Freedom was something Riku valued over most things. The freedom to explore the region, to meet anyone and take your own decisions. Being a pokemon trainer was her dream since she was a little girl. Most kids have the same dream, but she always felt it stronger than most.
Her dream ended a long time ago for reasons more important than freedom. She still was free enough to take her own decisions, and that's why today she decided to leave work early.
Her usual work was… taxing at best, but it was the only way to pay the debt. She wasn't going to just sell the house where all her good memories were. Her little brother needed a home to return to after his travels. She still remembers those happy days going back home after spending weeks exploring the region's forests and mountains.
She took a deep breath. Humidity and the smell of salt in the air. The docks were just behind the warehouses. A long time ago this smell was calming, now it only makes her think about work, and that was the last thing she wanted to think about right now. It was time for her favorite pastime.
Freedom was something she valued over most things, and her pastime was the most free experience she could think of in the city.
She started to run away from the sea, to the city center. The busy main streets were too crowded for her taste, so she took the smaller ones. The streets where only the people with things to do in them walked. Backstreets, alleyways, the city was her playground as she jumped over benches and parked cars. Her legs heated with each jump and movement.
The outfit she used to work was much more suitable to this sort of thing. Shorts and a shirt. Her hair tied in a ponytail. Both her jobs required movement and, even if she always liked to wear skirts, this was the best option. She tried freerunning with a skirt once. Just once.
As she got away from the docks, the buildings grew taller and some of the alleyways started to look dirtier. Veilstone was a clean city, but even the cleanest one has some bad places. It was time to change her route a bit.
Her hand moved to her only pokeball, releasing her Sableye. The pokemon had an easy time following her. She was faster, but the time she took to jump over a low wall, spinning in the air, he used to close the gap. The pokemon had a lot of training in blending with the shadows… literally. The Sableye merged with the shadows and used them as a portal to appear closer to his trainer. All shadows were for him like a portal into some sort of shadow dimension were he was much faster than any human running over obstacles.
They reached a dead end… Or it would be a dead end for most people, but not for them. The Sableye jumped into her shoulder, already knowing what to do. Riku didn't slow down or stop, the building in front of her getting closer. A plain wall with only graffiti and a couple pipes going upwards, nothing else. No ladder, no doors. She wasn't going to stop.
For anyone looking it would seem as if she were crazy, running headfirst into a wall… But as soon as she reached it, she disappeared into the shadows the pipes casted over the wall.
The shadow dimension was cold, really cold. Riku always hated spending too much time there. The fact that there was absolutely no light or oxygen also didn't help. She was holding her breath, the weight on her shoulder the only thing not letting her panic.
As soon as the light returned, she breathed again, stopping for a moment. Her body somehow was able to do this, to merge with the shadows with her pokemon's help… But being able to do it doesn't mean she was built for it. She needed a second to recover. The Sableye wasn't happy, having to be in a place with too much sunlight. She understood, it was afternoon but the sun was still up and it shined brightly over the rooftop.
She smiled as she looked around. She climbed a really tall building in less than ten seconds thanks to her pokemon. She was able to see everything from there, only the tallest buildings blocking her line of sight. Everyone walked on the streets below, like ants, working their jobs and carrying stuff from one place to another. From work to home, from home to work.
Up there, she felt free. Even if it was only an illusion.
She started running again once she recovered. This time the obstacles changed. Instead of parked cars and badly maintained benches, she jumped over metal rails and vents. Sliding bellow pipes and even sometimes having to dodge a clothesline or two. And, when she ran out of roof… A jump to the next one. A rush of air and adrenaline as she jumped over a huge fall, landing safely on the next rooftop. Most buildings around there had the same height, sometimes having to climb pipes or ladders to go higher.
She knew the rooftops better than the streets below.
Time passed as she kept running. Stopping to rest at some point, leaving the rooftops to drink some water. It was in one of these occasions that she saw her little brother. He looked… Beyond tired. He had training with Maylene today and it seems that she didn't go easy on him. With a smile she got closer. She still wanted to run, still wanted to feel that intoxicating freedom… It was something she valued over most things.
But some things are even more important than freedom, like buying ice-cream with her little brother and hearing about today's training.
⁂
You spent most of the afternoon with your sister. She bought you ice-cream as some sort of celebration for surviving today's training. Yay… She went home to make some dinner. She said you needed to eat healthy at least once while at home. Somehow you doubt it will happen too often.
Before going home too, you had to go pay a visit to your companions. You promised Lily and Violet you were going to visit and, even if it was going to be a really short visit because visiting hours where almost over, you bought a bag of sweets to keep Lily from grumbling too much.
It worked surprisingly well.
⁂
The day was over and your muscles screamed in pain. The collar was activated, and the added weight was obvious. Maylene told you to keep the weight on all week. It wasn't too much, but just enough to be noticeable, even laying down in bed.
You had some time before falling asleep. Your pokemon were already snoring in a corner of your room, so you were relatively alone. Time to think about what to do the next day... Better to have a plan so you don't waste time in the morning…
Maylene told you that she had stuff to do, so no training tomorrow. She also told you that Nalle would be happy to help you train if you want, but you could also use that time for something else while your body recovers.
A hand went lazily to your poketch, scrolling over the contact list. Rose sent you Akahime's number. You remember her offer… She seemed to know Cynthia more than just as the champion… Maybe they are friends? She seemed strong at least. Training from her would be certainly useful… Maybe you should call Cynthia first.
Veilstone training day 2/14 (Tuesday)
You have the option to do two things each day. The whole day will probably be posted in just one update unless something special happens. You can vote on two things to do, and the actions with more votes will be chosen.
[] Training with Maylene: Training for you and your pokemon. Will raise rank. You will also interact with Belle for minor relationship gain.
[] Special training with Maylene: Like training but to train an ability or move. Same rules as with Cynthia apply but you can't teach your pokemon things they could not usually learn. Specify in your vote.
[] Training with Nalle: Training for you and your pokemon. It's not as good as Maylene's training, but better than training alone.
[] Spend time with... : Spend time with someone. A social action. Will give good relationship gain and might lead to special events. Anyone you've met that is inside Veilstone right now is available.
[] Go check The Guardians' base: You have an invitation from Akahime to train with her. She feels like Cynthia, maybe her training is as good as hers? Will open new training options for the future.
[] Go catch a pokemon: Hunt for a specific pokemon in the routes surrounding Veilstone. Check wiki for available pokemon. Will take the whole day.
[] Write-in: Anything you want to do that isn't here? Maybe look for a way to get some money, maybe buy some stuff… Or just be lazy and play videogames all day.
