Chu Xin chatted with Lei Xiao as they walked through the campus, and eventually the conversation turned to Lei Jing.
"That boy Lei Jing was spurred on by you, too. You weren't as strong as him at first, but now you've left him behind. If he doesn't work harder, you really will leave him in the dust."
Just then, Zhuo Xing quietly nudged Chu Xin from beside him.
"Lei Jing? Wasn't he one of the seeded candidates in the Monster Handler Examination? You know him, too?"
Chu Xin looked at Zhuo Xing and nodded. He couldn't exactly say they didn't know each other; he could only say he really wished they were strangers.
"How strong is Lei Jing now? Is that Growlithe of his strong?"
"Growlithe evolved into Arcanine ages ago. Whatever other Pokémon they might have at the Police Academy, they certainly have plenty of experience raising Arcanine."
Chu Xin nodded. That was true. A Pokémon as loyal as Arcanine was practically standard issue for police officers. Even Aunt Lei Xiao had a powerful Arcanine.
Arcanine was a Pokémon resembling a large dog. Fluffy, flax-colored fur covered its face. Its eyes had turned brown, and its body bore black-and-orange stripes like a tiger's. Fur surrounded its feet, and it had a long tail. When it ran, its body seemed to merge with the wind, giving it an imposing presence. Hisuian Arcanine looked like a stone lion. Its fur was grayish-black, with the fur on its head forming a horn. The ring of fur around its neck spread outward like flower petals, with red fur in the middle. Its tail pointed upward, and fur surrounded its feet as well.
Arcanine was a majestic Pokémon from ancient Eastern legends. One legend told of it fighting alongside a military commander long ago