30 - Fishing Respite!

It was quiet when my eyelids parted, the adhesive from salty tears tearing away once I’d blinked a few times. The room was uncharacteristically silent; I’d gotten so used to howling winds I’d almost forgotten what peace was like.

“Oh, the storm’s cleared up.”

I took slow, controlled breaths, my mind spiraling into layers of emotions as memories flashed into my head, like watching a reel with the playback speed set to maximum. My eyes began to water as I held back, the restored dam threatening to collapse once again from the makeshift repairs of a good night’s sleep.

I was the only one awake, and for now I wanted to spare myself the awkward interactions I predicted would come sooner or later. I quietly crawled out of bed, looking to the window to see the land outside caked in snow.

As the door creaked open, I saw the ball of comfort that was Woolie prancing about outside with his pack, still too early for the illuminating rays of day to turn his shadowed blue wool into the pure white I know.

“Muu!”

Woolie charged at me, almost knocking me over as I reached out to pet him.

“Haha, good morning to you too Woolie.”

Not a day passed since we first met that I hadn’t seen Woolie, but seeing him today gave rise in me a feeling of nostalgia, as if there was another me who’d longed to see him after a long time.

“Turns out, we’ve known each other from before, haven’t we?”

I didn’t know it at first. I didn’t know it yesterday morning. Now, I know. Woolie had been my friend all along.

“You remembered me all this time, didn’t you? Looking back now, you were too friendly to have been a stranger.”

“Muu?” Woolie’s simple gesture of confusion forced my mouth into a pensive smile.

I stuffed my face into his woolly coat, hugging him tightly. Woolie was my friend before, and he’s my friend now. No matter the circumstances, nothing will change that.

*

“What do you think she’s doing?”

“Napping.”

“Sitting up like that? It looks like she’s meditating.”

I’d just returned from my mind palace into the real world. Not wanting to disturb everyone’s sleep, I decided to stay inside and reflect on my life, and what better place to do that than inside my own mind?

“Gweh?!”

I opened my eyes, seeing three curious faces staring at my own. It was the first time something like this had ever happened, and it took me by surprise.

“Umm, how should we ask about it?”

“Give it up, Estelle. We won’t be able to with such a complicated question, and the answer’ll be beyond our understanding too.”

“All I need is a month. In one month I can drill into her the basics of conversation and open up communications.”

“Edelweiss, are you some kinda demon professor?”

“… No.”

Hmm…

“Uh…” I started, catching everyone’s attention. “R-Riko-”

What’s the word for, “I” again…?

“Riko-” I pointed to myself, then trailed off into random gibberish.

“Uh-huh? You want to tell us something about yourself?” Estelle smiled, oblivious to the crisis I found myself in.

It should have been obvious from the moment my memories returned, but I couldn’t be sure until I heard those words from Estelle’s mouth. And Mars. Also Edelweiss’s.

Goddamn Goddess screwed up again.

Though I finally remembered my life in this world, I still have absolutely no idea what everyone was saying.

The damn Goddess failed to restore my linguistic skills. Somehow, memories of time spent with ma- my mother came to me in Earth language; I have to learn everything from scratch again.

While that’d been the plan from the start, my new circumstances demanded a change of plans with the arrival of three new acquaintances, none of whom I was able to converse with.

I really need those linguistic skills.

I put on a smile, gesturing for lunch. They nodded with enthusiasm, likely still hungry for more from their long journey. As I pick up my blade to prepare the boar meat, I had a sudden idea.

“How about we try catching our meal today?”

*

“Woaah… I’m in heaven…”

“Whew… c-cold…”

Estelle hugged her shoulders, shivering. Despite borrowing my scarf on top of her plentiful supply wrapped around her neck, it was easy to guess from her body language she was complaining about the temperature.

“As I thought, it’s best if I resume my duty as a portable heater. ’O crimson flames of- hngh…!” Edelweiss winced, clutching her stomach.

“Edel! You’re in no state to perform such a draining task. The poison may be gone, but you’re still injured.”

“Yeah… let me lie down for a bit…”

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Edelweiss laying atop one of Woolie’s moffa friends, stuffing her face in the warm, fluffy coat.

I see she’s also a fluffy connoisseur.

“Edelweiss, it’s rude to do that when they’re so kindly giving us a ride.”

“Ogh commonn Marbbss-” Edelweiss’s muffled voice barely escaped her lips.

“Still, what a fantastic view from up here. It’s a wonder the weather let up at such good timing.”

As everyone marveled at the sights around the highlands, I busied myself with my backpack, making sure I remembered everything I needed. It’s been a while since I went outside, my backpack untouched for weeks.

Medicine, berries, firewood sticks for the campfire and spit, this fishing rod I never use and plenty of water…

It’d been so long since I’ve been outside, even the freezing winds felt nice for a change.

“Say, what’s with that pole sticking outta Riko’s backpack?”

“From the looks of it, it’s a fishing rod.”

Edelweiss lifted her head. “Are we going ice fishing?”

“Is that really something people do? I’ve only ever heard rumors from the northern continent.”

Edelweiss wasted no time mimicking a person casting their rod, saying, “fishing! Fishing!”

Oh…? Is that the word for fishing?

I nodded, mirroring her movements. “Fishing!”

“Ricolette, you- fishing- with- rod-?” Edelweiss gestured wildly as she spoke, pointing to my fishing rod then towards me. “Yah?” She nodded. “Nah?” She shook her head.

Oh…! She must be asking if I’m a fisherman. And those words she said… I think those are “yes” and “no”?

I pointed to myself in excitement. “Riko, NAH!”

“Eh…?”

I drew the blades sheathed on my back, startling everyone. They must have looked like two wooden sticks while sheathed, so I didn’t blame them. Seeing as Mars and Estelle had swords of their own, I wonder if they’d appreciate the care I put into their sharpness.

I beamed at Edelweiss, ecstatic at finally being able to communicate with them about something, pointing to my blades. “Riko fishing, yah!”

“Huh…?”

*

Once we arrived at the lake, I wasted no time hopping off, sending snow flying everywhere with how heavy I landed.

“Thanks, Woolie. Here, share these poppolia with everyone.”

The others watched as I put down my backpack, waddling through the snow to the edge of the icy lake.

“How’re we supposed to go ice fishing here? It’s all frozen solid.”

“Ricolette will cut a hole in the ice with those knives of hers, Stelle.”

“I’m quite curious about highlander swordsmanship myself. Those blades look like they’re made of bone, not steel.”

“Not me, the only thing I need is this wand of mine.”

“That thing you call a wand might as well be a polearm, Edelweiss.”

“Riko’s a kid, Mars. I don’t think she’s actually practiced in real swordsmanship-”

“HAAAIIIIIII!!” I cried out, stomping on the ice as hard as I could.

Crack!

A crack formed in the ice, snaking further and further, causing branching cracks in the ice, then-

Crash!

The resulting fissure opened up the clear waters beneath, the broken ice settling along the edges of the crudely shaped hole.

“Fishing!” I pointed to the fishing hole I’d just created.

I received three open, gaping mouths in response, their faces a mix of confusion, shock and awe.

Did I overdo it?

I don’t know what counts as ‘abnormal’ in this world. When my memories finally returned, I realized my knowledge of the world was almost no different than before; I’ve never left the highlands, let alone met anyone other than my mother. As such, I was unaware if crushing ice with my foot was considered ‘normal’.

From their reactions, I guessed not.

“How’s she so strong?! Mars?”

“Why’re you asking me?! I’m guessing she’s trained in some sort of martial art…?”

“All that power at her age?!”

I handed my fishing rod to Edelweiss, seeing as she was the only one not arguing about things I didn’t understand. As for me…

I stood at the edge of the ice, peeking over the waters with my eyes wide open, staring at the rippling surface.

“Ricolette? Rod?” I heard Edelweiss call to me, but I focused my concentration on the lake.

I need to catch more than just my share today. There’s me, Estelle, Edelweiss, Mars, Woolie and his friends… Hmm? Isn’t that way too many guests? How many should I try catching? Is ten enough…?

I spotted a shadow close to the surface and my body moved reactively.

“Hey, did you see that glint in Riko’s eye?”

“Bare hands?”

“GRAWR!!” Using Mister B’s patented growling swipe, the force of my swing sent the flopping, silver fish high into the air, landing on the bank where it helplessly struggled.

I learned my lesson from my first time attempting this technique with Mister B, and honed my fishing technique over the past year to be able to get to where I was now.

“Ooh!”

Clap clap clap.

“Ehehe…” I’d never been given applause before, my uncertainty resulting in awkward scratching of my head.

I caught a few more, this time with the help of my blades, once again drawing looks of bewilderment from my audience.

Edelweiss tried casting the rod, but her wound caused her to bend over with cries of “ooogghh-” as she handed it to Estelle, who managed to snag the line on Mar’s clothing, her mighty swing almost pulling Mars into the lake.

I had a hearty laugh watching Mars chase Estelle round and round, all the while spearing large fish with my blades.

“Geez, you sure are good at this…” Edelweiss watched closely, clutching her stomach. “You wild folk sure have a knack for these, huh? I hadn’t even learned to cook at your age, much less all this… survival stuff.” She smiled, gazing at the frozen lake.

“Mmm?” I gave her a questioning gaze, hoping she’d manage to convey her words into simpler sign language.

“It’s nothing, Ricolette. Now, I’m assuming you brought us outside for a reason, yes? From the looks of all that sticking out your backpack… outdoor cooking, perhaps.” With a snap of her fingers, Edelweiss conjured a small flame hovering above her index finger as she winked at me.

“Ooh! Magic!”

“Hmm? You know about magic, Ricolette?”

Did she just say the word, ‘magic’?

I pointed to the flame, “magic?”

“Yes… yes! Oh ho, it would seem we do possess shared words! Saintword and highland- highlandish… highlandic…?” Edelweiss frowned.

From what I could infer from that interaction, ‘magic’ was still ‘magic’ in Allstoria—a shared word. Could there be more?

“… Earth?”

“Hmm? Urth? What’s that?”

Edelweiss’s slight tilt of the head told me all I needed to know.

She’s not an otherworlder from Earth like me.

“This is quite fascinating. Come, Ricolette! Let’s try a few more words- how about academy? Scholarship? Scar of Monten Valley? Principality of-”

“There’s no way she’d know those terms, Edel.”

“Ouch, Stelle- OWWW my stomach…!”

“I tapped you on the head! How’d it reach your tummy?!”

Despite our inability to effectively communicate, Edelweiss was quite the interpreter. She understood my intention to have an outdoor seafood party, starting a fire with the dry sticks I used as firewood without me having to convey it to her. In an instant, there was a roaring flame… I’m jealous of such convenience.

Mars went out to collect more wood while Estelle tried to catch more fish with the rod. Well, she tried her best. Woolie and friends did what they did best, rolling around and huddling together for warmth awaiting their meal.

Soon we had fish roasting on wooden spits by the campfire, as I sat surrounded by liveliness I never experienced before. Sitting here roasting fish by a fire was familiar, yet foreign at the same time. I’d always had my meal with Woolie, enjoying with little words together. But…

This lively atmosphere isn’t bad either.

Mmm, today’s lunch also tasted much better than usual.