Lucien rode his Bouffalant northeastward.
When he was hungry, he stopped to eat the food he'd brought from his territory; when he grew tired, he rested.
Occasionally, wild Pokémon would attack along the way, but with Serperior, Dragonair, Larvesta, and the others at his side, Lucien easily repelled them, using these encounters as training opportunities for Dragonair and Larvesta.
Finally, on the third day after leaving Lucien City, a small village appeared ahead, nestled quietly between the mountains.
Just as Ivan's intelligence report described.
The village was tiny, barely a dozen households. A rough wooden palisade formed a perimeter, clearly a simple means of protection against wild Pokémon.
It was late afternoon. Women in linen aprons were washing clothes by the river, and several children were playing hand-in-hand in the village square.
The moment they saw Lucien, this stranger riding a Bouffalant, their expressions immediately shifted.
Some looked at him with curiosity. Others shrank back in fear at the sight of the Pokémon.
Lucien dismounted and offered a friendly greeting:
"Hello! My name is Lucien. I'm a traveler who has been wandering for some time, but I seem to have lost my way. May I ask, what is this place?"
A traveler?
The villagers slowly relaxed, though many couldn't help staring anxiously at Bouffalant and Victini.
"Don't worry," Lucien reassured them gently. "These are my magical beasts. They won't harm anyone."
At this, an elderly man stepped forward, a grey-haired, bearded elder leaning on a cane.
"This is the kingdom's borderlands… Lacunosa Village," he said. "Judging from your appearance, young man, you must have come from very far away."
Lacunosa Village, Good. He hadn't gone off course.
Lucien exhaled in quiet relief.
"It's getting late," he said. "May I ask if there is an inn or a place to rest for the night?"
"No need for an inn!" the old man laughed warmly. "It's rare for travelers to visit our little village. If you don't mind humble hospitality, stay at my home tonight! And, tell us what the outside world is like!"
"Thank you very much," Lucien replied with a polite smile.
The villagers dispersed, though a few children lingered, staring at Bouffalant with fearful fascination.
Just as Lucien suspected, the old man was indeed the village chief.
After tying Bouffalant beside the wooden house, Lucien followed the chief toward his home.
"Dear, we have guests!" the village chief called as he stepped inside. "Bring out something good so we can treat him properly!"
"Hm?" An old woman appeared, wiping her hands.
The chief quickly explained.
After hearing the story, she smiled cheerfully. "Then please stay here tonight!"
The simple, hospitable couple quickly prepared a hearty meal.
Given the humans' fear of Pokémon in this era, Lucien did not release Serperior or Dragonair, so as not to frighten his hosts.
"From your clothing and bearing, young man," the village chief said as they ate, "you must have come from very far away."
"Yes," Lucien nodded. "From Eindoak Castle."
The couple froze in shock.
"E-Eindoak Castle?" the old woman exclaimed. "That is incredibly far from here!"
"It takes several months of walking to reach this village from there," Lucien said with a gentle smile.
"That's truly unbelievable…" the old woman whispered.
Lucien glanced around the humble home, then asked softly, "Is it just the two of you living here?"
The village chief's expression collapsed into sorrow the moment the question left Lucien's lips.
"We… once had a younger son," he said hoarsely. "But a few years ago, one night… he was taken, and eaten by that monster living in the mountains behind Lacunosa…"
Lucien paused for a moment, then couldn't help asking, "A monster?"
"Alas…" the old man sighed. "Yes. That monster appeared out of nowhere decades ago. It lives in the Giant's Cave behind the village."
As he spoke, the old man suddenly seemed to remember something. His expression turned grave as he warned:
"I almost forgot! No matter what you hear at night, you must never leave the house!"
"Why?" Lucien asked, pretending ignorance.
"Because that monster often comes to the village at night," the village chief said, face clouded with fear. "It snatches villagers away and eats them. My child was taken and devoured by that creature!"
Just like in the rumors.
Hearing this, Lucien fell silent.
Seeing the grief etched on the old couple's faces, he began to doubt the story. Judging from their expressions, could Kyurem really be a man-eater?
When her husband mentioned their son, the old woman's face twisted with pain, and she covered it with her hands as she began to sob.
They'd thought of revenge before, but that monster was simply far too powerful.
"What do you call this monster?" Lucien asked.
"Kyurem. We named it Kyurem," the old chief replied.
"Does it come to the village every night?" Lucien continued.
The old man shook his head. "No. It only comes when it's hungry."
"Have you ever actually seen it eating people with your own eyes?" Lucien asked carefully.
At that, the chief's expression darkened with anger.
Their child had been taken, how could he possibly lie about something like that?
Realizing how his question sounded, Lucien quickly added, "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant. To be honest, I'm a traveling Beastmaster. It's possible I might be able to help you."
The old village chief's anger slowly subsided, replaced by shock.
"A… a Beastmaster?!"
A legendary figure who could command magical beasts and fight alongside them?
The couple looked again at the Victini by Lucien's side and finally grasped just who their guest might be.
The two elders exchanged a glance, then suddenly stood and dropped to their knees.
"Beastmaster, please save our village! Avenge us!" the chief pleaded.
Lucien was taken aback for a heartbeat, then said gently, "Don't be hasty. Please, get up and tell me everything in detail."
"Yes…"
Their voices became extremely respectful as they slowly recounted Kyurem's story.
"That monster appeared in this region about forty years ago.
"My father told me that, on that day, a huge burning rock fell from the sky and crashed into the mountains nearby."
"A terrible monster lived inside that rock. At first, it didn't come to the village. But after it had eaten everything in the mountains, it started coming here, snatching people and eating them."
"This has gone on for many years. Beastmaster, we beg you, please help us!"
"That monster lives deep inside the Giant's Cave in the back mountain."