Bouma paused in the midst of organizing the boxes in the shop, brushing off the dust from his clothes with a few sharp pats, then rubbing his hands on his sleeves to clean them as he slowly approached Daoba and Bazz.
Bouma glanced at Daoba and said,
"Why the fine-meshed net? What are you trying to catch?"
Daoba rubbed his chin with one hand and chuckled lightly.
"To catch eulachon. They'll be showing up soon, so it's time to start preparing."
Bouma folded his arms, nodding thoughtfully as if lost in contemplation for a moment.
"Hmm... Eulachon, huh. In that case, you'll definitely need something finer than a regular net. Those little guys are small and quick on their feet—or fins, I suppose."
Bazz looked at Daoba with interest.
"Eulachon? Is it already that time of year...?"
Daoba nodded with a light smile.
"That's right. Everyone thinks of the Kannook salmon when they hear 'Dook-Dook Pioran-o' but the festival really kicks off with the eulachon."
For the residents of Damu, who make their living fishing in the Nauulaat River, the Dook-Dook Pioran-o is a vital festival that returns every few years. The massive Kannook salmon, considered the star of the event, ascends the Nauulaat River every three years, but the eulachon returns annually to meet the fishermen. Whether it's a year for the Kannook salmon or not, the first fish to swim upstream is always the eulachon.
Also known as candlefish, eulachon were typically dried and skewered on pointed sticks to be burned as torches. They were the first thing people reached for in situations without lantern flames or magic stone lights. You could eat them if hungry, or use them to illuminate the darkness—that's the kind of fish the eulachon is.
Eulachon are smaller than Kannook salmon and rich in fat, allowing them to move swiftly even in the cold river waters. They possess a special sense that detects subtle temperature changes in the river as the first frost of winter falls, enabling them to begin their migration ahead of other fish. In contrast, the Kannook salmon, with their large and massive bodies, need to accumulate more strength, so they only start ascending the river in earnest during the depths of winter.
In this way, the eulachon are called the 'harbingers of winter' being the first to travel up the Nauulaat River, and the fishermen of Damu greet the full fishing season from the moment they appear.
Bazz folded his fingers one by one, murmuring quietly to himself.
"One year, two years, three years... It's already been three years..."
His gaze drifted into the distance. When would the Kannook salmon return this year? Bazz recalled the last festival: the spectacle of massive salmon surging upstream, people cheering along the riverbanks as they hurled harpoons, and the countless lanterns illuminating the shores...
Daoba also tilted his head back, closing his eyes to summon memories of the past, and said,
"It's coming soon. Not much longer now."
Daoba wore a faint smile as he traced back to the memories from three years ago.
As winter deepened, a faint black smoke rose from the downstream reaches of the river, vivid in his mind's eye. It was the signal from Damu's watchmen, proof that the schools of Kannook salmon had appeared.
The smoke from the beacon fires rising into the distant sky announced to the fishermen of the Nauulaat River the return of life ascending the waters. The residents of Damu erupted in cheers upon seeing the black smoke and began their preparations. Some inspected their nets, others sharpened new harpoons, and numerous bonfires were lit along the banks of the Nauulaat River.
At night, when the smoke became invisible, the watchmen raised torches. They sprinkled a special powder on the flames to make them burn in a deeper red hue. When those vivid red flames blazed brightly in the darkness, the villagers let out another roar of joy. The massive salmon would arrive soon.
Daoba drew a deep breath and murmured,
"I can't wait to see the black smoke by day... and the red torches by night."
At his words, Bouma and Bazz's eyes sparkled as if recalling the watchmen's beacon signals. And they envisioned the day when those signals finally illuminated the skies over Damu.
From the distant downstream of the Nauulaat River, the waves began to churn unnaturally. The flow rising from the riverbed grew increasingly turbulent, soon spreading out in rippling waves that seemed to cleave the river. An unusual undulation filled the entire stream, and before long, the first Kannook salmon burst through the surface. Its body gleamed as it leaped from the river, scattering countless droplets that sparkled in the sunlight. Dozens, then hundreds followed, surging through the water and shaking the river's flow. Massive fish cleaved the river as they soared.
They battered aside any floating obstacles without hesitation. Small branches were swept away in the current with a single tail flick, and even large drifting logs splintered upon impact with their powerful tails. Some salmon collided with rocks jutting from the river's midst, shattering them into fragments that sank beneath the surface. The vigorous leaps of the salmon over the fierce currents created a roar like standing in a downpour. It was a terrifying force born of life's instinct, a sight that overwhelmed all who beheld it.
At the forefront of the river's flow stood the Dawi and Muwa, harpoons in hand, shouting. Each gripped a harpoon, and from the hands manifested by the Muwa gleamed harpoons infused with mana, slicing through the air. As the currents grew wilder, their cries grew louder.
In that instant, water erupted from the river's center. A Kannook salmon burst forth, leaping high. Its body shimmered silver in the sunlight, twisting in mid-air. Dozens, then hundreds more followed, cleaving the fierce waters with powerful surges.
Harpoons flew swiftly from the hands of the Dawi and Muwa. Sharp tips cut through the air, and the sounds of churning waves and exploding spray filled the riverbanks. Gleaming ripples, tearing splashes, white foam piercing through—desperate leaps of massive living beings. And the fishermen's hunt for them swirled into a dynamic vortex named festival.
Daoba smiled as he recalled that scene.
As Daoba and Bazz filled their hearts with anticipation, reminiscing about the past festival, Bouma scanned the various fishing tools hanging on one side of the tackle shop. On the wooden shelves, worn from use, were neatly arranged nets, harpoons. As the owner of the fishing gear shop, he saw this festival as an unmissable opportunity and hoped the tools in his store would sell well.
Bouma turned back to Daoba and Bazz and asked,
"So, Daoba, you just need a net suitable for catching eulachon. What about you, Bazz? You gonna buy that harpoon?"
Bazz shifted his gaze to the harpoon hanging on the wall. At the end of its long, sturdy handle gleamed a sharp tip. It was a refined version of the harpoon originally made by seaside fishermen for large ocean fish—definitely something worth having for a proper hunt. But he patted his pockets and gave a wry smile.
"The festival's still a ways off, so I'll have to earn a bit more money to buy it."
Bouma snorted and shrugged.
"Well, I can't say if that harpoon will still be here by then. Good stuff sells out fast."
Daoba folded his arms, tilting his head as he looked at Bazz.
"Got yourself some work yet? If not, you could join me catching eulachon to make some silver."
Bazz smiled awkwardly, placing his hands on his hips.
"I'll have to start looking now, I guess."
Daoba sighed and shook his head.
"You're always like this. You only move when the fire's at your feet."
Bazz shrugged with a playful grin.
"But I always pull it off somehow, right? That's what counts."
Bouma smiled as he listened to their banter.
"Anyway, you two seem preoccupied with festival prep. Come by again if you need anything. Customers looking for quality gear are always welcome."
Daoba and Bazz nodded and stepped out the shop door. Outside, a chill wind brushed their faces—a harbinger of the festival.
As they left the shop, Daoba looked up at the sky and murmured,
"It's coming soon. We'll see the Nauulaat River covered in waves stirred by the Kannook salmon."
In a dimly lit corner of the shop, away from the sunlight, a Muwa customer tilted their head, peering curiously at the display case. After a moment of hesitation, they approached Bouma and asked cautiously,
"I'm looking to buy some eel glaives. Could you recommend one?"
Bouma raised an eyebrow slightly at the customer's words, then pointed to the various spears in the display case and began explaining.
"Eel glaives are different from regular fish spears. Normal fish spears are straightforward for stabbing, but eel glaives are designed to trap the eel so it can't slip out."
Intrigued, the Muwa customer asked for more details.
"Trap them, you say?"
Bouma nodded and pulled two spears from the case to show. One was short and broad, the other long and slender.
"These are the two main types. This short, broad one is good for places with firm riverbeds—like rocky or sandy areas. On the other hand, this long, slender one is specialized for deep mud in swamps or tidal flats. That's why it's also called the 'spear for bottomless places.'"
The Muwa customer examined the blade of the eel glaive closely and asked,
"But why is the blade so flat and narrow? And what's with these serrated teeth jutting out backward?"
"Good question."
Bouma grinned and tapped the spear with his finger.
"It's not for stabbing like a regular spear; you slide the eel between these broad blades and trap it. See how the serrations on the back all point inward? Once it's in, the eel can't wriggle free no matter how it twists."
"Oh... That's quite an ingenious design."
The Muwa customer said in admiration.
"It's a method passed down from ancient times. Effective in the field, too. Where do you plan to use it? If it's a firm-bottomed area, I'd recommend the broad one; for deep mud, go with the long one."
The Muwa customer pondered for a while before nodding.
"Our village is near a swampy area... I'll take the long, slender one."
Bouma smiled with satisfaction, picking up the spear and heading toward the whetstone to sharpen the blade.
"Excellent choice. I'll throw in some necessary accessories, so just wait a moment."