Eevee Therapy for Little Magi Chapter 68: Official Notice of Challenge (Patreon)

It was a few hours after the successful lecture, in the middle of a family dinner, when the Toshaka-Juniper family and their friends heard a knock at the door. Aurea looked up with a frown. “I‘m sure I had this room reserved…” she muttered. With a shake of her head, she turned to look at Rin, “Rin, would you mind…?”

Affecting an annoyed expression that was utterly insincere, the girl nodded and rose to her feet, heading towards the door. Pausing in front of the door briefly as Agate joined her, the girl cracked the door open and stuck her head outside, “Yes?”

She was met with Mr. Imbue, the standout member of their little class looking a little tentative as he stood outside their door. “My apologies for interrupting your dinner, young lady,” he said woodenly. “But I come bearing a message from my father.”

“Give me one second please. You may have to wait until we’re done, depending on if my family wishes to hear it or not,” Rin stated politely, looking towards Agate. “Can you?”

“Of course,” her Espeon stated, darting back towards the table as a whole while Rin stared through the cracked door.

“I could just deliver it directly to you, but I will wait,” he said simply.

“They say just to have him tell us and get it over with. The Imbue family apparently has some local clout,” Agate responded dryly.

Rin inclined her head and stood to one side as the man entered, coming to stand near the table. He grimaced slightly as he took in the Pokemon Professor and Cyrano. “Before I begin; my father’s words here are not my own, but he remains the family head, and thus…” He trailed off meaningfully before he withdrew a paper from his coat. “Ahem. To the charlatan whose efforts evidently have deceived my son, I denounce you as a deceiver and a grift. Your pretension to the gifts of the Great Dragons is abhorrent, and deserves nothing but scorn. I demand that you present yourself before the Imbue family and explain your trickery, or I shall do all in my power to censure you. Should you refuse to come forward, I shall treat this as an admission to falsehood, and elevate my denouement to the court of law. Consider this a challenge,” he groaned, folding the letter and putting it on the table. “I have no idea what he is thinking.”

With a blank face, Rin nodded. “He has very little to stand on in the court of law. There’s a part of me that is genuinely tempted to simply ignore him and let him take me there simply to embarrass him,” she stated, sighing, “That said, that would inconvenience you significantly, would it not?”

“A bit,” Cyrano admitted. “Not much, as you said. More of an annoyance.” He looked over at Imbue Junior, who remained standing with a stony face. “What does your father actually want, young man?”

“I am not entirely sure; the family has always claimed that only the truly gifted can tap into the gods’ powers, and all modern ‘witches’ were charlatans or illusionists.” He sighed. “I am not sure if he wants to steal your techniques so we could replicate them, or prove you a charlatan to shore up his worldview. He may just have fixated on Ms. Tohsaka as his most recent target.”

“Rin, honestly, he sounds like a waste of time,” Sakura stated bluntly. “I wouldn’t bother.”

Rin nodded, “Honestly, I’m inclined to do the same, unless there’s an easy way to resolve this without interrupting my journey by getting the courts involved.”

“My father did state this was a challenge,” Mr. Imbue said simply. “A Pokemon battle is implied to be another way out of such an accusation; winner decides the Truth of the issue,” he continued delicately. “Granted, my father has been a trainer for several decades… but much of his old team has long retired.”

“Am I allowed to appoint a Champion, in that case? Considering he’s calling out a first year trainer as a veteran one?” Rin deadpanned.

“Ah…” Mr. Imbue stopped and considered. “I am… ugh. I was never the best at the old laws…”

Libra floated over, and began chirping into a translator. “Under the old Trial of Combat, the one challenged is allowed to make up for disadvantages through forfeit on the part of the accuser. You cannot appoint a ‘champion’ unless an approved neutral third party both sides approve as a mediator decides the imbalance is too great to be acceptable as a proper challenge. Such a third party could be a wise man from another clan, a priest or priestess, a judge of the law, or a champion of the gods. I believe that a police officer who is also a battle judge would be appropriate.”

“So, essentially, it’s far better to just accept the challenge and impose a crippling disadvantage to your father,” Rin sighed. “And here I was thinking I wouldn’t have to deal with this.”

Mr. Imbue bowed slightly. “I shall convey the acceptance back to him. Ah… if you win, you’ll at least be able to declare a forfeit from him, so perhaps consider that.”

Rin nodded swiftly. “I’ll be merciless, considering the sheer gall of his maneuver, to be completely clear.”

“Understandable. May I recommend some evolution stones? My family has a small horde in the family vaults,” he informed them, before turning to leave. “I will reach out to the local government, and see who they might send to proctor. Is that acceptable?” he asked before he reached the door.

“Given he has local pull, I’d honestly rather find a League Official from outside the area.” Rin stated, her sister nodding emphatically in agreement.

“I’ll handle that, then,” Cyrano said simply. “His influence is less than he thinks, but better not to risk it.”

Imbue nodded, and walked out the door without another word. N spoke up. “Is going to court really such a hassle?”

“It’s not the court case itself; it’d get tossed out within minutes of reaching the judge. But to get to court requires time, investigations, lawyers… and appearing before the judge requires someone putting their life on hold to go to court. Better to avoid it altogether,” Aurea sighed. “And if Rin just lied and said she made it all up, he’d use it to undermine her research papers and good name, and he might demand ‘recompense’ besides.”

“And Rin wants the satisfaction of rubbing a victory in his face,” Sakura added smugly, giving her sister an amused look.

“Of course I do! He called me a charlatan,” Rin grumbled.

Cyrano looked up from his phone. “Well. I’ve found someone impressive enough to act as proctor, that no one should be able to protest.”

“Really, whom?”

The wide battle hall which was in use for the challenge was not quite packed; but the word about the challenge had apparently gotten out, and a crowd of college students, researchers, and older folks in both traditional outfits and more modern apparel filled the stands, chattering at the sight down below.

One of the Heavenly Kings, Marshal, looked back and forth between Rin and an older man with the same facial features as Mr. Imbue. “Johannes Imbue. This is a farce as far as I can see. Do you insist on bringing your challenge forward, regardless?” He raised one palm to cut the man off as he moved to raise his voice. “These laws have been in disuse for decades, and bringing them out to challenge a child on a journey will see you censured. Consider that before you affirm your resolve.”

The older man’s eyes narrowed. “The girl claims powers she cannot have, as we do not. And more importantly, she claims to be able to teach them, given time.” He looked back at her. “I will have satisfaction.”

“Very well. I have assessed both your teams. Ms. Tohsaka, you may use any members of your team, though your most recent member– Carroll, yes? Is not truly ready for such a challenge.” He turned to Imbue. “As for your team; for its own sake, you may not field your Darmanitan; he is nearly lame. You may field two of the remaining four members you have available. Understood?” At the accepting nod, he looked back at Rin. “Any questions?”

“League Rules?” Rin asked, more for clarification than anything else.

“Yes. A two on four match, one switch to each side, to be precise.” Marshal agreed. “Anything else?”

“None at this time,” Rin stated, taking a deep breath as she centered herself. This was going to - more than likely, anyway - be an extremely difficult battle that would push her team to the limits. It was also a battle to put a prideful twat in his place, but that was besides the point.

“Good. Take your places, and begin on my mark,” the man said sternly, both sides nodding and heading to their sides. Rin turned to face her opponent. “On three. One, two… three!”

Elder Imbue threwout his ball at the same time Rin cast hers forward. Agate hit the field without a sound, only a scathing glare towards her opponent. The Escavalier which manifested glowered down at her, armor plates creaking slightly as he adjusted to the air.

“Megahorn, take her down now!” Imbue ordered, the bug type nodding before both of his lances began to shine, preparing to lance the Espeon through.

“Dodge. Psychic Terrain,” Rin ordered softly, Agate’s ears twitching as she followed through, weaving through the sluggish charge from her opponent, trilling, the ground around her being infused with psychic energy all the while. “Expanding Force.”

Imbue wrinkled his nose. “What is that–” He watched as a dome of energy rose from Agate, the blast spiralling outwards and sending Escavalier helm-over-tail. “What hell is this?” He yelled. “Fine, Scary Face! Slow–” He paused. “Wait… Magic Bounce. Nevermind, just close in and use X-scissor, you can take a hit!”

“Expanding Force,” Rin commanded again, having eyeballed the distance between the two Pokemon and found it acceptable. It would be a problem if the Escavalier powered through, but that was a problem for future Rin and Agate. Besides, if she really needed to, she still had that plan in her back pocket, though she’d have to time it right.

Escavalier did power through the expanding dome of force - much to both Rin and Agate’s displeasure, his armor shuddering under the blows as he closed in to quarters with Agate and landed a strong hit with his lances, the Eeveelution skidding backwards from the force; but not nearly out of the fight yet, eyes still glowing and split-tail lashing in response. 

“Prep for pass,” Rin called, Agate trilling her agreement as she began to set up, preparing to pass the baton over towards a Pokemon much more suited to dealing with Escavelier than Agate was.

Imbue squinted, recognizing the white power growing around his opponent’s pokemon, but unable to place it. “Hit her again!” He ordered while he watched. Escavalier closed in, launching into another attack– only for Agate to vanish, leaving a floating Lampent behind, the bug-type move barely scuffing her glass. “Oh, you brat–”

“Flamethrower,” Rin stated bluntly, Libra gleefully putting to the use the singular calm mind and agility that Agate had managed to pull off before being forced to pass to her comrade. The blast of flames seared Escavelier, leaving him drooping, but he straightened quickly.

“Razor shell! Make her bleed before you fall!” Imbue roared, Escavelier gathering water around one lance and smashing it into his opponent with one last surge of strength. Libra staggered, but retaliated with one final burst of fire, laying out her opponent with a clatter.

“Escavelier is down. Next Pokemon.” Marshal ordered.

“Fine. Slaking, smash that-” Imbue ordered as his second Pokemon emerged onto the battlefield.

“Curse,” Rin stated blandly, a note of victorious smugness present within her voice.

“-Throat Chop.” Imbue gritted out as Libra’s flames went black as she burned her own life force to land the curse. Slaking’s dark-enhanced backhand knocked her out cold, but left him shivering and unsteady as the curse kicked in and started draining him bit by bit.

Agate once again hit the field as Rin wordlessly sent her starter Pokemon back out, calling, “Expanding Force.”

Slaking shrugged off the hit, but continued to shudder as he gathered his energy for another attack, drawing himself back to his feet and taking a stance, dark energy flickering around his hands once again.

“Protect,” Rin stated bluntly, her tone turning cold. “Expanding Force after that.”

Imbue cursed as the energy around his Pokemon’s hands stuttered out. “Dammit, switch back to Throat Chop, don’t try Sucker Punch again!” He cursed as his Pokemon took another hit. Slaking grunted, but Rin couldn’t tell if it was in pain or agreement, the massive Pokemon trying and falling to close to quarters and hammer down the little psychic cat. With a groan and one last psychic blast, Slaking slumped forward to the mat.

Marshal raised a hand. “Slaking is no longer able to battle! Trainer Rin is the victor, and has proven herself righteous in Truth and Ideals. It is hers to decide the forfeit.” He glared at Imbue as the man quietly returned his Pokemon. “Do you accept this, or will I need to remind you of the rules you exploited to have this match?”

“...I will not dishonor myself trying to refuse,” he growled. He stepped over, lips clenched in a thin line. “And for that matter. You may be tricky, but you have an honest way of battling,” he admitted with reluctance.

“I just want an apology for the waste of time, to be honest,” Rin sighed, shaking her head. There was quite literally nothing the man could offer her that she couldn’t get herself, so an apology would be for the best. Besides, the battle had been fun, and it’d been a good test of how much she and her team had grown.

Even if the only reason it’d gone as well as it had was because his team was very public knowledge and she’d been able to prepare for that.

“... I apologize for interrupting your family meal and your journey,” Imbue said after a long moment, seeming more pensive than begrudging. He reached into his jacket, removing a pouch. “Your prize money.” He handed it off to her, spun on his heel, and walked out.

Well… That had gone… far better than expected. Maybe he’d genuinely seen the error of his ways from their clash?

That was… honestly kinda nice.

Rin nodded to herself. Yet another reason she preferred things here. No long-standing blood feuds, just one non-lethal battle and the matter was supposed to be settled.

She turned and walked back to the group, smiling as she tossed the bag slightly. “Not bad.” She muttered, before she felt someone else approach her rear.

Elite Marshal spoke softly. “You were well prepared for this battle, though Imbue handled it poorly. I do not think you’ll be ready for this year’s conference, but the next… we shall see. Unova thanks you for your service thus far, and I hope to see you keep improving.”

Rin nodded curtly. “I’ll have to do better and prove that I’m ready for this year’s conference then.” Her pride was on the line, after all. She couldn’t be seen losing to her younger sister, even if she wouldn’t particularly mind losing to Sakura in this.

It was the principle of things!

“Good. Keep that fire, and do better than the you of yesterday. That’s the goal to shoot for.” He smiled, then turned and walked off.

“I’m pretty sure he gets most of his quotes from anime. Though he’s not wrong,” Juniper admitted. “So, now that this is over, where are you all heading next?”

“Driftveil,” Sakura interjected, receiving a pout and a nod from her older sister. “Good battle, Rin. Much better than before.”

Rin had the decency to not growl at her sister for that, but she did offer Sakura a pout. “Alright, so, we’re headed to Driftviel. Do we want to leave tomorrow?”

“Yes, we only have four gym badges, and we need to clear four more gyms in two months.” Sakura responded. “Let’s head back to our rooms, and we can buy our tickets.”

“Agreed. I don’t think we’ll have much time for sidequests anymore, sadly,” Rin grumbled. There went her plans of casually jaunting through the wilds to learn more about the native mage- magic. The local magic. Ah well. It was something she would have an abundance of time for once the current season was done!

…why did she hear laughter?