Farewell to Raizan

The sun was slowly beginning to descend behind the hills surrounding Raizan, tinting the sky a soft shade of orange. The houses of the town glowed in the evening light, and shadows lengthened on the quiet streets. Rael, Eevee Pokéball in hand, walked back to his home, his thoughts wrapped in excitement and some anxiety.

Rael's home, a small cottage on the outskirts of town, was bathed in the warm golden light of sunset. When he walked through the door, he was greeted by his mother, who watched him with a mixture of pride and concern.

-So it's true? -said his mother, as she looked at the Pokéball. Are you going to start your journey tomorrow?

Rael nodded. He approached the dining room where his father was sitting, smoking his old pipe, a tradition he used to do at important moments. His father, a sturdy man with a serious countenance, had been a trainer in his youth, but had never left town due to various family circumstances.

-I knew this day would come," said his father, in a deep but calm voice. You're ready, son. You have trained hard for this moment.

Rael sat down across from his father. He couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the idea of giving up everything he knew, but he was also filled with an energy he couldn't ignore.

-Were you nervous when you started your journey, Dad? -Rael asked, looking at his father curiously.

The man smiled slightly, something rare for him.

-Of course I was. Every trainer is when he takes his first step. It's natural. But it's not what you feel at the beginning that's important, it's what you do with that feeling. The world is vast, Rael, and it's full of things you'll never imagine. You won't always have the answers, but if you listen to your Pokémon and trust them, you'll never get lost.

Rael's mother, who had been listening quietly, came over and hugged him.

-Promise me you'll be careful," she said, her voice soft but firm. The world can be dangerous, and I don't want anything to happen to you.

Rael nodded, returning the hug.

-I promise, Mom.

That evening, after dinner, Rael and his father shared a special moment. His father handed him a compass, an ancient object that had been his since he began his own journey as a trainer.

-This will help you find your way, even when you think you've lost your way," said his father. It won't always guide you north, but it will always show you the right path. Remember, son, it's not just about getting to the finish line, but learning along the way.

Rael accepted the compass with reverence, feeling the symbolic weight of the gift. As he watched it in the dim lamplight, his mind was already wandering down unfamiliar paths, excited for the adventures to come.

When he finally retreated to his room, Rael pulled out Eevee's Pokéball and held it in his hands. He knew that, although he was leaving his home behind, he would not be alone. With Eevee by his side, any obstacle seemed surmountable.

The next morning, Rael awoke before the sun was fully up. The cool, quiet air of dawn filled his lungs as he walked out of the house with his backpack over his shoulder. His parents were waiting for him at the door, and although the mood was solemn, there was also an air of expectation.

-It's time to go," said Rael, with a mixture of sadness and excitement in his voice.

His mother hugged him again, and his father patted him on the shoulder.

-Go ahead, son. Make us proud," said his father. No matter what you find out there, always remember who you are and where you came from.

Rael nodded vigorously, and after one last look at his home, he set off. The road to Green City stretched out in front of him, winding through the hills as the sun began to rise on the horizon. Eevee, out of its Pokéball, walked alongside him, as full of energy and excitement as its trainer.

As he walked away from Raizan, feelings of nostalgia began to mix with a growing sense of freedom. For the first time, Rael felt the world truly opening up before him. The wind blew through the leaves of the trees, and in the distance, a soft roar reverberated through the air, the same roar he had heard that day in the forest. The sound filled his heart with mystery and defiance.

Rael looked toward the horizon and pressed the compass his father had given him. He did not yet know what awaited him, but he was ready to face it. It was the beginning of his journey, and, with Eevee by his side, he was sure that no challenge would be too great.