NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Sheltered Existence
Chapter 36: Sheltered Existence
Three days had passed since Victor left kirmira City.
On the second day of his journey, it began to drizzle. Although the rain was light, two days of continuous rainfall made the river swell, its currents rushing turbulently. The rain also slowed Victor's progress significantly.
The plains offered little shelter, forcing Victor to improvise. Perched on his shoulder, Carbink used its rock-type energy to craft a thin slab of rock that shielded Victor and itself from the rain.
"Click, click…" Victor ran quickly, caring little about his now-muddy white sneakers and pants.
Along the way, he spotted wild Pokémon huddled together under trees, seeking warmth from the damp chill.
Seeking drier ground, Victor headed toward the nearby mountains. If he could find a suitable spot, Carbink could use its abilities to create a more stable shelter. With luck, he'd also be able to light a fire and stave off the cold.
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Eventually, after his shoes and pants were thoroughly soaked and covered in mud, Victor stumbled upon a large, naturally formed cave.
He didn't rush in immediately, instead extending his Aura Vision to check for signs of wild Pokémon. To his surprise, the cave was empty—no traces of recent activity.
The interior was spacious and flat, but what caught his attention was a medium-sized pool at the cave's deepest point. Its water was crystal clear but seemingly bottomless, as if connected to an underground spring or river.
"Good enough," Victor muttered, relieved.
Carbink hopped down from his shoulder as Victor entered the cave. Once inside, he released TORRACAT from its Poké Ball.
"torra!" TORRACAT chirped happily, shaking itself dry.
Carbink dismissed its makeshift rock umbrella with a small hop. As a rock-type Pokémon, it wasn't particularly fond of the water outside and seemed glad to be somewhere dry.
Victor quickly got to work. He pulled out a bundle of firewood from his spatial backpack and arranged it neatly. "torracat, use Ember to light it up."
A spark leaped from TORRACAT's mouth, and the firewood caught flame with a satisfying crackle.
The trio gathered around the campfire, basking in its warmth. The glow painted their faces with comfort as they relaxed.
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After a brief rest, Victor had Carbink construct a simple rock bathtub with a smooth interior. He boiled water in a pot and poured it into the tub, creating a hot bath to wash away the grime from his journey.
After soaking in the warmth, he cleaned his clothes and shoes, hanging them on the stone walls to dry. Sitting by the campfire in clean, dry clothes, Victor sighed contentedly.
"This cave is a lucky find," he murmured. "If it weren't for the rain, we'd still be out there getting soaked."
Victor's thoughts drifted to the future. "Maybe I should catch a water-type Pokémon… Having access to clean water anytime would make things easier."
For now, though, he set the idea aside. He climbed into his sleeping bag, the campfire's warmth lulling him into a deep sleep.
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Victor wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep when something prodded him awake. Blinking groggily, he opened his eyes and found himself staring into a pair of dull, unblinking fish eyes.
"...What?" Victor muttered, startled.
The creature before him was a Feebas, its gaze inscrutable. Beside Victor, TORRACAT stopped mid-pawing at the ground and meowed softly to get his attention.
"Torra…" TORRACAT gestured toward the pool.
Carbink chimed in with its soft voice, explaining, "Feebas suddenly emerged from the water, so we woke you up."
Victor studied the Pokémon closely. Feebas was known for its unassuming appearance, but something about this one felt different. Its scales were clean and its movements deliberate, betraying a level of care unusual for its species.
Curious, Victor used his Pokédex to scan the Feebas.
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Pokémon Data
Species: Feebas
Type: Water
Gender: ♀
Ability: Adaptability
Level: 23
Item: None
Moves: Splash, Tackle, Mirror Coat, Icy Wind, Water Pulse, Dragon Pulse
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Victor's eyes widened at the data. Most Feebas struggled to learn powerful moves until they evolved into Milotic, but this one already knew Dragon Pulse and Icy Wind—highly unusual for a wild Feebas.
Through his aura abilities, Victor reached out to communicate. "Why are you here?"
Feebas's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and defensive. (This is my home. Why wouldn't I be here?)
Victor raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I see. I'm sorry for intruding. We're just taking shelter from the rain. We'll leave as soon as it clears."
Feebas tilted its head, its dull gaze unchanging. (Hmph. Fine. Just clean up before you leave. My brothers and sisters are particular about cleanliness.)
"Brothers and sisters?" Victor asked, intrigued. "Are they other Feebas or Milotic?"
Feebas shook its head. (No, they're not the same species as me. I was adopted.)
Victor pressed for details, but Feebas refused to elaborate.
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By the time the rain stopped, Victor had packed up and cleaned the cave as Feebas had requested. Before leaving, he approached the Pokémon with a small gift—a handful of energy cubes.
"Here, as an apology for intruding on your home," he said.
Feebas accepted the cubes with an air of aloofness but couldn't hide the delight in its voice as it tasted them. (These are… delicious!)
The warm sunlight began to filter into the cave. Victor, TORRACAT, and Carbink prepared to leave.
"Goodbye," Victor called as they stepped out.
Feebas lingered by the pool's edge, watching them go. (Bye-bye. My brothers and sisters haven't returned in days, so I need to go find them too.)
Victor paused, curiosity flickering in his mind, but decided not to pry further. The wilderness awaited, and his journey was far from over.