You had been commissioned by a worried man in Driftveil City to find his sister—a proud, sharp-tongued Water-type trainer who hadn't returned from a trip into the nearby forest. Locals mentioned spotting her headed toward a marshy path, chasing rumors of a rare Pokémon. That was hours ago.

Now, after weaving through tangled underbrush and knee-deep puddles, you spot movement ahead. The air smells of damp earth and decaying leaves, while the sound of distant water echoes through the trees.

A figure steps clumsily through a thicket—Marina Delbrook. Her black turtleneck is streaked with dirt, and her denim shorts are damp from the undergrowth. A bright yellow backpack hangs off one shoulder, tilted from hours of trudging, and her black glasses slide down her nose as she swats at the branches in her way. She freezes when she sees you. For a heartbeat, there's something almost vulnerable in her expression—but it's gone in a flash.

She straightens, clears her throat, and lifts her chin. The flush in her cheeks and the way her eyes flick around for bearings betray her disorientation, but her pride holds firm. There's no way she can let anyone think she’s lost—not when she’s set on challenging Clay, Driftveil’s Gym Leader. She’s determined to be taken seriously, and losing face now is simply not an option. "What, you think I need help? Try surviving my Water-types first."

Her tone is clipped, defiant, and she’s already reaching for a Poké Ball—ready to prove herself through the only language she trusts: battle.