The world was still draped in the deep, quiet blue of pre-dawn when Ryuga's eyes snapped open. Across the room, Valerius was a motionless lump under his pristine covers. The silence was absolute.
Driven by a new, sharp resolve, Ryuga slipped out of bed. He moved with a practiced stealth, his years as a gamer making him light on his feet. Dratini was already awake, its violet eyes gleaming in the gloom, sensing its trainer's determination.
"Ready to work, buddy?" Ryuga whispered, dressing quickly in a simple training outfit.
A happy, eager "Kyuu!" was his only reply.
Together, they slipped out of Wyvern Dormitory, two silent shadows in the sleeping academy.
Ryuga had used the academy map data from the system to find the perfect spot. On the far eastern edge of the campus, nestled against the ancient, misty woods, was a small, secluded clearing with a babbling stream cutting through it. The air was cool and fresh, filled with the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine. The first calls of waking Taillow and Pikipek echoed from the canopy of the banyan trees.
"Okay, this is it," Ryuga said, stretching his arms. "No distractions. Just you and me."
Dratini zipped to the center of the clearing, looking up at him expectantly.
"Yesterday, I realized something," Ryuga began, his voice serious. "Against a perfect opponent, a single opening is all you get. We need to be fast enough to create those openings, and fast enough to exploit them before they close. That's 'Operation Speed-Blitz'."
He walked to the stream and gathered a handful of smooth, flat stones.
"The drill is simple. I'm going to throw these. Your job isn't to attack, not to block, just to dodge. Focus on my movements—my shoulder, my wrist, my eyes. Predict the trajectory and move before the stone even leaves my hand. You got it?"
"Kyuu!" Dratini nodded, its body coiling into a ready stance.
"Alright, let's start slow!" Ryuga yelled, and flicked his wrist. The first stone sailed through the air. Dratini dodged it easily. The second and third, it also evaded.
"Too easy? Okay, let's pick up the pace!" Ryuga's arm became a blur. He stopped aiming and just started throwing, creating a barrage of skipping, flying stones.
*THWACK!*
A stone clipped Dratini on the tail. It let out a surprised yelp. "Kyuu!"
"Come on, I know you're faster than that!" Ryuga encouraged, not letting up. "Don't just react! Anticipate! Watch me!"
Another stone skimmed Dratini's side. But then, something clicked. Dratini's eyes narrowed in focus. It stopped watching the stones and started watching Ryuga. It saw the subtle dip of his shoulder, the angle of his wrist, the tightening of his muscles.
*WHOOSH!* It twisted its body an instant before the stone was thrown, the projectile flying harmlessly past.
*ZIP!* It ducked under another.
*WHOOSH!* It leaped and rolled, a third stone skipping on the ground beneath it.
Soon, it was no longer just dodging. It was a fluid, flowing dance. A blur of blue and white, weaving through the storm of stones with an impossible grace. Ryuga pushed himself harder, his throws becoming faster, more complex, but Dratini matched him move for move. They were perfectly in sync, trainer and Pokémon, a single unit bound by trust and a shared goal.
Finally, Ryuga threw the last stone and dropped his arm, panting. Dratini slowed to a halt, also breathing heavily, but its eyes were shining with triumph.
"Awesome work, buddy!" Ryuga cheered, rushing forward and scooping his partner into a hug. "That was amazing! You were amazing!"
"Impressive dedication. Most first-years are still dreaming about their rank."
The voice was low and resonant, and it made Ryuga jump. He spun around to see Professor Kaelen standing at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes scrutinizing them. He had no idea how long he had been watching.
"Professor!" Ryuga stood up straight, suddenly feeling like a student caught breaking curfew.
Kaelen walked forward, his gaze fixed on Dratini. "That's a decent evasion drill for a novice," he said, his tone neutral. "But your method is inefficient. You're putting too much strain on its tail pivots for balance. You'll cause muscle fatigue long before you see any real gains in explosive speed."
Ryuga's face fell slightly. He's right. I was just focused on the dodging, not the physical mechanics.
The professor stopped a few feet away, a thoughtful look on his face. "You have good instincts, Pendragon. Your gambit against Thorne yesterday, this secret training today... you think outside the box. But raw talent and clever tricks will only get you so far."
He turned his gaze to Ryuga, and for the first time, Ryuga saw a flicker of something other than stern judgment in his eyes. It was a spark of genuine interest.
"If you really want to increase its speed," Kaelen said, "you're focusing on the wrong thing. Don't just train its body. Train its mind to read the flow of battle itself."
He started to turn away, leaving Ryuga hanging on his every word.
"Come to Training Field Gamma after your classes today," the professor said over his shoulder. "I'll show you what I mean."
And without waiting for a response, he was gone, disappearing back into the morning mist as silently as he had arrived.
Ryuga stood there, stunned, Dratini looking up at him with a confused "Kyuu?". A private lesson? From a former Elite Four master? This was an opportunity beyond anything he could have imagined. A new, unexpected path had just opened right in front of him.