After finishing her meal, Fraia proceeded directly to the gates of the castle, still clad in her elegant white hunting attire, adorned with a cross-shaped iron sword, a short bow, and a quiver of arrows. Behind her stood two robust guards clad in half-armor. Fraia surveyed the woods surrounding the castle, contemplating her hunting destination. The forest adjacent to the estate was vast, with numerous areas known for producing special prey even in its periphery.

"Miss, where do you intend to hunt? Shall we prepare a carriage?" inquired one of the guards cautiously. Fraia shook her head gently. "No need. I'm just practicing nearby, seeing if I can catch anything."

Upon hearing Fraia's decision, both guards breathed a sigh of relief. In the past, Fraia would often boast about venturing deep into the forest to hunt formidable creatures, which was perilous given her reckless nature and their capabilities. However, this time, Fraia seemed more sensible, much to their relief.

Without paying heed to the guards' psychological state, Fraia proceeded directly along the path beside the castle and entered the woods. As she delved deeper into the lush forest, the towering trees became denser. Occasionally, Fraia caught glimpses of small figures darting swiftly through the nearby bushes.

Walking amidst the verdant foliage, Fraia's supple leather boots created a soft, rhythmic sound as they pressed against the thick, decaying leaves, emitting a gentle 'crackle.' After approximately ten minutes, one of the guards walked up to Fraia respectfully. "It's about time, Miss. We won't be able to protect you if we go further in."

"Alright, let's stay here," Fraia said, revealing a faint smile. The density of the surrounding trees indicated they had reached a certain point, and the once bright vista dimmed due to the canopy's obstruction. A cursory glance around revealed a pile of charred marks and bones nearby, suggesting prior human presence in the area.

With a composed demeanor, she unslung her short bow and retrieved an arrow, no effort visible as she drew the lightweight bowstring. Observing Fraia's adept movements, the two guards instinctively positioned themselves behind her, so as not to obstruct her line of sight.

In the tranquil afternoon forest, the maiden serenely surveyed her surroundings, seeking out its hidden secrets. Her cerulean eyes widened and contracted with the rhythm of her thoughts and gaze.

"I've heard Father once hunted deer here. I wonder if I'll be lucky enough," Fraia mused to herself, her gaze fixed on a distant tree.

A guard interjected, "Deer are rather scarce in the outskirts. Even Lord Baron encountered one only occasionally when it strayed from the herd. It's a rare occurrence."

"Such a pity. I had hoped to surprise Father!" Fraia exclaimed with a tinge of disappointment, her bowstring suddenly slackening.

'Swoosh!' A white blur shot out, embedding itself in a distant tree. "Squeak...," came the cries from the direction of the arrow, leaving the guards momentarily stunned.

"Let's go and see what I've hit!" Fraia declared calmly.

The guards, initially thinking Fraia was merely out for leisure after being confined to the castle for weeks, were surprised by her successful hunt. With a brief pause, one of them hurried over. "It's a rabbit!" the guard announced, holding up the gray rabbit with an arrow lodged in its leg.

"Not bad," Fraia commented nonchalantly, nodding at her achievement.

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Months of sword practice, including reflexes and insight, were reflected in Fraia's accurate shot. Proficiently withdrawing her iron sword from her waist, she swiftly dispatched the rabbit with the hilt and clapped her hands. "Let's continue."

The guards exchanged glances. Though Fraia's demeanor seemed unchanged, there was something peculiar about her, as if she had transformed subtly.

Amidst their perplexed thoughts, another arrow shot out.

'Swoosh!' 'Thud!'

Fraia smiled faintly, striding towards a nearby thicket. Opening it, they found a white snake pierced through its head by the white-feathered arrow, still writhing in its death throes.

"Miss, your archery skills are truly remarkable!" one of the guards exclaimed, pocketing the writhing snake.

"Hmm, not bad," Fraia replied calmly, drawing another arrow from her quiver.

The trio continued their hunt in the forest. While Fraia initially displayed a perfect hit rate, it gradually became a five-out-of-ten scenario due to her deliberate actions. After all, no one would believe that a noble girl, who had only practiced swordsmanship for half a month, could achieve such prowess.

Three hours later, the guards' pockets were filled with small animals Fraia had hunted. As the sun began to wane, casting shadows over the dense forest, Fraia scanned her surroundings with her short bow still in hand but found nothing more to shoot.

Nevertheless, seeing the filled pockets of the guards, Fraia smiled contentedly, stowing away her bow. "Let's call it a day and head back."

"Very well."

The trio retraced their steps back to the castle. Over the next half month, in addition to her daily reading and sword practice, Fraia added hunting to her routine. Her excellent archery skills soon spread throughout the castle, and nobody was surprised by the animals she brought back each day.

...In the dim forest, even the sunlight

was divided into patches, forming circular spots of light on the ground. The rustling sounds filled the air, as several deer quietly grazed on leaves, their ears perked up, alert to any disturbance. If even the slightest sound were to occur, it would likely startle them.

'Swoosh!'

In the serene forest, a white-feathered arrow suddenly shot out from a hidden thicket.

'Thud!'

The powerful arrow struck one of the deer's necks with precision, pinning it to a nearby tree. Its ruptured windpipe rendered the deer incapable of uttering even a whimper, only able to thrash weakly.

Seeing their companion fall suddenly, the other deer immediately fled. Soon, urgent footsteps emerged from the thicket.

A golden-haired maiden clad in brown hunting attire emerged from the bushes, wielding a short bow. Two burly middle-aged men followed behind her, dressed in similar half-body leather armor.

"Miss, you're getting more and more skilled," one of the guards praised as he skillfully dealt with the deer.

Fraia appeared to be in high spirits. "I never expected to find a deer here. Looks like we'll have an extra meal tonight."

Although it was still early, the deer was sizable, and with the addition of the other small game they had caught, it was likely they wouldn't be able to carry everything.

"Miss, shall we call it a day?" asked one of the guards standing beside Fraia, laden with their catch.

However, Fraia had no intention of leaving just yet. She reached for her nearly full quiver of arrows and said, "You two go back with the catch. I'll see if I can get something else."

"Very well."

Having followed Fraia for half a month, the guards understood her capabilities. There was no threat to her on the outskirts of the forest, so they departed with ease.

As she watched them leave with a smile, Fraia slung her short bow, drew an arrow, and surveyed her surroundings. Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, and in an instant, another arrow flew from her hand.

'Thud!'

The prey's pained cries echoed from afar. Compared to her concealed archery in front of the guards, Fraia's prowess at this moment would likely astonish anyone who witnessed it. This was the result of her relentless training over the past month.

As expected, a direct hit.

Fraia smiled as she retrieved her short bow, then drew the unused iron sword from her waist and slashed casually forward.

'Whoosh.' With a slight sound of air being cut, the wrist-thick branch in front of her slid down instantly, its surface smooth as glass.

The speed of her sword had gradually matched that of the Baron's. However, having witnessed the Baron's swordsmanship, Fraia knew that his style was power-oriented, with speed merely being an adjunct. Yet, as a knight-level powerhouse, the progress Fraia had made now rivaled his in a certain aspect.

"I am no longer weak," Fraia said with satisfaction as she sheathed her sword and walked toward the prey's direction.