It was a cool day at the academy, it had been a couple of days since the second qualification round of the tournament had ended.
People were going around their business like usual, students were going to class, professors were planning curriculums and Pokemon were frolicking around without a care in the world.
It almost felt serene. Peaceful, even with the massive uproar of the tournament still in the distance. Yet, little did they know that they were still chained down despite supposedly being free.
This is the thought of a man in a black leather coat as he walked down the campus halls and kept his head down. He was trying not to be noticed given that he had some important business to take care of.
However, on his way to where he was going, he stopped and looked outside the window. He saw a couple, a boy and a girl talking with each other. They were having a picnic in which the boy had brought a bowl of crudely made mac & cheese. It was hardly gourmet but yet his partner loved it as she gave him a big hug and soon eagerly dug into the cheesy dish. Soon their Pokemon came out, a Squawkabilly and a Boltund and soon eagerly dug into the Pokemon food that was laid out for both of them.
Too anyone else this would be a happy moment. Two people who clearly love each other spending time with one another and their beloved Pokemon as well. They would probably wish them happiness and go on their merry way.
But not him. All he could think looking at the young couple was despair and regret.
"Those two young and poor souls. Just like everyone else, they don't know how they are prisoners… prisoners to this cruel world of ours." He thought.
Soon however he realized that he was running late and soon went on his way.
As sad he felt for the couple and for everyone else on this campus, he was comforted by the notion that soon he would free them from this torment, once they had gotten the necessary ingredients.
Soon no one would be shackled down by this world and it's rules anymore, everyone would be free. Free in the truest sense of the word.
And oh boy, that would be a grand thing to ultimately see wouldn't it be after all?
Meanwhile at the same time, Kenan was in his dorm doing some homework.
While special exceptions were given to those still participating in the tournament, they still were required to do the work that their class required of them.
That is why Kenan was in his dorm room and was scribbling on paper instead of being outside and potentially training for the third round of the qualification round to get to the Victory Tournament.
It was frustrating, but hey what can you do?
As he was working on his homework, Rex holding a frappe soon came into his dorm room with Weiss near his side and simply smirked at him.
"Geez, and here I think that you might care more about your homework than the tournament." Rex said teasingly to his roommate as he took a sip from his drink.
Kenan looked up and glared at Rex, who was lucky. Fortunately for him he had been able to pass through the first two qualification battles relatively easily, allowing himself more time to work on his homework.
"The tournament will come and go but this homework is much more important in the long term for our classes." Kenan said as he set down his pencil and massaged his head as he felt a migraine coming on.
"Look all joking aside, why don't you take a break for now? You have been cooped up in your room for almost all day. I am sure some air would do wonders for you right now." Rex said to him.
Kenan had to agree with Rex as he grabbed his jacket and soon went outside to get some fresh air.
It was the middle of October currently, so the air was nice and crisp as he walked down the campus halls. He could see some Halloween decorations littering the campus as he smirked wondering what Lyna wanted to do with him for Halloween in terms of a costume.
It is hard to believe how quickly life had changed for him every since he had come to the academy. He just had his Pokemon and not very many friends, but now? He had friends, respect from both his peers and his professors, hell he even had a girlfriend!
Things were going pretty well for him it would seem.
But as he was thinking that, he accidentally ran into a tall man in a black leather coat who made fall down on his butt.
"You ok?" The man said as he offered his hand up.
The man was walking away from the meeting he just had, though he might as well have not gone to it since nothing got accomplished and was practically unproductive as hell.
But as he was thinking about this, he felt someone bump into him. He looked down and saw that it was a student.
And not just any student, it was Kenan Fox himself.
"You ok?" He asked as he gave a helping hand to the young student.
"Oh thank you and sorry for bumping into, I should have looked where I was going." Kenan said as he took his hand and got back up on his feet.
The man smiled. It was always nice to meet a young person with manners.
"Don't worry about it. Just don't make it a habit Kenan and you should be fine."
"Oh thanks I guess… wait how do you know my name?" Kenan asked slightly confused.
"Well you would have to be pretty ignorant to not know the star trainer of the tournament. My name is Colon by the way." Colon said to him having revealed his own name to make Kenan at ease.
Kenan nodded as he relaxed a bit and soon asked Colon what he was doing here at the academy.
"I am a prominent trainer that has been on the circuit for the last few years. The headmaster here reached out to me and offered me an invite to this tournament as a spectator and here I am." Colon said to him.
Kenan seemed to buy it and asked how he liked the academy so far.
"Sadly I don't think it is for me. Call me old-fashioned but I much prefer getting to travel the world on a journey of my own than being cooped up at an academy like this. I feel like that just offers… more freedom wouldn't you agree?" Colon asked Kenan.
Kenan soon thought about it. Sure he had been on a journey of his own before and it offered more freedom for sure. But at the same time, being at the academy was also freeing in it's own way.
"Apologies, can't say that I agree with you." Kenan said to him.
He saw Colon briefly frown before quickly putting a face once again.
"Well that is a shame but what can you do? Good luck in the tournament Kenan and may the odds be ever in your favor." Colon said.
He soon walked off as he simply left Kenan with more questions than answers about who he truly was.
