Chapter 67: It's Okay to Be a Little Tired
The next morning, after breakfast, Ryū wrapped his tail around Liz and flew towards the Royal Capital's city gate. Charmander and the others had already been sent to the Pokémon Academy.
"Alan, where are you taking me?" Liz asked, confused. "We just got back, and I have so many things to deal with."
"..."
Ryū didn't respond. The flight from the palace to the city gate only took five minutes. When they landed, Liz frowned, looking at the gate behind her in bewilderment.
"You should go back," Ryū said, extending his tail to point toward the city.
"Are you telling me to go back? What about you?" Liz understood his meaning, but she tilted her head in confusion. Something felt very wrong. Ryū had left the capital before, but he never took her with him only to send her back alone at the gate. The action seemed redundant, but she knew Ryū never did anything without a reason.
"I'm going to Mt. Silver," Ryū stated, turning his head to look in the direction of the mountain range.
"That's... the Silver Mountain Range." Liz followed his gaze, stunned for a moment. She walked up and placed a hand on his body. "Alan, do you want to go back and see? I'll go with you."
There was a hint of unease in her words.
'You've always been so smart,' Ryū thought, looking down at her and silently shaking his head.
He knew Liz could figure it out. If he were just visiting, he could have gone by himself and returned the same day. He wouldn't have brought her all the way out here just to tell her. Liz felt that unease and wanted to go with him. If he agreed, it would mean he wasn't planning on leaving her side. But if he refused... it would mean he was staying for a long time. Perhaps even... never returning.
"Does Alan not like me?" Liz asked, her eyes and nose turning slightly red, perhaps from the cold.
"Are you trying to act pitiful?" Ryū grinned, seeing through her act at a glance. It reminded him of when she was a child, putting on a sad face just to get him to warm her up.
"Why?" she asked, her voice soft.
"...Tomorrow or an accident, you never know which will come first," Ryū began, his tone serious. "You are the Queen of the Royal Dragon Kingdom, and you have great ambitions. I want to have the power to protect you, and to help you achieve your dreams."
The rate of growth in the capital was too slow, and the comfortable environment made him lazy. At this rate, it might take two or three years for him to evolve. It was better to force himself into seclusion in Mt. Silver and become stronger.
"Will you come back?" Liz sighed, stepping forward to hug him. She already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from him to feel at ease.
"Yes. It won't be long. I promised to stay by your side, and we will travel to many places in this world together." Ryū nodded seriously, brushing away the tears from her eyes with the tip of his tail.
"I'll wait for you," Liz whispered, wiping her cheek.
"Mhm." Ryū nodded again, lowered his head to lightly kiss her forehead, then turned and flew into the sky.
"Have a safe journey," Liz murmured, standing still as she watched his figure disappear into the distance.
In the sky, Ryū glanced back.
'Liz, you will definitely be the one who changes this world. And without enough strength, I can't help you go further. Becoming stronger for someone else... I've never thought about it before. But if it's for you... it's okay to be a little tired in this life.'
At that moment, his gaze was more determined than ever. For the first time, he was not just living to survive. He was living to help Liz fulfill her dream.
Half an hour later, Ryū arrived at Mt. Silver and headed straight for the middle area, a place he had never set foot in before.
"First, find a place to stay, then gather food and map out the area," he mumbled, a grin spreading across his face as he looked at the familiar forest. The wild instincts from his past life as a Beedrill began to surge.
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar came from behind him. He turned to see an Ursaring nearly 4 meters tall—more than double the size in the Pokédex.
"Let's start with you to test the waters," Ryū said, pursing his lips as he charged forward.
[Agility]
[Hone Claws]
He closed the distance in an instant, swinging an [Aqua Tail] at the Ursaring's belly. The Ursaring reacted with incredible speed, raising a claw for a powerful [Slash]. Their attacks collided, and both of their bodies shook. The Ursaring was slightly weaker and was knocked back two steps.
"Strong," Ryū noted, his eyes turning serious. This Ursaring's level was similar to his, but its reaction speed was just as fast.
"ROAR!" The Ursaring entered an enraged state, charging forward with its claws glowing with pink, Fairy-type energy.
Ryū didn't plan to confront it head-on and flew into the air. In a lawless wild battle, a flying Pokémon held all the advantages.
[Twister]
[Thunderbolt]
[Icy Wind]
[Water Pulse]
Ryū unleashed a barrage of ranged attacks from the air. The Ursaring, unable to hit him and unable to escape, was eventually knocked unconscious. After searching the vicinity, Ryū found the Ursaring's den—a large cave.
"I'll settle down here, then." From that day on, a new, seemingly endless cycle of daily battles began.