Chapter 41: The Girl Who Worships the Queen of Ancient Pass

"Nice to meet you, I'm Summer, and this is Thwackey."

Summer introduced himself, knowing that residents of the Hisui region were wary of outsiders. Making a good first impression was crucial.

"Thwackey... That's a Pokémon I've never heard of. You must be a traveler from another region," Arezu said, carefully pronouncing Thwackey's name.

Brushing the dirt off her pants, Arezu looked curiously at Summer's clothes.

"Your clothing style is unfamiliar too. Wait, I still have important things to do. Ah, and a thank-you gift, a thank-you gift."

Arezu rummaged through her pouch, searching for something valuable to give as thanks for her rescue.

"No need for a thank-you gift," Summer waved his hand, pointing to the sun about to dip below the horizon. "And it's getting dark. Do you really plan to go now? It's much more dangerous at night."

"But if I don't hurry, it will be too late," Arezu insisted stubbornly.

"What good will it do if you collapse?"

"I…" Arezu recalled her earlier embarrassing situation and reluctantly closed her mouth.

"So, why not rest in a safe place until morning?"

"All right…"

Summer led Arezu back to the campfire. After checking the fire, he said:

"Arezu, Thwackey and I will gather some dry branches. You can rest here."

"I want to help too. I'm not injured; I can contribute," Arezu said, patting her arm.

"Fine, Arezu, you can gather nearby. I've already checked the Pokémon around here; it's not very dangerous."

Receiving confirmation, Arezu smiled and eagerly collected dry branches, ending up with a pile big enough to keep the fire burning until morning.

"So, the Diamond Clan believes that the great Sinnoh deity who created the Hisui region controls time," Summer said as he added branches to the fire.

"Of course, time is the most important. But now I'm just wasting time," Arezu said proudly at first, but then her voice dropped.

"This is called managing time wisely. Even the great Sinnoh deity would agree."

"Hehe, if Adaman heard you, he'd argue. He hates waiting," Arezu paused before continuing, "He became a clan leader at a young age, so I've always wondered if I could become a warden."

"But now I see I was being unrealistic." Arezu looked downcast.

"Warden?" Summer remembered that Arezu indeed became a warden later, responsible for caring for the noble Pokémon, Lilligant.

"It's understandable that you don't know since you're from another region. Wardens take care of the noble Pokémon, the most revered beings in the Hisui region, messengers of the great Sinnoh deity."

"And I want to become the warden for the noble Lilligant. The moment I saw her, I had that desire." Arezu's bright red eyes sparkled.

"Her noble and enchanting appearance, graceful dancing, and inspiring fragrance—that's true beauty."

"Since then, I've pursued beauty: clothes, accessories, makeup, and finally, hairdressing!"

"That last one's quite a leap," Summer teased.

Arezu laughed and said, "Hehe, my friends say the same. I realized Lilligant needs nothing else; she's the embodiment of beauty."

"So I learned hairdressing to better care for her. She only needs simple trimming."

"Don't think I took it lightly. My skills are recognized by everyone." Arezu proudly showed a pair of scissors from her pouch.

In the firelight, the scissors gleamed, well-maintained yet showing signs of frequent use. Who knows how many times these scissors had snipped in Arezu's hands?

"So the urgent matter you need to attend to is related to being a warden?" Summer asked.

"Yes, the current warden of Lilligant is stepping down. If I miss this chance, who knows when the next selection will be."

"We regularly offer tributes at the noble Pokémon's shrine and hold festivals to express our gratitude. The next festival will decide the new warden. Whoever presents the most beloved tribute to Lilligant will become the new warden."

Thinking about how the calming talisman used to subdue frenzied nobles was made from things they liked, Summer asked:

"Arezu, are you looking for the best possible tribute?"

Confidently, Arezu replied, "I'm not just aiming for quality, but also quantity. The previous warden told me Lilligant's three favorite flowers."

"The Misty Flowers from Cloudpool Ridge, the Silverglow Flowers from Obsidian Fieldlands, and the Dewdrop Flowers from Shrouded Ruins."

"I need to get each one, and I'll pick the best of each. Look!" Arezu opened a finely crafted sachet from her pouch, revealing three white flowers emitting a faint fragrance.

The petals were thin as a cicada's wings, giving a dreamlike feeling, hence their name.

"Hehe, they smell nice, don't they? I carefully selected them," Arezu said, but then her expression turned gloomy. "But I'm not confident about the other two flowers now. You saw how I was during the day."

"I'll help you."

"I was just venting. You don't need to pity me. Besides, becoming a warden requires personal effort. It's not right to rely on others."

"It's okay to lean on others occasionally."

"But we just met. Why would you help me?" Arezu asked, puzzled.

"Maybe because I like to help those who work hard. I can't help it but want to assist them."

Hmm, like someone radiating a dazzling light.

"I believe you can take good care of Lilligant, so I want to help you."

"You seem more confident than me."

"Because time will prove everything."

"Summer, you'd get along well with Adaman." Arezu's mood lifted, her tone becoming lively.

"Yeah, we're partners now." Arezu extended her fist, and Summer met it with his.

Outsiders can be good people too. I'm glad the Pearl Clan didn't meet Summer first.

Meanwhile, Thwackey had become friends with Petilil and was now performing an impromptu concert for its new friend.

"Hmm, I'm too excited to sleep. Summer, how about a nighttime discussion?"

"No, it's already late. Let's sleep. We'll need the energy tomorrow." Summer handed Arezu a blanket.

"I understand~"

(End of Chapter)