Ed came to the lake again, but this time it was very different from the last time.
This time he wasn't alone; most of the women in the village and some of the older children came.
Few men come, as the territory is currently severely undermanned.
Adelaide and her butler Marcus were also by the lake. Although the butler had warned of a monster in the lake, he still stood next to Ed when they actually arrived. Most people stood far back, with only a few brave ones standing in front.
Adelaide was very excited; she had been organizing everyone in the village to weave fishing nets and make fish traps for the past few days. They made many, big and small, and now it was harvest time.
She hoped the fishing gear would catch plenty of fish, just like the last hunt, and also catch many rabbits. That way, the villagers in the territory wouldn't go hungry.
Because some things she had seen in the village these past few days kept flashing through her mind:
The children stared longingly at the thin porridge in the pot, which contained countless grains of oatmeal.
The woman broke the black bread into three pieces, and the crumbs fell on the table. She immediately dipped her fingers in saliva and picked them up one by one to eat.
So she was full of anticipation for this fishing trip, and also for Ed. She now believed that Ed was everyone's savior.
"Adelaide, how are the preparations going? Have the fishing nets been soaked in oil? And have you brought the game's entrails?" Ed's question interrupted Adelaide's thoughts.
"Yes, Master, everything is ready." Adelaide pointed to the oxcart behind her, looking at Ed with confidence.
Ed nodded to Adelaide with satisfaction. Soaking the fishing nets in oil was to prevent decay and extend their lifespan. The animal entrails were placed in the fish traps to lure fish.
Ed glanced at the villagers behind him, then walked straight to the lake. The emerald green water was beautiful. Looking into the distance, the vast lake surface was completely still.
The lake was so large that even Marcus didn't know its exact size, and no one had ever explored it. Ed believed there were large fish in such a vast lake, but he didn't believe there were monsters.
Ed turned around and said to the crowd, "There are no monsters in Graycastle, only things that we don't know. We are always filled with fear of the unknown, and the way to overcome fear is to face it. Who dares to come aboard with me to set the net?"
Ed longed to hear, "This humble servant is willing to go."
But reality is harsh; aside from those who were already at the front, those behind look at each other, still hesitant to move forward.
Ed had no choice but to go first, hoping the others would feel better once he returned safely.
"Marcus, Adelaide, let's go to the lake and set a net." With that, Ed walked toward the small boat moored by the lake.
Butler Marcus and Adelaide quickly grabbed the fishing nets and followed.
Others who were bolder saw that the lord had already boarded the ship, and they followed suit, taking fishing nets or large fish traps.
Among all the fish traps, one stood out conspicuously. It was enormous and looked very sturdy; it required several boats to lower it into the lake. It was a trap Ed had prepared specifically to capture the monsters in the lake.
The group saw that the lord was slowly walking towards the lake, and no monsters jumped out of the lake to drag them into the water.
The older children couldn't contain themselves any longer; children are naturally full of curiosity. The women had no choice but to follow the children to the lakeside.
The clear lake water is not scary; it nourishes the land just like the stream beside the village. What is truly frightening is ignorance.
With Ed leading the way, everything went smoothly from there. Boats set out to place fishing nets and large fish traps in the lake. Smaller traps were placed on the shore, a task that most women could easily manage.
Ed didn't spread the fishing net very far; the current boat wasn't up to the task, and going too far might be dangerous.
Ed stood by the lake, watching the people bustling about in the water. His thoughts drifted away; he seemed to hear someone reading aloud:
"The Yuan River has angelica, and the Li River has orchids."
...
"Yes, from now on, this lake will be called 'Melodious Lake'."