"Oh?" Raven raised his brows, looking at Cleveland in surprise. "What is it?"
Cleveland's tone grew solemn. "My lord, I encountered two very unusual beasts in the snowy mountains!"
When he spoke of the mysterious being that had guided his way, his face was filled with awe and yearning.
"…At that time, when I thought I was about to die, it appeared."
"I don't know if it was a beast. Its feathers were a beautiful blue, its wings glittered like ice under sunlight, and when it appeared, even the snowflakes in the air froze still."
"It saved me… and pointed me toward a way out of the mountain."
If possible, Cleveland wished he could see it once more.
As Raven listened, a question mark practically floated above his head.
Huh? That description… could it be the legendary Pokémon—Articuno?
From what he knew, Articuno lived high in snowy mountains, far from the world. They guarded their peaks.
It was said that if travelers lost their way and faced certain death, Articuno would appear before them, guiding them to safety.
"I didn't expect an Articuno to inhabit that mountain. It must be guarding it," Raven thought.
It was truly astonishing news.
"I understand." Raven stored the matter away in his heart.
Cleveland went on, "After following that mysterious being's guidance, I encountered another very special beast…"
He recalled the moment vividly:"I was starving, without strength left. That beast… well, it was like Santa Claus. It carried a white sack, and from it, it handed me two berries."
"Thanks to those berries, I managed to keep going until the rescue party found me."
Santa Claus? A beast with a white sack?
Raven instantly pictured it in his mind.
Delibird!
Delibird were unique Pokémon. They stored food in their sack-like tails, tirelessly transporting it back to their nests.
And they had a remarkable habit—
They would share their food willingly with humans or beasts.
In that distant future, Pokédex entries about Delibird recorded:
[If someone is stranded in the mountains, Delibird will share its food with them. Many lives have been saved in snowstorms thanks to Delibird's generosity.]
Hearing Cleveland's words, Lyon and Christina couldn't hide their curiosity.
"There are beasts like that?"
"My lord Raven, do you know what it is?" Christina asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, its name is Delibird," Raven replied.
"Delibird?" The three of them blinked.
"Yes." Raven nodded. "The royal archives record such a beast. It has the habit of sharing food with others, even with lost humans or beasts in the snow."
"Wow!" Christina gasped. "That's amazing!"
"Delibird…" Cleveland repeated softly, committing the name to memory.
If he ever met that beast again, he would have to thank it properly.
"That's enough for today," Raven said to the three. "You've worked hard. Rest now, and recover from your injuries."
"Yes, sir!"
The three withdrew.
Standing to the side, Aelif, who had listened to everything, couldn't help but sigh:
"To think such beasts exist in this world… back in the royal city, I would never have learned of them."
"I only realized after leaving," Raven admitted. "This world is far larger than I ever imagined. Our Eindoak Kingdom is just one tiny corner. Across the seas, there are many other lands and nations. I want to see them with my own eyes someday."
The Tree of Beginning in Kanto.
Mount Silver of Johto.
The culture of the Meteor people in Hoenn.
The creation myths of Sinnoh.
The Mega Evolution of Kalos.
The hero-kings of Galar.
And the paradox Pokémon of Paldea…
Seeing the gleam in Raven's eyes, Aelif smiled. "You are still young, my lord. One day, you will have the chance."
"That may be a very long time," Raven sighed.
They faced survival crises every day—he couldn't spare thoughts for distant dreams.
His gaze drifted to the Dratini by his side. He poked its nose with a smile.
"Dratini, you must grow quickly. Then we'll see the world together."
"Dra!" Dratini straightened, its little face full of determination. It would grow strong!
When Dratini evolved into Dragonite, it would gain astounding speed.
They said a Dragonite could circle the globe in just sixteen hours.
Then, he would leave the territory in Aelif's hands and sneak away with Dratini to explore.
Seeing that playful spark in Raven, Aelif chuckled softly.
Yes… in the end, His Lordship was still only sixteen.
He could have lived comfortably in the royal city, but fate forced him to grow, to lead, to fight for survival.
Still, this struggle might be a blessing.
Even before they left, the royal capital was already seething with unrest.
One day, the First Prince and the Second Prince might wage war for the throne.
As history proved, victors became kings, losers corpses. Staying in the capital would only grow more dangerous.
Sighing, Aelif watched his lord tease Dratini. May that day never come.
"Enough daydreaming. Time to focus on the task at hand."
Raven straightened, opening the book Christina had delivered.
The first page held Shuckle.
On the next page was a small bird beast with fluffy, cloud-like wings.
Christina had written:
[Bold. Unafraid of humans. Perches on shoulders or heads. Its feathers feel soft and cottony.]
"This is…" Raven recalled its name.
Swablu. Normally a Normal/Flying Pokémon, but when it evolved into Altaria, it became Dragon/Flying.
Because it didn't look like a dragon, and because its Mega Evolution changed its type to Fairy—which countered dragons—Altaria was often called a traitor of the dragon race.
Still, Raven's first thought wasn't its strength, but those fluffy feathers. They would make incredible pillows and mattresses.
How comfortable they would be.
(End of Chapter)