Chapter 34: Farewell to Fluff, Hello to Fish
Morning mist clung to the bamboo trunks of Verdastra as birds chirped overhead. Dew coated the leaves, glinting like crystals. The elf children gathered near the beastfolk village gate. Chief Leonhart stood tall, arms crossed, golden mane shimmering under the rising sun.
"Fuhiken," Leonhart rumbled, voice calm but firm, "you hold a strange pride, your siblings are chaos wrapped in charm. Don't forget to lead with heart, not just rules."
Fuhiken bowed, serious. "Thank you, Chief. I'll try."
Behind him, giggles and snickers broke the moment. Kyle whispered to Sinryo, "Did you hear that? Chaos confirmed. We're officially wild cards." Sinryo grinned, already flipping a coin with no monetary value, just for the drama.
Nearby, Gabyola kneeled, hugging Feliya tightly. "Take care, okay? You're too precious." Feliya purred, half-confused, half-amused.
Meika, meanwhile, was trapped in Sakura's soft grasp. "So... warm..." Sakura murmured dreamily, cheeks flushed. Gaby nodded in agreement, whispering, "Fluff is justice."
Kyle shook his head. "You two are fluff addicts." Adiw crossed his arms. "Don't even think about fluffnapping."
Sakura pouted. "I would never."
"Mm-hmm." Adiw narrowed his eyes. "Gaby?"
"…I plead the fifth," Gaby muttered, reluctantly letting go.
Feliya and Meika waved as the group departed. "Come again!" Meika meowed.
As the bamboo forest thinned, the landscape opened. Rolling grassy hills danced under a gentle wind. The dirt road curved gently toward the horizon.
By midday, the party stood at the edge of a sprawling lake nestled between the fading bamboo forest and distant rolling meadows. The lake stretched wide, its surface shimmering like glass under the golden sunlight. Ripples fanned out gently from lazy schools of glittering fish, their scales catching the light like scattered gems. Dragonflies zipped over water lilies blooming near the shore, and reeds swayed softly in the breeze. A few rocky outcrops jutted from the surface, moss-covered and weathered, standing like ancient guardians watching over the tranquil expanse. The air smelled faintly of wet stone and fresh algae, earthy, alive, and serene.
Jessica stared silently. "This lake... bigger than back home."
Yuuna sat on a flat rock, sketchbook open. "It's perfect."
She quietly drew a blueprint: Fishing Pole II. Reinforced bamboo spine. Mana-thread line. Adjustable grip. Light enchantment node.
Yetsan peeked over her shoulder. "Interesting… Let me try."
He pulled materials from his magic bag, bamboo, string, a thin metal hook, and some mana glue. Within an hour, a prototype was born. Sleek. Functional.
"Crafted by Yetsan," he announced proudly, handing the pole to Yuuna.
Yuuna blinked. "Test?"
"Test," Yetsan confirmed.
Adiw rolled up his sleeves, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Fishing time!" he declared with the confidence of a seasoned warrior facing a worthy opponent. He planted his feet wide at the shoreline like he was preparing for battle, gripping the newly crafted fishing pole with both hands. "No sword today, but skill is still required." With a practiced motion, he cast the line far into the lake, the hook slicing clean through the air before landing with a satisfying plop. His expression turned focused, brows furrowed, stance firm, as if each fish beneath the surface were an enemy to be outwitted and conquered.
The children spread along the lakeshore. Sakura set down a blanket and food basket. Orchid, ever helpful, attempted to prepare tea, but Gaby and Yuuna swiftly intervened before any damage could occur.
"I was just warming water," Orchid protested, sulking.
"We know," Gaby said gently, "and we're grateful. Please sit."
Kyle loaded mana bullets into an invisible pretend gun and dramatically aimed at a fish. "Fish snipe!" Splash. Nothing. "Missed."
Sinryo tossed pebbles like shuriken, muttering, "Stealth bait activate!"
Gigih, unsupervised, began chanting a spell. "Darkness strike, uh oh." A bubble burst beside him with a small explosion, soaking Jessica's hair.
"Gigih," she warned.
"Oops."
Jessica's katana gleamed. "Don't make me draw this."
"…Sorry."
Meanwhile, Adiw had already caught two fish. "Technique," he said smugly. "Patience. And arm strength."
Fahleena struck a dramatic pose atop a smooth lakeside rock, one hand on her hip, the other raised high with her fishing rod like a divine scepter. Her twintails fluttered heroically in the breeze, catching the sunlight like banners of destiny. "Behold!" she proclaimed, voice echoing across the water, "The goddess of fortune descends upon this lake! RNG, I summon thee, guide my cast to glory!"
She spun theatrically, nearly slipping but recovering with flair, and hurled the line with exaggerated flourish. The hook splashed down, nowhere near the fish. She stood tall anyway, eyes burning with confidence. "The fish may hide... but fate cannot escape me!"
She swung the pole… and somehow snagged Kyle's sleeve. He tumbled into the water with a splash.
"Fahleena!!"
"RNG God has chosen sacrifice!" she declared.
Yuuna, watching with a neutral face, scribbled notes.
Sakura gently reeled in a fish with soft humming. Gaby joined her, relaxing for once. "This is nice."
"Mm," Sakura nodded. "But... still miss fluff."
Gaby smiled. "We'll find more. Someday."
Yetsan caught a shiny fish. "Ooh. Rare. I name it: Silver Slipper."
Orchid clapped. "Pretty!"
Then, with innocent wonder and zero hesitation, Orchid lifted the gleaming fish toward her lips. Its silver scales still shimmered with lakewater, steam rising faintly from its glistening body. She gazed at it like a rare delicacy, eyes sparkling with misplaced confidence. With the elegance of a knight and the cluelessness of a dreamer, she leaned in, ready to bite it raw, as if savoring some mythical sashimi granted by destiny. The moment hovered, absurd and oddly poetic, until the horrified cries of the party shattered the illusion.
"NO!" the party yelled.
Evening neared. A campfire crackled by the lake. Fish sizzled on skewers. Fuhiken seasoned them expertly. The smell was divine.
"I love fish," Jessica said quietly, eating with a rare smile.
"Better than pudding?" Kyle teased.
"…equal."
Yuuna flipped another page in her sketchbook. "Fishing Pole III?"
"Add flame enchant?" Yetsan suggested.
Adiw stretched. "Tomorrow, we hit Machinia. Human land."
Kyle grinned. "New place, new chaos."
Fuhiken sighed. "Please no."
Sinryo leaned back with a lazy grin, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "Come on, big bro. A little chaos keeps life spicy, and sometimes profitable." He winked. "Besides, Kyle already has five schemes brewing. I'm just the accountant."
Fuhiken rubbed his temple. "That's what worries me."
Gaby, sitting under the shade of a willow-like tree with silver leaves, looked up from adjusting her bowstring. "If either of you turns this peaceful lake into a battlefield, I'll shoot warning arrows. Near your feet." She gave a gentle smile, but her aim was never off.
Sinryo held up his hands. "Just skipping stones, promise."
Fuhiken muttered, "For now."
Gigih sneezed, a tiny puff of fire escaping.
Fahleena struck a dramatic pose atop a grassy hillock, the wind catching her cape (actually a picnic cloth) and her twintails fluttering like twin banners of destiny. She raised her keyblade to the sky, eyes blazing with exaggerated conviction. "New quest!" she declared, voice rich with theatrical power, "Operation: Infiltration of the Human Realm commences!"
She pointed dramatically toward the distant horizon where the Machinia region waited, its outline hazy in the afternoon light. "Beyond that veil lies the Kingdom of Gears and Greed, where alliances are forged in steam, and secrets run like wires beneath polished stone!"
The others blinked.
She twirled once, cape flaring. "We shall tread their marketplaces, decode their customs, charm their nobles, and uncover their ancient vending relics!"
Gigih clapped, entranced. "I wanna find a vending relic too!"
Yuuna, not looking up from her notes, sighed. "It's just a normal town."
Fahleena gasped, clutching her heart. "Blasphemy! Every plain holds hidden portals! Every sandwich stall, a test of fate!"
Kyle whispered, "She's gone full prophecy mode again."
Fuhiken pinched the bridge of his nose. "And we haven't even left the lake."
Yuuna murmured, "Please don't cause an incident."
Stars shimmered above the calm lake, their reflections dancing beside the camp.
The fluff was behind them.
The gentle rustle of grass surrounded the young elves as they sat by the lakeside, the tall blades swaying like sleepy sentinels in the late afternoon breeze. Petals from wildflowers drifted through the air, carried by the same wind that once played with feline ears and soft fur. Now, it whispered across the open hills, brushing through twintails, cloaks, and curious eyes turned toward the future. The warmth of beastfolk hugs lingered only as memory, fading into the rhythm of rippling water and rustling leaves.
Ahead lay new lands. Behind, the fluff, a fleeting comfort in a world still vast and unfolding.
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