"Your Highness Raven! Your Highness Raven!"
Anna came running toward the fields, shouting as she went.
From a distance, she could already see Raven working alongside several old farmers, pulling weeds, clearing shrubs, and turning the soil with hoes.
Not far away by the riverbank, Dratini was practicing Twister again and again against a boulder.
"Your Highness, you don't need to help us," one of the farmers called out. "Please, go back and rest. Leave this to us!"
How could someone of Raven's noble status be doing this kind of work?
But Raven shook his head. "We have to get the seeds in the ground within two days. If a blizzard hits, we'll be in serious trouble."
What's more, the entire territory was desperately short on hands. Most of the villagers were busy cutting timber and building homes.
That left only these old farmers to handle planting.
Every extra pair of hands mattered.
Raven was no pampered prince.
"But…" the farmers exchanged uncertain glances, troubled.
Raven smiled. "I just want to survive together with everyone. Whether it's me or any of you, we all need to make it through this winter in one piece. At a time like this, there's no need for formality."
At his words, their eyes reddened.
His Highness Raven…
Such a kind and caring lord!
"Yes, Your Highness!" they shouted, and threw themselves into the work with renewed vigor.
That was when Raven heard Anna calling.
"What is it, little Anna?" He looked over at the girl and her Zorua running toward him, eyebrows lifting.
"Your Highness!" Anna said breathlessly, excitement shining in her eyes. "I finally understand what you wrote on that parchment!"
"Oh?" Raven paused in his work. "Let's hear it."
Anna explained quickly: "Those words—Confusion, Fury Swipes—they're the names of Zorua's powers!"
She turned to Zorua. "Zorua, show His Highness!"
"Zorua~!"
The little beast called out, then gathered its strength. It unleashed both Confusion and Fury Swipes in succession.
"Your Highness, is that right?" Anna asked, hope in her voice.
Raven blinked in mild surprise. He hadn't expected Anna to figure out on her own how to command a beast to use its moves.
This girl really did have talent.
"Well done," Raven said. "I didn't think you'd grasp my meaning so quickly."
His Highness praised me! I'm so happy! Anna's heart soared.
Just then, the farmland work was nearly finished.
Raven left the sowing to the farmers and brought Anna to the wide riverbank.
"Anna," he said, stroking the exhausted Dratini's head, "what do you think of a beast's power?"
"A beast's power…" Anna glanced at Zorua, her eyes uncertain.
To most people, beasts were terrifying. They could breathe fire, summon lightning… powers strong enough to threaten human lives.
Power… was frightening.
That thought rose to her lips. "Beast power is scary."
"No, Anna," Raven corrected gently. "Power itself isn't scary. What's scary is abusing it. If we train that power—"
He gave her an example. "Say you and Zorua were gathering herbs in the forest, and a wild beast attacked. In that moment, Zorua would use its power to protect you."
Anna's eyes widened, her thoughts shaken.
"…Beast power can protect?" she murmured.
"Exactly. If a human and a beast meet, and the human uses wisdom to train the beast, to strengthen it, then together they can use that power to protect what matters most."
Anna was stunned. Humans training beasts? Making them stronger?
"I think you may have heard of this before," Raven said with a faint smile.
Anna blinked.
"Beastmasters," Raven continued. "But I prefer another name—Trainer."
Beastmasters were people who could control beasts and act alongside them.
Anna remembered. Years ago, a beastmaster had visited Eindoak.
The king had received him with honor. Everyone in the city knew his name.
Sir Aaron, the Waveguide Hero, from a distant land.
"I want more people like you to realize that not all beasts are terrifying—that with Zorua's strength, you can do good."
Raven fixed her with a steady gaze.
"Anna, will you become my disciple? I'll teach you how to be a Trainer, to train Zorua, to grow stronger together."
Anna froze. Her face filled with disbelief.
His Highness Raven…
Then a thought struck her. "If I do that… will I be able to protect the people I want to protect?"
"Of course," Raven nodded. "One day, a dangerous beast may invade our lands, and we'll need you and Zorua to defend everyone."
"Your Highness…" Anna sniffled, her eyes brimming red. "I'm willing!"
Raven chuckled. "Still calling me 'Your Highness'?"
Anna quickly caught on. "Teacher!"
Only then did Raven nod in satisfaction.
Looking at Anna, he noticed something new on his panel:
Commoner Name: Anna
Age: 10
Class: Trainer
Special Abilities: None
Loyalty: 100 (Max 100)
Life Record: 138 K.C. – Anna was born. 148 K.C. – Anna and her mother followed Raven to his fief. 148 K.C. – Anna became a Trainer.
Her class had changed from "None" to "Trainer"…
"From tomorrow, I'll officially begin teaching you what it means to be a Trainer." Raven turned to Zorua. "Anna, I hope you'll always treasure Zorua."
"I will!" Anna nodded firmly.
"Good. Once Anna and Zorua gain some strength, I can send them out to explore the unknown regions nearby," Raven murmured later.
They could scout berry-gathering grounds, and identify what kinds of wild beasts lived in the area.
He couldn't do it all alone. Dratini needed time to grow. But Anna and Zorua could fill that gap.
That evening, after a full day of training, Dratini curled up and quickly fell into deep sleep.
Raven sat at his desk, listening as Aelif gave the daily report.
"Your Highness, the fourth cabin has been completed! Progress is excellent. At this rate, by the end of the month, everyone will have a roof over their head!"
"Well done." Raven glanced around. "Where are the Snovers?"
Aelif replied, "It seems one of the children invited them to his tent."
"…I see." Raven sighed inwardly. The children had accepted the Snovers even faster than he expected.
"Oh, and Your Highness—the foraging team returned. Two women wish to see you."
"Really? Bring them in," Raven said, intrigued.
Moments later, Aelif ushered in two women dressed as farmers.
They bowed nervously, then offered a basket to Aelif, who placed it before Raven.
One of the women spoke. "Your Highness, today we discovered this amazing fruit!"
Raven looked down. Inside the basket was a yellow fruit, shaped much like a pear.
A Sitrus Berry.
"We picked some the day we first arrived," the woman explained, her voice trembling with excitement. "We thought it would take ages to regrow, but when we went back today, the tree was already full of fruit again!"
More food to gather—this was a miracle.
Raven wasn't surprised, though.
That was the nature of berries. The wilds of the Pokémon world abounded with them, sustaining countless beasts.
These were gifts of nature.
"You've done well. Don't throw away the seeds from these. Next spring, we'll plant them and start an orchard," Raven instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Sitrus Berries—what a treasure. Both as food, and for restoring a beast's vitality.
Raven's spirits lifted. With them, the odds of surviving the winter had just risen greatly.
Truly, this Pokémon world was magical.
No wonder it could sustain such a utopia in the anime—the berries themselves formed the foundation of life.
The two women departed.
Raven glanced at the darkening sky. "Aelif, it's late. Go rest."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Once alone, Raven picked up a Sitrus Berry and brought it to the bedside, holding it under Dratini's nose.
The little dragon's nostrils twitched.
Its big eyes blinked open, watery and bright, staring at him.
"Want a taste?" Raven asked, shaking the berry lightly.
"Uuuh…"
Dratini yawned, then immediately curled back up, looking pitifully tired.
It had spent all its dragon energy and was too drained to even nibble—sleep was all it wanted.
Raven's heart melted at the sight.
He couldn't help but sigh, remembering how hard Dratini had pushed itself that afternoon.
If only they were in the modern world…
Then Dratini wouldn't need to endure this harsh training in the freezing cold. He could simply feed it poffins and Pokéblocks, let it eat to its heart's content.
But this was the ancient past, thousands of years before that time.
Raven sighed quietly, undressed, and climbed into bed. He stretched out his arm, letting the shivering Dratini nestle into his chest, sharing his warmth.
"Sleep well," he whispered.
"Uuuh~"
Snuggling against his warm chest, Dratini let out a blissful little cry, comforted.
Raven chuckled softly. His Dratini was just like a child.
And in truth—it really was. Barely a year old.
To force a child to train in the freezing wind…
A pang of guilt struck his heart.
(End of Chapter)