From Blade To Spell

Garric shook his head and said with sincerity,

"That was before. I want to be real friends with you, Aaron. So go ahead, take your gold coins back."

Aaron hesitated, surprised by the sudden shift in Garric's demeanor. The man who had once overcharged him now spoke with genuine warmth. He sighed and retrieved the one gold coin and fifty silver coins, replying softly,

"Well then… I'm honored."

From the side, Elwood chuckled.

"Alright, enough of that. Come join us, let's fish!"

Aaron sat beside Elwood, picked up a fishing rod, and casually baited it with shrimp. He cast the line into the water and asked,

"Can you tell me more about the Verdia Kingdom?"

Edrin was the first to respond,

"Verdia Kingdom lies just below the Frigid Mountain. It's ruled by His Majesty, King Roderic Raven Shore."

Elwood leaned in, his expression slightly tense.

"Forget the politics, you'll learn all that once you arrive. What you should know is that most of Verdia is covered in dense forest. And those forests… they're home to beasts and monsters."

Garric waved a hand dismissively.

"Come on, Elwood, don't scare him. The monsters only dwell in forbidden zones. Most of the kingdom is safe. Of course, if you stumble upon a wild lion or tiger… well, that's just bad luck."

Aaron smiled to himself, already imagining the wild landscapes and untamed forests of Verdia Kingdom. But his daydream was interrupted by Edrin, who spoke in a serious tone.

"Aaron, there's something you might not know. A mysterious phenomenon has been occurring in the Verdia Kingdom. Since you're our friend, we want you to hear it from us first."

Aaron turned to Edrin, noticing the sudden shift in his expression. Even Elwood and Garric had grown solemn.

Edrin continued,

"At the end of every month, thirty days after the full moon, a portal appears near certain territories. From it, the undead pours out."

Elwood added in a low voice,

"It started last year. Every time they appear, they cause casualties. The territories they target suffer greatly."

Aaron was stunned. The idea of undead roaming the land was terrifying. For a moment, he even considered jumping overboard and swimming back to Raven Shore.

But then his thoughts shifted. He remembered his need to gain experience points, to grow stronger. Staying in Riverbend Kingdom might be safe, but it wouldn't help him level up. Bandits were scattered and unpredictable. Once defeated, he'd have to search for more.

Verdia Kingdom, however, offered something different.

A predictable threat. A cycle. A battlefield.

Every thirty days, the undead would return. And with them, a chance to fight, survive, and grow. Just thinking about it made his blood stir.

Aaron leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"How strong are the undead?"

Edrin, Elwood, and Garric exchanged stunned glances. Most people froze in fear at the mere mention of the undead. But Aaron? He looked like he was sizing them up, as if he wanted to fight them.

Edrin's admiration grew. He spoke with a serious tone,

"There are many types of undead. The most common are skeleton warriors and archers. They're the weakest, but still dangerous. It usually takes two people to bring one down. Unless you shatter the skull, they'll keep crawling toward you. It's terrifying to watch."

Aaron's eyes lit up. The idea of facing such creatures didn't scare him, it excited him.

Edrin studied Aaron's expression, intrigued. He remembered a moment from his own past: a skeletal hand crawling toward him, while the rest of the warrior fought off soldiers with its remaining limbs. The memory still sent chills down his spine.

"Aaron, you're the first person to hear that story without flinching. I'm impressed."

Elwood and Garric nodded in agreement.

Aaron simply smiled.

"It's okay. I've seen scenes like that before."

He wasn't lying. In his previous life, he'd watched movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, where undead pirates fought with eerie persistence. That memory made him more intrigued than afraid.

Just then, Aaron felt a tug on his fishing rod. The line jerked slightly, and he knew the bait had been taken. Carefully, he began to reel it in.

Garric watched with a grin.

"Ah! Aaron is so lucky."

Edrin and Elwood nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on the line.

A few minutes later, Aaron pulled up a long fish with shimmering red-orange scales. He looked at the others and asked,

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Edrin pointed at him, stunned.

"You… you caught an Orange Fish."

Elwood added, slightly frustrated,

"Aaron, do you even know what you've done? That fish sells for at least ten gold coins. We've never even tasted one before."

Aaron blinked.

"Seriously?"

Garric nodded.

"Indeed. It's rare and highly prized by merchants."

Aaron smiled, unfazed.

"Then let's eat it. My treat."

The three men exchanged conflicted glances. Garric hesitated.

"Aaron… are you sure? I told you the minimum price. It could go much higher."

Aaron waved a hand casually.

"Don't worry about it. Do you have a cook who can prepare it?"

The generosity in Aaron's voice struck a chord. Edrin looked at him with newfound respect.

"Aaron, if you ever need help in the Verdia Kingdom, just ask."

Elwood chimed in,

"Same here."

Garric didn't speak, but his nod said enough.

-----

Two hours later, three Orange Fish sizzled over a fire on the deck. Garric, Elwood, and Edrin sat nearby, their expressions blank with disbelief.

Aaron had caught five Orange Fish in total. Two were stored in a barrel of water, and the rest were being cooked.

None of them understood how he did it. All they could say was, Aaron was too lucky.

Deep down, Aaron was thrilled. He had just discovered a new function of his Map, one that worked underwater.

Whenever he cast his bait, the map would display a selection of nearby fish. And with a simple focus, he could choose which one would take the bait.

That was the secret behind his streak of luck. Catching five Orange Fish wasn't just a chance, it was precision.

But now, with Garric, Edrin, and Elwood watching him with awe and curiosity, Aaron realized something important.

It was better not to show off.

Next time, he'd fish something common, something ordinary. Drawing too much attention could be dangerous, especially when his true abilities were still a mystery, even to himself.