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# Chapter 2
The gardens of the Liora estate stretched like a sea of green, meticulously trimmed hedges forming patterns that only nobles with too much wealth could afford. Stone paths wound between fountains, and rare flowers from distant regions bloomed in perfect harmony. Pidgey, Fletchling, and even the occasional Ralts lingered near the grounds, drawn to the place by its serenity.
Adrian toddled forward, his short legs carrying him clumsily across the soft grass. Two attendants trailed behind, keeping a cautious eye, but the boy's mind was far older than his body suggested. At only two years old, his awareness of the world outstripped even some adults.
*This family… they really do live like aristocrats out of a novel,* Adrian thought, pausing to watch a pair of Fletchling swoop overhead. Their emotions flickered into his awareness—playful joy and a hint of competitive pride. He smiled, reaching out a hand instinctively.
The birds turned, tilting their heads as if acknowledging him, before darting away. His Affinity Sense made such moments feel surreal. In his past life, Pokémon had been pixels on a screen, data lines in a game. Now, they were alive, their feelings tangible.
He returned indoors when his mother, Selene, called. She was seated in a grand parlor, sunlight filtering through tall glass windows and catching in her silver hair. Beside her, a Gardevoir stood gracefully, watching the child with intelligent eyes.
"Adrian," Selene said warmly, lifting him onto her lap. "You must never forget—you are a Liora. Our bond with Pokémon is sacred. We are not merely their trainers, but their partners, their guides."
Her voice carried both tenderness and weight. Even at his age, he felt the responsibility threaded into her words.
The Gardevoir bent slightly, her eyes glowing with psychic light as she reached out to brush Adrian's mind. A soothing calm enveloped him, like a gentle breeze against his thoughts. He giggled, earning a soft smile from his mother.
"She likes you," Selene whispered. "Even at this age, you shine."
Adrian's small hands curled, excitement thrumming within him. If only she knew just how much he understood.
That night, after the household had gone quiet, Adrian sat in his crib with the egg cradled against his chest. Its shell pulsed faintly with warmth.
The system's voice chimed.
> \[Daily Quest Complete: Bond with Pokémon Egg. Reward: +5 Affinity.]
The glow around the egg brightened for a moment, then faded. Adrian closed his eyes, sinking into the connection. He could almost *hear* it now—a faint hum, like a heartbeat overlapping his own. In dreams, the presence sometimes flickered clearer: playful, curious, restless.
"I'll be here," he whispered under his breath, though his words were but childish murmurs. "Always."
Days turned to weeks, weeks into months. By the time Adrian reached his third birthday, his progress astonished even his parents. His speech came earlier than expected, and though they believed it was due to noble blood and careful upbringing, the truth was the system guiding him from within.
> \[Quest Issued: First Words.
> Speak your first sentence to your parents. Reward: +10 Intelligence.]
He had taken the quest seriously. When Selene leaned down to feed him one morning, his small lips parted, and he said with surprising clarity, "Mama."
Selene froze, tears immediately pooling in her eyes. "Damien! Did you hear him?"
His father, usually stern, allowed the faintest smile. "So soon… he truly is gifted."
The system's chime rewarded him silently, invisible to all but him.
By three years old, he could form short sentences. His parents praised his sharpness, tutors whispered that he was born with rare genius, and all the while Adrian built his foundation.
But not everything came easily.
One day, while playing in the gardens, a wild Poochyena strayed too close. Its fur bristled, its eyes wary of the child. Adrian's attendants rushed forward, but before they could interfere, Adrian's Affinity Sense triggered.
He felt the creature's hunger. Its caution. And beneath that, a flicker of hope that perhaps this strange little human was not dangerous.
He knelt, extending his hand slowly.
"It's okay," he whispered. His voice was small, childish, but steady.
The Poochyena hesitated, then inched forward. The attendants gasped, but Adrian only smiled as the Pokémon sniffed his hand. For a brief second, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Then the Poochyena wagged its tail and bounded away, leaving behind stunned silence.
When Adrian glanced back, he caught his father watching from the veranda. Damien's expression was unreadable, but later that night, he called for Adrian.
"My son," Damien said, seated in his study filled with tomes and artifacts. "You are young, but already you show what it means to be a Liora. Pokémon respond to you. Remember this—strength is not only in command, but in understanding."
Adrian bowed his head respectfully, though inside his heart thumped. His father expected much of him. The Liora heir could not be weak.
That night, the system issued a new quest.
> \[Quest Issued: Early Training.
> Begin strengthening your body. Daily exercise routine: 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, 10 squats. Reward: +1 Strength per week.]
Adrian stared at the glowing words, then at his tiny three-year-old body. "…Are you kidding me?"
The system, as always, did not respond.
And so began his secret training. At first, his body wobbled and collapsed after a single push-up. His arms trembled, his knees scraped against the floor. But each day, he tried again. Slowly, steadily, he improved. The system's quiet chimes of reward became his silent encouragement.
By the time he turned four, he could run laps across the estate gardens without collapsing. His small muscles grew firmer, his stamina better than any child his age. His parents noticed his unusual energy, but chalked it up to strong bloodline.
All the while, the egg remained by his side. Its glow was stronger now, its heartbeat clear. The system updated one night with a message that made his breath catch.
> \[Pokémon Egg: Hatching in 6 months.]
Six months. After years of waiting, the moment was nearly here.
He pressed his forehead against the shell, eyes closed. "I don't know who you are yet… but you're my first partner. My first friend. When you hatch, we'll take on this world together."
The egg pulsed warmly in response, as if it understood.
And somewhere deep inside, Adrian knew: the real story was about to begin.
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