Skill Swap

Xinhai looked over the Calm Mind training methods in the materials and found that they were indeed all very basic meditation knowledge.

There were two meditation methods in total. One involved sitting cross-legged to calm the mind and focus the spirit, thereby sensing, drawing out, and controlling the psychic energy deep within one's mind; the other used yoga poses to achieve the same effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit, thereby sensing, drawing out, and controlling the psychic energy deep within one's mind.

Looking at the two methods, Xinhai felt that seated meditation was more suitable for Ralts. After all, imagining Ralts doing yoga poses just felt strange.

Still, Xinhai kept feeling that this meditation method was too rudimentary. It seemed much like the seated meditation and scripture recitation of Taoism and Buddhism on Blue Star in his previous life.

I'll definitely have to find an Advanced meditation manual someday, or create one myself. But that's for the future. Right now, I'm only laying the foundation for Ralts, and this method is barely enough. I should familiarize myself with it first and leave creating a manual for later, Xinhai thought.

Thus, Xinhai decided to first teach Ralts seated meditation.

"Ralts, how about we try the first seated meditation method?" Xinhai asked softly, as though discussing it with Ralts.

Ralts blinked her large eyes and nodded. She hopped down from Xinhai's arms and copied his posture, crossing her legs to sit down, her tiny hands placed solemnly on her knees. Torchic also scooted over, but it could not sit like Xinhai and Ralts. The moment it sat down, it toppled over sideways.

Xinhai looked at Torchic and laughed. "Torchic, just sit however you like. You don't have to use the same posture as us. As long as you're comfortable sitting down, that's fine."

"Chamo~"

Torchic nodded at that and found a comfortable position to sit in.

Xinhai adjusted his breathing and made his voice as gentle and steady as possible. "Ralts, Torchic, let's start by focusing on our breathing. Close your eyes and concentrate on the sensation of breathing at the tip of your nose or in your abdomen. Feel the air going in and out. When distracting thoughts appear, don't deliberately chase them away. Just gently bring your attention back to your breathing."

Ralts obediently closed her eyes, her little face full of concentration. The room instantly fell quiet, leaving only the faint sounds of Xinhai, Ralts, and Torchic breathing.

At first, Torchic's little head still swayed from side to side like a rattle drum, and its eyes occasionally cracked open as it curiously watched Ralts.

Ralts's body also twitched from time to time at first, unable to fully settle down.

But Xinhai patiently guided them. "It's all right, Torchic, Ralts. Don't rush. Take it slowly. Whenever distracting thoughts arise, bring your attention back to your breathing."

Before long, Ralts gradually found her rhythm. Her small body stopped fidgeting, and her breathing became more even.

Watching Ralts's focused expression, Xinhai felt deeply gratified. As expected of Ralts. She entered the state so quickly. It seems the claim that Egg Moves represent innate talent really is accurate.

Xinhai then looked over at Torchic and saw its eyelids beginning to droop. Its head bobbed little by little, and it occasionally let out a drowsy "Chamo."

Not long after, Torchic flopped onto the bed and fell fast asleep. Its little body rose and fell with each breath, and a small puddle of drool seeped from the corner of its mouth.

Xinhai smiled helplessly and shook his head. He covered Torchic with a small blanket and thought, This little guy... as expected, quiet meditation is still too much for it. But I can't just give up. I'll guide it slowly.

Looking back at Ralts, she was immersed in meditation. A faint, almost imperceptible glow seemed to surround her body, a sign that her psychic energy was beginning to stir.

Xinhai was delighted. Did she naturally enter the Calm Mind state?

However, Xinhai had no intention of letting Ralts continue meditating. After all, she had only just been born, and meditating for too long might burden her. He softened his voice and instructed, "Ralts, relax. Relax. Slowly leave the meditative state."

As though she had heard Xinhai's call, the faint glow around Ralts gradually faded away. She slowly opened her eyes, their light clear and bright.

She looked at Xinhai happily, gave a soft "Ralts," and used Telepathy to report her results to him.

Xinhai stroked Ralts's head and praised her. "Ralts, you did wonderfully! To perform this well on your first meditation session—you'll definitely become even stronger in the future." After receiving the praise, Ralts happily lay down beside Xinhai to rest.

Xinhai gently patted Ralts's little head and smiled. "Tired, huh? Get some good rest."

Ralts contentedly narrowed her eyes and rubbed her little body against Xinhai's hand. She found a more comfortable position on his lap and soon drifted into a light sleep.

At some point, Torchic woke up and scooted over again. It curled into a ball by Xinhai's feet, occasionally rubbing its head against his leg as it prepared to go back to sleep.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional birdcall drifting in from outside the window. Looking at the two Pokémon, Xinhai's heart was filled with peace and warmth.

He thought about Torchic and Ralts's performances, and the more he thought about it, the luckier he felt to have met these two little ones.

With that thought, Xinhai revealed a happy smile. As he looked at the sleeping Ralts and Torchic, his heart was full of anticipation for the future adventures they would share.

Torchic was still restless in its sleep. It affectionately nudged Xinhai's leg with its head, its fluff tickling him, before curling back into a ball and contentedly narrowing its eyes, as though having a sweet dream.

The corners of Ralts's mouth lifted slightly. Her materialized heart emitted a faint blue glow, as though it had received the warm emotions Xinhai was sending her.

Her psychic energy danced gently through her dreams like a ribbon, responding to Xinhai's feelings as though weaving a beautiful dream of growing stronger with him and exploring the world together.

Xinhai noticed the changes in his Pokémon as well, and the smile in his eyes deepened. He softly said, "We'll always be together and grow stronger."

The warm atmosphere in the room grew ever richer, woven from the deep bond between one human and two Pokémon as it slowly flowed through the quiet hours.

Xinhai sat quietly by the bed. Shifting his gaze away from the sleeping Ralts and Torchic, he gently picked up the Pokédex beside him.

He carefully opened it and turned the volume down to its lowest setting, afraid that even the slightest sound might disturb the two little ones.

He entered "Ralts" into the search bar, and before long, the screen filled with information about Ralts.

Xinhai began reading carefully, studying it word by word and sentence by sentence. He had already read this knowledge several times and memorized it by heart, yet every time he reviewed it, he gained some small insight or found something new to consider.

That was why he read through this information whenever he had time, recording all his thoughts in case they might prove useful later.

Xinhai repeatedly browsed the contents of the Pokédex, looking over the moves Ralts could learn along her evolutionary path.

He kept searching until he saw the Egg Move Ralts had inherited: [Skill Swap].

The timing of this move's appearance was far too significant. Professor Birch had only published his paper on Ability development two years ago. Combined with the fact that Ralts had inherited this move, which was rarely used in battle, Xinhai inferred many things. This move was also an opportunity for him.

The Pokémon world will most likely undergo a major change! But I'm still too weak to come into contact with those things. For now, I should focus on improving my own strength.

Xinhai stopped thinking about matters that had nothing to do with them for now and continued considering the path Ralts would take in the future. Given this move's immense value in reality, it could absolutely play a major role as they grew.

After that, he saw the move [Ally Switch]. This move was also extremely valuable. Combined with Ralts's inherited [Teleport] and [Substitute], it could allow her to remain invincible in battle.

He could even incorporate [Double Team] into it someday. Perhaps she could create Energy Clones to swap with, further disrupting the enemy's judgment.

The more Xinhai thought about it, the more excited he became. He could already picture Ralts toying with her enemies in future battles.

Still, he knew that getting Ralts to master these moves proficiently would be no easy task. Behind every move lay the need for extensive time, effort, training, and coordination.