Sky Fireflies and Fire

A warm breeze skimmed through the astral-waters gardens. Night had reached its peak, only water could be heard lapping. Inside the pond, moonlight washed over a young man whose brown hair and rich clothes spread evenly, free from gravity. He was the master of this place and many others. When his eyes opened, he directed them directly onto the stars that shone through the surface with many colors.

'Now let me see the road that shines the brightest.' He thought vibrantly.

'Let me see from up above where the light of fate is.' He activated the ancient divination technique and his mind suddenly leaped onto an endless road of stars. This time something was different, he knew at once. The experience was stronger than ever before. The connection happened in an instant. Shorter than a snap. But he saw. He felt, to be more accurate. Not so far there was a mountain, a stream, some rocks and a bit of grass. There fate awaited.

-'What about two copers for three ?'

-'Sorry Sir, I must stick to at least one copper by piece'

The bearded traveler sighted.

-'Goodbye then.'

-'Wait.'

Then it was Moss's turn to sight. The coppers felt light in his hand but the passer-by seemed to enjoy his apple while walking away. Well, that was nothing new. His back was aching badly.

'I need a good bath.' He thought.

He looked right and left. No one was to be seen on the road beside his last client. The sun would soon be declining.

'That's it for today.' He decided.

Other merchants seemed to have had the same idea as they also started packing away. Some would stay till dawn, he knew, but such politics were beyond his age.

'Bye Calvo. See you tomorrow' The fish-seller smiled back at him and wished him a good night.

'Bye Coal, bye Aska.' They waved their hands while preparing their carriage.

Moss had a carriage as well but it was small and man pulled. He pulled it on the big road for half an hour and finally arrived home.

He was sweaty by then but not drenched and still had his breath. This was no small feat for a man passed 65 summers. At least he thought.

His house was a shack made of small wood. It was nested in the green in front of a pretty mountain lake. It was usually green blue and turned golden at sunset. Not a bad place to live. Actually, he had wanted to live there since childhood and had made it come true. The place was now filled with memories.

First, he went to see his wife.

-'Hello dear. I have had some news from the kids today. It's our first son, he has a new child on the way. Let us hope that he will be strong and healthy. With him, our line is definitely safe. I am going to make a special meal for the occasion. Rest well.'

While walking back, he opened his son's letter. He could not read it but the characters were nice to look at.

'I wished I had learned to read in this life. I will have to wait for the next I guess...'

He folded it back.

-'Now let us catch some fish !'

He sorted his fruits and covered the good tightly to keep them safe from insects and mouses.

Then he grabbed his harpoon, a wooden shaft with multiple spikes on the head, placed it near the water and removed his clothes excepted for the small one. He stretched and warmed up for a bit.

'Hehe, old I may be, but still quick enough !'

He tried a few moves with his harpoon while looking at his shadow. The sixth nearly snapped his back.

'Oww! Man, when will I grow up ?!'

He got into the water waist deep and got still as a stone, not to scare the fish.

A big one would be great, he thought. Particularly those with the golden dorsal fin.

His sight was still good enough and the water was clear. He looked hard to try and identify some potential targets.

'Nah, not you, too skinny. Not you either, too young !'

He swam a bit further from the shore. The water was fresh but not too cold, his body quickly accommodated itself. The best fishing spot he knew was down a big rock that formed and advance into the lake. As he progressed towards it, he noticed that an unusual amount of fishes was swarming under him. Did that place ever had so much life? he wondered. All those fish had sparkling colors and the bigger were of size with his forearm. That was rare.

'Should I go somewhere else? If I swing my harpoon here I will get too much...'

For some reason, he kept going. As the crag came close, it seemed to him that its underwater vegetation grew way more dense than it had been last time. All of this started to freak him out so he found some holds on the rock and got out to find an elevated spot where he could squat and look from above.

-'What in the heavens is this ?!'

It was like every fish of the lake and even some from the sea had come to tag along down the rock. He leaned on the right side of the tip to look. There something caught his attention. A glow. Deep underwater but he could see it. All those fishes prevented him from seeing anything more but the light seemed to be what attracted them. He wondered if he had it in him to take a closer look... And soon made up his mind. He had never heard of anyone disappearing in such circumstances and was old anyway. His heart pounded hard in his chest, making him feel like a boy again.

'Ayaa !'

He dived headfirst.

Small things bumped all against his body as he passed through schools of fish. They quickly grew scarce before him and then he was trough. All fishes were held away from the center and formed a gigantic round wall from inside. There, a huge form emitted golden light, strong and warm but not blinding. Moss had nothing to cover his eyes so he could not see any details but it was already incredible. His lung had not begun to strain yet. He pushed himself farther down, closer and closer. Was it also a fish? It looked like it. A fish as big as a man, maybe even more. He felt no threat from it. On the contrary, he wanted to go nearer. A few fathoms and he got at an arm's length from it. The golden light washed on him generously and not only warmed up his skin, but also his mind. He felt happier and more at ease than he had been for a long time. That reminded him of when he took his wife in his arm or lifted his children when they were small.

He advanced his hand and felt a scaly soft skin under it. It was warm. When he touched it the glowing entity had a small twitch but soon resumed its slow movements without paying much more attention. A few seconds elapsed like that. Then he began to feel the urge for air and swam up. Nothing hindered his progression and soon out he was, taking a good long breath. Moss could not help but have a happy laugh while pulling himself on the crag again. Water dripped all over his face. He got to the same spot and sat to watch down in wonder, forgetting all about his dinner and his harpoon.

Suddenly, as if this everything was not surprising enough, someone spoke.

-'This creature is named "true heart soul water fish". An exceptionally rare kind.'

That startled Moss a bit. He quickly turned around and lifted his head. A young scholar stood where the voice had come from. The man whore sparkling white and black robes and an ample straw hat that housed long black hair and the most handsome face the old man had ever seen in his life. He was smiling brightly.

Moss was taken aback for a moment but finally came up with a few words.

-'M'lord, since when have you been there ?'

-'Not long. Please, I would prefer it if you called me scholar Wei. May I know your name ?'

Why? He thought. Why is such a fine person in such a lost place, describing events coming straight out of some fairy tales and asking for my name, me whose life is worth less than his handkerchief?

-'Moss, if it pleases m' lord... I mean your grace !'

That seemed to amuse the stranger a bit. Even from that far, Moss was shocked by how deep his gaze was. A black abyss, yet not hostile.

-'Scholar Wei will be just fine. A beautiful beast down there, is it not? Did you touch it ?'

-'Yes, scholar Wei. Should I had not ?'

-'I am glad you did. As its name suggests, the true heart soul water fish only appears in deserted places, or those exclusively populated by people whose heart and soul are pure. But this alone is not enough. Another required condition is the presence of greater fate, in whatever form it may take. Not many have gotten to see one from afar, let alone touch it.'

Moss was short of a reply. Now he dared do nothing else than stand and listen. As it soon got plain to see, the scholar spoke again.

-'I will not disturb you any longer, friend Moss. However, I would like to share words later. Shall I wait for you on this shore ?'

He pointed with his finger straight were the peasant had entered the lake.

-'Of course! My home is nearby from there, between the trees. Just let me get my harpoon.'

When he got it back, Moss wondered how he would regain the way to his house. Swimming would give a poor impression but he was not confident in climbing his way from the crag to the ground as he was wet. Moreover, the rock had nasty tips, shallow holds, and his body was not in its prime anymore.

The scholar seemed to read in his thoughts as instead of going, he crouched and extended his hand towards him.

-'Friend Moss, come up there. I will lend you a hand if you do not want to swim back.'

-'Al... Alright.'

And so he did. The young man was stronger than he looked, as he lifted Moss without showing the slightest hint of effort. Yet his hands were as soft as that of a maiden. They silently walked back together.

The inside of the shack was not fancy but it was neat and tidy.

-'Shall I make some water boil, master Wei ?' Moss asked.

-'With pleasure.'

After Moss dried himself, put some clothes on and served them water, they finally settled in front of each other. For a moment no one spoke. Moss was afraid to make a blunder so he waited for his guest's pleasure. Although the man smiled, he stood there for a long time cup in hand, looking at nothing. He seemed deep in thoughts, and by instants, like a benevolent lord would do watching his lands and people. Finally, he raised his eyes and crossed his.

-'Right.'

Moss unease was palpable.

-'You seem tense. Rest assured, I mean you no harm. To be frank I have a request for you. It is also a proposition.'

-'May I know what it is, master Wei ?'

-'I would like you to step onto the path of cultivation.'