Night Fishing

“Wanna go fishing, Grandpa Tor?” I asked.

“Fishing?” he said, a bit surprised.

“Grandpa mentioned you two used to do a lot of fishing around Frontier 7,” I replied.

“Ah, so Riku still remembers.

We used to fish by the nearby river after hearing news about someone catching a lot of freshwater eel,” Grandpa Tor said, referring to my grandfather, Riku Septi Prospera.

“Grandpa said his mom’s grilled eel was the tastiest dish he’s ever eaten,” I added.

“I couldn’t agree more, Yuka’s grilled eel is legendary,” Grandpa Tor said with a nostalgic smile.

“To be honest, that’s one of the reasons I stop by Frontier 7 at least once a month,” he added.

“Grandpa Tor, you’re making me hungry,” I teased.

“Well, let’s grab the fishing rods from the hoverbike compartment and head out,” Grandpa Tor said, walking toward Frontier 7.

“Let’s go!” I said, following him.

“But first, we’ll need to pick up a few more supplies from Frontier 7 for our night fishing trip. I think everything should fit in the hoverbike compartment,” he added.

“Like seasonings?” I asked.

“Yeah, and some rice, a cooking pot, and a few other things,” Grandpa Tor said.

“Sounds like a solid plan, Grandpa Tor,” I replied.

After arriving at Frontier 7, we gathered everything we needed.

About half an hour later, we were back at the hoverbike, packing everything neatly into its compartment.

As we prepared to leave, Kotaro and a few others silently bowed as the hoverbike lifted off.

Grandpa Tor manually piloted the hoverbike toward the fishing spot, which was only a few minutes away, even at a modest speed of 100 km/ph.

We landed near a small shed overlooking a flowing river.

“Little Rin, can you grab some firewood from that cabin over there?” Grandpa Tor asked, pointing toward a wooden structure nearby.

“Sure thing, Grandpa Tor,” I replied, heading to the wooden cabin.

Inside, I found several stacks of chopped firewood. Grabbing a couple of bundles, I returned to find Great Grandpa unloading our supplies onto a bench.

“Little Rin, you can set some firewood on the fire pit,” he said.

“Oh, I forgot to bring a fire starter,” he added.

“No worries, I’ve got it covered,” I said, drawing one of my Photon Edges.

“That’ll do the trick,” he said with a grin.

After arranging the firewood, I activated the Photon Edge, placing its blade at the center to ignite the fire.

The blade flared a bright blue, instantly igniting the dry firewood it touched, sending flames crackling to life.

“No wonder you’re so fond of that blade,” Great Grandpa remarked, watching the firewood blaze.

“It’s pretty handy, don’t you think?” I said with a grin.

“Handy, yes, but also terrifying.

Just thinking about using it would give me anxiety.

A Conceptual Barrier wouldn’t save you from those blue edges if something went wrong,” he said.

“You’re not wrong.

That’s why Akasha helped me modify it so it only activates when I absolutely intend for it to,” I replied, carefully sheathing the Photon Edge.

Great Grandpa handed me a fishing rod as night settled fully around us.

He began cooking two cups of white rice in the small pot we’d brought, setting it over the campfire.

The campfire cast a warm glow on the nearby area, but beyond that, darkness enveloped us, it was a moonless night.

I glanced at the sky, mesmerized by the brilliance of the Summer Triangle.

It reminded me that tomorrow marked the last day of summer.

“Little Rin, which star in the Summer Triangle is your favorite?” Great Grandpa asked, noticing my gaze lingering on the heavens.

“I like Vega and Altair the most,” I replied as I cast my bait.

“They remind me of the Star Festivals celebrated by Classic Humans.”

“Ah, the tale where the two lovers, represented by the stars, are separated by the Milky Way and can only reunite one night each year,” Great Grandpa said as he cast his line.

“I’m surprised you know about that,” I said with a raised brow.

“Yuka told me about it many times. Frontier 7 has celebrated the Star Festival every year since it was built,” he replied with a nostalgic smile.

“What did you wish for this year, Great Gramps?” I asked.

“The same thing I wish for every year, that everything stays the same,” he replied.

“Is that why you’re still a protector, Grandpa Tor?” I asked.

“Part of it. Protectors like us maintain peace and stability.

Staying in this role lets me help preserve the very thing I wish for,” he said with a thoughtful nod.

“Aren’t you curious why I chose to become a protector, even though Grandpa and Dad weren’t thrilled about the idea?” I asked.

“I don’t need to ask,” he said, his gaze steady on me. “The fact that you were given the title of Seventh says it all.

We share the same vision, the same wish, but you Little Rin, went the extra mile to make it happen.”

“Honestly, I just tried to prepare myself for anything that might come,” I admitted.

“Everyone knows that, especially Akasha. That’s why you were entrusted with the title of Seventh,” Great Gramps said.

“Keeping Akasha safe is the most vital thing a protector can do.”

We sat together on the bench near the fire pit, enjoying the warmth of the flames.

Suddenly, both our fishing rods began to beep, signaling a catch.

After a minute of reeling, we each pulled in a big, fat freshwater eel.

Smiling, I handed Great Gramps the eel I’d caught so he could debone it.

Great Gramps took out his special knives and expertly deboned the two eels within minutes.

He rinsed them in the river while I recast both of our fishing rods.

Back at the campfire, he began preparing the glaze for the eel using sweet soy sauce and a blend of seasonings.

Once the glaze was ready, he skewered the eels onto stainless steel rods designed for grilling.

Not long after, we caught another two big, fatty eels.

Great Gramps deboned them with the same precision and skewered them like he did on the first two eels.

Meanwhile, I returned the fishing rods to the hoverbike’s storage compartment.

When I came back, Great Gramps was setting up his small foldable campfire grill, just big enough for the four eels.

The pot of cooked rice had already been removed from the fire and set aside.

He placed the eels on the grill, letting them cook over the campfire.

After three minutes, he flipped them to grill the other side.

Once both sides were cooked, he brushed on the sweet soy glaze, letting the eels absorb the marinade.

After another two minutes on the grill, one minute per side, they were perfectly cooked.

“Little Rin, can you get the plates and utensils?” Great Gramps asked.

“Sure, Great Gramps,” I replied, heading to the hoverbike.

I grabbed two plates, two one-liter bottles of cold soda, a spoon, and a pair of chopsticks.

When I returned, Great Gramps had already fluffed up the rice, just like Great Grandma used to.

He served two cups of the cooked rice onto my plate, the comforting aroma wafting through the air.

Clumped-up rice doesn’t have the best mouthfeel, so the fluffy texture was a nice touch.

Great Gramps handed me two grilled eel skewers, each so large they barely fit on my stainless steel plate.

I passed him his bottle of soda, which he accepted with a smile.

The grilled eel was a delightful blend of sweet and savory, its smoky flavor enhanced by the smoldering charcoal from the oak firewood.

The mild seasoning paired perfectly with the plain white rice, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.

With our enhanced genetics, Neomans tend to consume two to three times the diet of classic humans.

Even so, finishing off the entire pot of rice spoke volumes about how delicious the meal was.

The cold soda complemented the dish, cleansing the palate and making each bite of eel even more enjoyable.

“Thanks for the food,” I said, feeling satisfied as I polished off the last of the meal.

“Are you okay sleeping here?” Grandpa Tor asked.

“I’m fine lying down under the clear night sky,” I replied.

“Besides, it’s better to wait here until Akasha’s drones confirm the area is safe.”

“You’ve got a point there, Little Rin,” he said. “But…”

“It’s alright, Grandpa Tor,” I reassured him.

“With the hoverbike’s speed, we’ll get back to Grid 25 just in time for Family Day tomorrow.”

“Right,” he agreed, nodding.

Grandpa Tor handed me a blanket, a sleeping bag, and an inflatable pillow.

“Thanks, Grandpa Tor,” I said with a smile.

“I should bring Liz here sometime,” I added thoughtfully.

“Little Liz would love this place for sure,” Grandpa Tor replied with a knowing nod.

“Have you seen her in her ceremonial dress yet?” he asked.

“I didn’t get the chance, she’d already changed by the time I got there,” I admitted.

“Well, then you’re in for a surprise at the Autumn Festival,” he teased.

“Why not sneak a peek at her pictures in the meantime?” he suggested with a chuckle.

“Knowing Liz, she’d be annoyed if I did that.

I’m pretty sure she wants to surprise me and see my genuine reaction,” I replied, grinning.

“Smart thinking, Little Rin,” Great Grandpa Tor agreed, laughing softly.

I began clearing the grassy ground of any rocks or debris before laying out the sleeping bag Grandpa Tor had given me.

Meanwhile, he added another stack of firewood to the campfire, stirring the flames higher.

Once he was done, he cleared his own patch of ground and laid down his sleeping bag.

Without much fuss, he slipped into it, clearly ready for rest.

“Goodnight, Little Rin,” he murmured, already drifting off to sleep.

“Goodnight, Grandpa Tor,” I replied warmly.

I looked at the beautiful night sky one last time before closing my eyes and headed to sleep.