NOVEL NEXT Chapter 72: Camping (1)
After the tournament ended, Zeke and Circe returned to the Magic Tower's penthouse. Solren had told them he needed to stay behind and catch up on work, saying they could leave without him.
As far as they knew, Solren wasn't a professor at Aitheras…but that wasn't any of their concerns.
They had a more interesting matter to focus on.
< Equipment Description >
Name: The Silver Key
Tier: None
Type: Dungeon Relic
Effects
It will prove its use someday.
<<>>
Zeke had his arms crossed, eyes narrowed at the vague description on the system panel. Circe kept sliding the silver ring in and out of her finger, comparing her stats over and over again despite seeing no changes.
"What even is this thing?" She mumbled beneath her breath, "It looked just like a normal ring. How is it a relic?"
Zeke leaned back against the couch, "This is the first time I've seen a description like this too. But this usually means it's a story item."
Circe hummed as she stroked her chin, "Since it's some sort of key…maybe we'll run into a lock that needs—well—unlocking."
"You hold on to it then," Zeke got up and stretched, casting a glance at the grandfather clock nearby, "I'll head out with Einar for a bit."
Circe blinked, "What for?"
Zeke faced her, expression dead serious, "To buy fishing equipment."
.
.
.
The day of the camping trip arrived, but Circe had decided to cancel at the last second. She sent in a letter that read:
"I've suddenly got something to do back at the estate. You guys go have fun! —R."
Rowena sat slumped against the carriage's seat, arms crossed, lower lip pulled in a pout. "Big sister isn't here. Everything's ruined."
"Oh come on, we're not even there yet," Zeke sighed and lightly patted the little girl's head, "It'll still be fun with just us."
Esmeralda also stayed at home. She had prior engagements with the other ladies and couldn't come with them. Instead, she made some snacks and food for them to eat when they arrived.
"What I don't understand though," Zeke looked up. Creston Salvador sat across from them, gazing out the window with his fingers intertwined and resting on his lap. "Is why the old man decided to join."
Their destination swallowed the carriage in greens and gentle shadows casted from the canopy of leaves. Rowena had chosen the spot after asking the estate's servants, and they all agreed Redwood Grove had the perfect environment for camping—no dangerous creatures, no monsters, and well-managed by Thornes: neighbor to Salvador.
"The wood isn't red though. I have no idea why it's called Redwood."
"Hey, where exactly do you want us to stop?" Lysander's voice sounded from the coachman seat.
Rowena looked outside the window for a moment, frowned, and replied, "Just keep going! We're not at Bankton River yet!"
A sigh later, "You do realize that camping near a river isn't a good idea, right?"
"Of course we're not going to set up camp at the river," Rowena grumbled, "Who do you take me for? I'm not an idiot."
Zeke pulled a small leather-bound book from his inventory and flipped over its pages. The Longest River in Oriens.
The river itself varied in size and depth depending on the location, and thus the species of fish differed as well. In Redwood, it was considerably smaller than in other areas, in fact, it was slightly larger than an average river.
And yet, the rarest fish in Bankton lived here: The Duskfin Phantom.
"Duskfin lives in deep freshwaters, and they're nocturnal predators sensitive to both light and vibrations. Even the black market doesn't have easy access to them."
Turning the page, Zeke noted the Duskfin Phantom's illustration: Obsidian-black scales shimmering rainbow in direct light. Translucent fins like veils of smoke protruded from its body, and a mouth filled with overlapping teeth, meant to tear and shred its prey to ribbons.
"The fins have magical properties that help refract light, turning the fish near invisible. It is the key ingredient in invisibility potions and the main reason why it has such high demands."
"Are you going to catch it?" Creston's voice pulled Zeke away from the pages, "Einar told me you bought fishing gear yesterday. Are you after the Duskfin Phantom?"
"Seems like Einar still reports Silas' daily expenses to the marquis."
"I'm not directly after it," Zeke flipped the book over, "If I'm lucky enough to hook it, then sure. But I just like fishing."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Creston's lips twitched slightly. Since when? He wanted to ask, but instead sighed and nodded. "Was there a reason why you bought four fishing rods?"
"Oh, it was in case you want to try it out." Zeke glanced at Rowena. She faced the window, but he could tell she was pleased to hear he included her in his hobby.
"…" Creston blinked, face blank, "But I don't know how to fish."
"That's the fun part," Zeke flipped the book over, showing Creston the different species of fish in Bankton, "You learn, fail, and eventually you'll catch one of these bad boys. As they say: Give a man a fish, feed him once, teach a man how to fish and feed him for a lifetime."
"Silas, I don't think the proverb's meant to be used in that context." Lysander chimed in.
Zeke huffed, "Then you try it too, and you'll see the appeal of fishing. It trains your patience, quick-thinking, and strength!"
"Strength?" Lysander sounded intrigued. He had fallen hook, line, and sinker.
"Some of these fish are really beefy," Zeke turned a few pages, "Like the Stormjaw Levi, this eel-like thing can snap steel in half unless you enchant your rod with mana or aura. If you're not careful, it will also shock you."
Rowena faced him, blinking with concern, "…That sounds dangerous to normal fishermen."
"Oh, they only appear during thunderstorms. People don't usually fish in that weather anyway," Zeke waved, "However, you have a certain lightning mage here with you, creating a controlled artificial storm is a piece of cake."
"Hmph," Zeke could almost hear Lysander's grin through his voice, "Then I will try it out. I'd like to see how strong this Stormjaw Levi really is."
"And, if you manage to catch it, you can show it to Lady Penelope." Rowena winked at Zeke, and it took him all his willpower not to burst into hysteria.
Lysander went silent for a moment, "…You're right, that's a great idea!"
Not long after, the carriage came to a screeching halt. Zeke got off after Creston, and after helping Rowena down, he faced the scenery behind him. They had stopped on a small elevation overlooking the Bankton River a few minutes' walk away. Tall trees surrounded the grassy floor, opened enough to feel the full blunt of the afternoon sun's rays. A soft breeze carried the scent of fish and mud from the river.
Sure enough, the river's width was barely anything to write home about. The other side was a sizable cliff. A mother deer spared them a curious glance from under the recess, but trotted away unbothered as Lysander secured the rein around a tree's trunk.
Zeke took out their luggage from his inventory. One suitcase. Two. Three…Zeke had also wondered why they needed so much stuff for a two-day camping trip, but both the siblings had insisted they were necessary.
After settling down the last of their items—Creston's sole bundle and Esmeralda's picnic basket—Zeke headed to the river side. The surface looked calm, the currents slow enough he'd trust a child to play around in it. He spotted some rock formations protruding out of the waters, perfect spots for fish to hide around.
Zeke knelt by the riverbank, manifesting the fishing rod into his hands. He inspected the tool—a smooth, dark steel branch bound with braided sinew—and adjusted the hook, testing its sharpness against his thumb.
"Hmph…Too blunt," he muttered as he dropped the tackle box from his inventory. Lures crafted from shed wyvern feathers, shimmering bait-gems, and coiled silk lines waterproofed with wax lined up neatly inside the box like prized collections rather than tools.
As he swapped the hook for a new one, Rowena and Lysander approached, followed by Creston from a distance.
"Where's our fishing rods?" Rowena asked as she knelt down, gawking at the beautiful lures inside the tackle box.
Without a word, Zeke snapped his fingers and three identical fishing rods blinked into existence. Once he had his hook and bait secured, he set the folding chairs along the coast, stood up, and cast into the waters.
"Watch and learn kids." Zeke flashed a grin as he reeled out slack, letting the lure drift exactly where the shadow of the rock met the light, "Don't cast your line randomly. Not too far nor too close either. Think about where the fish might be and what you're trying to catch."
"What's your target?" Lysander crouched down and inspected the fishing rod with narrowed eyes.
"A watermaw," Zeke replied, his eyes never left his bobber, "They like hiding near rocks, though if that area's deep enough, it might also be where that Duskfin Phantom lives."
Lysander blinked as he set up his own chair, "That doesn't sound very exciting."
"I'm just testing the waters," Zeke chucked, "Pun intended."
Some time later, all four Salvadors had their lines casted into the waters. A calm breeze swept by the river. The birds' chirps accompany them in their quest of patience. Rowena casually popped a few of Esmeralda's biscuits into her mouth. Lysander's feet tapped rhythmic thumps to nature's white noise. Only Creston and Zeke stood completely still while they waited for their catch.
Then.
Splash!
The rod jerked. Zeke's eyes narrowed as he pulled the rod back with a firm twist. The fish thrashed beneath the surface, flashing silver and gold beneath the afternoon sun. With one last tug, he swiftly reeled in the hook, securing the first catch of the group.
<Money Trout>
"Oh! It's pretty!" Rowena gasped, eyes sparkling as much as the fish itself.
"It's a Money Trout." Zeke told her, face unbothered despite the catch's luxurious name, "It's rare, but not the rarest. Apparently, it's said to bring prosperity to businesses."
"Just because it looks like money?" Rowena blinked with the look of a little girl not believing in superstition.
Zeke chuckled and shrugged, putting the fish into his inventory, "I mean, that's why they called it a Money Trout."
A few hours later, everyone had gotten to try reeling in their own catch.
Creston caught many common fishes, though at some point he also got his hands on a Rockjaw Pike—a large fish that ate Lysander's bait three times before finally getting arrested for its crimes.
Rowena needed some assistance when a fish caught her bait, but she seemed happy enough when she'd gotten a rare Glassfin Dart that she stopped fishing and admired it for the remainder of the afternoon.
On the other hand, Lysander had shouldered most of their bad luck. His lines broke without a clear cause even when Zeke checked it. Fish got loose when they took the bait. He also nearly fell into the river trying to tussle with a Bramble Grouper.
And no, the Grouper got away after nearly snapping the fishing rod in half. Zeke had thought fast and severed the line with Web Weaver despite Lysander's insistence that he "could take it."
No, he couldn't take it.
Now as the sun drifted near the horizon, Creston and Zeke helped set up the tents while Lysander and Rowena prepared to cook their fish.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to catch that Stormjaw Levi." Lysander huffed as he started the campfire.
"Yeah sure." Rowena giggled, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "You caught the tiny baby fish while almost breaking an expensive fishing rod."
Lysander ignored the deliberate jab to his ego, turning to Zeke, "Why did you buy us such expensive tools anyway? There isn't a need to spend this much money on just fishing."
While Creston stared at the heap of what was supposed to be a tent on the floor, Zeke looked at Lysander as if he'd insulted their mother. "It wasn't even the most expensive model. I went on the cheaper side considering I was buying multiple rods. Besides that, you want to use some cheap wooden stick? Over my dead body!"
Lysander sighed, face deadpan, "I'm sure that tackle box of yours cost as much as your monthly allowance."
Zeke flinched, "It's not like I use that money for anything else anyway…"
"Silas," Creston called as he pointed at the tent. "Can't you use magic to finish this in a second?"
Zeke blinked, looking between the pile of fabric and the marquis, "…Well, I don't know how to use telekinesis…Yet."
"Hm, I should've learned it a while ago. It'd be useful even outside of combat."
He manifested the Witch's Codex into his hands, "Give me a moment then. How about we eat first and worry about our shelter later?"
"Alright," Creston nodded and turned to the campfire, where Lysander and Rowena had started on skewering the common trout they'd caught.
So far, the trip has been going smoothly.