The morning mist hung low, shrouding the lake.
It was late autumn, and the endless reed beds had long since shed their lush summer green, leaving only a dull, withered yellow.
A breeze swept past, and the reeds rubbed against one another with a dry, desolate rustle.
Moisture gathered into droplets on the bare branches. Unable to bear their weight, the droplets fell and sent ripples across the dark green surface of the lake.
Chirp, chirp—
A brief chirping call broke the silence. A gray-brown shadow darted out from the concealed reeds, its beating wings scattering a few drops of water.
At a crude dock deep in the reeds, an oddly shaped little boat was moored.
It was wider than an ordinary fishing boat, yet its hull sat very low in the water. It had almost no keel, and its flat bottom looked as though it had been carved away by immense force.
It had been designed to navigate swamps and shallows with ease. Its shallow draft meant the bottom of the boat barely kissed the water.
At that moment, Hom was deftly untying the mooring rope.
Once the knot came loose, he turned and called, "All right, honored adventurers. Please get aboard first. I'll pole us along from the back."
Bruce cautiously placed a paw on the deck, and only after confirming it was sturdy enough did he hop aboard. He settled near the bow, nose pointed toward the mist ahead as he sniffed nonstop.
Once He Xi and the others were seated, Hom picked up a long pole from the shore and climbed aboard.
No one knew what kind of wood the pole was made of, but it had been rubbed smooth and glossy with use. It was clearly quite old.
Interestingly, a strange-looking object was tied to