Pokemon Battle System: I Reincarnated As A Charmander

After leaving the Battle Tower, Lian accompanied Kalia to a nearby building - the Pokémon Library.

The Pokémon Library housed numerous books and resources about Pokémon, which was one of the reasons Kalia chose Ruby City for her Trainer assessment. Reading extensively is immensely beneficial for Trainers, as it expands their knowledge of Pokémon. Some of this information is even included in beginner Trainer exams.

The second reason for visiting the library was due to Kalia's relative, who also happened to be her father's adoptive mother: Grandma Mana.

Upon entering the library, Kalia immediately sought out the librarian, none other than Grandma Mana herself.

Grandma Mana had been working at the Ruby City library for many years. During Kalia's childhood, her father often brought her here to study and play.

Apart from meeting Grandma Mana, Kalia planned to stay at the library since accommodations in Ruby City were quite expensive. Compared to Falcon City's Pokemon Hotels, hotels here were more than twice as pricey. Staying at a Pokemon Hotel was not feasible for her, and the Pokémon Centers would likely be fully booked with Trainers.

Having not seen Grandma Mana for a long time, staying at the library would allow Kalia to spend daily quality time with the elderly woman while having easy access to reading materials without constant commuting.

Additionally, it was conveniently close to the Battle Tower, just a short walk away, saving her considerable time.

Kalia entered the first floor of the library, where a serene atmosphere prevailed. Occasionally, she heard the rustling of pages turning and whispers among patrons.

Due to the library's rule prohibiting Pokemon from leaving their Poké Balls, which could disturb others' reading experience, Lian remained inside his Poké Ball, sensing no activity outside.

Kalia slowed her pace, gradually approaching the end of the first floor. In her memory, Grandma Mana always preferred sitting near the corner window, wearing glasses while diligently flipping through books.

As Kalia reached the far end, a familiar yet distant figure came into view. It had been a long time since she last met with Grandma Mana; ever since becoming a Gym Leader, her visits to Ruby City became rare.

"Feel free to browse the books, but please don't disturb others or create any loud commotion," Grandma Mana spoke without lifting her head, her voice slightly aged, as she sensed someone approaching.

"Woo woo~"

At that moment, the Vulpix on the table emitted a sound, recognizing Kalia's scent despite not seeing her for a long time. The Vulpix still remembered Kalia fondly.

"Vulpix, it's been so long!"

Seeing the Vulpix nearby, Kalia's face lit up with a nostalgic smile. This Vulpix had been her childhood companion. Its fur was not purely reddish-brown but had hints of blue, giving it a striking appearance.

This Vulpix was considered a shiny Pokemon, as its fur coloration had mutated due to genetic factors.

Although not exceptionally powerful, it possessed great potential. Its ultimate evolution form is the Fire-type Ninetales, achievable through the use of a Fire Stone.

"Hmm?"

Recognizing the familiar voice, Grandma Mana shuddered slightly and slowly lifted her head to look at Kalia, surprise evident on her kind face.

"Kalia, is that you?" Grandma Mana spoke incredulously, as she hadn't seen Kalia in a long time and assumed Kalia might have forgotten about her.

"Yes, it's me, Kalia, Grandma Mana!" Kalia crouched down, smiling warmly.

At that moment, the Vulpix jumped from the table into Kalia's arms, affectionately nuzzling her cheek.

"Vulpix, you haven't changed a bit." Kalia gently stroked Vulpix's soft fur, clearly enjoying the moment.

The Vulpix responded joyfully, seemingly overjoyed to see Kalia again. Despite their long separation, their bond remained strong and unchanged.

"Kalia, you've grown up now. It's unfortunate that Karley couldn't see this," Grandma Mana said with satisfaction, but then her tone turned slightly melancholic.

Karley was Kalia's father.

"Kalia, I heard you inherited the gym. How has it been going?" Grandma Mana asked, unaware of Kalia no longer being the Gym Leader, as she had never left the library.

"Grandma Mana, I'm no longer the Gym Leader. Now, I'm a new Trainer and have just earned three badges," Kalia explained.

"At your young age, being a Gym Leader must have been overwhelming, wasting precious time for growth. Choosing to become a Trainer is indeed the right decision."

"You're here in Ruby City to participate in the Trainer assessment, aren't you?" Grandma Mana quickly guessed Kalia's purpose.

"Yes," Kalia nodded, holding Vulpix close, feeling its warm tail, reminiscent of her childhood memories.

"Why don't you stay here these few days? There are plenty of rooms available, and since we haven't seen each other in so long, it would be lovely to spend some quality time together," Grandma Mana warmly suggested.

"Thank you, Grandma," Kalia expressed her gratitude.

"Come along, let me help you settle into a room."

"No need, Grandma Mana. I can tidy up myself; just tell me which room to use."

***

The library was vast, naturally having numerous rooms. Initially, some were designated as book storage areas, but with subsequent expansions, additional space became available, leaving those rooms empty.

Occasionally, during regular hours, if someone stayed late reading and it rained heavily outside, they would be allowed to spend the night at the library.

On the second floor of the library, in one particular room:

"You can stay here," Grandma Mana said. "Don't just focus on training your Pokemon all the time; come visit me occasionally for a chat. Being here every day gets quite boring."

"I definitely will," Kalia replied.

"Let Vulpix sleep with you. She seems very fond of you, recognizing you even after such a long time apart." Grandma Mana smiled, observing how attached Vulpix was to Kalia.

"I love spending time with Vulpix too."

Pop.

At that moment, Lian's Poké Ball automatically opened.

Lian landed on the ground, unable to stay inside any longer. He wanted to see what was happening, as there wasn't much visibility within the ball, only hearing sounds.

"Is this...your Charmeleon?" Grandma Mana looked surprised, seeing Lian emerge from the Poké Ball, since Charmanders are relatively rare.

"Yes, my Charmeleon," Kalia nodded.

Lian glanced at the Vulpix cradled in Kalia's arms and noticed it was a Shiny Pokémon. Its fur had patches of blue, creating beautiful red-blue patterns.

The Vulpix curiously looked at Lian, sensing his potent Fire-type energy as fellow Fire-type Pokémon, which felt remarkably strong.

Lian reached for his backpack but refrained from opening it himself; his sharp claws could accidentally tear through the material.

Seeing Charmeleon's gesture, Kalia helplessly took the backpack, retrieved two energy cubes, and handed one to Lian while giving the other to Vulpix.

Vulpix held the energy cube, nibbled a small piece, and then happily devoured it.

"Looks like you've been training them well," Grandma Mana observed, impressed by the scene. "I'll take my leave now. You must be tired after just arriving in Ruby City today. Get some rest."

"Goodbye, Grandma Mana."

After Grandma Mana departed, Kalia began tidying up the room, though not much was needed as it remained quite neat already.

Once Lian finished eating the energy cube, he returned to his Poké Ball for some rest. With his current size, staying in the room felt somewhat cramped.