Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 232: Little Assistant

As Xiu slept soundly beneath the tree, Xiaochun sat nearby, watching him. She thought about his words, the weariness she sensed beneath his often-cynical demeanor, and the unexpected kindness he'd shown her.

Unconsciously, she reached out a hand, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm where it lay on the grass. She simply held it there, a small, tentative connection.

Suddenly, a strange sensation enveloped her outstretched hand, as if she'd plunged it into thick, sticky mud. The feeling was deeply unsettling. Startled, she looked up.

Abra, who had been meditating atop the withered tree, was now floating silently above her with its eyes closed. Then, Abra's eyes slowly opened, its gaze fixing on hers.

The psychic connection severed as abruptly as it had formed. As it did, the sticky energy around Xiu's arm seemed to solidify for an instant, shimmering like crystal in the sunlight before dissipating completely. The warning was clear. Xiaochun instinctively snatched her hand back.

She knew better than to challenge Abra. She had witnessed its terrifying power firsthand. Others might not understand the depth of Xiu's exhaustion, the constant mental and physical strain he was under, but Abra did.

The intensive study, the management of complex situations, the nightly training sessions where Xiu pushed himself to master and refine his control over Abra's psychic abilities – it all took a heavy toll on his mind, his very essence. His strange ramblings, his sudden descent into sleep, were clear indicators of that profound fatigue.

Xiaochun, though unable to defy Abra, didn't want to leave Xiu's side. She simply squatted on the grass nearby, resuming her silent vigil.

After a while, Abra's eyes opened again. Then, without waiting for her consent, a flood of images, of memories – Xiu's daily routines, chores he performed around the institute, tasks he managed – poured into her consciousness.

Xiu woke with a start, something tickling his hair. He sat up, disoriented, blinking against the afternoon sun. The Pidgey, which had apparently been investigating his hair with its blunted beak, squawked in alarm and fluttered away, scrambling to hide behind the tree. Xiu watched it go with a bemused expression, then checked the time.

Almost two hours… I really knocked myself out. He looked around. Xiaochun was nowhere to be seen.

The backyard was quiet, steeped in the lazy afternoon heat. Most of Professor Oak's Pokémon were dozing in the shade. Only Scizor, relentless as ever, continued its training. Abra still meditated beneath its tree. Even Happiny, for once, was asleep, curled up beside a slumbering Snorlax.

Xiu smiled faintly, feeling a sense of peace. He stretched, then retrieved his notes and the journals of the previous gym leaders, intending to resume his study of the purple flower formula.

The afternoon hours were short, and despite his efforts, by the time the sun began to dip towards the horizon, he felt he'd made little progress. This is complex stuff… I can't expect to unravel it all in a few days.

The terminology, the ingredients, the sheer density of the information – his existing knowledge base, while broad, was insufficient for this level of specialized alchemical understanding. He'd memorized the formula, yes, and had a general grasp of its principles, but true comprehension, let alone modification, would require far more dedicated study.

For now, though, practical matters called. Dinner. He stood, stretched again, and headed towards the warehouse to gather ingredients for the Pokémon's evening meal.

To his surprise, he found the various Pokéblocks, grains, and supplements already measured out, neatly arranged in feed bins, ready for distribution. Strange. He frowned.

The only one who would do this… Abra? He supposed it was possible. Abra, seeing his fatigue, might have taken the initiative. He shrugged, grateful for the assistance, and efficiently distributed the food to the backyard residents and his own team.

His chores done, he walked towards the main institute building. He still needed to prepare dinner for himself, Professor Oak, and Xiaochun.

Stepping inside, he immediately sensed a difference. The usually cluttered main lab area, a testament to Professor Oak's… creative habits, and neglected by Xiu's own recent preoccupation with his studies, was… tidy. The equipment was stowed, surfaces were wiped clean, and stray papers were neatly stacked.

Professor Oak wouldn't bother with this, Xiu realized instantly. He's too engrossed in his research. He quickly searched the ground floor, finding Xiaochun in the kitchen, standing on a small stool, diligently washing vegetables at the sink.

She was so small, barely able to reach the counter even with the stool. "Hey," he said softly, stepping forward and gently lifting her down. "I can take it from here." He'd only shown her the basics of cooking as a way to share his own passion, as a way to connect. Not expecting her to actually take on the chores.

Xiaochun looked up at him, her hands still wet, her expression typically blank, perhaps a little confused by his sudden intervention.

"You've been busy enough today," Xiu said, taking over the vegetable preparation with practiced ease. "Go relax in the living room. Watch some TV. I'll call you when dinner's ready." For some reason, his own movements felt lighter, more energetic.

Xiaochun didn't leave immediately. She stood quietly to the side, watching him work, her gaze intense and learning. Xiu simply smiled in response, and as he cooked, he began to explain his techniques, sharing tips on seasoning, on heat control, on combining flavors.

For a while, a comfortable, harmonious atmosphere filled the small kitchen.

"Dinner's ready!" Xiu called out later, carrying dishes to the dining table. "Professor!"

Professor Oak eventually emerged from the lab, looking preoccupied. He paused, taking in the scene – the neatly set table, the aromatic food, Xiaochun sitting quietly, and Xiu looking unusually cheerful.

"What's all this?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You seem rather pleased with yourself."

"Xiaochun tidied up the entire ground floor earlier," Xiu explained with a grin. "Didn't you notice?"

Oak raised an eyebrow, glancing around as if seeing the lab for the first time. "Ah. So that was her. I assumed it was you." He looked from Xiu to Xiaochun, then back again, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. So, the girl is making herself useful. Taking some of the burden off Xiu.

And indeed, Xiaochun's quiet assistance proved to be a significant help. With her taking over many of the daily chores – cleaning, laundry, and basic food prep – Xiu found himself with considerably more free time.

Time he could dedicate to his studies, his research, and Scizor's training. Some days, apart from meals and essential Pokémon care, he barely left the second-floor lab, working alongside Professor Oak, each engrossed in their respective projects.

He delved deeper and deeper into the alchemical properties of the purple flower, his understanding of Bug-type physiology and enhancement expanding exponentially.

But eventually, he hit a wall as both he and Professor Oak, despite their brilliance, were not specialized material scientists or alchemical botanists. They had reached the limits of what they could achieve with their current knowledge and available equipment.

To progress further, to truly unlock the deepest secrets of the purple flower and adapt its power for Scizor, Xiu knew he would need more – more information, more specialized expertise, and access to more advanced raw materials and analytical tools.