The tall Absol was following him as she always did, with a serious look on her face but warm eyes. She wasn't much for displaying her emotions openly, but after so many years of care he had become able to tell those subtle traits of how she felt, and right now she was happy that he would finally leave as they had always wanted.

His mother's words would come to mind again; although they had agreed that Freya would be enough of a companion for Ryouma, he should still meet with Professor Elm's assistant before he left; the poor man was so busy that week, he hadn't even been able to spare the time for a last meeting before he'd leave and become a Pokémon trainer like his father before him. And that was who was waiting for him at the town exit, standing near one of the trees with a thick bag.

"Hello there, Ryouma!" Marina greeted him, the blue-haired girl - roughly his age - waving in his direction as soon as she saw him. "Today's your big day, isn't it? Finally a Pokémon trainer!"