Krucose's breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, his chest still heaving from the release of will energy. The air around him felt eerily quiet after the pulse of power that had shaken his senses only moments ago. His body was drained, exhausted beyond reason, his limbs weak. He stumbled, falling backward into the soft embrace of something strange—something smooth and warm, as though it had grown from the very earth itself. He blinked, eyes fuzzy with fatigue, and looked up at a huge wooden ceiling made from thick planks of deep red wood.
The low hum of the world outside was distant now, muffled, almost peaceful. The soft creak of a boat rocking. He turned his head slightly, and that's when he saw the massive mushroom cap just beyond the edge of the deck—its top glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Gulpy's calm, deep voice suddenly pierced the silence, as though he had been watching Krucose all along.
"You exhausted yourself, little bard," he said with a chuckle, a friendly lilt in his tone. The toadfolk appeared from the shadows, his massive round belly jiggling slightly as he ambled toward Krucose, offering a grin that seemed somehow both gentle and knowing. "You gotta pace yourself with that energy. Don't waste it all at once."
Krucose groaned, pushing himself up with difficulty. "I... I didn't even know I could do that. It felt like everything in me just... exploded."
"Yep," Gulpy said, patting him on the back. "You let out all that will energy without knowing how to control it. That's why I put you here, on my boat." He gave a small laugh, "Trust me, it's the best way to recover. This here's a floating sanctuary."
Krucose blinked, his vision clearing. He hadn't realized he was on a boat—let alone one made from the vibrant, glowing redwood of the Harmonious Grove. The hull was smooth, shaped like a great mushroom cap, and the scent of earthy wood and mushrooms filled the air. He felt safe here, cradled by the soft, rhythmic rocking of the boat as it floated peacefully on the water. It was nothing like the chaotic storm he had unleashed in the woods.
Gulpy grinned again, stepping toward the cabin, "You should sleep some more. I'll take care of the rest. Your body needs it." He shuffled toward a corner, rummaging through supplies as Krucose's eyes drooped.
By morning, Krucose slowly awoke, the warmth of the bed cradling his small form like a cozy cocoon. He blinked, his mind still foggy, unsure of where he was. The scent of mushrooms filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of something hearty cooking. He pushed himself up, stretching his limbs before looking around.
His eyes widened at the sight. The room he was in was small but comfortable, surrounded by shelves full of fishing tools, nets, and books stacked haphazardly. There were crates of glowing mushrooms and baskets filled with fresh fish. Through the large windows, Krucose caught a glimpse of a wide, shimmering body of water. The entire room had a warm, inviting feel to it, like a mix between an ancient cabin and a fisherman's den.
Krucose slid out of bed and stumbled to the door, his feet still heavy with weariness but curious to see more of this strange place. As he stepped outside, the full view took his breath away—a vast, endless stretch of blue water surrounded by the natural beauty of Castoria. The waves rolled gently, catching the early morning sunlight, and the peaceful scene was broken only by the occasional call of a bird in the distance.
"Ahhh," Gulpy's deep voice interrupted the tranquility, causing Krucose to jump. The toadfolk was sitting on a large, wooden stool nearby, his fishing rod in hand. His eyes were fixed on the water, and he spoke with a knowing smile, "I see you're finally awake. You had quite the night yesterday."
Krucose rubbed his eyes, still processing everything. "What... what happened? I feel like I blacked out after all that energy."
Gulpy let out a hearty chuckle. "You were out like a log, but nothing too bad. Your body just wasn't ready for all that energy." He paused, squinting at the horizon. "But don't worry, I'll teach you how to handle it better."
Before Krucose could respond, Gulpy suddenly stood up with surprising speed, his eyes sharpening as he gripped his fishing rod. "Ah, looks like I've got something big on the line," he muttered under his breath.
Krucose's eyes widened. He could feel it—something was pulling against Gulpy's rod, straining the line. The toadfolk's hands moved quickly, adjusting the grip on his pole. "This one's a fighter. Not gonna be an easy catch."
Gulpy quickly changed his stance, channeling his will energy into the rod. The once simple pole now glowed, swirling with pinky-orange light. "Time to bring in the big one," he said with a grin.
Krucose watched in awe as Gulpy cast the line, the tip of his fishing rod dancing in the air. Suddenly, the water surged with a massive splashing sound. The fish had taken the bait, and it was tugging with all its might.
Gulpy didn't hesitate. With a fluid motion, he swung his arm upward, his will energy forming into a thick, glowing rod that extended with great force. The fish fought with unrelenting power, but Gulpy was ready. He yanked hard, his muscles straining as the will energy around the rod pulsed in sync with his movements.
"Fish Tackle!" Gulpy bellowed, and in one swift motion, he reeled the giant fish out of the water. The creature—a colossal catfish whale, shimmering with bioluminescence—flopped onto the deck, its massive body nearly as large as Gulpy himself.
Krucose's jaw dropped. "Is that... a whale?" he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and awe.
Gulpy nodded with pride. "That's a mighty catch. This one's been giving me a hard time for weeks. But now..." With a gleam in his eye, Gulpy stepped forward, his belly shaking as he prepared his next move.
With a sudden leap, Gulpy launched himself toward the giant fish, his enormous hand glowing with will energy. "Panel!" he shouted, and his fist slammed into the catfish whale with tremendous force. The energy of the strike reverberated across the boat, and the fish was knocked out cold.
"Ha! Lunch is here!" Gulpy cheered, grinning widely as he landed back on his feet, his arms raised in triumph.
Krucose laughed in sheer amazement, still staring at the giant fish. "I've never seen anything like that in my life."
Gulpy chuckled. "Stick with me, Krucose. You'll see a lot more."
Gulpy grinned widely, his bulbous fingers glowing faintly with will energy. He reached out with a casual swipe, the energy around his hand flashing as he sliced through the massive catfish whale. Each cut was clean and precise, the fish's flesh parting effortlessly as though the will energy had become an extension of his very being.
Krucose stood frozen for a moment, mouth agape. "Is that... is that your power?" he asked, eyes wide in awe.
Gulpy chuckled, not pausing in his work. "Power? Nah, this ain't power, little bard. It's the result of hard work. A gift of training, sure, but not some magic trick." He gestured to the glowing lines of energy that hovered around his hand as he continued his careful work. "I don't have a 'power' like you do, gifted by the Grove. But I've got this."
With that, Gulpy stepped back, his hands moving in intricate gestures. The air around him began to shift. Slowly, a sphere of wind began to form in front of him, swirling like a mini-tornado. It was followed by a sphere of water, cool and shimmering. The two elements danced in harmony before combining into a perfect orb that glowed with pinky-orange will energy.
Krucose blinked, his heart pounding with excitement. The spheres floated gently, suspended by Gulpy's control, before he let them fade away, returning to the calm air around them.
Krucose couldn't contain himself. I've seen this in the games back on Earth, he thought with a thrill running through him. But now I'm the one feeling it, seeing it firsthand. This is real! This is happening! And I've got this rare power too! His excitement was almost palpable as he watched Gulpy prepare for something new. I'm blessed.
As Krucose's thoughts raced, he tried to focus on Gulpy's voice, but the toadfolk was yapping about energy systems, discussing the basics of wind and water manipulation, as well as the different ways will energy could be used in combat or fishing. However, Krucose's mind was a whirlpool of amazement and discovery. He had seen these kinds of things in games, watched videos of magical feats and incredible abilities... but this? This was real. And it was happening to him. His heart raced, his excitement spilling over.
Gulpy, noticing Krucose's distracted gaze, sighed. "You're not listening, are you?" He rolled his eyes in mock frustration. "Fine, you'll learn about the energy systems later. For now, just know that this is something you gotta work for."
Krucose snapped back to attention, just in time to see Gulpy donning an apron and a chef's hat, looking entirely too serious for someone who had just been battling a giant fish.
Krucose couldn't help it—he burst into laughter. "Look at you, Gulpy! You're a fisherman, a warrior, and now... a chef?"
Gulpy paused mid-button, looking down at the apron, then back up at Krucose with a wink. "Well, I have to serve my guests well, don't I?" He puffed out his chest proudly. "And when you catch a big one like this," he gestured to the catfish whale, now neatly filleted and ready for cooking, "you make sure to cook it right. I'm about to serve you my 4th specialty, kid. This here's gonna be catfish whale with a Moonlight Mushroom."
Krucose stopped laughing, his mouth watering as he eyed the massive fish being prepped. "Moonlight Mushroom?" he asked, intrigued.
Gulpy nodded sagely, already beginning to cook. "A rare delicacy around these parts. Grows under the light of a full moon in the Grove. Packs a punch of flavor like no other. When paired with a catch this size, well… it's the perfect combination."
Krucose smiled, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "I'm looking forward to it, Gulpy."
As the smells of cooking filled the air, Krucose couldn't help but marvel at the unusual but fascinating journey he had found himself on. Here, surrounded by a giant, talking toadfolk, magic, and rare mushrooms, he felt more alive than ever. The excitement of his new life was only just beginning, and he was eager to see where it would lead him next.