The Northward Net Ceremony was a rite based on Ganudos legend.
A long, long time ago, there was once a fisherman captain. One winter’s day, he led his band of fishermen out to sea, but though they toiled all throughout the night, they failed to catch a single fish. Just as the despondent men had made it to shore, they suddenly ran into a visitor from afar. He told them to cast their net on the opposite side of their boat, toward the north.
The seasoned fisherman belittled the visitor and his advice, but the captain alone chose to cast the net northward. Immediately, fish swarmed into his net, so much so that the boat almost sank.
When the men returned their attention to the shore, the visitor was gone. Had he perhaps been a messenger from the Holy Deity? At least, that’s what the fishermen thought, and so they resolved to hold a festival to commemorate and thank the man for their big catch.
One mustn’t rely on their experience alone, but must be humble enough to accept the Holy Deity. Only then can skills and experience be put to full use... At least, that’s what those men concluded.
“I see. So this ceremony is based on that legend.”
“Yes... It’s to pray for big catches this winter...”
Mia and the others observed this ceremony from a corner of the port. Numerous boats floated in the Galilea Sea, and standing at the bow of the grandest among them was King Nestori Perla Ganudos.
“My father’s riding the fishing captain’s boat...”
“I see. It really is an excellent ship, though I do think it might be a tad too decorated for fishing.”
The size was roughly that of the Emerald Star. An impressive figurehead adorned the bow, making it seem a bit too grand for a fisherman’s boat. That sense was only amplified by the numerous real fishing boats floating beside it.
“They say that fishermen who participate in the ceremony reel in a lot of big catches in the winter, so boats all across the country have come to join...”
“So they want to be blessed with good fortune! What an interesting ceremony,” remarked Mia.
Meanwhile, the king had headed to the middle of the boat and grabbed his net.
“First, he drops it to the south...and then to the north...” explained Orania.
“Hmm? What’s that?” Suddenly, something strange caught Mia’s eye—a black shadow traversing the sea. At first, she thought it was just a trick of the light, but it wasn’t! The man leaping from boat to boat heading straight for the king was no illusion.
Boat one, boat two...
The man’s bandana fluttered in the sea breeze.
Boat three, boat four...
The man flexed his eye-catchingly tall frame like a whip. He appeared to be walking on water.
Boat five, boat six...
Still, this was the sea, and the boats swayed in its waves. The average guard could see him, but they were unable to react. They would never have expected an attack right here and now when the king was at his most vulnerable, this being a ceremony.
Boat seven, boat eight...
Jump! The man flexed his body and swung his curved blade with all his might!
“Prepare to die, King Nestori!”
The king turned toward the voice with a momentary expression of complete bewilderment, the blade flashing right before his eyes. Unable to dodge, the king stood completely still.
Watching this, Mia couldn’t help but mutter, “H-How frightening!” Her eyes were trained on the assassin about to strike with his crescent-shaped blade—or really, the person standing right behind him. “Just what would be scarier? Being rushed by an assassin, or having Dion run up from behind you...?”
There was no way the assassin had heard her musing, but he contorted his body sideways as if he had noticed a presence.
“Aha ha ha! So you did notice me.” There was another man swinging a sword, and it was Dion Alaia!
“You bastard! You’re the Great Sage’s—!”
The assassin barely managed to reposition his sword before Dion’s strike collided.
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