"Chen Shi, that was my fault just now. I got a little too excited!"
Professor Oak rubbed his head sheepishly and gave a couple of awkward chuckles.
He could hardly be blamed. Any other professor who heard the news would probably have reacted the same way.
Chen Shi didn't mind. He waved a hand. "I'm fine, Professor. Fairy-type energy hasn't awakened yet."
"A lot of Fairy-type Pokémon haven't awakened their typing and have been classified under other types."
"Take Florges, for example. She's still considered a Grass-type Pokémon."
"Yes, yes, you're right." Professor Oak paced back and forth, his face alight with excitement.
"How could Florges be the only Fairy-type Pokémon? There must be plenty more that haven't been discovered."
Then Professor Oak caught something in Chen Shi's words and frowned. "What do you mean, Fairy-type energy hasn't awakened?"
Left with no choice, Chen Shi repeated the explanation he'd given his grandparents.
Professor Oak thought it made perfect sense. The truth was probably close to what Chen Shi had guessed.
It was the only explanation that fit. Otherwise, such obvious Fairy-type energy would surely have been discovered long ago.
Chen Shi would never have had the chance.
Suddenly, Professor Oak thought of something and grew excited again. "Chen Shi, this is a huge discovery! You could become a professor!"
Professor Oak wasn't just saying that. In his eyes, didn't the discoverer of the eighteenth type deserve to be a professor?
Anything less would be utterly absurd.
Chen Shi shook his head. "Professor, have you forgotten? I'm only sixteen."
Professor Oak froze, then looked a little deflated. That was right. Chen Shi was only sixteen, far too young. He wasn't even an adult yet.
Someone that age could become a Champion if they were strong enough, but becoming a professor was