On December 15th, Year 148 of the Royal Calendar, half a month had passed since the caravan had settled on the valley plain.
Inside his tent, Lucien sipped warm tea brought by his maid while Elif stood nearby, reporting on the progress of the territory.
On the table, Dratini curled up comfortably, nibbling on the fish Lucien had prepared for her. They were made from perch he had caught in the river and carefully deboned.
With no access to Poké Puffs or Poffins in this era, Lucien could only experiment and devise his own ways to feed her properly.
Elif, glancing at the little dragon, couldn't help but notice she had become… plumper.
The sight brought back memories of their journey from the royal city. Back then, the cold had only just set in. Frightened of the chill, Dratini had refused to leave the carriage, shivering day and night. The sudden change in weather and surroundings had cost her a great deal of weight.
And now, she not only had gained it back but could even swim in the icy river with ease.
"Your Highness is truly skilled at raising monsters," Elif sighed in admiration.
Collecting himself, he continued his report.
"Your Highness, the seeds in the fields have all been planted. Now, it's only a matter of waiting for them to sprout. The felling in the forest is also going smoothly. If no problems arise, all the cabins should be completed within a week at most."
Elif's expression softened into a smile. "And, in the next few days, we plan to build you a proper winter home."
At first, Lucien thought it unnecessary. His tent still held against wind and snow well enough. But he quickly realized it wasn't just about shelter. The residents wanted their lord to have a true home here, a symbol, alongside Dratini, that this land belonged to them all.
So he accepted. This building could also serve as the Lord's Hall, a place for meetings and governance.
"I understand," Lucien said with a nod. His thoughts drifted to Ryan and the others who had set out to explore the surrounding area. "They still haven't returned?"
It had already been several days. Though their names still appeared on the citizenship records, the delay stirred unease in Lucien's chest.
Elif shook his head. "Not yet, but do not worry, Your Highness. Ryan and Cleveland are seasoned men. Even if they encounter a dangerous monster, they'll be able to retreat safely."
Lucien exhaled slowly. At this point, waiting was all they could do.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The sudden cry shattered the quiet. A woman burst into the tent, her face pale with fear.
Lucien and Elif both turned to her.
"What is it?" Lucien asked sharply.
"Your Highness, a monster!" she cried, breathless. "A monster has attacked the lumberyard!"
A monster?
Lucien frowned and immediately stood up. "Take me there!"
"Yes!"
Led by the panicked woman, Lucien, with Dratini at his side, rushed toward the logging site.
After two weeks of felling trees, the vast forest edge had been cleared, leaving bare ground where rows of small wooden houses now stood.
When Lucien arrived, he saw several knights standing guard in front of a cluster of civilians, weapons in hand, their eyes fixed nervously on the trees ahead.
"Your Highness!"
Someone spotted Lucien's arrival and quickly stepped aside.
"Your Highness, please be careful!" one knight urged.
Lucien gave a short nod, then turned his gaze in the same direction as the others.
Perched on the branches not far ahead was a group of Minccino, their large ears twitching, tiny paws clutching twigs and pebbles. They glared down fiercely at the humans below.
"Cin-cin-cin!" the little Chinchilla Pokémon chattered sharply.
Lucien's eyes narrowed. Minccino.
"Damn you little pests, get out of here and stop bothering us!" one of the front-line knights shouted, waving his weapon to scare them off.
But the Minccino didn't retreat. Instead, dozens of twigs, stones, and even a few berries were hurled from above, pelting the knight.
"Ow—!"
His helmet clattered as lumps swelled across his head. Gritting his teeth, the knight roared, "You little, guess I'll have to teach you a lesson!"
But before he could finish, the Minccino shimmered with dazzling light.
"Cin-cin-cin-cinooo!"
Countless glowing stars shot from their small bodies.
Swift!
In an instant, a torrent of golden stars streaked through the air, engulfing the knight in a blazing storm. He barely had time to cry out before collapsing unconscious to the ground.
The villagers, who moments ago thought the tiny creatures adorable, now paled with fear and stumbled backward.
The Minccino bared their teeth, fur bristling, as if warning that one more step forward would trigger another attack.
Before Lucien could speak, the three Snover who had bonded with the villagers over the past few days moved to the front.
These Pokémon had played with the children, shared meals with the families, and already considered this place home.
Seeing their human companions threatened, the Snover growled angrily and began to summon energy, ready to strike back.
"Wait, Snover!"
"Hm?"
The three Snowcap Pokémon turned, blinking at Lucien.
"Please wait," Lucien said firmly, stepping forward and motioning for the Snover to hold back.
He looked up at the Minccino clustered on the branches and quickly understood the reason behind their hostility.
The recent deforestation had destroyed their homes.
That was why they had come today, to resist the humans cutting down the forest.
It was the inevitable conflict between humankind's need to expand and the wild Pokémon's instinct to protect their territory.
The moment Lucien appeared, the Minccino's sharp gazes shifted toward him.
Sensing his presence as the leader, they raised their voices in an accusing cry:
"Cin-cin-cin!"
Lucien's eyes narrowed. There were only two paths forward now.
The first: reconcile with the Minccino and try to invite them to live alongside humans.
The second: forcefully drive them away.
He quickly counted. One, two, three, four, five…
There were five Minccino in total. With his current forces, Dratini, Zorua, and the three Snover, victory was guaranteed.
But Lucien knew very well they were in the wrong. They had destroyed the Minccino's home.
His fists clenched. 'What should I do?'
Unnoticed by anyone, a small green Pokémon peeked out from behind a nearby tree, quietly watching the standoff between humans and Minccino.
"Vei… vei…"