Aura?
The moment Lin Feng saw that word, his heart skipped a beat.
In his mind, the power of Aura was no less valuable than psychic energy itself. Ever since he gained psychic power, he'd been curious if both psychic energy and the power of life (Verdant Power) existed, then surely there were other forces humans could tap into in this world of Pokémon.
There was the power to overcome fate, the strength of the heart, and most mysteriously, the power of Aura.
Of all these, the one Lin Feng desired most was Aura.
With Aura, he could sense the flow of life throughout his entire ranch, monitoring every Pokémon's condition in real time. He had even considered visiting Uncle Liang's Lucario to see if a little "friendly conversation" could help him awaken Aura.
But the few times he'd gone, Lucario had been away guarding the forest. Each time, Lin Feng could only leave a basket of fresh vegetables behind and return disappointed.
Now, reading the tea's description, his eyes gleamed.
"The stronger the tea, the higher the chance, huh?"
He poured out a cup of the tea he had brewed from the Leaf of the World Tree.
At first glance, the tea inside the kettle looked colorless. But as it flowed into the cup, the liquid shimmered a faint, glowing green clear, vibrant, and brimming with life.
Lin Feng took a deep breath, hands pressed together in mock prayer.
"Alright, bless me, bless me! Come on, Aura power!"
He knew all too well that whenever a recipe mentioned "a certain probability," that probability was never in his favor.
He blew gently on the tea, then downed it in one gulp.
"Whoa... that's bitter!"
That was his first impression. But moments after the bitterness faded, a wave of gentle sweetness blossomed across his tongue. A refreshing energy coursed through his body, leaving him feeling as if he'd been cleansed inside and out.
Still, the taste wasn't what mattered. What mattered was whether the tea had worked.
He sat quietly for a moment, focusing inward. After a while, he sighed.
Other than his psychic power and Verdant Power, he sensed nothing new.
No trace of Aura. No new awakening.
Five effects, and the only one that applied to him was the one that made other creatures more fond of him.
"Figures..." he muttered.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he put the lid back on the kettle. He'd let the others try some later. Maybe one of his Pokémon would get lucky and receive the World Tree's blessing.
After all, he knew that Aura existed in all living things it was just that most creatures couldn't use it consciously.
Behind him came the faint sound of movement. Lin Feng didn't even need to turn around. He could already tell who it was.
These days, with the construction team still working, there was no way he could handle cooking for everyone by himself. Around this time every day, Gardevoir would come to help.
For the workers and Pokémon helping with the building, Lin Feng always prepared meals that restored stamina and energy.
It had worked so well that Hoopa had once said with a laugh, "Strange. I thought this house would take three months to finish, but at this rate, it'll be done in two! Everyone's working so hard!"
Lin Feng had only smiled in reply. Some things didn't need to be said out loud.
An hour later, the garden was filled with lively chatter.
At one of the outdoor dining tables, Combusken sat up straight, tapping its claws impatiently on the edge of its bowl. It kept glancing toward the kitchen, its eyes shining with expectation.
What was that wonderful smell earlier? What kind of food could it be?
Beside it sat Alolan Vulpix, tail swaying elegantly, surrounded by her usual little group Eevee and Goodra.
With more and more Pokémon joining the household, Lin Feng's original pavilion had long since proven too small for mealtime.
Fortunately, with Hoopa's construction crew around, Lin Feng had asked them to build several new dining areas of various sizes. Now every Pokémon, from the smallest Swirlix to the largest Dragonite, had a table suited just for them.
He'd even added small canopies to keep out the sun.
Of course, some Pokémon preferred to eat elsewhere. The Miltanks, for example, liked to stay in their cozy barn. And the Combees? They were always amusing to watch sipping sweet nectar even as they worked.
Whenever Lin Feng or the other Pokémon saw them, they couldn't help but chuckle.
"Even while eating, they're still collecting honey. That's dedication."
"Fros?" (You look happy today.)
A soft voice broke through the laughter.
The Milcery sisters had arrived, led by their elder Alcremie. One of the smaller Milcerys tilted her creamy head toward Combusken, who was still glancing toward the kitchen.
"Combusken!" (Of course I'm happy! It's mealtime!)
Who wouldn't be happy to eat?
Then, eyeing the sweet, fragrant Milcery in front of it, Combusken held up its bowl hopefully.
"Combusken...?" (Could I get a little cream? I'm starving...)
"Fros..."
Milcery sighed, realizing it should've seen that coming. Still, it offered a tiny swirl of cream before quickly trotting off toward Alolan Vulpix's table.
"Fros?" (What are you talking about?)
"Vul?"
Vulpix turned, her blue eyes bright with excitement.
"I smelled something amazing from the kitchen earlier! A scent I've never smelled before! That means... something new and delicious is coming!"
"Fros...?" (Something new...)
Milcery's eyes sparkled, and it immediately called out, "Fros~!"
Her older sister, Alcremie, nodded knowingly, then floated over and gently lifted the tiny Milcery into her arms, placing her on the low, flat table that the fairies and Steenee used.
"Mi~."
The moment she settled down, the Milcery eagerly shared the news with the others. Then she turned to her sister and whispered a soft thank-you.
"Fros~." (Thank you~)
"Mi~."
Alcremie smiled warmly, the joy from that gratitude filling her with light.
Not long ago, such moments were difficult.
Because Milcery and Steenee were so small, even short distances could take them minutes to cross. They used to rely on Gardevoir to teleport them around. But with Gardevoir often busy assisting Lin Feng, she couldn't always be there.
Now, with Alcremie and her brother Mr. Rime helping out, everything had become much easier.
Just then, a shadow swept across the sunlight.
A crimson silhouette streaked across the sky, casting a flash of scarlet over the tables.
The cheerful chatter stopped at once. The Milcerys huddled together, trembling slightly as they looked upward.
Descending from above was a fearsome shape the mighty Salamence.
It wasn't that Salamence was unfriendly. But its appearance was too intimidating, especially the first time it had arrived. The memory of that day its wings cutting through the air like blades had scared the little fairy Pokémon half to death.
Even though it had since become much gentler, that first impression lingered. Most of them still couldn't help but feel nervous when they saw it.
Fortunately, before the tension could spread, Lin Feng emerged from the kitchen, carrying a kettle in one hand and followed closely by Gardevoir.
He smiled and called out cheerfully,
"The tea has arrived!"
Instantly, the garden filled with curious eyes and flicking tails.
Even Salamence paused mid-step, lowering its great head slightly as that soothing, earthy fragrance filled the air.
Whatever Lin Feng had brewed this time it wasn't just tea. It was something that seemed to hum softly with the breath of the world itself.
And soon, everyone would get a taste.
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