Our duties.

Just feeling roasted, even though my clothes, told me that a quick swim was the best thing to do, and with it, a bit of calm after fishing. After that, I walked with the rope in hand, tying the tails of the last fish. After putting my clothes back on, I continued toward the cliff I had climbed in the morning.

“EVERYONE I FOUND THE RIVER WHERE THE FISH CAME FROM, PREPARE A PLACE FOR ME TO THROW THEM IN!”

From what they saw in my direction, they didn't seem surprised and some had even already prepared what seemed to me to be improvised sestas, but beyond the dark colors, I expected them to be useful, I lowered the rope quite easily and after reaching the middle, a ladder grabbed the rope from a little less than the final half, while I dropped it and the guy lowered it with more care than I had at the beginning.

It wasn't until the total presence of the rope was perceived that I began to wonder how I would explain the inventory; however small it was. The only thing they saw was that he was handling a stick, not the rope, and after a while of fishing a little longer, I noticed how they were coming back with the rope again.

“Greetings, young Abaddon.” He bowed slightly in greeting.

“Greetings, hunter, who brings you here.” The weapons betrayed their profession.

“Well, in my time I was also fortunate enough to be able to fish and I wanted to lend a hand.”

Humility suited him, but a lack of character didn't seem to be a good thing. I simply nodded, showing him the remains of the soft crust I was twisting.

“Come on, I'll explain a little about how to make the fish trap.” I pointed out the path along the river.

“Don’t worry, I know how it works. I learned quite a few things in the cursed kingdom.” He quickened his pace.

“Now that's something new,” I managed to keep the emotion out of my voice. “I haven't had the chance to interact with people who've lived there for quite some time.”

"What can I say? It's not easy to return." He stood up and began to take some leftovers, while continuing to make the crosses, with greater skill, undoubtedly a result of practice. "Did you know anyone from the cursed kingdom before coming here?"

“Yes, the merchant from the kingdom of Lasha was quite helpful in providing information on prices and expenses. I opened an account and he was pleasant to talk to. I think he was one of the few who didn't treat me like a child, even though there were instances of childish selfishness on my part.”

“The cursed kingdom is truly wonderful.” I sigh. “Sometimes, I wonder why they named it that and not something more colorful?” I say, my voice sad.

"I do have that answer," something I read in the setting book. "The merchant himself confessed the reason to me in one of our repeated conversations." A more credible excuse is better.

“Seriously, if you don’t mind telling me?” there was emotion in the voice.

“Change kingdom for continent and you'll have your answer.” I spoke, summarizing almost three paragraphs of the introduction to the continental system, and I thought I did well and appreciated the question.

“What is a continent?”

“What would be an island, but as big as mountains on a map.”

“So, all around, is it a cursed continent or am I mistaken?”

"That's what the Cursed Merchant called himself. He always mentioned that our illustrious ancestors, guided or blinded by the fortune to be acquired here, set out from three main islands further away, where the sea eclipses them." Fortunately for me, as soon as I cast the trap, a fish came in, and I caught it quickly. "He always repeated that it doesn't matter whether we follow the Holy Faith or not, if we come from the same islands, we are all, to some extent, very distant brothers, sometimes even strangers."

“Yes, I've heard that a lot there, but it seemed like nonsense to me, if you'll excuse me.”

The shared laughter, as more than one fish ended up caught, was nothing more than a moment to remember good times, while he told me more about there, as if I knew nothing, I tried to feign excitement for trivialities like bathrooms and two-story houses, which he mistook for mansions in the hands of the common people, only the arrival of the afternoon made a dent in his lack of enthusiasm to tell it, when we finally retired, with enough fish to feed a feast and that he was ready to store.

Once we reached the cliff, most people seemed to have fewer problems. As we lowered the last stretch of fishing with the rope, I was told to be more careful when letting them descend. After a while, we came across a branch that caught the fish and left the rope hanging. My calculation was correct and the fish landed within half a meter of the hanging ground.

"Good idea".

“It was more like resignation, but I think we found a way to land our catch better.”

“I agree.”

By nightfall, many people were smelling the fish being cooked over the many bonfires and the more hesitant were beginning to eat some already cooked ones. For my part, I cut more or less large pieces, with the light around me, and prepared the closest thing I had to sushi with the rice in the pot. When it arrived on the other side of the table, something less pleasant and contrasting with its almost usual military bearing.

“Listen, kid, you know what’s cool.” I take another drink. “I have a hard time thinking of you as our leader. I mean, just look at you. You don’t even share the joy of a dance with everyone there or seem encouraged by what’s happening.” I pull the bottle closer before I realize it. “Here, join us a little.”

I spent more time cutting and scaling the fish. “I apologize, but I don't have the energy of someone of your illustrious age, and I'm still exhausted from fishing.”

“And how old am I according to you?” I speak with more anger than common sense, no doubt.

“Maybe in its tenth ritual, maybe one more or one less.”

“Tenth hip.” He took another and slammed the bottle down on the table. “You’re not wrong, there are times when I doubt I’m up to my task.” He leaned on his arm, pushing the rice bowl away in the process. “And you, why did you call us to follow you?”

“I saw it in the vision before I left Lasha.” In the tutorial, of course. “This one, and the young man, will run this place quite easily.”

“You say it so easily, from a noble birth. From the moment you were born, everything was handed to you on a silver platter, and you know how to handle things so naturally,” his words seemed more venom than criticism. “I don’t even know how to order troops, and we just follow what that bastard…” confusion laced his voice with doubt. “What was his name?”

“Glas, Arasel, thirteenth son of House Arasel, and exiled for lack of manners, as far as I can tell.” From the unofficial documents, they all said that, and I was inclined to believe it, though more so due to his lack of patience. “Regarding the contents of your bottle,” I said, lifting another one onto the leg of the chair. “Perhaps you would like this better. The merchant said we could use it for a celebration.” His snatching of the bottle disconcerted me slightly.

“In his name, Abaddon, I will enjoy this liquor.” He left, clearly lacking in balance.

I didn't give it much thought, the bottle was a gift and the girl was becoming more and more troublesome, not to mention that she shared some of her concern with me, however feigned it was, it was something I would remember tomorrow and have occasion to use as an excuse to impose my orders in the coming war.

The night ended, while I watched on that night screen, how the celebration was dedicated to everyone and the few chants seemed to begin to emerge, the most foolish ones who did not moderate themselves with the liquor, put the bottles almost to the bottom of the few barrels there were and others more moderate had a couple apart from which they drank from glasses.

The joy was partly contagious, but I ate my food with considerably more moderation than the rest. I had trouble seeing in the lack of light, and another fragment reached me. Whatever was coming, I felt prepared and accepted it without problems.