The day began the same as you've heard time and time again. However in contrast today the air felt cooler, the mood felt like a challenge would come, that a call was to be answered today. Michael, however, was none the wiser. His routine unaffected as he thought back to the other day.
A cleric had approached him while he was fishing. How many times had he gone there and only had annoying pests to keep him company. As his hands gently coated the poles in oil to protect against water he for once had a thought other than impressing the priestess to stop making her pity him.
Most would call it friendship, but Michael found it to be like a void that had begun to fill. Something that had been missing was found. He didn't see the cleric as pitty, but as opening a door. His mind was working as his body rolled through the motions. Unfortunately Michael and making friends was something he thought he hadn't done. Though you may ask many and they'd say he is a great friend, Michael would call it pity.
He decided that today if he saw that group he would find a way to make his goal clear. Grandma had always said the best friends would share meals. However he didn't want to try and make all of that at home. It would make him miss the best time to catch a bass. He grabbed his tackle box and maneuvered it in a way it shouldn't have been able to. Opening it to reveal a pristine set of implements to prepare a meal with.
Without a moment wasted he began to ensure each tool was perfect. The hooks could even pierce a hair, the knife could remove a hair without it being felt, the lines were flawless capable of lifting the world itself.
Michael set out with only one thing missing. He needed bait. Still early enough only a few would be awake he wandered through town on the path to the all too familiar lake that would give him his best chance at catching a bass. He knew where he would be able to get bait it would just be a matter of finding the little pests.
He arrived at the normal nest he had come to time and time again for bait. Though it seemed a lot less lively and had been dwindling so for the last few days and weeks as those adventurers seemed to be clearing out the pests. He couldn't fault them as pests would be bad if they got to town and ruined produce and items.
Still a rather large one of the rats appeared before him with 4 nearly as large seeming to escort it. Seeing him, a simple fisherman, the leader of this pack smirked as it seemed to encourage it's guards to attack. They charged with the ferocity of a wolf seeing a deer with a lame leg that hadn't eaten in weeks.
Michael didn't seem to phased by the charging pests. In fact he loved that they always did this. It saved him time and effort as he wouldn't have to give chase to the creatures.
As the first arrived before him all that could be seen was Michael stepping forward and drawing something. It came with an ear piercing sound as the very air before him seemed to be cut. The pest however continued to charge though it fell beside Michael.
The other 3 didn't have a chance to react as another ear piercing sound broke out as Michael moved again. This time he planted his left foot on the ground and pushed off darting forward and the 3 similarly fell to the ground. He smiled with delight. The entrails they'd give would be even better as they looked well fed. He would be able to catch something amazing with the bait he'd gather.
However he did forget something for only a moment. To the leader of the pack he'd seem to have glowing red eyes as he looked at it. A large fat specimen that would be able to give some truly divine bait. The largest vermin frozen in place found itself the final victim of Michaels hunt for bait.
He was like a surgeon after as he cut open the varmints collecting his bait in a bucket. After a few minutes he looked around at the den of these pests. He thought it was kind of funny as they had makeshift tents and even a small pile of sticks and rocks like they'd make weapons from them.
He didn't linger however quickly heading off to go and start his true goal for the day. To catch that elusive bass the judges wanted. He hadn't even noticed that he wasn't alone. However that is a story for another day.
He made it to the lake and remembered where he was disturbed before. Electing to heed the advice given before he set up further south than he normally would. Though a thought crossed his mind. Would those people even come back today? They were on a job, but did they finish?
He setup like he always did with a faint bit of hope he would see them again. Taking a deep breath he looked out over the water. Finding his target his eyes locked on. He baited his hook without breaking sight of it and slowed his breathing.
The world seemed to slow down to him as he focused. If someone watched they'd swear he stopped breathing for an entire minute. His arm arched back before flying forward like an arrow released from a bow. The baited hook flew with the grace of a hummingbird as it flew landing exactly where his eyes focused without even a plop.
He planned on feeding people so he set his first line in the ground to hold it repeating the process for 2 more poles normally saved as backups, not that he ever broke a pole. Before a minute had passed he was planted in his folding stool watching each line with an eagles gaze waiting for the right movement.