Kapitel 37: b4-b9
B2 | 4 - Burdens
I leaned down, eyebrows knitted as I stared at Leroy.
I clicked my fingers softly before his face. "You with us, mate?"
Leroy startled and his eyes cleared. "O-oh. Sorry. My mind went elsewhere for a moment."
It's not surprising that there's some lingering damage from his time in the capital, I thought.
"No need to apologize. The fish is ready, and seeing as though you caught it, I thought you should have the first bite."
He returned to his senses swiftly, giving me a broad grin as he accepted the fish. "Thank you."
Leroy cut through the crumbed fish with the side of a fork. It crunched, and as he separated a chunk of the flaky flesh, steam billowed from it. He tentatively lifted it to his mouth, blew once, then bit down.
As his expression melted from anticipation to pure bliss, I darted a look at Maria. She was already looking my way, and we shared a knowing grin.
"Mmmmm," Leroy said, moving his head side-to-side in a little dance.
"Yep," Maria said. "Looks like he's definitely a heretic."
I nodded seriously.
"Now that we have proof, we'll have to let the kingdom know."
"It's not my fault, officers," Leroy said, covering his mouth. "It's too delicious—I was left absent choice."
Maria raised an eyebrow at me. "I guess we'll have to try it then. Just to make sure he's telling the truth, you know?"
I nodded again, a smile coloring my features. "That would only be prudent—well said, officer Maria."
I used my fork to break apart the fish, and as steam rushed up to assault me, I breathed deep.
I still had a tray of herbs and spices I hadn't used yet, so I'd added three previously untested flavors to the crumbs before frying the fish. Their faint aromas wafted up, and I closed my eyes, focusing more on the scents. There was a hint of smokiness, something like rosemary but slightly more floral, and another that smelled of caramelized onion. I raised an eyebrow at the latter, but it wasn't unpleasant, just surprising.
I placed the fish in my mouth, and before I could even start chewing, the flavors exploded. As I bit down, the fish's juices and the golden crumbing fused with and calmed the herbs and spices fighting for dominance.
Maria let out a noise of delight, but I barely heard it; I was busy analyzing the tastes.
"Needs more of the caramelized onion and less of the floral rosemary..." I mused aloud after swallowing.
"Sorry, what?" Maria asked, her eyes half-lidded.
"Just taking notes." I pulled out my collar and peered down. "Did you get that, Cinnamon? Don't let me forget."
Her head popped out as she blinked sleep from her eyes, then she gave me a serious nod.
"Cinnamon!"
At Maria's voice, the little bunny flew from my chest with a deft kick. She sailed at Maria, who caught her and let out a lilting giggle.
She scratched behind Cinnamon's ear, and the bunny's back leg kicked incessantly as she leaned into the touch.
"So this is Cinnamon?" Leroy asked. "You're the only one I haven't met yet—it's a pleasure."
Cinnamon raised her ears and turned to take in the cultivator. She spun her body, braced herself against Maria's thigh, and started wiggling her fluffy little tooshie.
Knowing what would come next, I turned to look at Leroy, and was delighted when his eyes went wide at the bunny-turned-torpedo that sailed his way. He leaned back in shock and she crashed into his chest, causing him to topple onto his back on the sand.
He let out an oof, then chuckled as he reached up to pet her.
"I bet you get along with Corporal Claws, don't you?" he asked, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Over the last week, Cinnamon's personality had flourished, and I could scarcely remember the terrified, injured rabbit we'd found out in the forest.
"Cinnamon and Claws have become fast friends—I'm not sure if it's Claws's influence rubbing off on her, or if their similarities are why they bonded, but the result remains the same: she's a little trickster."
Cinnamon turned to look at me with one eye, and the corner of her mouth curled into a cheeky little smirk.
***
Joel, the head priest of the Church of Carcinization's Tropica branch, sat in solemn silence.
He had shuttered each window and door of the cult's headquarters. The air was still, and as he took a breath, the scent of something unpleasant washed over him.
Rather than recoil from the disgusting smell, he leaned into it, focusing all his attention on the odors flooding the room.
Jess, his lead disciple, made a retching sound.
Joel peered out through a slitted eye. "I know it's unpleasant, but this is all part of our worship."
"I know," she replied, her voice muffled as she covered her mouth with an arm. "How did you even catch these?"
Joel glanced at the three fish sitting on a tray in the center of the room. "I caught them last night on a fishing rod."
Jess's eyes and above were the only part of her face visible, and her forehead scrunched in thought. "That's... I suppose it's fine given that we're a church, but still..."
Joel nodded. "I know—it still feels antithetical to our beliefs, but the doctrine is clear—once a crab deity is identified, all other rules go out the window. The most important thing is nourishing the emerging ascendant."
"How did you even know how to make a fishing rod? Were there instructions in the doctrine?"
"Uh... yes."
In truth, he'd asked Fischer, but he didn't feel the need to divulge that information.
"Where they came from doesn't matter," he continued. "We need to meditate on and suffuse this fish with our will before offering it to our deity."
"Right. Sorry..." Jess removed her arm, scrunching her nose as the fish's smell hit her once more. "Let's resume."
Joel flared his nostrils and closed his eyes as he breathed in the unpleasant aroma, willing himself to become one with the fish.
***
With the sun having set, two cowled individuals walked through the empty streets of Tropica with a smelly payload.
Joel held one side of the tray, Jess the other, and each time the wind changed direction, one of them dry heaved.
"How is the smell getting worse?" Jess demanded, trying to bury her face against her shoulder.
"That is the scent of our devotion—remember it well."
"Our devotion smells like Poseidon's swarthy sack."
Joel made to chastise her heresy, but a breeze kicked up and wafted the fish's scent toward him. He held his breath, lest he desecrate the offering with his lunch.
"Yeah, it smells pretty bad," he forced out, facing his head away.
One horrible-smelling breath at a time, they made their way between the buildings of Tropica and down toward the coast.
As they passed a house on the southern side of town, a northerly wind hit them. It swept the smell of decaying fish away, and they both breathed a sigh of relief.
Joel led Jess down to the water's edge, and they set the tray down.
"What do we do now?" Jess asked.
"Now, we offer one to the ocean, and we hope the deity hears our call."
Joel grabbed a fish and lobbed it into the shallows. Small waves crashed and lapped at the shore, dragging the fish—and hopefully its scent—out to sea. He placed another fish on the beach, creating a trail back to the offering-laden tray.
He lowered himself to the sand and shuffled his feet as he took the stance of a crab. "Let us meditate, Jess."
She nodded and squatted down.
As hours passed, the moon rose higher in the sky.
A sudden breeze kicked up and sent a shiver down Joel's spine. He opened his eyes, intent on gauging the passage of time by the moon's movement, but something in the waves caught his attention.
Two mighty claws reached out from the salty waters, opening and closing with incessant regularity as if demanding more of their worship. Joel nudged Jess's thigh, and when she raised a questioning eyebrow at him, he nodded toward the claws.
Her annoyed glare turned awe-filled when she saw it, and as one, they threw themselves to the sand in prostration.
***
Rocky had been out patrolling the bay for his beloved mistress when a delicious scent wafted his way.
She had instructed him not to bother with the nighttime guard duty following his ascension, as his time was—in her opinion—better spent gaining power. He disagreed with this. If anything were to happen to his spiky matriarch, the world would grow dull and empty. Better to ensure no harm befell her, even if it meant he missed out on some sleep.
When the scent hit him, he immediately followed it. Not because he was hungry, of course—it was because he had to make sure some devious actor wasn't setting a trap for his beloved. On the off-chance he found a tasty treat, he'd have to indulge and ensure it wasn't poisoned. Such were the burdens of Rocky, yet he welcomed them.
He followed the delicious aroma all the way back to Tropica, and when he spied the two cultists sitting on the beach, he paused. He had been explicitly forbidden from contacting the two following their introduction to Sergeant Snips, but given the possibility they could be trying to offer her poisoned fish, he was left absent choice.
Rocky couldn't smell any poison coming from the offering, but it was better to be safe than sorry. It definitely had nothing to do with the fish's pungent allure and his desire to taste it.
With both his claws held high in a violent warning above the waves, he began eating the possibly poisoned fish that had been thrown into the ocean.
***
Joel chanced a glance from his prone position, and when he saw the claws still held high in welcoming approval, he slammed his forehead back down.
"Remain prostrate, Jess. This may be another test of our devotion."
"You remain prostrate! I saw you peeking just now."
"How did you know I was stealing a glance unless you were also peeking?"
***
Having eaten the fish beneath the waves—and detecting no poison—Rocky moved to test the rest of the delicious-smelling food.
He scuttled up the beach with silent steps, watching the humans for any unexpected movement. With his claws still held high in a promise of impending violence, he noticed they were talking to each other in hushed tones, so he hissed a warning for them to cease their planning, then indulged in the aromatic meal—to test for poison, of course.
***
The deity hissed a greeting, and Joel slowly lifted his head.
The crab still had its claws held high; she opened and closed them, praising their continued worship as she began eating their offering.
A cloud that had been obscuring the moon moved aside, and a soft-white light illuminated the scene. As it did so, Joel's eyes went wide. The crab's spikes were gone, its eyepatch was nowhere to be seen, and if Joel's memory didn't deceive him, it had shrunk in size.
Realization drove an icicle into his spine, and he froze as his vision tunneled in on the deity before him.
***
Rocky delighted in the terror and awe in the humans' eyes.
They were the correct emotions to show, and he puffed himself up as he continued eating, devouring every bite of the offering to ensure there was nary a drop of poison present.
He turned to leave, but a devious thought crossed his mind, and he slowly turned back toward them. Their gazes were still locked on his magnificent form as he grabbed the tray and slowly approached them.
Swifter than either of the humans could see, he lifted the metal tray high, then slammed it down on the male's head.
B2 | 5 - Patience and Fortitude
A cool breeze caressed Rocky's body; it was a welcome sensation following his feast. Moonlight shone down from above, reflecting off of the thin metal tray he held high.
Swifter than either of the humans could see, Rocky smacked them both on the head—not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to make a satisfying noise. He dropped the tray, jumped back, then lowered his claws to the ground and slammed them shut.
Two explosions ripped into existence, sand sprayed everywhere, and Rocky flew backwards, propelled out over the ocean.
He hissed and bubbled with laughter as he spun over the water's surface, trailing salty tears of joy as he imagined the looks on their faces.
***
Bonk.
Donk.
Joel flinched as the deity smacked him on the head with the serving tray.
A sharp detonation sounded, and sand sprayed everywhere.
Grains fell, and he tentatively lifted his head, squinting out at the world through narrowed eyes. The deity was nowhere to be seen, but then the moon reflected from something high above the bay. It was the crab, having somehow ejected itself from the beach and granted itself flight. It arced down, and after another breath, splashed down noiselessly.
"I can't believe it..." Jess said, sitting up and rubbing her head. "There's two of them, and that one is a maniac…"
Joel slowly turned to her, giving a knowing smile.
"I think you've misread the situation, Jess."
"I have...? How?"
"That was the same crab, merely in a different form."
"... a different form? What do you mean?"
He nodded. "It's not your fault—some of the doctrine is off-limits to anyone but head priests. When creatures ascend to a certain level, they can alter their appearance."
Jess's mouth moved noiselessly, the words refusing to come forth.
"That's right, Jess. It was another test to see how we'd react."
Joel grinned, his features going manic.
"Our deity, this 'Sergeant Snips', is even more advanced in her ascension than we thought."
***
For the second time in recent memory, an ancient being of the forest stirred.
It knew not what had roused it, and as its awareness slowly grew, it looked for the source of its awakening. It extended tendrils in search of the two beings from earlier, but neither were present.
Confusion bloomed, and it was just about to go back to sleep when it felt something... underground?
There was a source of energy near one of its roots. It took a chance and exerted what little power remained to it, sending a root up to quest toward the anomaly. When it reached the source of its confusion, joy bloomed like a springtime flower. It was a source of energy, and though it was small in size, it was potent.
The ancient being drank deep, using some of the power to extend more tendrils in pursuit of further discoveries. It found three more in the surrounding earth, spaced evenly apart. Each was small, powerful, and left it wanting more.
The being shivered in delight, and if anyone were present, they'd have noticed a peculiar sight: a light-blue tree's leaves swaying in a breeze that didn't exist.
The meal was over entirely too soon, and with its hunger somewhat satiated, the being withdrew its awareness and slipped back into a restful slumber.
***
Corporal Claws was resting atop her favored perch when something curious occurred.
A strange power tickled at her awareness, and she darted her head toward it, trying to gauge its source. The resonance was coming from somewhere to the south, and she leaped from her log before slinking off toward the anomaly.
She slipped from shadow to shadow, utilizing her unparalleled skills in reconnaissance.
She was the night. She was silence incarnate. She was—Corporal Claws froze, her body going stiff as an oyster's shell. The source of the strange energy was before her, and she peered from under a fallen log, ensuring her entire body lay in shadow.
Pinpricks of moonlight shone down through the canopy, revealing a light-blue tree. Whatever was causing the disturbance had to be hiding behind it, so she snuck—rather sneakily, by her estimation—around the perimeter, keeping her peepers pinned on the offending trunk. No matter which angle she viewed it from, however, there was nothing to be seen.
There were four patches of disturbed earth surrounding the tree, which were undoubtedly where her master had tried planting the lemon seeds he'd spent the last week talking about. Was it possible that their growth had been what she felt...?
No, she decided immediately. It had been an intelligent creature acting upon the world.
There was no answer for what the creature was or where it went. Her ears twitched in frustration.
She was just contemplating her next move when the tree shook. The entire thing shivered like an otter with no fur emerging from a frosty stream, so she hunched low to the ground. There wasn't something behind the tree—it was in the tree!
She wiggled her body and lay flat as her pupils dilated.
She would wait the creature out—such was the patience and fortitude of Corporal Claws, fuzziest and cutest disciple of Fischer.
Half an hour later, Claws crept forward toward the trunk, having had her fill of waiting. It was just so boring.
She held her power at bay, not wanting to spark with energy and warn her unseen foe. On silent paws, she approached. A small grin tugged at her lip as the thrill of the hunt flooded through her. She bent her legs, wiggled her tooshie, then leaped into the tree's branches. She had a haughty expression across her face, intending to appear smug to whatever was hiding there, but upon landing, her visage transformed to annoyance.
Corporal Claws darted from branch to branch, but no matter how hard she looked, there was no creature to find. Her nose twitched as she worked to catch a scent, but other than earth, foliage, and her own wonderful aroma, she detected nothing.
She looked around, blinked, then let out an indignant chirp.
There were shenanigans afoot.
***
I woke to something warm and fuzzy curled up between my arm and body, snoring.
I stroked Cinnamon's velvety fur with one hand as I let out a yawn, and she nuzzled into me, letting out a quiet peep to protest the arrival of morning.
Carefully, I extricated myself from the bed and placed pillows around Cinnamon before tucking her back in. She wiggled, and within seconds, resumed her quiet snores, easily falling back asleep.
The moment I opened my front door, I was buffeted by a cool breeze. I stepped into the sun, and its warmth stole some of the wind's frigid touch as I stretched. With my eyes closed and arms extended to the sky, I luxuriated in the sensations of my body.
The serendipity was shattered when something collided with my chest, and I let out a laugh as I fell to the sand. "Good morning, Snips. Sleep well?"
She bubbled her greeting from atop my chest and lowered her carapace, snuggling into me.
I petted the top of her head, taking comfort in her sturdy shell. "I have some stuff to build, so I'll be gone most of the day."
She nodded her understanding and hugged me tight, so I held her back with both arms.
I heard a hiss from my left. Rocky was approaching, his snippers raised and bubbles of fury spewing from his mouth. "You want a pet too, mate?"
I reached out to pat his head, but he clacked his claws in warning. "Whoa. Grumpy little fella, aren't—"
Snips, as a blur of blue and orange, halted before him, scooped him up with one claw, then flung him out to sea with a vicious overhand throw. I watched his body rocket out toward the horizon, his angular carapace rather stunning under the morning sun's light.
"You don't have to send him for six every time he tries to nip me, Snips."
She brushed her claws as if wiping off dirt, the very picture of indignation.
"I think he's a little jealous of our friendship," I said, laughing.
She shook her head and hissed in exasperation, and I laughed again.
After one more reassuring rub of her carapace, I set off for Tropica.
***
"Morning, Fischer!"
"G'day, Sue!" I replied from the back of the line.
She was a coffee-pouring, order-taking, pastry-slinging whirlwind behind the bakery counter, and I couldn't help but smile. "You're getting faster!"
"I have no choice—business is booming!"
Before I could respond, someone with a gruff voice cleared their throat behind me.
How does he make an ahem sound annoyed? I thought, turning.
"How ya doing, Roger?"
"I'm well, Fischer." He paused, his mouth moving as if he had gristle stuck in his teeth. "How are you?"
"I'm fantastic, mate! Are the ladies up yet?"
"They're not, no."
I didn't let his unimpressed attitude bring me down. "Well, hopefully they'll be up when we bring them a coffee and croissant."
His face remained still, but something was burning in his eyes. "I believe it's my turn to pay."
I'd been taking them a coffee and pastry every day for the past week. Each morning, Roger and I played out this little dance. I'd be chipper, he'd be grumpy. I'd offer to buy brekkie, he'd insist it was his turn. The last three days, I'd paid—Sue was on my side, after all, and she had final say in the domain of caffeine and baked goods.
I figured it was time I gave Roger a win. "Are you sure, mate? I'm flush with dosh, and I'm more than happy to shout. It brings me joy—"
"I'm sure," he interrupted, staring at me.
"Well, thank you, mate. I appreciate it."
That I didn't have to pay for my coffee or croissant because of my arrangement with Sue, and that I'd basically just agreed to let Roger buy his family their own brekkie, went unsaid.
"Just the usual, thanks Sue!" I said when we reached the counter.
"Coming right up!"
As she slid four coffees and croissants toward us, she peered at Roger's proffered coin, then raised an eyebrow at me. I gave a small nod, and she beamed in response.
"Thank you, Roger. I'll just get your change."
***
The sun peeked over the rows of sugarcane as Roger and I walked between them, and I took a deep breath of the morning air.
I had a coffee in hand. It was a beautiful day. And I was on the way to see my favorite human; given all this, I was unaffected by the disgruntled father of said human stomping beside me.
"What are your plans for the day, mate?"
"Farming," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Nice. How are the crops doing?"
"Good."
"Happy to hear it. I'm gonna make some stuff today, I reckon."
He made a non-committal grunt.
"You know, Roger—you'd be more than welcome to come give fishing a try if you wanted to."
"And why would I do that?"
"If nothing else, fish is a fantastic fertilizer—you could think of it as an extension of farming if it makes the whole 'heretical' aspect of things any better."
"No." His scowl somehow deepened even further. "I don't think I will."
"Suit yourself! The offer is always open if you change your mind. Think of my sand as your sand."
He snorted, and I smiled in response. We went the rest of the way in silence.
"Maria! Fischer's here!" Sharon yelled from the kitchen as Roger and I went inside.
Her head shot from her door. She wore pajamas, a beautiful grin, and an absolute mess of hair. "Be out in a moment!"
She emerged a minute later, hair smoothed, pajamas swapped out for daywear, and the stunning smile still present.
I held out the coffee; she ignored it entirely, stepping past my outstretched hand and pressing her lips to my cheek. "Thank you," she said, taking the coffee as she withdrew.
Heat rose to my face, and I pointedly looked at her and not her parents, who had gone quiet in the kitchen. It was the first time she'd displayed affection in front of them, and despite it being merely a peck, it left me poleaxed.
Sharon laughed and I chanced a look. She leaned on Roger's shoulder for support, her other hand covering her mouth. "Your face, Fischer—you're redder than passiona jam."
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
Maria stepped back in and wrapped her arms around my waist. "Don't be so mean, mom."
"Sorry," she said, her cheeks glowing with mirth from behind her raised hand. "It's just funny seeing a fearless heretic brought low by a mere kiss. Come on, Roger. Let's go finish our breakfast outside."
As they passed, Roger shot me an unreadable look that I took as a warning, and I gave him an awkward smile in response.
"So," Maria said, releasing me from her cuddle. "What are the plans today, oh 'fearless heretic'?"
She smiled up at me as she took a sip of coffee, and the embarrassment slowly left me. "Well, I did have some light teasing in the itinerary, but seeing as that's been taken care of, we can skip to phase two."
She nodded, giving me a knowing look. "My efficiency knows no bounds—I thought it best to get the teasing out of the way, lest I become the target." She took another sip, closed her eyes, and let out a light sigh. "What does phase two entail?"
"Oh, nothing major—I thought you might like to make your own fishing rod. If that's not to your liking, though..."
I trailed off, delighting as her eyes went wide and a grin grew across her freckled face.
B2 | 6 - Rare Commodities
Both of my arms and Maria's were full as we strode toward Tropica.
The rising sun had crested the horizon, allowing me to steal glances at Maria and the obvious joy and anticipation spread over her face.
"You know, if someone saw you smiling so hard about creating heretical objects, they might make some terrible assumptions."
"It's horrible, isn't it?" she asked, still beaming. "Your bad influence is spreading."
"Truly a travesty," I agreed, laughing.
As our footing swapped from sand and soil to cobblestones, we started passing people in the street. We were greeted with smiling faces, waves, and more than a few good-mornings as we made our way toward the woodworkers' shop.
I knocked on the door, and it swung open to reveal Brad, coffee in hand and apron already dirty with wood chips and shavings. "I was wondering when you were going to visit! Come on in."
We followed him inside. A workstation was already cleared and set up with myriad tools.
"I wasn't aware you were coming too, Maria—did you want me to make some space for you?"
"Nah, you're all good," I answered. "We can make room if she wants to try it herself—I don't want to impose on you more than necessary."
"You're never imposing, Fischer. I wasn't joking when I said you don't have to ask to use it." He fumbled in a back pocket. "That's why I wanted to give you this."
My eyebrows shot up at what was in his hand. "What's this, mate?"
"A key to the workshop."
"Woah," I said, stopping. "I appreciate it, but you've already done so much."
"Nonsense." He dropped it into my top pocket, which I was unable to block given the crate of fittings, bearings, and other knick-knacks occupying my arms. "Think of it this way—it's a weight off my shoulders because I won't need to let you in if you have work to do at odd hours."
"Sounds like he's trapped you, Fischer," Maria said, setting her bamboo poles down and patting me on the shoulder. "Turning it down now would be downright rude, which a proper, god-fearing citizen like yourself would never be... right?"
She grinned at us, and Brad barked a laugh. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
"Mate... I don't know what to say..."
"You could say thank you," Maria suggested, elbowing me lightly in the side.
I put my crate down and turned to him. "You a hugger, Brad?"
"Er, I mean—" He cut off as I wrapped him up, gave him a few pats on the back, then let go.
"Thank you, mate. I appreciate the trust."
"You're welcome." He rubbed the back of his head. "It's the least I can do given how much you've helped Tropica."
"Alright, that's enough flirting, you two," Maria said, shooting us a wink. "I'm sure you've got orders to fill, Brad. And we've got rods to make!"
"Sorry, mate," I said to Brad. "She's terribly jealous."
"It's true," Maria agreed, unpacking the contents of my crate.
He opened his mouth to speak, closed it again, and shook his head. "I'm just gonna keep sanding these chairs down—I don't even know what to say to you two."
Maria and I shared a grin as he turned away.
I started helping her unpack and organize the components.
"Are these the offcuts we can use?" I asked from my kneeling position by a bench after my workspace was set up.
"Aye," Brad said, still focused on his work.
"You didn't even look..."
"That's because you can use whatever you want—there are more chunks of ironbark riddled in there at the back."
"Thanks, mate, but I think we'll try using something a little easier to work with—they don't need to be works of art. I'll definitely take one for Maria's reel, though."
I shot her a wink.
She held a hand to her chest and mouthed, "who, me?"
I collected an armful of offcuts that were roughly the correct shape: six softwoods, and an ironbark one for Maria. A softwood one went in the vice first, and after winding it firmly closed, I picked up a handsaw and started shaping.
"So," I instructed, "it's best to get a rough shape before we start filing and shaving." My enhanced body easily pushed the saw's teeth through the soft wood, and within minutes, the block was roughly circular. "Do you want to try doing one?"
Maria nodded, picked up the saw, and started cutting into the next block.
***
As Maria's arm moved forward and back, she marveled at the strength of her body.
It had been over a week since she'd become a cultivator, and the awe she felt hadn't yet diminished. Her small muscles didn't grow tired as she cut away at the chunk of wood, and though she took longer to complete it than Fischer did, it was still at a speed that would have been impossible before indulging in Fischer's food.
"Perfect," Fischer said.
She set down the saw, unwound the vice, then picked up and cast her gaze over the soon-to-be reel.
There were jutting sections, hanging splinters where the offcuts weren't severed cleanly, and parts that were lower on one side than the other.
"It's not as smooth as yours..."
"It doesn't matter," Fischer said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "All you had to do was remove any excess wood, and we'll take care of the rest when we sand and shave it down. Here, I'll show you on the one I did."
***
A deep sense of calm overcame me as I used a plane to shave down the block of wood.
I continually spun it in the vice as I worked different sections, and with each sliver of wood removed, the reel came closer to its final form. Before I knew it, the block of wood was blurring and morphing, becoming something else entirely.
Pine Reel of the Fisher
Uncommon
Crafted of pine, this reel contributes bonuses to both fishing and luck.
Fishing +2
Luck +1
"Whoa..." Maria said as my vision cleared.
Her gaze was distant, and as her awareness returned, she focused on me.
"What does it mean by 'requisite knowledge'?"
"Did it say something like, 'this has many purposes to those with the requisite knowledge'?"
"It didn't say that for you...?"
"No, but it used to."
When I inspected any of my non-fishing-related constructions, I still received the same message, but ever since I'd created my fishing rod, I could see the 'stats' granted by all of my fishing-related creations. Only a week and a half ago, I had been pushing the change—and its implications—from my mind. Since confronting Barry and Sharon about their involvement in the cult, or whatever it was they were doing, I had spent my week off considering what it meant. I'd reached a conclusion pretty easily, and after only a moment's thought, I decided I should share with Maria.
"My running theory is that you can see the stats if you're high enough in the related skill. I can't see the stats of Snips' eyepatch, or a ring I made, for example, because I think my skills are probably too low."
As I spoke, her eyebrows continually lowered, until she looked at me with sheer incredulity. I cocked my head in response.
"What's up?"
"... you made Snips' eyepatch?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's actually pretty good..."
"Hey!" I said, laughing. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'd assumed it was just something she was born into this world with, or was created upon her ascension." She shot me a teasing grin. "I saw the fence you made before my dad had to come fix it for you—I figured any clothes made by you would be similarly, uh, structurally challenged."
I held a hand up and gasped in mock affront. "My lady, you wound me."
Maria giggled as she stepped in close, placing her palm to my chest. "I'm only kidding."
"I know. You're right, though. Steven helped me with the eyepatch, and the System took over and made it transform into an actually usable item. Still, the point remains—I'm relatively sure it's your hidden skill level that determines if you have the 'requisite knowledge'."
"What does it say for you?"
"It gives two points to fishing and one to luck."
She scrunched her nose in thought. "It gives luck? That... that's a lot to take in."
"It has some implications, huh?"
Maria nodded, her face serious. "It certainly does. I wonder if the luck bonus is only active when you're fishing..."
I blinked at her, and she cocked her head. "What's the look for?"
"Oh, nothing," I replied. "You just reminded me how smooth-brained I can be at times."
"What does asking about the luck bonus have to do with how smooth you are?"
"Wait... what? Oh! I don't mean I'm smooth with my words; I mean my brain is smooth. A wrinkly brain is very-much preferred, and having a smooth brain implies I'm an idiot."
She gave me a flat stare. "Fischer."
"Yeah?"
"What on Kallis are you talking about?"
"It's basic biology. Having a wrinkly brain means there's more of a surface-to-volume ratio, which allows room for more neurons while decreasing the relative distance between them. Though, there is an argument that having a smooth-brain is a defense mechanism that makes you more aerodynamic, allowing insults to slip right off—"
"Nope," she said, holding up a hand.
"... nope?"
"Nope," she repeated. "I've heard enough, and I won't be letting you take us any further off track from my glorious fishing rod we're definitely making today. Understood?"
A smile curled the corner of her lip as she raised an eyebrow at me. "Understood, boss."
"Good. Before we continue, why did asking about the luck bonus make you feel like an idiot?"
I opened my mouth, and she held up a finger, signaling me to wait. "I will allow you to explain it in seven words—no more, no less."
"My lady would allow me to speak seven words? This lowly one thanks elder sister."
I bowed at the waist, and she giggled. She cut it off and cleared her throat as she tried to hide her amusement behind a mask of indifference.
I rubbed my chin in exaggerated thought, planning my seven words carefully. "Fischer can wear fishing rod," I said with the intonation of a caveman. "Increase luck."
She nodded, then responded with the same cadence.
"Luck good. Fischer smart."
"No—Fischer dumb. It Maria idea."
I paused for effect, rubbing my chin as if I was channeling every ounce of intellect into my next words.
"Maria smart."
***
Brad shook his head as he listened to the two go back and forth.
He had been adjusting to the abilities and strength of his newfound body over the past week. One such ability was his enhanced hearing, which he was currently using to eavesdrop. He was all the way at the other side of the workshop, and by all rights, shouldn't be able to hear their conversation.
He'd intended to search for nuggets of wisdom, and to that end, he'd succeeded. Knowing that gaining levels in a skill would allow one to read created items' bonuses was intel he couldn't wait to share with Barry.
Despite the insight, and despite the possibility of further knowledge to come, he found himself more interested in their playful bickering. Genuine connection and conversation were rare commodities. He felt guilt for listening in on such intimate moments, but as he began traversing that internal rabbit hole, he shook himself.
Focus, Brad, he thought. Keep your mind on the mission at hand.
"Alright," Fischer said, laughing. "Let's put this reel on the rod and see what happens."
Brad refocused, his hands moving of their own accord across the leg of a chair atop his workbench as he listened in.
***
I started by binding the rod's eyelets. "These are what you run the line through. When either you or the fish pull, the rod will flex and take most of the pressure from the line."
Maria nodded intently, her eyes focused on what I was doing.
Next, I attached the bracket that I'd asked Fergus, the blacksmith, to create for me. It, along with the others I'd had him make, was slightly smaller than the one on my fishing rod.
"This is what allows the reel to flick sideways and let the line spool out freely."
She said nothing, merely watching.
My heart hammered in my chest as I picked up the reel and slid a bearing into it. The fitting was seamless, and I took a deep breath as I slotted it onto the metal bracket.
Exhaling, I focused on what I wanted the rod to become.
The world listened, and it blurred before my eyes. The shape expanded, then contracted and sharpened.
My vision was drawn into my newest creation.
B2 | 7 - Scaling
Corporal Claws, chosen of Fischer and warden of the forest surrounding her beloved pond, grinned mischievously.
Last night, something had eluded her. She knew not what it was, but the creature would be punished for its hubris.
She released her arms, and a pile of fish fell to the forest floor at the base of the light-blue tree's trunk. From behind her ear, she removed the stalk of sugarcane she had requisitioned from Barry's private stock.
Following her master's reprimanding of the farmer for allowing a wild bunny to ascend, Barry had built a giant wall around his crop. He'd dug a trench around the field's perimeter and filled it with rocks to stop any creatures from burrowing below. Above the stones, wooden palings extended a good two meters from the soil.
Such roadblocks were nothing to Claws, and she'd leaped over it with a single bound, not even needing her lightning powers.
With the fish and the sugarcane, she had bait to lure the creature back in. Whether it was a glorious fish eater like herself, or a lowly muncher of vegetation, it mattered not; she had prepared for both possibilities.
She made to dash back to her hideyhole beneath the fallen log, but paused. Her paw darted out to requisition one of the fish, then she slunk back to her scouting position.
With a sparkle in her eye and anticipation in her heart, she crunched into the fish, chewing it quietly as she awaited her quarry's arrival.
***
Maria took a sharp inhale of breath, and a grin spread over my face as I inspected the rod.
Bamboo Training Rod of the Fisher
Uncommon
A bamboo rod paired with a pine reel. This fishing rod provides boosts to both fishing and luck.
+5 fishing
+1 luck
The System tried to get my attention—as it so often did—but I ignored it, instead turning to Maria.
Her vision was clear; she was no longer looking at the item's description. Her eyes were wide and mouth was slightly open. "Wow... it really worked."
"It did," I agreed, smiling at my work. "I wanted it to be an easy rod for anyone to use, and it looks like that intent was reflected in its name."
"Can... can I hold it?"
"Of course!"
I held it out, and she took it timidly, running her hands along its different components. "It's so... is smooth the right word? I can't find any flaws." She held it up to her face and peered at it through squinted eyes. "Even the eyelets transformed..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean, and smooth is the word I'd use."
Her fingers ran deftly along its length as she continued marveling at its quality. A strand of hair slipped from behind her ear, but focused as she was, she didn't sweep it back into place.
Just as the rod had consumed her attention, I was consumed by her beauty. My heart sang at the way her nose crinkled in concentration, shifting her freckled and suntanned skin.
"So," I said, "how do you feel about trying to make one without my help?"
Not even a minute later, Maria's sun-bleached hair swayed back and forth as she used a plane to shave down the chunk of wood.
She had already sawn off the corners, and one sliver at a time, she reduced the block down. I said nothing—I didn't need to. She was intently focused, and I was content letting her work it out for herself.
An hour went by, and with each passing second, the wooden block looked more like a reel. She lifted the plane but stopped, cocking her head to the side as she looked down at it.
Just in time for it to transform.
As with every time the System intervened, the reel's lines blurred and grew vague. In the space of a single breath, it shrank back down and tightened. A wave of resonance shot from Maria, and my core hummed in response.
She gasped and held a hand to her abdomen. "Wh-what was that?"
"Totally normal," I said, laying a reassuring hand on her back. "It does that sometimes—I'm pretty sure it coincides with System advancements."
"What does it mean...?"
"Honestly? No clue. That you learned woodworking? That you became a fishing artisan? With the System dysfunctional as it is, it's hard to tell. More importantly..." I pointed at the reel. "I think you should have a look at what you made."
Her eyes went wide, and her head darted down to the reel.
I gazed at it too, letting it pull me in.
Pine Reel of the Apprentice
Uncommon
Crafted of pine, this reel provides a boost to fishing.
+2 fishing
My vision cleared to see Maria blinking up at me, her face anxious.
"What did it say? I can't read it!"
"It gives two fishing—nothing else, luck or otherwise."
Her face remained shocked.
"Don't let it dishearten you," I said. "I've been making them longer, which is probably why mine have more—"
"... dishearten?" her voice was soft, a little flat, and entirely incredulous. "Dishearten?" she repeated, laughing. "Fischer, I just made a—"
She cut herself off and darted a look toward Brad; the woodworker was bent over, sanding a chair and paying us no mind.
She leaned toward me, whispering urgently. "I just created a magic item! An actual real-life item created with the System! I... I can't believe it!"
"I'm not surprised—I never doubted you for a moment."
She chewed her lip in thought, her eyes staring at my chest vacantly as her thoughts roiled.
"If you're excited now," I said, "wait until you make a fishing rod out of it."
Her gaze rose to meet mine, and a beatific grin spread across her face.
"Are you sure? What do I do? Am I ready? It's all so much—"
I cut her off with a side hug, laughing as I pulled her close. "You're ready. Just do what I did and the System will handle the rest."
She leaned her head against my shoulder, then broke off with a skip and began gathering the components.
***
Excitement bubbled up within Leroy as he strode beneath the mid-morning sun. He'd slept fitfully last night, but despite his distinct lack of sleep, he was full of energy as he made his way to Barry and Helen's home.
He reached a hand out to brush sugarcane leaves in his passing, taking comfort in their touch and how content the crops seemed to be. When he focused on any plant life, he could tell what they needed to flourish and grow.
When it came to Barry's crops, he didn't need to extend his awareness; they sang their health and contentedness toward him.
With his senses engulfed by the sugarcane's joy, he lost all sense of time.
"Good morning, Leroy," Barry said, yanking him back to reality some time later.
His brother-in-law leaned on a hoe and smiled over at him from a field of sandy soil he was tilling.
"O-oh. Morning, Barry."
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. What makes you ask?"
"You have bags under your eyes bigger than a field mouse."
"That obvious, is it?" Leroy asked, rubbing the back of his head. "I didn't sleep too well after spending the day fishing."
"Really? I would have thought you'd have slept better than ever. Did something happen with Fischer?"
"Aye…" Leroy took a moment, inhaling and exhaling a deep breath before he dove headfirst into the conversation. "Has the System spoken up to you at all?"
Barry raised an eyebrow. "I mean, yeah, but nothing other than the usual 'insufficient power' message. Why?"
"Have you received any over the last twenty-four hours?"
"No..."
"Well, I have..."
Leroy willed the log to show, and a box appeared before his eyes.
You have learned fishing!
You have advanced to fishing 2!
You have advanced to fishing 3!
You have advanced to fishing 4!
"Oh?" Barry said, peering at Leroy intently. "What did it say?"
"After spending the day with Fischer, it said I learned 'fishing', and that I advanced to level four in it."
Barry froze on the spot, his hoe falling from his hand and thumping to the ground. "You're serious?"
"Serious as the wet-season, Barry. I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner. It brought up a lot of inner turmoil about my time in the capital, and I just needed some time to—"
"Mate, you don't need to apologize. Does Fischer know?"
Relief flooded Leroy at Barry's easy acceptance, and a tension he wasn't aware of melted away as his shoulders dipped. "No. I'm aware he wants nothing to do with your plans, though I'm sure he'll catch on soon enough."
"Maybe not," Barry said, rubbing his chin in thought. "It might just be happening to you, and even if it's everyone, Fischer told me he has his notifications turned off."
"Wait, why would it just be me?"
Barry shrugged. "Who knows when it comes to the System, but if there's enough power for it to work..." he trailed off as the implications hit him.
Leroy nodded. "The possibilities are why I didn't sleep much last night."
"Our plans may be working much sooner than we'd expected..."
Leaves rustled as something came barrelling through a field of cane to the west, and both men darted their heads toward it. Helen appeared, shoving stalks aside. Her eyes were wide, and despite her cultivator's body, she was breathing heavily. As she saw them, she skidded to a stop.
"Helen?" Barry asked, stepping forward. "What's wrong?"
"M-my bread..."
"Your bread? What about your bread?"
"I made some bread, and when I finished..." She swallowed, her face pale. "The System told me I reached 'baking seven'..."
***
I fought to keep down my excitement as Maria started putting the rod together.
The only sound in the woodworking shop was that of Brad's sanding from across the room, but I barely heard it.
Maria easily twisted the hooks into place along the rod's shaft. She attached the bracket next, the screwdriver in her hand winding the threads into place. She took her time, ensuring she didn't split the thin stick of bamboo. When the screw was held tight against the bracket, she set the rod down and grabbed the reel.
With a deft push of her thumb, the bearing slipped into the reel's center, making a soft thunk as it hit the wooden lip that stopped it going all the way through.
She set the reel down, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As she exhaled, she looked out at the world and collected the reel once more. She held it to the bracket and connected the two with a bolt, then started twisting the nut over its threading.
When she finished, I held my breath. Nothing happened for a long moment, and just as she turned to raise an eyebrow at me, the rod transformed.
It was over in a matter of seconds.
Bamboo Training Rod of the Apprentice
Uncommon
A bamboo rod paired with a pine reel. This fishing rod provides boosts to both fishing and luck.
+3 fishing
+1 luck
I noted the wording and stats, and before my vision could clear, Maria made an excited noise. I dismissed the inspection to see her bouncing side to side on her toes, the rod in hand and held up before her.
"I did it!"
"You did! ongratulations!"
"It's amazing!" She squealed quietly and hugged it to her chest, still dancing on the spot. "My very first rod! What are the stats?"
"Three fishing, one luck."
Part of me expected her to be disappointed, but her foot-to-foot dance only increased. I held a hand up and she high-fived it with entirely too much vigor.
"Hey!" I said, laughing. "If I wasn't so strong, you might have dislocated my shoulder with that."
"Oh! Sorry!" She grinned up at me. "I'm just. So. Excited!"
She held the rod up and looked it over, peering at the seamless qualities of its new form.
She spun on me with a fervent gaze. "Can I make another?"
The day passed by like a calm breeze as Maria and I made more rods.
Brad helped me clear a space for her to work from before he left to get some lunch, and I matched her pace, content to take my time and let her get more experience. Each subsequent rod she made took less time, and as she finished her third rod of the day, she let out a soft gasp.
"Fischer! Look!"
She held it up before me, and it immediately drew my eyes in. It was the same as before, but gave four instead of three to fishing.
"Hey! You're getting better."
She nodded chaotically, hair bouncing around her face in her excitement. "I am!"
"Well, with those six rods finished, it just leaves one more to make."
Her body language sobered in an instant. "You should make it—it will come out better."
"You know, I thought about that, but I have another idea."
Her eyebrows furrowed and her head tilted to the side.
"What?"
"I was thinking we could do it together."
Excitement bloomed across her face and she nodded sharply.
We took turns shaving down the reel. The ironbark was much more difficult to work with, but given our enhanced bodies, it never stood a chance.
When it was almost finished, she turned a curious gaze on me. "Who should do the last bit?"
"I've been thinking about that too..."
I unwound the vice and removed the reel, holding it out to her. "You hold it for me and focus your will on what you want it to become, and I'll do the last bit of sanding."
She held it firm and rotated it as I took fine sandpaper to the reel's surface. Bit by bit, the hardwood smoothed, and with a final scrape along its surface, it transformed.
Ironbark Reel of the Fisher's Apprentice
Rare
Crafted of ironbark, this reel provides an unknown benefit. Combine it with a rod to learn more.
As both our visions cleared, we blinked at each other, then grinned at the same time. Without a word, we started constructing the rod.
Maria attached the hooks as I screwed in the bracket, and as with the reel, she held the rod firm as I attached the last piece of the puzzle. Her eyes were closed and her brow was wrinkled in concentration as I wound the nut into place. It pressed against the bearing, and I was just about to rotate my hand again when the transformation began.
The rod seemed to vibrate and my fingers tingled where they touched it. The lines blurred more than normal, and it seemed to drink light from the room as it shifted and expanded. My eyes went wide as confusion hit me, but quick as the change had started, the lines snapped back into place sharply.
A wave of elation rolled out from my abdomen, but it was completely drowned out by Maria—a tidal wave of force billowed from her and collided with my core, causing my whole body to buzz with its resonance.
"W-what…?" we both asked.
Before I could speak another word, the rod's description consumed my vision.
Bamboo Rod of the Fisher's Apprentice
Rare
A bamboo rod paired with an ironbark reel. This fishing rod provides boosts to both fishing and luck. The stats provided will grow with the skill of the user.
+? fishing
+? luck
"What?" we both asked again, darting looks from the rod to each other.
"Holy shit, Maria… you got a scaling item."
She rested back against the bench, leaning on it for support. "Fischer... that's insane, right?"
I took a seat beside her, lifting myself up onto the bench. "Yeah, it really is. Pretty sure it will out-scale my rod, given time."
"What was the wave that rushed out of me? I felt a smaller one from you, but mine..." She shook her head, trying to clear it. "I've never felt anything like it."
"Also normal. It usually coincides with a message from the System reminding you how out-of-power and useless it is."
Her gaze went distant, and I guessed she was checking said message.
She took a sharp intake of breath as she whirled on me. "Fischer... it said something."
"Yeah, you'll get used to those messages. They're always the same, unfortunately."
"No, Fischer—you don't get it. It said something—a lot of things, actually. I learned woodworking and advanced to level ten in fishing."
"Wait, what?" I almost yelled the last word, and I quickly willed my System notifications to show.
Lines printed out before me, and my mouth went dry.
B2 | 8 - Pungent
Sawdust and the scent of wood filled the air, and as I read the System messages again, my mouth grew dry.
You have become a woodworking trainer!
You have advanced to woodworking 8!
You have advanced to fishing 57!
If I wasn't sitting atop the workbench, I would have fallen to my knees. I leaned back, bracing myself against the tabletop.
"Fischer, are you okay?" Maria's face was concerned as she held a hand atop mine. "What did it say?"
I told her. As I said them out loud, the truth hammered into me. I had already leveled my fishing so much, and I had become a woodworking trainer…? What did that mean?
Maria spoke, drawing me from my introspection.
"If it listed them for you too… does that mean what I think it does?"
I nodded, clenching my jaw. "The System is regaining power—for everyone."
I checked the messages again, still not believing what I saw.
On a hunch, I willed a 'stat screen' to show. If this world were anything like the books and stories I'd read on Earth, there would be a way to quantifiably track progress. As I focused my mind on the task, I felt something respond. It was there, just out of reach, so I redoubled my efforts, forcing the waking world out of my awareness as I closed my eyes.
That's when it happened—the System spoke up, responding to my request.
[Error: Insufficient power. Superfluous systems offline.]
I barked a laugh, and Maria raised an eyebrow at me. "What's so funny?"
"It's nothing—I tried to see all my skill levels, but the System responded with its usual 'insufficient power' nonsense. I guess we don't have to worry about the world returning to the days before the gods' departure anytime soon..." I grinned. "Still—pretty neat to see notifications, huh?"
"That's all you have to say?" Maria asked, a smile quirking her lips.
"Yeah. Why?"
"You just learned that the System, something that has been dysfunctional for thousands of years, has started working again... and all you can say is 'neat'?"
"What? You don't think it's neat?" I blew air from my lips. "You're hard to impress."
I laughed as she slapped me on the arm.
"No, you goof, I think it's beyond neat—it's downright astounding."
***
If it weren't for Brad's cultivator body, he'd have fallen over and accidentally announced his presence.
He had made an excuse to leave over an hour ago, saying he had to grab some lunch. It was a lie, of course, and while he didn't feel good about deceiving two people he considered friends—and one he considered a god just waiting to happen—it was a necessary evil.
He needed to gather intel, and that was that.
Brad's hands were braced against his knees, and he was taking deep, silent breaths to steady himself. That Maria had become a cultivator wasn't surprising—the Church of Fischer had suspected as much, but it was good to hear it confirmed. What had him buckled over and fighting to not pass out was the knowledge that the System was regaining power.
He gathered his strength and left on shaky legs, heading for Barry's.
***
As excited as I was, Maria had to be even more excited; she practically danced as we made our way from the woodworking shop.
We received a few odd looks when traveling through Tropica with our rod-laden arms, but neither of us was bothered—we had some new tools to test.
After dropping off the extra rods at my home and collecting my tackle box, we set off toward the coast. I walked with a quick gait, while Maria skipped beside me, unable to contain her energy.
"Where should we fish?" she asked. "Would the saltwater or freshwater suit my rod better?"
"Where would you like to fish? They'll work in either area."
"Hmm..." Her skipping stopped abruptly, and she cocked her head to the side in thought. "The river! I haven't had a chance to go fishing there yet."
"As my lady wishes," I said with a small bow, and she whacked me on the back with the butt of her rod.
"Your lady demands you stop teasing her."
I grinned.
"As my lady commands."
When we arrived at the rocky shore, I removed a sabiki rig. "We're all out of bait—you wanna fish for some? We'll need some more bait-catching rigs for our fellow heretics-to-be, so I might make another while you catch us some eel."
She nodded fervently. "Want me to tie it myself?"
"Do you remember the knots?"
She rocked back in mock hurt. "Do I remember the knots? You wound me, manservant. You're talking to a bona fide fisherwoman."
"My apologies—I forgot how talented, learned, and downright attractive your teacher is. Of course you remember the knots."
She gave me a sidelong glance. "Don't forget how humble he is."
"And humble," I agreed, passing her the sabiki rig with a grin.
Ten minutes later, a steady breeze blew from the ocean, so I faced my back to it as I tied small lengths of line to each other.
My tackle box was freshly stocked with hooks and small offcuts, all courtesy of Fergus and Duncan at the smithy. I would have to thank them again the next time I saw them.
I shook my head and focused on the task at hand; my fingers moved deftly through each knot, connecting small bits of metal to smithy-forged hooks. I used three hooks in total, all connected to an individual line running from the main one. As I tied the last line and cinched the knot tight, what I'd been hoping for occurred.
Sabiki Rig of the Fisher
Common
A rig used to catch baitfish off the shores of the Kallis region. This rig boosts the attraction rate of baitfish and provides a boost to fishing.
+3 attraction
+1 fishing
My vision cleared, and I gazed down at the System-created item. The only change was the small metal offcuts I'd attached, but boy was it a change.
The metal had completely transformed, shrinking in size and folding around the eye of the hook. I held one up to my face; it had a reflective pattern that shifted in the sun, some patches shining the light back toward me while others stayed dull. I moved it around, and the other sections lit up while previously shining ones turned dull.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Maria said, striding over. "I only just got my line in the water! How did you—"
She cut off as something bit one of her hooks, and her head shot to look at the water. A moment later, the rod's tip dipped heavily as something else bit another hook and thrashed to escape. Her hand wound the reel in, and with a flick of her arms, a cichlid and an eel flopped up onto the rocks.
Swifter than I'd ever seen her move, she unhooked the cichlid, threw it back into the river, then dispatched the eel with a nail I'd given her.
She dashed back over with her rod in hand, her eyes going distant as she peered at the rig.
"How do I look?" I asked.
She shook her head, returning to the present. "What?"
"How do I look?" I repeated, deadpan.
"Uhm... good? Why do you ask?"
"I mean, it gives me an extra three 'attraction', right? I thought it might have an effect."
She groaned. "Save the dad jokes for actual dads, Fischer. That was horrible."
I beamed up at her, entirely too pleased with myself.
"By way of apology, would you like to have the inaugural test-run of this rig? We could use an extra eel as bait for the crab pot."
Her annoyance disappeared, replaced with a smile as she gave a sharp nod.
I stood beside Maria as she cast her line out.
The sun had begun to descend from its peak, its warmth hitting the right side of our bodies as we faced south. The reflective strips of the newly created sabiki rig twinkled in the light as they flew over the water and landed with an inaudible splash.
"So, how does the new rod feel?"
Maria's eyes were closed, a soft smile on her face as she angled her cheek toward the sun. "I didn't realize it before, but the rod you made is a bit big for me, I think. This one feels just right."
I shared her sense of calm, and I watched the tip of her rod with relaxed eyes, waiting for a fish to bite. The movement of the water beyond drew me in, its chaotic shifting and swirling making a sense of ease course through me.
The bonus to attraction must have kicked in, because we didn't have to wait long; the rod bounced and twitched as a small fish bit one of the hooks. She waited for more to bite before reeling it in, and her patience was rewarded.
Something bigger joined the fray, bending the rod almost in half as it tried to escape. Maria's eyes went wide, while mine narrowed in thought. I couldn't say why, but the way the rod moved made me think a new species was hooked. She wound the line up, but as the hooks neared the water's surface, the hooked creature swam for its life, darting down and away in a sporadic dash.
At the fish's movement, my eyebrows narrowed further; it was definitely something new.
Maria stepped toward the water, giving the creature room to move. As swimming down didn't let it get away, the fish tried going out to sea, but upon finding that course just as fruitless, it darted back up the river. The line cut through the water with its movement, holding firm as Maria expertly stepped to and fro on the shore.
The fish soon grew tired, and while it still took runs, they were shorter and more sporadic. Maria meticulously wore it down, and with a final lift of her rod, something long, brown, slimy, and repulsively hideous slid up onto the rocks.
"What the..."
Pungent Monkeyface Eel
Rare
Found in the brackish waters of the Kallis Realm, this mature variation of the Common Eel has high oil content and a pungent scent, making it unpalatable food but excellent bait.
"Whoa," Maria said, drawing me from my inspection as she dispatched it. "It's a mature version, and it says it's rare! I wonder how good—" Her words cut off as she gagged and covered her mouth. "By the gods," came her muffled voice. "It stinks!"
I leaned down, the impulse to sniff it working against my self-preservation instincts.
"It can't be that bad. It's only a—hyuk!" I shot back as if physically struck. A scent of ammonia reminiscent of smelling salts with a hint of ripe garbage crashed into me, and I similarly covered my mouth. "Alright—it's really that bad."
I stared at the creature, its visage somehow making its scent even more repulsive. For lack of a better descriptor, the eel looked like some errant god had made its face by combining a primate's head with the bottom of a foot. It was covered in wrinkles and slime, looking like a hand gone pruney after staying underwater for too long.
"Fish can't really like eating this, can they?" Maria asked, incredulous. "It smells like death."
"I know how to find out..." I cupped my hands to my mouth. "Sniiiiiips! Assistance needed at the river mouth!"
Maria and I moved upwind from the nasally offensive sea creature, and before I could take a seat in the sand, something flew from the water and crashed into my chest. I'd seen her coming, so I braced my legs and easily caught her.
Sergeant Snips, my ever-reliable guard crab, hissed her greeting up at me. She withdrew her power, blue billows of water sucking back into her carapace.
"You got here fast—were you close by?"
She shook her sturdy head and blew negative bubbles, pointing out to sea.
"You were off exploring, huh? Well, thanks for coming. We have a question for you."
She cocked her entire body and peered at me with her visible eye, her curiosity evident.
I nodded at the foot-looking eel. "We want to know if that tastes good or not—fair warning, though: smell it first. The System says it's good bait, but we're struggling to believe it."
Snips jumped to the rocks and puffed herself up, taking pride in the task. With sure steps, she approached the Pungent Monkeyface Eel.
B2 | 9 - Fuzz
The sun beat down on Sergeant Snips as she approached a rather silly looking creature. It had already been taken care of, and its lifeless mouth hung slightly ajar, revealing black flesh and sharp teeth within.
Her master had said the System called it 'excellent bait', which meant it would likely be a tasty little afternoon snack for Snips. Just then, the wind changed direction, and she immediately reassessed how tasty a treat it would be. The smell was suffocating, and she froze on the spot, the scent overwhelming.
Part of Snips could tell that in the not so distant past, this eel would have been a pleasure upon her senses. As she was now, however, that wasn't the case. Her palate had changed following the introduction of Fischer's varied foods. Whatever this creature was, it was no longer on the menu.
She turned and headed back for Fischer and Maria, shaking her head emphatically.
***
"It's not nice...?" I asked
"See?" Maria said. "I told you! It's way too stinky."
Snips held up a claw, halting us. She made a series of gestures between her and the water, blowing hisses and bubbles that I understood.
"It'll taste good to fish, but not you?"
She nodded in confirmation, blowing another series of bubbles.
When I caught their meaning, I laughed and bent down to pat her head. "Thanks, Snips."
"What did she say?" Maria asked. "All I got was that she was happy about something."
"She says my cooking has made food she once loved taste terrible. Probably the best compliment you could give a chef."
I stretched and took a deep breath; the salty air leveled me out, and a smile came to my face as I exhaled slowly. "Alright. Now we know the eel is good for fishing, shall we?"
Maria grinned. "Let's do it."
Cutting the eel into hook-sized pieces without getting a whiff was a convoluted process involving a leaf glove, facing my back to the wind, and no small amount of concentration.
With a leaf cupped in my hand, I slid a chunk of flesh onto Maria's hook. She had swapped the sabiki rig for a drop rig, and with the bait's addition, her rod was ready to go. She walked to the rocky edge, flicked the reel forward, drew her arms back, then sent the hook and sinker sailing out over the water.
The sun was descending behind us, making its inexorable way toward the western mountains. The sky was tinged with hints of purple and pink, and I knew we would witness a stunning sunset over the next couple of hours. Beneath the beautiful colors of the afternoon sky, Maria's bait hit the water and sank toward the river-mouth's floor.
After placing some pungent eel on my hook, I stood to the left of Maria and cast my line further out to sea, ensuring our lines wouldn't get tangled. I flicked the reel back into place and spun to my fishing partner.
She was beaming a serene smile at me, and I raised an eyebrow, smiling back. "What's up?"
"This is really nice, Fischer."
I took a deep breath, the joy spreading wider on my face.
"It is, isn't it? It's nice fishing by yourself, but there's just something about doing it with a friend. Oh, don't give me that look—you know what I mean."
She sniffed, attempting to appear unimpressed, but the corner of her lip twitched in amusement. It was almost unnoticeable on her sun-kissed skin.
"Just a friend, huh? Wait until my lord father hears about this."
I shot my eyes wide open and gaped at her. "Please, my lady, anything but that—King Roger would have my head!"
Her amusement broke through, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she giggled. "I will take pity, but just this once. Next time you won't be so—"
The words died in her throat as the tip of her rod twitched. It tugged down, slight but repetitive.
"It looks like baitfish have found it..." I said, watching her rod. "Wait it out. They may bite the pointy end by accident."
As we both watched the chaotic twitching of her rod, the fish found my bait too, and both tips bounced in a staccato rhythm.
"Does this usually happen?" Maria asked.
"Not really, no. Maybe the bait is too effective and it's luring the bait fish all the way from the shore to the middle of the channel?"
Maria's rod stilled, and after a few more tugs, mine did too.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I'm pretty sure the little buggers stole our bait..."
She made an annoyed noise and began to wind her line back in, but it went slack. Maria cocked her head in response, her hair falling freely.
"Huh...?"
She wound the line until it went taut, then tugged the rod up a few times, but it didn't budge.
"I think I'm stuck on something—whoa!"
She was almost pulled into the river and had to let go of the reel's handle as something colossal moved away, taking the line with it.
"You're stuck on something, alright," I said. "A massive fish!"
"Th-this is a fish?" she asked, her eyes going wide. She made a few testing tugs on the rod. "Feel like I'm hooked on a log..."
The 'log' changed directions, and her eyes went even wider. She moved along the shore toward me as it swam out to sea.
Focused as I was on the thing Maria had hooked, I'd completely forgotten about my rod—until something tried to yank it from my hands.
"W-whoa! Fish on!"
I set the hook, and something large took an immediate run further into the river mouth.
"Go under," I said to Maria as I walked toward her and held my rod high. She slipped underneath, crouching low.
I felt a moment of conflict as I stared after her, feeling a need to assist with her fight, but also wanting to focus on my own. With a shake of my head, I cleared it. I had to give my full attention to my battle, lest I lose or hurt the fish. Breathing deep of the salty air, I focused on the slick rocks beneath my bare feet and the fitful breeze whipping around me.
The fish felt like nothing I'd ever hooked before.
With each kick of its powerful tail, my rod bounced. Anticipation and glee rose up from within; I used them to further ground myself in the moment, each sensation of my mind and body tunneling me in on the present.
As the fish moved further upriver, my footing changed from rock to sand, and I followed along, letting the fish tire itself as I kept the line taut. Its strength slowly began to waver, so I started pumping the rod up and down as I wound the reel. It came closer and closer to shore, and I squinted out in the fading light of day as it drew near.
I caught a glimpse for just a moment, but it made the blood pound in my ears. A powerful tail, spotted and muscular, kicked away as it left the shallows for the depths. I wound the reel backward, both letting the fish tire itself further and decreasing the chances of my line snapping.
Exhausted as it must be, its power remained unbelievable. Each kick of its tail was slower now, but still made the rod shift and sway. Eventually, even its kicks grew sluggish, and I reeled it into the shallows.
The fish swam with the shoreline only two meters from me, and I let out a soft whistle.
The sky had turned a brilliant pink, causing its light-colored body to absorb and reflect the hues above. The fish was covered in spots, and had an enormous mouth and tail. I wound the line in further, stepped into the shallows, and lifted it up onto the shore.
It kicked feebly as my eyes drew into it.
Juvenile Goliath Grouper
Rare
Usually found in the deepest reefs of the ocean, these fish grow to become true monsters of the deep. It is said they can live to be centuries old.
"You're a juvenile...?" I asked, incredulity clear in my voice. "Just how big do you get...?"
The fish kicked its body in response, and I walked it back down to the water. I'd eaten juvenile fish before, but knowing this thing had such a long life ahead of it, releasing it felt like the right thing to do. If my friends or I were starving, that would be a different story, but as the saying went, there were always more fish in the sea.
I dipped its head beneath the water and moved it back and forth to get water running through its gills. At the same time, I looked toward the river mouth in search of Maria.
"Where has she gotten to...?" I mused aloud.
Just then, the fish kicked off. Its tail moved sluggishly, but as long as it could swim forward, I knew it would survive the release.
"Thanks, fishy," I called after it, watching as its light-gray speckled body disappeared beneath the waves.
An immense wave of gratitude flooded me, and I smiled out at the dark water for a long moment before I took off, running for the river mouth.
When I rounded the headland, the sky had turned from a light pink to a vibrant shade of violet as the sun got lower in the western sky.
Maria was just up the coast, leaning back as she tried to heave the fish she'd hooked toward land. I ran to meet her.
"Have you seen it yet?"
"No!" she grunted through clenched teeth, then dipped her rod down to wind in more line. "It's like the thing is glued to the ocean floor..."
I had an idea of what it probably was, but I didn't want to spoil the surprise.
Their dance continued, and bit by bit, Maria got the heavy creature closer to shore. Sensing it would soon be caught, the fish abandoned its tactic of sucking its body to the floor, instead trying to glide away. Maria pounced on the moment of weakness, pumping and winding the rod. A massive shadow lifted towards the water's surface, and she let out a gasp as she caught sight of it.
"What in Nereus' rich bounty is that?"
"That," I answered, "is a stingray."
She blinked down at the thing as she continued winding, bringing it to the shallows. It was a meter wide, so dark a brown as to be almost black, with thick wings surrounding a raised body.
Maria practically vibrated with excitement, and a full-body shiver overtook her.
"You right?" I asked, smirking at her.
"I'm overwhelmed!" she yelled back, so loud I may have assumed she was angry if not for the open-mouthed smile betraying her true feelings.
She continued heaving, and when the stingray was half out of the water, I leaned down, grabbed the line, and hauled it up onto the sand.
Common Stingray
Common
Found in the coastal waters of the Kallis region, these stingrays are a staple source of food.
"Watch out for its tail," I said as my eyes cleared. "That's where the name comes from."
"How do you know so much about it?" Maria asked, bouncing from foot to foot. "Have you caught one before?"
"No—I've caught a shovelnose ray before, but it was much thinner with a long, meaty tail. I know about these from Earth."
"Is it edible? The description said they're a staple source of food…" Her eyes grew intense. "Are they tasty?"
I grinned at her.
"It looks like you've caught us dinner."
***
Corporal Claws, most lusciously furred of all of Fischer's disciples—Yes, including Cinnamon, she thought, who was clearly covered in fuzz, not fur—returned to her watchpost as the sun set.
She'd had to leave for a moment to obtain sustenance; it would be downright negligent to attempt an overnight watch on an empty stomach. She smiled to herself as she munched on the fish she'd caught in the river and cast her gaze out over the clearing, the light-blue tree in the center, and her pile of bait.
Some hours later, with half-lidded eyes and a deep sense of weariness, she slapped herself across the face, shaking her head as she willed herself to wake up. Despite her intention of waiting all night—and her best efforts at staying true to that ideal—doing nothing was just so boring.
She took a deep breath and let it out in a hissing sigh, not at all looking forward to the rest of the night.
It was just then, her attention waning and wakefulness fading, that the creature's presence returned.
Corporal Claws' eyes dilated, and she was immediately flooded with focus and determination.
The strange power started as a trickle, like the first drop of rain that fell from the sky and hit your arm, leaving you unsure if you imagined it. The trickle became a stream, and the stream became an immutable torrent.
Corporal Claws's confusion only grew. The exertion of will came not from around the tree, but within its magnificent trunk. The power seemed to spread through the ground, climbing up toward the forest floor. Finally, it burst through the carpet of grass.
A single root, thin as a piece of straw, exited right beside her pile of bait. It moved with prehensile grace, seeming to taste the air before plunging into the fish.
Claws let out an indignant chirp, ignited her body with crackling energy, then launched herself at the creature.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein