The King's Summons

The sun was beginning to set as Daniel and Elizabeth made their way back to the cabin, the day's training session coming to an end. They had spent the better part of the day in the new battle arena, practicing moves with Squirtle and working on perfecting Elizabeth's commands. She was a quick learner, eager and determined to make Squirtle stronger while being mindful of her partner's well-being.

As they entered the clearing near the cabin, Daniel slowed his steps. A figure stood by the cabin, casually observing the surroundings. The man was tall and dressed in a simple but neat cloak, his hands clasped behind his back as he examined the structure of the environment.

"Who's that?" Elizabeth asked, her voice dropping to a whisper as she stepped closer to Daniel.

"I'm not sure," Daniel replied, narrowing his eyes. "But we'll find out soon enough."

Daniel stepped forward, keeping his tone calm. "Can I help you?"

The man turned at the sound of Daniel's voice, his face breaking into a polite smile. He nodded once before speaking. "You must be Daniel."

"I am," Daniel confirmed, stopping a few paces away from the stranger. Elizabeth stood close by his side, her eyes fixed on the man. "And you are?"

"I'm a messenger sent from the capital by King Aldric," the man said, his tone formal but not unfriendly. "I've been tasked with delivering a summons to you."

Daniel's brows furrowed slightly. He had expected some kind of contact from the kingdom eventually, but it still caught him off guard. "A summons?"

The man nodded again and reached into his cloak, producing a scroll. "Yes, the King wishes to meet with you in person to discuss the emergence of Pokémon and related matters. He's heard a great deal about you from Captain Valen's report."

Daniel's eyes shifted to the scroll in the man's hands, and after a brief moment of hesitation, he gestured for the messenger to proceed.

The messenger cleared his throat and began to read aloud:

"To Daniel, the Keeper of Pokémon within the forest of Nahir, I, King Aldric of Luthadel, request your presence in my court at the soonest possible time. It is in the interest of the Kingdom to discuss the Pokémon who have appeared in our lands, as well as their impact on the realm. Your cooperation is requested and will be greatly appreciated. Signed, King Aldric."

There was a brief pause after the messenger finished reading, the weight of the words hanging in the air. Daniel crossed his arms, his thoughts consumed him. Meeting a King was not something he had anticipated at this moment in time, but it was clear from the tone of the letter that the King was taking the Pokémon's presence seriously. He was grateful that they were starting to be recognized for the importance they deserve.

Elizabeth tugged gently on Daniel's sleeve, her face displayed clear worry "Are you going to go?"

Daniel remained silent for a moment longer, thinking carefully. A meeting with the King was no small matter, but he knew that refusing the summons would likely cause more problems than it would solve.

Finally, Daniel turned to the messenger. "I'll agree to meet the King, but on one condition—Elizabeth comes with me."

The messenger blinked in surprise, glancing between Daniel and the young girl. He hadn't expected such a request but quickly recovered his composure. "Of course, sir. If that is your condition, I'm sure the King will not object. I've been instructed to ensure your safe passage to the capital, and if the girl accompanies you, then so be it."

Noticing Elizabeth visibly relax, Daniel nodded, satisfied with the response. "Then we'll leave as soon as I've gathered a few things."

The messenger looked relieved that Daniel had agreed so easily. "Thank you, sir. The sooner we set out, the better."

With that, Daniel and Elizabeth hurried into the cabin to prepare for the journey. Daniel packed a few essential items into a leather bag, including some food, water, and a few scrolls for reference. He also made sure to bring along his Pokéballs, unsure if he'd need them but thought that it would be better to be safe than sorry.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, looked around the cabin with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "I've never been to the capital before," she said, her voice soft. "Is it big?"

Daniel smiled, ruffling her hair. "It's bigger than Nahir, that's for sure. There will be a lot to see."

Once they were ready, Daniel led Elizabeth and the messenger back to the edge of the forest, where Corviknight awaited. The bird Pokémon let out a low, approving caw as they approached, its wings spread wide as if anticipating the journey.

"Corviknight will take us to Nahir first," Daniel explained to the messenger. "We'll need to get permission borrow the modified carriage, that way we can get to the capital quickly."

The messenger, clearly impressed by Corviknight, nodded. "Very well. That will save us a great deal of time. It took me three days to travel from the capital to the forest, but with your method of travel, I expect it will take far less."

Once Elizabeth and the messenger were safely seated in the carriage with Daniel, the massive bird took to the skies, its powerful wings carrying them swiftly toward the village of Nahir. Elizabeth clung to Daniel as they flew, her face filled with a mixture of awe and excitement. She had grown comfortable with flight in the carriage, though flying on the back of the bird Pokémon was still difficult for her.

Before long, the familiar rooftops of Nahir came into view, and Corviknight descended into the village square. Daniel quickly stepped out and soon approached the town council, explaining his need for one of the modified carriages to make the journey to the capital.

The town council, grateful for everything Daniel had done, readily agreed to lend him one of the carriages. Several had been made so that multiple trips between the town and forest could be conducted.

Soon, the group was airborne once more, Corviknight easily lifting the carriage into the sky with its talons. The journey to the capital was swift, taking only a few hours by air, in stark contrast to the messenger's three-day trek by horseback. The vast kingdom of Luthadel slowly came into view as the sun began to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the landscape.

Elizabeth, who had never left the town of Nahir before, was absolutely enthralled by the sight of the sprawling kingdom. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she pressed her face to the window of the carriage, taking in every detail. "Look at all the buildings! And the people! There are so many of them!"

Daniel chuckled at her enthusiasm, though he had to admit that even he was fascinated by the grandeur of Luthadel. The kingdom's towering walls, the bustling markets, and the medieval architecture were like something out of a storybook.

Corviknight touched down just outside the kingdom's gates, and Daniel quickly recalled the Pokémon into its Pokéball to avoid causing any unnecessary commotion among the citizens and guards. He had Elizabeth do the same with Squirtle. Though reluctant, she soon agreed.

The messenger, clearly well-known to the guards, had no trouble getting Daniel and Elizabeth through the gates. Once inside the city, the trio made their way through the crowded streets, following the messenger as he led them toward the royal castle.

Elizabeth, still brimming with excitement, couldn't help but pepper Daniel with questions. "How big is the castle? Do you think we'll see a real knight? Oh! Do you think the King likes Pokémon?"

Daniel laughed softly, finding her excitement infectious. "I'm not sure about the King's oppinion on Pokémon, but the castle is one of the largest buildings in the kingdom. We'll see it soon enough."

As they moved through the city, Daniel took in the sights with a mixture of curiosity and appreciation. The medieval scenery was familiar, yet distinctly different from the world he had known in his previous life. The blend of ancient stone buildings and the vibrant energy of the people gave the city a life of its own.

Soon enough, the towering silhouette of the royal castle loomed ahead, its spires reaching into the sky. The messenger led them through the castle's main gates, where they were greeted by royal guards who escorted them toward the throne room.

Elizabeth's excitement was palpable, though Daniel had instructed her to be on her best behavior when they enter the castle. As they approached the throne room doors, her wide eyes turned to Daniel.

"This is really happening," she whispered, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her voice. Daniel smiled, giving her a reassuring nod. "It sure is."

Elizabeth nodded, taking a deep breath as they entered the grand throne room.