Chương 101: On the Road to Nevorak

Ethan explained to the group roughly where the legendary sword capable of stopping time was located. It lay far to the north, in Nevorak, a freezing region of the continent, inside a massive castle administered by the kingdom's officials. Guarding it was one of Ethan's former comrades-in-arms: a dependable knight whom he trusted without hesitation. That was exactly where they were heading. That evening, they stopped to spend the night along the same river they had been following for days.

The sky was beginning to darken and the air grew colder by the minute. Ethan sat on the riverbank with a fishing rod in his hands. The water flowed peacefully before him, completely indifferent to his efforts. A freezing gust of wind passed through him. His teeth began to chatter.

"It's starting to get cold".

"Talking to yourself?" a voice asked from behind him. Ethan turned around. It was Felicity, wearing her usual serious, unreadable expression, incapable of revealing even the slightest emotion. She walked over to him.

"Well?" she asked.

"Is it still just a matter of luck?" Ethan looked up at her.

"I've been sitting here for two hours and nothing's bitten. I'm starting to think this river doesn't have any fish". Felicity rested a hand on her hip.

"It's full of them. You just don't know how to fish". Ethan let out a sigh. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Oh? And you do?" Without answering, Felicity took the rod from his hands. She reeled in the line, carefully adjusted the bait, and cast it back into the river, much farther than Ethan had managed.

"It's all about patience", she explained.

"Don't pull the moment you feel a tug. They have to bite properly, or they'll get away. But you can't wait too long either, or the result will be the same". She paused briefly, watching the water's surface.

"It's a delicate balance. When you feel a firm pull, that's when you reel it in. There are times when you have to do it immediately, but that's usually with predatory fish. There shouldn't be any here". Ethan watched her like a student listening to a lesson.

"You really know a lot about fishing. How long have you been doing it?"

"Since I was a child", Felicity replied.

"My father used to send me fishing alone. If I came back without any fish, he wouldn't let me into the house". Ethan's eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. I went hungry for two weeks. Eventually, I learned".

"He must have been a very strict father".

"He was". At that very moment, the fishing line went taut. Remaining perfectly calm, Felicity lifted the rod and brought a silvery fish onto the shore. She grabbed it confidently and dropped it into the bucket.

"Just an ordinary chub", she said, looking it over.

"Nothing special".

"Incredible…" Ethan murmured. Felicity handed him the rod.

"Now you try. And don't get discouraged if you fail. Actually, considering how hopeless you are, you'd better get used to it". With that, she turned around and began walking away.

"One of these days I'll catch something, you'll see!" Ethan shouted after her. Felicity heard him, but she kept walking without turning around or replying. Ethan sighed, picked up the rod again, and went back to staring at the water, determined to try once more. Meanwhile, Teresa walked through the blackened remains of Aixol. The ruins stood silently beneath the orange sky: burned houses, shattered streets, dreams reduced to ashes. Then she saw it. A charred wooden stake, still driven into the ground. She stopped.

"So this is where…"

"Yes", the gnome beside her said.

"This is where Ugly was burned". Teresa walked closer and placed a hand on the blackened wood. She closed her eyes for a moment.

"It happened here…" she murmured.

"The Green Dragon was here".

"Yes, but that was centuries ago", the gnome replied.

"Maybe its descendants never even reproduced. Perhaps dragons have gone extinct forever". Teresa slowly shook her head.

"No. I can feel it. It's still out there. The Green Dragon is still in this world". The gnome looked at her for a few moments.

"You're one stubborn woman". Teresa said nothing. She continued gazing at what remained of Aixol. Then she turned around.

"Let's get moving. It's getting dark". She resumed walking, and the gnome, along with the royal guard, followed her in silence.