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## Chapter 7
The days following Adrian's first victory at the Academy passed in a blur. His name spread quickly, carried on whispers through the marble halls, his victory retold with a mixture of awe and envy. To some, he was a prodigy; to others, just another spoiled heir flaunting his family's wealth. Adrian ignored both. What mattered was the feeling still burning in his chest—the memory of Absol standing victorious at his side.
His father, Damien, was less impressed by the accomplishment. "One battle proves nothing," he had said that evening over dinner, his golden eyes cold and sharp. "A single victory only paints a target on your back. The world will expect more. Will you crumble when the pressure rises?"
Adrian had gritted his teeth and met his father's gaze. "No."
"Then show me."
And so the schedule grew harsher. At dawn, he studied under tutors who drilled the histories of noble bloodlines into his head. At noon, he trained Absol in the gardens until his throat was raw from shouting commands. At night, his father lectured him on politics and strategy, his words like blades carving lessons into Adrian's mind.
"You cannot survive on strength alone," Damien told him one evening as they stood before the family crest. "Power must be guided by knowledge. Otherwise, you are nothing more than a brute waiting to be crushed by someone smarter."
Adrian had no reply then, but he remembered the words. He carried them into the next morning when a new tutor arrived.
The man was tall and lean, with sharp black eyes that seemed to pierce straight through Adrian. He introduced himself simply: "Cassian." No titles, no ceremony. At his side floated a Honedge, its blade gleaming cold in the sunlight.
"So," Cassian said, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "This is the boy who defeated Elias. I expected someone taller."
Adrian bristled but stayed silent. Absol, at his side, gave a low growl.
Cassian's smirk widened. "Good. You don't rise to every taunt. You'll need that." He tossed the Poké Ball once in his hand, then caught it. "Battle me. Now."
Adrian blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Prove you're not just your father's shadow."
The words stung, but they also ignited something in Adrian. He glanced at Absol, who met his eyes and gave a single firm nod. The answer was clear.
The battle was swift and brutal. Cassian gave no commands, yet Honedge moved with deadly precision, intercepting Absol at every turn. Sparks lit the air as steel clashed against claw.
"Quick Attack!" Adrian called. Absol blurred forward, only for Honedge to twist gracefully, the blade slashing through empty air.
"Predictable," Cassian said coldly. "Speed without thought is useless."
Adrian's chest tightened. He could feel Absol's frustration through their bond, her muscles coiled with restless energy. If they kept clashing head-on, they would lose.
Think. Adapt.
"Absol!" Adrian shouted. "Feint right—then strike left!"
She darted to the right, claws raised, before twisting at the last second. Honedge swung wide, off balance, and Absol's claws raked across its hilt. The Steel-type shuddered, a hollow metallic hum filling the air.
Cassian's eyes gleamed. "Better. You learn quickly."
The battle ended not with victory but with acknowledgment. Honedge hovered back to its master, unscathed but clearly tested, while Absol stood panting and proud.
Cassian studied Adrian for a long moment before nodding. "You're not hopeless. I'll train you."
From then on, Cassian became a constant shadow in Adrian's life. He drilled him in tactics, forced him to analyze terrain, predict enemy strategies, and exploit weaknesses. More than once, Adrian collapsed onto his bed at night too exhausted to move, but the fire in his chest burned brighter with every lesson.
"Strength wins battles," Cassian told him one night beneath the silver glow of the moon. "But wars? Wars are won by those who think three steps ahead."
Adrian listened, committing every word to memory.
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The Academy, however, was less forgiving. Whispers became stares, and stares became outright challenges. Some sought to befriend him, others to test him, and a few to drag him down. At a formal dinner one evening, Adrian caught nobles whispering behind their jeweled goblets.
"Damien's boy… too ambitious."
"If he rises too quickly, the other houses won't sit idle."
He clenched his fists under the table, fury burning in his veins. To them, he was not a boy but a piece on a chessboard. Absol nudged his leg beneath the table, grounding him. He met her crimson eyes and forced himself to breathe.
Later, he asked his father, "Why do they look at me like I'm a threat?"
Damien's answer was blunt. "Because you are."
The words sank deep. Adrian didn't argue. He simply promised himself that if the world saw him as a threat, then he would become one worth fearing.
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Absol grew alongside him. Her speed sharpened, her strikes grew heavier, and one night, as they trained beneath the stars, dark energy rippled across her claws. She slashed forward, leaving trails of shadow in the air.
Adrian's eyes widened. "That's—"
The system's voice whispered at the back of his mind: *Feint Attack learned.*
Pride swelled in his chest as Absol stood tall, her crimson eyes burning brighter than ever. He dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around her neck.
"You're incredible," he whispered.
She licked his cheek in response, tail curling around him protectively. In that moment, he knew they weren't just trainer and Pokémon. They were partners. Equals.
---
It was only a matter of time before the next challenge came.
Her name was Seraphine Veyra, daughter of one of the oldest rival houses to the Liora family. She was spoken of in hushed tones around the Academy—graceful, brilliant, and dangerous. Her partner was a Ralts, a Pokémon that promised terrifying power as it grew.
When the challenge was delivered, the halls of the Academy erupted with excitement.
"Seraphine against Adrian? That's huge!"
"Her Ralts will crush him."
"No—his Absol's a Dark-type. It could go either way."
To the students, it was entertainment. To the nobles, it was politics. To Adrian, it was his next test.
He brought the news to his parents. Damien's expression darkened. "The Veyra family seeks to humiliate us. Do not let them. Show them the Liora name cannot be tarnished."
Selene placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Win with strength, Adrian, but remember—victory without compassion is hollow."
Adrian looked down at Absol, who stood proudly at his side, her tail swishing. "We'll win," he said quietly. "Together."
That night, as moonlight washed over the estate, Adrian lay awake, staring at the ceiling. His chest burned with anticipation. The battle ahead wasn't just another test. It was a clash between families, a statement to friend and foe alike.
Absol stirred at his side, pressing her head against his shoulder. He stroked her fur gently, whispering into the darkness.
"We're ready."
Her low, steady purr was all the answer he needed.
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