The next day, the Pokémon School officially opened with everyone working together to make it happen.
The scholars sent by the old king served as teachers, responsible for teaching the forty-two eligible children how to read and write.
Geralt, Ryan, and the knights visited the school during their free hours to teach physical training, discipline, and chivalry.
Anna became the Trainer Instructor, teaching Pokémon types, type matchups, moves, abilities, commands, battles, and evolution.
Lucien had stayed up through the night, writing every piece of Pokémon knowledge he could remember onto parchment. At dawn, he handed those makeshift textbooks to Anna for her lessons.
Inside the classroom, rows of children sat upright at their desks, listening carefully.
Outside the windows, younger children who were not yet ten peeked in with their Pokémon companions, their eyes wide with envy.
"Hikaru, do you think we can study here someday?" a little girl whispered.
Before the boy beside her could answer, a cheerful voice sounded behind them.
"Of course you can."
The two turned around and saw Anna walking toward them.
Anna, apprentice to Lord Lucien and the first official Trainer in the entire territory besides him, instantly drew excited shouts from the children.
"Anna-neechan!"
Anna laughed, patting their fluffy heads. "When you turn ten, you can enroll just like Alex and the others. Lord Lucien wants everyone to learn. That means everyone can come to school."
"Anna-neechan, what does 'everyone' mean?" a little boy asked.
"It means rich or poor, noble or former slave, anyone can learn here," Anna said.
"That's amazing!"
Most people in the territory supported the school, but a few considered Lucien's decision outrageous.
For example, several scholars from the royal city.
In the academy office, a stiff-faced white-bearded old man muttered in displeasure, "His Highness is being reckless."
The scholars had assumed Lucien wanted them to teach the children of local nobles.
But today, more than half the students were commoners, and many had once been slaves.
To a man raised in rigid feudal values, this was unacceptable.To him, slaves were born inferior, and allowing them into a place of learning was a disgrace.
Another scholar, a commoner by birth, frowned. "Howard, you can't speak like that. His Highness must have his reasons."
Howard snorted. "Then let His Highness decide."
The group eventually went to Lucien.
After hearing their concerns, Lucien looked at Howard thoughtfully.
"So you believe commoners and former slaves are unqualified to study?"
Howard stiffened his neck and answered without hesitation. "Knowledge is sacred. Those lowborn creatures only defile this place."
Lucien understood immediately. He was not angry. He simply asked, "Do you believe yourself superior to them?"
Howard hesitated, but pride pushed him to nod. "Of course."
"In what way are you superior?" Lucien asked.
Howard opened his mouth, intending to list his advantages.He was born to a baron. He grew up with privileges, attended noble schools, then studied in the Royal Library. Everything he had came from birthright.
But Lucien spoke again, his voice calm.
"Set aside your birth. If you were not a baron's son, how would you be any different from them?"
Howard froze.
"If those same commoners or former slaves had been born into royalty," Lucien continued, "their position would be higher than yours. Wouldn't it?"
Lucien's tone remained gentle, but Howard's back stiffened as if struck.
Lucien's words sent the scholars into deep contemplation.
Howard's face reddened. After a long moment of silence, he snorted softly and turned his head aside, unable to respond.
"You are all humans. In this world, no one is born nobler than another," Lucien said calmly. "Whether commoner or noble, everyone should have the right to receive an education."
He looked directly at Howard.
"You should understand this: it is only because commoners and former slaves exist that nobles can exist. Without them, what difference would there be between you and those above you?"
"The people can carry a boat, and they can also overturn it. For a country, commoners are its foundation."
The room fell silent.
The phrase struck every scholar like a hammer, and each of them began to reflect deeply.
Just then, Elif came hurrying in, unable to contain his excitement.
"Your Highness Lucien, we succeeded! The new type of paper you described has been produced!"
The scholars blinked in confusion.
New paper? What sort of paper, parchment?
Before they could question it, Lucien's expression lit up. He immediately rose to his feet.
"Excellent. Everyone, come take a look."
The scholars were baffled, but followed him and Elif to the edge of the city, where the Royal Workshop stood.
Inside the workshop, craftsmen and Pokémon bustled about energetically.
When Lucien arrived, they eagerly gathered around.
"Your Highness, we finished it! The paper looks beautiful!"
Lucien followed their excited gazes.
Spread out on the tables were sheets of pure, snow-white paper.
The scholars froze. For a heartbeat, they didn't dare believe their eyes.
Paper?
Several scholars stepped forward, almost trembling, and touched the surface.
Smooth. Sturdy. Clean. Far beyond parchment.
"This… Your Highness, what is this?!" one of them asked, barely containing his excitement.
Lucien smiled. "Exactly what you think it is. Well done, all of you. Elif, prepare rewards for the craftsmen and Pokémon."
"Yes, Your Highness," Elif replied warmly.
The craftsmen cheered. Even the Pokémon, sensing the praise, wagged tails, flapped wings, or bounced happily.
The papermaking method Lucien had developed was a blend of ancient human craft and the unique strengths of Pokémon.
Water-type Pokémon softened bark and hemp fiber far faster than human soaking ever could.
Fire-type Pokémon steamed and broke down the materials in moments.
Machoke and Machamp crushed and ground the softened fibers with incredible strength, producing fine pulp in a fraction of the usual time.
With Pokémon assisting each step, a process that once took days could now be completed within hours, rivaling modern-era efficiency.
After the pulp was layered and pressed, Fire-types provided gentle, even heat to dry the sheets.