Chapter VII - The White Demon

I squint in the sunlight flashing in my eyes, more or less perplexed at the sudden audience after I was ushered to one of the platforms, a bow and a quiver of arrows pushed into my hands on the way.

Standing awkwardly on the platform next to me was North, looking at the bow and arrows in his hands in confusion.

Reo grins, crossing her arms, "Show me what you two got! Don't think too much of it, you can even have a little fun with it!"

Naomi shakes her head, her head in her hand, standing in the back as she watches on from between her fingers.

Kyle stands just behind Reo, an amused smile on his face.

"Go on," Reo sweeps an arm at the targets in front of us, "Take a shot!"

North and I share a look, he shrugs.

"Wouldnt hurt now would it? We went through some archery training before Raven.."

He stops short, glancing at me with a look I couldn't place-.. Sympathy? He turns back to his snake-like-shaped target, taking a breath as he nocks an arrow onto his bow.

ZLING!

The arrow zips past the target, and lands in the dirt all the way up to its shaft.

"Missed the bullseye, figures, hehe..." North scratches the back of his head, laughing sheepishly. "...seems like I'm more suited for the sword than the bow."

Reo laughs wholeheartedly, "That's fine, that's fine! You had a good stance though! So not bad, not bad at all." She looks to me, "Whenever you are ready newbie, show me what you got!"

I stare at the bow in my hand, uncertainty settling in my gut.

North gives me a small reassuring smile, "I believe you can do it, Raven..." He whispers so only I can hear as he walks behind me, giving my shoulder a pat of encouragement.

I exhale deeply, my hand slightly shaking as I raise my bow, the winds start to pick up and I gulp as the air seems to slowly begin to grow heavier, sweat beading down my forehead.

I draw the string as the target blurs into focus, the humanoid figure of....a..a demon.

The sound of screaming flashes through my head, as the red smell of blood cuts through the air, sharp and metallic. The thuds of footfalls and the clinking of armor fill my ears.

"-Kill it! The demon- Capture the monster-AHHH!"

I shut my eyes. Attempting to block it all out- the screams of my own- the blood- I tighten my grip on the bow.

My fingers slacken on the nocked arrow, it flies loose as it was shot forward-

THWACK!

The sound of wood splintering in my head was mixed with the satisfying thunk! of the arrow.

I pant as the flashback subsides, arms dropping, the hair on the back of my neck standing straight up as I watch as the arrow quivers in its spot on the target- a headshot. I turn my head away, trying to wrestle my breathing into control, the memory sending my peace of mind in a downward spiral. I grit my teeth slowly.

Reo starts clapping slowly, smiling, "Like a hot knife through butter! Your arrow quite literally defied the wind right there. Is it skill..or just pure luck?" She grins, "No matter. We will find out sooner or later, that is, if you want to join our little club...?"

I drop the bow and quiver onto the ground as carefully as I can manage, before I walk off the platform, walking past Reo.

"...Not today. I think I will...have to go....for today," I walk away without another word, leaving behind a moment of apprehensiveness at my hasty withdrawal.

"..."

"Hey! Wait up!"

Reo runs up behind me, panting, "W..whoa...you are damn fast...hah...for someone like me to have to run to catch up...!"

I pause in my tracks, keeping my eyes trained in front of me"...what is it that you need from me?"

Reo tilts her head slightly, puzzled, "What I need..?" Then she blinks and breaks into laughter, "Ahahaha! Oh, I didn't come because I wanted something from you...though I understand your suspiciousness of people here! But no everyone's got ulterior motives when they just want to try and be nice." She chuckles, "But.. that's just me, though..."

She grins brightly, "...Well, I am offering my assistance to wherever you want to go, since I'm heading this way for club business with the council anyways. Wouldnt want yourself wandering lost on campus while I could have helped!"

I raise an eyebrow at her, her expression seemingly earnest and words genuine. I sigh, gaze flicking behind her suspiciously.

"...Fine." I turn on my heels and march ahead, following the path towards the main building as I head towards the fountain.

Reo quickly catches up and laughs, "You're interesting, you know that?"

My mouth twitches, but keeps quiet as I stare ahead.

Reo smiles, "Think of it as a compliment." She quiets, looking up at the clear blue sky, "...So...how is your first day here so far? From your point of view as a...fellow demon?"

I stop in my tracks, straightening, I run a hand down the front of my clothes, "Well...it has been...hospitable, so far anyway."

"That's great!"She laughs quietly, a sense of melancholy to it, "The academy had been through many reforms in the recent years to accept people like us...public discrimination, here, is rare to witness nowadays. Which is good!"

I scoff, "About time. So the monarchy finally saw past the thousands of years-old fend and proclaimed the capital continent a region of neutrality, or else you and I wouldn't be here talking so idly in the open-" I shut my mouth, getting unusually agitated on the subject. I look to Reo, sensing that she herself, had experienced exactly what she mentioned.

She walks over to a grassy patch next to the path, plopping herself onto it with a sober sigh, leaning against the oaken tree at her back, she closes her eyes briefly.

"Would you be interested in hearing a story?"

I raise my eyebrows in surprise, before making up my mind.

"Sure..."

Reo pats the grass next to her, "Come sit if you would, this is going to be a lengthy one."

I stay standing, only coming closer to stand under the tree with her.

She takes a deep breath, and suddenly my surroundings start to dim in light, traces of silver trace the air, taking form as her words come forward.

"In the tales told from one to another, cultivated by time and carried by the wind. Legends are...that this is how it all begun."