The archery tests are split in two due to conflicting demands of fairness. The mundane test, in which enchanted weapons are forbidden, exists because the empire doesn’t want people to just ‘buy’ points by using weapons that do all the work for them since that would be unfair to those who can’t afford it. However, having no test that involves magic bows would unfairly limit squires and others with great strength as they require magic weapons to fully utilize and showcase their ability to hit far away targets. So, there are two tests, each scored separately, but with the understanding that only doing the magic test or performing much higher on it than the mundane might look bad.
The tests’ format is simple. Groups of twenty contestants choose their distance markers scattered throughout a field. On the far end illusionary targets hover in the air in a column. The bottom one remains stationary while each higher one will strafe side to side at greater speeds with the top moving nearly as fast as the projectiles trying to hit it. Each target is worth 1 to 10 points depending on how close to the centre you hit, times its place on the hierarchy of speed, and a final multiplier for distance of one per tenth of a mile. Each contestant has five minutes to get as many hits as possible. At the end, bonus points are added for accuracy that equals the total score times the hit ratio. Then once the hits are totalled up, everything is divided by 5 and added to the general exam points.
High points are possible in this test, which is why it starts out at negative 200, subtracted after the division. It also doesn’t have the hard limit of a thousand max points, but anything more than that (after subtractions) is divided by 5 again to prevent someone from auto passing the entire exam just from one test.
I start off with the mundane test. There are a few odd looks as I find my distance marker (a quarter mile) carrying a sling rather than a bow, but I ignore them and prepare my sack of bullets.
A whistle blows, the targets move and arrows are loosed. I’m allowed to use my guidance spell because it’s inherent to me rather than my weapon, but it nets me another negative 200 points out of fairness. So, the first thing I do is decide which target to cast it on. The top one is far too fast, since it’ll likely overcome the guidance effect. Even the slower ones are a problem since it’s hard to gauge when they’ll reverse course which might cause misses and cost me the accuracy bonus I’m counting on.
I go with target number three as being the fastest that isn’t too fast. I cast the spell and throw the lead. An illusionary image pops up beside me about ten seconds later informing me that my bullet landed directly in the centre for maximum points. Unfortunately, I have to wait to throw the next bullet until the previous one hits, but I waste no time when it does.
I continue like this for the full five minutes without issue other than fatigue from the repeated throwing. I regret not learning the more advanced versions of the spell now, since I wouldn’t need to wait between shots with the multi target, and the power shot would at least get me greater distance. However, I still managed to hit the target dead on 30 times for 2,250 points, doubled to 4,500 for perfect accuracy. Divided by five and subtracting the default and penalty results in 500 points– a very profitable effort.
I get a few glares from the others as there is something obviously up from my score, but I can’t afford to stay around to explain things to them as I need to run to reach my mark for the magic test in time.
Since I’m using my heavy crossbow for this, I go for the farthest distance allowed at three miles. I’m out of breath when I get there, but thankfully one of Alan’s servant’s is waiting for me with the weapon so I didn’t have to carry it the whole way. There’s a tower at the mark, which climbing after the three-mile sprint nearly defeats me. It’s annoying that I have to drain myself so much before the test even begins. But I suppose the elevation is necessary for most to be able to hit targets that would otherwise be obstructed by the horizon, and the short time between the tests is necessary with so many tested.
There’s a very tall and very muscular squire waiting for me when I get to the top.
“Hey,” I say, catching my breath.
“You almost didn’t make it,” he observes.
“Yeah… I guess it’s just the two of us this far out.”
He nods. “I don’t think anyone else went past the one-mile mark. There’s probably a couple who could have, but chose not to for the accuracy.”
“What about you? You aren’t worried about accuracy?” I ask.
He shrugs. “My strength is my best quality, even better than some knights. I figured the distance would compensate for my misses. Even if it doesn’t it’s better to showcase my best talents than just chase the most points… What about you? You’re using a crossbow? How many times will you even be able to shoot it?”
“Twice.” I answer immediately.
“… Huh. Well good luck. Hope you don’t lose points.”
The whistle blows and we get ready. It blows again and the squire loose arrows the moment the targets begin to move.
I of course just cast my spell, this time on the fifth target, since the distance, infrequency of shots, and the speed of the projectile all means I can safely choose a faster mark. My casting causes a side glance from the squire, but I ignore him in favour of watching the target moving back and forth, estimating how many times it’ll reverse course during the flight of the bolt. About one and a half, so I pull the lever right when it reverses, causing shuddering vibrations as the arms twang forward.
A moment of panic as I imagine everything going terribly wrong with the first of my two shots, but the bolt hits true, causing the illusionary message to inform me it was worth 1,500 points before the division.
“Holy shit, how’d you do that?” the squire asks, slowing his shooting foolishly.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Focus on your own score.” I snap as I pull out the magic pulley and attach it to the already retracting string.
He does as I suggest, though I notice he changes his target from the stationary one to one up which is moving at a slow walk. Foolish as he misses nearly every shot. I’m guessing he doesn’t want to be shown up by a mage in his specialty field, which makes me think even less of him.
Three minutes of intense winching later the crossbow is ready to shoot, which I do so and net another 1,500 points. Not having enough time left to reload I casually sit cross legged with the crossbow set next to me and wait for the test to end.
“You’re just giving up?” the squire sneers as he shoots.
I shrug. “I wouldn’t call it giving up. I achieved what I wanted, and I know I can’t reload it in time. So, there’s little point in trying.”
“It doesn’t matter if you know you won’t succeed. It’s still the path of a knight to give it your all.”
I sigh. “What is it with aspiring knights and me having to remind them that I’m a mage. You did see me cast the spell, right?”
“Knight or mage, you carry a knightly weapon, so you should act like one.”
I laugh. “This is a commoner’s weapon made to kill knights in the cheapest way possible. I can’t imagine a less knightly weapon.” He seems about to respond so I cut him off. “Shut up and shoot before I get accused of interfering with your score.”
He complies and looses several dozen more arrows before the time is up. When it is, it’s revealed that only 14% hit his target, which he moved to number three after the second exchange. Even still, he had a half dozen arrows in the air at any given time, even when he distracted himself, and 14% of that many shots is still 28 total hits. At this distance that translates to a very impressive 7,660 points before division and subtractions (his bow is powerful enough to give him -100). Which makes his final score for the round 1,010.4.
My own score of 6,000 is reduced to 700 after everything. Since, while I don’t get any penalty for my spell in this test, the extreme power and self cocking nature of the crossbow results in the same negative 200 points in addition to the default of negative 300.
The squire glowers over me as I go over the scores, still sitting. “This was a knightly test. You made a mockery of it, mage or no. If you shot a third time you might have gotten the high score for the year. Instead, you just sat there, content at your lesser victory while others gave it their all.”
I look at him unflinching, unintimidated by the fact he could kill me with his bare hands with nothing I could do about it at this distance. “If I shot a third time, certainly. But I’ve tried too many times to delude myself into thinking I could.”
“But you didn’t try here, with the weight of victory pushing you on. There’s strength in desperation, but you didn’t even try to harness it.”
I stand up suddenly to not be looked down on by the towering brute, though my head barely makes it past his waist. Surprisingly he steps back defensively, with a slight flush– my expression must be grimmer than I thought. “And what do you know about desperation? Sure, giving in to it can grant strength, sometimes, but it can just as easily cause weakness. Push on no matter what? Striving is inherently virtuous regardless of outcome? Don’t make me laugh. Now, I didn’t take this test to be lectured by a baby knight. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a pair of magic bolts to retrieve.”
I turn sharply and climb back down the tower. Awkwardly he goes down at the same time. I mean, of course he does, he has to get down too. It’s tempting to just jump down to get away from him, since I’m wearing my magic cloak and boots, but that would be rude. Not that I care about his feelings, but such a breach of etiquette would be suspicious.
When we do get down, I make to move off immediately, but he calls after me, “Wait!” causing me to snap towards him.
“You…” he starts but stops.
“I’m very busy,” I say, half turning.
“You spoke with surprising passion. I often say hurtful things that I don’t understand. So, it’s safer to assume I’m in the wrong. I’m sorry if my words caused you pain.”
“…They didn’t. You were just being annoying.” Is that a lie? Did being talked down to by an imperial noble about not making enough of an effort, not wanting victory enough, anger me? Maybe a little. After all, there was no amount of wanting victory that would have saved Caethlon.
“I’m sorry then. My twin sister calls me annoying too. She’s a mage like you. I suspect the two of you might get along. By way of apology, you may say that if you meet her. My name is Erik Hanhal, and she is Erika”
“I fail to see how an introduction to your sister is a good apology for your actions, but as the offense was slight, I will accept the intent. Now, pleased to meet you Erik Hanhal, my name is Malichi Monhal, and I really must be going.”
I leave, but he follows along. It seems that once again I neglected to account for him going in the same direction. Of course he is. After all, any arrow that can survive a bow like his is bound to be expensive enough to retrieve. Though I was hoping that with the quantity of arrows he shot he went with an option that would survive the initial acceleration, but not the impact.
He is so awkwardly silent as we rush to the retrieval area where everyone else is. We only have ten more minutes to grab our ammo before the next group arrives and start shooting at where we’re at. Not everyone bothers to retrieve their shots, but about a quarter of our group is still looking for their arrows when we arrive.
I quickly divine my bolts, which the illusion system that creates the targets causes to glow green when I pick them up to confirm they are mine.
Erik looks lost as he searches for his arrows among all the others pincushioning the ground behind the targets. He has about a half dozen, but that’s only a small fraction of those he shot. There will be a chance to retrieve them again at the end of the exam, but we were warned that more get permanently lost if you wait that long, and besides he might need them for the group fights.
“Hand one over.” I say, which he does without question, causing the arrows to change their glow from green to red. I do a quick divination with the pendulum which directs me to the closest. “Look in that area.” I point behind me so I won’t have to deal with him while looking.
When the time is up, he’s found five more of his arrows, and I’ve found three dozen. It’s only about a quarter of those he shot, but it should suffice for the group fights at least.
“Thanks,” he says as I hand him the bundle.
“Don’t mention it.” I glower. “It was just annoying how ineffective you were being.”
“Hey, do you have a nexus disk?” He pulls out a yellow hexagon from a pocket, breaking off a piece and offering it to me.
I sigh, seeing no reason to refuse the exchange and so break off a piece of my own.
“I have an extra piece of my sister’s disk too; would you like it?”
“…I think she would probably be annoyed by that; don’t you think?”
“Oh, yeah maybe, now that you say it. You two really do think alike.”
“I don’t see how you could infer that from what I’ve said. Most people would be annoyed if their nexus pieces were given to strangers.”
“Really? I wouldn’t.”
I examine him for signs of deception but find none. How strange it is to meet someone even more inept at social rules than me. At least I have an excuse, what’s his for being so… direct? There is probably a better word, but finding it would require thinking about him too long. “Just… keep it in mind, ok?” I say, walking away before he can say anything else annoying.
Contrary to his beliefs, I don’t expect his sister and I would get along. After all, if the brother is that annoying there’s no reason to expect the sister to be better. In fact, I’ll do whatever I can to avoid ever meeting Erika Hanhal.