Chen Kai gently pushed open the door to the B&B, and the cool air rushed in, instantly bringing a sense of comfort to his hot body.
He immediately saw his grandfather sitting quietly in a wicker chair on the terrace, tightly cradling the trembling, disheveled Swablu in his arms.
His grandfather's wrinkled hands were gently stroking it, and he was murmuring softly, as if comforting a child who had been wronged.
The Swablu buried its small head deep in his grandfather's warm palm, occasionally letting out tiny, aggrieved 'chirps,' completely losing its usual cleverness from when it was Slacking Off.
"Grandpa…" Chen Kai walked over slowly, a bit guiltily.
His grandfather looked up, a gentle smile on his face, and replied, "Xiao Kai, you're back? Swablu flew back in a panic. This little guy, usually has a big appetite, but I didn't expect it to be so timid."
Chen Kai recounted everything that had happened on the beach to his grandfather, especially Dracovish's shocking Ice Fang and how Swablu had been so scared it flew away, telling him every detail.
He didn't hide Swablu's usual problem of Slacking Off during training, frankly stating his own conjectures.
His grandfather listened quietly, his age-worn fingers still gently preening Swablu's feathers.
On the terrace, there was only the rustling of the sea breeze through the coconut trees and Swablu's faint, almost sobbing 'chirps.'
After a long while, his grandfather sighed deeply.
Chen Kai's uncle and mother had both been married and established their careers for many years, and even Chen Kai, the youngest in the family, was about to become an adult. So, his grandfather's attention was almost entirely focused on this Swablu, which he had spent a fortune on and pulled several strings to acquire.
And ever since Swablu hatched from its egg, it had been by his grandfather's side.
His grandfather lowered his head, his eyes full of tenderness and reluctance, looking at the little one he cherished in his arms.
Swablu seemed to sense something, raising its small head and looking at his grandfather with its still-moist, dark little eyes, innocently and confusedly.
"Little one…" His grandfather's voice was filled with deep reluctance, but his gaze gradually became firm:
"If you stay with an old man like me, spending your days Charm-ing and Slacking Off in the sun, you'll never grow up. The outside world is vast and full of dangers… but only by experiencing storms can you become a true dragon soaring through the sky!"
Under Swablu's suddenly terrified and disbelieving gaze, his grandfather's hand trembled slightly, yet he firmly reached into his pocket and pulled out the Poké Ball that symbolized Swablu's belonging.
"Take it!" His grandfather's voice was decisive, and he unhesitatingly pushed the Poké Ball into Chen Kai's hand.
The Poké Ball was cool and heavy to the touch, as if carrying all of his grandfather's hopes and reluctance.
"From now on, you're no longer 'helping'! Swablu is officially entrusted to you! You are its true Trainer! Train it when it needs training, and manage it when it needs managing! Don't worry about this old man anymore!"
"Swa—?!"
Swablu let out a sharp, distorted shriek! It suddenly lifted its head from his grandfather's arms, its small eyes wide and round, looking at his grandfather, then at the Poké Ball in Chen Kai's hand that belonged to it, then at his grandfather's determined face, and finally back at Chen Kai.
Its eyes were filled with the shock of being abandoned, profound confusion, and immense fear of the unknown future!
Chen Kai looked down at the Poké Ball in his hand, then at the heavy trust and entrustment in his grandfather's eyes, and finally his gaze fell on the completely stunned Swablu.
"Grandpa… I…" Chen Kai took a deep breath, tightly gripped the Poké Ball, and said firmly, "I understand. I will take good care of it and train it with all my might. I will… make it a Pokémon worthy of your expectations!"
With that, Chen Kai, full of sincerity, slowly and carefully extended his hand towards Swablu, his voice extremely gentle: "Swablu, from now on, please take care of me!"
However, Chen Kai's kind comfort and extended hand, in the eyes of the startled and angry Swablu, were like a terrible threat! It felt incredibly wronged and scared by his grandfather's decision to "give it away," and this "new Trainer" in front of it seemed like a devil—it was because of him that it had to leave Bai Weimin!
It would have to go into a bunch of "weird" dragons, train hard every day, smell like sweat, and never have delicious food again.
The more it thought about it, the more it broke down, and the anger in Swablu's heart burned brighter.
"Swa—!!!" Swablu let out a hostile shriek!
It suddenly broke free from his grandfather's arms, its small body arching up like an angry white Venonat!
Just as Chen Kai's hand was about to touch its feathers, it darted its head out like lightning and, with its small but now powerful beak, fiercely—pecked Chen Kai's outstretched finger!
"Hiss!" Chen Kai winced in pain and instinctively pulled his hand back.
"Swablu! Don't be rude!" His grandfather sternly reprimanded.
Immediately after, his grandfather anxiously asked his grandson, "Are you alright, Xiao Kai?" Although Swablu was usually lazy, it still had Normal Class strength.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Chen Kai rubbed his finger, finding a clear red mark left on his fingertip.
Seeing that Chen Kai was alright, his grandfather breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes full of heartache and disappointment as he looked at Swablu.
Swablu's resistant, even aggressive, behavior towards its new Trainer further confirmed his judgment—he had indeed spoiled this little one!
It had grown accustomed to ease and indulgence, losing the courage a Pokémon should possess, and even showed hostility towards a Trainer trying to express kindness!
If this continued, it would never grow!
Watching Swablu still angrily chirping at Chen Kai and flapping its wings, refusing to come closer, his grandfather's gaze completely solidified.
He took Swablu's Poké Ball from Chen Kai's hand.
"Sigh… I spoiled you." His grandfather's voice was filled with deep self-reproach, but his actions were exceptionally swift.
He pressed the button on the Poké Ball.
Whoosh!
A red light precisely enveloped Swablu, which was still demonstrating against Chen Kai.
"Swa—?!" Swablu only managed to let out a short, startled shriek before it was recalled into the Poké Ball by the red light.
The Poké Ball in his hand shook slightly, then became still.
His grandfather looked at the Poké Ball, now calm in his hand, then at the red mark on Chen Kai's finger, and let out a long sigh.
He once again pushed the Poké Ball back into Chen Kai's hand.
"Take it!" His grandfather's voice was decisive, "This little thing has been spoiled by me! Now, it's entrusted to you! Discipline it well! Let it know what training is, and what a Dragon-type Pokémon should be like! Use your methods to make it stronger!"
Chen Kai gave a wry smile, looking down at the Poké Ball in his hand that had just captured the angry little bird, then looked up at the heavy trust and a hint of unspeakable heartache in his grandfather's eyes, and finally his gaze seemed to penetrate the Poké Ball's shell, seeing the small figure inside filled with fear, anger, and confusion.
Helpless, Chen Kai could only say to the Poké Ball again, "Well, then, please take care of me again."
