Chapter 244: A Cryptic Warning
"Daisy, my dear! You're back!" Professor Oak's voice, usually so composed, held a rare delight as he greeted his granddaughter. Xiu had rarely seen him smile so genuinely.
"Professor, everything's clean and tidy here," Xiu interjected, feeling suddenly out of place in a private family moment. "If there's nothing else, I should probably head back to the institute. There are things I need to attend to."
And this atmosphere is becoming increasingly awkward. Time to make a strategic retreat and indulge in some well-deserved time off.
"Nonsense, Xiu, don't rush off!" Oak protested, his good mood infectious. He clapped Xiu on the shoulder, pulling him forward. "You two have likely already met, but allow me to make the introductions. Xiu, this is my granddaughter, Daisy Oak.
Daisy, this is Xiu, my research assistant."
Xiu offered a polite nod and Daisy returned it with a warm smile. Neither said anything further, both looking expectantly at the Professor.
"Now, where's that young scamp, Gary?" Oak boomed, his gaze sweeping the room. "Daisy, go fetch your brother. I picked up some of his favorite snacks in town." He then bustled over to the kitchen counter, retrieving the freshly washed tea set and headed back towards the living room with Daisy.
Xiu blinked. Professor Oak… buying snacks? While the Professor didn't entirely subsist on only ramen and cup noodles, catering to someone's specific tastes like this was unusual. He was generally more focused on research than on social niceties. Gary and Daisy must hold a special place in his heart.
A few moments later, Daisy returned, gently guiding a reluctant Gary down the stairs. "Grandpa," Gary mumbled, greeting perfunctory and gaze fixed pointedly on the floor. He seemed determined to avoid eye contact with the Professor.
Oak, however, seemed oblivious to the boy's sullen demeanor. "Gary! There you are!" he exclaimed, beaming. "Come here, let your old grandpa have a look at you. My, you've grown this past year! You'll be a young man before we know it."
Gary remained stubbornly rooted to the spot, his eyes darting around the room, anywhere but at his grandfather.
Daisy, sensing the mounting awkwardness, gently took her brother's hand. "Come on, Gary. Grandpa's calling you."
"I brought snacks," Oak said, his smile faltering slightly as he gestured towards the coffee table. He reached out as if to ruffle Gary's hair, but the boy flinched away. Oak's hand dropped, a flicker of hurt in his eyes, quickly masked. "Well, don't just stand there, son. Come, sit."
Daisy nodded to her grandfather, then practically dragged Gary to the sofa, pushing him down onto the cushions. This younger brother of hers, Xiu observed, seems to be quite a handful.
"And Gary," Oak said, his voice regaining some of its earlier forced cheerfulness, "this is Xiu, who's been assisting me at the lab." He gestured proudly towards Xiu.
Xiu offered another polite nod. Gary, however, merely shot him a brief, dismissive glance.
As the conversation progressed – or rather, as Oak and Daisy tried to engage a mostly unresponsive Gary – Xiu found himself observing Professor Oak with a new, critical eye.
The confident, authoritative scientist he knew seemed to have vanished. In Gary's presence, Professor Oak was… seemingly at an impasse. His attempts at a conversation were met with grunts or outright silence from his grandson.
What is going on here? The tension was palpable. Gary's disrespect, his blatant disregard for his grandfather, was evident to the eye. And Oak… Oak just seemed to take it.
This is Professor Oak's family business, Xiu reminded himself. Logically, it's none of my concern. However, seeing the renowned professor, a man he respected, treated with such contempt by a spoiled child…
He kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining a neutral expression, but a knot of irritation tightened in his gut. It's always difficult for an outsider to judge matters when it comes to family... no one could ever be sure about the situation at all.
"Professor," Xiu finally interjected, unable to bear the awkward atmosphere any longer, "the Pokémon will be expecting their evening meal soon. I should probably head back and see to them."
"Ah, yes, of course, Xiu," Oak replied, clearly relieved by the interruption. He waved a dismissive hand. "You run along then."
"Okay." Xiu practically bolted, eager to be gone.
After Xiu had left, Daisy turned to her grandfather, a puzzled expression on her face. "Grandpa, that Mr. Xiu… is he really your assistant? I just assumed he was someone you'd hired temporarily to help clean the house."
Oak chuckled, unfazed. He hadn't employed a regular assistant for years. "Xiu is… unconventional," he admitted. "But quite capable."
"We didn't really talk about much," Daisy said, recalling her earlier conversation with Xiu in the kitchen. "Just… small talk." Then, a thoughtful frown. "Grandpa… there's something… different about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but… it's like I can't get a proper read on him. It's unsettling."
"Xiu is not like most people, Daisy," Oak said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "It's normal that you find him… difficult to understand. It's best if you and Gary maintain a respectful distance.
From him and his Pokémon," Oak's gaze grew distant, almost troubled, "especially his Abra… do not approach them. You children… you wouldn't be able to withstand their presence."
Daisy nodded, though confusion still clouded her eyes. She trusted her grandfather, but his words only deepened the mystery surrounding the quiet young man. "Alright, Grandpa." She then brightened, eager to change the subject. "So, tell me, what interesting research have you been working on this year?"
Soon, the sound of a conversation filled the living room – primarily Oak and Daisy, with Gary occasionally offering a response here and there.
Better to be back at the lab, Xiu thought, breathing a sigh of relief as he stepped into the institute's backyard. That atmosphere was suffocating. At this hour, most of Professor Oak's Pokémon were lounging, lazily awaiting their dinner. Only Scizor and Abra remained focused on their training.
Scizor was still drilling its lower body techniques, its movements now more fluid, and its balance significantly improved. Its increased weight and altered center of gravity after evolution was now becoming more stable, though its turning radius was still problematic and its overall dash distance reduced.
It's going to be a long-term project. The Scyther-based techniques no longer apply. We're essentially rebuilding its agility from the ground up, but we have time.
Abra's training, as always, was largely invisible to the casual observer. It floated beneath its withered tree, eyes closed as an aura of intense psychic energy shimmered faintly around it. Only Xiu, through their deep telepathic bond, could perceive the complex mental exercises it was undertaking and the constant push to refine its control.
He approached, and Abra opened its eyes, its gaze meeting his. Xiu closed his own eyes, allowing their minds to connect, to share a direct, unfiltered stream of sensory data and abstract thought. Describing Abra's training verbally would distort its essence. Direct experience is the only way to truly understand.
After a long while, Xiu opened his eyes, a new layer of understanding settling within him. He stepped back, allowing Abra to resume its meditation, and turned towards the warehouse to prepare the evening meals.
Of all his companions, Abra was the one he worried about least. Its intelligence was nearly human, its memory prodigious. It possessed an innate capacity for critical analysis and independent problem-solving, which was truly remarkable. Scizor has the will, but needs guidance. Happiny is… well, Happiny.
But Abra… Abra understands.