"Among the remaining knights, who has the sharpest swordsmanship… or the most experience fighting monsters?"
Lucien asked quietly, flipping through the parchment records of his subjects.
Elif thought for a moment before replying.
"There are only five knights left in the Order. If it's swordsmanship, I would say Ryan is the most skilled. But if it's monster-hunting experience… that would be Cleveland.
"He's a retired veteran who once fought alongside His Majesty. There was a war in which a foreign kingdom fielded captured monsters in its army. Cleveland took part in that campaign and survived."
"Cleveland…"
Lucien's eyes fell on the register of names. Soon he found the entry.
[Name: Cleveland]
[Age: 40]
[Occupation: Royal Guard Knight]
[Special Abilities: None]
[Loyalty: 90/100]
[Biography]
Born into a fisherman's family in the 108th year of the Royal Calendar.
Enlisted in the Aindoak army in 125 AK and fought in the war.
Retired in 136 AK, only to return when he found his parents had passed away. With nowhere else to go, he rejoined as a guard.
In 148 AK, he escorted the Third Prince, Lucien, to his new fief.
Lucien studied the record in silence.
Elif's face clouded with regret.
"Alas… if only Lord Geralt were still with us."
Lucien's eyes narrowed. "Geralt?"
The name stirred faint memories in the back of his mind.
Elif sighed heavily, worry and sorrow in his voice.
"Sir Geralt was the greatest knight of all. He cut down countless monsters. But not long ago, to protect us, he alone drew away a pack of attackers… and never returned."
The memory resurfaced.
While the caravan was passing through a dense forest, they had been ambushed by a group of monsters.
Mistaking the travelers for trespassers, the monsters had launched a merciless assault.
Geralt had ridden out alone, leading them away. That was the last anyone saw of him.
Against such relentless monsters, survival was slim. And Lucien noted with a grim frown that Geralt's name was missing from the current census.
"Then Ryan and Cleveland. I'll need them to scout the surrounding lands thoroughly."
Lucien paused, then added, "Is there anyone in the territory skilled in painting? Someone who can help draw a map of the land, and of the monsters that inhabit it."
"Painting…" Elif tapped his chin in thought. "Yes, there is one. A young woman named Christina. She adores painting. Her work is so lifelike that even His Majesty once praised it."
"Christina…"
Lucien flipped through the records until he found her entry.
[Name: Christina]
[Age: 19]
[Occupation: None]
[Special Abilities: None]
[Loyalty: 80/100]
[Biography]
Born to a merchant family in 129 AK.
Enrolled at the Aindoak Academy in 143 AK to study painting.
Became a royal court painter in 146 AK.
In 148 AK, accompanied the Third Prince, Lucien, to his fief.
"A court painter…" Lucien murmured in mild surprise. That level of skill would be more than enough.
With that, he felt reassured.
Ryan and Cleveland would take responsibility for combat and scouting, while Christina would focus on charting the terrain and sketching the Pokémon they encountered.
It was a shame Anna wasn't ready yet. With Zorua's Illusion ability, she and her partner would have been perfect for reconnaissance.
Seeing that Lucien intended to send the three on an expedition, Elif explained,
"Ryan and Cleveland are still at the logging camp, cutting timber and raising cabins. Christina went with the foraging team to collect berries. If Your Highness wishes to see them, I'll summon them at once."
Thanks to the Pokémon assisting at the lumberyard, construction had advanced far faster than expected.
And with Dratini's use of Thunder Wave to catch fish, along with the three Snover producing fruit each day, food was no longer the territory's most pressing concern.
In this situation, sparing a few people for exploration would not hinder the community's survival.
"Bring them here," Lucien ordered.
"At once."
Elif left the tent and soon returned with the three in tow.
Lucien glanced up. Ryan he already knew.
Cleveland was a tall, battle-hardened veteran with a scar across his cheek. Christina, by contrast, was a quiet, graceful blonde.
"What does Your Highness require of us?" Ryan asked curiously.
The other two waited silently, unsure what task the prince had for them.
Under their watchful eyes, Lucien spoke slowly.
"I have a very important mission for you three. It concerns the future of everyone in this territory."
The three exchanged uneasy glances.
Lucien did not mince words.
"I want the three of you to form a survey team. Your task is to explore the lands surrounding our territory, and, when possible, to push further out. Christina, you will map the terrain. Record every monster you encounter along the way, and bring your sketches back for me to review."
Christina stiffened at the sudden responsibility, then quickly bowed her head. "Y-Yes, Your Highness!"
"Cleveland," Lucien continued, "you have more experience fighting magical beasts than anyone here. Protect Christina. Ryan, support him with your swordsmanship."
Cleveland frowned slightly. Exploring, he could understand. But the order to record every magical beasts they found… Did His Highness mean to capture them, chain them, and force them into labor like the creatures enslaved in the capital?
That thought troubled him. Yet, recalling Lucien's conduct these past few days, Cleveland sensed the young lord was not that kind of man. Perhaps there was another reason, one he didn't yet grasp.
Ryan, meanwhile, was more forthright.
"What exactly are you planning, Your Highness?"
Lucien's expression hardened.
"To be frank, our charcoal supplies will last no more than a month. But it is only December. The harshest cold has not yet come.
"The temperatures won't rise until late February. If the weather holds, we may endure. But if a blizzard strikes and our fuel runs out, we will have no heat.
"In such conditions, adults might survive through sheer willpower… but the children and the elderly will not."
"So, I'm sending you out this time to look for magical beasts that can breathe fire. I want to use their power for warmth."
The others were taken aback.
"Your Highness, do you mean to rely on the strength of magical beasts?"
Lucien nodded, his tone serious. "Our human strength alone won't be enough. We have to depend on the power of magical beasts as well."
Just like those three Snover? Cleveland wondered silently.
"But Your Highness," Cleveland said aloud, calm and steady, "with our current strength, even if we find a Fire-type magical beasts, we may not be able to subdue it."
"Don't worry about that. As long as you find the right one, I have a way."
Ryan's eyes lit up in excitement.
"I understand, just like Anna and her little monster!"
Over the past few days, he had often seen Anna training with her Zorua. She could even give it commands in battle. That was something only a beast master could do.
To capture a powerful magical beasts and have it fight by his side, Ryan yearned for that kind of strength.
"Don't worry, Your Highness Lucien!" Ryan flexed his wrist, brimming with confidence. "I'll see this mission through!"
Lucien didn't know what was going through Ryan's mind, but seeing his determination, he nodded in approval.
"In addition to Fire-types, I'd also like you to keep an eye out for several other magical beasts."
He handed Christina a piece of parchment filled with rough sketches he had drawn from memory.
The three leaned in for a look. Strange, abstract creatures stared back at them from the page.
"So… so abstract!" Christina thought, her eyes widening in shock. But she quickly caught herself. 'No, I mustn't be disrespectful to His Highness!'
Lucien, oblivious to their reactions, tapped the drawings one by one, recalling their uses.
Mareep, an Electric-type magical beasts. Its fleece can be spun into warm clothing, and in the future, if we discover electricity, its wool could even help generate power. Female Mareep also produce milk.
Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour, common magical beasts in Unova. Pansage's leaves can restore vitality and, when brewed, make a refreshing tea. They can also channel Grass-type energy to help crops grow.
Pansear can roast fruit with the flames on its head, up to three hundred degrees. Perfect for baking bricks, firing cement, and making charcoal.
Panpour's water-rich fur can irrigate fields, helping plants thrive.
Trubbish. It feeds on refuse, so it can serve as a waste disposal system for the territory.
Timburr. It can shape timber and even produce concrete. With its help, we could construct sturdy homes with ease.
And then There are Combee, which produce honey, and Foongus, which aid in fermentation, ideal for brewing juices and wine.
'Given our location in Unova, some Pokémon, like Miltank, Chansey, Wooloo, or Nacli, might not be present here.'
...
Stones Plzz
Bonus @ 200 PS