Chapter 15: Dratini’s Resolve
Snow began to fall from the sky again, though no one knew when it had started.
Lei Wen and the others helped each other up and hurried back.
Before they got close, they could see the camp situated in the vast snowy night from afar.
A fire was lit in the camp, and some figures stood at the entrance of the forest, constantly looking in their direction.
Seeing this, Lei Wen couldn’t help but feel relieved.
“Your Highness Lei Wen, they’ve come to greet us!”
Although Ryan was sent flying by Abomasnow, he was unharmed except for a minor injury.
Whenever this happened, Lei Wen couldn’t help but marvel at the special human physique in the Pokémon World.
They were sent flying by a 260kg Pokémon like Abomasnow without serious injury; the most severe case was a knight who broke a bone due to his landing posture.
“Your Highness Lei Wen!”
Old Butler Elif and a group of commoners came forward from a distance.
Anna’s mother, Ellie, immediately rushed forward to embrace her daughter and check her injuries carefully.
Anna sheepishly scratched her head, “Mom, I’m okay!”
It was at this moment that Ellie saw the monster her daughter was holding.
She immediately recoiled in fear, letting out a startled cry, “A monster! Anna, throw it away quickly!”
“Mom, don’t worry! It’s okay, this monster saved us!” Anna said.
Ellie looked pale and shaken, and the other commoners were also somewhat bewildered.
“Heh heh, although it’s incredible, it’s true that this little monster saved us!”
To this day, when Ryan recalled what had just happened in the forest, he still found it incredible.
He had learned something new today: a fearsome monster would go as far as to protect a human at the risk of its own safety!
Hearing this, the surrounding crowd exchanged glances.
What on earth was going on?
Everyone couldn’t help but turn their gaze to Lei Wen.
“Your Highness Lei Wen…”
Lei Wen’s gaze, however, fell upon Zorua, and he said slowly, “Perhaps we have been wrong all along; monsters are actually intelligent, wise beings, full of emotions, and can even understand human language.”
“Anna helped it, so it, in turn, protected Anna without regard for its own safety, even placing its own life before Anna’s. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I probably wouldn’t have believed it.”
But that’s precisely what happened.
Hearing these words, their faces showed the same expressions as Ryan had in the forest earlier.
Incredulity, bewilderment, and shock.
It was very difficult to make people in ancient times, who viewed monsters as floods and beasts, immediately accept living alongside Pokémon.
Therefore, all of this had to be done step by step.
“Alright, that’s all for today. Everyone, go back and rest!” Lei Wen looked around at everyone and said, “There’s new work waiting for us tomorrow!”
The crowd then dispersed.
Many things had happened today, and Lei Wen was feeling a bit tired, so he prepared to return to his tent to rest.
But Ellie, with a stern expression, pulled Anna and knelt before Lei Wen.
Seeing this, Lei Wen was slightly taken aback.
“Anna, quickly ask His Highness Lei Wen for forgiveness!” Ellie said, pulling Anna along.
Running out of the territory without permission and causing His Highness Lei Wen to fall into danger was something that was not allowed anywhere.
If something were to happen to His Highness Lei Wen, everyone in the entire territory would be doomed.
Anna also belatedly realized how excessive her actions had been today.
She knelt down holding Zorua and said with lingering fear, “Your Highness Lei Wen, I’m sorry!”
Lei Wen: “…”
“Get up!” Lei Wen looked at Anna and said, “Anna went out today to help find herbs, it was an unintentional act. Just be more careful in the future.”
Seeing that His Highness Lei Wen had forgiven her daughter, Ellie was filled with gratitude.
His Highness is truly a benevolent king!
“Furthermore, Anna,” Lei Wen continued, “Tomorrow, bring your monster to see me. I have a very important mission to assign you.”
“Huh?” Anna was slightly stunned, but she quickly reacted and said, “Yes! Your Highness!”
Lei Wen turned and returned to his tent. Old Butler Elif followed behind him with a disapproving look.
He hesitated for a long time before speaking, “Your Highness Lei Wen, you could just assign anything to the Knight Order to do; there’s no need to put yourself in danger.”
Lei Wen: “…”
He had gone out this time for two reasons: first, to find Anna, and second, as a transmigrator, he wanted to experience the reality of the Pokémon World outside.
Moreover, Ryan and the others had already thoroughly investigated the surrounding environment, which was why he had acted as he did.
However, thinking about it now, it was indeed a bit reckless.
Lei Wen readily admitted his mistake.
“I understand, Elif. I won’t do that again.”
The old butler breathed a sigh of relief, “Then please rest well.”
With that, he withdrew.
Suddenly, only Lei Wen and Dratini were left in the tent.
Thanks to the Vitality Roots Anna had gathered outside, Dratini’s injuries were able to heal.
At this moment, Dratini seemed to have not yet recovered from the blow from Abomasnow.
It was curled up listlessly on Lei Wen’s blanket, looking quite dejected.
“Dratini, do you want to become stronger?” Lei Wen asked.
Hearing Lei Wen’s voice, Dratini immediately looked over.
“Wuu?”
“As you saw today, there are still many dangers around our territory. If we are not strong enough, sooner or later, we will die here,” Lei Wen said, intentionally exaggerating.
“Wuu…” No Pokémon wants to die, and Dratini was no exception, but it didn’t know how to become stronger…
It was at times like these that a Trainer needed to step up.
Lei Wen continued, “If you are willing, I will do my utmost to help you become stronger. But this path will likely be very difficult. You won’t be able to sleep curled up on the blanket like before, and you’ll have to endure the cold wind outside.”
“Wuu…” As a Dragon-type Pokémon, it had no natural resistance to cold or ice.
Therefore, when Dratini heard Lei Wen’s words, it felt a bit scared and hesitant.
Lei Wen naturally noticed this.
This Dratini had been kept as a pet in the royal palace before, with the best of everything in terms of food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
This kind of life would likely be very difficult for Dratini, which was accustomed to a luxurious life, to change.
In response, Lei Wen couldn’t help but sigh, “If we don’t become stronger, we will all die here, just like today.”
“Wuu…” Dratini repeatedly shook its little head.
It didn’t want to die. At this moment, Dratini mustered its courage, made up its mind, and said with determination, “Wuu!”
It wanted to become stronger!
“Very good.” Lei Wen’s heart immediately relaxed.
He squatted down, came before Dratini, looked earnestly into its eyes, and slowly said:
“Whatever lies ahead, I will face it with you, so don’t be afraid, Dratini. We are the best partners in this world!”
At this moment, Dratini seemed to sense the “heart” of the human before it.
It stared blankly at Lei Wen, and a very unfamiliar feeling suddenly arose within it.
“Wuu…”
