[center][color=wheat][h3]Aedre Charbonnet[/h3][/color]
— Mesalon Gym —[/center]
At first Aedre had been confused at the way the battle was going. Sure gym leaders were strong, but they held back their power, letting it loose in measured amounts when trainers challenged them. When Sophia’s first, then second and then third Pokemon were knocked out by the same Furfrou, Aedre was stunned. Was the gym leader really that strong? This seemed to be Sophia’s first gym battle, and already the bar was raised quite high — higher than Aedre’s current level, at least.

When the match was announced by the referee, Aedre clapped respectfully for the winning gym leader. Rather than looking happy or proud with his victory, Lan Sohai seemed rather pensive. Before Aedre could point that out to Rheese and Alex, Sophia was taking off through the entrance of the gym.

[color=wheat]“Sophia!”[/color] Aedre called, hopping down from the stands and giving chase to the girl. Having just suffered a defeat, the brunette was probably in a rather agitated state and therefore prone to rash decisions and conclusions about herself. She needed alone time, but she also needed a friend or someone she could talk to after she got over the initial shock. [i]Or at least that’s what I’d need,[/i] Aedre thought as she followed the girl out the gym.

[hr][@heckno12][@abysmaldemon][@luckyblackcat]