Holding a long and sturdy stick, which he had to search for himself—because all Jake brought was small and soggy ones—and a sharp enough rock, Aiden got down to sharpen one side of the stick. The wood had to be pointy enough to pierce through the flesh and also strong enough not to break or lose its grip when the fish struggled.
“A knife would have made it a lot easier,” Aiden muttered under his breath. With pebbles, the task he was undertaking was challenging, but, well, for some smoked meat, it would be worth it.
“We have company, Aiden,” Jake interrupted, and Aiden instinctively glanced up to the watchtower looming overhead. Two bowmen guarded the post, and from the looks of it, one had taken an interest in what they were doing.
One of them, Ron, nodded to himself and began to climb down from his post. Watching him approach, Aiden warned Jake, “Don’t pull anything stupid, or we are both drowning today.”
“I won’t,” Jake reassured with a confident wink.
Rolling his eyes, Aiden continued to deliver one firm slash after another, slowly but surely peeling away the wooden skin.
New Skill Gained: Basic Wood Work
Due to the effect of the Ring of Power, you start this Skill at level 3.
Aiden paused, blinking a few times as the words settled in his mind. I earned a new skill just by slicing wood? Does that mean I get a skill for every mundane task? Like breathing or pooping even! How do you excel at taking a dump? he couldn’t help but wonder.
Putting aside those thoughts and the page, he continued his work, and immediately, just like with running, he started to feel something was off, this time with his grip on the rock and the wood.
Now, Aiden was paying more attention. He saw that his left-hand fingers were much too close to the rock. One slip and he’d skin himself rather than the wood.
He adjusted his grip until it felt right, switching the angle of the rock so he was shoving away rather than peeling towards himself. There. That felt right.
Aiden now peeled the wood somewhat faster than before, also spotting the weak parts that might give away and breaking them before he peeled any further.
By the time he was done, he received another message.
New Skill Level: Basic Wood Work Level 3 → 4
Grinning to himself at the level-up and the knowledge it brought, Aiden went ahead and taught the struggling Jake, who reluctantly accepted his words after seeing the benefit. When they were done and got up to head for the water, Ron called from behind.
“Where are you going, boys?” he asked with a wide smile on his face.
Ron had struck Aiden as a charming fella, not attempting to mess with him like that arsehole Bard. They exchanged pleasantries every day, with Ron even allowing Aiden to stay in the water for a few more minutes the other day.
Aiden was about to respond positively, but Jake spoke over him. “Kill someone,” said the moron with a smile matching the bowman. “You want to join?”
“The fish,” corrected Aiden with a sigh, then smiled at Ron. “You want one?”
“Two actually,” replied Ron, turning to wave at his partner and talking in gestures. The other not-so-charming guy who went by the name Joshua returned with a nod and a thumbs up. Ron turned back, a sheepish smile on his lips. “You know what, make it three.”
“Uh…” Aiden’s smile faded. He wasn’t even sure if he could catch his share and one extra. But to catch six, well…
“Skewering is on me, with lemon and salt,” Ron added, noticing Aiden’s expression.
“That will do,” the overconfident Jake spoke over Aiden again. This time, however, Aiden agreed with him. Lighting a fire and cooking the meat was a hassle; he had no idea how he was going to do it. But if someone offered it, with added lemon and salt, then why not?
“Three it is then,” Aiden gave a thumbs up, stepping for the water, but paused as Ron mentioned something.
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“Get close to that fall,” suggested the man, pointing at the small waterfall upstream. “There is clear water and big fishes. Just don’t slip on the rocks, or get too deep. Use your shirts as holders, and don’t forget to wash them.”
“Will do,” Jake was the first to head out for the waterfall, Aiden trailing him after nodding to Ron.
“Five-five,” said Aiden, balancing his steps on the slippery bank. “We split three each, give them four.”
“Why four?”
“So they look the other way when we fish tomorrow,” Aiden groaned. Earning favors was a necessity, even with your executioner at the time of need.
Reaching a spot with clear water where medium-sized fish could be seen leisurely floating around, Aiden unzipped his shirt, using it as a makeshift cage. Jake followed suit, and just when he was about to jump on a fish, Aiden raised his hand to stop him.
“I'll go first,” he said while fixing a glare on the man. “You'll scare away every fish.”
“My dad is the best fisherman, Aiden, in the whole village,” Jake argued.
“That doesn’t make you a good fisher,” Aiden retorted as he carefully stepped into the ankle-deep water, making an effort not to muddy it. “You're an idiot; act that way.”
“Fuck off,” sneered Jake, folding his arms and watching Aiden’s deliberate movements. “So, you're the best fisher now?”
Aiden's eyes locked onto the biggest fish in the clear water, swimming lazily. He raised the spear, anticipating the fish’s trajectory, and brought it down. The water turned red, and with a triumphant grin, he returned to Jake. “Seems like it.”
In response, Jake slumped his shoulders and stepped into the water, while Aiden dropped his first kill into the net that now dripped with blood.
“And there goes my only shirt,” he sighed. “Anyway,” With a shake of his head, Aiden was already scanning for the next fish that was nowhere to be found. The sudden shock must have sent them away. So, he went a little further, knee-deep, the stream picking up pace in these areas, and…
“There you are,” Aiden chuckled, shoving the spear into a fish’s belly that his eyes just caught. It struggled, but twisting the spear a few times killed it completely. With another one coming to check on its friend's fate, both sealed their destinies.
With three fish caught came the alert.
New Skill Gained: Basic Fishing
Due to the effect of the Ring of Power, you start this Skill at level 3.
“Yeah, why not,” Aiden dismissed the page with a thought. “A skill for something I learned when I was five,” he scoffed. “But then, it will make me better at it, so thanks.”
As expected, it did make Aiden better at it. He noticed his subtle gripping flaws, like holding the shaft too close or too far from his body. He also improved his hand and weapon-throw coordination, learning to loosen his grip when needed.
In a span of minutes, he was able to catch three more fish, one bigger than the last.
New Skill Level: Basic Fishing Level 3 → 4
Then another two.
New Skill Level: Basic Fishing Level 4 → 5
Another one was just within Aiden's grasp when Jake abruptly threw his spear into the water, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area, alerting the fish to swim away.
Aiden winced. "What's wrong with you?" he shouted in frustration.
“What's wrong with me?” Jake shouted back. “What the fuck is wrong with you, catching every fish in the river? If you take everything, what will I do?”
"It's not a pothole, jackass. It's a darn river. Fish come and go," Aiden exclaimed, emphasizing his point as he pointed to a fish approaching them.
Jake and Aiden both stared at the small animal as it leisurely swam between them, and away.
“See,” Aiden pointed his spear at the now gone fish.
“... Yeah,” Jake exhaled a breath, slouched in defeat.
“Don’t just stand there, grab your damn stick,” Aiden snapped, pointing to the wooden-spear drifting away with the current.
“Shit!” Jake noticed it and rushed to retrieve it. Aiden, rolling his eyes at the man’s folly, focused on searching for another fish. More meat meant more for himself or to share a little if someone begged.
"Aiden! Aiden!" Jake's desperate cries echoed.
Aiden raised his head. "What is it now?" he muttered, panic tinged his voice as he realized Jake was nowhere to be seen. His gaze darted around, and in the distance, he spotted the man’s failing hands, his head struggling to emerge from the water.
Jake was drowning!
Aiden's heart raced, eyes widened in alarm. Without a second thought, he threw his makeshift fish-holder and spear towards the ground and plunged into the river. His strong strokes propelled him towards Jake. The current fought against him, but gritting his teeth, he pushed through. Aiden reached Jake just in time, grabbing his arm and pulling him to safety.
Gasping for breath, both of them collapsed on the riverbank.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Aiden spoke between heavy breaths.
"Something… pulled on my legs," Jake replied, coughing up the water that had gotten into his lungs.
"... What?" Aiden struggled to believe Jake. There was no fish big enough to swallow his legs, and mana beasts, even the watery ones, didn't fancy living near humans. "You and your crappy pranks!" He scoffed, rising to his feet. This guy had a knack for seeking attention; this incident couldn't be an exception.
"No, no… Trust me," Jake clutched Aiden’s leg. "It was slimy, tentacle-like…"
"An Inkthral?" Ron's voice carried from a distance, somehow catching Jake’s words. He was loud, after all.
The three of them stared at each other. Aiden and Jake clueless about what an Inkthral even was, and Ron already nocking an arrow to his bow.
"Everyone," Ron's usually soft voice now boomed, demanding the attention of all present. His arrow crackled with brilliant green energy. "Get out of the water, now!"