"Ms Emily, are you sure that someone would want a weakling like me?" A darkrancruel bowed his head in shame.

"You'll find someone." I replied him. "You'll find someone like the rest did. Out there, they'll be a trainer who'll want you."

"If you're sure." He fidgeted a little. "But why can't I be your spiritmal? You're a nice person Ms Emily."

"I can't take in too many of you guys, and there could be more Spiritmals coming in any time." I answered the darkrancruel. "Now, why don't you go play with the others."

"Ok Ms Emily..." the darkrancruel replied, scurrying away.

I looked up at the sky, wondering if Star was going to visit. It had been nine months since I had last seen her, her gift and Tim's picture being the only two things I had left of her.

Still, I guess it was for the best she stayed with her family, even though it would be nice to see her again.

"Hey Emily, your delivery is here!"

I look to my left to see Tim standing by the gate, a package in his hands.

"I'm coming." I replied, running towards him and his wolfabeast.

"How's life been?" I asked, signing the confirmation letter for my goods."

"The usual." Tim replied. "It gets sooooo borrrring at times!" He fakes a faint, making me chuckle slightly and wonder if he'll ever change.

"How about you Fang?"

"I'm doing well." He replied, licking a paw.

"Nice to know."

"What about you Emily? How's life?" Tim asked.

"The usual as well I guess" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Nice to hear." Tim replied, thinking for a while. "By the way Emily, happy birthday!"

I blinked, having forgotten that it was my special day.

"Oh, thanks a lot Tim."

"No problem!" He replied. "Now I better get going. Deliveries after all! I'll see you later for the giveaway. Ok?"

"Ok. I'll see you later too, Tim and Fang." I replied as he sped off on Fang's back.

Well, back to work.

"Emily! Crunch is at it again!" Winter ran up to me.

"He's raiding the refrigerator?" I groaned. That monotone wolfabeast was trouble.

Winter nodded.

"Could you help me stop him please?"

"Sure thing Emily." Winter agreed, running in the direction of the building.

I was currently in the backyard of my small research laboratory, the very place the abandoned or mildly hurt Spiritmals played around in the day.

I sighed a little, sitting down on the grass and pulling a piece of paper out of my pocket. "On it, there were ten Spiritmal names, the supposed Spiritmals I would be giving out to interested owners at Lushwood village, my hometown, later that day. I guess it was a good time to visit home, it had been a while since I had seen my family. I smiled a little, picturing the town in my head. The last I've been there was a year ago...

I sighed once more, watching as the Spiritmals played with one another. They had all been found broken, one way or another. Brought here to recover and to find a good trainer someday. Some of them were the wild Spiritmals Team Alchama had captured, unable to adapt back to their original ways.

"I've stopped Crunch Emily!" Winter came running back to me with another wolfabeast by her side.

I shook my head at the monotone wolfabeast. "Crunch, how many times must I tell you not to raid the refrigerator?"

"But I was hungry!" He whined.

I chuckled, opening the box Tim had sent me and giving a serving of food to the hungry Spiritmal. "I seriously hope you don't drain your owner's pockets with your everlasting hunger." I joked, watching as he wolfed down the food, literally, before running away to play with the rest.

Winter curled up on my lap, yawning a little. "You know Emily, I'm glad we're friends." She suddenly spoke up, her unexpected comment earning a blink from me.

"It's been a while." She continued. "But I haven't gotten the chance to really thank you for what you've done. Thank you for teaching me what a friend is." She finished.

"Of course." I replied. Petting her as she drifted off to sleep. I gently placed her beside me, continuing to pet her.

I wonder how Felix was doing, I haven't seen him in a while. It's been about two months since I've last seen him. He seems to be doing well, however, as he had won at least two races in the last month.

It was then I heard the sound of a fast moving creature in the distance.

I looked to my left, surprised when I saw the form of a particular lionblitz in the distance.

Could it be him?

I stood up slowly, walking towards the gate just as he came into full view.

Topaz slowed down his pace, coming to a full stop right outside the gate.

"Hey Emily, how are you doing?" He asked politely, hopping down Topaz.

"Fine." I replied. Opening the gate and allowing the two of them in.

"It's been a while, hasn't it peasant?" He used his nickname for me as he and Topaz walked in, closing the gate behind them. This time, however, he clearly meant the 'peasant' as nothing more than a joke. Unlike the times he would use it to actually insult me.

"Yea, it's been a while." I replied.

"You seem to be doing well." He looked around the place, seemingly thinking of something.

"What's on your mind Felix?" I asked as we walked towards my trusty wagon, loading it up with some stuff.

"You haven't thought of joining a race since Star's gone, have you?"

I stopped for a moment, thinking about the yellow bird.

"Nope. Not once." I finally replied, packing the last of the stuff onto the wagon.

"Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait longer before racing with you again." He simply replied.

"You haven't given up on that, have you?" I shook my head slightly, checking the time.

"Do you have somewhere to go?" He questioned.

"Well, I'll be heading back to my hometown for a giveaway of Spiritmals today. If you're free, I guess you could tag along."

He shrugged. "I guess I've got a bit of time.

I nodded, whistling to wake Winter up and to give her the signal to round up the specific Spiritmals.

She yawned, giving me a bark of confirmation before finding the Spiritmals and directing them to me.

I thanked Winter, instructing the Spiritmals to climb into the wagon.

"So, these are the lucky ones for today huh?"

"Well, in a way." I replied, settling down the Spiritmals in the wagon.

"Winter, you ready?"

"Yep!" She replied, standing right next to the harness. I strapped her in, ensuring that she was comfortable before jumping onto the wagon as well.

"So Felix, are you and Topaz riding on the wagon or are you going to ride Topaz there alongside me?

"Ride! ride!" Topaz replied, turning back into its disguise form. I watched as Felix sighed at his behavior, knowing what he wanted even though he doesn't speak spiritmal.

"I guess we're on the wagon then." He sighed, climbing in as well.

With that, I reminded the rest of the Spiritmals in the backyard to behave themselves before riding on towards my hometown.
—————————

I should be studying for my upcoming tests.

But am I?

No, no I'm not.

Instead, I've somehow decided to pre-write 4 chapters of this book and make it a cover.

Oh well.

Due to the current circumstances, I will not have a constant update schedule for this book.

Well... at least not yet.

See you guys in the next chapter!