Heretical Fishing

Book 2: Chapter 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, merely 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; nothing would be broken.

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—all the way until the root struck his open palm.

Crack!

Air exploded from the collision, blowing the cultivator’s hair back. His eyes never flinched, he didn’t move a step, and the grin never left his face.

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 more lemons, and I’m willing to bring you hella 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?”

***

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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 place in 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.

“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, but 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, I couldn’t help but smile.

“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.

***

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, and 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 the 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?”