The Antagonist's Full Moon

24. Fishnet

"For now, let's continue the journey until Hartvig first. At Hartvig, we'll prepare supplies and stay overnight whenever possible" Dean suggested, which Frode and Liv agreed to together.

The journey begins again, this time on a different route. Through the northern route, Dean, Liv, and Frode had to pass through three cities before reaching Themaris. It takes a maximum of two days to get from one city to another using a cart. Along the way, they went through many rice fields and green hills that spread widely.

By midday, the sun was shining. Frode put a long piece of cloth over Dean and Liv's head to make it so they wouldn't overheat, while Frode protected his own head with a straw hat.

Every now and then, carts stop by at rural wells to give the two oxin animals a drink that has worked hard. In the village, no one carried out the inspection of the goods, therefore, the carts they were riding in were free to go in and out without having to face the gatekeeper.

"I'm sorry, for stopping by often to give them a drink" Frode said, pointing to the oxins.

"No problem. The estimated time I gave was not the most complicated. I've also taken into account the times we rest" Dean said.

While the oxins were drinking, Liv handed out bread to Dean and Frode. "Thank you, Miss! You have prepared everything!" praise Frode to the elf girl.

"Together, I just want to be on guard," Liv replied with a sweet smile. The smile was caught by Dean's eyes, who accidentally looked at him. Liv talks to Frode, before finally realizing that Dean has been staring at him for a long time.

"What's wrong?" ask Liv.

Dean woke up from his daydream. "Oh! There ain't! Come on, let's go again!"

The journey begins again, until it gets darker. The path they walked was becoming more and more invisible. The distance traveled from the previous village was quite far, they could not turn around just to stay overnight. As much as possible, they want to cut the time they have by continuing to be on the journey.

"The road is getting invisible, what should we do?" frode asked, while occasionally directing his two oxins that began to have difficulty walking.

In this world of elves, there was no lighting except using candles or wooden torches that were ignited using magic flames. Liv reached back into her bag, then took out a big enough torch stick from inside. "Uncle Frode, can you ignite this torch?" ask Liv.

"It can, but it probably won't last too long. My magic is not strong enough at the moment" Frode replied.

In order to light a torch, one needed to transfer the magic energy he had to the existing medium. Because the magic energy Frode had was not enough, then the magic fire he ignited only lasted for a few hours.

Dean poked his head, peeking at the street in front of the wagon. "No problem. Importantly, we can trim a few hours, while looking for the right area to stay."

"All right." With a flick of a finger, the torch in Liv's hand lit up brightly. Frode put the torch on the wooden cross between the oxin heads.

"Are we going to stop by the next village to stay the night?" ask Liv.

Dean shakes. "After this, there are no more villages. Next is a dirt path like this, then small trees and rivers, until the city of Eetelbum," Dean replied with a look, remembering the contents of the novel he had written.

"So, are we gonna stay out in the open?" ask the elf girl again.

"No problem, Miss. I have prepared a tent for the three of us" said Frode smiling, giving a thumbs up.

An hour later, the wagon they were riding through a small stream of river water, slightly covered by the tightness of the trees on the left side of the road. Dean instructed to find a place to set up a tent around the river. There's an open area Liv found, and they agreed to stay there tonight.

Dean and Liv set up two tents, while Frode lit a bonfire. After the cloth tent was ready, Frode cast waterproof magic on the surface of the tent to keep it dry despite the rain and dew. After all was done, Frode laid himself right on the mat.

"Dean, what among these trees is there like in Litforest?" ask Frode.

Dean thought for a moment. "A tree that bears fruit without limits? It only exists in Litforest. It's an ordinary forest, there's no magic thing like before."

"Oh, what a pity. Though it can be useful to fill our stomachs now" said Frode. The old man patted his stomach which was getting hungry.

"The trees in Litforest can bear fruit endlessly?" ask Liv. The girl did not know the miracle at all.

Frode nodded, pointing at Dean. "He told me how to get it!"

"How can you?!" asked Liv again in a surprised tone.

Dean smiled smirked. "'And I told you, I created this world!"

Liv grunting. "Then, is there another miracle you created that could fill us up tonight?"

"Hmmm .. actually exists. But this needs more effort" Dean said.

Frode was shocked to wake up from his sleep. "What miracle? Food?"

Dean turned his gaze towards the river near them. The river is so clear that its base is visible. The flow is not too heavy, so it is suitable for fishing. Exactly what he wrote in the novel "The Wasted Prince".

"The river is full of edible fish." Dean pointed at the river. "Nobody ever hunted them, because they could not be fished. They're not interested in bait."

Dean grinned, replying, "Come done. At that time I was just making fish like that."

Liv patted his eel with one hand. "If it can't be fished, then how do we catch it!"

Dean sighed. "Don't despair! There are many ways to catch fish besides fishing. For example, use a spear. Or wear a mesh."

"'Jala'? What'sthat?" ask Frode.

"Nets to catch a lot of fish at once" Dean said.

At that instant, Liv displayed a look of horror. "It is not permissible to kill animals en masse!" the hardic.

Later, Liv explains that in this elven world, it is not allowed to kill and hurt animals in large numbers. It was considered as exploitation and damaging to the ecosystem, for the elves whose lives depended heavily on the environment. There are severe legal sanctions if caught breaking.

Dean shrugged, not caring about Liv's explanation. "If you can catch a fish with a spear, go ahead. I'm, aren't I, just making a choice."

"Tch! Come on, Uncle Frode! We'll make spears!" take Liv with a grunt. Frode followed and followed. With the help of a dry branch and a knife, two long spear blades were ready for use.

Frode and Liv walked to the bank of the river filled with rocks. True Dean said, a lot of orange fish, swimming to and fro in the clear river water.

Liv focused her attention on a large-bodied fish. Liv took a swing with her spear, intending to target the fish.

Supposedly if big, it will be easier to be targeted! So Liv said in her heart.

But he was wrong. As soon as Liv launched the attack, the fish swam fast, away from Liv's weapon. The girl's body was shaken, almost falling into the stream of water, if only Frode had not held her hand. "Be careful, Miss!"

"Thank you, Uncle!" tell the elf girl. This time, it was Frode who tried his luck. However, just like Liv, the old man did not succeed either.

For about twenty minutes, they brought no results. The longer Liv gets upset and fed up. Liv stabbed his spear roughly at any fish nearby, causing an irregular gurgle, accompanied by a shout.

"Aahhhh! It's so hard, anyway--ah!!"

"Miss!"

Liv's body is back. The girl was saved by someone. Not Frode, but Dean. With one hand, Dean pulled the elf girl until her body fell into the man's arms.

"Are you okay?" ask Dean. So close to her face was the girl that her breath felt on Liv's skin.

"A ... I'm fine ... ."

Dean and Liv were still fixated on the closeness of their faces to each other, until Frode cleared his throat. Dean regains consciousness and quickly releases his arms to Liv, letting the girl get away from the riverbank.

"How, has anyone been caught?" dean asked, distracting.

Frode gave a small smile at the two young men's behavior, then replied, "Not one."

"Huh, I expected!" Dean smiled disdainfully.

Feeling unacceptable, Liv challenged him. "Try it if you can!"

Dean walked into the river. In his hand was Frode's wicker basket and a long piece of cloth. The water was not very deep, only reaching below his knees. The man stood by the rocks, and stretched out the long cloth he had given so many holes that it became like a net. The holes are not neat, but enough to function as a mesh.

Dean tied both ends of the cloth to a twig. Then, the two twigs were plugged into the ground on the riverbank, on the right and left sides. The cloth was stretched, ready to net the existing fish.

Liv saw this and protested, "Hey! Don't use the net!"

"Whisper, you!" dean Sautut.

Before long, about six trapped fish could not swim to the opposite side of the cloth. Quickly, the man caught the fish with the basket in hand. The water carried into the basket receded through the small woven holes, leaving the fish leaping in it.

"Well, got a lot. Big anyway!" dean exclaimed in delight, showing Frode and Liv the contents of his basket. "Enough for the three of us tonight."

"But, rule-of-" Liv rebutted again, but was unable to because her words were cut by Dean.

"That rule you said, I wrote it. I'll give you an exception this time, out of desperation."

***