From Blade To Spell

Two hours passed, and the scorching sun beat down relentlessly.

Aaron wiped his brow, the heat beginning to wear on him.

They hadn't brought any supplies, and the wooden barrel was already filled with dead fish.

He turned to Edrin and said,

"Let's head back now."

Edrin chuckled, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Hey Aaron, I've got to admit, this is the first time I've actually enjoyed fishing."

He glanced up at the blazing sun and added with a sheepish grin,

"Though I hate to admit it… I'm getting thirsty. Let's return."

Aaron nodded, gripping the oars as the skiff gently turned toward the shore.

The sea behind them shimmered, calm and quiet.

Half an hour later, they returned to shore, the skiff gently bumping against the dock as they secured it.

Aaron glanced at the barrel filled with fish and said,

"Where should we sell these? Also, let's bring one more barrel next time."

Edrin nodded.

"Agreed. But Aaron… are you sure you want to split the money evenly?"

Aaron waved his hand dismissively.

"Of course. We fished together. Don't bring it up again."

Edrin grinned, visibly relieved.

"Alright then. Each Blue Fish sells for about 25 copper coins per kilogram. The ones we caught weigh at least 4 to 5 kilos each. That's roughly one silver coin per fish, and we've got at least twenty. That's twenty silver coins already. If we keep this up, we could earn more than a gold coin in no time!"

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

Unlike Elwood, who owned a shop, and Garric, who had his own boat, Edrin had always been a middleman, negotiating deals, tagging along, earning a few gold coins here and there.

The thought of selling Blue Fish directly, without relying on others, filled him with energy.

Aaron smiled and said,

"Come on, Edrin. The number of gold coins you earn depends on how fast we sell these fish. And don't forget, we'll need one more barrel next time."

Edrin nodded eagerly.

"Don't worry, Aaron. Wait here, I'll be back soon."

Aaron watched him go, then glanced at his status screen.

His experience points had increased by 200, bringing his total to 1300.

He exhaled slowly.

This progress… it's thanks to Edrin too.

Without his help, Aaron knew he could've only caught half the fish.

But he'd also been careful, not fishing too quickly, not revealing too much.

He didn't want anyone to notice the secret behind his kills.

Aaron made another quiet discovery.

As long as he killed the fish, even if he hadn't caught it himself, he still gained the same amount of experience points.

That realization brought a wave of relief.

So it's not about the catch… it's about the kill.

A tempting thought crept into his mind.

What if he bought live fish just to kill them?

A quick calculation followed:

1 silver coin = 10 experience points

1 gold coin = 1000 experience points

It was efficient.

It was tempting.

But it wasn't simple.

Not every fish was Level 1.

They had to grow to a certain stage before they qualified.

And where would he even post a bounty for live fish without raising suspicion?

Then he noticed something unsettling.

Green dots with question marks hovering around certain people nearby.

His instincts flared.

Spies… possibly sent by Lord Alaric.

The risk was too high.

Aaron clenched his jaw and made a decision.

He would fish honestly.

Just then, Aaron heard footsteps approaching.

He turned to see Edrin returning, flanked by two muscular men, likely dockworkers or soldiers.

Edrin grinned and said,

"Aaron, I found the buyer. He agreed to pay 27 copper coins per kilogram."

Aaron nodded.

"Alright. Go ahead and sell it. Also, ask if they'll accept more fish in the future."

Edrin turned to the men.

"You guys, carry the barrel."

Then he looked back at Aaron and added,

"Don't worry, the buyer's from the military. They need meat, especially during the last week of the month."

Aaron felt a wave of relief.

Military buyers meant steady demand and fewer questions.

He followed the group toward a simple warehouse near the dockyard, where soldiers patrolled the area, their presence adding a layer of tension.

As they approached, the strong fishy odor hit Aaron's nose.

He winced and said,

"Edrin, you handle the deal. I'll wait here."

Edrin nodded, understanding.

"Leave it to me."

A few minutes later, Edrin returned, a small pouch of coins in his hand.

"Total of 27 silver coins," he said cheerfully. "Here, you take 15."

Aaron glanced at him, then accepted the pouch with a nod.

"Let's go eat our fill. Then we head back out."

Edrin grinned.

"I know a good place. Cheap, and the food's actually tasty."

As they walked through the bustling dockside, Aaron added,

"Edrin, I'd prefer vegetables today. I've been eating meat all week, I need a change of taste."

Edrin laughed.

"Then you're in luck. The place I'm thinking of has a stew that even Elwood swears that its taste good."

A few minutes later, they arrived at a quiet spot away from the bustling fish market.

A modest house with a few chairs and tables stood tucked between stone walls, shaded by a large awning.

One of the tables was occupied by a well-dressed man, his posture composed, his gaze distant.

Edrin gestured toward the place.

"This is the Open Restaurant, run by a wandering knight named Nicole. The food's a bit pricey, but worth every coin."

Aaron glanced at his map.

A green dot hovered over Nicole's location, marked with question marks.

He narrowed his eyes.

So… he really is a wandering knight.

Turning to Edrin, he asked,

"Why would someone like him settle in Starfall City? Aren't wandering knights supposed to travel in search of their own territories?"

Edrin shrugged.

"I don't know. He's been here for over two years now. Never talks much about his past."

Aaron looked back at Nicole.

There was something about him, a quiet strength, a presence that didn't match the simplicity of the restaurant.