From Blade To Spell

Garric, Elwood, and Edrin were stunned after taking a sip of the coconut water. They stared at Aaron, eyes wide with disbelief. Finally, Garric spoke.

"You won, Aaron. And I have to admit, the water is sweet. Surprisingly good."

Aaron smiled.

"Don't worry, there's more to this fruit. Let's see if it's edible inside."

He carefully carved open the shell, revealing the soft white flesh within. Using his knife, he scooped out a piece and tasted it, sweet, slightly oily, and pleasantly chewy.

Edrin leaned forward, handing over his coins.

"Here, Aaron. You earned it. And give me a bite too!"

Aaron accepted the coins from all three and nodded.

"Alright. Give me a moment."

-----

A few minutes later, the four of them sat together, enjoying the coconut flesh with satisfied smiles.

Elwood looked thoughtful.

"Aaron… do you think I should start selling coconuts?"

Aaron replied with calm enthusiasm.

"Why not? It's a food with great properties. It's perfect for the sick, it helps with recovery. It's a source of hydration and nutrition during long travels. You can dry it, store it, and even extract oil from it. That oil can make hair shinier and protect skin from dryness."

He paused, noticing the stunned expressions on their faces.

Edrin exclaimed,

"Oh gods! Aaron, how do you know all this? This fruit's been ignored for generations!"

Garric's eyes gleamed. The possibilities raced through his mind, coconut trees were everywhere, and if Aaron's words were true, they could be turned into gold. His breathing quickened.

Elwood studied Aaron closely.

"You're more mysterious than I thought. We lost the bet… but we gained something far more valuable."

Then he added, half-joking, half-serious,

"Aaron, with ideas like yours, you could monopolize the coconut trade. Why share it with us?"

Aaron laughed.

"Me? I can't monopolize anything without land and loyal men. But you three, you have both. So I'd rather hand this idea to you. Just promise me one thing: keep the price low, so even the poorest can afford it."

The expressions of Garric, Elwood, and Edrin shifted the moment Aaron spoke about keeping coconut prices low for the poor. Garric couldn't help but say,

"Aaron, you're truly down to earth. Thinking about the poor like that… it's rare."

Aaron smiled, brushing it off with a laugh.

"Haha, Garric, of course."

Elwood added with a grin on his face,

"Don't worry, Aaron. We'll speak to the Duke about it!"

Aaron blinked in surprise.

"Duke? Wait… I thought you were a merchant?"

Edrin chuckled.

"Surprised? We are merchants, but we operate under the orders of Lord Alaric Blookmoor. Otherwise, how do you think we travel freely across the Blue Sea?"

Aaron was stunned.

"Well… I'm still trying to process that."

Suddenly, Garric leaned in.

"Aaron, when we discuss the coconut venture, we'll bring you along to speak with Lord Alaric."

Aaron waved his hand dismissively.

"No need to mention me, I haven't done anything special."

The trio exchanged amused glances. They knew better.

Then Edrin spoke up, his tone thoughtful.

"Garric… do you think Lady Alice might be looking for someone like Aaron?"

The three turned to Aaron, their gazes sharp and calculating. Aaron felt a chill run down his spine.

Elwood nodded slowly.

"Maybe. But even if she isn't… the coconut idea alone is enough to catch her attention."

Garric added,

"Indeed. All we need now is to reach Starfall City."

As Aaron sat quietly, chewing on the coconut flesh, he cursed inwardly.

"Ah, Aaron… did you really have to show off? You just escaped one Duke's grasp, and now you're walking straight into another's."

He sighed and continued eating in silence, letting the sweet taste distract him from the swirl of thoughts in his head.

Meanwhile, Elwood, Garric, and Edrin remained oblivious to Aaron's inner turmoil. They were too busy rallying the oarsmen, asking them to cook more food and gather coconuts so everyone could enjoy the feast back on the boat.

The mood around them was light and festive, but Aaron's mind was already racing ahead. He knew that once they reached Starfall City, things might change. The mention of Lady Alice and Lord Alaric Blookmoor had stirred something deeper, an unease wrapped in curiosity.

For now, though, he kept his thoughts to himself, blending into the moment like just another traveler enjoying a rare treat.

Time passed, and soon the crew was ready to sail again. The ship pushed off from the shore, gliding steadily across the water.

Aaron sat quietly near the edge of the deck, fishing with focus, steadily increasing his experience points. By evening, he had earned another 300 points, bringing him closer to his next level.

As the sun dipped low, the ship docked once more, this time at a small island. The crew began setting up camp, unloading supplies and preparing for the night.

Aaron, meanwhile, opened his Map to scan the area. But something caught him off guard.

He couldn't see the stats of the oarsmen.

A chill ran down his spine.

"F*ck… why didn't I check their stats earlier?" he muttered under his breath.

The map showed colored dots, green for allies, red for threats, yellow for neutral creatures, but unless he manually checked a target, he couldn't see their level or attributes.

It was a flaw in his system. One he hadn't considered until now.

He took a deep breath and refocused. The map showed they were on a small island, not large enough to be a threat. Only a few red dots appeared, poisonous snakes, deep within the forest.

Aaron relaxed slightly.

No immediate danger. Just need to stay alert.

The days passed without much change. Life aboard the ship remained steady, calm waves, routine meals, and the occasional laughter from the crew.

Except for Aaron.

He had grown noticeably quieter, spending most of his time fishing in silence, eyes fixed on the water, thoughts drifting elsewhere. He still spoke with Elwood, Edrin, and Garric, but the warmth in his voice had faded. His replies were shorter, his smiles more reserved.