"Stand up, all of you."
Seeing his knights kneel in unison, Lucien couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
"It's not as if we have no chance at all."
The knights froze, exchanging puzzled looks.
Lucien's eyes swept across them. "That was the bad news just now," he said calmly. "Now for the good news."
He didn't keep them guessing for long.
"As far as I know, the war hasn't broken out yet, it's still only at the stage of recruitment. And even if open conflict does erupt, our territory lies in a remote corner of the kingdom. It'll take time for the flames of war to reach us."
That was the advantage of the vast and sparsely settled Pokémon world.
"So," Lucien concluded, "we still have time. And that's why I've gathered you all here today."
Geralt thought for a moment, then asked, "Your Highness, do you already have a plan?"
Lucien nodded slightly. "Tell me, what do you think of the power of magical beasts?"
The question caught the knights off guard.
For most of them, seasoned warriors trained in the royal capital, Pokémon were terrifying, yes, but hardly invincible.
Only Ryan, who had fought beside Pokémon before, seemed to understand.
His eyes lit up. "Your Highness Lucien, I understand what you mean! We can use their power!"
Geralt's expression turned thoughtful.
Lucien smiled. "Exactly. To be honest, I intend to create an army, a magical beasts army."
For example, each person would lead a team of Aggrons, forming a brand new legion. Aggrons can wield incredible power: Flamethrower, Earthquake, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Sandstorm, Rock Tomb, Hyper Beam. Some command the weather itself; others unleash devastation across entire battlefields.
A formation of fifty Aggrons striking together, Earthquakes shaking the ground, Sandstorms raging, Blizzards howling, would turn the battlefield into a natural disaster.
The knights exchanged stunned glances.
"A… magical beast army?" someone murmured.
Geralt was the first to grasp the full picture.
"Your Highness means to train magical beasts in formation, like human soldiers?"
Lucien nodded. "Exactly. We'll subdue and train them as we would men, but treat them not as slaves. They'll be our allies, our strength. Magical beasta can wield powers no human soldier can, fire, lightning, earthquakes. United under one command, they'll be unstoppable."
The knights slowly began to understand; the fear in their eyes turned to awe.
Lucien turned to Geralt. "I'm entrusting this mission to you. I've already chosen the species we'll start with."
He handed Geralt a parchment, Christina's careful drawing of an Aggron.
"These creatures are called Aggron," Lucien explained. "They feed on iron ore. Provide them with enough, and you'll earn their trust. They live near the mines. Go there, find them, and befriend them. But remember, don't enslave them. Win their loyalty willingly. They must choose you themselves. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness!" the knights answered in unison.
Lucien nodded. "The Knight Order can also be expanded if needed. Geralt, if you run short on iron, draw from the mine reserves. We won't need the metal for anything else right now."
"Yes!" Geralt bowed, then departed with his men to carry out the order.
Regarding this matter, Lucien felt that he didn't need to give any special instructions.
Geralt had his Haxorus at his side, and Ryan had his Simsear, both men were already experienced in handling Pokémon.
Watching the knights leave, Lucien exhaled slowly.
He was profoundly grateful that he hadn't gone to the territory, the one his late father had originally arranged for him.
If he had… by now, he would almost certainly be under the watchful eyes of his two elder brothers.
Recruiting soldiers in their presence would have been impossible. Before the war even began, he would have been either taken hostage or quietly disposed of.
Just then, Elif, the old steward, returned.
"Your Highness," Elif reported, bowing, "the transaction with the merchants has been completed. Once they return, they'll help us purchase livestock and magical beasts and deliver them to our territory."
Lucien leaned back in his chair and nodded with satisfaction. "Good work."
Even so, he could see the unease on Elif's face.
"Your Highness… I can't help but wonder," the old man murmured, "how His Majesty is faring now…"
Lucien's gaze softened.
'Father should be fine,' he thought. 'After all, Victini is still by his side.'
His two brothers might be ambitious, even extreme, but they wouldn't dare commit the unforgivable sin of patricide.
And if the legends were correct, the old king wouldn't die by human hands anyway.
In the theatrical tale, the king perished only after expending his own life force to suppress the runaway Dragon Vein beneath Eindoak.
Until that vein fully erupted, the old man should still be safe.
The one Lucien truly pitied… was Victini.
That poor Pokémon was bound by its own power, forced to remain sealed within the walls of Eindoak, unable ever to leave.
Lucien fell silent, staring at the map on his desk.
If only there were some way, any way, to help Victini.
But reality soon sank in. They were struggling just to survive themselves. How could they possibly aid Victini?
He let out a long breath. "Sigh."
Elif noticed his expression and tried to comfort him instead.
"Please don't worry, Your Highness. His Majesty is strong. He'll be all right."
Lucien gave a faint, wordless smile.
Meanwhile, far to the north of the kingdom.
A vast army was marching slowly toward the borderlands.
Victini stayed with a court maid, the person the old king had assigned to care for it.
The small Pokémon fidgeted, turning to a nearby Pidove.
"Nini?" (Pigeon, have you seen Lucien? How is Lucien now?)
"Coo…?" The Pidove tilted its head blankly. Lucien? The name didn't quite ring a bell.
Had it met him before?
Seeing this, Victini's little ears drooped. A bad feeling welled in its chest.
"Nini…" (Don't tell me you've forgotten the route to him…?)
The Pidove flapped its wings indignantly and cooed loudly as if to say, Of course not! Its master Ivan was still waiting for it out there!
Hearing that, Victini's eyes brightened again.
"Nini!"
It turned toward the distant horizon, the vast expanse of mountains and forests beyond the royal city, and whispered softly.
"Nini". Great, I would soon be able to see Lucien again!
..
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