The tool stretched high into the sky, it was longer than a sword. This was the required item for his class. On one end was a piece of metal in the shape of a ‘C’ formed by mana. Following up from the simulated metal was a thin long sliver of mana producing the effect of string. Finally it connected to a long glowing blue stick.

All of it came together and took the shape of a small fishing pole. The mana pole felt warm in his hands. Luke figured mana must radiate heat while stimulated. The warm feeling was pleasant as if he was holding his father’s hand and he was right there next to him. He was still in a daze just standing there in front of the sign when suddenly he was hit.

A young child had bumped into him. It seemed to be a little girl by the long black hair that flowed down each side of her head. She couldn’t have been older than twelve. Luke thought she must’ve been an NPC since she was so young but, it was hard to determine one hundred percent. NPCs and users were nearly indistinguishable upon first glance. The girl had an open basket on her back with a fish head protruding from it. She yelled back, “S-sorry mister! I have to get home with the fish before lunch or mom will be upset…”

Luke was sure she was an NPC now. A girl and mother duo playing a game? That kind of thing only existed inside the minds of young boys. He realized this was a chance to easily get the information he would need to acquire his desired class. He would not let this chance slip. Luke shouted back rather loudly, “Oi! Where did you get the fish!?”

The girl was shocked at the overbearing tone. She looked back immediately taking her eyes off the road ahead. She tripped over a rock and stumbled forward. The little girl immediately tried to save herself out of reflex by putting her hands up in front of her, but then she felt the weight in her basket lessen. The girl stuck her hands straight out and dived forward. She forsakened herself focusing only on saving the fish. It was too late. The fish flung out in front of her further down the road.

Crunch. A man was running up from behind her and avoided hitting her by jumping over her. He landed on the fish and continued to run towards the village seemingly unaware of what had happened, or just didn't care. The young girl was heart broken. This was the first job her mother had given her to do by herself. This was her chance to prove herself to her mother. She was a big girl now… Tears started to well up on her eyes.

Luke shook his head as he approached her. He caught sight of the fish, it had a giant shoe print in the middle and was flattened against the ground. Luke looked back to the girl. Her old worn shirt was tied to the right side. Clearly it was a hand-me-down. Her shorts seemed to be made from old pants and she had on worn shoes. He scratched his neck and looked up to the sky. Luke spoke up reluctantly, “Um… If you take me to the guy you got the fish from I’ll try to catch you another fish.” He thought this was like him giving a quest to an NPC…how backwards.

The girl flung herself up off the ground at the fastest speed her little body could produce. With big, round, brown eyes she questioned with excitement, “Really!? Master Shofuto lives down by the beach, I’ll take you there immediately! Come, come! Follow me.” She brushed the dirt off her small legs and started to skip back down the road towards the way Luke came. Eventually they reached the fork in the road again. “We have to follow the path towards the slime field until it branches off to the beach. I’m Mai by the way, what's your name mister?” she asked as she tilted her head sideways in a cute manner.

He thought for a second before he responded, “Luke. You can just call me Luke.”

They continued walking down the path. Eventually came another split in the road and there was a branch off but this time there were no signposts, but Mai led the way towards the beach down the right path. After walking for a while even the path disappeared and turned to sand. They arrived below a giant rock formation. It seemed almost like a bridge of rock that created a cove. Through the opening he could see a white sandy beach. Critters here and there were going on about their daily lives oblivious to the world. Waves gently crashed up along the edge of the sand. Getting here was not a short journey, it took at least fifteen minutes of walking.

They continued through the cove and out onto the beach. His sightline expanded and he could see a small wooden house off to the right. It was hidden from the view outside the cove. The house had all kinds of fishing equipment outside. Old nets thrown around the side, broken fishing poles spread out in the sand. There was even a small boat tied up by the water.

Mai continued on toward the house with him in tow, she arrived at the door and knocked. She knocked… And knocked… Luke wondered if there was anyone even inside. As soon as he thought that, the door swung open and inside stood an old scruffy man with long grey hair. He had a big scar hidden behind his grey facial hair, going all the way from his scalp down to his chin on the left side of his face. He was covered in a light brown robe that stopped below his knees. His feet were firmly inside some wooden sandals.

Luke spaced out upon seeing the man. He mentally checked out of this world completely as if he had just seen a ghost. Shofuto noticed the markings on Mai’s knees and the dirt on her clothing. The scar faced man opened his mouth with anger, “Why did you come back today Mai? Did this guy rough you up and force you to bring him here even though you were in a hurry?”

She quickly brought her hands up waving them back and forth to show that wasn't correct. Mai nervously tried to speak, “N-n-no! I-I fell… the fish…”- She started to sob, “got ruined… Mom will be upset.” She continued explaining, “He said he would catch me another fish if I brought him to you Master Shofuto…”

Master Shofuto checked Luke out from head to toe examining him completely. His eyes seemed like they could see through Luke’s soul itself. As he was checking him out Luke felt sweat running down his entire back. His mind went blank and his body trembled. Shofuto muttered annoyedly, “Why would a highborn human like yourself want to come meet me?”

Luke lost his composure, his eyes welled up and glossed over. If he ignored the giant scar down his face, Shofuto looked just like his father. Tears fell down from his eyes. As he stepped forward he attempted to embrace the old man while he muttered out, “Father!?”

Shofuto attempted to block his outstretched grubby hands but it was unexpected. He screamed in defense, “W-who the fuck is your father kid!?” It was then that he saw the tears in Luke’s eyes and realized he couldn’t hear him.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Shotufo resigned himself to his fate helplessly and let Luke embrace him in a hug. A second later Luke let go and realized his mistake. He took a step back. His father was already long dead, he wasn’t going to appear here in Arcadia.

Luke apologized properly and said, “My name is Luke. I’m sorry for my actions, please forgive me. You look like someone I used to know. Anyway, I came here because I want to be your disciple. Please teach me how to fish!”

Shofuto stroked his stubble beard in a calming manner. Then he spoke up, “Mai, honey why don’t you go home?” As he handed her another fish.

She nodded understandingly and a cute sound escaped her lips, “Kay~ Thanks Master Shofuto. Bye-bye Luke!” She took off out of the cove and back onto the path on her way hoping to make it back before lunch time.

Shofuto continued to stroke his beard and thought for awhile before he responded back to Luke. He finally said, “You’re the first highborn human to come looking for me and you even came to ask me to be your master? Truly bizarre. Everyone I’ve seen has ran off seeking the glory of the blade or the magic of the wizards. They don’t value fishing anymore these days, but you… Hm, hm. Tell me, why do you want to be a fisherman?”

Luke breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had a chance here, he couldn’t screw it up. He responded on the verge of tears, “I wish to learn to fish in memory of my father. He’s… no longer alive. We were going to go fishing together here. I was going to teach him to traverse this world. Now I want to be a fisherman to feel closer to him… Please accept me as your disciple Master Shofuto.” Luke immediately retrieved his Magic Crystal and presented it as a gift to him.

Shofuto thought for awhile before finally shaking his head side to side as he opened his mouth, “I can’t teach you to fish yet. First you assaulted me and secondly you want to become a fisherman to relive the memories of the past. Dwelling in the past will bring you nothing but sorrow young man. If you bring that to yourself, what will you bring me?” Shofuto walked over to a chair and sat down as if he was done talking.

Luke thought he couldn’t let it end here. He wanted to be a fisherman, even if it was only to feel closer to his father. There was only one move left to do. He saw it used with great success many times in his favorite fantasy novels. He swallowed what little pride he had left and walked over positioning himself in front of the chair. His knees quaked, his breathing became ragged. Luke got down on one knee.

At this point Shofuto was lost for words or action. He was frozen with fear. He heard about this ritual from the people in the village. Getting down on one knee was the act of proposing to be lifelong partners. This absurd development dumbfounded Shofuto. He just kept thinking to himself, “I-I’ve never had a wife, or child... b-but I’m not gay! I’ve never been interested in men!” He continued to dwell over this until finally Luke’s other knee hit the floor as well. Then each of his arms, one at a time, laid down on the old splintered wooden floor. Luke stared down ever fearful of the giant piece of wood in his view. It lined up perfectly with where his forehead was about to go. It was too late to stop now.

He slammed his head straight down onto the splinter, prostrating himself in a kowtow position. The game had realistic pain enabled for adults, this splinter hurt Luke beyond imagination, yet he stuffled any chance of outburst. If he survived the wrath of the splinter he planned to make it into a necklace to serve as a reminder of his determination. The crystal in his hand glowed slightly brighter as his Hitpoints bar in the top left corner of his vision had lost ten life.

HP: 90/100

The pain subsided rather quickly but he continued to lose a Hitpoint every couple of seconds as he felt blood dripping out of his hole and onto the wooden floor. Luke grumbled on the floor, “Please take me as your disciple Master Shofuto! I promise to never shun the way of the fisherman. I will learn properly! Teach me however you see fit!”

Shofuto felt embarrassed and ashamed by what he thought earlier. He wondered if his mind had always been so far in the crap. He got up from the chair and lifted Luke up off the floor as he said, “You say you want to be my disciple and you show that resolve by ruining my wooden floor with your blood? Do you have a brain? Clean it up yourself!” He walked out the door.

Luke hurriedly got up and gazed at his back with excitement and rejoiced, “Thank you master! I’ll clean it up immediately! You won’t be disappointed in teaching me I prom-”

Shofuto looked back at him and shouted, “Who's your master kid!? I didn’t say anything like that. Now get cleaning.”

Luke decided to press his chance and continued, “Yes master! I’ll do whatever you say! Use me how you see fit so long as you teach me to fish!”

Shofuto was tired, he reluctantly agreed, “Fine. I’ll do just that. I’ll use you as I see fit.” He started to laugh to himself hysterically. After catching his breath he said, “When you’re done cleaning up the blood, I want you to get me some boar meat for dinner. I’m tired of only eating fish. Haha, but remember you’re a fisherman now! You can only use a pole! Do you dare!?”

Shofuto’s Dinner!

Shofuto has requested you to go on a daunting task he doesn’t think you will be capable of completing. Acquire boar’s meat for Shotuto’s Dinner.

Restrictions: Can only equip a fishing pole for the duration of this quest.

Clear: Shofuto’s approval and a chance to complete his class quest.

Failure: Lose what little respect he has for you.

ACCEPT

DECLINE

A blue screen materialized out of thin air in front of Luke. It was time for a quest. Luke immediately accepted. The Mana Crystal he was still holding instantly transformed into a fishing pole once again. He bragged, “I do DARE! Thank you, Master Shofuto!” Luke got down on his knees and pulled out the splinter that went into his head. He tucked it away into his inventory and ran out the door, straight down to the shore. He cupped his hands and gathered some water inside. Luke carefully took it back to the floor and rinsed the blood off the boards. He continued making trips until the floor was only covered in splinters and not blood. Finally Luke was done. He was ready for his quest.

It hit Luke like a brick. He didn’t know where boars even were! He tried asking Shofuto but all he said was, “How should I know! I’ve never left this beach! Figure it out yourself if you dare to be my disciple.” Luke had no clue where to go from here.