Master Craftsman of the Elven World

Chapter 237 Raven's Dazzling Beauty

The next day, Fei Yun Gallery had some new exhibits.

What is particularly eye-catching, and what makes many people stop and linger, is that the empty reserved space next to the original work of the Vulcan Moth by the Artisan Museum owner has finally been filled, but the artist of the new painting is not Artisan.

The artwork, seemingly straight out of a myth, carrying with it the vast yellow sands and the historical atmosphere that transcends time, is framed in the most prominent place in the gallery.

Some of the artists from the United States were also there to watch the exhibition. Because the gallery had acquired many new works, the artists who came to Feiyun to gain inspiration had already arrived. However, they did not expect to see even more stunning new works.

The painter's identity was not revealed, only a strange code name was given, but some artists living in Feiyun had already heard some strange news through their connections. Yesterday, the gym leader of the Yati Gym held a rather special gym battle.

Feiyun Dojo is not only a dojo, but also one of the holy sites of art. This work was indeed transported from Feiyun Dojo, and there was only one challenger yesterday.

"The first Pokémon to spread fire to humans was Flamebug."

"The worship of the sun thus arose."

What profound impact has Pokémon had on human history?

"Although Volcarona is hailed as the sun itself, its larva, Blightbug, is the Pokémon that truly created Unova."

"Human history is the history of Pokémon."

"If we lose Pokémon, what do we have left? It's like abandoning our emotions and soul."

Such remarks circulated among the people, and the artists were in high spirits, vividly expressing their views to the other audience members, each artist focusing on different aspects.

Of course, the philosophical reflections in the work can certainly provoke deep thought and spark discussion and response, but most importantly, the use of color in this work is truly exquisite.

Perfectly natural, as if reaching out would cause ripples and waves to spread across the surface of the painting, drawing the viewer into a distant, ancient world.

"I feel like I've been to such a world before, a world that's all black and white and devoid of color. The only things with color are the people who live in that world, and the buildings are all very empty."

"Haha, that's probably a nightmare you had after your artistic inspiration dried up. Nightmares sometimes happen in Unova too. Do you know a Pokémon called Dream Eater? Although it seems to be rarely seen, its existence is a mystery."

"Ah, it's said that it floats in the air forever, appearing at night beside the pillows of Pokémon and people suffering from nightmares to devour those nightmares. If your dream is eaten by a Dream Eater, you won't remember its contents when you wake up."

"I definitely haven't encountered that, because my memory of that black and white world is very clear. Actually, it didn't seem like a dream."

The artists' discussions revealed some truths about the world, but neither the artists nor certain special viewers hidden in the crowd realized the real point hidden in these words.

A green-haired young man wearing a baseball cap also appeared at the exhibition.

He had previously gone to Raven City and returned to Flying Cloud today. However, upon hearing that the person had not yet left, he decided to visit the Flying Cloud Gallery to clear his mind.

N looked up at the painting by the Burning Insect, gazing at it silently. His eyes were unfocused, and his mind gradually became hazy. The painting seemed to possess a magical power that could transcend time, and some faint echoes rippled in his ears, captivating him, yet he did not know where those sounds came from.

The scene depicted in the painting captivated N's heart.

The original Pokémon ignited the flames for humanity. People cooperated with the Flamebugs to build the oldest and largest city on the Unova continent, which was also the most prosperous place. History was born, and civilization and culture began to spread.

Legends are often unfounded, but the ruins of the ancient city have indeed been unearthed, pushing back the history of Unova thousands of years. According to the research records of the Shippo Museum, the ancient city was said to have been thriving until 2500 years ago.

"Yes. Pokémon can abandon humans, but humans cannot live without Pokémon. Very few people know this. But what is this artwork trying to convey to everyone?"

"Is this a rebuttal to the concept of plasma clusters, or a retaliation against my personal actions?"

"But the past world depicted in the painting is really beautiful. There weren't so many humans harming Pokémon. However, if time had continued to move forward, humans would have started using Pokémon for war, which is recorded in history."

“Exhibiting this painting is the right thing to do. More people will realize the relationship between humans and Pokémon from the artwork, and perhaps the relationship between humans and Pokémon will be improved as a result. Unfortunately, those who do evil will not come to see this artwork.”

"It emphasizes the history created by the mutual support between humans and Pokémon."

N suddenly became dazed.

He suddenly remembered his carefree childhood spent with Pokémon. Before being "adopted" by Ghettoss, Darmanitan, Bumblebee, and Zoroar were the Pokémon that accompanied him.

That time has become distant. Ever since being adopted and living in that magnificent underground castle, all I can hear are the painful cries of Pokémon. The hatred and pain of my friends who were hurt by humans filled my heart, causing my earliest memories to gradually fade and disappear.

And now, for some reason, they have reappeared, and become extremely clear!

Ah! Yes, humans and Pokémon support each other, and promoting this idea is the right thing to do!
It's not simply about separating people and Pokémon who understand each other; if either side is lost, the rest of history will collapse, and it will no longer be the history that people know and want to continue living for.
I also had a childhood where I supported and accompanied Pokémon. Even living in the forest and in nature, I felt that the future was bright.

I used to be so curious about what the outside world was like.

But later, all I felt was hatred and malice.

N suddenly pulled down his hat brim, his breathing becoming rapid. The artists and tourists around him, lost in their own memories, noticed the change in N's condition and asked him with concern if he was alright and if he needed to go to the Pokémon Center's medical station to rest.

Even the other Pokémon in the art exhibition, alongside the visitors, felt the same way. They sensed a strange feeling from N, as if he were half a kindred spirit. This innate sense of closeness made a good first impression on the Pokémon, so they paid more attention to him.

"Thank you, I'm fine."

N touched the hat of a tutu dog, apologized to the art master beside him, saying that he had just been thinking about some exciting things. Then his breathing gradually calmed down. After taking one last look at the painting, N went to another "new work".

These two works, along with the painting "The First Flame," are from the same artist.

N, however, was still thinking about his earlier lapse in composure. He was somewhat lost in thought, and even unconsciously began to shed tears. Those around him thought he was overwhelmed with emotion by the art.

"Strange, for whom am I shedding tears? No Pokémon were harmed, the people here are peaceful and friendly, the Pokémon's voices sound happy, and I'm just recalling some strange childhood memories."

"Why do I want to cry? Why? Is this a new equation? I don't understand."

Although N was unconsciously shedding tears, his expression was full of confusion. He wiped away his tears and began to seriously look at the other exhibited works.

One of them is a statue, and like the painting, it exudes an ancient aura. Although it is clearly marked as an antique reproduction, it seems as if this sculpture has truly lived through a bizarre and fantastical era.

Title: Hero and Confession.

This is a key attraction for N; however, the hero on this is not the Black and White Prince from the legend of the founding of the United States, and has nothing to do with reality or ideals, but they are still two different characters.

This story depicts two people from the distant Sinnoh region, one of whom is marked as an ancient hero of Sinnoh, while the other is marked as the original penitent who lost his history.

A typical sculptor would probably see these two figures as different facets of the same person, which is a common technique in artistic creation. But N doesn't think so.

This is mainly because the work emphasizes that these are two characters who were born in different eras, did opposite things, left behind different legends, and extended completely contradictory histories.

"Once upon a time, there was a hero. He led ten Pokémon to challenge Sinnoh. In that great battle, humanity proved its strength. Sinnoh recognized humanity's strength and returned to a world that did not belong to humans."

"The Confessor Behind the Curtain"

"Oh! You're curious about this work, aren't you!" Aya suddenly appeared next to N. "If you don't mind, let me explain to you what this sculpture is depicting!"

"This is ancient history from the distant Sinnoh region, which I learned from the creator. It is said to be a little-known legend in Sinnoh because this history was almost lost, as was the hero."

"The sculptor said that this sculpture represents the history of choices. If people are confused or making choices, viewing the sculpture can help them temporarily break free from their preconceived notions and observe themselves and the world from a new perspective."

"It sounds unbelievable, and I don't know if it's true or not, but when I look at the sculpture, I can definitely feel a magical, invisible force, or maybe it's just my imagination."

N looked at Aya with curiosity. It was only natural that Aya didn't recognize him. As the leader of Team Plasma, she couldn't possibly swagger around and make headlines everywhere. She only spoke to Lightmoy after Officer Jenny had finished dealing with her business.

N: "I'm really curious, have the stories of heroes been lost as well?"

Yati: "Yes, and in this sculpture, the hero on the left stands with his sword in its sheath raised, making a challenging gesture, with the phantoms of Pokémon around him, while the penitent on the right is kneeling on one knee with a broken sword stuck in the soil in front of him, like a loser, with nothing around him."

"This is a large, asymmetrical statue."

"It is said that the figure on the right is a mythical character from Veilstone City in the Sinnoh region, a person who is almost lost in history and whose name has not been left behind."

"In a time long ago, even older than the hero on the left, there was a young man who obtained a sword. He used that sword to hunt Pokémon indiscriminately for food."

"Anything he couldn't finish was simply thrown away. After a year, he could no longer catch any food. The Pokémon completely disappeared."

"After a long and arduous journey, this young man finally found the Pokémon." "He then asked: 'Why have you stopped appearing?'"

The Pokémon replied quietly: You once wielded your blades and harmed my companions. So we will also harm your companions with our sharp teeth and claws.

"Don't blame us, we had no choice but to do this to protect our comrades."

“The young man roared: Since I got this sword, I have forgotten that you are also living beings.”

“I swear I will never do such barbaric things again, and this sword will be useless forever. So I beg for your forgiveness.”

"The young man threw the sword to the ground, and the blade broke in two. The Pokémon saw this and vanished without a trace."

N was slightly moved after listening to this.

The person who harmed Pokémon, though from a distant ancient time, is still unforgivable. However, this person has taken the initiative to acknowledge their mistake. The sword is not just a sword, but a symbol of harm in mythology.

However, Pokémon did not forgive him in the end, so
Yati: "If humans and Pokémon are enemies, they will only hurt each other. But if they support each other, not only will history be born, but even the gods in mythology can be defeated. Although I don't know what the word 'Sinnoh' in the Sinnoh region means, the creator told me that it is the code name of a god."

N: "The Pokémon known as God, the legendary dragon that founded the nation, also has a similar title."

Yati chuckled: "Yes, perhaps it really is a Pokémon, or it may be some kind of spiritual totem established by the people of the ancient Sinnoh region, just like our Unova's worship of Burning Bug, the sun, and dragons."

"Long afterward, the hero on the left appeared. Just as I said at the beginning, he challenged the god called Sinnoh. From then on, humans and Pokémon understood each other again, past mistakes were made up for, lost history turned to dust, and a new era began."

N understood the meaning expressed by the statue, which had already been explained in detail by the curator of the Artisan Museum.

This is also a Team Plasma statue, and it draws on myths from other regions, featuring two different ancient figures representing the progression of history and the changing relationship between humans and Pokémon.

"I've heard," the Gym Leader of the Artisan Gym also stared intently at the statue, "that the languages ​​of Sinnoh, Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn all evolved from the sounds of Pokémon."

N gradually opened his eyes wider.

Yati scratched his face and said, "To be honest, I also find it incredible, but the creator told me that the region has already done research on this and made some results, and he showed me some answers."

"Pokémon can understand human language, but humans cannot understand Pokémon's words. The earliest writing was created by imitating the image of a certain Pokémon. Words were formed by combining the sounds of Pokémon with those images, thus enabling people to begin communicating with each other."

"The answer is that it's not that Pokémon understand human language, but rather that human language itself originates from them."

"Well, the creator also said he saw a cat that could talk. To be honest, I think that's just a fantasy, but I believe him unconditionally. I think that cat might really exist."

"A Meowth that can speak human language might become a major research topic and issue in academia, or even a philosophical proposition. But if you think about it carefully, some Pokémon can communicate with us telepathically, doesn't that also mean they can actually learn our language?"

"Moreover, they learn very quickly."

"Ah! My apologies! What I'm trying to say is that humans and Pokémon are inextricably linked. From the moment we were born, we have been of one mind and one body. To harm a Pokémon is to harm ourselves. That's the message this statue is trying to convey. From writing to civilization, from the past to the future."

"In our Union, the script may be slightly different from that of other regions, but the overall historical development should be similar."

N nodded, gazing intently at the statue. After Yati's explanation, he unexpectedly discovered that he had a deeper, more subtle yet incredibly real feeling about the statue.

Then, childhood memories flashed back into N's mind, this time contrasted with some strange things her adoptive father, Quixote, had said, which raised many questions in N's mind.

These questions will turn into unsolvable equations.

"Oh, how amazing! This is the first time I've ever seen clothing like this."

Ayti heard a familiar voice and turned his head.
"Oh! You've come! You came so fast!"

Aydi was very surprised because the person appearing among the visitors in the exhibition area was... Although she had disguised herself with simple clothing to prevent those around her from recognizing her true face, how could Aydi not recognize her!
This is my colleague, and she's the gym leader from the big city next door, Kiku!
The dazzling beauty of Raven City, a world-famous teenage model!

She is both a dojo owner and a fashion model and idol. She is especially popular among young women. Advertisements featuring her as a model adorn various parts of the city, and she appears on television every day. However, in reality, she is a shy girl who is not good at expressing her will or interacting with others.

To release the pressure she had been accumulating, she chose to battle in Pokémon, which gave her the power to become a Gym Leader. In fact, she also has a hobby of collecting electronic and plush toys.

Xiao Ju'er's arrival was at Ya Di's request!

"Of course, as a model, I also pay close attention to observation. I always keep an eye on the latest clothing and styles so as not to miss the fashion trend. If the gallery in Feiyun City has a new exhibition with special exhibits, or if it is an exhibit that you recommended, I must come over."

“But this isn’t a vacation; I need to get back to Raven City before tonight.”

Yati is not only a well-known artist in the United States, but he is also a fashion designer.

Yati's signature Pokémon, Bug-Bug and Babysitter, are beloved by fashion designers as mascots because they make clothes from leaves. For Yati, they are also helpful assistants in his work.

And where did those designed clothes end up? Of course, they were worn by Little Chrysanthemum in Raven City!
The young girl, wearing a trench coat, a wide-brimmed hat, and a mask, looked at the unusual attire in front of her, while also glancing at N, who was deep in thought beside her.

This person's charisma stands out even in a crowd; he's like a crane among chickens. Is that why Yati noticed him?
It does indeed exude a sense of compassion and empathy, but after seeing the sculpture, this quality seems to have subsided somewhat.

"You seem to have been here for quite a while!"

Yati suddenly realized that the beautiful girl in front of him probably hadn't just arrived.

Xiaoju'er: "I also want to see other art exhibits. Since you were explaining things to the guests, I didn't want to disturb you."

So, what is the design concept behind this garment?

Adi: "A dragon. A garment made using the fantastical fabric 'Dragon Cloth'."

"According to the creator, people who view this costume display may rediscover previously abandoned beliefs."

"This outfit is based on the two dragons from the legend of the founding of the Unova Kingdom. To be honest, I was quite surprised when I saw it. It seems to increase the bond with Pokémon and convey feelings?"

Yati's words made N, who was deep in thought, look up.

Xiaoju'er: "It looks somewhat like the design style of that Carlos designer, Ma Xiu. It's not a completely modern urban trend style, but rather a bit retro."

"The name of this outfit is EX·Black and White Intertwined".

Carlos's Miss Ma Xiu's clothing designs are highly regarded in the modeling world. The young girl is already a celebrity in the fashion industry despite her young age. However, because her design style is slightly different from that of the United States, and the United States is far away from Carlos, although they had close exchanges in the past, they have not been frequent in recent years. Therefore, Xiaoju has never met the girl named Ma Xiu.

But I buy every issue of magazines and such.

Yati: "For the bright and vibrant city of Raven, clothing designed based on history might be a bit too heavy."

Xiao Ju'er silently gazed at the exhibit, a smile gradually curving her lips:

"No, I'm very interested in trying it on, so, Artie, has your babysitter made a 'replica' of this dress yet?"

"There's a fashion show going on right now. It's pretty good. I feel like it's going to become a new fashion trend."

"How about you introduce me to that artist later? Oh, speaking of which, the newly appointed Superpower King recently gave me something nice. Can you feel how cheerful I am? Hmm, those unstable factors have been eliminated."

"It's a very strange big-headed doll. Although it's a bit funny, it's quite cute after looking at it for a while."

Yati: "That's indeed a bit unfortunate. He has some things to attend to and has temporarily left Feiyun City. We'll see next time we meet."

While the two were not paying attention, N quietly left.

Raven. Team Plasma's next promotional location is Raven. Although it's an entertainment city, it has facilities for crazy battles like the Battle Metro, constantly damaging Pokémon.

However, the goal of this event is just routine publicity. With the experience of failure in Flying Cloud City, we need to be a little more careful with the publicity in Raven City, Sail City, and Blowing City. Therefore, it would be best to let Sage Rhodes do this, as his persuasive power is the highest.

“I want to go play Metro,” N muttered to himself.

It's not that we're going to destroy the battle subway; Team Plasma can't do anything that causes widespread destruction right now.

N just suddenly decided to go and take a look, just to see and hear the voices of the Pokémon there.

(End of this chapter)