Reflected in Joy's eyes, the real-time data on the monitor showed the fatigue and stamina bars shooting up as if given some miracle elixir—then stabilizing!
From the moment Eevee was fed to complete recovery from fatigue took less than fifteen minutes.
Don't think fifteen minutes is slow.
From ingestion to absorption to effect often takes time, and what Lucas fed Eevee was merely a crushed leaf mixed with water.
If it works this well raw, what would proper processing do…?
For an unprocessed herb to have such power—there's no record of anything like this in the Joy family archives!
Joy no longer harbored any doubt. Suppressing the urge to go pulverize a few punching bags to vent her excitement, she smiled gently. "Your herb works. Eevee should wake up soon."
As if on cue, Eevee—head still cradled in Lucas's hand, face puckered from sourness—opened her big, dark brown eyes, dazed and blinking.
Those bright, shiny eyes brimmed with life.
Eevee are often sensitive and timid, easily startled.
But this one—cute face notwithstanding, apparently brawling with some wild Pokémon before being found—didn't seem the type.
She cast Lucas a mildly reproachful look, then did nothing rash—stood up, shook out her fur, flung off the electrodes, and let out a pleased chirp.
"Bui~"
Though the sour taste lingered stubbornly, she seemed to sense these two humans had helped her—her wounds and fatigue were gone, after all.
Even if she'd had to suffer… no, taste something terribly sour, being back in form is a huge blessing for a wild Pokémon.
So she politely dipped her head to Lucas and Joy, thanking them in a soft, milky chirp.
Even iron-willed Joy melted on the spot, just shy of squealing, "So cute!"
Lucas, charmed as well, was also struck by how polite this Eevee was.
So polite, yet she fights so hard in the wild she got herself battered and exhausted and had to be brought in—what a contradiction.
After thanking them, Eevee fired starry-eyed looks at them and kept glancing at the closed door—as if hinting she was fine and ready to go.
Lucas was half amused, half exasperated. This little one was smart—and brimming with it.
If she kept looking at him like that, he'd be tempted to keep her. He glanced at Joy to ask her opinion.
He could easily house an Eevee at the farm, but seeing how eager she was to leave, he thought it best not to stop her.
If fate allowed, they'd meet again.
Joy wasn't a tyrant.
She simply gave a warm, nonthreatening smile and opened the door.
Eevee's eyes lit up. She hopped down, but didn't bolt; instead, she rubbed against both Lucas's and Joy's pant legs in equal measure before trotting out, light on her feet.
Lucas: "…"
Help. I just witnessed a tiny Eevee with future heartbreaker potential!
He and Joy followed Eevee to the lobby and found the downpour had stopped.
At the automatic doors, Eevee didn't bump the glass; she waited for a backpacker entering with a Pokémon to approach, then slipped out as the doors opened.
The traveler smiled—what a cute Eevee.
When Lucas followed, the traveler assumed it was a Trainer's playful Pokémon and grinned wider.
But when Joy came out too—and the traveler, intending to ask about a night's stay, realized no one had actually been escorting the Eevee—his smile froze.
He lifted a timid hand to call Joy, but she perfectly ignored him.
He was left staring, dazed, in the post-rain breeze.
This Eevee was very smart—and had excellent body control.
Lucas watched as she sprang along the concrete, landing neatly to avoid every puddle and keep her paws spotless.
He then recalled how clean her fur had been while he fed her—it didn't look wild at all.
But she was clearly heading out of town, which eased Lucas's and Joy's worry about her getting lost in the streets.
As for her pristine look—she probably just likes to keep clean.
Like Luxray, who spends ages grooming with its barbed tongue to keep its mane imposing.
Apparently, lately Luxray's even been helping Raging Bolt with hard-to-reach spots groom its fur. Lucas heard it from Oranguru; he hadn't seen it himself.
Given Raging Bolt's pride, letting someone else groom it would be like conceding lower status; he'd expect fireworks.
From a distance, they watched Eevee leave Los Platos and head into the wild.
Only then did Lucas and Joy head back.
After Joy processed the lodging for the aggrieved backpacker, she took Lucas to the familiar study.
He'd been here before to borrow Pokémon psychology texts, so he felt calm.
Naranja Academy's library was the intimidating one—books enough to last several lifetimes.
If not for having a professional like Joy to consult, he'd have gone back there.
Joy scanned the shelves by memory and quickly pulled several heavily annotated volumes.
Pharmacology
From Potion-Making: Beginner to Master
Basic Chemistry Even Chimchar Can Understand
Herbarium Illustrated
The Complete Guide to Medicinal Cuisine
Postpartum Care for Sows
Lucas: "…"
Joy silently slid the last one back and smiled kindly. "My family used to run a pig farm. Did you see anything just now?"
Lucas shook his head furiously.
Joy gave him a you-know-what's-good look, laid out the books, and stressed, "I get that you're eager to validate your idea using Shuckle's special brewing ability, but potion-making is not to be taken lightly."
"Many herbs conflict. Combine the wrong ones and you can cause major medical accidents. No cutting corners."
"If you want to fully realize your herb's potential, you need to learn from the ground up."
Joy believed in teaching a person to fish. Lucas, reminded that he had other Herba Mystica growing at the farm, realized he couldn't bug Joy for every recipe.
Putting knowledge in his own head was the safest path.
Who doesn't like leveling up with new skills?
With the farm's Pokémon multiplying, odd ailments could arise. Some medical knowledge would keep him from panicking.
Resolute, Lucas produced a pile of items on Joy's desk and declared, "Please, Nurse Joy—teach me the great Way of Medicine!"
Joy blinked. On the desk were food, drink, and brewables:
Golden honey of obvious quality, fresh Moomoo Milk, a big jar of cream, and tea leaves whose rich aroma seeped through their seal—
She swallowed. A tea devotee with deep knowledge, she suspected this was an exquisite red tea made from the delicate summer buds of Sawsbuck's seasonal new growth—priceless.
She'd meant to refuse any bribes, but her expression froze—and then, giving in, she clapped both hands on Lucas's shoulders.
The grip hurt; he sucked in a few sharp breaths as Joy, all-in now, promised, "I'll take this teaching on!"
"From now on, you'll attend class here at fixed times every day. I graduated top of my class—by the time I'm done, you'll be capable of running a Pokémon Center solo. Rest easy!"
Stunned by both her strength and her claim, Lucas thought:
Wait—just how far are you planning to push me?!