It was the starriest night anyone in the village could remember. The moon, Kushtahva, was large and bright in the sky. The Weyestamos was a brilliant, awesome sight, filling the night sky with the amazing bright orange band of thousands and thousands of stars. It was on this night, then, that the most important person in the history of not just the village, the planet, and even the galaxy, but of the entire Empire, was born to Tanno and Filia Sorosom. He was born at 19:53 Dalton Standard Time. He was named Weyhl, meaning “Blessed by the Stars,” in honor of the Weyestamos.

Weyhl was three according to the village (but five according to Dalton) when Tanno taught him how to fish. As they walked down the wooden walkways in the cliff toward the shore, Tanno talked to his son about how important this day was.

“Remember, Weyhl: Fishing is your life. It is the life of the village. If we couldn’t fish, then we would quickly starve to death. After all, the plants around here aren’t what I would call good to eat.”

Weyhl looked up at his father. He smiled in his own unique way at him. A lot about Weyhl was unique, but his smile was the most. It seemed to emit joy, as smiles do, but it also seemed to hide something behind it. Tanno had yet to figure out what was behind the smile.

“How many fish will we catch?” Weyhl asked.

“I don’t know. It depends on the fish.”

“Why?”

“Because if the fish aren’t there, then we can’t catch them.”

“Oh. Well, okay. We’ll catch lots then.”

Tanno laughed.

Soon the two were in the familiar small boat that most men of the village owned. Other men were heading out to fish. Quickly Tanno called out to them. “Could Weyhl and I get the spot by the island today?”

The others would have refused such a request, for the island was the best spot, but as Tanno was doubtlessly going to teach little Weyhl to fish, they relented. For today only, however.

The little boat crept closer to the island, but Tanno stopped it twenty feet away. Weyhl looked slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t get to play on the island, but Tanno promised that when they rested they would land there.

But for now there was some serious fishing to be done. Quickly Tanno picked up the fragile reed net and showed it to Weyhl. “Now look closely. Grip it here, like this, with your right hand. Now, you grip this part here with your left. Then throw it into the water like this-” Tanno threw the net into the water and quickly pulled it out. “-And pull it out like that. You don’t want to many fish, or you’ll sink the boat. It’s best just to get a few at a time. Now I’ll do it again a few more times and then you can try.”

“Okay.” Weyhl answered, not entirely sure if he was more interested in learning or daydreaming about the island.

Tanno threw it in twice. The second time he caught two fish. Immediately Tanno saw he had captured Weyhl’s interest. “I wanna try.” Weyhl said, focusing his eyes on the net.

His father handed it over and was about to go through the steps with his son when Weyhl threw it into the water and pulled it out, visibly angered that he had not caught anything. “Weyhl! You didn’t what I said! Now just do what I tell you.”

Weyhl cast a quick glance at the two fish, gasping and flopping around the boat for their lives. He then turned his attention back to his father. “Tell me.”

Tanno was momentarily put off by this. Weyhl had given him what sounded like a command to him!

“Don’t take that tone with me.” Tanno replied. Weyhl stared at him.

“I want to fish.”

“I told you not to take the tone, young man.”

“And I want to fish.”

“You’re not going to fish until you stop talking like you are now.”

“Okay. Could you please tell me how to fish?”

Weyhl’s tone had changed immediately, and now he seemed obsequious. Tanno demonstrated once more how to use the net properly before giving it back to his son.

“You’re holding it wrong. Grip here, not there.”

“Okay.”

Weyhl cast the net into the water and soon pulled it out. It was empty, and Weyhl seemed troubled. “Good.” Tanno commented. He saw his son’s expression. “Don’t worry, it’s just your first try. You’ll catch some soon enough.”

“I will?”

“Yes.”

Weyhl threw the net back into the water. He pulled it out again and looked back at Tanno’s two fish. Both were dead. Weyhl gave a shrug of what appeared to be disappointment that the fish had not lasted longer. He turned back to the water and once more cast his net in.

Several tries later he finally caught a large fish and hauled it up to the small boat. The fish flopped wildly. Tanno congratulated Weyhl for his first catch, but his son wasn’t listening. He was staring at the fish as it struggled for its very life. And then what Tanno saw unnerved him.

Weyhl had a smile on his face. A hideous, bestial smile, a savage and evil one. The child seemed to experience euphoria at watching the fish suffer. His eyes were cruel and dominating, his breath heavy and panting. He then placed his hand around the fish, over the gills, and squeezed. The fish struggled desperately for its life, every ounce of its being radiating fear and pain.

Tanno smacked the fish out of Weyhl’s hands. It splashed loudly into the water. Weyhl turned to look at him, and had an expression of pure, monstrous, disturbing rage on his face. But only for a moment. Instantly the face changed, and he looked simply mildly surprised at the whole situation.

“Weyhl, we do not do that. We respect the fish. The fish are what keeps us alive. They die, but we don’t hurt them like that.”

“I’m sorry.” The child said, and Weyhl looked as though he were about to cry.

Tanno’s heart softened. “Don’t be. You’re young and curious. You’re bound to make mistakes. Now, let’s rest for a bit on the island. All right?”

“Yes.” Weyhl said, starting to cheer up.

As Tanno steered the small boat toward the island, Weyhl looked into the water. He smirked.