"Huff… Huff…" A young boy, no older than twelve, ran frantically, as if desperately searching for something.
He was Arthur, an Earthling who had been reincarnated into the body of a newborn and now lived a new life in the world of Ocasia.
The moment he became aware of his death on Earth and his current existence in a foreign world, a heavy wave of despair washed over him. But as an infant, all he could do was cry—endlessly, persistently cry.
He eventually came to understand the painful reality of being a baby with the mind of an adult. His depression gradually transformed into a numb indifference, a result of the endless crying he endured. At times, he found himself so frustrated that he even considered slapping himself to stop the constant tears. Yet, as an infant, crying had become an instinct, one that surged uncontrollably—even when he experienced moments of happiness.
Moreover, it would have been unnatural for a baby less than a month old to display anything other than infantile emotions. So, despite his inner annoyance with his constant crying, Arthur had no choice but to push himself to cry even more in front of his parents, lest they suspect something was amiss.
His parents were named Hector and Anna, with no surname to speak of. He also had an older sister, Lena, who was a year older. Their family came from humble farming background.
While the names Hector and Lena were uncommon in the village, Anna was a far more frequent name. As a result, every time Arthur called out to his mother, more than a quarter of the women nearby would turn their heads in response.
Arthur had inherited his mother's sky-blue eyes and his father's golden hair. His face was bright but betrayed an unnatural maturity, a reminder that the soul inhabiting his body was that of a teenager when he first reincarnated
It was always awkward for Arthur when he tried to act like a normal child, but he forced himself to do so. Although this world was filled with magic, he had no desire to attract attention or be branded a "devil child" simply because he acted differently from his peers.
After learning about the existence of magic from his parents, Arthur became both fascinated and eager to explore it.
In Ocasia, every living being had the potential to wield magic, though the level of one's ability varied greatly. Of course, potential alone didn't determine how far a magic user could go, but not everyone had the time or resources to hone their skills.
Hector, Arthur's father, was quite proficient in the Fire Element, while his mother Anna's skills in fire magic were average. Lena, his older sister, had a natural talent for manipulating Water Element. Of course, these evaluations were based on Arthur's limited perspective—he had never seen a true Mage, so he wouldn't be surprised if his father was considered only mediocre in the eyes of a true master.
As for Arthur, after an assessment by the Astesia Church, his magical potential was deemed average, which left him feeling somewhat disheartened. The bishop had reassured him, telling him that with enough practice, he could master at least one element. Arthur had thanked the bishop, but in his heart, he had no real desire to become a master of any element.
In addition to the elemental magic practiced by most people, there were other rare categories of magic—one of which was Summoning. Summoning magic allowed mages to call forth familiars to assist them in battle.
Once Arthur learned about Summoning, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
His dream? To summon Pokémon!
However, to his great disappointment—though, admittedly, also expected—there were no Pokémon in this world.
Obviously, why would there be?
Sure, he could summon a black and grey dog familiar and call it Poochyena, but that would still never be a real Pokémon!
Unacceptable!
And so, he made it his mission to recreate Pokémon in this world.
With magic, after all, anything was possible!
Twelve years passed since, and Arthur had grown into a vibrant twelve-year-old, full of youthful energy and determination.
But right now, he was panicking.
His Pokémon, Ponyta, was nowhere to be found!
The thought of Ponyta's disappearance sent a wave of frustration through him, reminding him of all the painful years spent researching and experimenting in an attempt to bring Pokémon to life. But now was not the time to get lost in those memories.
Today was his one chance to take the first step in popularizing Pokémon in Ocasia, specifically in the Krosia Kingdom, where his family lived.
In his humble farming village of Rastor, Princess Rosaria Roseflame Krosia was currently visiting—why, he had no idea, as such events were beyond the reach of a commoner like him.
But this was the perfect opportunity to secure some much-needed backer!
Though he dreamed of spreading Pokémon throughout the world, Arthur wasn't foolish enough to try doing it alone. That would be reckless, leading only to disaster.
So far, only his sister, Lena, knew about his Pokémon experiments, and Arthur dared not share them with anyone else. He kept his creations hidden in their Pokéballs, away from prying eyes.
As for whether Princess Rosaria was trustworthy or not—well, from the rumors he'd heard, she was indifferent toward commoners. On the surface, that might seem like a bad thing. But when compared to other nobles, who often treated commoners with outright disdain, Rosaria seemed relatively decent in character.
She wasn't warm, but she had never wronged the common folk. In fact, she was said to genuinely care about improving their lives, often making trips to remote villages like Rastor. Arthur couldn't say for certain, but it seemed likely that might be the reason for her current visit.
Regardless, there was no better person to serve as his potential backer than an actual princess. If he could win her approval, his dream would have a much easier path ahead.
After learning of her visit, he locked himself in his room to devise a plan to test her character. While the rumors had painted her in a more favorable light, Arthur wasn't about to leave it to chance.
If he deemed Princess Rosaria untrustworthy, he would continue to hide the existence of Pokémon and search for a different backer.
Unfortunately, while he was deep in thought, brainstorming ways to evaluate the princess with minimal risk to himself and his Pokémon, his Ponyta had quietly slipped through the window and disappeared.
That was his fault. He should have kept Ponyta inside its Pokéball, but when he was on Earth, he had developed a habit of petting his dog whenever he hit a roadblock. So, out of habit, he had released Ponyta and started stroking its flaming mane.
Little did he know, as soon as he stopped petting its mane and became lost in thought, his trusty Pokémon would betray him and sneak away!
Just you wait, I'll create an Ocasia variant of a charcoal Ponyta once I catch it! Arthur cursed inwardly as he sprinted down the paved stone road, desperately searching for his runaway Pokémon.
If I had known this would happen, I should have researched and improved the Pokéball so I could recall my Pokémon even when they weren't in sight... Arthur thought bitterly as his legs burned from running.
"Arthur? What's wrong? Can't find the toilet?" A teasing voice called from his left. He turned his head and saw Lena, carrying a fruit basket, on her way back toward their house.
It was afternoon, and the morning's farming work was done. Lena had gone into the village market to buy some fruit while their parents had gone into the forest to hunt.
In a world where magic existed, even a small village like theirs could easily manage hunting in the forest. While monsters and animals could also use magic, their skills were nowhere near as developed as those of humans, making them easy targets—even for children.
Of course, this only applied to the weaker monsters on the outskirts of the forest. The deeper, more dangerous parts of the forest were a different matter entirely.
Arthur ran up to Lena, panting heavily as he came to a stop in front of her.
Lena, wearing a straw hat to shield her from the afternoon sun, glanced up at him. Her clothes were simple and practical, suited for the work of a farmer. She had the same golden hair as Arthur, though she prefered letting it loose, today she had tied it up in a ponytail, poking through a hole in her hat. She was tanned from the heat of the sun, just like most of the people in the village—Arthur included.
After catching his breath for a second, Arthur raised his head and met her sky-blue eyes, his expression filled with anxiety. "Ponyta has run away!"
Lena raised an eyebrow. "Bro, are you telling me that your so-called 'genius invention'—the Pokéball—grew legs and ran off on its own?" she teased, but her eyes quickly filled with concern.
"That was my own stupidity! Please, help me find her—quick!" Arthur wasn't in the mood for jokes. Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted off again, searching for Ponyta.
Lena nodded, her expression serious. She briefly set her fruit basket down with Aunt May, the village baker, who was always ready to lend a hand despite not understanding why Lena was in a hurry. This was a small village where everyone knew each other, and trust was something they all shared.
The afternoon sun bathed the village in its warm, golden light as Arthur sprinted through the streets. The air was rich with the fresh scent of farmland and blooming flowers. Butterflies danced lazily through the air, and a mountain spring wound its way through the village, turning the old waterwheel with a steady, rhythmic creak. It was a tranquil, cozy place, untouched by strife—one Arthur had admired countless times before.
But now, with his heart racing, he had no time to appreciate it.
After a while, Arthur and Lena were drawn to the commotion near the village's wooden gate, where a crowd of villagers had gathered, watching something outside.
A bad premonition gripped both of them. They rushed forward, meeting halfway, their eyes filled with mutual anxiety.
Squeezing through the crowd, they reached the front and saw the worst-case scenario.
Ponyta was surrounded by Kros Knights, the royal guards of the Krosia Kingdom. None of the knights had unsheathed their weapons, but their postures made it clear they intended to capture the strange, small flaming horse before them.
Dressed in enchanted steel armor adorned with red and black patterns, the knights' presence seemed to outshine the flame of Ponyta, which was shrinking back in fear and confusion.
Behind the knights stood two others, their armor a higher grade, who flanked a young lady with an air of noble grace.
Her hair was the color of rose petals, long and wavy, and her eyes held a piercing, thorn-like sharpness. Her graceful yet practical red and white attire blends the elegance of noble dress with the protection of half-knight armor. A fitted, jeweled corset over a flowing skirt offers regal charm, while armored bracers, shoulder pauldrons, and a half-chestplate provide defense without hindering movement. The ensemble strikes a balance between nobility and battle-readiness, with sleek leather boots and a light, functional cape. Perfect for a warrior with grace.
There was no mistaking who she was.
Princess Rosaria Roseflame Krosia.
At that moment, she stood with an air of indifference, observing the fiery horse in front of her, her knights stationed around her like a living barrier.
Though she appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen, her presence commanded respect from those around her, making Arthur and Lena instinctively gulp in apprehension.
F*ck! What do I do now?! Arthur cursed inwardly, his mind racing for a plan to rescue Ponyta. At this point, Operation: Test the Princess would have to be put on hold.
Rescuing Ponyta was his top priority!
But just then, Princess Rosaria raised her hand, forming a fist.
As if they had eyes at the back of their heads, the knights immediately stood down, parting to clear a path for the princess.
She slowly and cautiously approached Ponyta, an apple in her hand. Every few steps, she paused to give the creature space, letting it know she meant no harm.
When she finally stood in front of Ponyta, she gently placed the apple on the ground and took two steps back, giving the horse plenty of room.
"Ponyta~" With eyes now full of 'wisdom'—or rather, an intense desire for the apple—Ponyta immediately ignored its safety and bent down to grab the fruit with its mouth, causing Arthur to silently facepalm.
After devouring the apple, core and all, Ponyta trotted forward, nudging Princess Rosaria's hand affectionately, licking it in a gesture of trust.
Oi, I spoil you with food all the time, yet you've never shown me this kind of affection! Arthur thought, feeling a pang of jealousy. Still, a warmth spread through him at the sight of their interaction.
Trying to ignore the betrayal of his gluttonous Ponyta, Arthur's mind raced as he alternated his gaze between Princess Rosaria and his Pokémon.
While she appeared cold and difficult to approach, his initial impression of the princess was surprisingly favorable.
However, Arthur still felt the need for further testing. His Ponyta seemed to trust her enough, so allowing her to become Ponyta's trainer wouldn't be an issue. At worst, he could simply present her with a rare breed of horse, without revealing the true nature of Pokémon. If he could win her over, she could be his backer, but that meant revealing the existence of Pokémon.
However, to make her his backer would mean revealing to her the existence of a new species called Pokémon.
A plan quickly formed in Arthur's mind, and he steeled himself for action.