Lucien's field training was paying off.
After two full weeks of nonstop, grueling drills, both Dratini and Servine had grown remarkably.
Especially Dratini.
Its near-daily shedding was proof of just how fast it was maturing.
It had recently mastered new moves, Agility, Slam, and Dragon Pulse, adding them to the ones it already knew: Wrap, Leer, Twister, Thunder Wave, and Dragon Tail.
Eight moves in total.
Servine's progress was even greater.
Half a month of intense training had allowed it to learn Energy Ball, Leech Seed, Giga Drain, and Slam.
"Not bad," Lucien murmured with satisfaction. "At this rate, Servine might evolve into Serperior soon."
He looked at his Pokémon and smiled. "Alright, you two. Take the rest of the day off. We'll resume training tomorrow."
"Woo~"
Dratini had no objections. Whatever Lucien said, it followed obediently.
Servine said nothing, but its expression betrayed a trace of awe.
Even it could feel how much stronger it had become over the past few weeks.
Before meeting Lucien, it never would've believed such growth was possible in so short a time.
"Servine."
Lucien caught that hint of wonder in its eyes and chuckled. "If you keep it up, you'll become even stronger."
In this age where formal Pokémon training methods didn't yet exist, even the simplest techniques from Lucien's knowledge of the future were overwhelmingly effective.
After all, people in this era barely understood Pokémon at all. They didn't know about types, moves, or even type advantages.
Hearing his words, Servine's eyes burned with renewed determination.
No Pokémon could resist the desire to grow stronger.
Lucien's gaze then drifted toward Larvesta, who sat nearby.
Over these past days, its affection for him had risen from eighty to a full hundred.
So this was the benefit of hatching a Pokémon personally, he thought with a smile.
A Pokémon's bond with the first person it sees upon hatching was something truly special.
When Lucien beckoned, Larvesta eagerly scuttled over, its fuzzy body bouncing like a happy puppy.
It looked up at him with bright blue eyes, clear, trusting, and full of warmth.
Lucien reached down and gently patted its head. Despite being an insect Pokémon, its fur was unbelievably soft and fluffy, almost addictive to the touch.
He even had the urge to bury his face in that snowy fur.
Now that he thought about it, Larvesta was growing surprisingly fast.
In just seven days, it had already reached about 1.2 meters in height.
Even as a larva, this Larvesta's strength was clearly extraordinary.
After all, it was the descendant of a Pokémon of legendary power.
"Larvesta," Lucien said with a grin, "how about we go for a walk?"
"Larve!"
Larvesta let out a cheerful chirp, clearly delighted.
"Good. Then let's go." Lucien laughed.
Dratini and Servine were exhausted, so he let them rest at home for the day.
With Larvesta by his side, Lucien stepped out into the evening.
It was early May, and the air had turned pleasantly warm, not hot, but gentle and comfortable.
A soft breeze swept across the open plains, bringing with it the earthy scent of spring.
The sun was already setting, but the workers and their Machoke assistants were still busy building the town.
Sweat glistened on their foreheads, yet every face bore a smile.
"Your Highness Lucien!" someone called out upon seeing him.
Lucien waved back with a kind smile. "Don't push yourselves too hard. Make sure to rest."
"Yes, sir!" the workers chorused.
Passing through the half-built streets, Lucien and Larvesta eventually reached a wide, open field bathed in the orange glow of sunset.
Lucien wanted to gauge Larvesta's true strength. After glancing over the list of moves it had already mastered, he said,
"Alright, Larvesta, let me see what you've got. Use Flamethrower!"
Pokémon instinctively understood how to perform moves written deep within their genes. Even though this was the first time Larvesta had heard the name Flamethrower, it immediately grasped Lucien's intent.
"Larve!"
At his command, the five crimson horns on Larvesta's head began to glow brighter and hotter. Intense Fire-type energy gathered at their tips, and in the next moment, five jets of blazing flame erupted simultaneously.
The streams merged into a single, massive torrent of fire that roared forward, scorching everything in its path. The grass before them blackened instantly, leaving behind a charred trail across the field.
Lucien's pupils contracted sharply.
That power… there was no way such a destructive Flamethrower could come from a Pokémon still in its larval stage.
What's going on? Could it be because Volcarona passed on a fragment of its essence when laying the egg?
If that's true… then just how strong is this Larvesta, even at its current stage?
Lucien stared, momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, Larvesta was looking up at him eagerly, its expression shining with expectation, as if waiting for praise.
"You did great, Larvesta!" Lucien said at once.
"Vesta!" Larvesta cheered happily, hopping in place, clearly delighted.
Next, Lucien had it demonstrate several more moves: Fiery Dance, Flame Charge, Fire Spin, and Sunny Day.
Each time, Larvesta would only continue after Lucien praised it.
"Well done, Larvesta." He chuckled, patting its head. He was genuinely impressed by its performance.
With proper training, Larvesta could easily become his greatest source of defense, and perhaps even offense.
As the sun sank low, Lucien sat beside Larvesta for a while longer, enjoying the soft warmth radiating from its body. Then, together, they returned home.
That evening, the maids served dinner: ham-and-bread sandwiches, mashed potatoes, two grilled fish, several steamed egg custards, and a few glasses of berry juice.
The bread was made from the territory's own wheat, freshly milled and baked to a soft, fragrant sweetness. The mashed potatoes, sprinkled with sesame seeds, had a rich and creamy flavor.
After eating a few bites, Lucien suddenly remembered something. He asked one of the maids to summon Elif, the steward.
Finishing his meal casually, he let the Pokémon relax in the house while he headed to the lord's hall.
"Your Highness, do you have instructions for me?" Elif asked as he arrived, still wiping his hands.
"How many seeds did we purchase from the traveling merchants last time?" Lucien asked.
"Oh, that matter?" Elif relaxed a little, realizing it wasn't an emergency. "We bought high-quality wheat and rice seeds, along with a good number of vegetable seeds."
...
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