Chapter 13: 13. Caught it
Kai is a kind kid who trusts people easily, especially his friends. They take advantage of this to make fun of him, and although he realizes it, he doesn't mind. He's just an impulsive kid having fun. In his mind, he believes he saved Ervin from a foolish accident.
During this time, Dan is grilling the fish he caught with a spear, observing Kai and Ervin like a spectator to a drama, without any intention of meddling.
Ervin looks at Kai, who is walking away, and smiles.then He thought about, "Fish." He stopped spacing out, overtakes Kai, running past the campfire without glancing at the fish Dan is grilling. Straight to his bag, Ervin begins unloading almost everything, to others surprise,he even taking out a small backpack from his larger one. Most items are clothes, tools, and food. In the end, he finds what he was looking for.
Ervin carefully unwrapped the small package, revealing a concealed assortment of intriguing items beneath the black towel. Swiftly and purposefully, he started assembling the disparate elements within the package, each one a puzzle piece in a mysterious creation.
In the midst of this, Kai couldn't resist his curiosity. Approaching Ervin, he observed the components. irregular metal piece resembling a bent or twisted form, a metal piece, a spool of yarn, and an unexpected addition...a dried piece of meat. Kai, bewildered, couldn't help but inquire
"Hm... Ervin! What are you doing? That meat piece looks really tasty"
Ervin, engrossed in his task, responded, "Just watch for now... I'll explain after finishing this."
With focused determination, he meticulously tied the square metal wire with the string, positioning the metal piece about 20 cm away from the irregular metal piece , and delicately hanging the dried meat piece onto the irregular metal piece's twisted.
After completing his intricate work, Ervin declared,
"It's ready. Kai, come with me."
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and mystery as Kai trailed Ervin, unsure of the purpose behind the peculiar creation. Reaching the land's edge, they both gazed at the river. Ervin nodded, securing one end of the yarn to a nearby tree branch and tossing the other end into the river, observing it sink.
Turning to Kai with a smirk, Ervin revelled in his actions. Kai, unimpressed, regarded Ervin as if he had just discarded something worthless and asked, "Why are you even smirking after throwing away the meat piece into the river, idiot?"
"Hehehe, is that what you thought... Well, I can't blame you for thinking like that; after all, I didn't intend to eat that meat anyway. It was a necessary evil, you see. I've heard lots of stories from my father's friends and customers who visit the village for tool and weapon upgrades. Some folks make a living by fishing, and this is one of the methods they use. I know how to catch fish theoretically, but it's my first time trying it. I've always been prepared, thinking my chance will come one day, but I never expected it to happen so soon after leaving the village."
"Why didn't you do this from the beginning then?" Kai asked, still unimpressed.
"Oh, that's because I didn't know how dangerous this river is, and I didn't want us to get into trouble too soon. But then someone else showed off, making one of my dreams seem like a piece of cake for him. So, here and now, I decided to give it a shot," explained Ervin, glancing at Dan, who was nonchalantly grilling his fish, seemingly indifferent to their conversation.
Kai inquired, "So where's the fish?"
"You have to wait for that... it takes some time. That's what I heard," replied Ervin, settling down by the river, with Kai following suit.
As time pirouetted gracefully, the pink hues of the sky yielded to the soft velvety embrace of the night. A multitude of moons gathered like silent companions, casting a muted glow upon the vast canvas of the nocturnal expanse.
The heavens, unmarred by the touch of pollution, revealed their unspoiled beauty. a dazzling ballet of distant lights. The campfire, once ablaze with fervent reddish-orange flames, underwent a mesmerizing transformation into an azure spectacle, captivating the beholders with its ethereal charm.
Azure flames, akin to enchanted sprites, twirled and danced, leaving behind trails of ephemeral sparks that gracefully merged with the boundless expanse above. The temperature, Like a gentle conductor, the night slowly cooled down, inviting everyone to feel the calming touch of the cool air.
Enchanted by the world's beauty, they became lost in the moment, immersed in the tranquility around them. Ervin's attention was abruptly drawn back when he noticed the yarn's tension escalating and the subtle movement indicating a catch. It was his awakening amidst the serenity.
In the midst of this peaceful atmosphere, Ervin screamed, "Fish!"
It resonated like a thunderclap, breaking the stillness. In a sudden frenzy, he began to sprint around the tree, repeatedly chanting the word 'fish.' The intensity of his excitement was so contagious that even Dan, initially unaffected, jumped to his feet in response to Ervin's scream.
Kai, realizing the need for composure, intervened, stopping Ervin from his mad dash.
"Get a hold of yourself and catch the fish," he advised.
Ervin, still caught up in the thrill, expressed his uncertainty,
"I... I don't know what to do! Aaah! What should I do?"
Nervously, he scratched his own head
Dan, with practical wisdom, yelled at them,
"If you think you caught a fish, drag it to the shore, stop screaming."
Ervin and Kai, looking at each other and then at Dan, simultaneously agreed,
"That's a good idea."
With renewed determination, they both pulled vigorously. It turned out to be a challenging task. the elusive fish on the hook fought fiercely, attempting to free itself from the trap. In this struggle between the water beast and Ervin, he faced numerous defeats, even falling on his face. Yet, the glimmer in his eyes revealed the sheer joy and anticipation he felt about the impending catch.
Kai stood in awe as he observed the seemingly miraculous strength of the string , marveling at its ability to endure such tension. Despite its slender appearance, the material held together remarkably well, leaving Kai curious about its composition.
it was revealed that Ervin had crafted this remarkable string himself. He had ingeniously combined fabric and discarded materials from the smithy, resulting in a thin yet incredibly strong thread. It became evident that Ervin had anticipated this moment and had come well prepared.
In the end, triumph radiated from Ervin's sparkling eyes as the water beast, caught in the relentless struggle, finally surrendered to their persistence and skill.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone