On the battle tower, lies Zedrick looking out to a circular window. On his hand right hand was a picture of my dearest mother Lyra. He was glancing at the portrait with few droplets of tears. He hides himself from fame and popularity.
"Father, you've been glancing on that portrait for more than an hour." his daughter confronted with a sweet voice. She has long black hair, tied up by a strand of yellow yarn. Her skin was white just like a Calla Lily. She wears an old fashioned Japanese outfit just like his father Zedrick.
"It... It's nothing Kira. Have you eaten your lunch?" Zedrick queried while looking at the portrait.
"Indeed father. Why do you look worried, was it something from the past?" Kira uttered with a gentle voice.
"Nothing, I just remembered my sister. That's all." Zedrick uttered gently.
"Oh? Are you talking about Lyra, father?"
"Yes, the son has arrived. I made him win." Zedrick uttered softly.
"Kalem? I've heard rumors of my unseen cousin. Tell me father, is he strong?"
"He's powerful Kira. His bond with his Pokemons is remarkable. It reminds me of Lyra and her Pokemons."
"Will he leave today father?"
"Who, Kalem?"
"Yes father... I wish to see him. I've never seen my cousin before. I'm curious about his Pokemons." Kira explained.
"He's going to challenge Murdock, I don't know when, tomorrow maybe?"
"Did you tell Kalem your uncle? Or should I say, go-"
"No, I... I forgot to tell him about that." Zedrick interrupted.
"Then, I'll tell him, father. After all I've never met him in my life before. I'm curious to see my cousin."
"You'll be continuing your journey already?"
"Well, I only have five badges. I need three more in order to compete in the Pokemon league. I'm sure, my cousin will be my rival, right father?"
"Indeed..."
"Tell me, father, who is stronger, me or him?"
"I'm not sure. See him if you wish too, tell him none about his mother, nor about me, except for the fact that I'm his uncle."
"Don't you mean go-"
"No, it's too early to reveal. Don't let him know about it."
"Alright father. I'll be continuing my journey."
"Good luck Kira, the Ketsueki blood runs in you," Zedrick uttered softly.
"Of course father, I won't betray it." Kira elegantly bowed before her father and left the room gently.
"Oh wait!"
"Is there anything wrong father?"
"Bring this box to Kalem, it belongs to his mother," Zedrick instructed.
"Of course father..." Kira uttered gently.
<Mawile! Mawile!>The Pokemon smiled and played with my cheeks.
"Haha! You're just like Riolu, if only I had more Poketrans gems, I could understand what you're saying." I uttered with a pleasant smile.
"So, Riolu... Mawile, what do you want to do? Murdock and Arc's match is going to be a long one for sure. Where do you want to go?" I queried and looked for the suggestions.
<Maw? Mawile? Maw?>The Pokemon uttered with confusion.
"Why don't we walk around, maybe we could see something entertaining!" Riolu suggested.
"Hmmm, not bad. Sure Riolu! Mawile, let's have a nice stroll in the city." I smiled and placed Mawile back to the floor. I stood up with excitement and smiled at the Pokemon center's exit.
The cold breeze swiveled my hair, while Mawile and Riolu play while walking. This city looks like an old Japanese town, a lot of ancient towers and buildings. Even their road is still made out of stone.
<Mawile?>The big screen caught Mawile's attention.
"Oh Mawile, is there anything wrong?"I queried.
<Maw! Maw!>The Pokemon pointed.
"Ahh, I see. That's a gym challenge. The one wearing a black coat is Murdock, and the one with blond hair is the world champion Arc!" I explained while looking at the big screen.
I wasn't interested in watching battles, for now, a trainer needs relaxation once in a while. I've been battling for days now!
"Hey Mawile, wanna meet our friends later?" Riolu queried.
"Friends? But I thought you're my only friend." Mawile uttered while we walked down the city.
"Um of course not, you'll meet them later, they're funny and silly! Except for Petilil."
"Petilil, who's Petilil?"
"Oh, she's a grass Pokemon. You'll see her later." Riolu smiled pleasantly.
"Hey Riolu, Mawile, want some sweet apples on a stick?" I queried while pointing at the sweet apple stand.
<Maw! Maw!>The Pokemon nodded and smiled.
"Me too Kalem, I want one too!" Riolu beamed with eagerness and excitement.
"Sure, let's buy some!"
We sat on a bench, eating our sweet apples on a stick. It was delicious, but the ones in Enkephalos town are much more delicious than the ones here.
"These apples are sweet, I like it!" Mawile uttered with a happy smile on her face.
"I know right? Sweet apples are the best!" Riolu added while taking a small bite from his sweet apple.
"Murdock is truly amazing, even the world champion lost to him..." Two men uttered loudly with excitement. It looks like to me they came from the tower of blessings.
"Well what do you know, Arc lost. Now I'm next." I uttered softly.
"If you think like that, it will really happen to you," Riolu uttered.
"Yeah, mother always told me her Japanese quotes. That was one of them." I uttered with a smile while panting Riolu's head.
<Maw! Maw!>The Pokemon begged.
"Of course, you can also have a pat on the head." I smiled and giggled.
There's pretty much nothing to do in this city. Except for the towers which I plan to visit tomorrow. I have no choice but wait and stare at the crowd while eating my sweet apple.
"Since Murdock specializes in ghost type Pokemon, Zoroark is a good choice." I uttered softly while thinking of strategies.
"Yes, Zoroark is a dark type which is super effective against ghost types." A young girl from behind me uttered.
"Ahh! Do I know you!?" I stood up right away in shock and surprise. Riolu and Mawile hid behind my leg.
"Such cute Pokemons for a strong trainer like you." The girl complimented and walked closer to me.
"No... stand back, are you a member of team Chaos!?" I uttered with an alarmed body. Riolu was in his fighting stance while Mawile shivered in fear.
"Team Chaos does not run in our blood. Don't worry." The girl uttered and comforted. She knelt down and played with Riolu's head.
"What do you mean "our"? Do I know you? You haven't answered my question!" I uttered with slight frustration.
"Oh sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. You have such cute Pokemons by the way." The girl smiled.
"Thanks, so tell me... do I know you?"
"No... you don't know me, but I know you, Kalem!" the girl smiled and chuckled.
"How do you know me!? You're a spy!"
"I'm sorry to say, but you are wrong. Like what I said, team Chaos doesn't flow in our blood."
"What blood?"
"The Ketsueki blood of course. My name is Kira, and I'm a Pokemon trainer just like you."
"Ketsueki blood? Are you from my mother's side? Are you my long lost sister?"
"It's true what the rumors say, you are a funny boy Kalem. No, I am not your sister, I am your cousin, Kira Ketsueki." The young girl chucked and introduced.
"I... I have a cousin? My mother never told me about that."
"There are a lot of things you don't know about the Ketsueki blood. My father is Zedrick, and he is your uncle."
"Re... Really? So that means, my mother and him are sisters right?"
"Yes, that is indeed correct. I also have this wooden box for you. It was from my father." Kira took the box from her bag and gave it to me.
"A wooden box? For me?"
"Indeed, here you go," Kira smiled pleasantly.
"Tell your father I said thank you."
"Sorry but I can't. I'm also in my journey, to become a Pokemon Master just like my father. You want to become a Pokemon Master just like your mother right?"
"Yeah, how did you know about me?"
"Father always told me about you. I was eager to meet a strong trainer. I guess the blood of our family truly runs in us."
"Ketsueki blood? The truth is, I don't know much about my mother's back story when she was a kid."
"I see, your mother is a scientist right? Or professor in other terms. Do you want to know the true history of our blood? I can show you if you wish."
"Really? Thanks Kira, you saved me from boredom... but show me proof that you're my cousin!"
"After all that talking, you still don't believe me?"
"How did you know I was Kalem?"
"Simple, my father showed me a picture of you, plus you look like your mother."
"If you're a Ketsueki, then you must ha-"
"This amulet?" Kira showed me an orange gem tied unto her hand.
"Yes, you really are a Ketsueki, this is my amulet." I showed Kira an orange amulet, which only the Ketsueki has.
"Now do you believe me?"
"Of course I do, your amulet proves everything!"
"And you are over exaggerating." Kira teased.
"Camellia's not going to be happy when she sees this," Riolu uttered softly.
"Camellia, who's Camellia?" Mawile queried.
"She's Kalem's best friend, she admires him," Riolu explained.
"Oh, now I see..." Mawile slowly nodded her head.
"So Kalem, come with me. I can be your tour guide if you wish! I know this place, this is the province/city of your mother and her blood!"
"Sure Kira..."
"Then, what are you waiting for cousin? Let's go!" Kira beamed with excitement and grabbed my hand. Riolu and Mawile tried to keep up.
"Bye Zhery, Glade, and Camellia! I'll be training hard so I could defeat Murdock again." Arc smiled with joy even though he lost.
"Sure Arc, see you next time!" Glade smiled back and waved as Arc walked further from the three of them.
"At least Arc is not like Kalem who weeps when he loses," Zhery uttered.
"Well I think, Kalem could totally knock out Murdock's Pokemons right away. After all, Kalem is stronger." Camellia declined Zhery's statements.
"Arc is already the world champion, and yet he lost. I don't think Kalem is going to win." Glade uttered with worry.
"He'll surely win, just watch his battle tomorrow!" Camellia suggested.
"You didn't watch Arc's battle. You fell asleep." Zhery recalled and teased slightly.
"Arc's battle was not interesting, Kalem fights better than him!" Camellia uttered.
"Come on, let's meet Kalem in the Pokemon center!" Glade suggested.
"Sure... he's probably training with his Pokemons. I can't believe he defeated Zedrick." Camellia uttered.
"Hmm, he's probably lying."
"Kalem is a lot of things but he's not a liar!" Camellia infuriated.
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"This city is surrounded with a total of seven towers.
-Tower of Blessing, or the place where gym battles occur.
-Tundra Tower, or where you can find Zapdos
-Magma Tower, or where you can find Moltes.
-Aqua or Ice Tower or where you can find Articuno.
-Battle Tower, the place where you defeated my father.
-Tower of Being, the place where Pokemons are burried when they die.
-Tower of Curse, this is where Murdock trains with his Pokemon, it's off-limits except for him." Kira explained while we walked through the city.
"Oh, now I understand!"
"Now... Do you want to know more about your blood? The blood which runs in you?" Kira queried.
"Yes, I'll be glad to know!"
"Then follow me, let's take a dive into the history of our family!" Kira uttered with excitement and pulled my hand again.
"Ketsueki" the blood which runs through me, the blood which runs through my mother. A blood passed down from generation to generation. It's time to know more about my family.
As the journey continues...