Grant closed the book and turned to Sonia, "OK. OK. I think I got it."

Sonia smiled, "See? I told you learning to read wouldn't be that hard."

Grant chuckled and looked up at the sky, and sighed happily. He watches the snowflakes danced as they fell past his face. He spoke to Sonia, "Circhester sure is lovely this time of year."

"How's it been the last three months?" Sonia inquired, "Since you got out of the mental health institute?"

Grant smiled, "I feel... at peace, Sonia. I have a family, an at least pretty good future as a trainer, and I'm finally no longer illiterate. I have a wonderful girlfriend, I'm the second strongest in Galar, and my family that I've forged are all doing well. Hallucinations are at a minimum but, you know, every now and again Tom might pop up. Can't fully cure schizophrenia. Also, not having a stroke when I see a bug, pretty great."

Sonia chuckled, "Yeah. You deserve this Grant. You truly do."

Sonia inquired, "But... what about the endorsement system? It's still there."

"Next season I'm gonna try to defeat this Victor I've heard all about," Grant explained, "But until then I can't do anything."

Grant sighed, slightly downtrodden, "I hate that system, Sonia. It makes my blood boil to think about. I had to fight tooth and nail to get here. It's merely something that promotes the lie that is the idea of a blood family. Allows rich families to stay in power and the poor who don't have the blood of the rich stay at the bottom. It's like the midevil caste system. I wasn't strong enough and..."

"Grant you're doing it again," Sonia reminded, "You're still the second strongest in Galar. You have to stop beating yourself up. What difference will one year make?"

"I know I know," Grant sighed, "I place to much pressure on myself."

"So what are you going to do for now?" Sonia asked.

"I can make some decent money working the odd televised battle," Grant smiled, "Enough to live comfortably if I wanted but not 18 yet so..."

Sonia nodded, "Yeah. Funny, I'm 18, but if I was one year older... yeah this could be a problem."

Grant chuckled, "Guess life has a funny way of working out then."

The look sat in silence, cuddling by the hot springs on a bench in peaceful silence before Grant's phone rang. His eyes widened with shock to see who was calling.

"I just learned to read so I'm reading this wrong right?" Grant asked.

Sonia looked at Grant's phone and replied, "Huh. No. Rose is actually calling you. Isn't he in jail?"

"I gotta take this," Grant replied standing up, answering the call.

He answered with hesitation as he was confused by the call, "Hello?..."

"Grant this is Rose," Rose explained, "I have a favor to ask of you. My son if he accepts me as his father Bede, your brother Hop, the Champion Victor, the new gym leader Marnie, and Leon. I need you to gather these people and come to the Battle Tower. It's a matter of immense importance."

"What's going on?" Grant demanded.

"This is your chance," Rose explained, "In a manner of speaking, we will be removing the endorsement system..."

Rose hung up. Grant turned to Sonia and explained awkwardly, unsure how to phrase it, "I... have to go talk to mom and bounce... I'm sorry... there's... An opportunity and Rose as vauge on details but it sounded really improtant so..."

Sonia chuckled, "I understand."

She kissed Grant's cheek and smiled, "You're the Feral Survivalist, you never turn down a chance that comes your way. That's how you survived all those years after all."

Grant smiled, "Yeah. I'll call you!"

Grant waved goodbye and ran off as Sonia smiled and waved farewell. Her phone rang. She wondered aloud, "Why's Hop calling?"

She answered, "What's up amigo?"

Her eyes, after hearing what Hop said went wide with concern and shock as she responded, "What do you mean Victor is gone?.."

Grant entered a massive house behind the gym, built into a mountainside where he entered. The house was warm, welcoming, a fire burned in a hearth in the living room which Gordie tended to, who turned to notice Grant and inquired, "Hey bro what's good?"

"Gordie hey!" Grant exclaimed fist bumping him, "You visiting or something?"

"Yeah I was in town and wanted to say hi to you and mom," Gordie smiled, "You seem tense man. What's up?"

"I'm about to head out and just letting mom know," Grant explained, "Good to see you though!"

"You raising your mons?" Gordie inquired, "Catching some new ones?"

"No some stuff had come up," Grant explained, "Is mom in the back yard?"

Gordie nodded, "Yeah. Go on out."

Grant nodded and headed into the back yard, which was an enclosed space surrounded by a black metal fence that could withstand the cold. The yard had a greenhouse, in which Melony grew various medicinal herbs for her own Pokémon as well as small berry trees to feed the local Snom population from time to time.

"Hey mom!" Grant exclaimed.

"Hey son what's up?" Melony asked water her Oran Berries.

"I'm about to go look into an opportunity from Rose," Grant explained, "I'll try to be home for dinner but don't wait up."

"Wait Rose?" Melony asked, soft but stern motherly concern in her voice, "Grant I don't know you should trust him. Isn't he in jail?"

"I'll bail if it seems shady but it's worth a try," Grant explained, "I mean, I can call and ask him for details if it'll make you feel better."

"Nah I trust your judgement," Melony replied, "Take some prepackaged curry in case you get hungry."

"I've got curry stuff don't worry," Grant replied before hugging Melony, "Cya soon mom. Love you."

"Love you too son," Melony replied, "Have a good one."

With that Grant left and took a taxi to his first destination...

Ballonlea, where Bede awaited him...