Baimu slightly turned his head and only then discovered that the Dragon Temple was surrounded by crowds of Meteor People and Dragon-type Pokémon, as if they were going to a fair.
Even the Swablu in the sky were perched on the roof edge, curiously looking down.
Baimu: "..."
Did the Dragon People also love gossip this much?
—
In the spacious room with three open sides, lined with tatami mats.
Baimu sat in a very inward position, with a bewildered Mawile in his arms. The pair, looking like villagers who had just come to the city, watched the bustling people and Pokémon around them.
Since moments ago, he had been greeting different people, as each Meteor Person, young and old, who came in introduced themselves to him.
It was only now that he had a chance to catch his breath.
And since the Dragon Elder had announced the meeting, he disappeared, nobody knew where he had gone.
Elder Qing Liu also sat with a group of elders who seemed particularly familiar.
From the looks of the situation...
Wasn't it supposed to be a meeting?
Why did it seem more like it turned into a banquet?
Snacks like Immortal Shells, sunflower seeds, and seaweed aside, what was the idea of bringing a bottle of wine?
They're drinking! They're drinking!
Baimu and Mawile widened their eyes slightly.
In his moment of bewilderment, a soft laugh suddenly sounded beside him, "Don't be surprised, it's always been like this."
He turned his head, seeing a young man with dark red hair arrive by his side.
"Let's get to know each other, my name is Zheng Fang, congratulations on returning home."
Zheng Fang extended his hand.
Baimu shook it, "Baimu, hello."
"Hello, your name was truly famous some time ago. Uncles and aunts from the Ore Region who went to help always remembered you, mentioning your presence as soon as they returned."
Zheng Fang smiled warmly, "We've also been eagerly hoping for your departure from the sea of bitterness, back to your hometown."
"Thank you, but the Ore now is no longer a sea of bitterness; it's an undeveloped golden virgin land," Baimu softly corrected the sea of bitterness remark.
"Ah, apologies."
Zheng Fang, seeing his seriousness, realized he misspoke, quickly apologized, and shifted the topic, "How about meeting the remaining young Dragon Tamers after the meeting? Everyone is eager to get to know you."
Baimu nodded, "Of course, I'll trouble you to introduce me then."
"Great!"
Zheng Fang walked away with a broad smile.
"Maw?"
The previously silent Mawile raised its head slightly.
"Yeah, I never expected to be so well-known in Meteor Village," Baimu mused, catching a glimpse of the Dragon Elder approaching with a scroll from the corner of his eye.
When he looked back at the Meteor People, he found they had, at some point, packed up their tables and snacks, standing neatly in four rows.
...What in the world?
Baimu internally remarked, as the Dragon Elder approached him with the scroll and was about to stand to receive it, but was stopped verbally by the latter.
"No need, child, remain seated."
The Dragon Elder said warmly, placing the scroll on the floor beside him, then slowly unrolling it into the distance.
Instantly.
The long scroll stretched from the front of the room to the back.
The Dragon Elder took a pen from someone nearby and explained to Baimu, "Whenever a new member is born among the Meteor People, their name is written on this scroll, and you're no exception."
An ancestral recognition ceremony?
Baimu looked at the incomprehensible script on the scroll. In a blink, memories of a calligrapher flooded his mind, revealing that this was one of the ancient languages she had learned!
It turned out to be the language of the Meteor People!
The Dragon Elder wrote his name in the language of the Meteor People on the scroll and said, "Extend your hand."
Baimu extended his hand.
The Dragon Elder kindly asked, "Does it hurt?"
"Not really—ow!"
A sharp pain came from his fingertip. Looking down, he saw the Dragon Elder had silently pricked his index finger with a needle, clearly asking earlier to divert his attention.
"Child, come on, press your handprint below,"
The Dragon Elder pointed below the name.
Baimu slightly raised his right hand, looking forward, noting that beneath every name on the scroll was a red handprint—he initially thought it was oil paint.
But unexpectedly, it was blood.
Could blood stay so red for so long?
He was puzzled but pressed lightly on the scroll, witnessing a soft blue light emanate from his name, lighting up every name on the scroll.
The surrounding Meteor People showed joyous expressions, clasping their hands and bowing in prayer.
In an instant.
An indescribable feeling descended into the room.
Outside, Altaria and Swablu began to sing, and Baimu felt a strange warmth spread through his body, as if a glow had fallen upon him...
No.
Not just him.
When Baimu looked down, he found that Mawile shared a similar sensation, and the Pokeballs at his waist were glowing with a thin light.
What exactly was this...
Ancestors' technology?
"This is the ancestors' blessing for you. Allow me to say this once more, welcome home, child!" The Dragon Elder said tenderly, embracing Baimu.
The latter was slightly stunned, then softly embraced the Dragon Elder as well, "Thank you, Elder."
Thus ended the ceremony of ancestral recognition.
After sending the scroll back, the Dragon Elder began to preside over a brief meeting to discuss how to counter the potential threat from the Rocket Team.
Having led the Meteor People to relocate outside of Meteor Falls with her efforts over a decade ago, she was not unfamiliar with the outside world and actively introduced new things from outside.