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Finally, a new region.
The traveler breathed in deeply, savoring the fresh, warm air of the Liyue region and the stunning scenery that accompanied it. Compared to the Mondstadt region, with its windy hills, cliffs, and lush green trees, Liyue possessed a different kind of beauty. Sturdy mountains towered on one side over a vast marshland in the center, while on the other side lay the wide-open sea, all of these areas promising a great and varied range of flora and Pokémon to discover.
Beside him, Paimon, their trusty talking starter Pokémon, was just as awestruck. "Do you think Liyue has good food as well?" she asked, her starry eyes wide and mouth watering as she gazed at the landscape.
The traveler grinned, having anticipated her comment about the food. "We'll see," they said, adjusting their cap to shield their brown eyes from the sun. They, too, hoped for some good food after the exhausting cliff hike.
Their journey led them through the famous Stone Gate, the crossing point between Mondstadt and Liyue. From what they had heard, it was a tradition for every determined Pokémon trainer to pass through it. The Professor of Mondstadt, a peculiar, constantly rhyming fellow dressed in green, had mentioned that the renowned Professor of the Liyue region was currently in the area conducting his research.
While traveling, they had heard much about this Professor, especially his love for rock, ground, and dragon types, for which Liyue was famous. The most interesting tidbit the traveler had learned from Mondstadt’s Professor, was that Liyue’s Professor was none other than Champion Mr. Zhongli, one of the few who had successfully traveled all seven regions of Teyvat, defeating all their respective gym leaders, elites, and previous champions.
A very impressive inspiration for every young Pokémon trainer aspiring to be the very best.
Knowing that this famous Professor was their best bet for getting upgrades for their Pokédex and possibly some free goodies and hints for their future journey, the decision to seek him out was an easy one. He might even provide information and directions to the nearest gym.
After freshening up themselves and their Pokémon at the PokéCenter, they began their search for the mysterious professor-slash-champion.
The search proved to be a short one. Right in front of the PokéCenter, the traveler found a huge crowd of people following a man at some distance. A small Hawlucha was seemingly trying to keep them at bay as the man strolled leisurely along the path.
He was a handsome man with long dark hair tipped with amber, tied in a low ponytail, and glasses perched on his slender nose. The traveler was willing to bet that this was the Professor, dressed in a fine suit topped with a white lab coat.
The sight was already peculiar, but what happened next was even stranger as a huge Gyarados popped its head out of the nearby river.
"Zhongli-xiansheng!" Did the Gyarados just talk?
The handsome professor looked at the water Pokémon with a smile, raising his hand in greeting. "Good afternoon, Mister Tartaglia."
At that, the Hawlucha whipped its head around. Not a second later, it charged at the new Pokémon with murderous speed. Just as the traveler thought a Pokémon battle was about to commence, a flash of orange and blue—was that a human?!—appeared from behind the Gyarados' fins, meeting the Hawlucha mid-air, exchanging blows.
The crowd cheered, as this battle had been what they were waiting for.
"Wow, I've never seen this kind of battle!" Paimon exclaimed, easily joining the crowd in their cheering, despite not knowing who they were actually rooting for. Was it the Pokémon or the man with fiery hair in blue bath shorts?
Just as it seemed the battle would end in a draw, the flying/fighting type grabbed the much taller ginger-haired man by the arm and flung him over its shoulder.
"Oof." The sound of defeat.
A clear win for the Pokémon, and the crowd went wild.
The celebration was short-lived, though, as the professor's cough cut through the celebratory mood, silencing the crowd at once. The Hawlucha, Xiao, walked back to his presumed trainer, head bowed, but not too shy to deliver another kick to the man lying on the ground.
"Mister Tartaglia, I apologize for Xiao's unacceptable behavior," the Professor said, walking over and helping the man to his feet.
"He won fair and square," the ginger, Mister Tartaglia, admitted with a charming smile. "Thank you, xiansheng. I need to try a bit harder... But if you feel sorry, I gladly accept a present." A wink.
Ah, the traveler thought, finally realizing what was going on.
"Ah," said the oblivious Pokémon Professor, seemingly unaware of the other individual's intentions. "I happen to have some free time. How about we return to Liyue Harbor together and think of something on the way?"
"That sounds perfect. Would you like a ride?" Tartaglia said, slapping his hand on the Gyarados behind him. "Champ here is the fastest Gyarados around!"
"That is fascinating, but unfortunately, Xiao does not like going near water or ships. I don't think a water Pokémon will suffice," Zhongli said, with genuine regret.
Xiao sported the biggest smug grin the traveler had ever seen on a Pokémon, in a way the Professor did not notice, as Zhongli started walking away.
Tartaglia called his Gyarados back into its Pokéball, giving the river a longing glance before trailing behind Zhongli and Xiao. As they moved forward, Xiao kept a vigilant eye on Tartaglia, ensuring the redhead maintained a respectful distance from the Professor. Unperturbed by the tension, Zhongli continued their conversation, his voice calm and measured.
The traveler and Paimon decided to follow this odd trio, hoping for a chance to speak with the esteemed Professor. However, the opportunity to engage with him remained elusive.
They made their way toward the great big tree with the famous Wangshu Inn, which stood out against the landscape, nestled within the plains between mountain ranges. The plains were painted in warm hues of yellow, orange, and green. As they approached, the traveler marveled at the numerous Pokémon they had never seen before, their interest piqued with every step.
As they journeyed, the traveler and Paimon witnessed Tartaglia's ongoing struggle with Xiao. The tension between them was palpable, and it soon became clear that Xiao wasn't the only adversary Tartaglia had to contend with. A deer Pokémon, a Sawsbuck according to their Pokédex, its elegant antlers adorned with flowers, joined the group, followed by two flying-type Pokémon, Skarmory, with long, graceful necks and vivid plumage. Both were in a different color, so one of them had to be shiny!
The traveler watched in astonishment as the new Pokémon launched vicious attacks at Tartaglia. The redhead was forced to dodge and defend himself, barely keeping up with the onslaught of the three new arrivals. Despite the chaos, Zhongli remained undisturbed, his attention focused on the path ahead as if the skirmish were nothing more than a mild distraction, casually asking Tartaglia about his day and how he had been.
Paimon hovered closer to the traveler, her eyes wide with concern. "Do you think we should help him?" she whispered, glancing at Tartaglia who was fending off a flurry of pecks and kicks.
The traveler shook his head slowly. "Let's observe for now. There might be a reason why the Pokémon are reacting this way."
They continued to follow the group, keeping a safe distance as they watched the strange dynamic unfold. Tartaglia's persistence and resilience were impressive, but it was clear he was growing weary—and who was to blame him? Four against one, with the one being human after all. The deer Pokémon charged at him again, its antlers aimed straight for his chest. With a swift move, Tartaglia dodged to the side, but the Skarmories and Xiao were quick to take advantage, striking from above.
Just when it seemed Tartaglia might be overwhelmed, a powerful voice cut through the air. "Enough."
Zhongli had finally intervened. With a single word, he commanded the attention of every Pokémon in the vicinity. The deer and flying-types immediately ceased their attacks, retreating to a respectful distance. None of them looked rueful, though.
Tartaglia, breathing heavily, shot Zhongli a grateful look. "Thank you, xiansheng. I hate to admit it, but this could have ended badly."
Zhongli nodded slightly. "These Pokémon are very territorial. It's best to tread carefully in their domain."
The traveler sighed at the obliviousness of this Pokémon Professor. It seemed after all that the territorial habits of the Pokémon were tied to himself and not the location.
Xiao, still smug, glanced back at Tartaglia. The traveler could almost swear the Hawlucha smirked as they continued their journey towards Wangshu Inn.
As they reached the vast marshlands, they decided to take a little break to cool down in the water. Perhaps they could even go for a little swim. The sight of Wangshu Inn was still in the distance, but its presence was a comforting beacon.
Finally, the Professor noticed them, inviting them to their little rest stop where he was sitting on a rock, watching the Pokémon and Tartaglia cooling down in the river’s water. Even Tartaglia’s Pokémon joined as they were released out of their trainer’s Pokéballs, all of them water types.
Zhongli looked up from his contemplation, his amber eyes reflecting the serene surroundings. "Ah, a pleasure to meet you both. My name is Zhongli, and I am this region’s Pokémon Professor. What brings you to Liyue?"
The traveler approached Zhongli, seizing the opportunity to strike up a conversation. "Professor Zhongli, it's an honor to meet you. This is Paimon, and my name is—"
Suddenly, their peaceful exchange was interrupted by a loud commotion. Tartaglia, who had been playfully splashing in the water, was now facing a new opponent. A Skiddo, but not just any Skiddo—this one had an unusual sky-blue coat, indicating it might be a regional variant and potentially an ice type.
The Skiddo charged at Tartaglia with impressive speed, its icy aura shimmering in the sunlight. Tartaglia caught off guard, barely had time to react before the Skiddo's frosty attack hit its mark, sending him stumbling back.
"Looks like Mr. Tartaglia's in for another fight," the traveler remarked, his eyes widening at the sight of the unique Pokémon.
Paimon floated closer, her excitement palpable. "Do you think it's an ice-type? It looks so different!"
Zhongli observed the battle with a calm demeanor, yet there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze. "This is Ganyu, and she is indeed a rare regional ice-type variant, yes."
Tartaglia, determined to prove himself, regained his footing, taking up a fighting stance. “Come at me!”
The battle that ensued was intense, with Tartaglia and the Skiddo exchanging blows. Despite his earlier exhaustion, Tartaglia fought valiantly, using his knowledge of Pokémon battles to anticipate and counter the Skiddo's moves with his bare hands.
The traveler and Paimon watched in awe, their admiration for Tartaglia's tenacity growing with each passing moment. Even Zhongli seemed impressed, nodding in approval as Tartaglia managed to hold his own against the seemingly powerful ice-type Pokémon.
Finally, with a well-timed grip on the Pokémon's horns, Tartaglia gained the advantage needed to bring the Skiddo to its knees. The battle was over, and Tartaglia stood victorious, albeit tired and a bit bruised, and certainly with some frostbite.
Zhongli approached Tartaglia, a faint smile on his lips. "You handled that well, Mister Tartaglia. Your resilience is commendable."
Tartaglia, panting but smiling, nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, xiansheng. It was quite a challenge."
Emboldened by Zhongli's praise, Tartaglia flashed a charming grin and attempted to inch closer. "Well, Professor, I couldn't have done it without thinking of impressing you. Maybe we could spend more time together, discussing Pokémon, and...other things?"
Zhongli, entirely missing the flirtatious undertone, continued speaking about Pokémon with an air of scholarly interest. "Indeed, Mister Tartaglia, your ability to understand and predict Pokémon behavior is truly noteworthy. Such knowledge is invaluable in both training and research. For example, Ganyu here, as an ice-type Skiddo, has adapted remarkably to her environment. It's fascinating how regional variants develop unique traits to thrive in their habitats."
Tartaglia's chest swelled with pride at the continued praise, as if he had won the first prize. His eyes sparkled, and he gave a triumphant nod. "I do my best, Professor. It means a lot to hear that from someone as esteemed as yourself."
All the Pokémon in the vicinity groaned in despair at this development, clearly understanding Tartaglia's intentions better than the Professor did. The traveler and Paimon exchanged amused glances, while Xiao rolled his eyes.
Zhongli, oblivious to the reactions around him, continued his monologue. "It's not just your combat skills that are impressive, Mister Tartaglia. Your deep understanding of Pokémon's natural behaviors and habitats shows a level of insight that could benefit any Pokémon research team. I would be most interested in discussing further studies with you."
Tartaglia's grin widened, and his spirits lifted higher than ever. "I'd be honored, xiansheng. Perhaps over dinner sometime?"
Zhongli nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, dinner would be a suitable time to discuss Pokémon strategies and environmental adaptations. We could delve into the migratory patterns of the ice-type variants, for instance. With your Snezhnayan origins, you probably have some knowledge about ice-type Pokémon. It would be a most enlightening conversation."
As Tartaglia basked in the Professor's unintentional praise, the surrounding Pokémon collectively sighed. Tartaglia’s own Pokémon resigned to the fact that their trainer's infatuation would remain unrequited for the time being.
Witnessing this, the traveler wondered how long this spiel had been going on already—though, on second thought, they did not want to know after all.