Page 21 of In Between Darkness
If I take combat and taming, I’m for sure signing my own death warrant.
I smile proudly and reply. “Thank you, sir. I will definitely think about it.”
The vision in my left eye is still kind of blurry. It has swelled a little, but not enough to warrant a visit to the healing quarters. I head on to the next activity. Archery. The great mass of ourgroup has definitely shed a few pounds, with so many now being tended to by Miss Aloe and the other healers. Heading to Archery, I walk past a familiar face standing at the knife-throwing section. River. Is there anything that boy doesn’t do? He smiles and winks in my direction, making me blush a little, but I hide it well.
The first round of Archery was pretty simple. We just had to hit the targets with our crossbows. The third year explained how important it is to hone in on your precision and skills in preparation of getting your Gifts. The better your accuracy, the better you will be at controlling them. The second round is a little harder, as we have to hit moving targets. The Influencers have enchanted all the targets to drift through the air. There isn’t really an obvious pattern to the way the targets move. Side to side, then up and down and round in a sort of loop-de-loop. The speeds vary as well, so they are slow one minute and fast the next. No two routes are the same; it is all completely random.
“When you are on the battlefield, your target may be in motion, whether it be on an elion, a Sky Serpent, or simply wearing a pair of Influenced shoes. It is your job to shoot with accuracy in a short space of time.”
The third year pauses for a moment. “We do not expect you to succeed at this task the first time. The moving targets take most students months to master; one of our best students is now Commanding Officer for the RHE Army. This is something you can work towards if you are interested.”
Sky serpents used to roam the skies at night. They were lethal creatures that could paralyse their victims with venom. These days, you would be lucky to even see one. They are mere fables, hunted down by Sunkind to near extinction after the Great Blackout.
I watch as the targets dart across the field. I did archery training with my father, but nothing like this. The third year hands out three arrows per student. I take mine, and the cold rods wake up my fingers. I watch as a few students aim for the targets, but no one comes close. Elijah is next. His aim is good, and his stance is almost perfect. He reaches his arm back with the arrow, and his muscles flex. He waits for a moment, the wind blowing through his long brown hair, then releases. The class goes silent. The arrow flies through the air at lightning speed and soars towards the target, missing it by a centimetre or so. That was so close. He mimics his stance and tries again, but his next two shots wind up miles away from the target. I’m starting to think this is impossible. It’s rigged; no one can do it.
I step up to the five-metre mark that is drawn on the floor and wrap my fingers around the grip, positioning my thumb along the side of the bow. I line up the arrow and look ahead. It’s hard to focus on the targets without feeling dizzy. I stand shoulder-width apart with my left leg slightly forward and pull the bowstring back behind my shoulder. My eyes narrow as the target drifts every which way. I hold my breath, focus, and release. The arrow soars through the air and clips the outside of the target, chipping a small chunk of wood off its axis. I missed.
Readying my stance, I fling the bowstring back, focus on the target, and release again, but I miss this one too. This is my last shot. My fingers tighten around the slick wood of the bow, and I adjust the feathers on the end of the arrow. Maybe I’m focusing too much on where the target is; no one actually expects any of us to be able to hit it. If this is absolutely random, then there really is no logical way to hit the target. I’ve just got to be as illogical and as random as the pattern is.
I get into position with my final arrow loaded up. I squeeze my eyes shut and release, not aiming or looking at where the target is. I hear a thud and my eyes jolt open. I can see my arrownow vibrating in the centre ring of the target. I am too shocked to move. I can’t believe that worked.
“Well done, Asha, first one to hit the target today!” the third year says whilst turning to the class. Wow, the first one today. I suppose that was just luck too.
Ryder’s voice taunts in my mind again - ‘There’s something off about you’ -But I shake it off.
The next activity is knife throwing. I walk down with the rest of my group. I gaze back at Combat. Nala is on the platform. I hope she kicks some ass.
“Fancy seeing you here.” River distracts me from my thoughts.
“Is there anything you don’t do?” I raise an eyebrow at him and fight the urge to smile at seeing him again.
“I know, right? Books, good looks, and now knife throwing. What can I say? I’m a man of many talents,” he brags while running his fingers through his silky blonde hair.
“Well, shouldn’t you be teaching us those talents instead of showing off?” I smirk and gesture at the rest of the group congregating behind me.
He smiles widely and leans in close to me. “I’m sure I can make the time to teach you a few things.”
I look down, trying to hide the blood rushing to my cheeks.
“I’m glad you have all survived your first combat session.” He looks around at each of us before holding eye contact with me. “The last skill you will practice today is knife throwing. Knives are excellent weapons. They can be used in close-range combat and from a distance. Today, I want to see how each of you throws. As you can see, there are five wooden human figures lined up. Your job is to hit them.”
He points to the humanoid figures standing in front of us. “I don’t want to see any non-fatal hits.” His eyes lock with mine ashe says this. “Chest, torso or head; anything below the waist does not count, unless it’s the femoral artery!”
His head moves in next to mine. “Let’s see what you’ve got, princess.”
I feel a strand of my hair move out of my face and tuck behind my ear again.
“Don’t you have any new tricks?” I pick the strand from behind my ear and let it rest on my forehead just to spite him.
He bites his bottom lip into a smile.
“I can also do this…” He points his finger at one of the wooden figurines, and three knives bolt through the air like lightning, wedging themselves neatly in various places on its head.
The students around me praise him in awe. I am also impressed, but I hide it well on my face.
“Careful, people might think you’re trying to impress me,” I banter.
“Now it’s your turn.”
