Chapter 241: A Seed of Hope
Xiu met Rinko's excited gaze, his own expression carefully neutral. "I must emphasize, Miss Rinko," he said, his voice low and serious, "these seeds… they are exceptionally rare. Possibly the last of their kind in existence. It took considerable effort to acquire them."
Rinko's smile faded slightly, replaced by a solemn understanding. The small glass vial in her hand suddenly seemed to gain immense weight. She nodded firmly. "You have my word, Xiu. This will remain between us."
She then turned her attention back to the seeds, her brow furrowing as she examined them more closely. "They appear well-preserved," she murmured, "but their age is considerable. I cannot guarantee their germination. And," she added, looking up at him, a hint of professional caution in her eyes, "even if they do sprout, this is an entirely unknown species to me.
I have no knowledge of its specific growth requirements, its preferred soil composition, its light and water needs. This will be… challenging." Her concern was genuine; to fail with such a precious, unique specimen would be a profound disappointment.
Xiu had anticipated these concerns. He knew the odds. Even the previous Gym Leaders of the Viridian Bug-type Gym, with generations of accumulated knowledge, had found the purple flower notoriously difficult to cultivate.
For Rinko, working blind, the odds would be against her even more. "That's precisely why I came to you, Miss Rinko," He said. "because attempting to cultivate this myself would be futile." He then produced the small, leather-bound notebook where he had painstakingly transcribed and translated the relevant cultivation notes from the journals of the previous Gym Leaders.
"However, I do have some records from previous cultivators. It might offer some guidance."
Eager anticipation lit up Rinko's face. She took the notebook immediately, her fingers tracing the the cover before she began to read. The notebook contained Xiu's compilation of the Bug-type Gym's knowledge on the purple flower – details on soil preparation, light cycles, watering schedules, propagation techniques, common pests and diseases, and the formula for the specialized nutrient solution required for its growth.
The notes were only a dozen pages or so, but packed with vital information. Rinko devoured them, her earlier anxieties visibly receding, replaced by a focused, confident energy. "This… this is invaluable!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. "With this information, yes… I believe successful cultivation is achievable!"
"There's one more thing," Xiu added, producing another sheet of paper – the formula for the potent insect repellent used by the founder of the Bug-type Gym. "The mature plant, especially when it blooms, emits an incredibly potent aroma that attracts… powerful Pokémon. You'll need this to mask its scent and protect your other specimens."
"The insect repellent mentioned in these notes?" Rinko took the formula, her curiosity evident.
"Yes," Xiu confirmed. "It should effectively neutralize the plant's alluring scent. And given your garden's location, deep within the forest, a reliable, wide range insect repellent might have other useful applications for you as well."
Rinko nodded, her mind already formulating a plan. "Then let us begin!" she declared, her earlier languor gone, replaced by a focused, almost feverish excitement.
Xiu had no intention of merely observing. He needed to understand the process and to learn from a true master. "Lead the way, Miss Rinko. I'm eager to assist and learn."
The roar of Xiu's motorcycle became a constant on the mountain path in the days that followed. He found himself drawn to the Murasame Botanical Garden with increasing frequency, often heading straight there after completing his duties at Oak's institute.
The initial focus was on coaxing the ancient purple flower seeds to germinate, a delicate and uncertain process. Rinko, armed with the notes and her own botanical expertise, meticulously prepared specialized growth mediums and carefully controlled temperature and humidity levels, monitoring the seeds with an almost obsessive vigilance.
Simultaneously, they worked on replicating and refining the insect repellent formula. This involved sourcing various rare herbs and minerals – some from Rinko's own extensive collection, others requiring Xiu to make inquiries through Fushun's network and even forage from the deeper, more dangerous sections of Viridian Forest.
Based on the information from the texts, Rinko cleared out an entire self-contained glasshouse within the main botanical garden, meticulously preparing it to become the dedicated cultivation site for the purple flower. Her commitment to the project was absolute.
Xiu, for his part, found the intense, focused work surprisingly invigorating. The daily motorcycle rides, the strenuous hikes up the mountain path, the hours spent assisting Rinko in the humid greenhouses – it was physically demanding, a welcome contrast to the sedentary, mentally taxing nature of research. He felt stronger, more energetic, the lingering fatigue from Viridian finally receding.
One morning, Xiu arrived earlier than usual, only to find the main greenhouse doors locked. Strange. Rinko is usually here by now. Puzzled, he headed towards the villa. He knocked, then heard hurried footsteps from within – a rushed, almost frantic sound, entirely out of character for the usually calm and composed Rinko. Is there trouble?
However, before he could voice his concern, the door flew open. Rinko stood there, her face flushed, her eyes shining with excitement. "Xiu! It's happened! They've sprouted! The seeds… they've actually sprouted!"
Xiu felt a jolt, a surge of adrenaline, but he kept his expression neutral. He had learned to temper his expectations and guard against premature celebrations. But as he followed Rinko, who had grabbed his wrist and was practically dragging him inside, he allowed a slow, genuine smile to spread across his face.
She led him to the lab. On a workbench, bathed in the soft glow of a specialized grow lamp, sat a tray of small propagation containers. Each held a carefully prepared soil mixture, covered by a transparent dome to maintain humidity. Sixteen containers in total.
In three of them, tiny, almost imperceptible green shoots had pushed their way through the earth. In one, a distinct, vibrant green dot, the first true leaf, was unfurling.
We actually did it, Xiu thought, a profound sense of awe and relief washing over him. These seeds, dormant for a century or more, preserved through chaos and decline… still held the spark of life! The Viridian Bug-type Gym's legacy wasn't entirely dead! "Remarkable," he breathed, unable to suppress his elation any longer.
He had been cautious, of course. Initially, Xiu had internally debated whether or not to entrust Rinko with the last seeds of the purple flower. But now, seeing these first fragile sprouts, knowing that cultivation was indeed possible…
Rinko, seeing Xiu's genuine joy, beamed. "Now the real work begins," she declared, her voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose. "We must accelerate our efforts with the insect repellent. These seedlings will be incredibly vulnerable in their early stages."
Xiu nodded, his mind already racing. "Agreed." He was a man of action, not one to rest on matters that needed attention the most. He turned to Rinko, a determined glint in his eye. "Let's get to it."
With Rinko's expertise and Xiu's relentless drive, the purple flower cultivation project moved forward at an astonishing pace. Of the initial sixteen seeds, twelve ultimately survived the delicate germination and transplanting process, an impressive success rate of nearly eighty percent.
The precious seedlings, now thriving in their dedicated, climate-controlled greenhouses, were a testament to their combined efforts.
With the cultivation of the purple flower now stable, requiring more patience and observation than intensive intervention, Xiu's focus began to shift back to his other responsibilities at Professor Oak's institute.
Daily training with Scizor and Abra, overseeing Xiaochun's acclimation to her new life, and his attempts to refine the Scizor-specific enhancement potion. Life settled into a new, regular rhythm. He felt more energetic and more focused for the future in a long while, seeming to hold a spark of genuine hope.
One morning, after breakfast, Professor Oak surprised him. "Xiu," the professor said, an unusual, almost mischievous twinkle in his eye, "are you free later this morning? I was hoping you might accompany me to my home in Pallet Town. There's… someone I'd like you to meet."