The next morning, as if nothing had happened, Aoki led his Pokémon toward Celestic Town. The only difference was three additional markings on his right wrist. Passing through Solaceon Town, Aoki chose not to enter. Unaware that Solaceon Town was the Sinnoh region's closest location to another dimension, he encountered a group of Unown just outside the city limits.
Since Aoki didn't enter Solaceon Town, the encounter had no lasting impact. However, he became curious about the secret space created by the Unown's Secret Power ability in the wild and decided to experiment with it. By the time he arrived in Celestic Town, there were still seven days remaining before the Sinnoh League competition.
One week.
During the journey, his Marshtomp and Poliwhirl had been his primary training partners. Marshtomp had reached level 32, just four levels away from evolving into Swampert. Meanwhile, Poliwhirl was at level 33, still slightly short of meeting Aoki's expectations. Since they were traveling along the main League route, the wild Pokémon they encountered were relatively weak, slowing their leveling progress.
However, skill refinement and energy control training didn't depend on the opponent's strength. For that reason, Aoki avoided summoning his other Pokémon for battles, focusing instead on these two to solidify their foundations. This approach would save time on remedial training later.
Upon arriving in Celestic Town, Aoki was immediately struck by the overwhelming sense of ancient history permeating the air. The town was sparsely populated—so much so that it felt almost deserted. Most of the residents were distantly related to Cynthia, some more closely than others. Whether through distant ancestry or closer familial ties, they were all descendants of the same lineage.
Celestic Town was, in essence, a gathering place for Cynthia's extended family—guardians of ancient secrets.
Cynthia had received Aoki's message earlier that morning, so when he arrived, he found her training her Pokémon just outside town. The two weren't particularly close; even after Cynthia had personally challenged him in the past, their relationship remained neutral. However, after Aoki provided restorative treatments for her Pokémon, customized training plans, and specially crafted Pokéblocks, they had grown somewhat closer. After all, seven days of interaction had given them a basic understanding of each other.
"Cynthia, long time no see," Aoki greeted with a smile, his Poliwhirl and Marshtomp trailing behind him.
Cynthia, clad in her signature black coat, gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment. To an outsider, she might have seemed cold, but Aoki knew this was simply her usual demeanor—even with those she considered acquaintances. The fact that she acknowledged him at all was a sign of familiarity.
Though years of battling and training had honed her skills, her social interactions remained somewhat lacking compared to someone like Steven. But then again, Steven only spent half his time training Pokémon. As the future president of Devon Corporation, business negotiations had been part of his upbringing. For him, communication was second nature.
Cynthia recalled her Pokémon and motioned for Aoki to follow her into town. She didn't mind that he had seen what she was training—after all, he already knew her main team. She wasn't the type to rely on secret strategies. What did tactics matter when overwhelming power could crush any opponent?
That said, Aoki noticed her Pokémon had grown significantly stronger. The Sinnoh League was shaping up to be a fierce competition.
Aoki himself had no grand ambitions for his ranking. With Steven as the primary contender, the League's expectations of him were minimal. His goal was simple: reach the top eight. Anything beyond that was a bonus.
As they walked through Celestic Town, they passed several residents, all of whom greeted them with serene smiles. When they recognized Cynthia, they called out her name warmly, and by extension, Aoki received polite nods as well. Cynthia responded with her usual brief acknowledgments, a habit the townsfolk were long accustomed to.
A group of children playing nearby paused when they noticed Aoki's Pokémon, their eyes alight with curiosity. Yet they remained well-mannered, refraining from rushing over. Instead, they waved and called, "Big Sister Cynthia!"
It struck Aoki that Cynthia was something of a local celebrity.
"So, you're the one this whole town looks up to," Aoki mused as they walked. "No wonder you push yourself so hard. Even when you're exhausted, you keep going." Admiration flickered in his eyes as he studied her determined figure.
Celestic Town was small, and it didn't take long to reach its heart—a weathered but well-maintained building that was clearly Cynthia's home.
"Come in," she said, her voice crisp.
Aoki followed her inside.
The house was wooden, yet instead of the musty scent of age, it carried a faint, pleasant aroma of timber and old books. The atmosphere was tranquil, the kind of place where one could find peace of mind.
Cynthia poured tea for Aoki before sitting across from him. The delicate fragrance of the tea added to the calming ambiance.
"The Sinnoh League is about to begin," Cynthia remarked. "Why come to Celestic Town instead of training?"
Aoki took a sip before answering. "You know as well as I do that solo training has diminishing returns. Short-term drills can only do so much. Battling is far more effective for rapid growth."
A glint of interest flashed in Cynthia's eyes.
Realizing what was coming, Aoki hastily raised his hands. "I'm not here to battle you. The League will have more than enough fights. No need to start now."
As the competitive light in Cynthia's gaze dimmed, Aoki exhaled in relief.
That was close.
Fighting Cynthia now was out of the question—better to leave that to Steven.
"If you didn't come for a battle," Cynthia said, "then there's little else here to strengthen you."
Aoki smiled. "I've already been training on the way here. Besides, Mount Coronet near Celestic Town is an excellent spot. And since it's my first time in Sinnoh, I was curious about the legends surrounding this place."