Raven had some faint memories of Victini.
When the original Raven was still a child, he would often play hide-and-seek with Victini inside the castle of the Sword of the Vale.
Before they departed for the fief, Victini had even come especially to see them off.
Now Raven sat in silence, mulling over the fate of Unova.
Truth be told, he was uneasy.
From the way things stood, the war in Unova was inevitable.
He couldn't entrust his life to others, nor could he bear to see the territory he had painstakingly built reduced to ashes by war.
But with their current strength, there was no way they could intervene…
Raven shut his eyes and let out a slow breath.
"It all comes down to manpower…"
If his domain had enough people, he could eventually raise a whole army of trainers to defend their land.
And then there was Unova's third deity—the hollow husk of the original dragon, Kyurem.
If Raven remembered correctly, Kyurem resided within the Giant Chasm near Lacunosa Town.
If he could capture Kyurem, or at least earn its recognition, they would wield a power capable of rivaling Reshiram and Zekrom.
But for now, trapped here in the blizzards, with his own strength still meager, winning Kyurem's acknowledgment was as impossible as touching the heavens.
"This matter… must be approached slowly," Raven murmured, gazing at the swirling snow outside the window.
Around the territory, Lyon led the knights on patrols as usual, splitting into two groups to take turns circling the perimeter and keeping the domain safe.
After several encounters with beasts these past days, Lyon's impression of them had changed dramatically.
Both Prince Raven and young Anna had shown that beasts could coexist peacefully with humans.
More importantly, humans could command beasts in battle.
And everyone knew how terrifyingly strong they were.
If beasts could cooperate with humans—follow human orders…
A fervent light flashed in Lyon's eyes.
He had seen Anna direct her little beast, Zorua, to fight.
What if he had a beast like that at his side too?
Of course, not something harmless-looking like Zorua.
No, Lyon longed for a beast of raw muscle—one with four powerful arms and overwhelming strength!
He had seen such a beast once in the royal capital.
It could lift a boulder three men tall as though it weighed nothing.
Lyon couldn't help but fantasize.
He and that mighty beast, fighting side by side, racking up great achievements… Raven himself showering him with rewards, bestowing upon him the title of Honorary Knight.
He pictured himself buried in a sea of gold and jewels, grinning wide in his daydream.
Just then, a voice snapped him out of it.
"Sir Lyon! I found something strange in the forest on the far side of the territory!" A young knight rushed over, breathless with excitement.
"What is it?" Lyon asked.
"A hot spring!" the youth exclaimed. "I found a steaming hot spring!"
A hot spring?!How could there be one here? There were no volcanoes in this region.
Lyon froze, but the earnest glow in the knight's eyes convinced him this was no lie.
"Take me there!" Lyon ordered without hesitation.
"Yes, sir!"
The two men headed south, opposite the direction they had surveyed before.
After cutting through a stretch of forest, they reached a clearing where several steaming pools bubbled away.
Snow fell thick and heavy, blanketing the woods in pure white.
Yet around the springs, not a single flake remained, as if the warmth had melted everything away.
Lyon stepped closer. At once, a wave of comforting heat brushed his skin.
He dipped his hand in—the water was hot.
"It really is a hot spring…" His eyes widened. Raven had to hear of this immediately!
But before he could act, the young knight beside him went pale, pointing with a trembling finger."L-Lord Lyon! Beasts!"
Lyon turned—and sure enough, several figures drifted in the water.
One had a yellow body, looking like a cross between a duck and a kappa.
Another was small and round, with blue fur and oversized ears.
They lounged in the hot spring in groups, clearly enjoying themselves.
A few noticed the humans, but only watched from afar without leaving the water.
"Report this to Prince Raven at once!" Lyon commanded.
Half an hour later.
"Did you just say… a hot spring in the forest?" Raven asked, blinking in surprise.
Impossible. He had studied the terrain—there were no volcanic features nearby. How could a hot spring exist here?
But Lyon's answer was firm. "Yes, Your Highness. We saw it with our own eyes. And several beasts were bathing in it."
Raven pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Take me there."
"At once!"
After passing through the forest, Raven too beheld the steaming pools in the clearing.
Several wild Pokémon soaked in the springs, looking utterly at ease.
Raven swept his eyes over them, silently naming each one.
Psyduck, Marill, Buizel, Ducklett, Simisear…
"There really is a hot spring…" he whispered in astonishment.
"Dreee?"
Beside him, Dratini's eyes sparkled at the sight.
With a joyful leap, it splashed straight into the spring, wriggling happily through the warm water.
"Dree!"
The wild Pokémon hardly batted an eye, as though long accustomed to such visitors.
A particularly bold Buizel even swam up, curiously circling Dratini.
"Buizel?"
While Raven was still stunned, two Psyduck waddled over, staring at him and Lyon with their vacant, dazed eyes.
"Your Highness," Lyon said, astonished, "these beasts don't seem hostile toward us…"
The young knight beside him also gaped in wonder at the scene.
"Yes," Raven nodded. "These are species known to be friendly with humans."
Friendly with humans?
Lyon's ears perked up instantly.