Chapter 38: Teaching and Feathering

After the grand opening of the Pokémon Center, Arthur took some time to give Anna Joy a rundown of how everything worked inside. She picked things up quickly—grasping the basics of operation didn't take long at all. It was only a matter of time before she fully understood the ins and outs.

Most of the equipment inside was powered by magic circles. For people in this world, where using magic was almost second nature, that made things relatively easy. Besides, Anna Joy had worked in a bakery before, and much of the baking equipment there had also relied on magic circles.

To them, civilian-grade magic tools were like household appliances on Earth—simple, intuitive, and easy to master.

Unfortunately, becoming a Nurse Joy wasn't quite so straightforward. The role was closer to that of a veterinarian than a technician, and she still had to be trained in the basics of Pokémon care.

In this world, people who walked the path of the Healer rarely needed to study such things. As long as they could cast healing or restoration magic, that was qualification enough. Why spend time studying human biology when healing magic could fix almost anything? It was more efficient to focus on perfecting their spells.

Arthur agreed—for humans, healing was relatively straightforward. While individuals varied, the care they needed rarely did. Just heal the injury and move on.

But Pokémon were a different story.

Much like animal specialists on Earth, treating Pokémon required knowledge of their uniqueness and traits. Even within the same species, Pokémon could be vastly different on a fundamental level.

It wasn't the individual differences that made them challenging to treat, but rather the distinctive characteristics of each Pokémon.

Anna Joy could easily heal Lena's Wartortle to full physical health using Potions or the help of Chansey—but what if Wartortle was mentally drained, emotionally stressed, or simply in need of rest?

Teaching her the Pokémon type chart was the easy part. Anyone could see that Wartortle was a Water-type. The real challenge lay in understanding the creature beyond its elemental alignment.

What's the best environment for a Wartortle to rest in?

When people think of Water-types, the obvious assumption was water—so most would naturally believe that submerging a Wartortle in a pond or deep water would be ideal.

However, despite being a Water-type, Wartortle still needed to breathe air, much like real-world sea turtles. While it could hold its breath for extended periods, keeping it underwater for too long could actually cause stress and discomfort.

For that reason, the best environment for a Wartortle to rest wasn't deep water, but a shallow pool—just enough to soak and relax in. Alternatively, a gentle shower or misting with water could help it cool down and stay comfortable without risking overexposure to full submersion.

This kind of knowledge was essential for healing and treating Pokémon properly—something Anna Joy would have to learn, bit by bit, for each species.

So, Arthur made it a point to set time aside each day to teach her.

Fortunately, she had an exceptional memory. She retained everything she learned almost instantly, never needing a second explanation. Arthur suspected she had a photographic memory and couldn't help but feel just a little envious.

Every day, as he stood in front of her explaining Pokémon care, he would silently grumble to himself, You remember everything without even trying, while poor me has more Memora Potion than blood running through my veins...

Occasionally, others would join the informal lessons held in the Trainers' Resting Area of the Pokémon Center. Rosaria, Virelyra, and Reden were the most frequent attendees.

Virelyra and Reden made sense—they were genuinely eager to learn and clearly had time to spare. But Rosaria? A royal princess with seemingly endless free time? Arthur often found himself wondering, Shouldn't a princess have... I don't know, royal duties or something?

Among them, Reden stood out as the most promising student—and the most confusing.

She asked questions constantly, often ones that left Arthur sweating—not because they were unanswerable, but because of how they were phrased. Her inquiries were abstract, nonsensical, or overly complicated, causing everyone—Arthur included—to tilt their heads in unison, question marks practically floating above them.

Virelyra mostly focused her questions on Dragon-type Pokémon, occasionally slipping in a few about Flying-types.

The others were relatively normal by comparison. Their questions typically ranged from basic type advantages to more advanced battle strategies.

Unfortunately for them, Arthur had no intention of teaching battle strategies. He limited himself to answering general Pokémon knowledg—nothing too in-depth or technical.

He had also provided Anna Joy with a full inventory of Oval Stones—ordinary, oval-shaped stones—so Happiny could choose one that resonated with her.

While the condition for evolving into Chansey was to hold an Oval Stone during the day, the reality was a bit more complicated. Happiny needed time to grow emotionally and form a bond with the stone itself. Friendship with the Trainer might also play a supporting role—unlike with Arthur's Pikachu, where it had been the key factor. So, with enough time, evolution should come naturally.

If necessary, he was even prepared to invite Wentia's Ivysaur to cast Sunny Day, just to create the ideal daytime environment for Happiny's evolution.

As for her two Miltank, there wasn't much cause for concern. As long as they were raised well—and with Anna Joy's special power to enhance the quality of animal products—it was only a matter of time before they started producing a weaker version of Moomoo Milk, more effective than standard Potions. That alone would significantly bolster her healing efforts.

Meanwhile, the Miltank Farm had expanded. Arthur had recently summoned 22 more Miltank Eggs, along with 2 additional Tauros eggs.

He didn't plan to hire more villagers for the time being. The current farmhands had already bonded with the original herd of Miltank and Tauros, and he trusted that the nine of them could manage the growing group—40 Miltank and 4 Tauros—without too much trouble.

And so far, he'd been right.

There hadn't been many issues—aside from the four Tauros constantly butting heads with one another and causing occasional damage to the farm.

Still, overall, the farm was running smoothly. His reserve of Miltank milk—not quite Moomoo Milk, since it couldn't be used for healing—was gradually growing in the storage cellar. It wasn't nearly enough to support a thousand Pokémon yet, but they were getting there, one bottle at a time.

---

Inside Arthur's research lab, he studied Virelyra's Swablu with a complicated expression.

The Pokémon was perfectly healthy—active, playful, and clearly well cared for. Virelyra's dedication showed in every graceful flutter of its wings. Yet, what truly made this Swablu unique wasn't just the Pokémon itself, but the way Virelyra had trained it.

Much like her Dratini, this Swablu was a force to be reckoned with—a true beast in its own right.

--- 

[Swablu]

[Types: Normal, Flying]

[Ability: Natural Cure]

[Gender: Female]

[Level: 10]

[Swablu is a tidy Pokémon that takes great care of its wings. If it spots any dirt, it will wash itself with water. It's also friendly and unafraid of approaching humans, often playfully perching on a person's head as if pretending to be a hat. Thanks to its fluffy, cloud-like wings, Swablu can blend seamlessly with cumulus clouds—making it difficult for foes to spot.]

[Base stats: -Redacted- (Total: 310)]

[Moves: Roost, Dual Wingbeat, Feather Dance, Aerial Ace, Hurricane, Acrobatics, Dragon Cheer, Dragon Pulse, Tail Wind]

---

He also quietly used his admin access on the Pokédex to check Swablu's IVs.

--- 

[Individual Values (IVs): HP = 31, Attack = 31, Defense = 31, Special Attack = 31, Special Defense = 31, Speed = 31 (Total: Perfect IVs)]

--- 

Sure enough, she hadn't been lucky with Dratini—she really did have a unique way of training IVs.

Arthur had asked her before about her methods, but the more he listened, the more ordinary it sounded. Aside from being a lot harsher than his own training style, there wasn't much difference.

So was it the innate talent of the Dragon race, or something else?

He couldn't quite figure it out.

The only way to know for sure was to wait for another Dragon Race to arrive and become a Pokémon Trainer. Until then, he could only grit his teeth and conclude that her luck was just too good to be true.

While he believed her success stemmed from being part of the Dragon Race rather than mere chance with Egg hatching, he still had to be reasonable—and admit that luck was probably the more likely explanation.

Also, it seemed Pokémon under her care tended to be extremely late bloomers. Looking at Swablu's moveset, it was hard to believe its level was so low—clearly, it had trained hard to learn all those moves.

And as he suspected, if there were no Dragon-type moves available, she prioritized Flying-type moves.

She was the kind of trainer who would rather keep Peck than Dazzling Gleam.

Speaking of Dazzling Gleam—this Swablu, and its evolved form Altaria, were destined never to learn Fairy-type moves.

Influenced by Virelyra, they would definitely favor Dragon- and Flying-type moves over any others, perhaps even outright rejecting moves of other types.

What would happen if it rejected Fairy-type moves altogether?

Arthur wondered if it could still evolve into Mega Altaria if it refused to acknowledge its Fairy-type attribute.

"How is it? Swablu may not be a Dragon type yet, but it's definitely a mighty Sky Dragon!" Virelyra arched her back slightly, raising her chin like a proud mother.

Arthur brushed off her boasting and smiled warmly at Swablu. "As your Father, I am filled with pride! You are surely born to soar and stand among the greatest dragons of all time!" he praised. Swablu responded by fluttering around, scattering feathers in a graceful Feather Dance.

"Dra..." Dratini uncoiled from Virelyra's neck and approached him, its eyes sparkling as if begging for praise too.

Arthur chuckled and patted its head. "You will rise to greatness too—I am sure of it!"

"Dra!" Receiving the praise, Dratini's eyes curved into happy half-moons as it happily coiled around Arthur's body.

Looking at Dratini, Arthur noticed its length hadn't changed much despite being level 14 now.

Could it be a late bloomer in terms of its appearance too?

"Virelyra didn't abuse you, right? Don't forget to Draco Meteor her if she ever pushes you too hard," Arthur joked.

"Dra!" Dratini nodded earnestly while Virelyra pouted.

"Hey, ungrateful kid! Who raised you, huh?!" Suddenly, a gust of wind pushed Dratini back into Virelyra's arms as she began pinching its cheek.

"Dra~!" (Let me go! Or I'll use Draco Meteor!)

Virelyra narrowed her eyes, speaking seriously, "Hmph! A rebellious kid deserves to be grounded. When we get back, you're grounded for twenty years!"

"Dra?" (Twenty years? Did I hear that right?)

"Hey, Virelyra, don't joke with your kid too much." Arthur quickly snatched Dratini back and hugged it protectively, shooting Virelyra a warning glance.

"Who's joking? Not me! Twenty years is just a blink for us dragons!" she said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Seeing Swablu and Dratini cower behind Arthur, trembling in fear, Virelyra quickly waved her hand with tears in her eyes. "It's a joke, a joke! Don't hate your Mother!"

After Virelyra spent ten minutes shedding crocodile tears to win forgiveness from her Pokémon, Dratini approached Arthur, its eyes shimmering with a hint of sadness. "Dra..."

"What's wrong?" Arthur looked at the sorrowful Dratini, unsure how to respond. He couldn't understand what it was trying to say.

"Dratini said it's worried it won't be able to spread its wings like its Mother—me," Virelyra translated.

"You understood that?" Arthur stared at her in disbelief.

"Obviously! We're both dragons!" Virelyra said with a proud smile.

Arthur then glanced at Swablu and asked, "What about Swablu?"

Seeing Virelyra nod, Arthur furrowed his brows. "But Swablu is still a Normal and Flying type—it hasn't become a Dragon type yet."

Waving her hand dismissively, Virelyra said, "Past, present, or future—as long as it's determined to become a Dragon, I can understand anything. Even if it's just a weak little lizard."

"Blu!" Swablu protested. (Don't compare me to a lizard! They're just food!)

"I know, I know!" Virelyra laughed, pulling Swablu into a warm hug.

Arthur smiled too and turned back to Dratini. "You want to become a Sky Sovereign just like your mother, right?"

"Dra!" Dratini nodded enthusiastically.

Arthur had told Virelyra about Swablu's evolution into a Dragon type, but he'd never mentioned Dratini's final form. There was still no reason to. With its double late-blooming nature, it would take a long time to reach the stage of Dragonite.

Rubbing Dratini's head gently, Arthur smiled. "Don't worry. You'll earn the title of Sky Sovereign eventually—just like your mother."

"Dra~!" Dratini stopped sulking and twirled with joy, trusting Arthur completely.

After chatting a bit more, Arthur turned to Virelyra. "So, what did you need from me? You didn't come here just to show off your kids, did you?"

Virelyra tilted her head, looking genuinely confused. "Weren't you the one who called me here after today's Pokémon lesson?"

"Did I?" Arthur blinked, trying to recall.

After a moment, he realized—she was right!

Though he couldn't remember what he had called her for, he had indeed called her here.

"…Sorry, I forgot." He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

With a sigh, Virelyra placed her hand gently on his forehead and channeled mana into his mind, easing the fatigue and stress caused by overtaxing his memory.

Pulling her hand away, she spoke seriously. "Even if Memora Potions are technically harmless, relying on them too much will mess with your memory. One moment you remember everything—then suddenly, you forget what you were even thinking. If this keeps up, your mind will become a jumbled mess."

Arthur nodded, offering a sheepish smile. "Alright, I'll be more careful in the futur—"

"No! That's not enough," Virelyra cut him off, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she leaned in. "You need to rest for at least a full month to let your memory reset naturally. This is serious."

"But—"

Before he could protest, she added sharply, "Otherwise, I swear—I'll camp right beside your bed and watch you like a creepy Ghost-type Pokémon, even while you sleep, for an entire month—just to make sure you don't get anywhere near a single drop of that Memora Potion!"

Arthur felt genuinely touched by her words, but then a thought struck him, and his eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at her like she was a rare treasure!

Noticing his unusual reaction, Virelyra took a cautious step back and asked nervously, "What's with that expression?"

With a sparkle in his eyes, Arthur grinned. "I remember now why I needed you! Having you here for a whole month will make various projects of mine run so much more smoothly!"

The reason he had called her over was to discuss the Rastor Safari Zone—the diverse habitats and environments.

He could create artificial snowy or volcanic environment using magic circles, but they'd always be just that: artificial. Sure, it would make Pokémon comfortable if they preferred those environments, but it wouldn't be the same. After all, it wasn't real weather.

Moreover, he'd discovered that his magic circles couldn't contain those conditions for long. Weather, after all, was to some extent a natural force—something humans couldn't easily control. The magic circles generating these artificial environment would slowly erode, allowing the weather to spill over and eventually disrupt other habitats.

But Virelyra was the Sky Sovereign. She could likely manipulate the weather—temperature, humidity, air pressure—all the variables that were difficult to simulate and maintain through calculations alone. For her, it would be effortless, allowing his magic circles to function fully without the risk of erosion from a single miscalculation.

It was her domain.

"I don't know exactly what you need help with yet, but I'm in!" Virelyra agreed happily, patting her chest with confidence.

"Great! I'll explain everything to you no—"

"Wait! I have one condition: let my kids fight their grandpa and grandma first!"

Arthur blinked, unable to process what he'd just heard.

"W-what did you just say?"