Chapter 38: b10-b16
B2 | 10 - Distasteful
The being within the light-blue tree stretched her awareness out as she woke from her slumber, thoughts addled and mind foggy.
It hadn't been long since her last moment of awareness.
Despite the insignificant stretch of time, she immediately noticed something: the latent energy suffusing the world had increased. It was still far below the levels of old, but compared to that of the last few-thousand years, it was as a bonfire beside a smoldering log.
As she extended her senses further, feeling the ebbs and flows in the surrounding world, she made a delightful discovery: someone had brought her an offering. As with the morsels she'd found beneath the earth, the offering was of fish, along with a single stalk of chi-infused plant matter. If she had a mouth, it would have watered as she extended a thin root out, questing for the power offered.
Her root rose above the earth, tasted the air, then plunged deep into the fish's flesh.
She was immediately disappointed. The power within was paltry, nothing compared to the preceding chunks of fish. She redirected the root, twisting out of the fish and into the green stalk of cane. Her spirit shivered as she tasted the sweet juices within, drank of the will intertwined with its very fibers, relished in—
Power exploded from somewhere in the surrounding forest, and an unidentified creature flew directly at her.
***
Corporal Claws, wreathed in lightning and promising justice for the egregious slight of tricking her, trilled a battle cry as she flew headfirst for the light-blue trunk.
Sergeant Snips was fond of telling her violence wasn't always the answer. Sure—not always. Sometimes, however... sometimes swift violence was the solution.
Claws grinned, exposing needle-sharp teeth as she rocketed at the invader, her chittering war cry not pausing for a moment.
***
What is this feeling? the ancient being thought as she watched the otter approach.
She tasted the emotion, rolling it around her consciousness. It had been so very long since she'd felt anything.
Ahhhh, she realized. It is amusement. I am amused.
The otter continued to fly, claws extending and teeth bared in a promise of impending violence.
Even having been asleep for millennia, her awareness was more than capable of keeping up with the pup before her—enhanced by lightning or not. The lightning element was what made the situation so amusing and the only thing she felt as the otter flew closer was anticipation.
The being bared her soul as the otters collision neared, opening up her very core.
Come, then.
***
Corporal Claws' battle cry turned into a laugh of glee as she soared at the blue-tinted trunk. She imagined herself obliterating the tree, tearing the wood to splinters, ejecting the creature, demolishing—
The lightning surrounding her arced out and touched the trunk, and the moment it did, the power flooding her drained away. Within the blink of an eye, her ability was sucked from her body and into the tree.
No, not the tree, she thought. The creature within.
While it had stolen her lightning, it had—unfortunately—done nothing to reduce her velocity.
Crack!
Claws' vision blurred as she bounced back from the tree and tumbled ass over whiskers.
***
Delight flooded the being as she cycled the lightning down into her core. The nature power tingled, nourishing everywhere it touched.
The moment she'd seen the lightning surrounding the creature, she knew she was in for a treat; lightning was of nature chi, and very much within her domain. What she didn't know, however, was just how much power the otter would possess. The mammal felt like a newly awakened being, and she had expected a matching level of essence.
Just what had occurred in the time she was asleep?
She had been drifting in and out of wakefulness over what must have been a few days, and the revelations in that insignificant amount of time made little sense. Her memory was littered with gaps. She could not pinpoint exactly what was off about the situation she found herself in, but it felt wrong nonetheless.
The otter, having rolled almost out of the clearing following the collision, shook her head as she got back to all fours. The being hoped she would attack again, summon forth more lightning that she could absorb, but she was left disappointed.
The otter turned and ran, fleeing.
Using part of the energy harvested, the being within the tree extended a root through the humid earth. It lifted up right under the otter, just in time to catch her front paw. The otter tripped, tumbled, then stared daggers at the trunk as she got back to her feet. She chirped an insult before wreathing herself in lightning and launching herself away.
Exuberance flooded the ancient being, and her leaves shivered in amusement.
***
"Um," Maria said, staring down at the ray. "What part of this thing do we even eat?"
"The wings," I replied, poking the body and feeling the flesh. "They have a layer of cartilage running between the upper and lower sections of meat, so we cut off the wings, then remove the cartilage and skin."
"That sounds... complicated. How'd they do it in the video you watched?"
"Well, the bloke in the video went full Florida-man with an electric saw. I'm just gonna use a knife, though."
Maria narrowed her eyes at me. "Do I even want to know what any of that means?"
"Not really, but the sentence was fun to say."
She lightly backhanded me, trying not to let her smile show.
Despite how sharp my knife was, it took well over an hour to separate all the flesh from the inedible bits. I had Maria to keep me company, so the time flew by as we joked and talked about small things.
With an absolute mound of fish on one tray and all the trimmings held in a bucket, we headed back to the campfire Sergeant Snips was tending.
My trusty guard crab had come and found us when the ray was half-processed, and I'd told her to gather the rest of our animal pals.
We were going to have a feast.
Sergeant Snips, Private Pistachio, Rocky, and Cinnamon were arrayed around the fire, and I beamed a smile at all of them.
"No Corporal Claws?"
Snips shrugged and blew bubbles I understood—she hadn't been able to find her.
"No matter," I said. "I bet she'll come running once she smells the food."
I seasoned the meat with a mixture of herbs and spices that I thought would go well with the unique flavor of ray, then placed it on a hotplate atop the flames.
Maria stroked Cinnamon's fur as I sat down next to the campfire, and I reached a hand over, scratching right between her floppy ears. Cinnamon leaned into it, arching her neck in delight. Snips hissed, demanding a scratch from my other side. I happily obliged, letting out a soft chuckle as I rubbed the top of her sturdy carapace.
The scent of ray and spice wafted up from the hotplate, and my mouth began to water.
I'd placed sections of cartilage atop the fire, and Rocky leaned down before one of them, leaking anticipatory bubbles.
"You know, Rocky—you can eat those whenever you like. You don't have to wait for them to cook."
He turned to face Snips, his bubbles increasing. She hissed a sigh and nodded, giving him permission. Rocky became a blur of movement as he snatched a section from the fire and began crunching.
"Same goes for you, Pistachio. Help yourself if you like."
The giant lobster shook his head; he was content waiting.
I stood and started turning the chunks of ray with my trusty tongs. The cooked sides were a deep, golden brown, and the uncooked sides would only take a few minutes to complete. The herbs and spices had a savory punch, packed with an umami hit that made my mouth water even more.
Everyone was silent as I lifted a chunk from the hotplate and split it open, checking to see if the inside was cooked. The flaky meat parted easily, and steam rose from the white flesh. I removed the ray from the hotplate, but just as I was about to dish them out, something made itself known from the west.
My head darted to the side, peering out into the dark to see what approached. I only felt a moment of worry before I recognized who it was.
Corporal Claws, wrapped in lightning and babbling an incomprehensible series of chirps, slammed into my chest. She dismissed the lightning just before hitting me, and I caught her easily, wrapping her in my arms.
"What's wrong, Claws?"
Tears sprung from her eyes as she pointed toward the forest, hissing and chirping at me so swiftly I only caught a few words.
I clenched my jaw in response. "Show me who hurt you."
From her perch in my arms, the aggrieved otter directed us through the forest. As we traveled—and I recognized the path—my confusion grew. Surely we weren't headed where I thought…
Eventually, we emerged into the clearing where I'd planted my lemon seeds—just where I'd suspected. I raised an eyebrow at a pile of fish on the forest floor. Claws leaped from my arms and chirped her indignation, completely ignoring the fish as she pointed at the light-blue tree, accusation clear on her fuzzy little face.
I looked at her, the tree, then back at her. "Uhhh, Claws? Are you sure the—"
A presence exerted itself on the world, and the words died in my throat. Something within the tree stirred and wielded its will. A hole opened up under the pile of fish, making it disappear into the earth. Roots churned underneath, and the patch of grass was pressed back up to obscure the hole.
I gaped, and Claws strode forward, puffing out her chest.
She babbled a series of trill sounds, pointed at me, then mimed punching the tree. She slid to the spot she'd punched, then extended her arms and splayed her fingers in the approximation of an explosion.
"Stay here, Claws," I said, bending to pat her head. I glanced back at everyone else. "You guys, too—keep clear just in case."
"Fischer..." Maria took a step forward, but I shook my head.
"I'll be okay—I promise. Just keep your distance, yeah?"
She chewed her cheek, but nodded, her eyes serious.
As I strode past Claws, she shadow boxed the air and cheered me on with high-pitched chirps. I stopped walking as I got to one of my lemon seeds and I dug my fingers into the earth. The seed was still there, ungerminated, but just as I'd suspected, the fish fertilizer was completely gone.
As I brushed dirt from my hands, the beginning of an idea sprouted in my mind, and my enhanced awareness quickly expanded the idea until it formed a plan. Well, the possibility of one, but it was worth a try.
I stood and faced the tree. "You found my fish to your liking?"
No response came, so I crept forward on light feet.
"You know, I put that fish there to help my trees grow. I'm not upset that you took it, and I'd be happy to bring you more."
Still, the tree made no reply—not that I knew how a damned tree was supposed to communicate.
"If you want more food from me, there's a cost. I want you to help cultivate the seeds I planted into fruit trees. Can you do that for me?"
***
The ancient being looked on at the procession of strange creatures littering its clearing. A myriad of newly awakened creatures, one of which was one of the humans that had been present earlier.
Weak, she thought, remembering the human's power.
The man strode forward, speaking to her. She understood the language, but found his words... distasteful. He compared himself—but a sapling on the path of ascendance—to a mighty spirit of her station.
Using some of the power she'd harvested from the otter, she raised a mighty root, thick around as the man's arms. The ground shook and the earth split to allow its exit. She held it up before him, letting him inspect its magnificence. His face registered surprise, but his spirit was unshaken.
This annoyed the spirit, so she flicked the root at his chest.
It should knock him away, but given he was a cultivator, it wouldn't hurt him... probably.
B2 | 11 - Distraction
Pinpricks of moonlight broke through the canopy above, illuminating the root thundering toward my chest. Thick as an otter, the root would tear through most men.
I appraised the root further as it tore through the air. If not for my enhanced body, I wouldn't have been able to spot it.
Lucky for me, that wasn't the case.
I grinned at the challenge and lifted one hand calmly, raising my palm where the root would strike my sternum.
***
The being's amusement turned to worry as the cultivator lifted an arm to block her attack.
She'd aimed the blow at his center of mass, not intending to hurt him and only meaning to put him in his place. When the root struck his chest, it would knock the wind from his lungs, but his vital points would be spared.
The arm, however, wouldn't fare so well; bones would break, if not shatter.
She had neither the time nor the power to withdraw her blow—all she could do was hope the devastation was minimal. A grin spread over the man's face, and she felt pity for the fool until the root struck his open palm.
Crack!
Air exploded from the collision, blowing the cultivator's hair back. His eyes didn't flinched, his footing remained sturdy, and the grin never left his face.
Realization and terror washed over the ancient being, and her leaves shook, entirely out of her control.
The cultivator, this man so new on the path of ascension, had halted her blow with a single hand. Worse, she had felt his ability—the power he possessed.
It was blank; pure; lacking any sort of elemental touch. The power of one's will came from the element tied to their chi, so how was it possible for this man, having not even a whisper of elemental power, to possess such strength? In her uncountable years of life, she'd never heard of such a thing.
She shuddered, her entire trunk vibrating.
What kind of demon had she found herself in the presence of?
One thing was certain: she wasn't safe in this human's presence.
***
"Well, that was pretty rude," I said, raising an eyebrow. "You could at least take me out to dinner before trying to root me."
I turned to Maria and waggled my eyebrows expectantly, but she just scowled in response. "I don't know what that means, Fischer, but I'm gonna assume it was uncouth, vulgar, and perhaps a little gross."
"Oh, you're getting good at this."
"No, I'm not—your immaturity is getting predictable."
The tree shuddered, and I spun to face it. The thick root that struck at my chest withdrew into the ground, slithering out of sight. Its presence minimized, and I got the impression it was departing.
"Hey! Hold up, lil tree dude. My offer is still on the table—I really want to grow some lemons and I'm willing to bring you snacks as payment."
I strode forward and pressed my palm to the bark, pouring my will into the tree.
"Is... is that something you can do?"
***
The being heard his words, yet still withdrew, feeling an instinctive need to get away. Her kind lived longer than most, and there was a reason for that: they didn't get involved in the games and machinations of those like the one before her.
She willed herself back to sleep, knowing her best chance of survival was avoidance. His star would either burn out too soon, or he would ascend—either way, he would be gone and she would remain.
But then he placed his palm against the bark of her firm trunk. His intent flowed out, and it stopped her in place.
Was... was this some kind of trick? His desires, what he wanted from life... was that even possible from a man possessing so much potential?
Tentatively, with great care, she extended part of herself, wanting to know more of the man. Given how fresh he was to ascendency, he likely didn't know the gravity of what he was doing—what he was exposing himself to by opening up so candidly.
She pounced at the opportunity.
***
As I poured myself into the tree, I felt the thing inside reach out. It was hesitant, as if testing the heat of a stovetop with a fingertip.
Our souls mingled, and it—No, she, I thought—poked around my will, examining it. She offered some of herself up in exchange, and a hint of understanding rose from the depths of my consciousness.
As quick as it had begun, her attention withdrew, but her presence returned as she made a metaphorical step forward, returning her awareness to the center of the tree's trunk.
Her will stirred, and something sprouted from the tree. A stem extended, unfurling with small leaves. A bulb grew from the tip, and within the space of a breath, it unfurled, revealing a beautiful, light-blue flower.
I bent and sniffed it; it smelled of the forest. The condensed scent of earth, grass, trees, and life were held within the flower, and as I continued breathing in, the stem severed and fell. I caught it in one hand, holding the stunning flower out before me.
"Er, is that a yes?"
The tree seemed thoughtful. Its leaves shook a single time, and I took that as confirmation.
"Alright—I'll bring some food by soon. My name is Fischer, by the—"
Corporal Claws unleashed an indignant chirp. She pointed at the tree, then punched a closed paw into her open palm, demanding retribution.
"I don't think she meant any harm, Claws."
She dashed toward me, jumped into my arms, and chirped what I thought was an expletive at the trunk. The being's awareness stirred, and a second stem extended from the tree, unfurling into another blue flower.
"See?" I said, catching the flower as it fell. I held it out to Claws. "She made a peace offering."
Corporal Claws raised a furry eyebrow, assessing the gift. She sniffed the flower, nodded, and turned her back to the trunk, dismissing it.
I pet her head. "We're gonna go have some dinner, tree, then we'll bring you some fish, alright?"
There was no response, so I shrugged and left.
"So," Maria said as we strode beneath the forest's canopy. "Are you going to explain what the frack just happened?"
"It looks like we might have made a new friend."
She raised an eyebrow at me as she stepped over a fallen log.
"Are you sure that thing is friendly? I'm pretty sure it tried to kill you..."
"Nah, it wasn't trying to actually hurt me. It felt a fair bit of regret when I raised my arm—it thought my bones would crack if I tried to block the blow."
"And you know that how?"
"It was the vibe I got when I held my hand to the tree. We kind of... spoke to each other? Without words. I don't really know, to be honest—it was pretty neat, though."
She took a deep breath and sighed it out. "If you call one more shocking event neat I might explode. You're annoyingly calm about this kind of stuff."
"I just have even more important things to focus on, like the pretty lady walking beside me, my trusty animal pals, and the delicious ray waiting for us back at home."
Claws and Snips chirped and bubbled their agreement. Cinnamon nodded from her spot in Maria's arms. Pistachio lumbered on behind us, stoic as ever. Rocky initially made no reply, but Snips darted a look at him, clicking one claw in a threat. He grumbled and nodded a single time, agreeing under the threat of violence.
Maria scoffed. "You think flattery will get you out of this?"
"Did it?"
"Hmm." She rubbed her chin in exaggerated thought. "Not yet, but feel free to keep trying."
Despite how cold the ray had gotten while we were gone, it was still one of the best meals I'd ever had.
As I took another bite of the firm flesh, I let out a soft mmm, focusing on the flavors. It was reminiscent of the shovelnose ray I'd previously eaten, and the herbs and spices paired perfectly with its unique yet mild taste.
"It's almost perfect," Maria said, leaning back on the sand as she assessed the lingering flavor in her mouth. "It's just missing one thing…"
"Oh? What's that?"
She smirked at me. "Lemon."
"Yeah, I think you're right... good thing we planted some seeds, huh?"
The creatures arrayed around the fire crunched and chewed on parts of the ray. The cacophony they made was comforting, and as I gazed around at their content expressions, a grin formed on my face.
"Do you really think the seeds will grow?" Maria asked.
"I'm not positive, but I have a good feeling about it."
"Let me guess—it was the 'vibe' you got?"
I beamed. "That's right—you are getting good at this."
I took another bite of ray as Maria shook her head at me, and the savory flavors whisked me away, bringing me to a place of serendipity.
We lapsed into silence, the only noises that of the crackling fire and my loudly eating animal pals.
As I lay in my bed that night, sleep was being elusive.
My mind was awhirl with the things I'd learned today, and I couldn't shut my brain off long enough for slumber to take me.
We'd taken the ray's body to the tree when our meal was finished, and the ground had opened up beneath the offering, swallowing it whole. Based on the way the tree shuddered and shook, it was safe to assume it enjoyed the meal.
Realizing my thoughts were going in loops, I sighed and sat up, tucking in Cinnamon so she didn't get cold. The bunny was softly snoring as I stepped from my bedroom and quietly shut the door behind me.
When I crept outside, a cool breeze hit me, sending a shiver down my spine. I leaned into the chilly night as I walked down to the waterfront, hoping it would stop my mind from spinning.
It didn't.
I had long suspected that the System's 'insufficient power' messages were the result of skill advancements, but to have that fact confirmed... well, it had implications I didn't necessarily like. That I had become a 'trainer' of woodworking had even more meaning, and my over-active mind immediately dove down the rabbit-hole.
I'm probably a fishing trainer too, right? I wondered. If I'm a trainer and someone I trained gains levels, does that mean I get part of their experience? Would it be more efficient to train everyone, or to train one other person that can then train others, like a pyramid scheme, or a multi-level marketing operation?
I sighed, shaking my head and trying to dismiss the thoughts.
I had no desire to become some powerful being in this new world I found myself in. I didn't want to worry about min-maxing, optimizing advancement, or organizational structures. I just wanted to fish, make friends, and be a positive influence on the lives of those around me.
Another thought popped into my consciousness, and I cocked my head, letting it unfold and expand. A grin spread over my face, and a full-body shiver took me as a massive gust of wind kicked up, swirling around me and covering my body in goose-bumps.
"That just might work..." I said aloud through chattering teeth, turning and jogging back to the warmth of my bed.
The following morning, I woke to a slight headache, more than a little brain fog, and a plan firmly rooted in mind.
I snuck from the bed, not wanting to wake the still-snoring bunny. Her butt poked vertically from between two pillows, two back legs and her fluffy tail extending into the air.
I had to suppress a laugh at the way she was sleeping as I slipped from the bedroom into the predawn light. When I stepped outside, I covered my mouth and let out a yawn.
"I guess I should ask for permission before I begin construction..."
***
"Thanks, Sue!" I said as I grabbed the offered coffee. "If you see Roger, tell him I've already been and gone—I have a meeting this morning."
She laughed.
"I'm sure he'll be happy at the chance to buy his own food and coffee for once. I'll let him know. You have a great day, Fischer! Good luck with your meeting."
"Cheers—you too!"
I took a bite of the croissant; its flaky, buttery pastry was as welcome as ever, and as I washed it down with a swig of coffee, I let out a content sigh. The sun was just peeking over the rooftops, warming me and granting the world a golden hue.
"What a beautiful morning."
I walked slowly, taking the time to finish my breakfast before I arrived. I chewed on the last bite as I strode up the steps to the front door. I swallowed, then took another mouthful of coffee. After a moment's pause to appreciate its nutty, mellow flavor, I knocked on the door.
Heavy steps ran down the stairs, and fumbling could be heard from inside. The door swung open slowly, revealing the pallid, wide-eyed face of George, the lord of Tropica.
"G'day, George. How ya been?"
B2 | 12 - House Kraken
As the sun peeked in through his tent's opening, Number Three rubbed tired eyes.
Each day since they had left Gormona, he'd woken with a smile on his face and a racing heart.
Today was no different.
He still couldn't believe they were really doing it—truly leaving the capital on a mission so exhilarating, terrifying, and fraught with danger. Those anxiety-inducing thoughts were running through his mind when a friendly face poked into his tent.
"Good morning, Ellis," Number Three said.
"Good morning, Three. I'm 'One', by the way." Ellis gently chided. "Don't let Keith hear you using any other name."
Three barked a laugh. "Right—we wouldn't want to upset the cantankerous Number Two. Is it time to pack up?"
"Not yet. Four is making breakfast, and I was just coming to see if you were awake."
"Be out in a moment."
After Ellis—er, One—departed, Three took a moment to stretch, then tidied his camping roll before stepping out. He stood upright under the sun's rays; their warmth smothered any lingering anxiety he felt about their mission.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, striding toward the campfire and the men surrounding it.
They all called back greetings—except Four, who didn't look up from making breakfast, clearly having not heard him. Two, who was wringing his hands and staring at the ground, merely grunted.
Three raised an eyebrow at the obviously conflicted man. "How are you feeling, Two?"
"Good, thanks."
Three snorted. His training as a crown auditor had begun before he was a grown man, and as a result, he could read the truth in Two's body language.
"You remember I'm an auditor, right? It's no use lying to me."
Two's eyes shot up, then narrowed. "I do not consent to you reading my thoughts."
"That's not how it works, Keith," Five said as he removed the pegs holding down one of the tents. "Besides, I'm not a trained auditor, and even I can tell you've got a burr in your small-clothes this morning."
"Don't call me that!" Keith—er, two—hissed. "It's Two! I'm Two!"
Five held both his hands up. "Whoa. My bad. No need to go all royal on me."
"Do not call me royal! That's an identifying trait!"
"I don't think it was until you said so..." Three said. When Two turned his furious gaze on him, Three gave the royal a kind smile. "We're out in the wilderness, Two. I'm sure there's no one around to hear us."
Two adjusted his shirt, smoothing creases that didn't exist. "Procedures exist for a reason, Three. If we don't follow the rules, things will descend into chaos. Chaos, I tell you!"
"Worry not, gentlemen," One said, his voice deep and calming. "We will leave this location as soon as we've replenished our reserves with some delicious food. Is it almost ready, Four?"
Four's eyes jolted up from his pan, oozing incomprehension. "What now?"
"I asked if breakfast is almost ready," One repeated, tone patient and slow.
"Oh—right! It is! I'm just wilting some spinach."
Five let out a soft groan and stood to his full height, towering over the collapsed tent. "We lucked out having a gourmet chef join us on the mission."
"I wouldn't say I'm a gourmet..."
Five snorted.
"We both know you'd have been running the royal kitchen long ago if not for that bastard head chef taking the credit for all your ideas."
"You flatter me."
Five turned to Three. "Was I lying?"
Three shook his head. "He told the truth, or at the very least believed he did."
"Well, that's kind of you to say," Four said, removing a heavy pan from the heat. "I'd say we're just as lucky to have the capital's quartermaster on board. I'd never have been able to organize every—"
"Stop!" Two hissed, shooting to his feet. "No more identifying traits!"
Five snapped to attention and gave a crisp salute. "Sorry, my prince! It won't happen again, my prince!"
A vein pulsed in Two's forehead and his eye started to twitch. His mouth flew open, closed, then dropped open again, trying to find words sufficient enough for the requisite chastising.
Five held his salute, and Three couldn't hold it in any longer. He laughed loud, long, and without reserve. By the end, everyone but Two had joined in, but Three noted the smile threatening to curl the prince's lip.
It is going to be another wonderful day, he thought, beaming at all of his friends.
***
George, the lord of Tropica and noble of house Kraken, had spent the last two weeks fortifying his resolve.
Even now, in the early hours of morning, he was awake and practicing the techniques passed down from father to son since time immemorial. He had never used them prior to his confirmation of Fischer's position as a crown agent, but with the anxiety that revelation brought, he had been willing to try anything.
"I'm so glad we tried this..." Geraldine said, echoing his sentiments.
George cracked one eye, peering out at his beautiful wife. Even without communicating, their thoughts were joined, and a well of gratitude opened up within him; he may never have made it through the last two weeks if not for her steadying presence.
"I am too—I wish we'd read House Kraken's manuals sooner." He lay a hand on her plump knee, and she opened startlingly green eyes that crinkled as she smiled at him.
She giggled, covering her mouth with a voluptuous hand. "I never thought I'd hear those words from you. You've always been so adamant that your family's teachings were the reason for their diminishing position."
He gave her a rueful grin. "Relying on the meditations has been an... enlightening experience."
She laid her hand atop his, pressing it down against her knee. "I feel the same, my love. No matter what happens with Fischer and the other crown agents, I know we'll be just fine—"
Three sharp knocks came on the front door, and George's calm was shattered like the hardened glazing of a donut dropped to the floor. Geraldine hissed and patted his hand, and he realized he'd dug his fingers into her leg.
"S-sorry..." He took a deep breath, trying to recenter himself.
It didn't work.
Geraldine sighed.
"Speak of the devil. Do you want me to get it?"
"No, my love. I can face him."
George got to his feet with no small amount of effort, grunting as he leaned on both plump arms. He got to his feet, inhaled, and released another measured breath. Again, it didn't help. He smoothed his clothes and stood tall, resigned to at least appear composed. "I'll be back in a moment."
Geraldine squeezed his calf with one hand, then closed her eyes, returning to her meditation.
George strode for the stairs, relying on the railing to hold his weight, shaky as his traitorous legs were being. When he reached the door, his fingers fumbled over the locks, and he took a moment to steady them. They still shook, but with exacting movements, he carefully removed the final latch and swung the door open.
"G'day, mate," Fischer said, giving George a predatory smile. "How ya been?"
"I have been well, Fischer, and you?"
"Great, mate. I've been great. Sorry to skip right to the heart of the issue, but I've got a bit of a big day planned today. I was hoping to talk to you about a project."
George's stomach dropped. He swallowed, buying time to compose himself.
"You have? What, uh, project are you talking about?" Even George could hear the slight quiver in his voice, and he leaned on the doorframe for support.
"Oh, nothing major, just a wall to fish from."
Despite his uneasy state, confusion still washed over George. "A... wall? To fish from?"
"Yeah, mate. A wall."
Fischer smiled, and George realized the crown agent wasn't going to elaborate.
"What kind of wall? Where?"
"A rock wall in the ocean, extending from the headland and running in-line with the river's bank. I'm pretty sure no one would care given how disregarded the ocean is, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask—make sure it was legal, you know?"
"H-How does that help with fishing?"
If George's wits had been about, he'd have simply given permission and moved on. Unfortunately, his thoughts were addled, and Fischer was all too happy to continue the ruse and elaborate.
"It helps immensely—it's actually really beneficial for the sea-life of the area in general. You build it using large boulders, and the gaps between them provide room for all sorts of species to live in." Fischer's eyes were practically shining, and his hands moved animatedly with every other word. "It's also great for erosion! Sediment builds up at the base of the wall, and it stops sand from washing away from the river mouth!"
If George didn't know better, and he wasn't aware that Fischer was some sort of senior crown auditor, he might have believed what appeared to be a passionate speech. But George was far too clever for that.
He didn't know what trap was being prepared, what rope Fischer was dangling with which George could hang himself, but he wasn't going to fall for it.
He schooled his face and nodded. "You can do what you want with the ocean, Fischer. There are no explicit laws regarding the ocean and its ownership." Along with his meditations, George had spent the last two weeks reading and rereading the crown laws, and he wouldn't be fooled into giving incorrect information. "Was that all?"
"Oh, for real?" Fischer beamed the smile of a wolf. "Yeah, mate! That's all I had to ask!" He turned and jogged from the step, looking over a shoulder to give George one last grin. "See ya, mate!"
As he disappeared around a corner, George closed the door, the soft click of the lock sounding far away.
His back itched and tingled as sweat sprouted. With each step upstairs, his legs felt more and more like they belonged to someone else. The sense of his body was numbed as he shuffled along. He knew not where he was going, and his legs moved of their own accord, taking him... somewhere. He started tipping over, and his arm shot out, trying to grab anything for support.
Something... no, someone caught him. Voluptuous arms held him tight, and as he realized it was Geraldine, his awareness returned to his body in a rush.
"You're okay, George," she said, rubbing his back.
He stood tall and squeezed her, taking solace in her touch. "Thank you, my love. I was a little… light-headed. I'm alright now."
She helped him sit down, and he crossed his legs, easily falling into the House Kraken meditation position. Despite his worries, he felt a twinge of amusement that he'd been practicing for less than two weeks and his flexibility had already improved enough for him to sit cross-legged. It was still far from the optimal stance, but he was much closer to achieving it after such an insignificant amount of time.
"What happened?" Geraldine asked, drawing him from his musings.
He relayed everything without embellishment, leaving out his assumptions and thoughts; he wanted to hear her untainted opinion on everything Fischer had said.
Geraldine leaned back and stared at the roof for a long moment, considering what he told her.
"What do you think, George?" she asked, still looking up.
"I want to hear your opinion first."
She nodded, and after a moment, sighed. "I have not the faintest idea."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Neither do I. At first, I'd assumed it another trap for me to fall into, but when I think about it... what end would that serve? I've already been caught lying about and doing much worse."
"My thoughts exactly..."
The more he sat and tried to work it out, the worse George felt. His stomach was doing flips, and his breaths felt shallow, like he couldn't get enough oxygen.
He rubbed his hands through thinning hair, making a frustrated noise and trying to banish the troublesome thoughts.
"What are we to do, Geraldine? I was just starting to feel more equalized, but a single visit from our tormenter and I'm back at square one. It feels hopeless..."
She crossed the floor faster than someone of her impressive form had any right traveling, and she leaned into him, hugging him tight.
"I'm sorry it feels that way, but don't let your thoughts deceive you." She pulled back and stared into his eyes. "Why don't you read your house's manual again? It's what got us through the last two weeks, is it not?"
He didn't feel the motivation to do so, but nodded, knowing it would probably help. He stood and strolled to a table across the room, taking a seat and flicking open the large tome atop it. Flicking through pages, he stopped when he saw the heading he was looking for.
'Chapter 4: Navigating and Harnessing Times of Great Stress.'
He took a deep breath and held it for four seconds—just as the book instructed toward the end of the chapter—then released it slowly and began reading.
B2 | 13 - Thrill
Cool air tickled my skin as I soared through the air. I smiled at the water rushing up to meet me before I splashed into the ocean.
Its icy temperature sent a thrill coursing through my body, and I arched my back, curving up through the water column to breach the surface.
I gasped instinctively, taking shallow breaths as I shivered, acclimatizing to the ocean's frosty touch. Corporal Claws' head popped up next to me. Her cheeks were puffed out.
"Claws? Why do you look like—"
She pressed a forepaw to either cheek and squeezed—a torrent of seawater slammed into my face.
"You little rascal!" I slapped my hand against the water, intending to splash her back—instead, my hand made an ear-splitting slap as it struck, and water flew in every direction, including into my open mouth.
I coughed and wiped my eyes, bobbing up and down on a now-roiling patch of ocean. Corporal Claws floated on her back, chittering with laughter and pointing at me with one paw.
Two extended claws poked above the ocean, and I turned to greet Sergeant Snips. The words died in my throat as I saw it was Rocky, blowing very pissed-off bubbles. One claw pointed at me, the other at the still-giggling otter. He slammed them closed.
Twin explosion rang out, and another wash of water assaulted me, but I'd had time to turn my face away.
Despite the lack of playfulness in his clacking, I turned back to smile at Rocky—just in time to see him lifted from the water.
Sergeant Snips, spewing bubbles and seething with fury, flung him upward. He soared five meters into the air, and as he fell back down, blue water billowed from Snips's body. She darted up to meet him, swung a claw up, then slammed it into Rocky's undercarriage.
Like a slingshot, she launched Rocky parallel to the ocean's surface. He didn't lose height for a long moment, but then he dipped rapidly. He skipped across the water like a flat stone, getting smaller and smaller as he bounced out toward the horizon.
"Nice shot, Snips."
She blew a single bubble filled with anger, then held a claw to my shoulder, apologizing for her subordinate's actions.
"No need to say sorry, Snips—it was actually kinda funny."
Claws nodded her agreement, letting out a shrill chirp and revealing her pointed teeth. Something large and surprisingly buoyant bobbed the surface, and I reached a fist out toward it.
"How ya going, Pistachio? Good to see ya, mate!"
He reached a claw out ponderously and fist-bumped me, blowing a small stream of greeting bubbles.
"Alright, here's the plan, gang..." I paused, realizing one of the construction crew had just been yeeted out toward international waters. "Would you relay the plan to Rocky when he gets back, Snips?"
She nodded curtly, clearly unhappy to be reminded of the crab's existence.
I lifted my face toward the sun as I treaded water, delighting in its warmth. "It's such a beautiful day. Anyway, the plan is to check out the ocean floor from here to about fifty meters that way." I pointed out to sea. "We're just making sure it's all clear to put some rocks down. If it is, we're going to find some boulders and move them here. We're going to need a lot of rock, so we may have to create a quarry somewhere."
All three of the creatures bubbled or chirped as one, voicing the same question.
I grinned.
"You'll just have to wait and see what it's for, but I promise you'll all love it."
Sergeant Snips and Corporal Claws' eyes shone, and even Private Pistachio's face became filled with intrigue.
I took a deep breath and started swimming down. The frosty water hitting my face spiked my adrenaline, but it wasn't unenjoyable; I smiled as I approached the ocean floor, my powerful body easily gliding through the water.
I realized my eyes had improved since I'd first become a cultivator—I could now see underwater as if wearing goggles. Each time I'd gone underwater in recent memory, I'd closed my eyes, not wanting them to sting under the saltwater's assault.
How long have I been able to do this, but didn't know? I wondered.
It was a startling but welcome discovery, and a sense of awe flooded through me as I gazed around. Small fish darted away at my approach, and I stretched my fingers out toward them, delighting at the water flowing past me.
Corporal Claws, completely misunderstanding my intent, sped past me at unbelievable speed. She caught a fish in her paws, swam over to me, and held it out, grinning wide. I scratched the top of her head and extended cupped hands. She released the fish, and relief flooded me as I saw it was uninjured. It swam around my palms, flitting to and fro with small kicks of its tail.
When I opened my hands, it dashed away, swimming off to find its friends. Claws glided over to me, upside down and still grinning; the angle, combined with her toothy smile, made her look ridiculous. I laughed noiselessly underwater.
She collided with me, and I scooped her up in one hand, using the other to scritch her belly as I kicked my legs and propelled us along the ocean floor. My body seemed to slip through the streams of water; I didn't feel the drag I expected to hit my body. Rather than disorienting, it was thrilling, calming, and everything in between. I stopped kicking my legs and swam like a dolphin through the sea, enjoying the experience more than I could put into words. I scooped up Snips as I soared over her, and she wiggled happily, wrapping her legs around my abdomen.
By the time I'd swam the length of the would-be wall, I had forgotten all about it. We swam together beneath the waves, traveling further and further out to sea. I followed the path of the ocean floor, and the surroundings got darker as the bay got deeper. Bommies of rock and coral began sprouting up, resembling the tops of bouquets, and I slowed, gazing at them intently.
Coral and anemone of an unbelievable variety swayed in the underwater currents. There were patches of orange, purple, green, blue, and even pink of different shades, sizes, and shapes.
Uncountable species of fish used the bommies as shelter.
Small fish you'd see in aquariums back on earth swam around the coral. Clown fish hid in the anemone, not at all bothered by our appearance. Fish bigger than my hand poked their heads from holes in the rock, and upon noticing us, disappeared back into their holes. Larger fish, of which I only caught glimpses of, swam away at blistering speeds, finding another place to use as shelter now that we, who they undoubtedly viewed as predators, had come to visit their waters.
I reached out and touched some coral; it was soft and squishy, and I smiled at the pleasant texture. My lungs started to complain for oxygen, so I swam up, careful not to disturb the water too much with my excessively powerful body. When I breached the surface, I took a deep breath, squinting my eyes against the oppressive daylight.
"Huh..." I said when I looked back toward the shore.
I had lost track of time while swimming, and I hadn't realized just how long I'd been holding my breath. The rock of my headland was the size of a marble in the distance. I could just make out a welcome sight on the shore; Maria stood with who I had to assume was Cinnamon in one arm, the other held high in the air, waving at me.
I held my animal pals tight and dipped back below the water. When I got back to the headland, I kicked off the ocean floor, still holding Snips and Claws to my chest as I shot from the bay. A gout of water followed me as I landed on the rocks, and I bent my knees to soften the impact.
"Good morning! I see Cinnamon found you."
"She certainly did..." Maria replied, raising an eyebrow and looking down at my stomach.
"Uh... something wrong?"
"Just admiring the muscles. Have you gotten stronger…?"
I glanced down and shrugged. "I think I've been pretty muscular since awakening—it's nothing new."
"Yeah, that's a straight up lie. I saw your stomach when we were on that camping trip, and it was lean, sure... but this?" She stepped forward and slapped my stomach lightly. "That's just ridiculous."
"Must be the lighting. Anyway, my washboard abs and impressive physique aren't important right now—I need your help with something."
"Oh? What's that?"
I grinned.
"I just found something beautiful, and you have to come see it."
I held a hand up to Maria, intending to help her into the water.
She bent down, then gave me an odd smirk. I didn't like the look in her eyes.
She launched from the shore, tucking her legs up and holding them to her chest. She cannonball'd into the waves beside me, holding strong eye contact and that same expression the entire time. I accepted my fate and let the wave of water slam into me.
I wiped my eyes and gave her a flat stare, which only increased the vigor of her giggling.
"Do you feel good about yourself?" I asked.
"I feel amazing." She gave me a full-faced smile. "Thanks for asking. How are you?"
"Feeling rather refreshed, thank you."
She swam over and ran her hand over my head, smoothing my hair. "Glad to hear it. So, what did you have to show me?"
"Follow me."
I took a deep breath and sank down. Maria followed, and a smile quirked my lips as I saw her eyes firmly squeezed shut. My right hand darted toward her, and I spread one of her delicate eyelids open.
Her immediate reaction was to try bat my hand away, but she froze, opening both eyes and blinking. Her head spun and mouth dropped open as she looked around, awe clear on her features. I pointed at her and gave her a thumbs up, cocking my head in question. She nodded vigorously, and her head began darting around, taking in our surroundings.
I held a hand out, and her fingers intertwined with mine. Starting out slowly, I swam like a dolphin through the water, and she mimicked my movement. We picked up the pace as I led her out to sea.
The path was just as pleasant as before, and I could tell Maria felt the same; a peaceful smile covered her face, mingled with a calm serenity. I picked up Snips again from the ocean floor in passing, and Claws swam circles around us, similarly delighting in the sensation of swimming.
Halfway to our destination, Maria went to the surface to get a breath. She quickly rejoined me, and we continued our passage. When we arrived at the colorful bommie, she let out a muffled noise of surprise.
Rather than look at the swaying coral and anemone, I watched her. The look of wonder on her face was everything I had hoped for, and my heart fluttered in response. When I glanced at the bommie, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and I swam to the surface.
"What is it?" Maria asked when she joined me. "You look concerned..."
"All the fish are gone..."
"What do you mean?"
"There were hundreds of fish before, and now there are what? Like ten?"
Maria opened her mouth to respond, but the head of a belligerent otter popped up and let out a trill noise I'd not heard from her before.
"Claws...?" I reached out to touch her, but she moved her head away, her eyes going wide. "What's wrong?"
She pointed down with one paw, chirping incoherently. Maria and I shot a worried look at each other, then both put our faces beneath the water's surface and peered down.
Despite my enhanced body, a spike of fear stabbed into my core at what was lurking below us.
B2 | 14 - Apex Predator
A lump formed in my throat, and my body involuntarily froze as a wave of adrenaline washed over me.
The water seemed to change temperature; where its cool touch was previously welcome, it now felt intolerably freezing as the shadow shifted beneath us.
Even with my eyes still adjusting, I'd seen enough footage of the terrifying creatures to identify one by shape alone. A shark of monstrous proportions swam through the bay. Twice as long as I was tall, the thing barely needed to kick its tail to send its gigantic form gliding through the water.
Maria moved beside me and latched onto my hand. I squeezed, trying to reassure her. Corporal Claws clung to my back, also wanting nothing to do with said shark. Sergeant Snips lacked the same sense of self preservation, and she sank to the ocean floor, both clackers extended and poised to deliver violence. Pistachio was also beneath us, and his head slowly turned, following the shark's movement.
Meanwhile, the shark continued its passage, unaware or uncaring of our existence as it moved with the ease of an apex predator. It slowly faded from view, swimming far enough away for us to lose vision of it. Snips swam back up to meet us, and we kicked to the surface, emerging as one while Pistachio remained below.
"Snips—can you keep an eye out and warn us if it comes back?"
Water sprayed my face as she gave me a crisp salute, then disappeared beneath the water.
"What in Hades' influence was that?" Maria hissed, keeping her voice soft.
Claws chirped her agreement, poking her head around from where she clung to my back.
"You haven't seen one before?" I asked.
Both of them shook their heads, their eyes wide.
"It's a shark. They're pretty common in the ocean where I'm from. I'm pretty surprised you hadn't seen one, Claws."
"They're common?" Maria asked. "I never want to get in the ocean again—I'm honestly rethinking my whole love of fishing right now."
"I think we'd be alright considering we're cultivators, but still..." My entire body shook with an involuntary shiver. "Something about seeing such a large creature in the water beneath us makes my brain go into nope mode."
Maria shuddered too.
"If Snips and Pistachio weren't beneath us keeping watch right now, I'd be swimming back to shore as fast as I could."
"That'd probably be a bad move. From what I know, they don't usually attack humans—they only do so when desperate, or they mistake you for prey they'd usually hunt. Splashing around to get away might make you seem like a seal or an injured fish."
She glared at me. "Not helping, Fischer."
Claws batted the side of my face, chirping her agreement and scowling.
"Sorry," I said, laughing. "I couldn't help myself. Let's get back to shore—I haven't even told you what I want to build yet."
Maria leapt at the extended branch, happy for any distraction. "You have something you want to build?"
I grinned. "I do—something to help us fish."
A measure of fear left her face in an instant, and her eyes began glimmering beneath the morning sun. "Go on..."
***
We swam past the river mouth and made our way south, following the shore as sand transformed into scattered rock, and scattered rock transformed into sheer cliff.
Snips had mentioned we could find boulders this way, and while I'd believed her, I hadn't expected there to be so many. All along the cliff's base, there were what had to be hundreds of tonnes worth of giant stones that had fallen from the jagged cliffs.
Rocky had returned from his Snips-empowered trip out to sea, and he now acted as guard-crab against any wayward sharks. He was flanked by Snips and Pistachio, and I smiled down at the reliable crustaceans.
I swam down and tried lifting a boulder that was as wide as I was tall, and I easily brought it up. Maria was watching me, so I hefted it above my head with one hand, flexing my other arm in a Herculean pose. A white wash of bubbles exploded from her mouth as she laughed at me, bending at the waist and holding a hand to her stomach.
Dropping the rock, I kicked off the sandy floor. A moment after I breached the surface, Maria joined me, and she gave me a grin reflecting the excitement I felt. "Are these boulders the right size?" she asked.
"They're perfect, and there's enough that I don't think we'll need to quarry any more."
She shimmied her shoulders, unable to contain the anticipation. "How do we start this construction, and when are you going to tell me what it actually is?"
I'd been extremely vague with my explanation, wanting to keep the details a surprise.
"To answer your first question, we just have to put the boulders there. To answer the second..." I shot her a wink. "You'll just have to wait and see, but I promise that you'll love it."
She shimmied again, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Let's get started."
***
Sergeant Snips and Private Pistachio joined the boulder-hauling efforts, leaving the rather-irritable looking Rocky as the main defender against shark-related threats. It wasn't that his role as defender annoyed the neurodivergent crab. I suspected it was anything but—he just always looked like someone had insulted his ancestry and spit in his soup.
Even with the cultivator's strength of our respective fleshy—and carapacey—bodies, it was a long process; we could each carry one boulder at a time, and it was quite a distance back to the river mouth.
Despite also being on the path of ascension, Maria couldn't carry some of the boulders I could; her arms were shorter and her cultivation less advanced. The largest one I found was half-again as wide as I was tall, and I easily held it in my arms. When Maria tried to carry one slightly smaller, the best she could manage was repeatedly throwing it short distances. Snips had the same issue but worked together with Claws, who stabilized the boulders by swimming around them, correcting the positioning if they leaned too far in any direction. Pistachio had no such issue, and he easily threw massive rocks atop his back and scuttled along the ocean floor.
A few hours later, I threw a boulder down, adding it to the line extending from the headland. We were creating the base layer first; it was roughly five-meters wide and ten-meters long so far. Maria, Snips, Claws, and Pistachio arrived shortly after, and they carefully placed their loads down.
I pointed to the shore and they followed me up. Cinnamon greeted us with a squeak, her long ears upright as we emerged from the water. She was lounging in the sun, but got to her feet and jumped to a stack of towels, nuzzling them with her cute little nose.
"Thanks, Cinnamon," I said, reaching down to rub her head after I dried my hand. She leaned into me, closing her eyes in delight as my pat turned into a good scritching.
She then walked over and dipped her chin, inviting Corporal Claws to pet her. The otter cocked her head, but reached out to oblige the soft little bunny. Said bunny's expression turned downright malicious, and faster than a normal eye could see, she spun and kicked out her back legs, spraying Claws with more sand than such a small creature had any right displacing.
Cinnamon tore off across the shore, angling around the headland as Claws went stock-still. The otter ran paws over her face, wiping away sand. Her eyebrow twitched, and her lip curled to reveal needle-sharp teeth. She hunched and gathered power in her legs, her entire body shaking, causing more sand to fall away.
Lightning sparked out, and she rocketed from the headland. Her form curved and twisted; she flew like a heat-seeking missile for the trail of kicked-up sand that was Cinnamon trying to escape. Corporal Claws arced high, then slammed down on top of the bunny. A mushroom cloud of sand and dust sprayed up, obscuring whatever was happening within.
"Uhhhh," Maria said. "Is Cinnamon going to be okay?"
"She'll be fine—Claws wouldn't hurt her."
Maria shook her head, letting out a light sigh. "I can't believe our daughter has become such a prankster. I thought we raised her right..."
"Claws has no one to blame but herself." I chuckled softly. "She set Cinnamon on the path of treachery, so now she has to deal with the consequences."
The sand started to clear, revealing a slap battle happening in the distance. Both creatures were up on their rear legs, batting at each other in a blur of forelimbs.
"Should we get lunch started?" I asked. "I'm sure they'll be hungry when they're finished."
"I don't know about them, but I'm starving after you forced me into physical labor all morning. The least you could do is prepare me a snack."
"Forced, huh? I recall you shimmying so hard you created waves."
"Shimmying? Oh, no—I was shaking in fear of what you'd do if I refused your orders."
I bent down toward Snips, giving her a conspiratorial glance. "Take note, Snips. If you want your subordinates to behave, the threat of unmitigated violence is unparalleled as a motivator."
Rocky rubbed his chin with one claw, then nodded his agreement to the statement.
Snips walked over to Maria and patted her leg, blowing bubbles of solidarity.
"I know," Maria said, bending to rub Snips' carapace. "We're surrounded by clowns, but I'm glad to have you here for support."
"Clowns? I have never." I raised a hand to my chest in mock affront. "Would a clown make you a feast of sand crabs for lunch?"
Both ladies froze, their farce failing before the promise of a delicious meal.
Maria raised an eyebrow at Snips. "Perhaps clowns was a bit... aggressive."
Snips' head bobbed up and down energetically, her mouth blowing hungry bubbles.
After we got dressed, we made our way over to the crab pot, and Butterflies took flight in my stomach as I pulled in the line.
Ever since Maria had started joining me daily, we had been catching a lot of fish. As a result, I hadn't been using the crab pot, not wanting to waste any meat. After finding the new type of bait in the pungent eel, however, I just had to try it out.
The cage at the end of the line felt heavy; the butterflies within me multiplied, and a broad grin spread over my face.
"How does it feel?" Maria asked, whispering from beside me.
I turned to look at her, and when she spied the look on my face, her eyes crinkled in delight. We cast our gaze back toward the shallows just as the first corner of the crab pot became visible. It was impossible to make anything else out, so I kept pulling, bringing the cage closer to us.
My excitement dwindled as it came into view. The back half of the trap was filled with sand, somehow getting caught on the ocean floor and dredging it up in passing. Then a claw extended from the mass of sand, and the entire pile seemed to move and undulate.
I realized the truth of it: it wasn't a pile of sand—it was a pile of sand crabs!
There were so many as to fill half the trap, and before I could make a sound, Maria let out a loud whoop!
"There's so many, Fischer! Demeter's harvest—I've never seen so many!"
I grasped the handle and dragged the crab pot up onto the shore. There had to be dozens of them, all of which were unhappy about being removed from the water. Those on top of the stack held their claws high, warding off any would-be attackers.
"Holy frack," I eventually said. "That bait wasn't kidding about being effective."
Corporal Claws dashed to the cage, running around it and twisting her head at strange angles to inspect the pile of creatures. Cinnamon was atop her back, also cocking her head to peer down at the crabs. The two had worked out their differences and were once more the best of pals. Their eyes were alight, and following their example, the rest of the creatures stepped forward.
Pistachio watched the sand crabs with an intent gaze; there was always a startling intelligence hidden within the stoic lobster's eyes, and I once more wondered at the depth of his thoughts.
Snips and Rocky were much easier to read; they both blew hungry bubbles as they scuttled up to the cage.
Not wanting to drag it out any further, I opened the cage up and started sorting them.
"Come closer, everyone." I gestured for Maria to stand beside me. "Snips already knows, but I'll show you how to differentiate between male and female. Females are breeders, so we let them go."
***
Corporal Claws—trickster of the sands and espionage extraordinaire—dashed over the dunes.
She had a freshly cooked sand crab held under one claw, and thinking of the meal to come, she redoubled her speed. Her master had promised they'd wait for her return before feasting, but it would be downright rude to make everyone else delay longer than necessary. Her haste had absolutely nothing to do with her desire, nay, her need to partake of the crab.
With a spark of lightning, she activated her ability and flew between the trees, bouncing from trunk to trunk. As she catapulted into the clearing, her eyes locked onto something before the tree. She lost control of her power, and the lightning surrounding her guttered out and died.
Corporal Claws slammed into the trunk and slid down its trunk. She blinked dumbly as she took in the scene, not once taking her eyes off what had arrested her attention.
B2 | 15 - Quartered
The world was upside down, and Corporal Claws gazed out at it.
She rested on her head at the base of the light-blue tree, a cooked crab clutched tight, and her back feet dangling above her, twitching of their own accord. No matter how many times she blinked, the scene didn't change.
She rolled over slowly, her eyes not once leaving the twin leaves that grew from a mound of churned soil. She left the offering of crab at the base of the tree and padded over to the disturbed patch of earth. She circled the seedling, not seeing any defects or damage. She was a blur as she sprinted around the tree, checking on the other three seeds.
Each of them had germinated; their leaves and stalks were a vibrant green—a testament to their health.
She looked back at the tree and the crab she'd left beneath it. Roots extended from the ground and plunged between gaps in the crab's carapace, and the tree's leaves twitched and vibrated in what appeared to be delight.
Claws held a paw to the firm trunk, chirped her thanks for the tree's hard work, then dashed away toward the sand, her mouth spread in a wide smile.
***
"How did you go, Claws?" I asked as she returned.
She chirped joyously and sat in the shade beside me, not elaborating on her mission.
It must have been straightforward, then... I thought.
Returning to the present, I started cutting the crabs into sections. After releasing the females, we had fifteen crabs—a veritable feast. I pressed down lightly on the sections of crab, cracking shell and exposing the meat within.
"What are you doing?" Maria asked, her face alight with curiosity.
I grinned back at her. "I'll show you in a moment."
I strode to the campfire and removed the large pot I'd put atop it. With my nose above its opening, the scents of butter, garlic, a mild hint of chili, and onion rose up to greet me. My mouth immediately began watering, and I set the pot down on the sand.
"I cut the crab and broke the shell so the butter can get in and suffuse the meat with its flavors."
Maria leaned in to smell the steam rising from the pot. Her face softened, and she let out a sigh. "Okay—that smells divine. How long does it need to cook in the butter for?"
"That's the best part—it doesn't."
I reached in with tongs and removed the first chunk of crab. It was a large forequarter, and golden liquid streamed from the front claw as I lifted it from the mixture. I put it on a plate, which I passed to Maria. "I already added salt to the butter pot, but feel free to add more to your taste."
I took out more sections, passing one to Snips, Claws, Pistachio, and Rocky. The latter raised a buttery leg to his mouth, but Snips slapped him on the back of his head before he could bite into it.
I removed another and placed it on a plate before me, then flicked a stalk of cane to Cinnamon, who caught it midair and started chewing without delay.
"Dig in, guys—you didn't have to wait."
"Food tastes better when eaten together," Maria replied, pulling a claw apart with her hands. She lifted the white meat to her mouth and bit down. Her entire body relaxed like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she let out a soft mmmm.
My animal pals crunched down, their eyes fervent and movement harried.
I couldn't wait any longer.
With my mouth watering and body demanding, I removed the tip of a claw and bit into the crab's white, buttery flesh.
The butter exploded throughout my mouth, and the garlic joined it to lead the charge. The hint of smoky paprika and onion followed the advance, dancing and weaving behind the more-pronounced tastes. As my tastebuds became accustomed to the rest of the flavors, the crab's meat made itself known. The flesh was subtle yet undeniable, bringing with it a unique umami that raised the entire experience from enjoyable to otherworldly.
No one said a word as we continued eating. Sounds of carapace cracking, the slurping of meat, and my animal pals' loud chewing were the only sounds that one could hear, but even they were hard to notice with how all-encompassing the meal's flavors were. Each time someone finished their bit of crab, I'd pass them another, and before I knew it, I was passing the last chunk of crab to Pistachio.
The giant lobster brought the quartered crab to his mouth and chomped a claw whole. His mouth undulated as he chewed and ground down the food.
"Alright, Fischer." Maria sucked the tips of her fingers, then leaned back, her mouth spreading into a content smile. "I changed my mind—that was the best meal I've ever had."
"You seem to keep saying that..." I narrowed my eyes at her playfully. "I'm starting to think you're lying to save my feelings."
She snorted. "It's not my fault you keep outdoing yourself. I swear your food gets better and more delicious every time you make me something..."
I willed the System notifications to show—they had nudged me halfway through the meal, but I'd ignored it.
You have advanced to cooking 32!
You have advanced to fishing 58!
"Well, thank you," I replied, pushing the notifications away. "I would cook for you regardless—there's something so rejuvenating about making food for others, but it's even more rewarding when it's appreciated."
"Appreciated may be an understatement. I can't imagine going back to not eating seafood."
I arched an eyebrow and let out my best evil-antagonist chuckle. "The plan to turn you into a heretic is coming together."
She shook her head and smiled at me before closing her eyes and laying down.
Snips scuttled over lazily and leaned against my leg, blowing happy little bubbles as she closed her eye. Claws leaned against Maria, and Cinnamon sat atop the otter, extending a paw to touch Maria's knee. Never one to turn down a good midday nap, I lay back.
The sand was cool against my exposed neck, and before I knew it, sleep took me.
I woke with the sun high in the sky, a content sleepiness blanketed over me, and a crab blowing joyous bubbles from atop my chest.
"Mornin', Snips," I said through a yawn, covering my mouth.
"Afternoon, technically," Maria said, bending at the waist to look me in the eye.
Her hair hung down around her face, and her freckles shifted as she gave me a stunning grin. A soft breeze kicked up, swaying the strands of her sun-kissed hair in a hypnotic pattern. Despite my half-awake state, heat rose to my face at the sight of her.
"What?" she asked, cocking her head to the side and somehow appearing even more adorable.
I would like to think that if my mind weren't so addled, I'd have said something equal parts charming and endearing. "How long did we sleep for?" I asked instead.
"An hour or so. I thought I should wake you up so you wouldn't be up all night."
"Thank you." Snips jumped from me as I stood and stretched, willing the lingering vestiges of sleep to leave my body. "I'm gonna keep moving boulders, but you can leave if you'd like."
"And miss out on the finished product? Nice try!"
I rubbed the back of my head. "I don't think we'll be able to finish it today."
"Wait, what? How big is it going to be? I thought we just needed to add more layers of stone."
"We've only done the first section—I intend for it to be a lot longer."
"It's going to be that big?" Rather than become disheartened, her face brightened at the news. "All the more reason to stay and help." She flexed an arm, exaggerating the effort it took with a soft hnggg. "Your noodle arms will take too long to finish without the great Maria's assistance."
I barked a laugh, making her smile grow even wider.
"How could I turn down the great Maria?" I clapped her on the shoulder as I walked past. "I'll have to rely on you."
She nodded seriously and turned to my animal pals. "Are you coming too? Fischer could use all the help he can get."
Sergeant Snips hissed her agreement, Corporal Claws chirped and puffed out her chest, and Private Pistachio nodded his lumbering head. Rocky scratched his behind.
The sun warmed my back as we made our way back to the shore.
***
The forest air was damp and still, and as the sun climbed down from its peak in the sky, its warmth only increased the humidity.
The sun above, the rising temperature, and the birdsong coming from every direction were a welcome cascade of sensation for the ancient being within the light-blue tree—well, they should have been.
Despite being asleep for so long, and despite how enthralling the return of her awareness had every right to be, all of her attention was elsewhere.
The otter, that freshly ascendant creature, had delivered something previously unknown. In all her many, many years, she had never experienced this particular meal. Most of her memories were unreachable, likely locked away due to the lack of power in the surrounding world, yet she knew this as a fact.
She would have recalled partaking of such an odd creature.
Even more startling was the strength it held. As with fish caught by the cultivating human and delivered by the otter, the hard-shelled meal contained a staggering amount of power. Though it was small in volume, the chi was potent, immutable, and, most importantly, delicious.
Her thin roots penetrated the creature's armor all over, piercing holes in the connective tissue between plates of carapace. She funneled the essence back to her core, where it circled and gathered. She transformed it to nature chi, which then flooded out and suffused the rest of her body.
As per the agreement, she had extended her network of roots to include the four seeds that surrounded her.
Already, they had germinated into seedlings. Even now, she felt their growth; they absorbed her nature chi like cracked and dried earth would soak up the first rains after a drought. Time blurred and lost all meaning as she continued feasting and channeling chi toward the four plants.
Something tugged at her awareness, and as she returned to the present, she realized the day was almost done. The sun's warmth had depleted, and darkness was creeping into the clearing around her tree. She cast about the earth, trying to find what had tugged and pulled enough to rouse her.
Four points around her were calling out—the four seedlings, she realized. Something was happening, and she leaned toward all of them, trying to understand. She sent out a testing wave of chi, and the moment it left her core, they absorbed it entirely.
Confusion ran through her every fiber, so she sent out more, seeing what would happen. Again, the moment the chi left her, the sprouts absorbed it like sponges. Despite her lack of memory, she knew this to be... peculiar. Such young plants shouldn't be able to hold so much, and they visibly grew each time she sent a pulse of power out toward them.
She shook her leaves to expend some nervous energy as she watched them and let out another trickle of nature chi. It was gone as soon as she let it out, and they grew once more. All four seedlings were now as tall as the otter, and more leaves had sprouted from their small yet sturdy stems.
She felt an impulse, and following her curiosity, she indulged it. Rather than open the gates to her core, then close them after releasing a small burst of chi, she left the metaphorical gate open a crack, letting the trees absorb it directly.
The response was immediate.
They sucked at the essence, and she felt a growing understanding of them.
It was terrifying.
They were as bottomless pits, great yawning maws that could never be filled, no matter how much they devoured. With her curiosity assuaged, she tried to close the floodgates, but her core didn't respond.
Panic surged through her as she tried again to close the door, but the seedlings held it open—the force with which they drew on her chi was too great. Sensing her attempt to push them out, their hunger increased, and they drew ever more on her reserves.
The gates to her core were thrown wide open, and they began consuming her very essence. She was getting torn apart in four distinct directions, and with one last desperate force of will, she tried to slam the doors to her very soul closed.
She failed, and they tore her apart.
B2 | 16 - Growth
An ancient being stirred.
She returned to herself slowly, and as her awareness bloomed, memories returned. The last she recalled, she was being torn apart, and terror reigned as she sent her awareness down, inspecting the damage.
Her core was... changed.
She feared she would find utter destruction. Instead, she found it open and whole. Four channels had been carved into her, creating permanent pathways out. She followed these channels, finding what she expected yet feared at the end of each: the four seedlings.
What she didn't anticipate was for her understanding to extend beyond the pathways and into the plants. As she reached the foreign bodies, her vision and awareness split, becoming a kaleidoscopic mesh of sights and sensations. Time seemed to alter and warp as four distinct experiences joined her own, all playing out simultaneously. It was a disorienting experience, and the moment her sense of self returned, she threw herself back from them. With a minor flex of will, she easily departed and returned to her original perspective.
As she returned to the previous bounds of her body, she pondered the sensations of the four plants.
Lemon trees, the ancient being said internally, tasting the syllables.
Each of them were individuals with their own personalities, wants, and needs—perhaps those weren't the correct words, as the trees weren't as advanced as she or other sapient beings were. Still, there was an aspect of individuality granted them.
This merger, whatever this joining of souls was, it felt neither wrong nor right. The ancient being tried to push into her memories, to crack whatever boundary locked them away, but if such a thing existed, she couldn't find it.
Intent on exploring this new bond, she tried to send a tendril of awareness out to one of the saplings, using her significant willpower to keep the other three pathways closed.
***
I woke to a chill in the air, and I pulled my blanket up, soaking in the warmth it provided.
I lay in a half-asleep state for an indeterminate amount of time, lapping up the rest after a long day of hauling boulders under the ocean. When I remembered the half-built wall, a spike of wakefulness pierced my slumber, and I threw the blankets off.
I immediately regretted my decision; the part of my brain that demanded comfort told me to crawl back under the covers and curl into a ball. Ignoring the impulse, I stood and stretched, unleashing a mighty yawn as I tensed every muscle in my body. I glanced back at the bed, seeking the lump that would tell of a cute little bunny hiding within, but Cinnamon was nowhere to be found.
"I guess she's already gone to Maria's..." I mused.
Roger's fields required work over the next week or so, and as a result, Maria wouldn't have much free time. Cinnamon was free to do as she pleased, and I knew she'd much rather spend time in the fields with Maria than sit around on the shore waiting for me to return.
I opened my bedroom door and stepped out into an even colder room. The large window of my living room provided little insulation, and the night's chill had well and truly crept within my walls. It was my first taste of winter, and it hinted at a cold few months to follow.
I went back to my room and rummaged through sets of sheets, towels, and the thin, everyday clothes I usually wore, having to reach for the back of my wardrobe to find a jacket I'd bought from the tailors what felt like months ago.
I put it on, quickly made my bed, then left for Tropica.
***
As I walked back home, a croissant and coffee in hand, the sun peeked its head over the eastern horizon.
Purple and pink hues spread throughout the sky, so I turned and strode toward the coast, intent on watching the sunrise. As I walked over the last dune, I saw some friends.
"G'day, everyone!" I said, walking down to meet them.
Barry, his wife Helen, his brother-in-law Leroy, and Leroy's wife, Barbara, all sat on the dry sand, heads turned to look at me. Barry's son peered over his father's shoulder, and he grinned wide, revealing the beginnings of a tooth growing where a gap had been
"Hello, Fischer!" Paul yelled.
"Hey, mate! I see you're getting a new tooth there."
He nodded fervently, exploring the tooth with his tongue."I did! Dad says it means I'm growing up!"
Barry smiled at his overenthusiastic son, and I nodded. "It certainly does—it's your last adult tooth. You'll be a grown fella before you know it."
"Would you like to join us?" Helen asked.
"I'd love to. I came here for the sunrise, but having some friends to experience it with is a happy accident."
I took a seat on the sand; it still held the night's chill, and a shiver took me. "It's bloody cold."
"Winter is coming," Barry agreed, staring stoically at the horizon.
I let out a soft laugh. "Hopefully the long night doesn't come with it."
"The what?" Barry asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Nevermind. Do the winters get very cold here? I assumed they wouldn't be too bad given the tropical climate."
"Aye, they get a bit colder than this, but never enough for frost. The wind can make it feel cooler than it is, though."
As if summoned, a breeze kicked up, rushing past us and making Paul lean back into his father's lap.
We lapsed into silence, all watching the sun as it climbed ever higher in the sky. The pink and purple hues consuming the horizon turned to orange and yellow as the great orb rose above the ocean, shining its warmth down upon us.
I noticed Barbara shooting furtive glances in my direction.
So, I thought. She knows about me.
It was hard to pinpoint the emotions brought on by the realization, but they weren't good ones. I thought about it more as the silence stretched, reminding myself that it was entirely reasonable to be hesitant of a bloke that could shoot anime finishing moves from his body.
"I forgot to tell you guys," I said, swirling the last dregs of coffee around in my cup. "I made more fishing rods."
I shot a look toward Leroy just in time for his head to whirl on me, and I nodded, giving him a knowing smile. "You're all welcome to use them whenever you like—they're on my back deck."
"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer." He nudged his wife. "I'd be happy to show you."
Barbara made a non-committal noise and leaned into his shoulder.
"Paul," I said. "Seeing as though you're almost a man, could I give you a task, mate?"
His eyes lit up, and he nodded so hard I thought his head might fall off. "Could you go buy four coffees and five croissants? I wanna buy everyone some brekkie."
I flicked him a coin, which he deftly caught.
"You don't have to do that, Fischer," Helen tried.
"I don't have to, but I'd like to. It makes me feel good shouting my friends." I shrugged. "Call it a selfish request you begrudgingly accept."
"Alright," she conceded, knowing me well enough to understand I wouldn't back down. "You be quick, Paul."
He was already sprinting away, coin in hand and responsibility powering his stride.
When the young lad was out of earshot, I spun to Leroy. "One more thing—pretty sure there's some sort of ancient tree spirit living in that light-blue tree we planted the lemon seeds around. I've been feeding it fish in the hopes it helps the lemons grow. Maybe you should check it out?"
My statement had the desired effect, and all four heads turned to me, giving me various looks between confusion, bewilderment, and doubt.
I laughed. "Really? After everything you've all learned over the last few weeks, that's what surprises you?"
Barbara was white as a sheet, her lips pursed.
"It's nice to meet you, by the way," I said, smiling at her. "I'm not sure we've been introduced..."
"O-oh," Barry said, coming back to himself. "Sorry. I'd totally forgotten—as you said, it's been a crazy few weeks." He pointed at his sister-in-law, then me. "Fischer, Barbara. Barbara, this is Fischer."
"Nice to meet you too," she replied softly, some of her color returning.
"The pleasure is all mine!"
Before I could say more, Leroy leaned all the way forward, planting his hands in the sand. "What in hades' realm do you mean there's an ancient spirit living in the tree?"
"It's pretty straight forward, mate."
I kept my face straight, causing Leroy to grow even more incredulous. "Why are you acting as though that's the most normal thing in the world? A plant spirit? What does that even mean? Is it already ascended? It must be, right? How else could a plant gain sapience? When did it..." His voice lowered, and he continued rambling too softly for me to hear.
While watching her husband's impassioned mutterings, Barbara's mask shattered for the first time; she practically glowed, her eyes bright and blood returning to her cheeks.
"Well, I'd better get going." I stood and brushed off my pants. "Lots of work to do and all that."
"I-it really was nice meeting you, Fischer," Barbara said, so I turned to her.
"Likewise! Come around for a fish or a chin wag any time."
"... a what?"
"A yarn," Barry answered.
"... that doesn't help, Barry."
He and I both laughed.
"It's fun, right?" I asked.
Hellen batted me on the leg. "Stop leading my husband astray, you."
Barry patted her on the shoulder reassuringly before turning back to me. "What are you working on?"
"Me?" I smiled, delighting in the confusion that would follow. "A big underwater wall made of boulders."
I turned and strode away before anyone could ask what I was talking about. "Catch ya later!"
Barry, Helen, and Barbara blinked after me, while Leroy raised a single hand to wave goodbye, still muttering to himself beneath a furrowed brow.
***
With my body low, I snuck up on my quarry.
I walked into the breeze, ensuring I was downwind from my prey. The sun continued its rise before me, meaning my shadow wouldn't give me away.
I grinned, hunched, prepared to leap... and the hunter became the hunted.
Sergeant Snips, billowing blue clouds of power, flew from the water, hissing with victory. She slammed into my chest, and given my utter defeat, I let her throw me from my feet.
I let out an oof as I hit the sand, then groaned with bollywood-level dramatic flair.
Snips let out a hissed giggle, puffing her body up and flexing her claws.
"Oh, the pain! Woe is me who attempted hunting Sergeant Snips, protector of the pond!"
Rocky leaped from the saltwater pond, streaming water as he went. The moment he landed, he began nodding gravely, having heard our conversation and agreeing wholeheartedly.
She smacked him lightly on the head, and he blew bubbles of thanks.
"Alright, you two—are you up for another day of moving rocks?"
Snips hissed and danced from side to side, ever happy to help. Rocky peered down at a claw and projected indifference despite the fact everyone knew he'd do whatever Snips did. The pond's water roiled and the head of a leviathan emerged.
I held out a fist and Pistachio bumped it.
"You free too, mate?"
He nodded immediately, dipping his impressive body to do so.
I glanced toward the distant treeline, wondering for a moment if I should go get a particular otter, but I decided against it—she might need more rest if she tended to the weird tree-spirit-thing last night. She'd come and find us when she was ready.
"Cheers, everyone. I don't know what I'd do without ya. How about I make us all some delicious lunch and dinner as payment?"
Three heads bobbed up and down—even Rocky was unable to resist the temptation of a good meal.
I set off for the shore with three crustaceans scuttling after me.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone