As the sun dipped behind the hills of Glendale, the representatives from Silph Co. packed their equipment and data with satisfied expressions. The group of researchers and commercial agents expressed their thanks to Ray and his family before departing to the local inn, ready to begin formal collaboration the following day.
Only one guest remained outside the Virel household.
Professor Samuel Oak.
Ray stood nearby, still reeling from everything that had happened. The negotiations, the contract, the attention—it was overwhelming in the best way. But something about Oak's calm presence grounded him.
The professor's gaze lingered on Ray, thoughtful and warm.
"You know," Oak finally said, "it's been a very long time since I've encountered someone like you."
Ray tilted his head. "Like me?"
"A mind that burns with curiosity," Oak said. "A passion that doesn't just seek strength, but understanding. You're not just training Pokémon—you're studying them, questioning the very foundations of how we view them."
Ray's face flushed slightly at the compliment.
Oak continued. "You've bonded with powerful partners far beyond your age range, and now you're contributing original ideas to the field of Pokémon research. That's rare. Extremely rare."
Ray hesitated. "I don't want to limit myself. I want to be an investigator, but also a Ranger… and one day, a Champion."
Oak's eyes gleamed. "Ambitious. But not impossible."
Ray's father, standing off to the side with crossed arms, chuckled. "That's our boy. Always dreaming big."
Oak turned to Ray once more, this time with a tone more serious and deliberate.
"Would you like to become my disciple, Ray Virel?"
The world paused.
Ray's mouth opened slightly. He blinked. "M-me? Your disciple?"
His mother gasped, and his father looked stunned for only a heartbeat before nodding with approval.
"Say yes, Ray."
"I… I'd love to!" Ray finally said, his voice cracking from the wave of joy and disbelief.
Oak smiled broadly and placed a hand on Ray's shoulder. "Good. When you earn your Intermediate Trainer License, I'll have a gift for you. Something to aid you on your journey."
Ray nodded quickly. "I'll do my best!"
But Oak wasn't done.
"In your paper," the professor said, his voice lowering slightly, "I sensed something else. Between the lines. You didn't include all your thoughts, did you?"
Ray's eyes widened.
"Sub-levels were just the beginning," Oak continued. "I've read enough research to recognize when someone is holding something back. You left space—for more."
Ray let out a breath. "You really are the best Professor…"
Oak raised an eyebrow.
Ray took a step closer. "You're right. I did leave something out—because I wasn't sure if it was ready."
Oak folded his arms and listened.
Ray took a deep breath. "I've been studying how Pokémon are classified—Non-Combatant, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and so on. But… the system is flawed. Too rigid."
Oak nodded slowly.
"I've seen Pokémon of the same species, even with the same classification, perform drastically differently," Ray explained. "Some can overpower others despite identical training. Others stagnate with no clear reason. The official categories don't account for these differences."
"Interesting…" Oak murmured.
"I've started to draft a more refined model," Ray continued. "A system that focuses not just on aptitude, but on how individual traits—subtle things—contribute to actual performance. A way to quantify variance between Pokémon within the same class."
Oak's eyes lit up. "You're not just redefining how we categorize Pokémon… you're laying the groundwork for an entirely new metric."
Ray nodded. "That's the goal. And I was going to work on it next. Slowly."
Oak smiled. "Not slowly. Not anymore."
Ray blinked. "Huh?"
Oak stood up straighter. "You have the mind of a revolutionary, Ray. If you'll allow it, I'd like to assist with this research as well."
Ray beamed. "Absolutely! With your help, we could finish in months instead of years."
Oak looked up at the early stars emerging in the sky above Glendale.
"Then let's begin soon," he said. "You've already changed the way we see aptitudes. Now let's change the way we see potential."
Ray looked down at the quiet form of Dratini, nestled near his side, and at Pidgeotto, perched proudly nearby.
This was just the beginning.
And the future had never looked brighter.