Time passed swiftly, and Alex had now spent a full week at Professor Oak's research lab.
During that time, he was completely immersed in the academic atmosphere of the place. In the early mornings, when the first slivers of sunlight slipped through the window, Alex was already at his desk in the lab, surrounded by stacks of documents and handwritten notes. At night, when the chorus of insects began to hum outside, he was still bent over his work, jotting things down with unwavering focus.
To Professor Oak, Alex was nothing short of a model student—diligent, patient, and endlessly hungry for knowledge. Because of that, Oak never once held back his most valuable research findings, handing over page after page of precious notes as though passing down a treasure trove.
At the moment, Alex was hunched over the desk, flipping through a thick folder of research.
"A Rattata's whiskers aren't hair—they're specialized sensory organs.They're the most sensitive part of its tactile system, packed with countless nerve endings.With them, a Rattata can sense the direction of the wind, judge distances, and even navigate in pitch darkness as if it had its own personal radar.If those whiskers are damaged, it'll lose its sense of balance entirely, and even moving around becomes difficult."
Alex nodded with a faint smile at the level of detail, then turned to the next file.
"Slowpoke has two sets of eyes—one on its face, and one embedded within the shell attached to the end of its tail.That shell isn't just protective—it's actually part of its body.When danger approaches from behind, Slowpoke can rotate the shell to check, granting it nearly 360-degree vision.Its internal energy flows heavily toward the tail, so the shell also serves as vital armor for its most important body parts."
When he finally closed the documents, Alex stretched his arms. Such meticulous information didn't just deepen his understanding of Pokémon—it could be applied directly to training and battles.
Over the past week, Alex had memorized nearly every research file Professor Oak had on the known Pokémon species of the Kanto region. It was an invaluable foundation for any aspiring trainer.
And today, he was ready for the next step:Heading into Viridian Forest… to find and capture a wild Charmander.
He didn't want one raised in a safe, domesticated environment—he needed a partner with a fierce survival instinct, one that could fight alongside him through anything.
Just as Alex was lost in thought, a soft voice called from behind.
"Alex, dinner's ready." Daisy smiled, tilting her head slightly toward him.
After days of seeing him at work, she had finally understood why someone so young could hold his own in long, scholarly conversations with her grandfather. It wasn't just natural intelligence—it was the sheer discipline he lived by.
Every morning, Alex began with physical training before diving into study. Almost all his remaining hours were spent reading, annotating, and absorbing knowledge. To Daisy, it was both admirable and a little… distant—like he belonged to a different era, one of old-world scholars.
"Thanks, Daisy," Alex replied, rising to follow her out.
That evening, over dinner, Alex lifted his glass of water with a warm smile."Professor, I truly appreciate everything you've done for me. The knowledge you've shared over the past week has been invaluable."
Professor Oak nodded, though his expression carried a hint of regret."You're leaving already?"
"Yes. I'll head to Viridian Forest first, then return to Hoenn. I've been away from home for quite a while now—it's time to go back."
Oak understood, but a part of him still felt disappointed. More than once, he had wanted to invite Alex to stay at the lab and help him unravel the mysteries of Pokémon. Oak believed that, at Alex's pace, it wouldn't even take a year—no, only half a year—for his name to become known across the Pokémon world as a brilliant scholar.
But Alex had chosen a different road—the road of a trainer aiming for the pinnacle of glory.
"In that case," Oak said, his tone turning more serious, "if you truly plan on going deep into Viridian Forest, be careful. Many Pokémon there live in tightly knit groups, fiercely defending their territory. Step inside by mistake, and they'll attack immediately."
He paused, his expression darkening."And more importantly—beware of people. I've heard that Team Rocket often hides out in those parts. They're the sort who will stoop to anything."
"I understand, Professor," Alex replied firmly.
After dinner, Alex chatted with Oak a while longer before retiring to his room.
The next morning, after bidding a formal farewell to both Daisy and the professor, he set off toward the forest.
As his figure grew smaller down the dirt path, Daisy's voice rang out from behind:"Come back and visit us, okay?"
Alex only smiled, quickening his pace. Viridian Forest awaited him… and somewhere, hidden within its thick canopy, that sharp, distinctive "CharChar!" cry might echo out, leading him to the third partner of his journey.