Upon being introduced by Headmaster Clavell, the man tipped his hat, greeting the others within the Staff Room, “I’m honored to start, what I can hope is a steady track of a teaching career, stationed here with you all.” the silver haired gentleman started, his voice easily carrying throughout the room, “I’m afraid despite my age, I am still just finding my route, so I hope I can rely on you all to conduct me, if I happen to make a wrong turn.”

    The other teachers and staff eagerly greeted the new face on staff, they gave friendly greetings, some asked questions, and Ingo seemed to take it all in with a surprising level of calmness. Ms. Raifort especially was interested in what he had to say about his time in the distant past. The man stood tall and straight, a small smile playing on his lips, but it did not quite reach his eyes. Not that those who surrounded him noticed.

    How could they? They had only just met him, even if many had already known his name, and much of his story.

    While it couldn’t be said everyone in the world knew the story that had been on the news, those within special circles kept well informed. Especially historians and pokemon researchers.

    It had only been two years since the media blew up over him. Ingo Gray, beloved Unovan Subway Boss reappeared at the foot of Mt. Coronet just as mysteriously as he had vanished, much to the joy of his loved ones and admirers. With his reappearance, it was also revealed that a similar case involving Dawn Akoya, twin sister of the reigning Sinnoh Champion, had also been taken to the past in a similar fashion many years prior when she was only 15. News stations and regional papers were plastered with a “Truth Revealed” headline, regarding distortion of time that linked the two cases. The information and experiences they brought back with them were beasts to handle all their own. Those who fell through “Distortions” were mysteries and oddities that were kept more quiet, like in Dawn’s case, but it was much harder to keep certain things from the public eye.

    Like for example-

    A man who lived in the Ancient Huisian region, had pictures within history books and was featured in an exhibit dedicated to the most famous Wardens of the Noble Sinnoh pokemon. Needless to say, it was an existence that drew in the eyes of others. He was twin brother of the new Unovan Champion, standing tall within the current age, already in the spotlight for his disappearance. He was Warden Ingo, guardian to the Protector of the Cliffs, Lady Sneazler, and he was an existence that was leagues harder to keep underwraps from the public. He was a living piece of history, able to retell it with clarity, and willing to share his first hand knowledge.

    It was the reason he chose to pursue a career in teaching, using the experience of living history as a tool to aid him. Now he was in Paldea, once again, far away from the place he was born. And just as alone.

▼〘╌⎔╌〙△

    “Prof. Ingo-!”

    Days had passed, and while he was still memorizing his surroundings, he at least recognized the voice as he turned around to face the approaching man. “Hello, Prof. Jacq,” Ingo greeted, tipping his hat to the gray-purple haired man as he came to match the other man’s pace. “Just Jacq is fine! How are you adjusting to things?” The younger teacher asked, smiling with all the friendliness of a Fidough. “I am adjusting well to the new controls. I find this track much easier to navigate compared to the rehabilitation I had to endure after my return.”

    “That’s amazing to hear! I’m glad you're finding your footing within our happy halls!” Ingo couldn’t help but smile a little at the joyful tone of his younger peer. Over the days spent adjusting to the academy, Ingo had gotten a good idea of his co-workers' personalities, they all had interesting quirks, so it was easy to see as to why children of the academy loved them. Jacq especially had an abundance of praises, being a very fun and approachable teacher. “Thank you, Mr. Jacq, you’ve all been so welcoming, I’d find it hard not to enjoy my time stationed here.”

    “Now, is there something you had wanted to ask me about that would cause you to fire up your engine just to talk to me?” the older man asked, his arms being tucked behind his back.

    “Uh- hehe-” he watched as the younger man scratched his wild hair covered head, bashfully, “Ah, you caught me-” the biology teacher admitted, “I had heard you had finished transferring all your pokemon to the Paldean Box servers, annnd I was hoping-”

    “By any chance, would this be about my Hisuian form Pokemon?” Ingo finished, a deep chuckle rumbling in his throat.

    “Yes! Actually!” Jaqc agreed enthusiastically, practically bouncing with excitement. The former warden wasn’t surprised, he had gotten a similar amount of excitement from his fellow History teacher earlier in the week after hearing he had brought a few extinct pokemon alive and healthy within his box. The new teacher’s Hisuian had needed to undergo special examinations before entering a new region with him to avoid any health mishaps from the environment change, so he had been excited to hear he would be reunited with them.

“Would it be alright if I take a look at them?” the young professor asked, gripping the folder he had been carrying in an attempt to contain his excitement. “I’d seen stuffed versions and replicas, but not even revived fossils could beat seeing the original living forms in all their glory!”

“Ofcourse!” Ingo could barely hold his laughter over see the grown man act like a small child, it was endearing to say the least. “I don’t know if you had heard, but I fully plan to involve my team in my teaching course once the semester starts, so the more socializing they receive the better I would think.”

“Fantastic!”

▼〘╌⎔╌〙△

“How absolutely wonderful-!” the younger man chirped, star stricken at the sight of Hisuian pokemon before his eyes. “Titan pokemon appeared in the region some time ago, but they are far from the majesty of natural Alpha pokemon.” Ingo watched fondly as Crossbuck, his alpha Wyrdeer allowed the young professor to stroke his snout, he was a prideful pokemon, so Jaqc admiration and praise had won the bucks favor. “Absolutely wonderful, his fur feels so smooth and soft! And such majestic horns!”

“ Mfrr- “ the older man looked down at the kit in his arms, “It’s alright, Little Lady,” he cooed gently, “He’s just excited, dear, do not worry.” he would never get over how different his Little Lady was compared to his siblings and brood mother, she was a shy little thing, watching the new face wearily as she clung to Ingo’s coat. Meanwhile his other two alpha pokemon seemed rather amused by the purple haired man’s praise and excitement.

As he watched, holding the kit close, Ingo felt an old memory surface and twisted his heart. He was reminded of when he and his twin brother were small. The first time they had visited their uncle Drayden, and he had shown them his team of fully evolved dragon pokemon, he remembered the wonder and excitement the two had felt. As sweet as the memory was, his eyes scanned the sights visible around him, and how they were still so alien to him, when compared to both of his far away homes. He felt that familiar bitterness too.

“Really, Ingo! This feels like a sweet sweet dream!” Jaqc chimed, sounding almost breathless, snapping Ingo’s attention back to him. “I’ve studied the biological evolution of pokemon since I was young, but nothing I’ve read within books comes close to this-!”

“I am glad I could be of some assistance on your academic track revisiting the past.” The older man smiled, the bitterness washing away from the pure childlike excitement radiating from the purple haired man. It was difficult not to smile around Jacq.

▼〘╌⎔╌〙△

“Ingo!” Looking up from his curry and filet sandwich, he smiled as Jacq took a seat across from him, “Afternoon, Mr. Jacq, how have the railways been treating you today?” he asked, smiling fondly at the younger teacher. “Ingooo, I keep telling you just to call me Jacq…” the younger man pouted. “Forgive me, old habit’s are difficult to leave behind.”

“Ah, it’s okay. I’m doing well! All my kiddo’s are so bright and sweet, so ready to learn! We are such a happy homeroom!”