Chapter 49: Snowpoint City

The Sinnoh region is home to many unique landmarks, including tourist attractions like Hotel Grand Lake, as well as natural wonders like the Three Lakes and the dense sprawling Eterna Forest. But without a doubt, the central landmark of Sinnoh is Mount Coronet. Located in the heart of the region, it stretches all the way from the barren northern wastelands to the southern tip of the continent, effectively dividing Sinnoh into two.

Snowpoint City, also known as the "city of ice and snow," is a city that remains covered in snow year-round due to the snow that falls from the peak of Mt. Coronet.

Outside the Pokémon Center, a young boy exhaled white breath and shivered uncontrollably.

"I was careless," he muttered to himself. "I forgot about Mt. Coronet's climate..."

The boy with brown hair is only wearing a shirt, which made him stand out from the people around him who are bundled up in thick clothing. This realization made him scowl.

"Even Master Shozo didn't remind me," he added.

Darren, feeling hopeless, arrived in Sinnoh with his second stop being Snowpoint City. The northern region is not only cold, but the roads heading north are especially treacherous due to the snowfall from Mt. Coronet. The location of the Pokémon academy, Mt. Coronet, is far from Snowpoint City. Darren looked at the circled location on the map and sighed heavily.

"This is so unfair..." he mutters. "Both Swablu and Beautifly are hiding in their Poké Balls now and refuse to come out because they can't stand the cold weather in this climate."

The contrast in weather conditions between Snowpoint City and the Hoenn Region is quite apparent. Swablu and Beautifly share a dislike for chilly surroundings. Despite their reluctance, Darren consoled himself and permited them to be unyielding for two days. However, once they arrive at the academy, regardless of the temperature, they must venture out and fulfill their training requirements.

The flying-type Swablu and Beautifly must overcome the daunting challenge of the "ice" element.

...

He had to leave immediately and arrive at the Crown Academy before nightfall, otherwise he suspected he might freeze to death on the way.

Passing by a clothing store, he looked through the window at the fluffy clothes hanging up and swallowed his saliva.

As a young and promising junior breeder, he was now facing a great crisis...

Having lived for years in the warm Hoenn continent in the south, Darren suddenly found that none of the clothes he had brought were suitable for this weather upon arriving in Sinnoh.

"This is so cute."

"cute?"

"Uh... huh?"

Darren murmured, the voice just now didn't sound like an echo... but like a female voice?

Turning around, Darren found a girl about his age standing behind him, wearing a short skirt and short sleeves...

"Are you a trainer from outside? Are you feeling well?"

The girl looked friendly, staring at Darren with her pure eyes.

"Um..."

Watching the youthful and energetic girl in a short skirt, Darren's words "I'm cold" were choked back by a twitch of his mouth.

"No, it's nothing," Darren fell silent and said.

"But your scarf is so cute, hey, where did you buy it?" Suddenly, the girl put her hands on Darren's shoulders and stared at his scarf with twinkling eyes.

"..."

Darren was taken aback, and cold sweat flowed down his back.

"It was given to me by my grandmother." Awkwardly smiling, Darren pushed the girl away.

"Grandmother? Did she make it herself? It's so cute..."

Where is the cuteness? Scanning the light yellow scarf, this was the only thing Darren could find to keep warm, although it was warm... he couldn't find any cuteness in it.

Seeming to sense Darren's helplessness, the girl was stunned for a moment and then said with a smile, "Sorry, are you a trainer?"

"Do you want to battle?" Darren asked.

"Of course, I rarely see trainers come to Snowpoint City, and I haven't battled with a stranger in a long time~~"

"That's kind of sad," Darren replies.

"Oh~ So you agree?!"

"I refuse. I'm in a hurry. I'll see you later if fate permits." Adjusting his scarf, Darren let out a cold breath and lazily passed by the girl.

"Hey, wait! Don't go! I'm Candice from the Snowpoint Gym. Don't you want to challenge the Snowpoint Gym?" The girl named Candice hurriedly said after seeing Darren's disregard.

Darren stopped.

"Are you a gym trainer?"

He doubted whether this Candice was even 10 years old. Even if she didn't deliberately make it difficult for challengers, was it really okay for the gym to be so casual nowadays?

"Uh... not yet, but I will become a gym trainer sooner or later!" Candice hesitated for a moment, then said firmly.

"..."

Darren resumed his pace.

"Hey... don't be so heartless. Let's battle. How can a trainer refuse a challenge? Where are you going? You can leave after the battle."

Darren was impressed with this person.

"Compared to Willow, this one really seemed like a 10-year-old girl."

Sigh...

"I'm in a hurry. Let's battle next time."

"What, you are going south? Even if you want to pretend to go somewhere, you have to find the right direction first!"

To the south of the Snowpoint Gym was Mt. Coronet which was heavily snow covered.

Even if he wanted to leave the Snowpoint City, it would never be from the south.

"I'm going to the academy." Saying this slightly strangely, Darren suddenly felt much younger.

At his age, on Earth, he would still be a primary school student!

But people in this world generally grow up faster, children mature earlier than on Earth.

"School? That direction, are you going to the Crown Academy?" Candice was stunned, her eyes widening in surprise.

"But the Crown Academy has already started school, hey!"

After saying that, she still stared at Darren with a puzzled expression.

"You know the Crown Academy..." Didn't Master Shozo say that the Crown Academy has been declining for a long time, and few people know about it!

"Of course!" Candice looked proud. "If you want to go to the Crown Academy, the road will be very difficult, but if you win against me in a battle, I'll tell you a shortcut!"

...

"Well then, let's battle. Where should we go?"

In the end, Darren naturally followed behind Candice.

To make it easier to reach his destination, it would be good to warm up with a battle first.

Walking ahead, Candice looked happy and said, "Right in front of us is the Pokémon Trainer School~ There is an area for Pokemon battles there,"

"School?"

"Yeah, it's responsible for teaching kids in the city about being trainers."

Darren stared at the distant building, somewhat surprised. "If they do something like this..."

Even in a city, there should not be many families that support children becoming trainers. Establishing this kind of elementary school is completely thankless.

However, Darren remembered Fallarbor Town. Compared to other towns or cities, Fallarbor Town was still too remote and backward. Not only had few trainers come out of there, but even the Pokémon Center was not stationed there yet.

Darren couldn't stop pondering that if Fallarbor had a trainer school, perhaps the current situation of the orpahange would be better?