?"

Silence. Arian feared she was shutting him out. He was about to knock again, but then the doorknob turned and the door opened from Elvira's side.

"Oh...hi, Riolu," she mumbled, with a gloomy expression on her face.

"Um...hi," returned Arian. Great start, he lightly chastised to himself. "Are you alright? I came to see if you were okay."

"...I've been better," the Treecko replied. "...But you can come in if you want."

"Are you sure?" queried the Riolu. "I don't want to intrude if you don't want me to…"

"...No, it's fine. Really," insisted Elvira, and walked back to her bed, while Arian followed her in. Her room contained a lone bed, alongside which was a bedside table and a carpet at the bed's right-hand side. Next to the bed was a small bookcase, on which a small variety of books were perched. A window, complete with green, flower-patterned curtains, was present in the room, as was a desk located right next to it. It kept in line with the house's whole modest look that Elvira had described earlier.

"So...what did you want to see me about?" asked Elvira, sitting back on her bed.

"I just...came to see how you were," Arian said. "You seemed a bit upset back there."

"...It was just some bad memories," Elvira replied. "I'm fine now."

"...You don't look fine," observed Arian. "You're clearly still hurting over whatever it is you were upset over. ...Is it about your dad, by any chance?"

Elvira stiffened. "H-How do you know?" she responded, shocked. "I thought you didn't - "

"Your mom told me," Arian interrupted. "About how you looked up to your dad who was a mercenary and wanted to be just like him. But then one day, he left the house to go on a secret mission, and never returned. ...Am I correct?"

"..." Elvira didn't say anything. But the solemn look on her face confirmed it for the Riolu.

"...I'm sorry," Arian said sympathetically. "No one should ever have to lose their dad so soon. He seemed like such a great person, doing so much for those in need. ...I suppose...that's why you looked so animated talking about the guild. Because your dad was a part of it."

"...That's...kind of true," admitted Elvira. "...I loved his selflessness. I loved the way that despite all the fame my dad had gathered, he still remained his same humble self. I couldn't not admire my dad for all his feats. When he came back home from a mission, he'd always buy us a gift from towns he'd visit. Sometimes he'd even give the spoils of his adventuring to us! My dad was one of the most generous and loving people I knew. ...When I was growing up, he would tell me bedtime stories all about his adventures. He was a great storyteller, and every single story was a treat to hear. I always wanted to go on adventures just like him, and explore all the beautiful places he would tell me about in stories." She then let out a long sigh, and Arian had a feeling he knew why this had clearly never come to fruition.

"...But then your dad…"

"Disappeared? ...Yeah…" The Treecko's despondence grew ever more palpable. "...It's been five years now...and yet there hasn't even been so much as a trace of him. We don't know whether he's alive or dead, whether he's already passed on or is rotting away in some cell somewhere...That's what makes my dad's situation all the worse. It's the suspense of whether he's really alright or not. I don't care whether he's alive or dead. I just want something - anything - to give us some closure over all of this. When he disappeared, I told myself that he would come back one day, just because he was my dad and never failed to return from his missions. ...But that didn't happen. For the first time, at least to me...Dad had failed. I don't want to believe he's dead, but..." She gripped her bedsheets tightly. "...The fact he's been gone for five years doesn't exactly inspire hope..."

Arian felt pity for her. Here she was, a young Treecko whose father had been taken from her by unexpected circumstances out of her control, whatever they were. Without him, she was clearly lost, and doubtful of her next step in life. But at the same time, he found her point hard to argue with, that Kallias' half-decade absence didn't exactly raise his already slim chances of still being alive. He was about to refute this and tell her there was still a chance of hope, but he held his tongue. Do I really want to inspire hope in a situation where there isn't much? the Riolu debated. Elvira just said she couldn't handle the suspense about her dad's plight. Would it be wise to inspire hope where there might not be any? I don't want to raise hope only for it to come crashing down later. ...What should I do?

One thing was for sure, though: Arian didn't want to continue with this tough debate in his mind. A change in subject would be appreciated, he thought to himself. Actually, there is something I am curious about...

"...You know...Zenobia said that it was after your dad had disappeared that you stopped wanting to become a mercenary," he brought up. "Is there...a connection between those two events?"

"...I…" Elvira hesitated briefly, considering her answer. "...Probably. I think...the fact that Dad wasn't there to back me up and encourage me kind of played into it. He was a big reason for me wanting to be a mercenary, and without him in the picture...my hopes disappeared along with him. But...I think most of all what kept me from becoming a mercenary...was fear."

"Fear?"

"Yes. I was...and to be honest, I still am frightened of...meeting an end just like Dad did. ...What if there was someone out there who despised my dad for all he did, and managed to kill him? If I became a mercenary, what would stop that person from hunting me down as well? Dad did a lot of good for the world, but he had to have had a number of enemies as well. I'm just...afraid that whatever happened to Dad might happen to me as well." Elvira lightly shivered. "I don't want to disappear without a trace…"

"...Hmm…" Arian murmured. "...I've a question, then. Do you still want to be a mercenary?"

"...Well, I…" The Treecko's hesitance was written all over her face, and the silence after saying this told the Riolu that she was having a tough time coming up with an answer. "...I don't know…"

"...So you're unsure?" Arian observed. "Or...could it be that you want to, but your fears are holding you back?"

"..." Elvira didn't say anything, but her surprised look gave it away. He had hit the nail on the head.

"...Y-Yes," she said, after a brief silence. "I...guess you could say that. I really wanted to be like my dad when I was younger. But...when I was younger, I never saw just how dangerous being a mercenary could be. It's a job that people could die on, especially if they're inexperienced. ...There's another fear I have too: that people will assume I'm capable of great things just because I'm the daughter of Kallias, and then become dismayed when I don't measure up to him."

"...You really think everyone will think that?" Arian pressed.

"Well...not everyone," Elvira backtracked. "But I'm worried about people developing expectations for me just because my dad's the famous Fernblade Kallias. I don't want that thrusted upon me."

"Still though...you seemed like you really wanted to become a mercenary when you were a kid," mentioned Arian. "These worries of yours...do you really want them to suppress that dream?"

"..." Another silence as the Treecko considered his words.

"...No, I don't," she finally said. "And to be honest...I don't exactly have many other options besides becoming a mercenary. But...I'm still not sure if being a mercenary is really what I want to do. For one, there's the fact that the Irian Guild isn't around anymore. That's effectively quashed the appetite of most people wanting to become a merc there."

"But could you still become a mercenary? Do you necessarily have to join a guild to become one?" asked Arian.

"...You do have a registry to sign up to and a trial to pass to officially become a mercenary. But you don't have to join a guild to become a merc," informed Elvira. "Some go their own way and become freelance mercs. There's a bit more independence in taking that path. But on the other hand, there's a community and connections to be made if you're a member of a guild. My dad started off independent, but found joining the Irian Guild to be a huge step up, even if it meant sacrificing some of the freedom he'd had before."

"Oh, your dad was a freelancer? So like some kind of vigilante?"

"Yeah. He started off small, helping the people in his locality with errands and finding lost items and people. Then his reputation grew, and he began taking on higher profile jobs. And then he...well, my dad's story is a long one. It'd take forever trying to explain it all.

"In the meantime, I've a question for you, Riolu," Elvira brought up. "Why are you asking all of these questions about me and wanting to become a mercenary? Could it be...do you want to become one?"

"...No, this isn't about me," Arian confirmed. "It was about you, actually."

"Me?" Elvira was quite surprised by his response.

"Yes. I was talking with your mom earlier, after you'd left," the Riolu elaborated. "She told me about your dad, and how, since he disappeared, you've been a lot more...downcast. She wants to help you out of that state of mind, and I do, too. I mean, you saved me yesterday, showed me around your house, and you've taught me all about Ardalion. I want to repay you for your kindness."

"What I did was only natural," the Treecko replied. "Anyone else would've done the same if they happened across you on the beach yesterday. I just happened to be there in the right place at the right time."

"That doesn't change anything," Arian refuted. "You still showed me great hospitality, and I want to pay you back for it. And...a way to do that is to help you out of the doldrums. Your mom talked about how you wanted to be a merc when you were young, and you were also going on about it, and you were gushing about the Irian Guild, and...you know, not gonna lie, I think you should still consider becoming a mercenary like your dad. You clearly want to do it, but your fears about what could be keep you from achieving that dream. But if you overcame them...then you might be able to follow your dreams."

"Oh, Riolu...that's very kind of you," Elvira said, almost gratefully. "But…" Her expression turned a bit more apologetic. "...This isn't something that can be resolved overnight. The fears I have...they're still quite real to me. If I want to become a mercenary, there's a lot to mull over. Like, for instance, who's going to look after my mom? That leg of hers isn't going to be healed for another few weeks. So I can't become one right away. Also, there's the fact that the Irian Guild is gone, and...the mercenary registry isn't officially recognised in Selenia anymore. I appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but...I can't say yes. Not right now."

"...Oh..." Arian couldn't hide his disappointment.

"Still...it was nice to vent my struggles to someone that isn't Mom," Elvira continued. "I suppose...at the very least, I will think about it. But I'll need some time to come up with an answer for you. ...Thank you, Riolu, for talking with me."

"...Oh yeah, that reminds me," the Riolu suddenly remembered. "I've come up with a name for myself."

"Really? What is it?"

"My name's Arian," he said, with a small hint of pride in his voice. "Named after a humble saint. I found it in a glossary of historical names that your mom gave me."

"Oh, is that so? Well then...it's good that you have a name now, Arian," Elvira said, uttering the name. "I think it suits you."

"Good. I'm glad you like it. That would be bad if I picked a name that didn't sound right at all." Arian lightly chuckled at this statement.

"...True. That wouldn't be good at all," agreed Elvira. "Names are something you want to stick with. At least you found a name you liked. Imagine not being happy with your name. Mom and I would have to call you something different every time you changed your mind."

The two Pokémon laughed at this thought.

"...But in all seriousness," Elvira began again, once the laughter had died down. "It's fortunate that you aren't more amnesiac than you are. Like say, having amnesia to the point where you don't even know how to perform basic functions. That would be really bad if that was the case. Of course we'd still help you, but…"

"It's better this way," the Riolu said. "Things could be worse for me than they are. I could have been rescued by someone a lot more conniving and selfish than you. ...Maybe there's someone watching over me," he half-joked, shrugging at the suggestion.

"Maybe there is," Elvira replied. "...I wonder which deity decided you were worth watching over?" A beat passed, and the Treecko realised what she'd just said. "...Oh, I'm sorry! Forgive me! That came out a lot meaner than I intended…"

"It's fine," shrugged off Arian. "I forgive you. I wasn't offended."

"...Thanks," Elvira said, though she still felt guilty about wording it like that. Taking her mind off the subject, she decided to get up and head for the door.

"Where are you going?" Arian asked.

"I have some cleaning to do," was her answer. "And then I have to look after Mom, and change her bandages, and then there's lunch to prepare, and for that, I have to prepare the necessary berries beforehand…"

"Sounds like you have a lot on your plate," Arian noted. "Tell you what; why don't I help you out with some of it?"

"...You know what? I would appreciate the help," Elvira decided, managing a smile. "Would you mind helping me out with chores?"

"Sure, not at all!" replied Arian eagerly. "Where do I begin?"

"Go to the kitchen; there'll be a broom and bucket there," instructed Elvira. "We'll need to fill the bucket up with water. To do that, we'll need to go to the well at the back of the house and fill it up there."

"Will do!" the Riolu obliged, before heading out of the room.

As Elvira followed him, the Treecko couldn't help but smile at Arian's eagerness to help. Kindness like his is always appreciated. If only people were more willing to help others these days, she thought. Helping others...just like a mercenary would do.

Then a thought came to her.

Someone like Arian would make a good mercenary. Even if he didn't intend that conversation for him about becoming a mercenary, he would still make a good one. Willing to help like that...I think Dad would've liked him. It's thanks to him that maybe...I might well be looking at becoming a mercenary again.

But then another thought struck her.

What if Arian and I...if the two of us managed to…

She stopped dead at the thought that came to her.

Goodness, that would be a perfect arrangement, if it happened and if he wanted to. ...Yes, that would be a brilliant idea!

"Elvira? Are you there?" Arian's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Sorry, I'm coming," she called back, and headed towards the kitchen.

All the while, though, her mind was brainstorming with this new idea.

...Well, Arian, I can definitely keep what I promised you earlier. I'll definitely think it over now.


Notes

And so we get introduced to our two heroes: Arian and Elvira. One, an amnesiac claiming to once have been a human who knows nothing of the world he woke up in, and the other, a Pokémon unsure of her future. How their story unfolds will be revealed in due time.

A number of names were dropped when Arian was choosing his name. Some of these have more relevance to the story than others, and some of them may well be only mentioned here and not brought up again. But there may be the occasional passing reference to them. And also as a small side note, the description for Agrippa is based on the real Agrippa, the famous Roman general. Others, though, only share the basis with mythology on their name alone; no more than that.

Also revealed in this chapter were each of the countries in the continent of Ardalion. We'll see them and their cultural differences as the story progresses as well. All in due time, of course.

That's all I can think of for now. Thanks for reading.