Chapter Text
Elvira stood on the beach outside her house. In the Treecko's hands, she wielded two pieces of driftwood that had washed up on the shoreline.
She could see it now. She was a Sceptile that had been honed in the art of combat,and had faced down many an outlaw. And here she was, facing down another dastardly criminal - a Simipour, in her mind.
"Hi-yah! Ferned Cross Slash!" she cried out, leaping forward and doing an imaginary combination of Leaf Blade and X-Scissor, crossing her 'blades' in the motion of an X. She imagined dealing a hefty amount of damage to the 'outlaw'. The 'outlaw' then leapt forward, but she saw his attack coming from a mile away, and leapt backward. Then she moved in again.
"Blackthorn Cross Slash!" This was a combination of Leaf Blade and Night Slash, and she slashed at her 'opponent'. That was the decider; the enemy fell down in defeat.
Victory had been hers. All thanks to her exceptional skill as a mercenary. All thanks to her wit at outfoxing that dastardly outlaw. All thanks to -
"Playing mercenary again, eh, Elvira?"
"Ah!" And just like that, the fantasy faded, and Elvira found herself back on the beach with the two pieces of driftwood in her hands. She turned around to see a Sceptile with a bemused look on his face.
His name was Kallias, and he had two sides to him. One - what he was more well-known as - one of the famous mercenaries in Ardalion. He belonged to the Irian Guild, and with his Swampert partner, Melchior, in their team, Team Marshwood, they had worked tirelessly to make their name among one of the most prestigious on the continent of Ardalion.
His other, less well-known side, though, was as a caring, doting father. This side, Elvira was more familiar with. But she was all too aware of how great a mercenary he was, and tried to emulate his every move. Her goal was to eventually join the Irian Guild and become a mercenary just like her father, once she was old enough to do so.
"H-Hi Dad," she greeted.
"Hello to you too, Elvira," Kallias returned. "I see you're trying to emulate my style of the two Leaf Blades." It was his signature fighting style that marked him apart from other Sceptile, and he had become famous for it. And of course, in her idolisation of him, Elvira tried to mirror that same technique.
"Yeah," Elvira replied. "...Did I do good?"
"...Well enough, at least," surmised her father. "It's not perfect, though."
"I know." The Treecko looked down in disappointment. "I can't make the Leaf Blades yet."
"That's not unusual. When you're a Grovyle, you'll be able to do it," Kallias informed. "But even then, most Grovyle don't learn it until they're nearer to their evolution into a Sceptile."
"Oh, so...I won't get it for a while, then." Elvira's disappointment became even more apparent.
"Don't be sad about it," Kallias said, trying to cheer up his daughter. "Keep doing what you're doing with the wood. That's what I did when I was your age; I used a wooden sword to try and copy my own dad's movements. But then I saw a Gallade fighting one day and thought to myself, 'Why not have two blades?' And so I began using two wooden swords from then on. And that's how your dad developed his fighting style."
"Wow...I never knew that," Elvira said, a bit more happy about things now after hearing her father's encouragement. "...I want to fight just like you, Dad!"
"Just like me, eh?" Kallias repeated. "...Hmm..."
"...What?" Elvira caught the slight doubt in her father's voice. "Should I...not do that?"
"No no, I'm not saying that, Elvira. What I'm trying to say is...don't just take my technique and copy it. Learn skills from others and incorporate them into your own fighting style. When you become a mercenary, you'll meet a wide variety of people. Don't be afraid to ask for tips on combat from others, especially when your fighting style is more malleable in your younger years. ...Though it's not necessarily a young thing. You still learn new things when you're at my level."
"Really, Dad? I didn't know that..."
"Well, I'll show you. There's a new move I've made for myself in recent times. I'll show you it here." Kallias straightened his stance, and conjured his blades. Elvira watched with rapt interest.
"Belladonna Cross Slash!"
Suddenly, the blades turned a purplish colour with venom dripping off them. Kallias then leapt forward and delivered a X-shaped slash, followed by the familiar movement that Elvira knew to be his Leaf Blade attack.
"Wow, Dad!" The Treecko applauded, her eyes wide with wonder. "What was that?"
"That was a combination of Leaf Blade and Cross Poison," explained her father.
"Cross Poison? I didn't know you could learn that..."
"I didn't either. But a Drapion client I helped in Alba insisted Sceptile could learn it and offered to teach it to me. And here I am, with another technique at my disposal," Kallias said. "Hopefully, you'll pick up techniques of your own to use in battle when you become a mercenary."
"It's great hearing all these stories and advice from you, Dad." Elvira put down her pieces of driftwood on the sand, and looked out at the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set. "...A shame you're leaving tomorrow."
"...I know. The duty of a mercenary calls, Elvira. But I'll be back again soon, hopefully, with more tales to tell of what I've gotten up to."
"Nothing too scary, please," pleaded the Treecko. "Mom nearly had a heart attack when you talked about the Monster House when you went to that Mystery Dungeon in Miletos."
"That was a close shave, alright. ...But I'll take your advice and stay safe," promised Kallias. "And in return, you stay safe down here in Ozerograd. Don't let bullies get the better of you, you hear?"
"They don't bully me any more, Dad." Elvira couldn't help but roll her eyes at his words. "...But I'll stay safe, don't worry."
"Good." Kallias then looked back towards the house. "...Dinner's nearly ready. I came down to tell you that, but I got sidetracked in all of this. ...You must be hungry. I should imagine playacting builds up an appetite."
"Heh...yeah, I think it does," Elvira laughed, realising she was feeling peckish.
"Let's go back. It smells delicious." Kallias started back towards the house, with his daughter following quickly after him. Given how delicious her cooking was, neither were willing to miss it.
And besides...it was his last night during this particular stay. If previous experience was anything to go by, it would be a heavenly meal worthy for even the Creator's lips.