Dinner and the Past
Six hours have passed since I received the invitation, and now I find myself standing in front of an enormous palace-themed restaurant. This particular establishment is considered the second-best in the kingdom, with the first being located in the capital city of Nacrene. The Duke himself invited me to dine here, and I can't help but feel a sense of nervousness as I fear I might accidentally divulge some secrets.
As I show my invitation to the guard at the front, I silently hope that the Duke knows about my memory loss and won't probe too deeply into my past. The guard takes a moment to inspect the invitation and verify the Duke's seal. After a brief wait, he motions for me to follow him inside, and I oblige.
As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a grand entrance with stone walls, wooden beams, and light bulbs lining the hallway.
After following the guard for about a minute, we finally stopped in front of a door with the Samurott emblem adorning it. The guard turned to me and said, "You may enter now, the Duke is already inside." He then stepped aside to let me pass.
Feeling a bit more nervous now, I nodded at the guard in gratitude and gently pushed open the door to enter the room.
"kleeeee"
The second I entered I saw a long wooden table covered with a red velvet tablecloth and adorned with silver cutlery, goblets, and candlesticks. The walls are decorated with tapestries depicting scenes of battle between the legendary Forces of nature and Swords of justice, the ceiling is painted with intricate frescoes. Before I sank in the grandeur, I was interrupted by Duke Daemon,
"You are a bit early Arthur, come have a seat."
I then entered the room at his gesture. I quickly bowed my head in respect and said, "Thank you for having me, Sir. I am truly honored to be here."
The Duke let out a hearty laugh and said, "Hahaha... no need for formalities, my dear. This is a family dinner, so please feel free to call me Uncle. Your father was one of my closest friends, so we're practically family already."
Feeling a bit more at ease, I looked up at the Duke and noticed that he was dressed quite casually in a simple, tailored doublet and breeches. He appeared approachable and friendly, like a neighbor. However, I wasn't quite sure how to respond to his suggestion, so I simply replied in a mechanical tone,
"Ye...Yes Uncle Daemon"
The Duke then scratched his chin and said, "Let's enjoy our meal first before we get down to business. Ethan won't be able to join us tonight, but he'll be coming back with me to the Black City tomorrow and staying for a month."
Before I could fully process the news about Ethan, the servers arrived with the appetizers. They served a variety of cured meats, pates, and savory tarts on shiny silver platters.
As I slowly and gracefully ate my food, the Duke engaged me in small talk about the Academy and Ethan's experiences there. It was a pleasant conversation, and I found myself enjoying the meal and the company.
Soon, the main dishes arrived, and my eyes widened at the sight of the whole roasted pig, beef, and lamb spitted and cooked over an open flame. The meat was surrounded by seasonal vegetables and served with rich gravies and sauces. I had never experienced such a grand meal before, and I savored every bite.
Noticing my admiration towards the food, the Duke commented in a friendly tone, "Timothy used to have the same look on his face whenever he joined me for lunch. Your father and I used to be close friends, and people used to call me the spoiled son of the Duke. Back in the day...."
As he spoke, the Duke began to share stories about his past, his journey to becoming a Duke, and his relationship with my father. I listened intently, losing track of time as the meal progressed.
Finally, the desserts were brought in, I couldn't help but marvel at the spiced fruit pies, sugared almonds, and candied fruits that resembled some of the rare pokemon berries that I learnt about.
Once the desserts were placed on the table, the Duke clapped twice, and all the servers swiftly exited the room, leaving just the two of us in silence. I looked at him curiously, wondering what was going to happen next.
Noticing my curious expression, the Duke smiled and said, "Don't worry, Arthur. I just don't want anyone overhearing our conversation." He then proceeded to release a Pokemon from his Pokeball.
It was a Slowbro. A bipedal, pink Pokémon with a tan, striped belly and a rounded, tan muzzle. It has large, vacant eyes, curled ears, and two small pointed teeth protruding from its upper jaw.
"Slowbro, make sure the room is absolutely safe to talk to," said the Duke in a very serious tone. His aura changed completely from before.
"Bro ... Slowbro" it said and the eyes glowed with a psychic aura around it.
"Ok, now it's time for some serious talk. Do you know anything about your father's death, Arthur?" he asked in a solemn tone.
"I only know that he died amidst the destruction of Undella town due to the rampage of Tornadus and Thundurus," I replied trying to remember. I did not pretend to be sad because i presume he knows about my memory loss.
"Yes but that's only half the truth. There were seven legendary Pokémon involved in that year's battle. There were several huge wild Pokémon tides all over the Kingdom, many suspect that it started due to the disturbances in the Kingdom of Vale. Some Nobles received information regarding a minor stifle between Zekrom and Reshiram," he said narrating the scenario that happened 7 to 8 years ago.
I was stunned by the information the Duke shared with me. I had heard rumours about the legendary Pokemon, but I had no idea that there were seven of them from the kingdom and two more from the Kingdom of Vale.
My mouth hung open in shock as the Duke continued to speak, "Something caused Tornadus and Thundurus to rage over Landorus. Meloetta tried her best to suppress the fight from affecting Undella Town, but unfortunately, she couldn't completely stop it. Three-fourths of the town was wiped out by the time the Swords of Justice arrived."
As he spoke, he gazed at the depictions on the walls of the room we were in, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of power these legendary Pokemon possessed. The Duke divulged more information and it only got worse.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Half a million people dead...the darkest day of the Kingdom...the town is now a ghost town...it was all too much to process. My heart sank as I listened to the Duke's words, feeling the weight of the tragedy that had occurred.
Even though I had never been to Undella town, I could picture the devastation in my mind. The once-thriving town reduced to a wasteland of death and destruction. It was almost too much to bear.
As the Duke finished his story, he looked directly at me, as if searching for a reaction. I couldn't find the words to respond, but I nodded solemnly, silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
Then the Duke spoke again, his tone serious. "I know what you are thinking, why am I narrating all this right?"
I looked at him, waiting for an answer.
"Arthur," he began, his voice gentle but grave. "Your brother was there when it all happened. He saw the destruction and devastation wrought upon Undella Town, and it was too much for him to bear. He refused to go back there and relive the horrors of that day. I tried to convince him to take up the mantle of Baron, but he wouldn't budge. Did Leon ever tell you what happened?"
I shook my head, feeling a sense of guilt wash over me. I had never asked my brother about the events that led to Undella Town's downfall. In fact, I had avoided the topic altogether, fearing it would bring up painful memories for him.
The Duke continued, "Your father spoke to me the day before he passed. He expressed a deep desire to see the town restored to its former glory, to see the people smiling again, and to find Meloetta, the beloved goddess of Undella Town who disappeared after the tragedy. I know this may not seem like your concern, but Timothy was one of my closest friends. And that's why I have two offers for you."
As he held up two fingers, my heart began to race. What could these offers possibly be? I braced myself for whatever was to come next.
"First, you can graduate with good grades and become Ethan's personal guard in Black City, just like your father did when I was a student. You can work your way up the ranks. Second, after becoming an Elite Trainer, I can recommend you to be the Baron of Undella Town. The King owes a favor to your family for what Timothy did to protect the town, and with my recommendation, your success is guaranteed."
Hearing that I was immediately overwhelmed with the options, mainly the second choice. Before I could speak, the Duke spoke again. "You don't have to decide now. Take your time until you graduate. But if you choose to be the Baron of Undella Town, be aware of the risks. The wild Pokemon tides every year are due to the forces of nature Tornadus and Thundurus. Also, other Barons and Knights in the town may not want a civilian on equal standing with them. Whatever you choose, I'll be there for you. You're the son of my best friend and my son's best friend."
Hearing that, I turned to the Duke and bowed at a 90-degree angle. My respect for him has grown even more. "Thank you, Duke Daemon. I may not have known my father, but your care and empathy towards a mere civilian like me shows he was a great human being. I will think carefully and inform you of my decision," I replied in admiration.
"Let's stop for today. I will be leaving, and the guards outside will take you back to the academy. Take care and train hard for the tournament," he said, patting my back as he recalled his Slowbro, which had stood still the whole time.
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Four Hours later:
"Ahhhhh" I yelled while throwing the pillow down. Everything that happened today is preventing me from sleeping.
Becoming a Baron is not a small deal. I know the Duke wants me to fulfill my father's last wish of seeing a prosperous Undella town. But I know how tough it is because the Undella town which is still a 'Town in name' like the Nuvema Town, doesn't even have a Count ruling over it. Well, they don't have Viscounts too, how bad of a place is it? for so many nobles ignoring it.
Here every town has a Count, two Viscount and 4 Barons ruling it. While the cities are overseen by the Dukes. Undella barely has two Barons currently which means the economy is bad and the population might not even be self-sufficient. Let's not forget about the legendaries in the backyard. (Map in comments for a more clear picture of the situation)
But it's a huge opportunity because it might take at least 10 years for me to become a Baron by accumulating merits. This is a sure shot opportunity that comes with risks.
Undella Town being a remote area of the kingdom also has its advantages, one of which is the opportunity to develop without arousing suspicion or facing any roadblocks from political issues.
[Mr.To be expelled Baron, first think about making it to the top three in the coming tournament, everything comes after that] said Elekid while yawning.
I choked at his words and fired back,
"Tchhh, we are aiming to win it not just the top three. The next three months will be full of training, missions and battles. So you better be prepared from now on."
[Yeah...Yeah, now please switch off the light and sleep.] he said throwing the pillow at my face.
"Fine, Fine!" I sighed shaking my head.
Before I went back to sleep, I mentally noted down my short term goals for the next 4 months. Evolve Gastly, Make sure both Elekid and Gastly enter the Advanced stage, win the tournament and Get a third Pokémon.
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That's the end of the First Arc of the story.
Hope the writing is getting better. I worked a bit more for this chapter than ever, put a lot of thought into it as this is the chapter with many details that will set up the future plot.
Also guys, please support with power stones.