Soar Wataru stood separate from his peers, waiting for the hallowed choosing to proceed. He had dark hair with brown eyes, with an average build. He and nine others were just moments ago led towards a smaller closed-air amphitheatre situated in their clan's sacred ground; The Dragon's Den.
It was the first time Soar had taken a step inside, and for the large majority of the people accompanying him, it was the same.
Soar stoically listened to their jokes and japes, spawned from a shared nervousness. Their laughter filling the otherwise silent amphitheatre, void of any of the yet to arrive elders. None of them made any attempt to include Soar in their conversation, either ignoring or not registering his presence at all.
Soar didn't mind.
He felt no need to exchange meaningless pleasantries with them, nor was he jealous of their fragile and hollow camaraderie.
Today was to be his moment of triumph.
Today he would finally number among the clan's inner circle, granted an apprenticeship under one of the few august elders within the clan who led the sacred branches of the clan. These branches were what kept the clan afloat, each upholding and honing their own major discipline, while supplying and educating their members of the intricacies and methods in which to train their respective draconic evolution line, gifting their primary evolution stage to newcomers.
He would also finally be making a step towards ridding himself of the shame his parents burdened him with from birth.
Soar eyed his fellow clansmen in disdain.
He had more than earned his spot among the people present, none of them even put in half the effort Soar expended in order to be included in this group. Administrative work, physical labour, reconnaissance around their borders, information gathering outside of it… The list went on.
He doubted several of them had needed to strain themselves at all, for anything, in their eighteen years of living.
Was he acting presumptuous?
Maybe.
He didn't think he was wrong though.
They were a group of young men and women, most having lean and broad frames, with the usual confident stride found in the people living in Blackthorne. They were dressed in muted, ceremonial clothing. Their identities and backgrounds were all extraordinary. At least from his perspective. All of the ones present either hailed from some tiny measure of nobility, thin main family blood running through their veins, or mercantile wealth.
Soar, on the other hand, had his origins from an outsider mother, who was no longer in the picture, and a lowlife drunkard dad, whose only positive contribution to Soar's life the surname he somehow was able to keep.
Wataru.
This, and this alone gave Soar hope for the future.
The elders arrived, filing down the central stairs, silencing the prospective member in the process. The cloaks the elders wore were special, both in their material and design, luxurious cloth adorned by blood-coloured dragon heads. Each of their respective clothing's branded by the dragon Pokémon their branch represented.
Soar eyed each of them as they descended, a ravenous tint now present in his eyes, born from his desire of prestige, knowledge and glory, all of which they represented.
They calmly moved into place on the lower tiered stairs in the amphitheatre. Faces stoic, they stared at the gathered group of youngsters, all of which were eighteen this year. This was the age the vast majority of clansmen underwent final evaluation and delegation, judging if they were to help with the different areas of produce -which a large majority were- or if they were better fit to join the ranks of servants, to help serve the higher ranked families within the Wataru clan. Even fewer yet was granted the possibility of joining the choosing Soar now attended, where they had the possibility of getting picked to apprentice by one of the ruling branches, which was a fast ride to prestige and power. This was the highest one could realistically hope to reach, though it proved to be too far out of reach for most.
Even rarer than attending the choosing, was the opportunity to challenge the gym circuit while sponsored under the Wataru name. This option was only given to the most prodigious of clansmen, their actions effectively representing the clan as a whole while on their journey. Ordinary clansmen could only hope for it but never obtain it. The resources they usually enjoyed abundant. Their heir apparent, Lance, was such a figure.
There was the option to choose to abandon the name, though few did it. The respect it garnered in the outside world and safety it did within the walls of Blackthorne were hard to pass up.
His hobo hooligan of a distant cousin Blair, and the princess of the clan Clair were rumoured to also qualify for the sponsorship.
He had speculated ahead of time if there was any possibility of meeting the two major figures of their generation at this meeting. If they too would apprentice someplace until they did whatever the cream of the crop of Wataru did.
A quick look around had denied this reality.
Had Clair been here, he had no doubt the sycophantic group of people currently attending would be orbiting around her as planets do a massive star.
Had Blair been present, he would have smelled it.
Probably.
Not because he had a particularly strong sense of smell.
He had only ever seen the male part of the famous twins once, his curiosity getting the better of him a few years ago.
Not much was known about his personality, but rumour had it that he wasn't all there in the head. Apparently, he had been spotted a few times talking to himself, though Soar didn't know how much stock he should put in its validity. Hushed whispers were hardly the most reliable of sources.
It was common knowledge in the clan that Blair was undergoing secluded training with a clan elder since young, being completely separated from society for over a decade now. His location was kept a secret for security's sake, but Soar had overheard a few elders talking about his current location while performing menial tasks on their orders.
And so, he had sought them out.
Only to be trashed around by a giant figure before he could realize what was happening to him. Still to this day he was unsure what did him in, its inhuman strength pointed towards a violent Pokémon, but its course language filled with swearing marked it as human.
Only seconds before fainting, did he get a glimpse of what he thought was a dirty and sweaty Blair, who was smiling apologetically down upon him.
When he woke up, he was at the gates of Blackthorne.
He didn't attempt to track Blair down again, his aching and hurting body a reminder of the consequences of doing so.
Finally, after a too-long pause to build suspense, a scarred and pale elder -Elder Triton, leader of foreign affairs and information gathering, and the major authority over the Drampa within the clan, greeted them "Welcome."
His following speech, long and verbose grinded away at Soar's patience.
'No matter,' he thought, he was a patient man.
…
Finally, the time came for the elders to choose which of the people present would have the honour of apprenticing under them.
The Staff of Choosing was brought forth, an ancient ceremonial item which represented authority during the choosing.
Soar's eyes however, save for a short glance towards the staff, focused on one person, and one person alone. That being Elder Kaiyo Wataru, the authority over the Dratini line, leader of the branch of defence for the Wataru, the most prestigious branch within Blackthorne. Her shorter of average height belied her fearsome reputation, the calm and raven haired elder seemingly a far cry from the storied war hero of times past.
Soar and his fellow attendees knew better however, fervently wishing they were the fortunate one to be chosen by her and taken under her wing.
As the most senior and respected of the elders present, she was given the staff of choosing first.
Soar heard several sharp intakes of breath beside him.
The elderly women sharply cast her gaze towards the crowd of hopefuls.
This was his moment.
Soar was sure of it.
Soar's ability and effort up until now made him the only worthy contender for the position.
He was already half stepping forward when Elder Kaiyo finally spoke, her voice a sombre and hardened thing.
"Kazumi Wataru."
Soar blinked.
For a few moments, he thought there must have been a mistake. That he had heard wrong.
"Yes! Elder!"
The excited cheer of the girl beside him perished this thought. He mechanically turned around to look at the girl.
He recognized her.
The youngest lady in a family which boasted enormous wealth and influence both inside and outside Blackthorne, their trading empire having garnered them stupid amounts of money.
Which a sizeable portion of was "donated" to the branch of defence which Kaiyo oversaw every year…
The world suddenly felt like an even hollower place.
The newly named apprentice hurriedly bowed, before silently making her way to stand beside the elder.
Soar made no further outward reaction, standing deathly still.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur.
The staff of choosing was passed around from elder to elder, some of them choosing a new apprentice, some of them picking out several, some of them none.
Soar had yet to hear his name.
Slowly but surely, the number of people around him dwindled, until he was the last person standing.
Only now was his name spoken.
"Soar Wataru," spoke elder Triton, a sardonic smile displayed on his face. "No elder has spoken for you, yet you should know that the Wataru clan is nothing if not benevolent. We have secured a place for you, which is vital for the daily ongoings of our clans Pokémon, that-"
"Where?" Soar interrupted, earning a few heated glares from apprentices and elders alike, but he found himself too disillusioned to care.
Triton looked down upon him with a visible frown now, the earlier fake cordiality no longer there. "You will attend the multitude of caves, lakes, fields and mountains housing the clan's different dragons, apprenticing under the elder of The Keepers, Helga. Feeding them, cleaning after them, and dissuading infighting to the best of your ability. This is your task," he declared, malice now openly lacing his tone.
Smirks and stifled laughter rung through the gathered group of people.
Soar knew why.
The Keepers were the lowest of the low, shown by their Elder Helga not even being invited to join the choosing. They were responsible for cleaning up the dung left behind by the dragons, feeding them all the while trying not to become a snack themselves, and uselessly trying to stop stupidly strong dragons from fighting one another, not uncommonly being caught in the crossfire there as well, dying uselessly.
Their ranks consisted of unwanted sods, those who had for some reason or another earned the ire of any of the elders. Risking their life daily, they were a group who had been abandoned and forgotten.
They were a joke. An embarrassing necessity.
Triton's condescending words kept pouring out, but Soar had long shut them out.
His inner thoughts in turmoil, he resolutely made a promise, that this would not be the end.
This mistreatment would not break him.
And he would remember this insult.
Let it burn inside him as fuel.
Until he had repaid it in full.
The stars couldn't be seen in the black sky, only wisps of dark clouds drifted past the bright moon.
Gathered under the moons light, stood upon wrecked ground near a wooden hut by the lake, were three men, all sharing the same surname.
Wataru.
Blair warily eyed the two men he considered his grandfathers, Javelin and Osk.
Now a man grown, having recently turned eighteen years of age, now able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Osk, long unruly teal hair still present, it was time for him to journey through the gym circuit, having recently gotten the confirmation that he would be able to do so, all the while being sponsored by his clan.
This was supposed to be a private send-off, before the official one which was to be held in the morning. He knew Osk would be here. His comrade and close family member whom he had shared the last twelve years with, eating, sleeping and training.
Javelin's appearance came as a surprise however.
Neither of them had changed much in the past twelve years, save for a few extra scars on Osk's body, and a few extra wrinkles on Javelin's.
Blair had not seen the two of them in the same space, but he had long since clued in to the fact that they were on horrible terms.
Blair unconsciously focused his aura within his feet, ready to intercept should it suddenly turn violent.
But his preparation was for naught.
"Blair, you've grown big in my absence" Javelin begun, for all intents and purposes ignoring Osk's existence.
A lion drops its cub off a cliff.
Blair found his situation an apt comparison.
Even if the whole world condemns it as lunatic behaviour, at least the lion would think it's doing the right thing.
Blair had come out a lot stronger, this, he was thankful for.
But it was no secret between the three of them that his mannerisms and sanity had suffered for it.
His erratic eye twitches weren't lost on either Osk or Javelin.
"A couple of years have passed since you reported in for practical assessment, correct?" The air around the trio seemed to thicken as the weight of unspoken history pressed upon them. Blair felt the tension but remained composed, nodding, and waiting for his grandfather's words to continue.
Javelin's eyes, as sharp as ever, locked unto Blair's, "I'm here not as your clan leader, nor grandfather, but as someone who recognizes the potential within you. The Wataru clan has a legacy, one that has been passed down through generations. That being, excellence."
"It's time for you to carry that legacy forward."
Blair, slightly taken aback by the unexpected encouragement, nodded cautiously. His grandfather, Javelin, was known for his stern demeanour.
Osk, standing stoically beside Javelin, observed the interaction with a mix of curiosity and detachment. Blair couldn't help but wonder what exactly had transpired between his two grandfathers that had led to such a strained relationship.
He had a few guesses but…
Javelin continued, "You will face challenges on your journey, Blair. Challenges I expect you to triumph over, again and again. The journey will shape you, and you will come to understand the true essence of being a Wataru."
Blair, sensing a hidden message in Javelin's words, responded, "I'll do my best, Grandfather. I won't let the Wataru name down."
Javelin smiled, his eyes crinkling in satisfaction, "Yes, I know you won't," Javelin the proceeded to hand Blair several items. Two gadgets and a poke ball.
Blair's face scrunched up in confusion. Having lived so long in the wilderness, he initially struggled to identify the two electronics.
"A poke ball, a Pokedex… and a phone?" He spoke up hesitantly.
"Correct," Javelin patiently answered. "These are a few among the many benefits the sponsorship will grant you. The Pokémon within… I'll leave it as a surprise. Though, you need not worry about its compliance, it will listen to you. I guarantee it." He continued, "Lodgings, food for you and your Pokémon and other expenditures will also be covered during the trip… granted you prove competent enough to earn it." He ended on a more serious note.
I had expected it, and been informed beforehand of what was expected of me.
Javelin nodded in acknowledgment of Blair's understanding. "You carry the name Wataru, and with it comes responsibilities. These tools will aid you on your journey, but remember, it is your own strength and determination that will truly define you."
Blair carefully stowed the gadgets and poke ball in his pockets, absorbing the weight of the moment.
Osk, still maintaining his stern composure, stepped forward. "Take this as well." He handed Blair a weathered, leather-bound journal. "Document your journey, the Pokémon you encounter, the challenges you face, and the growth you experience. It's an oft ignored tradition in our family, but it will serve as a testament to your legacy. Use it well."
Blair accepted the journal with a nod. The strained relationship between his two grandfathers seemed momentarily set aside in their shared desire to see him succeed.
He was thankful. He once again reminded himself of his penultimate goal to mend this broken family of his.
"Sleep in the main house in Blackthorne for tonight, and make use of the new clothes and equipment the servants will present you with come morning. Get a haircut as well. Also…" Javelin wrinkled his nose in distaste, "do take a shower. I understand your current grimy state is a result of your living conditions, but it is not presentable."
"Yes." Blair agreed, he was looking forward to that warm shower too. He didn't need much convincing. His own enhanced nose had proved a bother once his near constant state of dirtiness proved a fact. The cold lake water was a life-saver in the instances where the sweat and dirt become overwhelming. But… he quickly learned that he wouldn't stay clean for long. Either from being thrown in the mud, dirt or forestry by Osk, or by his own Pokémon. He relished in returning the favour though, despite their collectively fried noses.
"Especially considering…" Javelin petered off, an uncharacteristic action.
"Considering…?" I probed.
Javelin continued, "It has been arranged for a travel companion to join you during your journey. The person in question is in possession of a newly born dragon, and has paid us handsomely for them to join you while receiving tutelage and tips for its upbringing."
Blair was momentarily taken aback, "Ah- yes? Okay- I mean, I can do that, sure."
Javelin smiled humorously, "Do make an effort to look and behave your best. A larger cooperation between this other party and us can potentially be put into reality depending on your performance. I do believe they have quite the online following, a celebrity of sorts. I would tell you their name, but I doubt you would recognize it, removed from society as you are."
More pressure. Blair sighed, sure, why not. "Got it."
"That is all. Now, leave for Blackthorne." Javelin commanded.
Blair gave a quick nod and rocketed off. Earth shattering between his feet, and trees getting knocked over from his speed and power.
The reason Blair left in a haste was simple. He guessed the two brothers wanted to have a private talk, and he needed to be a good way away for his supernaturally strong hearing to not pick up on their conversation. He had learned to filter out noise when surrounded by great amounts of it, but on this quiet moonlit night, it would be a challenge to ignore them.
Both Osk and Javelin stood still for a few minutes, unmoving.
Javelin was the first to speak.
"Telling him to document his own legacy… is that a veiled snub I detect, dear brother? Still upset about how I erased your own?" Javelin asked, voice even.
"Tch… Don't flatter yourself," Osk harrumphed, "I wish only for his success and happiness. I believe that journal will benefit him."
"Hmm... A way to combat the voices? Perhaps? How thoughtful of you. Or does it hide something else? Regardless, it's rare to see you so attached. You knew my involvement in his presence before you, yet… you took him in."
"Why?" Javelin asked, a curious glint in his eyes.
Osk turned and eyed his brother as well, melancholy painting his face.
Truth be told, when Osk had first envisioned a successor, he imagined someone dedicated, serious about their clan traditions, emotionally detached and a capable commander. Blair was none of those things. He was prone to daydreaming. His odd sense of humour plagued their talks most days. He would also rather play than work a lot of the time. He was always fussing with that silly Pokémon of his. However... he had learned what Osk had taught. That was what mattered.
"…No big reason," Osk muttered, "Just… what use does a dying candle have, other than to light its successor?"
Javelin calmly eyed his brother, giving no further comment. Whether he found the answer satisfactory was impossible to tell.
"…Then, I will leave," Osk said, abruptly turning around and walking away.
Javelin stayed put, watching his retreating brother's back.
As Osk disappeared into the shadows, Javelin's gaze lingered on the spot where he had stood. The night seemed to wrap around them like a cloak, shrouding the old wounds and unspoken tensions between the two brothers.
Javelin let out a sigh, a mixture of weariness and contemplation. The moon cast a silver glow on his face, revealing the lines etched by years of leadership and responsibility. The weight of the clan's legacy and future bore down on his shoulders, and he couldn't help but reflect on the choices he had made.
As a leader, Javelin had made decisions that weren't always popular, decisions that had strained his relationship with Osk, among many others.
Blair, now on the cusp of his own journey, carried the burden of their legacy and Javelin's choices, on his way into a world filled with challenges and uncertainties. Javelin couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and concern for his grandson. The boy had grown strong, both physically and as a Pokémon trainer, but the scars of his unconventional upbringing were evident.
No matter.
What was done was done.
He would keep moving forward.
As would Blair, Clair and Lance.
They had to.
As arranged marriages went, she had little to complain about.
She had for a long time known the that the choice of her husband would not entirely be her own, as her aura family's most prodigious and promising younger member.
Hers was always going to a marriage of political gain.
Though not entirely without options, as she had the final say should she and her potential partner prove incompatible, she knew her family heavily wanted her to go through with this one in particular.
She was under no misunderstanding.
This was a potential betrothal sat in motion purely to gain power.
On both sides.
Though… looking at the pictures and files of info on her potential partner, she didn't feel that her family's higher ups had been unkind.
Blair Wataru.
One of three youths considered royalty within the global powerhouse known as the Wataru clan.
He was two years her junior in age, but everything she had read spoke of maturity beyond his years. So that shouldn't prove an issue.
His pedigree matched hers. His appearance was pleasing to the eye as well.
And if the files were to be trusted, his ambitions too, could match hers.
Apparently he had a sense of humour as well, which she could appreciate.
There were supposedly talks about some peculiarities about his mental wellbeing, and a startling long absence away from society, but she herself knew better than to put too much weight into rumours, she herself being a well-known media profile.
The season was now summer. As the rain gradually increased, the weather also slowly turned hot.
Currently standing on her balcony, she let her mind wander. The balcony was adorned with ornate marble railings, intricately carved with symbols representing the history and prestige of their lineage. The gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers from the meticulously manicured gardens below, creating an atmosphere of tranquillity that contrasted with the weighty decisions that lay ahead.
She had been informed she would travel with him under the guise of wanting tutelage concerning the upbringing of a baby dragon she had recently taken under her wing. It let her observe him under a different pretext, which she agreed would help her more accurately gauge him in his entirety.
She smiled, twirling her hair through her finger, while gently caressing the couple of poke balls at her waist. Her long, flowing platinum blonde hair cascaded down in gentle waves, catching the morning sunlight with a shimmering brilliance. The strands framed a face adorned with soft features, an expression often reflecting a combination of wisdom and a quiet, underlying determination. Eyes of a deep shade of blue, sharp and observant, hinted at the wealth of experience she carried.
Her attire, a blend of sophistication and practicality, showcased her affinity for a balance between style and readiness for battle. A knee-length white coat, adorned with black trim and a silver clasp emblazoned with a stylized star, draped over a form-fitting black dress.
A slender silver pendant hung from her neck, swaying gently with her movements, and a pair of matching earrings adorned her ears. Her slender fingers, adorned with meticulously manicured nails, added a subtle touch of grace to her every gesture.
With a determined nod, she made her decision – she would meet Blair Wataru in person, gauge the dynamics, and determine if the potential betrothal held not just political gain but the promise of a genuine connection.
Suddenly, she felt two presences behind her.
The soft rustle of fabric and the subtle scent of her mother's signature perfume announced her arrival. The controlled movements of their family's most senior Alakazam also made its presence known.
"Are you ready, Cynthia?"
She heard her mother ask.
"Yes!" She beamed a confident smile.
So! Long time no see, fellow cool people.
Hope this chapter finds you well.
I hope the aforementioned time skip isn't too jarring, my hopefully reasonable explanation for it can be found in the previous chapters AN.
I also want address something, as we're finally closing in on what I consider the main part of the story: I advice that people don't get hung up on characters original ages, as I am consciously just setting them to whatever fits my needs. I apologize if this is a bother for you.
Other than that, please share what you think about the recent developments.
Reviews, follows and favourites appreciated!
Until next time.