20 Got any Paws? Go fish (2/2)

The lynx growled unhappily for a moment and walked into the water. (Wasting time and good fish by having me do it.) Kenneth watched as the drenched lynx used its paws to push fish onto land before returning. (There, I caught the fish.)

Ken picked up the fish and looked at it.

[Deformed cursed fish- An inedible dead fish that tastes incredibly rotten. Consumption will cause sickness.]

(I see what you mean by the fish tasting funny.)

(Yeah, now learn my skill. You promised.)

Kenneth lifted the book and paused. (How do you know this will work?)

The cat tilted its head in confusion. (Why wouldn't it work? You only need paws right?)

The youth hesitated at Lux's strange confidence. He tried learning the skill.

[You cannot learn this skill. You do not possess the required body parts.]

Kenneth sighed thinking it was dumb to try and learn a skill he obviously couldn't. (See, I can't learn it. I tried but I don't have any paws).

Lux growled slightly. (It's because you haven't tried hard enough.)

He lifted the book again. Lux's words made him curious. ”I didn't try hard enough to learn it?” He opened it up and tried to learn it once again. [You cannot learn this skill; you do not possess the required body parts.]

Kenneth focused and tried again thinking that he wanted to learn the skill.

[Intent from both you and your pet have been acknowledged, a resonance has occurred between you and your pet. Lux's pet skill Resonance has awakened and is being activated.]

[Due to the resonance, you have learned Lux's Paw fishing skill.]

[Resonance Gift has been influenced by the cursed nature of your pet. A cursed effect has been added to Resonance Gift.]

Kenneth felt funny as the book vanished into particles. The knowledge of how Lux used his paws to fish entered his mind. He looked down to see his lack of hands. They were now large fluffy lynx paws. Confused, he scanned the rest of himself. ”It looks like it is just my hands.”

(Got any paws now, Ken? Go fish! Catch us some tasty ones!) Lux gave a pleased growl.

Kenneth started wading in the water and swiping to push fish onto the land. (I need two for my quest then the rest are yours. When we get rid of your curses, you will be doing the fishing since you love it so much.)

(Deal!)

(This is harder then he makes it look.) He muttered as he looked up the exact information regarding the cursed resonance.

[Cursed Skills effect on the current resonance gift (Forepaws): The transformation will last for a minimum of 1 hour and cannot be ended early.]

”No wonder the cat was so confident I could learn paw fishing. I didn't realize Resonance could have such a powerful effect. The skill is actually quite neat. Gaining his stronger senses while we hunt would be very useful. Though, the cursed part isn't fun and at least Princess isn't seeing me like this. It would ruin the hard work I have put into looking cool in front of her.” Ken muttered. The handless hunter swiped his temporary paws in the water at the fish for 50 minutes. He succeeded in catching the two fish he needed for his part of the quest and another two for Lux to enjoy.

[Paw fishing had leveled up to 2/10 beginner]

He walked back on shore to look at the fish he caught. (Now how do I get them in the bucket and carry them back? I've still got eight minutes left with these wet fluffy things.)

(Stop retracting your claws. You will have better grip that way.) The lynx explained.

The hunter extended his claws and placed the fish in the bucket.

(Aren't paws great? They are very useful for catching fish!)

Kenneth sighed. ”I really need to find a way to remove his curses.”

***

One hour and ten minutes from the time they started fishing, Ken ran to the meeting spot. ”I made it.” He breathed heavily.

”Great! How many fish did your pet help you catch?” Princess asked.

”I caught two fish. Lux is cursed and the fish he caught were… not able to be eaten.”

Jericho nodded. ”Then that makes nine. Let's go turn in our quest.”

The three returned to the wood elf. ”Greetings sir.” Jericho started.

”You are back already?” He asked. ”Have you caught six fish?”

”We caught nine!” Princess exclaimed handing over the fish she caught.

The other two gave their fishes as well.

”Good job you three. You are forgiven for taking my grilled fish earlier. Come, sit.” He motioned around his grill.

The three did so.

The old elf rapidly cleaned, gutted, prepped and grilled the fish. He handed each of them two cooked ones. ”Enjoy!”

[You have completed the quest Go Fish. You have obtained 50Exp, you have obtained the hidden reward grilled fish*2. Because you brought extra fish, you have gained an additional 25Exp. You have gained a token to enter the wood elf village.]

”Now then, I have a favor to ask such reliable youth such as you. Will you bring this special box to town for me? My daughter Cirith would greatly appreciate it.”

[Quest, Delivery to the Town: Lillith's grandfather wants you to take a special box back to the village and give it to his daughter. Accept? Completion rewards: Complete access to the elf village. 100Exp.]

They accepted and journeyed towards the elven village once more.