As Aria stepped out of the classroom, she saw a fierce bird of prey sweep past the teaching building overhead, casting a huge shadow across the ground under the glow of the setting sun.
It was a raptor with orange feathers. The middle sections of its wings and the tips were creamy white. A red crest stood atop its head, and its long, sharp beak resembled a small dagger. Its neck was slender, the feathers on its chest rough and disheveled, and four brown tail feathers trailed behind it. Its wings were broad, its claws pale pink, with three toes facing forward and one backward.
This was none other than a Fearow.
Its body was nearly four meters long, and there was a human figure riding on its back.
"Wow! One of our school's Trainers is back!"
"Is that Senior Lin's Fearow? That's so cool!"
"I really want to become a Trainer too."
"I heard that all of our school's Trainers went into the Secret Realms this time. I wonder if there were any casualties…"
"Stop talking—let's hurry to the training field and take a look!"
Listening to the chatter around her, worry filled Aria's eyes. Subconsciously, she touched the Poké Ball in her pocket.
"Aria, what are you spacing out for? Let's go take a look too."
Elayne's voice snapped Aria out of her daze.
With such a commotion outside, the students in the classroom naturally noticed as well. Everyone streamed out, including Elayne and Drake.
Drake's face was tinged with displeasure and jealousy, but neither Aria nor Elayne spared him a glance. Following the crowd, they hurried toward the training field.
At this moment, almost the entire school's attention—teachers and students alike—was focused on the training field. After all, the Trainers returning today were heroes, and the pride of Chunfeng High School.
...
Meanwhile, in the junior division of Chunfeng High School, Class 1 of the third year.
Two fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girls looked up at the Fearow streaking across the sky. One of them, a lively and cute girl, said excitedly,
"Lyra, Senior Lin is back! Does that mean Kael is coming back too?"
The girl called Lyra had a pretty appearance and wore her hair in a single ponytail, giving off a valiant, spirited air. She was none other than Kael's cousin—Lyra.
"Of course he's coming back! Nori, let's hurry to the training field, or we won't even be able to squeeze in later."
Lyra's face lit up with joy as she grabbed Nori and ran toward the training field.
At the same time, a voice rang out from the school's broadcast system.
"Attention, students! Attention, students! All students, proceed to the training field! All students, proceed to the training field!"
"Once at the training field, line up by grade and class! Let us welcome our heroes!"
The broadcast repeated several times, and the teachers and students of Chunfeng High School all headed toward the training field.
Teachers and department heads from every grade worked together to maintain order.
The school principal, Director Hawke, had already arrived at the training field with the department heads and several teachers, waiting in advance.
At that moment, Fearow descended from the sky like a falling meteor. Its massive body tore through the air, whipping up a fierce gale that sent clouds of dust rolling outward in all directions.
Faced with the sudden turbulence, people instinctively raised their hands to shield their faces from the flying dust.
When the dust finally settled and calm returned, a figure leapt nimbly from Fearow's broad back and landed steadily on the ground.
Looking closely, it was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, tall and slender, with refined features.
However, his camouflage field uniform was in a sorry state—seven or eight jagged tears ran across it, revealing layers of bandages underneath. Even his once-fair face bore shallow wounds, making him look rather miserable.
Seeing this, Director Hawke hurried over and asked with concern,
"Bren, are you alright?"
The department head and several teachers beside him followed closely.
"I'm fine, Principal. Just some minor injuries," Bren said, shaking his head.
Though he looked battered, with his physique, a week of rest would be enough for him to recover for the most part.
This time, he had gone into a low-level Secret Realm, and his luck hadn't been bad—at least he'd made it back alive.
He had personally witnessed Trainers being torn to pieces by Magical Beasts. Being able to return again filled him with genuine relief.
"As long as you're alright. You've all done well," Director Hawke said, patting Bren on the shoulder. Seeing such a young boy burdened with life and death weighed heavily on his heart.
"This is our responsibility," Bren replied, shaking his head.
The moment he chose to become a Pokémon Trainer, he had already understood the responsibilities—and the consequences—that came with it.
Naturally, the state did not treat them poorly. In this world, Pokémon Trainers enjoyed the best待遇. As long as they completed missions, they could exchange for various strengthening items and benefits on the official Pokémon website.
"Alright, go rest for now," Director Hawke said, nodding.
Bren nodded in response, recalled Fearow into its Poké Ball, and left with a teacher.
Ten-odd minutes passed in the blink of an eye. One by one, Trainers with flying Pokémon returned.
Those without flying Pokémon could only come back obediently by vehicle.
Of course, even at Chunfeng High School, there weren't many Trainers with flying Pokémon. Including Kael, there were only six. People in this world didn't recklessly capture Pokémon.
Most focused all their resources on nurturing their starter Pokémon first before considering others. After all, one strong Pokémon was far better than a whole bunch of weak ones.
Thus, most people concentrated everything on cultivating their starter Pokémon in the early stages.
In the lineup of Class 1, Grade 2, Aria watched as people returned one after another—yet Kael was nowhere to be seen. Anxiety filled her face.
"Aria, don't worry. Kael is the strongest in our school—he'll be fine," Elayne said, seeing her best friend's expression and trying to comfort her.
Elayne knew very well about Aria's feelings toward Kael.
Of course, she had feelings of her own as well.
She, too, held Kael in high regard.
After all, it wasn't just that heroes loved beauties—beauties loved heroes as well.
And Trainers like Kael were heroes.
Aria nodded after hearing Elayne's reassurance.
It wasn't just Aria who was worried. Over in the junior division, in the lineup of Class 1, Grade 3, Lyra's previously cheerful expression had also turned anxious. The danger of Secret Realms was something everyone knew.
Otherwise, so many parents wouldn't forbid their children from becoming Trainers. They understood that becoming a Trainer meant living with the constant possibility of death.
One misstep, and it would be white-haired parents sending off their black-haired child.
That was why some people, even after summoning a starter Pokémon, still chose not to become Pokémon Trainers.