Jay had to endure a long time being unable to walk or talk, no matter how hard he tried. But because he had the memories of his past life, he was able to learn things much more easily.
Seven years passed in the blink of an eye. Jay was already able to speak the language fluently and could read and write as well.
The most incredible thing was that he was one of the few people who knew how to read and write on the island.
Yes, on the island. Jay already understood more of his reality. He lived on an island in the middle of nowhere. Few people lived there, and the vast majority became fishermen.
Jay's mother's name was Judy, and his father was Octavio. Jay was the couple's only child, and they had tried to have children several times, but without success.
"Son, are you excited for tomorrow?" Judy asked as she spoon-fed Jay soup.
He could already eat by himself, obviously, but he liked to feel loved by his mother.
"Yes, Mom. I'm very excited. Do you think I'll be able to catch anything?" Jay asked.
With a warm smile, his mother said, "Of course, my son. Your father is a great fisherman, and he's going to teach you a lot."
Now that Jay was 7 years old, he could learn a few things about fishing from his father, who was a fisherman.
Before that, it was too dangerous for him to go along. Jay was now stronger and able to at least hold onto the boat so he wouldn't fall out.
He was very anxious. During those 7 years living on the island, Jay was largely stuck in his crib and in his house. But over time, he began to walk around the island with his parents, and wow, the place was beautiful.
Jay was so used to dirty cities and being inside the tiny tunnels of the mines that being in that paradise was even strange to him.
The people on that island were simple, and everyone lived as one big community. But one thing shocked Jay: few people had ever been to the mainland.
Everyone who had left the island had only managed to reach other islands in the vicinity that also had some villages. That's how marriages happened and new children were born.
Besides Jay, there were only 8 other children on the island. Some were the same age as him, like his great friend Lucas, and others were older or younger.
Lucas, a childhood friend of Jay's, accompanied him on the fishing trip. He showed up with his father at Jay's front door at 5 am.
They all gathered for a coffee at the table. Lucas was sitting next to Jay. He was a boy with black hair, unlike Jay's brown hair.
"Are you excited?" Lucas said as he ate his slice of bread. "I'm going to catch more fish than you today. You can be sure of that."
Jay wasn't going to let that happen. "Want to bet? I'd never lose to you."
"Let's bet then. Remember we talked about exploring the seas? If I catch more, I'll be the captain, and if you catch more, you'll be the captain. How about that?" Lucas suggested.
"Deal."
Both of their parents were there listening to their conversation, and they liked the game. Jay didn't know if it would be a game for Lucas, but he was willing to leave that island.
As much as he loved being close to his parents and friends on the island, Jay wanted to see the world. That was his greatest wish ever since he was trapped in that city for years...
After breakfast, they went to a small wooden boat. The boat was capable of supporting the 4 of them—Lucas, his father, Jay, and his father.
They had already prepared the fishing rods and also the bait.
"Dad, why are we going by boat? Can't we fish from the island itself? I've always had that question," Jay asked.
Octavio messed up Jay's hair with a pat on the head. "We could fish from the island, son, but because of the waves, the fish aren't as plentiful. That's why it's best to go by boat a little further out."
Jay looked at the vast blue sea and was amazed. Every time he looked at the sea, he felt that way.
It brought him such a good feeling. A sense of freedom he couldn't feel while in those mines.
At first, Jay felt a little nauseous. It was the first time he had been on a boat. Since it was a small boat too, that made the moment even more challenging for him.
Both Octavio and Lucas' father were already very used to it. However, Lucas and Jay had to gradually get used to it.
They didn't go that far from the island. They only sailed for a few meters, about 50 meters or even less. Jay wasn't sure.
"Let's stop right here," Octavio said. "I think this is a great spot for fishing. Son, come here, I'll teach you how it's done."
Jay had read about fishing, but it was the first time he was doing it. When Jay was born, people were already confined to the cities, so he had never enjoyed the world.
Octavio handed him a small fishing rod and showed him how it worked.
"This is the hook. The fish will bite and get stuck. At that moment, you're going to pull," Octavio said. "The secret is to feel the vibration to know the right time to pull. If you pull and the fish isn't fully hooked yet, well, it will escape."
It wasn't that hard for Jay to learn how to fish. It was pretty simple, actually.
He put the bait on the hook the way his father had taught him, and then swung the fishing rod and threw the hook as far away from the boat as he could.
Jay sat down on a wooden chair on the edge of the boat and waited for the right moment to pull the fish. A few times he felt a vibration and a movement of the fishing rod, but he pulled it the wrong way, missing the opportunity to catch any fish.
Lucas, who was next to him, had already caught 1 fish while Jay hadn't caught any.
"I'm winning the bet for now, huh," Lucas said.
That made Jay a little more nervous, but he remained focused.
'I'm going to catch it... Focus...'
That's when Jay felt the tug on the hook and pulled the rod masterfully, at the right time. The fish wasn't very big. It was about 15 to 20 cm, but it was already an achievement for Jay.
His father was very happy. "Good job, son!"
Jay was also happy with that, but something else caught his attention. A strange message appeared to him.
[Legendary Fishing System Unlocked]
[Stats Unlocked]
[Levels Unlocked]
[Fish Exchange Shop Unlocked]
[Other features are currently locked]
He couldn't quite understand what had happened, but he was very excited!