The next day, after finishing his duties in the territory, Lucien immediately set out with Dratini and Servine for field combat training.
This time, he had chosen their opponents carefully: a group of Raticate, the evolved form of Rattata.
Raticate looked like oversized rats, often standing upright on their hind legs. Their fur was a light brownish yellow, and their most striking feature was their large, constantly growing front teeth, which they used for both attack and foraging.
Although they did not look particularly dangerous, their temper was far more violent than their appearance suggested.
Within just a few rounds, both Dratini and Servine were already covered with several visible scratches.
The plains were teeming with Raticate.
Whenever Lucien knocked one out, more would swarm toward them almost immediately.
Lucien remained calm and composed, giving orders to coordinate the two Pokémon's teamwork. But it quickly became obvious that Servine's pride refused to allow it to rely on Dratini's help.
It slithered forward on its own, attacking with Vine Whip and Magical Leaf while keeping the smaller Dratini protected behind it.
The approach worked well against the Raticate swarm, but the results were easy to see. Servine was taking unnecessary hits that could have been avoided with cooperation.
By the time the battle ended and the Raticate were driven away, Dratini was almost unharmed, while Servine was covered in cuts and bruises.
Lucien sighed quietly to himself.
So this was Servine's one flaw.
When it had been a Snivy, it was simply proud and aloof. But once it evolved, that pride solidified into an unshakable sense of superiority.
According to later research, newly evolved Servine often needed time to adapt before they could work well with other Pokémon. It was a well-known behavioral trait.
Lucien looked at the proud Servine but said nothing.
Instead, he turned and began searching for stronger wild Pokémon.
Before long, he found them: a herd of wild Bouffalant grazing on the plains. There were about twenty of them in total, and the leading few were enormous, with powerful muscles and glossy black fur that shimmered in the sunlight. Even from a distance, their sheer presence radiated strength.
Using a few clever tactics, Lucien managed to lure three of them away from the herd.
As the three Bouffalant charged toward them, Servine and Dratini instantly readied themselves for battle.
Servine extended two Vine Whips, trying to block the Bouffalant's powerful Headbutt attack, but the force behind the impact ripped the vines apart.
"Servi?"
Servine's eyes widened in surprise.
Before it could react, the other two Bouffalant followed close behind, thundering across the grass.
At that critical moment, Lucien's voice cut through the chaos. "Dratini, Thunder Wave!"
A surge of golden electricity erupted from Dratini's body, arcing through the air and wrapping around the two Bouffalant. In an instant, their bodies stiffened, paralyzed by the electric current.
"Don't just stand there, Servine. Use Grass Knot!" Lucien commanded firmly.
Servine snapped out of its shock. It pressed one hand to the ground, channeling Grass-type energy into the soil. At the Bouffalant's hooves, thick green vines sprouted, weaving together and tangling around their legs.
Just as the Bouffalant began to recover from paralysis and attempted another charge, they were tripped by the vines and fell hard to the ground.
The impact sent tremors through the earth, and both Bouffalant let out pained cries.
Under Lucien's precise command and the teamwork between the two Pokémon, the three wild Bouffalant soon lost their will to fight.
Lucien approached them carefully, tending to their injuries first. Then he placed a few Berries in front of them as an apology before watching them retreat into the distance.
Only then did he turn back to his own Pokémon.
"Servine, did you feel it?" Lucien asked as he handed both of them some medicine.
"Servi?" Servine tilted its head slightly.
"In that battle just now, what would have happened if Dratini hadn't used Thunder Wave to stop those Bouffalant?"
Servine fell silent.
It didn't need to think hard. With the raw power of those Bouffalant, if one of them had rammed into it, Servine would have been sent flying instantly.
Lucien noticed the conflicted expression on its face and chose his words carefully.
"Listen," he said gently, "you don't have to shoulder everything on your own. Maybe before you met me, you had to survive by yourself, so you got used to fighting alone."
"But now, you're no longer alone," Lucien said softly. "You have me and Dratini. We're your partners, your teammates, and even your family."
"I know you think Dratini is still weak compared to you," he continued gently, "so you feel it's natural to protect it and face every danger by yourself."
Beside them, Dratini looked up at Servine with its big, glistening eyes.
"Woo~"
"Servi…"
"But Servine," Lucien said, "that won't do. The strength of a single Pokémon will never surpass what two can achieve together. So… can you try to trust us a little more?"
Servine stared at Lucien, stunned for a moment. Then, after a long silence, it turned its head aside.
"Servine."
Lucien smiled faintly. He understood. That was Servine's way of saying yes.
It would try to work with Dratini from now on.
"Good. Then let's keep training!"
Over the next few hours of training, Lucien noticed the change almost immediately.
Servine no longer fought alone. It began coordinating its attacks with Dratini, learning to time its movements and leave openings for its partner.
Dratini was still small and inexperienced, but its Thunder Wave and Dragon Tail were excellent control moves, creating perfect chances for Servine to strike.
By the end of the day's grueling training, both Pokémon had grown stronger, physically and in spirit.
After dinner, Lucien took them, along with Larvesta and several Minccino, to a forest hot spring for a well-earned soak.
The forest spring was always full of life. Many wild Pokémon gathered here, and although they came from different species, it was as if an unspoken truce existed within this place. No one fought here. Everyone simply came to rest.
Steam rose from the warm, crystal-clear water, drifting lazily into the evening air. In the distance, thin trails of smoke curled up from the chimneys of Lucien's territory.
Dratini floated lazily on the surface, its body gliding peacefully through the water. Servine, eyes closed, rested quietly beside it, enjoying the calm and the warmth easing its tired muscles.
Larvesta, who hated water, stayed obediently on a flat rock near the edge, dozing lightly. The heat was enough for it; getting wet would ruin its soft fur.
The Minccino, however, were having the time of their lives. They jumped into the hot spring one after another, splashing and scrubbing their fluffy tails in the warm water.
After all, Lucien would help dry them off later anyway.
Lucien himself leaned back against a smooth boulder, closing his eyes. Together with his Pokémon, he allowed himself a rare, quiet moment of peace.
He wasn't worried about danger tonight, the Knights were patrolling nearby.