The adventurer arrived at a riverside village named Larkhollow. It was a lively place filled with the sounds of running water, laughter, and music in the air. Wooden bridges crossed the sparkling river, and colorful paper lanterns swayed in the breeze. The people were busy preparing for something joyful.
It was the Festival of Nets, a yearly celebration to honor the river that gave life to the village. Stalls were being set up, children painted each other's faces, and the smell of grilled fish and sweet dumplings floated in the wind.
As the adventurer strolled along the riverbank, taking in the peaceful atmosphere, a loud voice called out to him.
"Hey there, stranger! You look like you've got strong arms. Join our fishing tournament!"
He blinked. "Fishing tournament?"
A woman with a big sunhat grinned and handed him a wooden fishing rod. "Yes! Whoever catches the biggest fish by sunset wins a golden river badge and a giant roasted fish!"
He stared at the rod in confusion. "I've… never fished before."
"Perfect!" she laughed. "That means the river might bless you."
Before he knew it, he was standing by the riverside with a group of villagers, all ready with their rods and nets. A whistle blew, and the contest began.
The adventurer held the rod awkwardly. He didn't know how far to throw the line or how to wait. He tried copying others, but his line barely made it into the water. Birds chirped nearby, and a frog stared at him from a rock like it knew more about fishing than he did.
He sighed. "Maybe the fish don't like beginners."
Just then, he felt a sharp tug.
"Huh?"
The rod bent almost in half. He held on tightly, his feet sliding in the mud.
"Whoa! I think I caught something!" he shouted.
People turned to look as he struggled with the line. It felt like pulling a stone from the bottom of the sea.
"Don't let go!" a boy cheered.
"Pull! Pull!" others yelled.
With one final heave, the adventurer fell backward onto the grass as something huge splashed out of the water.
A massive silver fish flopped onto the riverbank. It was bigger than a chair and looked both confused and angry.
The crowd went silent.
Then someone burst out laughing.
"That's the River King! He caught the River King!"
"Beginner's luck!"
The adventurer sat up, panting. "Is it always this crazy?"
They cheered and lifted him up like a hero.
"You win the tournament!" the sunhat woman said, handing him a shiny golden badge. "And a roasted feast too!"
He smiled awkwardly. "I didn't even know how to hold the rod."
"That's the spirit of the river," someone said. "She teaches when you try."
As the festival continued into the evening, the square filled with music and dancing. Children sang songs, elders told old tales, and families shared food under lantern light.
While walking through the market stalls, the adventurer noticed a man sitting alone on a mat. He wore ragged clothes and held a wooden sign that read: Blind. Hungry. Please help.
The adventurer walked closer and knelt. "Are you alright?"
The man nodded slowly. "Bless you, kind soul. I cannot see, but I can feel kindness."
He placed a piece of the cooked fish beside the man's bowl. But something felt… strange.
The beggar's eyes moved toward the food, just slightly, before his hand did. The adventurer's eyes narrowed.
He sat beside him. "You saw that, didn't you?"
The man froze. "What?"
"I've seen truly blind people before. Their eyes don't follow what they can't see."
The man hesitated, then sighed. "You're right… I can see. I only pretended. People give more when they think you're worse off."
The adventurer didn't look angry. He looked thoughtful.
"Lying about pain doesn't make yours go away. It just hides the truth of someone who really needs help."
The man looked down, ashamed. "I didn't know what else to do…"
"You don't have to be blind to be seen," the adventurer said softly. "People help not just because of suffering, but because of honesty."
The beggar nodded. "Thank you. I won't lie again."
The adventurer stood and walked back to the village square, where laughter was still echoing. A group of dancers pulled him in, spinning around a bonfire. For the first time in a while, he laughed freely.
An old man beside the fire leaned over and said, "You're a strange one, traveler. You've got no name, yet you leave stories behind."
The adventurer looked up at the stars and remembered the song of the mermaid that once saved him.
A song that wandered with the wind.
A song that said:
"Even the lost will find their way… if someone remembers their name."
He smiled, holding the golden badge in his hand. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but tonight… he was happy.
And sometimes, happiness was the best kind of memory.