The next day, the snowstorm had passed.
Women cooked breakfast at home while men stepped outside, sweeping snow from their doors with brooms and iron shovels, clearing a few paths for walking. Children gathered together in the snow, building snowmen alongside a Snover.
After breakfast, some women carried wooden tubs of dirty laundry to the river, while the men checked the houses, making sure heavy snow wouldn't collapse roofs and bury anyone inside.
The knights, led by Lyon, also began their usual patrols of the domain.
All around, life in the territory bustled with vigor.
"Your Highness Raven, it seems everyone has slowly grown used to life here," Aelif said, watching the children play in the snow with the beasts.
Raven nodded. As he looked at the dirt roads, he thought to himself that come spring, aside from building sturdier houses, they would also need proper roads. Otherwise, one heavy rain and the whole place would turn into an impassable mud pit.
With little to manage today, Raven decided to check on Anna and see her training progress with Zorua.
When she heard the reason for his visit, young Anna excitedly reported her results.
"Teacher, Zorua can already create illusions now! Come on, Zorua—show him!"
"Zorua!"
Zorua closed its eyes, a mysterious violet glow flowing around it.
In the next instant, Raven's surroundings warped.
Anna and Zorua vanished—replaced by two stones, one big and one small.
Then the "stone" waved at him.
Anna's voice followed: "Teacher, can you see me? I'm a rock now!"
Raven: "…"
Using such a simple trick to escape wild beasts' attacks?
It might work… but it was awfully crude.
He didn't know what to say.
The imagination of people in this era was rather limited.
If they ran into a brute of a Pokémon, it wouldn't care whether you were a rock or not—it might just smash both "stones" with a Heavy Slam.
The illusion faded. Anna looked at him eagerly. "So? How did we do?"
"For beginners, not bad at all," Raven said at last, choosing to encourage his pupil.
"Yay!" Anna clapped with joy.
"But your use of the ability is too simple. Anna, you need to unleash your imagination."
Raven thought for a moment, then explained:
"An illusion doesn't only mean changing how you look. It can deceive the senses of humans and beasts alike. It won't cause direct harm—but it can manipulate perception."
"For instance, altering their brainwaves to create a maze-like forest that traps them forever… or disguising yourself as a powerful beast to intimidate and drive them away."
As Raven knew, Zoroark's illusions were among the most formidable of all Pokémon.
"Skilled Zorua and Zoroark can transform into anything—even summon illusions seen by thousands at once, trapping an entire city inside."
In one movie he recalled, a Zoroark had taken on the forms of Entei, Suicune, and Raikou—legendary Pokémon—replicating even their power.
Anna and Zorua listened in awe.
"Zorua?" The little fox's eyes shone—could it really become that strong one day?
"So amazing?!" Anna gasped.
"Anna, never underestimate any beast's strength," Raven told her. "If you care for them, raise them, their potential is limitless."
"Limitless…" Anna repeated softly. "Like the great Beastmaster Sir Aaron?"
Could she and Zorua ever reach that level?
Years ago, Sir Aaron had come to the Kingdom of Eindoak and defeated a terrifying beast no human could overcome.
His legend had spread throughout the land.
To Anna, Sir Aaron was the greatest Beastmaster in the world.
"Aaron?" Raven's eyes narrowed.
The name stirred memories.
Three years ago, an "evil" beast—an embodiment of destruction—had whipped up terrible storms across the kingdom, laying waste to homes and fields.
The old king's army failed to subdue it. In desperation, he sought help from abroad.
And so, Sir Aaron, a Beastmaster of the distant kingdom of Rota, arrived. With his partner Lucario, he sealed the beast and saved the land.
His deeds became famous throughout Unova.
As Raven remembered, his face grew complicated.
"Teacher?" Anna asked softly.
"…Nothing," Raven shook his head. "Just some thoughts. Keep training with Zorua—I have other matters."
"Yes!" Anna nodded earnestly.
Aaron… wasn't that the very same Sir Aaron from Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, who sacrificed himself to stop a war, passing his aura into Mew?
So in this era… Sir Aaron was still alive?!
Raven was stunned.
He went to find Aelif, asking about Aaron.
The old butler recalled: "Sir Aaron? Yes, he came to the royal capital three years ago. At that time, a beast named Tornadus caused a dreadful disaster. The king had no choice but to request aid from Queen Rin of Rota."
"Her Majesty Rin corresponded often with our king by letter. Not long after, Sir Aaron arrived, and with his Lucario, he stopped Tornadus and saved the kingdom."
"What's the matter, my lord?" Aelif asked.
"Nothing. I just think that Beastmaster is remarkable. I would very much like to meet him," Raven replied.
"Ah… but Rota lies very far from here," Aelif reminded him. "By ship, it would take at least a month."
Raven knew.
In this age, humans feared the sea more than land.
The ocean was endless and deep, plagued by storms and sea beasts. If a ship was lost, there was little hope of survival.
Which was why contact between distant regions remained so rare—and some lands still lived as scattered tribes.
(End of Chapter)