The next day, the people in the territory woke up early and, led by Ryan and Tack, began a new day of construction.
Draconis stayed in his tent, took out a pen, and wrote down all the information he remembered about Zorua on a piece of parchment.
From its attributes, to its characteristic moves, to its evolved forms, and its living habits.
"Is His Highness Draconis in?"
Anna's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Come in!"
Draconis looked up and saw Anna walking in, holding the Zorua.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Draconis glanced at Zorua. Seeing that its condition had recovered well, he asked casually.
"Mm!" Anna nodded vigorously. After they returned to their tent last night, although her mother was a little scared of the little magical beast, she still prepared fragrant oatmeal porridge for them.
She slept holding the little magical beast last night.
Sleeping with the fluffy, warm little magical beast felt absolutely wonderful!
"Heh, it seems you two are getting along well." Draconis chuckled.
"Does His Highness have an important task for me today?" Anna asked with sparkling eyes. She was very much looking forward to being able to help His Highness Draconis.
Hearing this, Draconis was not in a hurry. Instead, he asked Anna a question.
"Anna, how do you view creatures like [magical beasts]?"
"Eh?" Anna paused slightly. She looked down at the little magical beast in her arms, thought carefully, and replied, "Magical beasts are very terrifying creatures. They can breathe fire and water, fly into the sky and burrow into the earth, and they can also harm humans, but..."
"But your little magical beast is different from them?" Draconis asked.
"Mm!" Anna nodded vigorously. The little magical beast was the best magical beast she had ever seen!
Because it would protect her!
Draconis smiled: "This world is vast, and the Eindoak Kingdom where we live is just a corner of it. Magical beasts, like us humans, are all part of the life on this world."
"In some ways, they are also like humans, possessing emotions, showing gratitude, being intelligent, and even being able to communicate with us."
"Anna, have you ever imagined a scene where humans and magical beasts live together in this world?"
"All kinds of magical beasts walking on the streets, fire-breathing magical beasts Helping humans make fires for cooking, water-spitting magical beasts Helping humans extinguish fires, strong magical beasts Helping humans carry things, and flying magical beasts can even help deliver messages."
"Humans and them live together in the city, like family."
Any adult hearing the scene Draconis described would probably think it was impossible.
How could terrifying magical beasts and humans live together?
But for a child like Anna, who had just turned ten, it was a dreamlike vision.
Especially since she had just encountered a little magical beast that actively protected her - Anna even felt that it was not an impossible thing.
"His Highness Draconis, are the little magical beast and I also family?" Anna recalled what she had said to the little magical beast last night.
Draconis smiled and said: "It has already considered you the most important person, otherwise it wouldn't have disregarded its own safety to protect you yesterday."
"Little magical beast..." Anna was both touched and pained.
"Zorua."
"Eh?" Anna paused slightly.
"Zorua." Draconis looked at the Zorua in Anna's arms and said, "Its name is Zorua."
"Zorua..." Anna murmured the name once.
Zorua indeed looked at her.
"Also, this is information related to this magical beast that I saw in a book before. Perhaps it can help you understand Zorua better."
Saying this, Draconis handed the information he had just written on the parchment with a quill to Anna.
"Take good care of Zorua." Draconis instructed, "This is the task I want to give you."
"Eh?!" Anna was stunned.
She subconsciously looked at what was written on the parchment.
Attributes, characteristics, moves... what do these mean?
She looked at His Highness in front of her for help.
But Draconis showed no intention of explaining at all.
Just then, Old Butler Alfred came to request an audience.
Draconis then said, "Alright, Anna, that's enough for today. If there's anything you don't understand on that paper, you can ask Zorua first. Perhaps it can give you the answer. Come back to me when you both understand each other better!"
Anna looked bewildered, but still nodded: "Yes!"
She took Zorua and the parchment outside to study them.
After she left, Old Butler Alfred walked in.
He said with a worried expression, "His Highness Draconis, there is one thing that still concerns me greatly."
"What?"
Alfred explained, "Our stored food is only enough to last until February. If the food runs out by then, I'm afraid..."
Alfred didn't finish, but Draconis understood.
He had considered this matter before, but it had been temporarily put aside due to other things.
After a moment of thought, Draconis recalled that among the seeds the caravan brought, there were some crops suitable for winter planting.
After a brief consideration, Draconis asked, "I remember there's a group of farmers in the territory, right?"
"That's right." Alfred nodded.
"Have them come over."
"Yes, His Highness Draconis!"
Alfred hurried away and, not long after, returned with several dark-skinned uncles whose hands were covered in thick calluses.
"These are all experienced old farmers," Alfred introduced.
Draconis then found the batch of seeds: "Take a look, are there any crops here suitable for planting this season?"
The farmers stepped forward to inspect them, then said:
"Reporting to my lord, these rye seeds, white radishes, potatoes, and wheat seeds can be planted this season, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that land reclamation takes time. The land here is all undeveloped wasteland. We have to clear weeds and bushes, plow and loosen the soil, and only then can we cultivate it..." an old farmer said hesitantly.
Another farmer was even more worried: "If we plant now, we won't be able to harvest by February next year. It'll be at least May until we can harvest, and we don't have any fertilizer here either..."
This meant that even if they planted now, they would have a three-month food-empty period.
Hearing this, Draconis couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
This was indeed a significant problem.
It's a pity there are no Grass-type Pokémon in the territory now, otherwise, he could ask them to use Grass-type energy to care for the crops.
The Grass-type energy in the Pokémon world is very special and can replace the role of fertilizer. If cultivated with energy every day, it can even shorten the growth cycle of crops to a certain extent.
But the problem is, there are no Grass-type Pokémon at all right now.
Especially since it's still winter, who knows where the Grass-type Pokémon are hiding... It seems he'll have to think of other ways to get food.
Draconis couldn't help but fall into deep thought, his mind racing.
Gathering berries, Fishing to make salted dried fish, collecting wild Berries... But just then, a sudden cry of alarm interrupted Draconis's thoughts.
"Help!"
"It's a magical beast!"
"A magical beast has broken in!"