6 - Home
While the land I owned seemed to be barren farmland, it was anything but empty of life.
Small weeds, grasses, and bushes grew sporadically, with small wren-like birds flying between them and making pretty sounds as they snatched up insects.
I was tempted to walk directly down to the beach and make my way along it, but I had a better view of my lands from between the shoreline and the forest, and there was yet plenty of time in the day.
There were a few spindly trees that looked half-dead—the kind that even a cyclone had no chance of uprooting—growing from the sandy soil around me as I walked. Other than those few, there were no trees until the forest a-few-hundred meters to the west.
George said that my land stretched back a kilometer—meaning vast swaths of that forest are mine.
I smiled in delight.
It didn't take me long to walk all the way to the river-mouth, excited as I was.
As I arrived, I saw the familiar bushes bearing blackberries that had been my fuel and savior in the forest. In all likelihood, the same creek that had wet my thirst flowed down and into the very river before me.
I took a moment to thank the land for everything it provided so far—if not for the berries, and especially the water, I may never have made it to Tropica.
There would be no shortage of wood for construction or fire, as along the banks of the river, entire trees and branches lay felled, washed up by flooding in the recent past.
I peeled the bark off one such tree, seeing the wood firm and unrotten beneath.
There were also some of the spindly trees still thriving in their spots on the bank, their great roots reaching deep enough that they weren't washed away by raised water levels.
I walked over to one of the berry bushes and bent down, taking my time to inspect and make sure it was the exact same plant I knew to be safe.
Satisfied, I indulged in the sweet berries.
I walked down to the water and cocked my head to the side as I stared at the river in confusion. I'd expected the waters to be muddy and brown, as most rivers are, but it was almost crystal clear. The floor of the river was covered with small stones, and it was shallower than initially expected, but still too deep to cross by foot.
Scooping up some of the water, and having started a small campfire, I started the purification process. As it boiled, I contemplated my options.
If I was being honest with myself, I felt paralyzed by choice. There was so much I wanted to do, all of which would take me in drastically different directions. As much as I wanted to get cracking on my fishing destiny, there were some things I had to sort out first.
Water and food were still taken care of, if a little crudely, but I'd be able to develop something more long-term later.
I slapped my face, forcing myself to make a decision and end the paralysis.
I would find somewhere flat to establish a shelter in the short-term, and a home in the long-term.
The best thing to do would be to find a high vantage point, and to look out over the land. I turned to the headland, which was only one-hundred meters from my current position. The rock formation there was easily thirty meters tall, and twice that in length.
A perfect position to scout the area from.
As I walked towards the stones, a wind rushing in from the coast buffeted me. I wasn't sure if it was the excitement of the day, but I felt stronger—my legs were filled with energy, like I could go on forever.
It was as though my body had somehow grown more resilient; as if something powered my stride. The gale-force wind would have threatened to knock me over on Earth, but I now strode through it with ease.
When I got to the rocks, I looked for a place to climb, but found something even more interesting.
There was a cavernous gap between the colossal boulders, shielded from the coastal winds by the natural stone formation. The space was flat and stood at least five meters above sea-level. I knelt down and ran my hand through the earth. It was soft and pliable, meaning I could install the most vital things for any home, fantasy world or not—plumbing.
With that, I knew I'd found the place to construct my temporary shelter, and eventually, my home.
I walked around the space, picturing how I'd one day lay out the permanent build.
Four bedrooms—enough for friends to stay over, and maybe even a family one day; two bathrooms, both with a shower, toilets, and all the necessary plumbing required; a large kitchen with every pot and pan one could desire; and an even larger entertaining area outside, kitted with accompanying barbecue, a sink big enough to scale and fillet fish, and a large wooden deck for entertaining.
Bending down, I put my hand against the cool earth where I pictured the entrance of the house would go.
There was a tug at my hip.
Shooting to my feet, I spun, suspecting that someone had grabbed the leather pouch, but no one was there.
I put my hand in the pouch and found it empty; the remaining coins that should be there were gone.
My head spun, and the world itself seemed to shake.
My legs failed me, and as the ground rushed up to meet me, I blacked out.
***
I woke to a blinding light blasting into my eyes.
Blinking, I tried to look around, but the light was overwhelming to my addled mind.
Something firm and cold was beneath me, and I felt it with my hands as I gingerly got to my feet.
My vision cleared, and I seemed to be inside of some sort of building. It was made of light textured wood, with a great glass window that let in the blinding sunlight.
What… what happened? Was it a dream, after all?
I turned from the sun, deciding to explore the building I now found myself in.
I fumbled to a door, and grabbing the metal handle, I opened it. Stepping through the doorway, my eyes cleared in the reduced light. I saw something that both confused and amazed me.
A bed sat before me.
It was made of sturdy lacquered wood, covered in plush bedding, sheets, and pillows, and adorned by a beautifully carved headboard. It wasn't just any bed, but the bed I'd been picturing in my head as the one I would furnish my forever-home with.
Where I'd pictured an en-suite, there was a door.
I opened it to find a shower, sink, giant bathtub, and blessedly, a toilet. Absentmindedly, I walked over and flushed the toilet. It worked, and the water drained away, replaced with more of the clear liquid. I checked the sink and shower, both of which ran clear. The water in the sink smelled fine, and with no small amount of trepidation, I tasted some—it was fresh and clean. I knew there was a slight chance it contained hazardous microbes, but because there were other humans close-by should I fall ill, or because my senses still hadn't completely returned, I chose to risk it.
As I walked out of the bedroom and back into the room I'd awoken in, the view took my breath away.
My eyes had adjusted, and through a great glass window, the setting sun reflected off the waters of the river. The familiar headland, the same river-mouth, and the far-off mountains were all there.
I checked the rest of the house quickly, all but running as I confirming all the details I'd pictured. Three spare bedrooms, a communal bath, shower, a toilet, and a large kitchen with an attached dining area. The bathroom and kitchen were both less ostentatious than I'd pictured, which I supposed was because of some sort of limitation by the System, or because I didn't have any more currency to offer.
The difference in the kitchen was most notable, as it lacked an oven or stove of any kind. It was still lavish and looked more at home in a restaurant than a house. The entire thing was covered in stainless steel, with pots, pans, and utensils of every shape and size littered throughout, all organized meticulously on shelves and hooks.
There was a dining area attached with a large hardwood table within that was big enough to accommodate all ten of the seats tucked into it.
I stepped past the table, towards double-doors that led outside. I held my breath as I opened them, hoping against hope that what I'd pictured outside had made it into the build—but it wasn't meant to be.
My pride, my joy, my ray of hope in the dark night was most definitely not there—there was no barbecue.
I found myself on a large wooden deck.
It would be the perfect place for a barbecue, I reflected, protected from the wind as it was, but I guessed I'd just have to go about crafting my own in good time.
"Cooking by campfire it is, then—if I catch any fish, that is."
I laughed to myself as I realized I was complaining at not receiving a barbecue, when a house had just appeared from thin air.
Walking on the deck around to the front of the house, the view was stunning.
The sun still played off the water, and the fading light cast an ethereal tint over the land.
It was untouched by civilization; the view from my home showed none of the town, hidden as it was by the rock formation. All I saw was a river, ocean, sand, vegetation, mountains, and a beautiful sky painted pink by fading sunlight.
A wind picked up, and the air was cool as the warmth of the day fled alongside the sun. The breeze swirled around me, most of its force robbed by the relative shelter the house occupied. The moving air tickled the back of my neck as I watched the last vestige of sunlight disappear over the mountains to the west.
There was a small table with four chairs beside the front door, and I sat in one of them, not knowing what else to do. Remembering what happened earlier, I felt for the pouch at my side. It was still there, but as I'd suspected, was empty of the gold coins.
This world, this System… it had taken all twenty-four of my coins, and had built me a home.
As if to taunt me, I received an infuriatingly familiar prompt.
[Error: Insufficient power. Superfluous systems offline.]
"Well, I guess that means I won't have to make a shelter for the night…"
On the bank of the river just before my new home, there was a large swath of the berry-laden bushes, filled to the brim with the sugary snacks. They seemed to call to me, and I went.
I inspected them, and sure enough, they were safe. I ate some, only now realizing just how hungry I'd become. Collecting some more for later in my stone bowl, I turned to look at my house. From down on the river bank, it looked almost… quaint. The visible surface peeking from between sheets of rock hid the depth and size of the dwelling.
Is buildings springing up from nowhere a normal feature of this world?
I somehow doubted it, given the materials and rather crude method with which the houses of the village were constructed. What would the villagers think if they came over and saw a house, where the day before there'd been nothing?
They'd probably burn me alive, like so many witches before me.
A smile crept onto my face.
This world was strange, confusing, and alien, but oh so exciting.
I had no local currency, but I had access to food, water, shelter, and endless possibilities.
I stood up on shaky legs.
As it turned out, trading a handful of gold for an instant-build house was rather exhausting. I ambled back to the master bedroom, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.
7 - The Cult of Carcinization
The next morning, I set off toward the village for two reasons.
First and foremost, I didn't want anyone to discover the house, especially only a day after it constructed itself out of nothing. The longer I could stall, the more feasible it would be that I built it up over time.
Second, I wanted more information.
As much as I wanted to throw myself into fishing—and fixate on it entirely—there would be no point if a lack of preparation caused my untimely death by whatever this world did to witches, practitioners of the dark-arts, and other such evil-doers.
The first person I ran into was Barry, who was also up in the pre-dawn light. The farmer was all smiles, and it put my somewhat troubled mind at ease.
Beside Barry stood a young boy of perhaps seven years old. He stood tall for someone his age, seeming to radiate the surety that comes from a young man standing beside his father.
"Good morning, Fischer," Barry said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Morning, mate." I gestured at the young man. "This one yours?"
Barry smiled in delight, answering the question before he even spoke.
"Aye, this is my son, Paul. Say hello, lad."
"H-Hello," Paul said, the previous confidence falling apart at having to talk to a stranger.
"Nice to meet you, mate. I was wondering how your dad managed all these fields, but seeing those brawny arms of yours, now I know!"
Paul smiled and puffed out his chest, and Barry laughed.
"It's your first morning here, isn't it, Fischer?"
"It is. Why's that?"
"Well, it's a tradition in our family to watch the sunrise from the beach. Would you care to join us?"
While that sounded amazing, I didn't want to miss the lord coming to find me for fear the man would seek me out and discover the house.
"I'd love to, mate, but George might come looking for me about the deed to my land, and I don't want to miss him."
"You talk funny," Paul said, looking at me with squinted eyes.
I laughed, unable to hold my mirth in.
Barry slapped his son lightly on the back of the head, giving him a glare.
"Now, that's no way to talk to a neighbor, Paul. You say sorry to mister Fischer."
"No, no, it's fine." I smiled down at Paul. "I do talk funny, but it's normal where I come from, and just Fischer is fine. We're neighbors, after all."
Paul nodded, accepting the statement for fact, as only kids can.
"Well," Barry said, "what if Paul waits here to keep an eye out for that wandering lord of ours?"
"Dad! I want to see the sunrise, too!"
"None of that, lad." He shot a stern look at his son. "That can be your apology for your tongue running faster than your brain." Barry turned to me. "Would that be alright?"
"I don't want to impose…"
"Nonsense!" Barry waved the concern away. "Paul here has seen countless sunrises, and he'll see countless yet. It's your first morning in Tropica, and it feels right that you see it."
Seeing Paul's growing disappointment, I bent down, so we were eye level.
"Are you sure you can handle this, Paul?"
Presented with a challenge, he straightened himself as I continued.
"I don't even want to think what would happen if he were to walk onto my land and somehow lose the paperwork." I winced. "Maybe I should do it myself, or find an adult to keep an eye out for him…"
Paul's eyes widened, then narrowed in resolve.
"I can do it!"
"You're sure? I don't mind having to get someone a little older…"
"He won't get by me! I promise!"
"Alright." I put a hand on his shoulder. "I trust you, mate. Make sure George doesn't get past you and onto my land."
Barry smiled at me as he led us down to the water.
"That was expertly done. My boy would sooner eat shellfish than admit he wasn't capable of completing a task."
I grinned at him.
"I have no doubt he'll rise to the challenge—he looked like a hawk when we left him."
Barry laughed.
"Aye, that he did. I've never seen him so attentive. Do you have kids?"
"No, but I understand how to motivate people."
"No kidding. I might have to steal that tactic when it comes to planting season. Paul loves harvesting and tending to the fields, but something about planting makes his head wander elsewhere."
We arrived on the beach before the sun rose above the ocean, the light of its approach painting the sky directly east.
Barry sat down, and I joined him. The air was cool, the wind not as harsh as it was the previous day. We sat in silence, both content to take in the beautiful scene playing out before us.
The sunrise truly was stunning, and I could see why their family made a tradition of watching it each morning.
I think I'll have to make it a tradition of my own…
Movement to our left caught my attention, and I lazily looked over to see something truly astounding.
"Barry…"
"Yes, Fischer?"
"What the fuck is that?"
Barry turned his head, looking at where I was pointing.
There were five men on the beach near us. They walked on hunched legs, their bums almost on the sand, with their hands held beside their heads, snapping open and closed.
They were crab walking into the surf.
"Oh, that?" Barry asked. "That's the cult of carcinization—don't mind them, they're harmless."
While I wasn't worried that they would bring me harm, I was concerned for their mental health and general well-being.
"Is there a reason they're walking like crabs into the waves?"
The first of the men reached the sea, continuing his awkward shuffle into deeper waters.
"Their cult deifies crabs," Barry said, as if it was the most reasonable statement of all time. "They believe all paths of evolution eventually lead to crabs—a process called carcinization, hence the name."
I had… so many questions.
"I suspected I'd find a church of some kind in the village, but you seem quite chill about the fact there's a cult right beside us, crab-walking into the deep blue."
Two of the men clacked at each other with their hand-claws.
Barry raised an eyebrow—at me, not the crab people.
"Where do you come from that a church would be reasonable, but a cult wouldn't?"
"Very, very far away."
"Look, Fischer…"
Barry composed his thoughts for a long moment before continuing.
"I think I'm a good judge of character, and you seem like the honest sort to me, but all this talk of churches and fishing won't make you any friends around here."
I looked out to sea as I considered what to say back to the man.
The sun was four of its own widths above the horizon, and I let the peace of the scene guide my thoughts.
How much can I trust this man? I obviously can't tell him I'm an inter-planet traveler, but just how much do I reveal…?
Just as with Barry, I thought myself an excellent judge of character—and Barry had plenty of character to spare.
The truth, then… just a little decorated.
I let my honest emotions leak out, and gave Barry a half-smile, half-wince.
"I find myself out of my depths here, mate. I'm from so far away, it may as well be another world."
Barry nodded.
"I guessed as much just from your pattern of speech, let alone your love of fishing and acceptance of churches."
"Would you mind giving me the rundown on why fishing is seen as such a bad thing here? I met a woman named Maria when I arrived yesterday and gathered it's something to do with the gods leaving?"
"Around these parts, and every other place I've ever heard of, living from the water is shunned." Barry looked confused. "I know you said it may as well be another planet, but it's hard to imagine a place that doesn't know of the gods' betrayal…"
I gave him a sheepish laugh.
"Hard to believe as it is, that's where I come from. What was the gods' betrayal?"
Barry's eyes moved over the calm sea.
"The gods of water set about the events that led to all the gods abandoning this world. As such, only a fool would rely upon the spoils of their domain."
"That would certainly explain everyone's reaction to me fishing…"
"Aye. Fishing is eating from the sea, not living from the land as is proper—it's heresy."
Never mind the pop-up house—am I going to get burnt at the stake if I go fishing?
"What would you villagers do to someone committing such heresy?"
"Do?" Barry cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"You know… like punishment-wise. Am I going to lose a finger or my head for going fishing?"
Barry's eyes went wide, then he laughed.
It wasn't a polite laugh—he roared his delight, so loud that even the crab men stopped their clacking momentarily, shooting us aggrieved glances.
"No—no, Fischer. Not that. There is no punishment, it's just… people will treat you different, you understand?"
Oh, good.
I smiled my delight back at him, genuine relief flooding me at the news that my new-world plans weren't halted.
"Thanks for the warning, mate. I'm not too worried about how I'm seen, so that shouldn't be an issue."
Barry shook his head, but still smiled.
"You're truly going to fish?"
"Yup!"
"Ah well, at least you've been warned what you're getting yourself into."
"What about the cult and church thing?" I asked. "Where I'm from, the societal view is flipped—churches are recognized places of worship, whereas cults are looked down upon."
He shook his head in exasperation.
"I never want to go wherever you're from, Fischer—they got it all backwards."
I grinned.
"I wouldn't worry about that—I don't see you ever getting the opportunity. So, what's the difference between a cult and a church here?"
"Well, churches are blasphemous for a simple reason—there are no gods left to worship. They all ascended, and won't be returning. A cult is normal, because they're worshiping the eventual rise of another human or creature to godhood.
"Every cult is hoping to one day become a church when their chosen creature becomes a spirit beast, or their human counterpart ascends—but until then, to call yourself a church would be a lie. Take the Cult of Carcinization, for example."
He pointed at the five men, who were now neck-deep in the calm water, only their heads and imitations of pincers visible. One clacked at another, who shuffled to the side to avoid the violence.
"Their doctrine is that a crab will ascend and become a spirit beast. That we will all become crabs one day through carcinization means that to them, we are all holy beings just waiting to happen."
He shrugged.
"As I said, completely harmless."
At the mention of spirit beasts, all the novels on cultivation I'd read came rushing to mind.
So I've arrived in post-ascension Xianxia land? Neat.
"I get it," I said. "So a church is inherently a lie, and therefore blasphemy, unless a spirit beast or ascended human emerges?"
"Just so."
"Are there many cults?"
"Probably more than there are grains of sand beneath your feet. They're not all as benevolent as the carcinization folk over there, so I'm glad Tropica only has two."
"Two?" I raised an eyebrow. "What's the other one?"
"The Cult of the Leviathan. They're an odd bunch and a real chore to be around, but also relatively harmless. Unlike the Cult of the Carcinization, they deify lobsters. Their doctrine is that lobsters don't die of old age—they only die when they get too old to molt. Their plan is to help a lobster molt until it gets so old that it naturally becomes a spirit beast."
As he spoke, my smile grew wider-and-wider, and it was my turn to laugh uncontrollably.
Barry laughed along with me, thinking I was laughing at the absurdity of the plan.
Don't get me wrong, it was a ridiculous plan, but I was mostly laughing that 'the lorb' had managed to become the basis for an actual cult in post-ascension Xianxia land.
It took me a good while to regain my composure.
I love this place.
8 - The Cult of the Leviathan
It was a normal day at the Cult of the Leviathan's Tropica branch.
Sebastian, who was the leader of this particular branch, was tending to the lobster crickets.
The building he'd acquired with the funds he brought from the capital was a far cry from what he was used to, but as long as he had space to tend to his precious lobsters, he was happy.
"Do you need a hand with the baby lobsters, sir?" Gary, his idiotic follower, asked.
Sebastian felt the joy at his task drain from his face.
"For the last time, Gary, they're crickets. Baby lobsters are called crickets."
"Right. Sorry, sir."
Sebastian still couldn't believe that Gary was the only follower he could find in this middle-of-nowhere village.
I guess any help is better than no help.
"Huh," Gary's stupid voice said. "What's going on with this blinking thing?"
Sebastian sighed as he looked up from his precious little crickets.
"What blinking thing, Gary?"
"The thing in this bag over here—it's blinking red."
A spark of hope welled within Sebastian, and he rushed to his travel bag.
When in the capital, he'd spent a large sum on an ancient artifact—an act that had resulted in his expulsion to this backwater village. The artifact was something that detected cultivation in beings, and was supposed to light up when close to them.
The leader of the Capital branch had called it an overpriced paperweight, but that the light was now blinking proved Sebastian's genius.
He reached into his bag with barely contained glee. His eyes went wide as he pulled out the artifact; the light was indeed blinking.
He was going to usher this cult into a church; one of his precious crickets was going to grow into the great Leviathan of story. He would prove them all wrong, his genius was unparalleled, he—
The glee on his face was replaced by confusion, then anger.
"Uh, sir?" Gary asked. "What's wrong?"
"Not good, Gary. Very not good."
"What isn't, sir?"
Sebastian held up the artifact for Gary to see.
There were two sides to the artifact, one with the simple drawing of a human, the other with depictions of a cat, dog, and fish. The side that was blinking was the one with a human.
"Uh, what does that mean, sir?"
Sebastian snarled.
"It means it isn't one of our precious lobsters that is taking steps towards ascension. We have someone in Tropica that needs to be taken care of."
***
In the capital city of Gormona, Trent, the first-in-line to the throne, who was considered by anyone other than his mother to be the human equivalent of a stubbed toe, was hiding.
Like hell I'll be attending something as stupid as decorum training.
He was up to his fourth tutor on the subject, each of them being just as useless as the last.
My family pays them so much, and for what? I haven't learned a thing!
Rather than be subjected to today's lesson, he had found a tucked-away room to hide in.
That it was a royal decree to stay out of the artifact-filled room was perfect; no one would look for him in here.
He snickered to himself as he crawled further-and-further into the pile of ancient junk.
"Stay out of the artifact room," he whispered aloud in a mocking tone. "It's just a room of scrap metal."
Reaching a hidden pocket in the giant collection of uselessness, he stood and stretched.
He was between four different constructs, all of which were lifeless.
"Just as they always have and always will be," he said, making sure to keep his voice down—it wouldn't do to have one of those cultivator freaks hear him and rat him out.
One of the artifacts had a glass screen, and the light from the gap above let him see his own reflection. It warped his head, making his generally displeasing appearance even more pronounced.
Insecurity flaring, and feeling insulted by the inanimate object, he slapped it.
"Shut up, idiot. You're ugly."
The screen lit up, and Trent's already too-large-for-his-head eyes went wider.
There were words printed on the screen.
New milestone! Fischer has learned bushcraft!
New milestone! Fischer has learned construction!
New milestone! Fischer has learned fishing!
"What in Poseidon's puckered butthole…"
***
Having witnessed the sunrise, Barry and I walked back toward where we'd left his son, Paul.
I smiled at the man.
"Thanks for the hospitality, mate. The knowledge too. That sunrise was glorious."
Barry smiled back.
"No need for thanks. That's what neighbors do."
Before we could find Paul, he found us. The boy came sprinting down from the sugarcane fields.
"Mister Fischer! Mister Fischer! I found George!"
"Uh, thanks mate… where is he, though?"
"He's right…" Paul spun, appearing just as confused as I was. "He was right behind—"
The sweaty, morbidly obese form of the village lord came bursting from between two rows of sugarcane.
"Wait just a second, you little shi—ah, Fischer, there you are."
The lord had a paper tray in one hand, a document flapping in the other. He placed the document atop the tray, using his freehand to retrieve a handkerchief and pat his sweaty brow.
"I… I came… I came to bring your papers."
He leaned the handkerchief filled hand on his knee, trying to catch his breath.
"Cheers, George. You didn't have to bring them all the way out here, I was just coming to see you."
"Non… nonsense. I was more than happy to bring them."
I walked over, happily accepting the papers and glancing down at them.
Oh, good, they're not in English and I can't read whatever language this is—that's fun.
"These… these are for you," George said, still struggling to recover from his brief exercise.
He offered the tray out, which I gladly accepted—to give the man a chance to breathe, if nothing else.
"They're… they're from… Michelle's… the best… patisserie… in the village."
I noticed Barry's eyes go wide at the store's name.
High end stuff, huh?
"You uh, you alright, mate?" I asked the heaving lord.
"Just need to… catch my… breath."
He half sat, half collapsed to the ground, resting his head on his arms as he took deep breaths.
Shrugging, I held the tray out to Barry and Paul.
"Hungry, boys?"
Both their eyes went wide, and Paul looked like he was about to start drooling.
"Are you sure?" Barry asked, eyes still locked on the fifteen treats on the tray.
"Very," I said with a laugh. "Help yourselves."
They both grabbed one of the sugar-coated pastries, which looked like stuffed donuts.
Paul bit into his first, and something like jam but a bit runnier dripped down the side of the pastry. The boy licked the escaping filling with fervor before it could drip to the ground.
Lobster cults, beach-front property, and now jam-filled donuts? This is my kind of village!
I waited to see Barry's reaction to eating his donut before I grabbed one myself, and the look on the hardened farmer's face was everything I could have hoped for.
If there weren't others present, I was sure he would have cried tears of joy.
I bit into one, and the filling exploded into my mouth. I wasn't sure if the pastry was actually that good, or if it was because I'd been subsisting on purified water and berries for the last few days, but it was worthy of the reactions Paul and Barry had given.
"What's the red filling, George?" I asked after swallowing. "I've never tasted anything like it."
It was like a mix between strawberry and passionfruit; sweet with just the right amount of tang.
"It's jam made from passiona husks."
"Passiona?" Barry almost yelled. "Paul! Thank Fischer and George!"
"Th-thank you!"
"I give thanks to both of you." Barry dipped his head.
"None of that, mate." I gave him a genuine smile. "That's what neighbors do, right? Happy to share."
George was just getting to his feet, brushing his considerable behind free of the sandy dirt he sat in.
"You want one, George?"
"Oh, I-I've had a tray already. Thank you, though."
"No, thank you for bringing them!" I turned to Paul and Barry. "You boys want another?"
"We couldn't possibly—"
"Yes!" Paul yelled.
They both glared at each other, giving me another genuine laugh for the day.
"Please, I insist." I shook the tray at them. "There's too many for just me—I might have to throw them out if you don't help me…"
They both came forward to get another, Barry sheepishly, Paul with enthusiasm that bordered on violence.
"I think I'll be getting on my way," George said. "It was a pleasure seeing you all."
He dipped his head to me, Barry, and Paul, then turned and headed for the town.
***
George's face contorted as he withdrew from the fields. He found a spot in the shade to rest and collect his thoughts.
There is no way someone of Fischer's station would be willingly consorting with peasant farmers—he was sending me a message: he's willing to win over the villagers, and I am replaceable.
Just as egregious was the handing out of passiona-filled pastries to people of such a lowly station—right in front of him, no less.
His mouth still watered at the treats he'd handed over.
As if I would ever turn down a fifth breakfast. He was testing me; gauging my greed in the face of offered pastries.
It was a ghastly test to perform on someone—what kind of devious individual would play games with sweets? It showed just how far Fischer was willing to go.
George wiped the sweat from his brow with his already sodden cloth.
What in Triton's throbbing conch am I going to do? Fischer is on the offensive, and he's already ten steps ahead of me…
***
"So what's the big deal with passiona husk?" I asked. "It's tasty, sure, but not good enough to make you treat me like a lord."
Barry winced at his past actions.
"It's the price, Fischer. A single one of those pastries is worth two weeks of what we earn farming—the husk alone is worth a week-and-a-half."
I looked at the tray of treats, frowned, and looked back up at Barry.
"How are they worth so much? They're just donuts."
"The bushes are controlled and exceedingly expensive—they're engineered so they don't grow seeds, and you can only buy plants directly from the distributor."
Oh, good—there's a fantasy-world Monsanto.
I couldn't help but shake my head in dismay.
"Could I ask you a favor, Barry?"
"Anything, Fischer."
"Would you check over this for me?" I held out the documents George gave me. "I don't know the local laws and customs, so I was hoping you could give it a once over and check everything's up to scratch."
Barry cocked his head to the side as my sentence stretched on.
Guess I might need to tone down the vernacular…
"You… you want me to make sure it's legally binding?" he asked
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Of course." Barry took the document. "Is it alright if I check it tonight? There's still a lot of work to do in the fields yet."
"Yeah, mate. No worries. Could I ask one more thing?"
He looked back to his fields, clearly feeling the need to get the day's work started.
"What do you need?"
I gave him a disarming grin.
"Just some directions."
B2 | Prologue
The sun beat down from above and blanketed me in its warmth.
A soft, calming breeze blew over the sandy flat by my home, bringing with it the scents of salt, ocean air, and deep-fried fish.
A crunch rang out, and my heart pounded.
Maria's eyes went wide at the taste of the fish, then she closed them and let out a soft mmm, raising her face toward the sun's rays.
"This is the best tasting meal yet, Fischer. I—"
Her gaze went distant, causing my heart to climb into my throat.
Something tugged at my core, the faintest whisper of pressure that originated from Maria. Fast as it had come, the hint of power disappeared, and I held my breath, every sense focused on her.
She shook her head and blinked, her eyes still somewhat distant. "That was... wow..."
My pulse beat in my ears, and I wiped sweaty palms on my thighs. "You..." I swallowed. "You got the message?"
Her gaze snapped to mine, and she gave me a small nod. "I did."
"... and?"
"And I'm a cultivator now, I suppose."
"How do you, uh... feel?"
"I feel the same, honestly... though I suppose I have to get used to the new name I picked."
"Wait, you picked a new name?"
She nodded, her face serious.
"Yeah, it might be a bit jarring for people to start calling me 'Fish Queen', but I'm sure they'll get used to it."
I blinked; she blinked back.
"Please tell me you're joking."
Her mask of indifference shattered, and she covered her mouth as she snorted a laugh. "Your face, Fischer." She cackled, roaring her delight toward the sky as she leaned back in the sand.
Corporal Claws chittered from her lap, one paw pointing at me as her hissed laughs joined Maria.
I glared at them. "You two are as bad as each other."
***
A week later, in a room high atop the capital of Gormona's castle, a construct worked tirelessly.
Since its reawakening, the relic had been processing the world's essence, not pausing for a single second. As the power continued building, it approached a milestone.
If a construct could experience emotion, it would be elated. But... such things were not possible for this artifact, so it continued on incessantly, taking neither joy nor pride in its task.
It gathered the final trickle necessary and added it to the pool of collected essence. The construct pushed it out, forcing the power into another relic across the room.
That relic, which had sat dormant for millennia, sputtered to life.
A screen that had sat unused for time immemorial turned on and began printing text.
Boosting power relay...
...
...
...
Success! Relay area increased!
***
That evening, a frosty breeze flitted through the streets of Gormona. Candle-lit lamps lined the roads, half of which had burnt out, either extinguished by the wind or lacking the requisite fuel to make it past the early hours of morning. A half-moon shone down from above, adding an ethereal air to everything it touched.
It was on these streets, hugging himself and regretting his choice of clothing, that a hooded man strode. "By Zeus's forked beard—it's freezing."
Talking to himself didn't help his predicament. If anything, it put him at risk of being discovered, so he clamped his jaw shut and trudged on.
By the time he reached his destination, his fingers were numb. When he pounded on the door, numbness transformed into a bone-deep aching. There was no answer, so he pulled his fist back once more, but then a muffled voice spoke from inside.
"What's the password?" Number Two asked.
"Mellow yellow banana," he hissed through chattering teeth.
"That's the old password, Number Four. What's the new one?"
"Don't be daft," another voice said from inside. "We can hear his voice and we know who it is. Besides, I'm Four—he's Three. If you insist on using these silly code names for the mission, at least get them right."
Number Three fought down the urge to kick in the door, but before he could complain, Two spoke again.
"Right, sorry about that mixup. What's the new password, Number Three?"
Another breeze kicked up, chilling Three to his core—what paltry amount of patience he had dwindled further. "You didn't tell me the new password, Keith, now let me in before I freeze to death!"
"I must insist you use our correct names, Number Three, and if you don't know the password, I cannot admit you."
"Gods above, Keith," came the exasperated voice of Four. "Just open the door and let him in!"
Two, also known as Keith, harrumphed. "There's a reason we're taking such care to protect our identities, and your blatant disregard for the rules is making me begin to doubt this entire endeavor."
The last vestige of Three's patience withered like a noble under questioning, and he started pounding on the door.
"Let me in, Keith, you administrative wind-knot! So help me Poseidon, I will cut every last one of your—"
The door swung open, and Four's arm reached out and pulled Three inside.
Three rushed to the small fireplace, extending his hands toward the licking flames. The warmth was pure bliss, and he let out a relieved sigh.
Two was pouting, leaning against the wall where Four had doubtless pushed him. "I really don't see why it's so hard to follow the rules. We don't have that many to follow, and they're put in place for all of our safety..."
Another knock came on the door, and Two darted to it, reinvigorated by the mere thought of bureaucratic pedantry. "Password?" he demanded.
Three grit his teeth. "For the love of—"
"Fresh tasty bread," the voice answered from outside.
"See?" Two demanded, scowling at both Three and Four as he opened the door. "This is how things are supposed to work."
Number One came inside, a broad grin plastered over his face.
"Good morning. Are we all ready to go...?" He looked around the room, his face going from elated to confused. "What has got everyone in such a dour mood? We are about to embark on the most important mission of our lives—show some enthusiasm!"
"They're ignoring protocols, One!" Two said. "It's chaos, I tell you! Absolute chaos!"
"Ah, I see." He walked over and clapped Two on the shoulder. "I know it is hard on you to bend the rules—forgive them, alright? We are all doing our best."
He took off a backpack and removed three robes, then threw one to everyone.
Three put his on; it was oversized, lined with fur, and decidedly warmer than the thin one he'd previously worn.
"Thank you, One."
"You're most welcome."
Two still bristled, his impressive mustache making the pout look more than a little ridiculous.
"Has Five arrived yet?" One asked.
"No. Not yet. He is the one in charge of the cart—"
Another knock on the door.
"Fresh roasted bread," Five said from outside before anyone could demand a password.
"That's the wrong phrase," Two said, getting to his feet and crossing his arms.
"It was close enough," One replied, swinging the door open to admit the last squad member.
A horse-drawn cart sat on the street beyond. It was laden with supplies, and Three smiled at Five's organization skills.
"How did everyone go?" Five asked. "Did we get everything we needed?"
They all nodded.
"Right. The cart is ready, so I think we're good to go. What about you, One?" Five's deep voice transformed into a whisper. "Did you get the artifact from the king?"
One beamed, reached into his backpack, and removed a small rectangular object.
"I did."
Three gazed down at it. It was something he'd only heard of before, but it was just as the tales told. There were two bulbs, one below the image of a human, the other beneath a series of animals. The first was blinking, likely responding to the cultivators within the capital.
"With this," One said, "we'll be able to locate the cultivator with ease."
Three grinned.
This trip to the village known as Tropica was going to be fun.
B2 | 1 - Ascension
The shade of the forest's canopy was a welcome relief from the sun's heat as I strode forward. I had a bucket in hand, my trusty straw hat atop my head, and excitement bubbling up from within.
It had been a week since Maria's ascension, and for the first time since my arrival in Tropica, I'd taken some time to relax. Well, I told myself it was relaxing, but after two days of lounging around and working on nothing, I'd gone a bit stir crazy.
The accidental pillar of light that exploded from me during our time away had been a wake-up call. Even if it was just a side-effect of ascending and had nothing to do with the uncomfortable truths I'd been avoiding, I had to ensure it never happened again.
With my self-imposed vacation finally at an end, it was time to get back into it. With that thought in mind, a grin spread over my face. I hastened my steps, and within minutes I found my quarry.
"G'day, Barry! How are ya?"
My farming neighbor spun, cutting his conversation off mid sentence.
"Fischer! Thanks for coming, mate! I'm good—how ya doin'?"
I smiled at his adopted vernacular; Aussie slang was pleasing to the soul.
"I'm wonderful, thanks." I turned to the other man. "You must be Leroy—I've heard a bunch about you, mate." I strode forward, holding out a hand.
He grasped it and shook, giving me a friendly smile. "Likewise, Fischer. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine, my man. Were you gonna join us today, Barry?"
He shook his head. "I've gotta get tilling on the new fields, but I might see you later?"
"Sounds good! Pop by if you need a break."
Barry gave us a wave and jogged off, his pace clearly identifying him as a cultivator.
I turned to Leroy. "So, Barry tells me you have some sort of nature power?"
"That's right. It's not as advanced as Corporal Claws's lightning or Sergeant Snips's water, though."
"Mate, I'd be surprised if it was—those two are kinda terrifying."
"They're certainly impressive..."
A gust blew and rustled the trees above. Leroy's eyes watched them as he took a deep breath, and a small smile crossed his lips. I let the silence stretch, similarly enjoying the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest.
"It's so nice to be back," he said, his voice wistful.
"I can only imagine, mate. I only know a hint of what you've been through, but I'm glad you've earned your freedom."
"Earned?" He let out a chuckle. "If not for those 'terrifying' creatures of yours, I'd be on my way back to the capital by now."
"I'm sure you'd have found a way eventually—or Barry and Helen would have busted you out. Those two are scary in their own right when they get an idea in their heads."
He barked a laugh. "You're not wrong there, Fischer."
Another silence stretched, and before it could get awkward, I broke it. "Well, should we get going?"
He nodded. "Aye. Lead the way."
***
I led us a little out of the way so I could show Leroy something, and when we reached it, he let out a whistle.
"This is the pond you made?"
"Yeah, mate."
The morning sun peeked through the leaves, lighting the water, rocks, plants, and the log with a soundly sleeping Corporal Claws atop it. She glanced at us through lidded eyes, chirped a greeting with a raised paw, then rolled over and showed us her back.
"Is this the one that heals?" Leroy asked.
"Nah, that's the saltwater one. I don't actually know what this one does, but it does... something. I'm pretty sure it helped Claws ascend."
"Interesting..."
Claws half sat up to scratch her ear, then flopped back to the log.
"Let's leave Claws to her nap—the patch I wanted to show you isn't far off."
We kept moving, heading further south toward where I wanted to try my little experiment.
When we caught sight of it, I pointed. "That's the spot, mate."
A large tree sat amidst the others, its hue identifying it as a different species. Its trunk was thicker than most and covered in a thin veneer of blue bark. Other than the color, another thing made it stand out against the rest of the forest: its canopy sprawled out, spreading out on thick branches laden with fat, glossy leaves. A large circle of grass was left clear around its base, the other trees giving it space.
"Know anything about this tree, mate?" I asked.
Leroy nodded, his eyes fixed on it. "They're called sapphire mesh trees. It's considered terrible luck to fell one."
"Sapphire mesh...? I get the sapphire bit, but why mesh?"
"I couldn't say—maybe something to do with their wood? If it's mesh-like, it'd make sense why people think it's bad luck to cut one—they'd be almost impossible to work with."
"Yeah... maybe..."
I gazed over the trunk, remembering the sensations I'd felt when seeking trees to harvest. "When I was looking for wood to use for my fence, I came here. Before I could even think of cutting it, this tree pushed me away, like it was warning me from taking it down."
"Really...?" Leroy stepped forward and placed a hand against the tree. He closed his eyes, a line forming between his eyebrows as he concentrated.
"Feel anything, mate?" I asked when the moment stretched on.
"Nothing," he answered, smiling at himself. "My abilities lend me some nature knowledge, but it's more like instinct, if that makes sense. I know what plants need to keep them happy. More sun, less water, fertilizer—that sort of thing."
"Did they let you do that in the capital?"
He snorted. "No, though I did come across plenty of trees and plants when we'd go out on expeditions."
I winced at the bitterness in his tone. "Sorry, mate. I shouldn't have asked."
He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, the bitterness left him entirely. "It's fine, Fischer. It's just a little aggravating to think about."
"Well, do your 'nature instincts' or whatever tell you where it would be a good place to plant a lemon tree?" I asked, not-so-smoothly changing the subject.
"Lemon...?"
"Yeah, mate. I got some seeds from a few lemons I bought."
"Fischer..." He gave me a friendly smile, but it was the kind you'd give a child when they said something adorably stupid. "You can't grow lemons from seeds. The lemons they sell are modified to not produce more trees."
"Oh, yeah, I know that, mate."
"You do? Why are you planting them, then?"
"Leroy... I have a crab pal that shoots aura blades, a lobster companion that shoots blasts from his claws like an anime protagonist, and an otter friend that rides the lightning like some sort of Metallica fangirl."
He blinked at me, his face blank.
"I don't know what most of that meant, but I think I get the idea—stranger things have happened, right?"
"Exactly. It can't hurt to try, and with your nature power, I was hoping you might have some insight. So... any ideas?"
"Can I see them?"
I reached into a pocket, then dropped the four seeds I'd brought with me into his open palm. He moved them around with one finger, then closed his eyes, his brow once more creasing.
He blinked, looking around the clearing.
"Huh..."
"What is it?"
"I'm pretty sure the whole area surrounding the tree is a good place, but I'm not certain..." He shrugged. "It's vague."
I grinned. "Good enough for me!"
I stepped back and grabbed a spade from my back pocket, then started digging a small hole in the ground.
"I've been meaning to ask," Leroy said. "What's in that bucket you're carrying? It smells terrible."
"That would be our fertilizer, mate." I moved the wet tea towel aside and removed part of a cichlid's frame. "Leftover fish is a great source of nutrients."
I dropped it in the hole, layered dirt atop it, then poked my finger into the aerated earth.
"If you'd do the honors," I said, gesturing at the ground.
Leroy dropped a seed in and tenderly covered it.
"Would you meditate on it with me, mate?" I asked.
His head cocked to the side, and he gave me a strange look. "Meditate...?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's how my pond ended up transforming. Just close your eyes and imagine life pouring into the seed. I'll do the same."
"Oh... sure."
I held both hands out, willing life and sustenance toward the seed. I pictured it turning into a mighty tree, bearing countless citrus, and sending thick roots deep into the earth. The thoughts took me over, and I leaned into the pleasant musings. Time stretched, and though I didn't feel any shifts in the world, it was an enjoyable moment of peace.
"Er, how do we know if it works, Fischer?"
"Oh, sorry. It happened pretty quick last time—it might not be working." I rubbed the back of my head. "I've kinda been making it up as I go."
We repeated the process three more times, creating an invisible square around the light-blue tree.
After we planted the last seed, Leroy cleared his throat. "Do you want to try meditating toward the tree?"
"The tree? I mean, I'm down, but why?"
"Just a hunch."
"My man, considering you have the ability to ride vines like some sort of superhero, I'll trust your hunches on anything plant related."
He gave me an abashed smile. "Someone told you about that?"
"Corporal Claws hasn't shut up about it. Considering how much she chitters and chirps about you, I'm surprised she didn't launch herself at you when we went to the pond."
He let out a soft chuckle. "It's not as impressive as it sounds, especially compared to the abilities of your animals..."
"You're being too humble, my man. But I get it—anyone would down-sell their cultivator abilities if it was something so scorned by society." I shook my head. "I'm taking us off course—let's meditate."
We sat down at the tree's base, and I leaned my back against it. Its bark was smooth and firm against my spine, and I closed my eyes, easily slipping into a meditative state.
***
In a place of darkness, surrounded by the comforting scents of wood and dirt, something ancient stirred.
Though it remembered neither who nor what it was, one thing was certain: it had been asleep for a very, very long time.
Something was nudging it, calling it from its slumber, and it reluctantly listened.
Its senses expanded as it reached out, seeking what had disturbed its rest. Something was just beside it. Touching it. Reaching out and offering power.
No, not something, the ancient thing realized. Two beings.
A part of its soul—an instinctual nexus hidden deep within—rejoiced at the offering. But then, it tasted what they had to offer.
The tribute was pitiful.
Even without any memories, it knew the power offered was a mere trickle of the torrents it had once consumed. It scoffed at the insult and went back to sleep, content to wait until the world's essence was properly restored.
***
My eye twitched, and I darted a glance at Leroy.
Did I just feel something...?
It had been a tiny blip, and quick as it had come, it vanished.
Maybe it was just my imagination...
I gazed up at the sky; the sun had climbed halfway into the sky, so I stretched and let out a soft groan to get Leroy's attention.
When he peered at me through sleepy eyes, I gave him a grin.
"The meditation was fruitless, but what do you say we try a bit of fishing?"
B2 | 2 - Heretical Friends
Leroy's face was more than a little confused as he looked down at the tangle of tackle connected to my fishing rod.
I had the smaller rod with the sabiki rig attached.
I'd bound a rock on the end of the main line, which was currently the object of Leroy's scrutiny. "I understand what the hook is for, but what is this bit...?" he asked, pointing down at the rock.
"That's the sinker, mate. It helps you cast it out further and keeps the bait in place once it's in the water. This thing's called a sabiki rig, and in this case, if there wasn't a sinker attached, the lines would get all tangled up the moment they hit the water. We probably wouldn't catch a single baitfish without it."
"... baitfish? Is that a type of fish?"
"Nah, mate. Baitfish refers to any of the smaller fish we use as bait to catch the bigger ones. I figured if I was going to teach you fishing, we'd start from the beginning. Actually, now that I think of it..." With a deft movement, I cut one hook off with a knife. "I think I should show you the knot. That way, if you're ever stranded in the wilderness with gear, you can create your own."
I took a length of line and showed him an 'improved cinch knot'.
"Reckon you can do that?"
***
"This is kinda cheating," I admitted as I slipped cuts of common eel onto the hook Leroy had reattached. "But we have the bait, so we may as well use it. See the short bits of metal attached near to the hooks' eyes?"
He nodded.
I moved one back and forth under the sun's rays; it shone. "You can use these without bait. The fish will still bite, thinking the sun is reflecting from a smaller fish's scales."
"I see..."
I looked down at my 'Bamboo Rod of the Fisher'. Leroy could have just used a stick of bamboo as a rod, but I wanted him to get practice with a proper reel before we tried fishing for something big. "Alright, mate—it's ready to go."
He picked up the rod and flicked the reel into the open position, as I'd shown. "Like this...?"
"Yep!"
He walked to the edge of the headland's rocky shore, pursed his lips in concentration, then flicked the line out into the water. It flew straight and hit the water with a soft plop.
Line continued to spool out, and he tried to flick the reel back into place, but it held firm.
"Other way," I said, reaching over and shifting it back into position.
"Oh—right. Sorry."
"No need to apologize—today's a day for learning. Reel in the loose line and wait for a bite."
He did so, the serious expression never leaving his face.
Despite Leroy being the one fishing, the calm that always came with the act washed over me. The soft murmuring of waves lapping the shore, combined with the gusts of wind fitfully washing over my skin, made the corner of my lips curl into a smile. I took a deep breath, and the salty air made joy spread over my entire face.
"Gods above, I love it here, Leroy."
He glanced at me for only a moment before returning his attention to the rod, but I didn't miss the hint of anticipation coloring his features.
"The ocean is calming, isn't it? Even before they took me to the capital, I always found its movement and sounds soothing."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "That's rather heretical of you to say, mate."
He snorted and smirked at me. "You're one to talk."
"Yeah, but you can't blame a heretic for also being a little hypocritical. I'm bound to have more than one personality red flag."
"... red flag?"
"Yeah, like a warning sign. For example, you're fishing and enjoying yourself right now—major red flag to anyone of sound mind, mate."
"Well, lucky no-one of sound mind is here, then."
I nodded, trying to keep my face serious. "Exactly. We heretical friends have to stick together—otherwise we'd have no one to talk to."
His smile turned wistful, and I immediately realized my mistake. "Sorry, mate. I know it must be hard having to hide away from everyone."
Though Claws had removed Leroy's slave collar, the villagers were all too aware he'd awakened as a cultivator. He was technically free, yet he couldn't return to the way his life had been pre-awakening.
"It's fine, Fischer," Leroy said. "I should be grateful to be here, but if I'm being honest, it's a little hard not being able to walk around openly."
"Well, you're always welcome here. Consider my fence your fence—you can come hang with the awakened gang or do some fishing whenever you like."
A moment of silence stretched out before Leroy responded. "Thank you, Fischer. That means more than you know."
"Don't mention it. You've been through a lot, and if there's anything else I can do, just let me know, yeah?"
He nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out with a slow, calming sigh. A tear formed in his eye and he swept it away with one hand. "Sorry. It's been overwhelming."
I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly. "You're all good, mate. I'm gonna have to start up an apology jar—every time you apologize unnecessarily, you'll have to chuck a copper in."
He laughed and shot me a coy look. "Can I apologize for saying sorry too much, or that also a—whoa!"
The rod's tip shot down as something bit. The fish was small, likely a juvenile cichlid from its size, but that didn't stop Leroy's eyes from going wide.
"What do I do?" he yelled, his voice anything but calm.
"Reel it in slowly. The fish thrashing might attract other fish to the other hooks on the—"
"Whoa!" Leroy yelled again, cutting me off as something much larger hit the line.
The rod bent down, tugged incessantly by the creatures beneath the water.
"Reel it in fast and keep the line tight! That's what we were looking for!"
Leroy wound the reel's handle, his body tense and shoulders hunched.
I caught a flash of silver, and as more of the line came from the water, I smiled at what had bitten down on the lowest hook. "Flick it up on the shore!"
He did so, and as I dashed for the creature, my eyes were drawn into it.
Common Eel
Common
Found in the brackish waters of the Kallis Realm, this eel's flesh has high oil content and a strong scent, making it unpalatable food but excellent bait.
As my vision cleared, I picked the twice-common eel up and removed my trusty nail.
"If you spike its brain right here, it'll... uh, Leroy? You alright?"
His gaze was distant, but then his eyes snapped to me.
"What is it...?" I asked as I dispatched the eel, not wanting it to suffer more than was necessary.
"The System just spoke to me..."
"Wait. What?"
I unhooked the juvenile cichlid and threw it back into the water, then looked up at Leroy. "What did it say?"
"Yeah... my eyes were just kind of, I don't know, pulled into it? It gave me a description of the common eel."
"Oh, yeah—it does that. You've never seen that before?"
"No..."
"What about the rod? Have you tried looking at it?"
He scrunched his forehead and raised it to his face.
"Nothing?" I asked.
"Not yet..."
He pulled it closer, going cross-eyed and trembling with the effort
I couldn't help but laugh at him. I focused on the rod, checking I still had the ability to inspect it.
Bamboo Rod of the Fisher
Rare
A bamboo rod paired with an iron-wood reel. This fishing rod provides boosts to both fishing and luck.
+10 fishing
+2 luck
"You don't need to force it," I said. "That thing transformed when I made it, and I can inspect it the same way you inspected the eel."
He lowered the rod. "Yeah, Barry mentioned that..."
"Oh? What did he say?" I paused, then held up my hands. "Wait, nevermind—I don't want to know."
Leroy gave me a funny look. "You're kind of weird, Fischer. You know that?"
"Oh, yeah. I couldn't agree more. Which weirdness are you referring to, though?"
"That my brother-in-law is trying to turn you into some sort of god, and you want to know nothing about it. Don't give me that look—I know you don't enjoy talking about it, and I won't bring it up again, but still... I feel like most people would want to be involved."
I smoothed the scowl that had crossed my face unbidden. "Oh, that's easy to explain. I just want to fish and make friends. I'm not gonna actively stop Barry from doing what he pleases, but that's because he's doing it for everyone's safety. It's selfish of me to stay here, knowing I am what I am, so the least I can do is let him ensure everyone is as protected as possible."
"And if he—no, if we succeed in causing you to ascend... what then?"
"Then you'll still find me here, catching fishies, hanging with my pals, and having a good timel."
He shook his head, smiling at me. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Sure do."
"Yep. You're definitely weird."
I barked a laugh. "I'm downright strange, mate, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
***
When Leroy finished tying the knot, I nodded; he'd reattached the large hook and sinker flawlessly.
"Am I missing anything?" he asked as he slid a chunk of eel onto the hook.
"Nope. It's good to go."
He got to his feet, reeled in the line, then flicked the reel sideways. "How far do I cast it?"
"Aim for the river mouth—where the freshwater hits the ocean is a magnet for big fish."
He held the rod back, paused a moment, then launched it. The line and sinker flew high, soaring almost all the way to the other side of the river.
He winced as he turned to me. "Too far?"
"A little, but it's all good—reel it back until it's about halfway."
When the bait was in the middle of the channel, I set up two of the folding chairs Greg and Brad, the village woodworkers, had kindly let me keep.
We sat down and I leaned back, stretching as I enjoyed the serious expression on Leroy's face. I understood his feeling entirely; there was nothing else in the world quite like waiting for a fish to strike.
"You know, Fischer... I wasn't sure what to expect when Barry said you'd invited me to go fishing."
"It's better than you thought, isn't it?"
He smirked at me. "That's an understatement. How can something be so relaxing yet so exciting at the same time?"
"I'd say it was to do with it being heretical, and therefore more exciting, but honestly, it was the same in my previous life, and it was totally chill to fish there."
He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What made it cold?"
"... what? Ohhhh. Chill in that context means allowed—society as a whole wouldn't look down on you for doing it."
"I still can't believe you're..." He trailed off. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up."
"It's fine, mate. It's pretty wild that I'm from a different world, huh?"
"That's putting it mildly..."
I shrugged. "I'm used to it, and I've only been here for like a month or something. Two months? I've honestly lost track—the days have been so busy and enjoyable."
We fell into a comfortable silence, our thoughts taking us to distant places. Eventually, movement caught my attention, and my eyes moved to the rod tip.
"Leroy…"
He stared at nothing, his eyes dull. "Yeah, Fischer?"
"You should hold your finger to the line."
"Oh...? Why's that?"
"Because there's a fish having a cheeky little nibble of your bait."
He shot upright, his eyes widening as they focused on the rod. His index finger drifted to the line, and when he felt the tiny tugs, a toothy grin appeared. "When do I set the hook?"
"You'll know. Wait for it..."
The fish was getting more confident, taking bigger and bigger bites of the bait.
Bump.
"Wait for it..."
Bump.
"Not yet..."
There was a pause, and I thought the fish had stolen the bait, but then the rod dipped, almost bending in half as the fish took off.
"Now!" I yelled.
B2 | 3 - Quantification
Time seemed to freeze as I watched Leroy lift the rod and set the hook.
The muscles in his arms bulged, and he leaned back, bracing against the fish's mighty run. A gust of wind blew his short hair back, revealing a smile of sheer, childlike joy on his face.
The fish redoubled its efforts, swimming out to sea and dragging Leroy stumbling across the slick rocks.
"Let some of the line out," I instructed
He did so, easing the tension. "What in Poseidon's salt-washed back hair is this thing?"
"A big bloody fish. Move with it if you need."
He stepped to the side, but with his eyes moving between the reel and ocean, he slipped.
I caught him before he could fall over. "The rocks are slippery, mate—cultivator's body or not."
He showed no embarrassment, only anticipation and palpable excitement.
Despite the open waters surrounding the river mouth, the fish never changed direction; it swam in a straight line out to sea, attempting to take Leroy with it.
Leroy started the fight off clumsily, but as the battle dragged on, his footing grew more sure. He adjusted his stance, and whilst Leroy's technique improved, the fish grew sluggish.
Without me instructing him, Leroy started taking some line back, pumping the rod up, then winding the reel in as he lowered it. Each time the fish caught sight of the shore, it would tear off again, dipping deep into its energy reserves to escape.
The grin never left Leroy's face, and despite his enhanced body, sweat peppered his brow, glistening under the sun's light.
I'd still not caught sight of the fish yet, so as Leroy wound it close to land once more, I jogged along the shore, trying to spy it. Its muscular body kicked again, taking off toward the depths—but not before the sun reflected from its silver body.
It. Was. Huge.
Actually, huge was probably doing the fish a disservice—it was gigantic, long as a man and half as tall.
My eyes went wide as I turned to Leroy; his were even wider, his mouth hanging ajar.
"What in hades' hounds is that?" he demanded. "Fish get that big?"
"It's the biggest I've ever seen, Leroy! Keep winding!"
He clenched his jaw and focused on the fight, his grin disappearing for the first time since he'd hooked the monstrous thing.
One turn of the reel at a time, he pulled it back toward us. The fish swam languidly across the shoreline, clearly exhausted, and we got our first good look at it.
It had a rounded head, angular fins, and triangular spines running down to its tail. The fish looked too big for us to pull it up without hurting it, so without a second thought, I got down to my jocks and jumped into the river mouth.
The freezing water made a wave of adrenaline wash over me as I swam forward and put my hands under the fish, taking care to avoid the spines and fins. I kicked my legs toward the rocks and lifted it up above the waterline.
Leroy grabbed it and hauled it onto the shore, and I pulled myself up onto the headland. Water cascaded down my body and I shook my head, clearing it of salty water as I wiped my eyes.
Leroy hugged the fish tight to his body, his mouth still wide, his eyes staring down at the fish vacantly.
It drew my attention, and my gaze went distant as a screen popped up before me.
Mature Giant Trevally
Rare
Found in the oceans of the Kallis Realm, this fish is a prized sport fish for anglers everywhere. Its flesh is undesirable, and it is considered bad luck to harm them.
When my eyes cleared, Leroy was waddling down to the water with the fish still in his arms. I dashed past him and jumped into the water, then we eased it down together.
"Help me move it back and forth in the water," I said, showing him how. "Forcing water through its gills helps it release better."
I treaded water as we moved the fish. Neither of us spoke, and all I could assume was that Leroy was as awed as I was. The trevally's body was as thick as my head, and feeling the lean muscles hidden beneath its scales, I completely understood how it had put up such a fight. It would be like a dart beneath the waves, and I didn't envy the fish this thing must hunt to sustain itself.
Abruptly, the trevally tried to swim, so I let go and swam back. It kicked its tail only three times, but that was enough to lose sight of the fish as it melded into the deep-blue water of the river mouth.
My mind went blank as I continued treading water, uncomprehending of what we'd just witnessed. I looked up at Leroy, who was beaming down at me, one hand extended. I grasped it, and he hauled me up to the rocks.
We blinked at each other, then both yelled at the same time.
"What the hell, Leroy!"
"What was that, Fischer!"
We laughed and jumped up and down on the spot, slowly spinning in a circle as we giggled wordlessly.
"Uhhh..." came a feminine voice, and we both stopped, peering at the intruder.
Maria's eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she stared at us. "... am I interrupting something?" Her eyes narrowed on me. "And where are your clothes...?"
Despite wearing only a set of thin jocks, being drenched in salt water, and having been caught dancing like a child with my new pal, I grinned at her. "Feeling jealous?"
I ran over and wrapped her in a hug.
"Fischer! You're soaking!" She batted at me ineffectually and laughed as I pressed my soaking body into her. "Put me down!"
I set her back on the sand. "You missed it! Leroy just caught the biggest fish I've ever seen! It was as long as the Lady of the Lake, but even taller!"
Her annoyance was immediately washed away.
"What was it? How big was it? Where did it go?"
***
Maria pouted as I finished drying myself, and I shot her a wink.
She rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "I help my dad in the fields for one morning, and you go and catch a new fish without me!"
I held my hands up. "Hey, it was Leroy's fault, not mine. The man is a natural."
Leroy rubbed the back of his head. "Hi—it's Maria, right?"
"Oh! You two haven't met? Where are my manners?" I pointed to Leroy. "This is Leroy. He's Helen's brother, Barry's brother-in-law, a fellow cultivator and fisherman extraordinaire."
I gestured at Maria haphazardly. "This is the neighbor girl. I forget her name, and she's kind of annoying, but she's okay at fishing too, I guess. I usually just tune her voice—oof."
She cut me off with an elbow to the ribs, and it actually kind of hurt given her enhanced body.
"Ow, you little terror! Watch your strength."
"That's what you get for disrespecting a young lady." She lifted her nose in a facade of disdain, but rubbed where she'd elbowed in apology.
"Well, it's nice to meet you finally, Maria," Leroy said. "I've heard a lot from Sharon."
"All good things, no doubt."
"Of course." He gave us both a smile. "I'll leave you guys to it, then. Thanks for this morning, Fischer."
I held up a hand. "Whoa, where do you think you're going, my man?"
"I don't want to impose—I was just going to see if Barry needed any help in the..." He trailed off as I shook my head emphatically.
"You've not yet caught a fish for dinner! As your fishing trainer, I couldn't stand for such an incomplete lesson."
He raised an eyebrow, and Maria piled on. "I couldn't agree more. Fischer is a bit useless as a trainer, so the more experience you get, the better."
I nodded along. "It's true. This is your first time fishing, and you've already caught a fish bigger than my personal best."
"You're sure?" he asked. "I don't want to eat into your alone time..."
"Oh, if anything, you'll be doing me a favor!" I grinned. "Being alone with this one is like being stuck in an elevator with a honey badger, but she's even more—joking! I'm joking!" I dashed away from her raised backhand, hiding behind Leroy to avoid her wrath.
***
I smiled as the afternoon sun beamed down on us.
I'd set up another chair for Maria, and all three of us sat in a comfortable silence; the waves, wind, and birds high above created a pleasant symphony.
Maria's hand rested atop my arm, and she moved one finger back and forth. Her touch was both welcome and comforting, and my breaths came slowly as my body's sensations lulled me further into a state of mindfulness.
Leroy shot to his feet, and I directed a half-lidded glance toward him.
"Fish!" he said, his voice filled with elation.
I stayed sitting, content to watch the fight from afar. The rod dipped as the fish fought to escape; it was big, but nowhere near as large as the giant trevally.
Leroy easily wrestled it to the shore, and as I caught sight of it, I smiled. "It has no teeth—you can pick it up by the mouth."
He bent and grabbed it with one hand, resting his other under the belly as he hauled it up.
Mature Shore Fish
Uncommon
Found along the ocean shores of the Kallis Realm, this fish is a staple source of both food and bait.
"What...?" Maria asked, turning toward me.
"What's wrong?"
She swallowed, here eyes darting between me and the fish. "I inspected it..."
It was the first time she'd been able to accomplish such a feat.
I shrugged. "Huh... Leroy could too. Neat."
She gave me a flat stare. "Neat? What do you mean, neat?"
"It's kind of cool, right? More people can inspect fish now. Maybe you two earned enough fishing skills or some other nonsense—who really knows with the System being more broken than Xin Zhao on release."
She scowled at me for a long moment before turning to Leroy, not taking the bait. "Please tell me I'm not crazy and you're just as shocked."
He shrugged. "I've only been back just over a week, and I'm already desensitized to the happenings around Fischer."
She let out a long-suffering sigh. "I guess you have a point."
"Wait..." Leroy said. "It said staple source of food—does that mean we can eat it?"
"It certainly does, mate."
He grinned, Maria put her head in her hands, and I strode over to Leroy. "Do you want to try dispatching it?"
He nodded, so I passed him the spike.
"Poke it right here, swift and decisive."
He did so, and the fish immediately went limp.
"Alright," I said. "I'll show you how to prepare it."
***
As Leroy watched Maria and Fischer bicker good-naturedly across the campfire, he couldn't help but smirk.
Fischer was singing some song about complimenting a chef and acting like Maria was the weird one for not having heard it, despite it having the weirdest cadence and lyrics Leroy had ever heard.
Definitely a song from his previous world, Leroy decided, shaking his head.
He looked down at the shallow-frying fish, and his mouth watered at the aroma rising from the pan.
After showing Leroy how to gut and scale the catch, Fischer had crumbed and thrown the fish into a tallow-filled pan, and was keeping an eye on it as he continued stirring up Maria.
The System nudged Leroy for the fourth time today, and he rolled his eyes. Despite willing his notifications to be silent, the System's attempts at communication were still an annoying occurrence. He checked them with a mild flex of will, expecting to see the usual 'insufficient power' message.
"Alright," Fischer said, jostling the pan's handle as he turned to Maria. "I reckon it's finished—what do you think?"
Leroy barely heard the words.
Maria leaned over, peering down at the fish's golden crumbs. "Looks good to me!"
Fischer nodded and removed the fish with a pair of tongs. He set the fish down on a board, and after a minute of letting the fat drain from the steaming fish, he smiled up at Leroy. "After you, mate. It was your catch."
Leroy's eyes were still distant, looking at a screen occupying his field of view.
"Er... Leroy? You right, mate?"
Again, Leroy barely heard the words; he stared at his System notifications, unbelieving.
A series of lines had printed out, and he read them again.
You have learned fishing!
You have advanced to fishing 2!
You have advanced to fishing 3!
You have advanced to fishing 4!