Chapter 4: It's a Skill From Old Memories
Elfina knew a talented Elf when she saw one, just like the talented Alrunor that could shoot perfect marks continuously. Unfortunately Alrunor chose to become a warrior instead of enhancing his skills in Archery. Even she despised those who lack interest in bow and arrows, she didn’t feel hate towards Alrunor. Not because she loves him, but because Alrunor was doing his best to learn something he knew is impossible for an elf like him.
Since that, she admired and respected every talented ones she met who strive to learn, but never towards the persistent Red Elf. He was cunning and knew nothing about respect. She really hated the Red Elf, especially he was doing what Alrunor could do. In just a short time, he abled to nearly complete her trial.
‘No, I know he wouldn’t be able to finish this. He’s just lucky, and he only got three yet.’
When the fourth arrow struck the same spot, she was completely speechless and her mind went blank. She hated to admit it, but the Red Elf has a talent in aiming. She mastered her bow for two weeks which was really a fast development. But the Red Elf was different; he only took three hours.
Jealoused and frustrated, Elfina wished his downfall.
Then she examined the round target. Her hope for the Red Elf’s failure had come to materialize.
‘There’s no way he can do it now.’
Even with the sticky situation the Red Elf was in, the Red Elf readied his bow and arrow. The stance he did was firmer and soldier than his previous attempts. The strength he used in pulling the string was greater too.
‘Huh? That’s...’
For some reason, Elfina remembered something from the Red Elf’s stance. It was the stance she would never be able to see anymore; a replica of Alrunor’s stance. She felt nostalgia as she saw it, even more when the clouds covered the sunlight. As the clouds already passed by, the light focused on and illuminated his red hair. It was the same scene back when Elfina was watching Alrunor’s training.
The audience around were dead silent--the only noise were voices of all users and npcs outside the training ground. They became really worried when they realised the situation.
‘That’s impossible… There’s no way he can succeed.’
‘Just apologize to the trainer. She might forgive you and let you learn her skill.’
Although the Red Elf knew his mistake and it was impossible, he still stayed. He was still aiming, searching for a hole in his problem. There’s a solution if you tried to find one.
‘Just give up!’ It was the wish of all the present audience.
And their wish was completely granted. The Red Elf changed the direction of his aim, then released his arrow. It was a completely different direction, going to the right side, higher than his previous shots.
‘He really gave up.’
Even the audience wished his realization about the reality, they still felt empty because the protagonist of the show gave up.
But then, while it still travelling across the river, the arrow curved. It was an unbelievable sight, even Elfina was surprised.
The wind was too strong that its direction changed!
Riding on the violent wind, the arrow slid on an invisible slide, heading to its new destination. It’s heading to the red mark!
The time slowed down. Their eyes magnified every details of the travelling arrow. It passed through the floating leaves, and even pierced through some along the way. The arrow continued to do so, until it landed.
The time that slowed down had completely stopped. Looking at the target from their position, it was understandable that there wasn’t any space left. However if you planned to shoot at another direction, then you’d see the side has still space, but smaller. It still enough though, considering the newly landed fifth arrow.
“He-He-He did it.”
“So cool!”
“He used the wind to get the last shot!”
“How’s that possible…?”
“It’s a freaking magic shot!”
Everyone were cheering. It was an historical event for players. The first user who won a challenge from a Npc Trainer! They couldn’t help but feel proud they were there to witness it.
While they were boasting the Red Elf’s success, Elfina’s childhood memories with Alrunor transitioned to her one by one, as her tears flowed down on her cheeks like the gentle river. She really missed Alrunor, and even more when the Red Elf did the Alrunor’s stance. The only difference was Alrunor’s arrow struck through the stucked arrow.
The two months that Alrunor was gone, felt like two years for her. Thinking about him really made her want to cry. She already told herself she won’t cry so Alrunor wouldn’t worry about her, but--
‘Alrunor…’ The tears wouldn’t end.
Some users that see Elfina crying had their faces turned red.
‘I didn’t know the trainer is a crybaby.’
‘She couldn’t accept she lost. Isn’t that adorable?’
‘Seeing this side of her is a rare sight. She’s really cute.’
The Elfina fans club united! They all fell in love to her beauty ever since they’d set their foot in her training ground. Blonde, cute, and sexy. No one couldn’t resist her beauty. But since she didn’t show any emotions other than disappointment and worrying, the crying Elfina was a real eye-catching! They fell in love to her again.
““We should do that challenge!””
They tried to annoy her to receive the same trial, but Elfina was in her own world.
+++
Challenge Completed
You’ve learned a new skill.
New skill: Archery
Skill Name:Skill Level:Skill Experience:ArcheryNovice 100%By completing the trial of an Archer Trainer, you've managed to learn this skill.
+10% damage using bow and arrows
Achievement Unlocked: “Five Bulls-eye while Training.”
Your Fame increased by 10
You are the first player who finished an achievement in Carus Karn: Archer Training Ground.
Your Fame increased by 10.
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Many messages emerged from nothingness when Preach completed the trial.
‘Ha-Ha! I’m the man! Anyone couldn’t do that! Only me! None other than me!’
Even with the praises in his head, his face was showing the opposite. He was totally surprise he actually succeed!
Let’s go back when he was in a pinch.
When he saw an old target practice, far away from the round target he was using, Preach bet his last shot and aimed towards it. It was reasonable choice, since it’s still a round target, and the challenge didn’t say to only use the same one.
But then the wind caught his arrow.
‘NOOOOOOOO!’ He thought it was game over as he watched his arrow swept away by the bully wind! He was crying inside while his face was blank. But at the end it actually helped him succeed. In other words, it was a miraculous lucky shot.
However he didn’t want to admit it. He kept telling himself he’s an awesome guy, until--
Because of the unbelievable event, your Luck increased by 1
‘It’s not luck! It’s my skill!’
A complete denial!
Even his last arrow was purely luck, it still didn’t change the fact that his previous attempts happened because of his skillful aiming.
This leaves him as one of the talented Marksman of Ageia.
However Preach really couldn’t call it a talent, but a skill he developed to escaped his greatest childhood foes, the adults.
“It’s been awhile since I did this, huh…”
Preach remembered his days in the slum. He was powerless as a child against the adults. He had no choice but to concede. The only solution he came up to was to create something he could use against them.
Slingshot.
The cavemen in the age of stone used weapons to defeat the ferocious beasts. Just like them, instead of using punches and kicks to fight, Preach used a slingshot. But having a weapon didn’t mean you are invincible. A person needed to train to utilize a weapon’s function properly, so Preach had no other option but to become a master in marksmanship.
“It took me a while, but now I’m familiar with it again.”
Since it was a long time ago, he had to return his familiarity with a long range weapon. But a slingshot and a bow are completely different. It’s easier to aim using a slingshot compare to a bow, because it’s smaller and he could tilt his head to properly aim. That’s why he took his time.
“Now he has the archery skill, he’s going to hunt monsters, so let’s invite him.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. His curve shot would be able to help us a lot.”
Blinded with Preach’s lucky shot, the users wanted to invite him. They were users waiting for their level one acquaintance. They watched Preach from the start till the end, so they admired and envied him. Inviting a skilled player could strengthen their party.
‘Now for the second phase.’
Preach counted his arrows; only three left. Before he could advance in his plan, he had to recharge his ammonation.
“Hey, do you want to join us?”
“Let’s hunt together.”
“Handsome, please join us. We need someone skillful like you.”
Invitations flooded but Preach didn’t accept anything. Even compliments showered down to him like a rain in the middle of a desert, he didn’t give a single care.
“What’s up with him? He’s too arrogant.”
“Don’t tell me he thinks he’s really good just because of that small achievement? Level up first, noob.”
“Goddamn, he’s too windy.”
(Author’s note: too windy(Napakahangin mo) is an idiom in Filipino, means arrogant. I had a hard time converting this to english, even considering to use “Too Airy.” It really sounds bad. XD)
Ignoring them brought many insults to Preach. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to accept their offer, it just that he already had something to do.
“Okay, let’s triple the amount.”
He took two bulks of arrows when he started the challenge. The amount wasn’t enough to last for three hours, so he took six bulks!
“Why is he carrying a lot?”
“Not sure… Can he hunt like that?”
All the insults turned into questions. They couldn’t catch up with Preach’s way of thinking.
Preach went back to his position and brought down the arrows. Then he went to Elfina who finally settled down from her crying.
“Hey, now that I won, you can do anything I ask, right?”
The Elfina fans club paled and flustered from his question.
“Don’t tell me…”
“No way... I didn’t hear they have that kind of agreement.”
“That bastard…!”
Hostility level rose around as their dirty minds played. Even Elfina was surprised.
“I didn’t say anything like--”
“A trainer shouldn’t waste my time. Right?”
Glaring Preach made more enemies. Because of the attitude he showed, they couldn’t contain their hostility. They wanted to kill him instantly, but their alignment would become red or criminal.
Elfina tried to be calm, but Preach’s appearance was really doubtful.
‘As I expected, he’s not an elf but a demon.’
She took a deep breath and nod.
“What do you want me to do? If I can help you, then I’ll be glad to do so.” She said sarcastically, still doubting the Red Elf Preach.
Everyone were looking at Preach. They were expecting something they imagined he would ask.
“Order the wind spirits to take all of the arrows in the round target, and I want them to clean up every time I shoot too.”
After Preach conveyed what he wanted, he went back to his position. Elfina and the users were flabbergasted.
“Wa-Wait… Y-You mean just that?”
“Don’t waste my time! Every second counts!”
Preach was really a big mystery for them. The first time he entered the training ground, he said he had no time to waste. But he was still planning to shoot arrows.
“He’s weird…”
“It’s understandable if he already went out of the town, but he’s still here.”
The Elfina fans club had their own right answer.
““He’s using this event to bring up his intimacy with the Trainer!””
Elfina is a lady who likes men that strives for knowledge in skill--which is why she really likes Alrunor. She always been disappointed to all of the users because they are not taking Archery seriously.
Bad first impression → A challenge → Defeat → Showing good points
A typical route in a japanese dating sims and light novels!
The hostilities they had towards Preach became respects.
““We are blind but you open our eyes!””
Preach, however, didn’t really plan something like that. He didn’t have any care about the trainers or intimacy with npcs. Especially the goddamn warrior trainer!
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