So, according to Lucas, the minimum age required to have your own pokemon is 18 in Sinnoh region. Based on their performance in Pokemon Academy they'll have a chance to be chosen by a league recognised research group and to choose their starter Pokemon from the famous starter trio of Sinnoh: monke fren, King Pingus and portable lawn turtle.

So, youngsters compete in academy for this. They can't have their own Pokemon before 18 but there are some exceptions too. If you are directly related to a veteran trainer like Gym leaders, Association's rules can be twisted and you can get your starter at the minimum age of 15.

I'm not even surprised. No one in their right minds will give a supernatural killing machine to a 10 years old kid. That kinda explains why this whole timeline is twisted.

So, Lucas graduated one year ago and was chosen by Rowan's research group due to his excellent records at the academy and finally got to chose his own starter three months ago. And he chose Monke fren! We are gonna be the best bros, you bet!

"So, have you thought about my proposal?" Rowan interrupted the cheerful Lucas and shifted his gaze towards me.

''Well, it's not like I have a option, I don't have anything at the moment, my home, my researcher license and heck even my memories.''

''So, I'll take that as a yes.'' A slight grin formed on his face.

''So, does that mean that Victor will be the part of our Research team?"

"Seems like it.''

''What about Dawn?''

''Hmm, that girl sure is trouble. But I think Victor can handle it himself.''

''I don't think he's got a choice here either.'' Both nodded in acknowledgement.

Eh?

''Is there something I should know about?"

"Ah! It's nothing you need to be concerned about, Victor.'' Lucas' concerned tone turned into a more cheerful one.

I have a bad feeling about all this.

[I'll protect master!]

Oh, she's awake. Wrong timing by the way!

''Professor, I have a question,'' I paused for a moment, ''how much do you know about distortion world?"

At my question, his eyes widened. Did I ask something wrong.

''And your reason for asking such a question?''

''Apparently, in my fragmented memories, there's a part where I had a breakthrough regarding the entrance to the torn world, and Riolu's compatibility with ancient energy is somehow related to that.''

He narrowed his eyes at the shit I just spewed outta my mouth. But I have no obligation to explain the whole thing 'cause I am the one who lost his memories, hehe~

''Well, no one tries to dig deeper into the unknown, it's still mysterious for us, no one knows why it exists or is there any way to access it? Multiple times in history, it made it appearance. It opened it's malicious jaws of ominous energy and destroyed everything in it's wake. There's no way to fight it, it disintegrated people, pokemon, lands, literally everything. It is categorised as a natural calamity.''

''And apparently, it is said to be the home of an ancient dragon.'' Lucas continued, ''According to some runic inscriptions found in the Sendoff spring near route 214, the dragon is said to be banished to the distortion world for it's aggressiveness. I don't know the whole details but based upon some hypothesis and history analysis, the dragon is said to be part ghost.''

The distortion world and Giratina are said to be based upon antimatter. The whole disintegrating fact is horrifying too. No wonder people here know a little about the whole thing, they are actually scared of it. Should I provide them with a little hint? Not the whole thing but I think a little change in prospective wont hurt. Both are staring at me now.

''Well, the breakthrough I had was that the distortion world is supposed to balance the upper dimension that is, our world.''

''Balance?''

''Yes, why do you think our world is still stable after being filled with godlike beings capable of causing disasters on an unprecedented scale? What do you think what happens to the energy released by such beings? According to laws of conservation of energy, it can't just disappear in thin air without affecting anything.''

''So, what you're trying to say is-''

''Yes, antimatter. Well not exactly it but their properties match. According to history, wherever the large scale portal to distortion world opened, a recent interference of a legendary was mentioned briefly. I don't remember the whole details and I don't have any proof either, or I don't remember if I had any proof.''

''....''

Both are silent. Did I say something wrong wrong? I just guessed that there has to be something interfering with the upper world, that Giratina felt the need to take acton herself.

Rowan broke the silence.

''Your theory sure do hold some validity. But I don't think anyone's ever gonna believe that the whole catastrophe of opening the gates of destruction is an act to stabilize our world.''

''Well, that explains why anyone hasn't even tried to change their prospective of the whole thing.''

''And how any of this is related to Riolu?"

''It's just a theory, but everyone else who was caught up the space-time mess has a pokemon capable of teleportation with them but I don't have any.'' Well, it isn't a lie. ''I can only assume that the space where I was, must've been directly affected by the berserk energy to cause a distortion in space around me.'' I paused for a moment, ''but I remember the place where I was after that.''

Both Lucas and Rowan's eyes widened at the unexpected twist.

''The space time interruption and space fiber distortion, speaking directly, both are due to a form of unstable ancient energy. Both Riolu and I were affected by it, and to stabilize the energy, the distortion world interrupted. The unstable space-time energy disintegrated and unstable bodies of Riolu and I synchronised with Distortion energy.''

''...''

Behold! The nice and spicy shit I just made outta my ass! Well, it's kinda half true, according to my knowledge of previous world, this theory makes the most sense. But hey, it's not a Riolu, It's the FUCKING devil! Not that I can tell 'em.

Ah, why the hell are they silent, say something. You're creeping me out, you know.

''Did you ever told anyone about this before?"

"Well, seeing the 'unbelievable' kinda look on your face, I am glad that I never bothered to tell anyone.''

''....''

Aaaaaand, silent again.

Am I missing something here? Aren't they taking this too heavily? I don't even know what they are thinking. Variable!

I shouldn't have asked anyone about it.

This is bad!

Did I say something unnecessary?

Hey, this shouldn't be such a big deal. Right?

Right!

Just then, Rowan broke the silence.

''Do you know that your theory is gonna shake the entire world?"

"But it's just a hypothesis, it shouldn't be that much of a big deal, moreover coming from a man who's lost his memories, people would just overlook the whole outrageous thing.''

''Sounds like you're misunderstanding something here. You just connected the world's most researched topic to the forbidden research of Distortion dimension. I think you know how to make calculations, right?" Rowan grinned.

.....

.....

.....

.....

Hmm, yes, indeed. I'll just pretend that nothing happened here today.

LIKE HELL I CAN!

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

I FUCKED UP!

THIS SLY OLD FART BAITED ME! HE'S WAY TOO SHARP! WAY TOO SHARP, I SAY!

Damn it! I meed to fix this somehow! But how? Think think think think!

Ah!

''Prof. Rowan and Lucas, I want you both to keep this whole conversation a secret. I told you because we are supposed to work together from now on, and sooner or later it was supposed to be uncovered. I want to research further to know more about the distortion world. And it's antimatter like properties, the world will be in a chaos if it gets out.''

''I was about to suggest the same thing, it must be kept a secret until the research is complete, but...''

Ah yes, thank Arceus he understood.

....

Eh?

But?

Why is grinning like a shitty drama villain.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?