Chapter 40

As Takumi disappeared into the breeding room, leaving the Pokémon devices floating in front of them under telekinetic control, the members of the Knights of Favonius exchanged looks of surprise. They hadn't expected the store manager to display such an unusual and mysterious power upon their arrival.

If it had been the Wind element or any other familiar elemental power supporting these devices, they might have assumed the shop had a Vision user. However, the energy supporting these devices was entirely different: transparent, yet dense and solid. It was unlike anything they had encountered before, lacking any elemental color and unconnected to the leyline flow.

"Cresselia?" Jean whispered.

"Is it a name or a spell?" she wondered aloud.

"It should be a name," Lisa speculated, recognizing a faint similarity to the spiritual energy that witches in Sumeru use in their meditation practices. Yet, unlike witch meditation, which connects to the elemental sea and strengthens elemental resonance, this energy felt unique.

Meanwhile, in the back room, Cresselia—playing the role of a nurse—was gently feeding Moo Moo Milk to a drowsy Jirachi. The little Pokémon seemed content, drinking the milk with a look of pure bliss on its soft face. Hearing the guests outside discussing Pokémon, Cresselia shyly tilted her head.

Moments later, Takumi emerged from the breeding room. On his shoulder was Amber's Swablu, and in his arms, he carried a baby Spheal.

Kaeya was quicker than Amber, eagerly snatching his Pokémon from Takumi's arms with a broad smile. "Oh, a little Spheal! It's so adorable!"

Amber took her Swablu with shining eyes. The blue bird, with wings as soft as cotton candy, chirped in delight and fluttered around Amber's head before finally perching on her head, pecking curiously at her red bunny-ear ribbon.

"Your Swablu is hungry," Takumi said, filling two small bowls with Moo Moo Fresh Milk and handing them over. Both Pokémon quickly began drinking eagerly.

"These are two boxes of basic energy cubes," Takumi continued, "a standard provision from our store. And here are Poké Balls—press here to use them," he explained, showing Amber and Kaeya the proper technique.

The two fumbled a bit, but after some guidance, Amber took a commemorative Poké Ball and tossed it at Swablu, gently hitting it on the head. The sleepy bird chirped contentedly before turning into a flash of red light and entering the ball.

Everyone in the Knights stared in awe at the Poké Ball in Amber's hand.

Takumi handed the ball back to her. "Since Swablu already trusts you, the process was easy. But remember, when catching wild Pokémon in the future, you won't have it so easy. Strong or wild Pokémon might struggle to break free, and you'll need to throw accurately."

He then turned to Kaeya, who was ready to practice with his Spheal. With a smile, Takumi faced the rest of the Knights, who had yet to receive their first Pokémon.

"Surprised by the Poké Ball? It's neither magic nor Liyue's adeptal arts."

He chuckled as he explained, "Think of it as technology from Fontaine, but on a scale that's several dimensions higher."

Under Takumi's guidance, Jean, Lisa, Noelle, and Rosaria registered and authenticated their devices. After a few moments of decision-making, each had chosen their initial Pokémon:

Jean received an Eevee.

Lisa got a Squirtle.

Noelle chose an Onix.

Rosaria received a Sneasel .

Takumi evaluated their selections with enthusiasm:

"You four have some of the best Pokémon for potential growth and battle prospects! Lisa's Squirtle, being one of the 'Starter Trio,' has an excellent growth rate and versatile moves," he said with a grin.

Lisa looked up from feeding her Squirtle and gave him a playful smile. "Well, Takumi, it seems I'm lucky with this choice, hmm?"

Takumi nodded. "Captain Jean, your Eevee is exceptional because of its versatility. Eevee has more evolutionary paths than any other Pokémon. It can evolve into forms like Espeon for Psychic abilities, Sylveon for Fairy-type moves, and Umbreon for Dark-type powers, depending on the bond and environment."

Jean held her tiny, fox-like Pokémon, who had dozed off in her arms after drinking its milk. She looked concerned.

Takumi noticed her expression and understood her thoughts. "Eevee is just the start. Later, you might consider adopting a Pokémon that can help with your duties. Some Pokémon can handle errands independently, like finding lost pets, so you won't always have to do everything yourself."

Noelle's choice of Onix also had its advantages. "The benefit of training Onix," Takumi explained, "is that it matures quickly. Though still small, your Onix will grow up to nine meters tall. Cultivating it will give you a Pokémon with high combat potential right from the start!"

Noelle, shocked by the idea of her Onix reaching such a towering height, gasped. "That's as big as some elemental creatures!"

The other Knights were equally astonished. A massive Pokémon like Onix could have an impact simply by its sheer size.

Finally, Takumi turned to Rosaria with a sly smile, assessing the gothic nun's choice. "Sneasel is perfect for someone with your unique skills. As it grows, it will learn techniques that are ideal for stealth and surprise attacks."

With her signature nonchalance, Rosaria merely raised an eyebrow, but there was a glint of interest in her eyes.

After distributing the starter Pokémon and demonstrating some basics, Takumi felt a surge of satisfaction. The Knights of Favonius had not only embraced the world of Pokémon but also its potential benefits for their roles in Mondstadt. Each Pokémon suited the trainer, from Jean's versatile Eevee to Rosaria's stealthy Houndour.

And as the new trainers bonded with their Pokémon, the world of Teyvat grew a little richer with the wonders of these new companions.