Chapter 4: Can I consider myself special ?

I have no idea how I did this...

*Silence*

But at this precise moment...

*Silence*

I knew something had changed in me.

Suddenly, the crowd exclaimed in surprise.

"What was that ?"

"I thought he'd never used a bow before ?"

"It's impossible for someone new to shoot like this. It takes at least ten to twelve hours to be able to make some decent shots and six years to become a professional."

"Was he just teasing us from the start ?"

"Although it's hard to admit it, he is better than most of us."

"Seriously...

Who is this guy ?"

Thought the crowd while being confused, surprised and scared at the same time.

"This bastard ! Who does he think he is ? It took me many years to reach this level, and he makes it look so easy. We have to do a rematch !", thought Laurenz with anger and determination.

You could saw the rage on his face with his eyes wide opens while gritting his teeth and giving a punch to the wall.

Did Karl know this kid could do something like that ?! Yet I know what I'm talking about, I'm sure he never used a bow before. I could tell when I first saw him but now...

She said while having chills,

He gives off a completely different aura," thought captain Sohor with a confused face and surprised at the same time.

Wow, never though it would be that easy for me to learn how to use a bow.

Yea, it was even too easy I would say... I thought with my thumb and forefinger on my chin while making a confused face.

Ah sorry, you were waiting for the results of the test, right ? Well, despite the hype around my performance I've lost the duel, therefore I failed the entrance test.

During my last action I've only managed to hit one target, as a result I've hit twenty-four of them.

I was overconfident. I should have known that this isn't a skill you can master that easily. Laurenz is truly impressive.

But how did I do that ? Does it have to do with the fact that I'm in another world ? I thought, looking at the palm of my right hand.

"Hey moron !"

Ah... I know this voice...

I turned around and saw Laurenz rushing towards me. He looked pissed off despite his victory.

I really don't understand this guy, I thought, sighing and shrugging my shoulders.

Then, he grabbed my collar.

"What's your name ?!"

Oh right, I never introduced myself.

"My name is Shirakami. Jemuel Shirakami. You can call me Jemuel."

"Jemuel Shirakami, I want a rematch right now !"

"Eh ?! But... You won, why ?"

"I cannot accept such a victory, it's an insult to the archers of this nation and to the style of archery that was taught to me.

I also have my pride as an archer !", he said with a determined gaze.

"Moreover, if you hadn't missed your first shots you might have won and this thought...

This thought is unbearable to me," thought laurenz with disgust.

"Aaha sorry but I don't think it'll be possibl-"

"Quit joking with me ! Thanks to my experience I can tell you're not an archer, but you somehow managed to pulled out this performance. You know... It took thirteen years ! Thirteen damn years of my life to reach this level ! So what is that ?! What is this blessed skill that you have ?!", he said, staring at me intently.

Is he going mad or what ?

If I had it back then... Maybe I could have... he said dramatically.

"Blessed skill ?! I don't know none of that. Instead of having this pathetic look on your face, you should already be proud of what you accomplished until now ! Thirteen years ?! Like I care. There're people who don't know what to do with their life while you're able to do something you're passionate about ! You don't know anything about me so, buzz of-"

"But you don't know anything about me either !"

While we were arguing, growling and staring at each other with threatening gazes, Immediately, general Fei decided to intervene.

"ENOUGH !"

*Silence*

*Every soldier at attention (Army position standing straight with chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in, feet together, and both arms at the sides.)*

"If you want to put on a show, I inform you that the city's circus is recruiting. We don't need clowns here."

"WE APOLOGIZE FOR OUR CLOWN BEHAVIOUR ! THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN !", Laurenz and I said, bowing.

The speed at which we apologized just shows how scary she was.

Standing in the bleachers with her arms crossed, and a cold look on her face. You could feel an overwhelming energy coming from her similar to a giant beast.

I definitely do not wish to pissed her off in the future.

"Soldier Künh ! You can now resume your position of lieutenant as of tomorrow. Good job !"

"Thanks ma'am ! It's an honour to be able to return to service !"

Lieutenant ?! Isn't he a student at the academy ?

"Jemuel Shirakami ! Congrats, You passed the entrance test !"

Eh ? Really ?

"With all due respect general, are you sure about that ? I lost the duel you know."

"Yes, I know. I've watched it. Moreover, it was never said that the loser could not be accepted."

Y-yea, that's true...

"It wasn't a question of winning or not, it was a way for me to judge your archery skills. It's no easy task to hit twenty-four moving targets in just one minute, you know. I don't know where you got that from, but you have a tremendous potential. Just accept this fact."

I would like to know too...

"If you say so, then I thank you- I mean... Yes ma'am ! Thanks ma'am !"

"We'd gladly accept to strengthen our ranks with someone as promising as you, but before I officially declare you a soldier of the army of Fretzia...

Do you swear before me, the other soldiers here present and in the name of the two crowns that you will carry out your duty as an archer of the army of the kingdom of Fretzia by protecting this nation and its inhabitants at the risk of your life ?!"

"I swear !"

"Therefore, in accordance to the powers granted to me in my position as general of the army of Fretzia in charge of the archer section, I, Harper Fei, hereby declare you officially, Jemuel Shirakami, archer of the army of Fretzia !

I want to see you in my office in an hour !"

"Dismissed ! (You're allowed to leave the area)" after saying that, she left the stadium with captain Sohor.

I'm not fond for this swearing stuffs, but I had to go with the flow. Anyway, as long as I follow the orders, I should be ok.

"Jemuel ! I'm not done with you. Next time, I'll beat you for sure !", Laurenz said before leaving.

Ahlala, how am I going to get rid of him?

"Laureennzz wait ! Laureennzz !", I suddenly heard someone shout his name from behind me.

Uh ? It's the unknown girl who came with captain Sohor and general Fei. She was running towards Laurenz while screaming his name but it looks like he couldn't hear her. Then, on her way she stopped in front of me.

"Huumph ! He could have at least waited for me. Dumbass !", she said with a pouting face.

"I agree with you, he's a true dumbass."

She turned her head in my direction and looked at me.

"Oh ! You're the newbie. Jemuel Shirakami, right ?"

"Ah, yes."

"Congratulations on your acceptance into the royal army. My name is Nele Gozen. We will now be comrades. I'm looking forward to work with you and hope we'll get along together", she said, smiling and holding out her hand to me.

"Thank you Nele, I'm looking forward too", I replied while we were shaking hands.

"Also, I apologize for Laurenz's attitude, he's really not a bad guy", she said while bowing.

"Ahah, don't worry. You have nothing to do with that", I replied with embarrassment.

She's really nice and, smells good too. What an angelic face ! What does she have to do with a guy like Laurenz ?

Oh ! I just remembered something.

"Nele, can I ask you something ?"

"Sure."

"A few minutes ago, why did general Fei said that Laurenz could resume his duties as lieutenant ? I though he was a student at the academy ?"

"Oh, that. Actually, Laurenz graduated from the academy for three years already."

"For three years ?! What happened to him that made him go back there then ?"

"You see, nearly a year ago, during his first mission as a lieutenant he got involved in a fight that made him unable to use a bow for at least four months. During this time he recovered, then to be sure he would regains his former shape the general decided he would return to the academy for eight months, and if there was any progress he could resume to his post."

Why do I have the feeling that I've been tricked ?!

But...

"Isn't Laurenz a little too young to be a lieutenant ?"

"Well, he was always considered a genius. He graduated from the academy earlier than normal and became one of the youngest soldiers to become lieutenant."

And who's the blessed one ? Tch ! This jerk, I thought irritably.

"Him and his brother Karl are known as 'the genius brothers'."

"Huh ? Karl too ? But wasn't he also called 'the green curse'?"

"Where did you here that ? You shouldn't say that nickname out loud around people, especially around Karl."

"Why-"

"Oh ! I hadn't seen the time flies. Sorry but I have to go. It was a pleasure to meet you Jemuel", she said before leaving in hurry.

"Aah no problem, thanks. It was a pleasure to meet you too Nele."

It's fishy, but anyway... Looks like it's almost time for me to go too.

Also, I wonder where am I going to spend the night ?

While thinking about it as I walked with my eyes closed, I bumped into someone on the way.

"Ouch ! Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."

And when I opened my eyes, I saw a beautiful girl. She was light skin with short purple curly hair and was wearing a dark blue dress with a light armor and, the brown cloak of the army of Fretzia. In addition, she had a thin sword. It was not mistaken to said that she was a knight.

Then, she stood up and was looking at me with her blue eyes comparable to jewels while having an expressionless face. Her graceful posture was enough to grab my attention.

I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I hadn't even noticed that she was reaching out her hand to help me up.

"Are you ok ?"

Her soft voice brought me back to reality as I was spacing out.

"Uh ! Y-yes... I'm ok. Thank you..."

Standing up, I took a closer look at her. She had a slim body and seemed to be five foot seven inches tall.

"Excuse me" was the last word I heard from her before she continued on her way.

A few minutes later, on my way to general Fei office. I noticed that I had forgotten to ask her name ! I thought gloomily.

I hope I'll meet her again very soon.

Arrived at my destination, I knocked at the door.

"Come in !"

Inside, the general was sitting at her desk and another person was sitting across from her.

"Hi Jemuel, my favorite student !", someone said, waving at me.

Karl ?! What is he doing here ? And since when did I become his student ? No, the real question is...

Does he even have students ?! I thought, looking at him with an uncomfortable smile.

I bowed then moved a little closer to the general desk.

"Soldier Shirakami !"

"Yes ma'am !"

"First, here's your official uniform. Hope it's the right size."

Whoaa ! My own uniform, cool ! To be honest, the cloak was nice but I wish I also had the coat of the knights.

"Thank you, General Fei ! I'll try it later !"

"Glad you like it. Let's move on now."

"Yes ma'am !"

"Our army is constituted of three main types of soldiers: knights, archers and foot soldiers. Any of them can rank up. To be more efficient we create units where we mix them together. You'll be part of the 'Special Ghost Unit' which handles tasks that are a little more complex than others, for example cases which have not yet been taken care of."

Sounds like a drag...

"As you have probably already guessed you will be under the command of captain Künh."

"Woo-hoo !" Karl said, waving and smiling at me.

Ah... I give up. I'll never be able to get rid of him.

I thought I could be in the same unit as my beautiful knight with blue jewel eyes but there's no way she'd be part of Karl's. It's okay, it's just one less dream, but I won't give up on you !

Thought Jemuel with tears in his eyes and his fist on his chest.

"Why do I feel like I should feel hurt?", thought Karl when seeing the facial expression of jemuel.

"Your captain will answer all your questions. I'm looking forward to seeing what results you'll produce. You may leave."

Then, Karl and I walked out of her office.

"Congrats on your acceptance into the royal army. I knew you could do it."

"Yeah, thank you. Although I'm surprised", I replied, feeling myself relieved, followed by a sigh.

Are they sure they want me to be part of this unit ? Despite my defeat, I was accepted and to be honest it made me a little happy, but is it really okay for me to have expectations from myself again ? After being shown by the past that I'm...

I'm nothing special, I though, clenching my fists with my head downward.

"I'm nothing special, that's what you're think right ?", said Karl with a serious look on his face.

Huh ? Can he read my mind ?... Creepy !

"So what ?

You don't have to be special to accomplish great things. From the moment someone expects something from you it means that your existence is useful.

This person doesn't have to be made of bones and flesh because you are not a creation of man.

Don't assume that we put you in this unit because you're special. You're there because we believe that's where you'll be the most useful ! But in the end...

You'll always be special in someone's eyes because people only use those words when certain criteria of their own are met;

And to me...

You are someone very special", he said, before giving me an heartwarming smile.

"Even though you barely know me ?"

"Well that's just a detail that can be file with time. Also, your performance of today wasn't just luck. It's a related to what makes you special."

"To what makes me special ?"

"Yes ! And... I have great expectation coming from you", he said with a smug face.

What's with this face ?

"Anyway, let's go get some rest first. It must have been a tiring day for you. Oh, and I haven't told you. Since you're part of my unit, you'll stay at my mansion with me and the others."

"I really hope they're not as crazy as yo- WAIT ! You own a mansion ?! Just how rich are you ?!"

"Well well, the Künh are a wealthy family of swordsmen after all", he answered, nodding his head with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

"The exception is Laurenz, who is the first member to decide to follow a different path."

Oh, that's right. Laurenz is an archer.

"And how did your parents react ?"

"Hum, obviously our father was against it, but he had the support of our mother."

"Your mother must be really nice."

"Yeah... Without a doubt."

"Jemuel..."

"Yes ?"

"You're still alive so, you still have time to change things in your life. Don't forget that."

After Karl said that, I looked at him for a while, then started to wonder what he had been through.

"Tch ! Stop trying to act cool and all. It really doesn't suit you at all !", I said, walking with my eyes closed and hands on my pockets.

"Eh ! But-"

"Thank you", I said suddenly, that it left him hanging for a moment.

"You're welcome", he replied, smiling with his eyes closed.

He might be an idiot, but I can't see him as a bad person. Talking with him definitely helped me regain some self-confidence, although for now it might just look like a grain of sand. It might not be as bad as I thought, to be in the same unit as him.