Snow had started falling again at some unknown hour.
Supporting one another, Raven and the others slowly made their way back.
Even before they arrived, the flicker of flames in the distance revealed their camp, standing out in the snowy night. Figures were gathered near the forest's edge, craning their necks and watching for their return.
Relief washed over Raven.
"Your Highness, they've come to meet us!"
Though Lyon had been thrown aside by Beartic's charge, he had escaped with little more than minor injuries.
At moments like these, Raven couldn't help marveling at the constitution of humans in the Pokémon world.
To be struck by a two-hundred-and-sixty-kilo beast like Beartic and survive with just bruises—at worst a broken bone, like one knight who'd landed poorly—was nothing short of astonishing.
"Your Highness!"
Aelif, the old steward, and several commoners rushed up to meet them.
Anna's mother, Elly, darted forward and wrapped her daughter in her arms, frantically checking for injuries.
Anna scratched her head sheepishly. "I'm fine, Mom!"
It was then Elly noticed the small beast nestled in her daughter's arms.
She recoiled at once, eyes wide with fear. "A beast! Anna, throw it away, quickly!"
"Don't worry, Mom! It's fine—this beast is the one who saved us!" Anna explained.
Elly looked shaken, and the rest of the townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances.
"Heh… unbelievable as it sounds, it really was this little beast that protected us!"
Even now, Lyon felt dazed recalling what had happened in the forest. To think that a fearsome beast would risk its life to defend a human…
Murmurs rippled through the gathered people.
What in the world was going on?
Their eyes turned toward Raven.
"Your Highness…"
Raven's gaze lingered on Zorua. Slowly, he said, "Perhaps we've been wrong all along. Beasts are intelligent, emotional creatures, fully capable of understanding human speech.
"Anna helped it, and in return, it risked its life to shield her—placing her safety even above its own. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it."
But he had seen it.
The crowd's expressions mirrored Lyon's back in the forest—bewilderment, disbelief, shock.
It would not be easy to convince people raised to fear beasts as monsters that they could live alongside them.
This would take time, step by step.
"For now, that's enough. Everyone, rest well tonight—we've more work waiting for us tomorrow," Raven ordered.
One by one, the crowd dispersed.
Weariness pressed down on him after the long day. He was about to return to his tent when Elly dragged Anna forward. Both mother and daughter knelt before him.
Raven paused in surprise.
"Anna, beg His Highness's forgiveness!" Elly urged.
Running off beyond the territory, dragging their lord into danger—such recklessness would never be tolerated.
If anything had happened to Raven, their whole settlement would have been doomed.
Realization dawned on Anna at last; she clutched Zorua tightly, bowed her head, and stammered, "I'm sorry, Your Highness!"
Raven: "…"
"Stand up," he said at length. "You only meant to gather herbs. You didn't intend harm. Just be more careful in the future."
Elly's eyes filled with gratitude.
What a merciful lord he was.
"And one more thing, Anna," Raven added. "Bring your beast to me tomorrow. I have an important task for you."
"Huh?" Anna blinked, startled—then quickly nodded. "Yes, Your Highness!"
Turning, Raven headed back toward his tent. Aelif followed, casting him a look of disapproval.
After some hesitation, the steward finally spoke. "Your Highness, such matters should be left to the knights. There's no need for you to risk yourself."
Raven: "…"
His venture tonight had been partly to search for Anna, partly because—as a transmigrant—he had wanted to personally experience this real Pokémon world.
With Lyon and the knights having scouted the area beforehand, he'd thought it safe enough.
But looking back, he admitted it had been reckless.
"You're right, Aelif. I won't do it again."
The steward exhaled in relief. "Then please, rest well."
He withdrew, leaving Raven and Dratini alone in the tent.
Thanks to the herbs Anna had found, Dratini's wounds had healed.
But the little dragon was curled up listlessly on Raven's blanket, still shaken from its crushing defeat against Beartic.
"Dratini," Raven asked gently, "do you want to become stronger?"
The dragon raised its head at once.
"Dree?"
"As you saw today, danger still surrounds our lands. If we're weak, then sooner or later, we'll die here," Raven said, deliberately grave.
"Dree…" The thought of dying filled Dratini with dread. But it had no idea how to grow stronger.
That was a trainer's role.
"If you're willing," Raven continued, "I'll do everything I can to help you become strong. But the path will be harsh. You won't be able to laze in blankets all day. You'll have to face the cold winds outside."
"Dree…" As a dragon-type, it had no natural resistance to cold or ice. The thought frightened it.
Raven could see the fear.
This Dratini had been raised in the palace as a pampered pet, enjoying nothing but luxury. Changing that life would be difficult.
He sighed. "If we don't grow stronger, we'll die here—just like today."
"Dree…"
Dratini shook its head fiercely.
It didn't want to die.
Summoning its courage, the little dragon's eyes blazed with determination.
"Dree!"
It wanted to grow strong!
"Good." Relief softened Raven's features.
He crouched, meeting its gaze squarely.
"No matter what lies ahead, I'll face it with you. So don't be afraid, Dratini. We are the best partners in this world."
For a moment, Dratini stared at him blankly.
And then, deep within, it felt something new. Something warm.
"Dree…"
(End of Chapter 15)