Something seems off...

Insight Check: Passed!

“I think I’ll pass, uh, ‘Sensei’. You have a good one!” you reply.

“But Emilia, it’s very simple to learn! And I’m sure my random act of kindness would form a strong foundation for a relationship between us!”

“Nope! I’m fine without seeing in the dark, and without a relationship. Let’s just stick with being friends. Long-distance friends, preferably.”

Sensei gargles in agony before collapsing, as though your words somehow dealt critical damage to him. Leaving the human boulder behind, you venture further into the cave. Pfft, seeing in the dark. He was probably just wearing fancy glasses or something. He made a good point about using your pokemon to get through the cave, though. If only one of your pokemon knew Flash… Yeah, it would look like that light in the distance… Wait, a light! It looks like a campfire. Anyone camping in a cave will be able to help you for sure!

You quickly abandon your hand-to-wall strategy and go towards the light. You could swear you’ve heard the sentence, “Don’t go towards the light!” a hundred times before in various TV shows and movies, but you disregard all of those memories and continue walking up to the campfire. Then again, they might be a pervert, waiting to prey on a poor, innocent, gorgeous girl like yourself. But if they are, you’ll just, uh… figure something out when it happens!

When you reach the source of the light, you’re somehow disappointed. It’s… electronic. You don’t know why you really care one way or the other, but it somehow seems wrong for there to be a glorified lamp in this cave, rather than a fire. Just when you’re questioning whether the light’s owner is around, you hear a voice. “Uh, who’re you?”

A figure steps out of the darkness, barely lit by the eerie, unnatural light of the bonfire. Before you stands a foreboding visage, void of any goodwill, epitomizing only the most cold and stark suffering that humankind can- oh wait. It’s just a nerd. Buck teeth, lanky limbs, glasses too thick to see through … definitely a nerd. But that means he’s smart, which is great! He’ll be able to navigate you out of here.

“I’m Emilia, a pokemon trainer from Rifure Town!” you reply cheerfully. Then, you recite your magic spell for getting people to help you. “Listen, you have to help me! I’ve been wandering around for so long and nobody will even try to help a poor, defenseless girl like me! You’re not so cruel, right? Will you help me reach Pewter City?” It’s in the bag.

Diplomacy Check: Failed!

The nerd adjusts his glasses and replies, “Begone, thot! I’ve more important things to do.” With that, he disappears back into the darkness.

Huh, he has a lisp. You wonder why so many nerds have lisps…? Several seconds pass before your brain plays back what he said and you comprehend his response. Does that mean… he’s not gonna help? You frantically search the datastores of your brain, looking for some record of a male blatantly ignoring you before. Nothing. Usually, you have a problem with men paying too much attention to you. And why’d he call you a “thought”?