The Ancestor's Aide

As everyone in the room let out a collective sigh of relief when both trainers retracted their respective auras, Jonathan, shielded by Elder Theron, saw the tide turning in his favor. He smirked, growing bolder, and personally stepped forward, intent on snatching the Pokémon egg from Lance's grip.

But just as he was about to reach for the egg, a small object flew towards Elder Jonathan's chest, striking him and knocking the wind out of him. The room fell silent as the object hit its mark.

I calmly stepped forward, my movements imbued with a quiet authority that seemed to cast an invisible weight over the room. I passed by and nodded discreetly in the direction of Elder Theron, acknowledging his presence and cooperation in the matter.

Elder Jonathan, still recovering from the surprise and rubbing his chest, picked up the small object that had struck him. As his eyes fell on the item, a chill ran down his spine.

"You little brat, how dare you forge the Ancestors' token? Do you have any idea about the severity of the issue, and do you know how harsh the punishment for this matter is?" fumed Elder Jonathan, still seething with anger after being knocked down. He noticed that it was a child challenging him and assumed the item at hand was a fake, immediately directing his personal guards to take action.

"Quick, catch the little devil and tie him up! I want to hear what kind of explanation he'll give us for forging the Ancestors' token," Jonathan demanded, wanting to escalate the situation. However, he had no idea that he was digging his own grave with this confrontation.

Amidst the commotion, Alice couldn't help but suppress a laugh at the sheer audacity and ignorance of Elder Jonathan. Even if his great-grandfather were present, he would have shown immense respect toward me. But Jonathan's anger had clouded his judgment. She knew very well that I might appear as a small child due to my outward appearance and age, but if anyone threatened someone dear to me, I could transform into an absolutely ruthless force. Thinking about the last time such an incident had occurred sent shivers down her spine. Even though she was a war veteran, there were some methods I had employed during that time that she found deeply unsettling. What disturbed her the most was that I had been just three years old then.

"Alice, you should take responsibility for your grandson's mistakes. Clearly, you haven't raised him properly," he accused, casting aspersions on her parenting. "This sort of behavior is unacceptable."

However, his subordinates were hesitant to manhandle a child, even if he had seemingly committed an offense. I could feel my anger flaring because of the way Elder Jonathan was acting and the accusations he was throwing around. I was ready to retaliate if the guards made a move against me, as I had no intention of being unjustly subdued.

Elder Jonathan, his face contorted with anger and frustration, felt that he had to assert his authority. He commanded his guards once again, "I said, seize that child, now!"

His subordinates hesitated. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and they were unsure of how to proceed. On one hand, they had the orders of an elder, but on the other, they were looking at a child, even though the child's actions were baffling and had knocked down an elder. They exchanged uneasy glances, torn between their loyalty and their conscience.

As the guards hesitated, Elder Jonathan's patience was wearing thin. The room was filled with tension as he raised his voice, "What are you waiting for? This is an order! Seize the boy!"

I could feel my anger intensifying as the guards started to inch closer, torn between their duty and their reluctance to physically confront a child. My aura flared, and Absol's growls resonated through the room. The situation was teetering on the edge, and any wrong move could lead to chaos.

Before any of Jonathan's guards could lay a hand on me, Elder Theron moved with lightning speed and delivered a punch to Jonathan's gut. Simultaneously, he fully released his aura, which felt like cold steel, and directed his intense gaze towards Jonathan's subordinates who were closing in on me.

"Anyone who makes a move against Young Master Aron, I will personally ensure that they meet their afterlife. If any of you value your lives, stay right where you are," Elder Theron proclaimed.

The entire room was flabbergasted, except for Alice, who knew the truth. Elder Theron's actions made no sense to the onlookers. Based on what Jonathan had said earlier, the little kid held a forged ancestor's token, a crime that was supposedly punishable by death. Holding the real ancestor's token bestowed the holder with the same status and authority as the family ancestor himself. Therefore, when I had pulled out the token earlier, everyone instinctively believed it was a fake.

However, Elder Theron, known for his righteousness and unwavering adherence to the rules, acted in a manner that baffled everyone present. What no one in the room knew was that Elder Theron was privy to at least a part of my monstrous prowess and the privileges that came with it. Within the Blackthorn family, only the true top echelon, the core elders, were aware of my abilities. These core elders, numbering fewer than ten in total, were entrusted with the knowledge in order to ensure my safety and keep information about my abilities from falling into the wrong hands.

While the Blackthorn family held a prestigious status as one of the top families, it did not mean they lacked enemies. The family's enemies, those who had held grudges for centuries and survived the recent global war between regions, were patient and persistent. The scars of the war remained fresh for humans with such extended lifespans, making them unwilling to forget grudges. If these rival families learned about me and my potential, they would target me with unrelenting determination, putting aside all pretenses.

The core of the family recognized the value of my existence and had taken every possible precaution to safeguard my well-being. The family ancestor himself had arranged for his personal butler to oversee my safety.

"Young Master Aron, I was not aware that it was you who had accessed the vault and acquired the items for Young Master Lance and Alice. I would not have asked for the items if I had been made aware of the full situation. Within the Blackthorn family, nobody holds the authority to deny you access to any of the family's resources. With the ancestor's token, you can enter any of the vaults, including the main vault, without restrictions. I sincerely apologize for this fiasco, and I will make sure to investigate and resolve this issue on your behalf," Elder Theron expressed, offering a sincere gesture of reconciliation.

I acknowledged Elder Theron's words and chose not to escalate the situation further, granting him respect. Using my psychic energy, I retrieved the ancestor's token and carefully carried the Pokémon egg. I headed towards the exit, with Alice and Lance following closely. This time, no one tried to impede our departure.

As I reached the threshold of the room, I paused and turned towards Elder Jonathan. I released my meticulously honed killing intent, a malevolence that I had perfected in my past life. The sheer magnitude of malice radiating from my intent was suffocating, causing everyone in the room, including Alice and Elder Theron, to flinch. The weight of this death-like pressure bore down on the entire room, and even though it wasn't specifically directed at Elder Jonathan, he couldn't help but feel its overwhelming presence.

"Elder Theron, I genuinely hope this is the final instance. If anyone insults my grandmother again, I will be compelled to revisit an episode similar to what transpired two years ago. Trust me when I say that day merely scratched the surface of my capabilities. The next time, the consequences will make the previous incident seem like a mere teaser," I warned, making the threat more ominous and extensive.

"I sincerely hope the council can undertake the task of educating such fools in the future. The sole reason they continue to exist is their affiliation with the Blackthorn family. Therefore, I implore you not to test my patience." I concluded firmly, emphasizing the importance of avoiding any further provocation.

I strode away, ensuring my message had been conveyed with utmost clarity. Pride filled Alice despite her underlying concern for me. The extent of the killing intent I had unleashed earlier was beyond even her ability to discern. Such pure, intense killing intent could only be honed by someone who had been forged in the crucible of protracted and harrowing conflicts.

As we stepped out of the building complex, an elderly man appeared before us. He appeared to be in his fifties, with a dignified and distinguished presence. His eyes were sharp and experienced, betraying the wisdom of his years. His silver hair was well-kept, and the lines etched on his face told tales of battles fought and wisdom gained. His attire was plain, but every inch of him exuded a silent strength. A neatly groomed beard adorned his chin, adding to his air of authority.

Even Alice, an accomplished trainer herself, felt the immense threat emanating from the seemingly amiable old man before us. The old man, despite the formidable aura, bore a gentle smile and exuded a kind disposition when his gaze landed upon Lance and me. However, his demeanor shifted as he turned his attention back to Alice. The smile waned, and his posture returned to one of formal gravity.

The elderly man before me was none other than the Blackthorn family's venerable butler, Alfred Blackthorn. Alfred was a genuine old monster, part of the core elders who had protected the Blackthorn legacy from the shadows for over a millennium. His standing within the family surpassed even that of the family head.

"Little Aron, it seems like you bring liveliness wherever you go. I'll make sure to deal with that fool later. I'm here to inform you that everything has been prepared as per your instructions. The Master asked me to tell you that it's time, and we've acquired the last batch of treasures from the list."

The "Master" Alfred referred to was none other than the Blackthorn family's ancestor himself. Originally an orphan, Alfred's unwavering loyalty to the ancestor and the Blackthorn family had earned him the family name, and he had also married into the Blackthorn family, truly becoming a part of it. However, despite gaining status and privilege within the family, he steadfastly declined all positions, remaining a loyal aide by the ancestor's side.

This man had fought alongside the ancestor and other family members on the battlefield for more than a millennium. They had watched each other's backs in the bloodthirsty world of conflict and developed an unshakeable bond of trust between them.

"Grandpa Alfred, can you take me along this time around, pretty please?" Lance began pleading with the biggest, roundest puppy-dog eyes he could muster, using his most charming tactics to win the old man over.

Alfred couldn't help but chuckle, highly amused by Lance's antics. However, he also knew that he couldn't grant Lance's request this time around due to the paramount importance of the upcoming event.

"Sorry, little one, not this time. How about I promise to take you to a special place in Mt. Silver soon, and we can try our luck finding some new Pokémon? What do you say?" Alfred maintained his kind, grandfatherly demeanor when dealing with children.

Lance was a bit disappointed with Alfred's rejection, but his mood brightened as Alfred promised an outing to Mt. Silver.

"Grandpa Alfred, it's great that everything is prepared. Let's not delay any further. The sooner we get this sorted out, the better. We've been preparing for this for months now. Could I trouble you to send Lance back to his room, and we will be taking Grandma Alice with us" The earlier incident had made me realize that Alice didn't hold as much authority within the family as I would have liked, so I wanted to bring her along to meet the core elders and elevate her status.

Alfred squinted his eyes when I mentioned taking Alice along with us, but he didn't question my judgment. He made a gesture, and a Gardevoir gracefully appeared next to Alfred.

[GARDEVOIR] 

Species: Embrace Pokémon 

Gender: Female 

Status: Healthy 

Level: 5114 

Stage: Pseudo Legendary

Height: 1.8 m 

Weight: 58.4 kg 

Type: Psychic/Fairy 

Potential: Light Indigo

Ability: Synchronize 

Hidden Ability: Telepathy

Stats:

HP: 2210 

Attack: 1631

Defense: 1631

Special Attack: 2490 

Special Defense: 2346 

Speed: 1846 

Moves:

Psychic, Moonblast, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Dazzling Gleam, Psyshock, Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Confusion, Psybeam, Draining Kiss, Magical Leaf, Future Sight, Psychic Terrain, Teleport, Protect, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Skill Swap, Misty Terrain, Heal Pulse, Shadow Sneak, Taunt, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder, Ice Beam, Fire Blast, Rest, Sleep Talk, Destiny Bond, Telekinesis, Miracle Eye, Captivate, Disarming Voice, Healing Wish, Safeguard, Confuse Ray.

While many underestimated Alfred as merely an Epic-ranked trainer, my keen insight revealed a different truth. It was evident that Alfred stood on the precipice of becoming a True Legendary-class trainer, a fact that he subtly concealed. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Gardevoir was not his most potent ally.

In a swift and enigmatic display of power, Gardevoir's delicate hand gently graced Lance's shoulder, and with a mere thought from the Pokémon, they both vanished, disappearing into the fabric of space itself. In a mere heartbeat it returned, Alfred's Gardevoir had teleported back and forth.