Heath took out his food ingredient identifier. Despite the beautiful scenery, he wanted to check if the glowing water might have any adverse effects on health. After all, this was Viridian City's reservoir, and any problems here would be troubling.
[Starlight Algae: Non-toxic and edible. Only appears in pure water and has the ability to purify it. Boil briefly before consumption and add seasoning to enhance the flavor.]
Satisfied, Heath put away the identifier. It seemed the algae were beneficial and could purify the water, which explained why Jenny Kim and the others had no issues with it.
Thinking this, Heath released Farfetch'd and Charmander. They were awestruck by the magnificent scenery and soon began playing happily around Heath.
"Hmph, boring. I won't play such childish games," Zorua said haughtily, lifting her head in disdain.
However, Zorua soon joined Farfetch'd and Charmander in their play, much to Heath's amusement. This little one truly was a classic example of saying one thing and doing another.
"This scenery is so beautiful, I don't even want to move. Looks like bringing this lamp was pointless," Heath said, stretching and lying on the grass by the reservoir, gazing at the stunning starry sky above.
A surge of emotion filled Heath's heart. He suddenly understood why Maple had no objections to his desire to travel and why so many young people in the Pokémon world set out on their journeys before adulthood. The unique scenery, the people and Pokémon encountered along the way—these were invaluable experiences in life.
Heath looked forward to his journey. Tomorrow was his first driving test, and he felt confident. However, he wondered if there would be any changes in the subsequent tests.
After spending some time at the reservoir, Heath returned to his warm, comfortable dormitory with his exhausted Pokémon and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Heath woke up feeling a bit tired, likely from the hiking the night before.
"Let's go, Zorua. Time to get up and wash," Heath said, pulling Zorua off the bed. Farfetch'd yawned and followed Heath, but Charmander was not in the bedroom.
Heath wasn't surprised; Charmander always woke up very early, probably due to its young age and abundant energy. Heath recalled being restless in kindergarten, though he became quite the sleeper in college.
In the living room, Heath saw Charmander lifting dumbbells, its movements precise. Heath thought Charmander could become a fitness trainer in the future, a decent path since Heath had no interest in battles.
Calling Charmander, Heath took his Pokémon to wash up, letting them take turns using the bathroom. After they finished, Heath led them to the food truck, set it to autopilot, and headed to the market.
[A Small Step for a Pokémon Chef: Teach Farfetch'd to identify ingredients. You will receive a random reward.]
Heath was surprised to see a mission triggered on the food truck, but it seemed simple enough. Identifying ingredients wasn't hard, though mastering it was challenging. Fortunately, the mission didn't require mastery.
"Farfetch'd, how's your training going?" Heath asked, watching Farfetch'd practicing its cooking skills. Farfetch'd shook its head, feeling its stamina was still weak.
Heath pondered. Farfetch'd's issue could be resolved with a Silver Crown to boost its stamina or physical attack. However, he hadn't found any other crowns since the last two Silver Crowns, which was frustrating. A Silver Crown as a reward would be perfect.
At the market, Heath guided Farfetch'd in selecting ingredients, sharing his experiences and tips, such as lightly poking meat with a finger and smelling it. Farfetch'd's learning process was costly, as Heath had to buy all the ingredients it touched with its wings to avoid offending vendors.
But the effort paid off. Farfetch'd quickly grasped the basics of ingredient selection under Heath's guidance.
[You have received a random legendary clue.]
[In the mountains west of Viridian City, it is said that a group of very special white Pokémon reside.]
Heath was stunned. A clue as a reward? And a legendary one at that? He wasn't sure how his cheat judged clues, but a legendary clue sounded impressive. The mountains west of Viridian City…
"I remember those mountains connect to the Johto region," Heath mused. The area also housed the Indigo Plateau, headquarters of the Kanto League and the site of the Indigo League, home to the Elite Four.
Crossing the mountains would lead to the Johto region, similar to Kanto but with many different Pokémon.
"I feel like I'm fixated on white," Heath sighed. Last time, Zorua's clue mentioned a white figure in Viridian Forest, which turned out to be a little girl Zorua had transformed into. Now, he wondered what the special white Pokémon could be.
"After I get my license, I'll visit the Indigo Plateau first," Heath decided.
Initially, Heath planned to start his journey from Pallet Town, which seemed interesting. But now, he wanted to see the Pokémon worthy of a legendary clue. It couldn't possibly be a group of Lugias, could it?
(End of Chapter)