Panicked cries echoed from outside the tent.
At that moment, most of the able-bodied men were still in the forest, felling trees and building cabins. Only a few women, children, and the wounded remained in the camp.
Hearing those cries, Lucien's heart tightened. His mind flashed back to the Beartic he had faced the night before. Could it have realized it was tricked and come seeking revenge?
Lucien rose quickly to investigate.
But when he stepped outside and saw the so-called "monster," he froze.
Those Pokémon were… Snover?
Nearby residents screamed and scattered in panic.
The three Snover stirred uneasily.
"Graaa…"
One of them caught sight of Lucien hurrying over.
"Graaa!"
At its cry, the other two turned at once.
"Your Highness Lucien, please be careful!" the old butler Elif shouted, stepping in front of him.
"It's alright, Elif," Lucien shook his head. "These beasts mean no harm. We met them yesterday while searching for Anna, they must have followed us here."
The Pokédex recorded that Snover were relatively friendly toward humans. Even if they appeared in villages, they weren't dangerous and often became companions for children.
The three Snover clearly recognized him.
As Elif stared in astonishment, Lucien stepped forward and greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, Snover."
"Graaa!"
The three Snover responded happily.
The panicked civilians stopped in their tracks, nervously watching.
The next second, the Snover suddenly moved.
They spread their short arms wide and charged toward their lord.
"Your Highness Lucien!" a woman cried out, covering her mouth.
"Your Highness, please be careful!"
Elif, ever vigilant, jumped in front to shield him. But deep-rooted fear of beasts made him close his eyes and grit his teeth, bracing for impact.
Yet the expected attack never came.
Instead, there were startled gasps from the civilians.
Elif cautiously opened his eyes.
The Snover were gone?!
"Graaa!"
Their cries rang out from behind him.
His heart sank. Had those cunning beasts bypassed him to attack Lucien?
He spun around, then froze.
"Graaa…"
The three Snover had surrounded Lucien, clinging to his legs and crying with joy.
They looked more like children begging for a hug than monsters.
"W-What?!" Elif was dumbstruck.
The civilians stared in disbelief.
Suddenly, one Snover let go. Beaming, it pulled a snow-white fruit the size of a baseball from its body and held it up toward Lucien.
"This… is for me?" Lucien blinked at the offering.
"Graaa!" The Snover's eyes narrowed happily, nodding.
Yesterday they had eaten the delicious dried fruit Lucien gave them. Today, they wanted to return the favor!
Lucien almost laughed aloud. These Pokémon were so innocent, so endearing.
He split the fruit into four pieces, handing them to Elif and the two trembling farmers nearby. "Try some too."
"Your Highness Lucien… what is this?" Elif asked, stunned.
"It's a gift from them," Lucien replied, taking a bite himself.
Sweet, like a blend of ice cream and rock candy. Unexpectedly delicious.
At once, an idea struck him. 'If we could process these fruits, they could serve as sugar…'
Seeing Lucien eat, Elif hesitated, then gritted his teeth and bit into his piece. His eyes widened instantly.
So delicious!
The other two Snover, seeing their companion's fruit enjoyed, eagerly plucked their own and offered them as well.
"Graaa!"
They wanted Lucien to taste theirs too.
Lucien couldn't help but laugh. "You came all this way just to share these with me?"
"Graaa~"
The three Snover scratched their heads sheepishly, their snowy caps swaying a little as if embarrassed.
"Your Highness… what's going on here?"
Unable to contain his bewilderment any longer, Elif finally spoke up.
Lucien gave a succinct account of everything that had happened the previous night.
Then, looking at the three Snover now gathered around him, curiously studying their surroundings and him alike, he couldn't help but murmur, almost to himself,
"Maybe they just want to play with us?"
"Play?" Elif echoed the word in disbelief, then hesitated. "Why do they look… a bit like mischievous children?"
Lucien's eyes gleamed slightly. "Haven't you noticed it yet, Elif?"
The butler blinked. "Noticed what?"
"This world is filled with countless kinds of beasts," Lucien said slowly, his tone carrying a calm certainty. "Some are ferocious by nature, attacking humans the moment they appear. But others… others are as innocent and playful as children, naturally curious and even friendly to us."
Elif froze at his words. Then, looking again at the three Snover staring up at Lucien with wide, curious eyes, he felt a jolt of realization.
Yes… it was true. Just like the King had once forged a bond with the magical beast Victini.
And just like His Highness Lucien, now had a magical beast named Dratini at his side.
Elif finally understood.
"Elif," Lucien said softly, "tell everyone in the territory not to fear these three. As long as we don't harm them, they won't harm us."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Elif responded immediately, his voice carrying both relief and conviction.
Lucien then turned his gaze back to the three Snover standing close by.
Snover is a Pokémon of both Grass and Ice types.
He had been fretting only yesterday about the lack of Grass-type Pokémon in their territory. Yet now, three had appeared of their own accord.
If he could foster a bond with them, perhaps they could help tend the fields. With Grass-type energy, they might nourish the crops, shorten their growth cycles, and bring harvests much sooner. That could mean survival for his people.
However… there was a complication.
From what he observed, these Snover seemed to be far more skilled at wielding Ice-type power than Grass. Relying on them for farming might not be so straightforward.
Still, that was a matter for later.
For now, the most important thing was to establish goodwill with them.
And maybe through these three Pokémon, the people of the territory could begin to shed their deep-rooted fear of all Pokémon.
Having made up his mind, Lucien smiled and spoke gently to them.
"Snover, this is where we live. If you'd like, you're welcome to stay here and play. The people will come to like you too. I have important matters to take care of, but once I've finished, I promise I'll come back and play with you."
Time was running dangerously short. They had to find suitable farmland and begin planting before the next blizzard arrived. It was no exaggeration to say that the very survival of his people depended on it. Lucien knew he couldn't rest easy unless he oversaw it himself.
"Mm-mmm!"
Hearing his words, the three Snover let out cheerful cries. Their snowy caps bobbed happily, and their eyes sparkled with delight.
They had understood. They would wait for him to return and play.
...
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