8 Arrows.

After helping me up, my brother Airsidh walked back to a large fencepost that divided two of the firing lanes and jumped up, sitting on it. 

"I take it. Those bruises are from combat practice?"

"Why does it matter? it doesn't affect you."

He let out a sigh. "Well, you're not wrong. Not like I've ever been there for you before. Well, whatever. I have to test you today. I was hoping you were feeling good so that you would do your best. If you have anything you need to get off your chest before we start. Now is the time. Maybe that will stop the rain."

'Does he really want me to cry my heart out because he thinks it will stop the rain?'

His expression shifted back to the one I was familiar with, but his voice was still different. It wasn't lifeless at all. Instead, it sounded sad, like he was the one holding back tears.

I warmed my hands on the fire one last time, before walking over to the weapon rack. "I don't have anything I want to say. I'll do my best to make you look good, don't worry."

"I'll quit worrying when this is over. You have to use the big girl bow this time. So go ahead and string one up." He grabbed a heavy bow from a cabinet nearby and handed it to me.

I was too shocked to grab it. I had expected to have to use a war bow when he said he was testing me, but the one he was handing me was from the heavy war bow cabinet. They were roughly the same, then the only real difference was the draw weight.

"You and Mara should both know I can't–"

"Just try it alright. Do your best, that's all you can do."

I slowly reached out and grabbed it. "Fine…"

The string was as thick as my fingers were and it felt even heavier than the sword I was just using. I tried my best but I couldn't even string it. I had come close, but that counts for nothing during a test.

The bow was too large for me to get any sort of leverage on it, and my body was too light to use my own weight for any benefit.

Eventually, he gave up on waiting and strung it for me. "It's fine, you're just short so it's harder for you. It's not actually a strength issue."

"You still have time to grow so not being able to string it yet isn't a big deal, you just need some practice. Take an arrow and try to hit a target, one arrow in each before you leave."

I had only ever fired the heavy bow once. I actually strained my shoulder drawing it and it made it hard to shoot for several days afterwards.

Admittedly, I was a little hesitant, but of all my so-called trainers I trusted him the most. Wrapping my fingers around the string I gave it a slight tug, testing the weight. 'Well… The string moves at least…'

I walked up to the first firing lane and knocked an arrow. 'If all I have to do is hit the target that means I could actually use Zu's style of shooting. If I don't have to hold the string it will save me energy. Even if it affects my accuracy, all I have to do is hit the target, not get a bullseye.'

My brother and he gave me a confident nod. 'How is he so sure I can do this?'

I thought back to the last time we shot together, and his last words. "A bow measures the strength of an archer's spirit, and the arrows its aim…"

'So if my spirit is strong and true, so will my shots.' The thought was almost a little silly, firing a bow with spirit instead of my body, but that silliness was enough to calm me down enough to focus.

I took a deep breath in and lifted the bow high into the air, pulling on the string as hard as I could as I lowered it, and letting go the moment I hit a full draw.

The second I let go I felt the build up of tension make my left arm ache as it stressed the bones. That was the last thing on my mind though. Staring down range at the bullseye I almost dropped my bow in shock. "Maybe… It is a good day.

"YES!!!!!!" Airsidh cheered as if he wasn't expecting it either.

I looked down at the bow in my hand and gently grabbed my arm. "It's heavy… But I think I can do this."

He jumped off the fence post and ran over, suddenly overcome with enthusiasm, pumping his fist.

'This can't be the same person…'

He gently raised my arm, and adjusted my stance as he explained a couple things that I could do better. Apparently, my feet were too far apart, and I could draw with my back more, whatever that meant.

"One more thing." He said, walking back. "Be careful, the draw weight is heavy, so you're going to want to straighten out your arm too far. Don't let that happen, these bows will rip the skin right off of you. take all the time you need between shots, this is all we're doing today."

I nodded. 'For now I still feel good, but who knows if I can actually keep this up for all twelve targets. I should pace myself.' 

The next target was shot straight through as well, I was off center, but I was still getting used to the new bow and style so that was to be expected. It was good enough though, and that was all that mattered.

The rain was only coming down harder, and deafening sheets pounded into the ground, making the wind even colder, still I persisted. Even as my fingers began to grow stiff.

Before I knew it I was 4 targets in, then halfway done, and then I was 8 targets in. My arm was starting to ache more and more, and I could feel my shoulder and elbow starting to wear out as well. 'I wonder if I pulled something when Mara yanked me out of the spring.'

As my mind wandered and I lost focus my arm straightened just before I fired.

"Agh!" I dropped the bow to the ground as the string slammed into my forearm.

My brother took a deep breath and grimaced. "Told you..." 

Every muscle in my body tensed as a sharp pain shot through my entire arm from my elbow to my wrist.

At first, I grabbed the wound with my other hand, but the pressure from my own grip only made the bones ache worse. It stung as I let go and brought it up to look at it.

Sure enough, the string had ripped the skin right off and cut into my arm. In seconds blood blisters were already appearing anywhere it was just straight-up bleeding.

I let out a loud groan as I pounded my fist against one of the posts. "Can you grab the med kit.?"

He was already on his way over to the cabinet. "Yea yea, I got it don't worry. It looks worse than it is. A misfire won't take your arm off or anything."

I looked back at my arm. It felt like there was no way I was going to be able to fire any more arrows. 'So, what now?'