The sea stretched endlessly in every direction.
Beneath the blue sky, several Wingull soared into the wind, their cries clamoring overhead.
"..."
Baimu sat on the aft deck of the small luxury yacht, squinting toward Sootopolis City, which had long since vanished beyond the horizon.
It had only been a few short months.
Yet after Pyrite Town, Sootopolis Gym had become the second place he could call home.
Funny, really.
He was a descendant of the Draconids and had even undergone a ceremony to acknowledge his ancestry. In the end, though, he had grown closer to Teacher Juan and the other Lapis People.
Unfortunately.
He was never going to fulfill the wish Juan, Wallace, and the Old Butler Sebastian had never put into words: for him to become the next Sootopolis Gym Leader.
Beyond that, the only way he seemed able to repay them was to keep striving for greater heights.
It left him feeling helpless.
He remembered the warmth in Juan's eyes as his teacher gently patted his shoulder before they parted. Baimu drew a deep breath. The sea breeze blowing into his face made his nose sting.
He had only been a temporary student, taken on at short notice.
But in that single month, Juan had done everything he could to pass on the knowledge and experience that would help him grow quickly.
He had taught him, guided him, and answered his questions.
As far as Baimu was concerned, Juan had done it perfectly.
"There's always someone who helps you along in life, but when it's your turn to help them..."
He murmured under his breath, a little melancholy creeping in.
Suddenly.
His phone let out a string of beeping alerts from his pocket.
Baimu pulled it out and looked. The corner of his mouth twitched. "You've changed