Chapter 10

The academy's archery range was tucked into a quiet corner of the campus, bordered by a dense grove of trees that rustled softly in the breeze. Targets of various sizes were set up at intervals along the range, their brightly painted bullseyes a stark contrast to the muted greens and browns of the surrounding forest.

Leon stood at the edge of the range, nervously gripping a simple wooden bow. He'd never held a bow before, let alone aimed one.

"This'll be fun," Mikel said cheerfully, twirling an arrow between his fingers. "Just point and shoot, right?"

Rurik, standing nearby with a quiver slung over his shoulder, muttered, "It's not that simple."

"Sure it is," Mikel replied, giving the dwarf a playful nudge. "Watch and learn."

The archery instructor, a tall, no-nonsense elf named Elyra, strode to the front of the range. Her long silver hair was tied back into a single braid, and her sharp green eyes scanned the students with the intensity of a hawk sizing up its prey.

"Archery is not about strength," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly over the group. "It is about focus, patience, and precision. Your task today is to hit the center of the target at a distance of twenty yards. Do not rush. Aim true."

She raised her own bow, drawing an arrow with fluid grace. In one smooth motion, she loosed the arrow, which struck the bullseye dead center with a soft thud.

Several students gasped in awe.

"That," Elyra said, lowering her bow, "is what you should aspire to."

Mikel leaned toward Leon, whispering, "She's showing off."

Leon didn't respond, too busy trying to figure out how to hold his bow correctly.

The students lined up to take their turns, each stepping forward to fire three arrows at their designated targets.

When Mikel's turn came, he strutted up to the line like he was preparing for a grand performance. He drew his bow with exaggerated flair, tilting his head dramatically as if he were posing for a painting.

"Behold," he declared, "the unparalleled skill of Mikel Draymir."

Leon groaned. "Mikel, just shoot the arrow."

Mikel loosed the arrow with a flourish, and it soared through the air… in completely the wrong direction.

The arrow veered wildly to the left, embedding itself in a nearby tree with a loud thunk. A startled squirrel darted out of the branches, chittering angrily before scurrying away.

The students burst into laughter, and even Elyra's lips twitched in what might have been an attempt to suppress a smile.

Mikel lowered his bow, shrugging. "Well, the tree had it coming."

When Rurik's turn came, he stepped up to the line with a focused expression. His short stature made the bow look oversized in his hands, but he handled it with surprising ease.

He drew the string back carefully, his movements steady and precise. When he released the arrow, it flew straight and true, landing just shy of the bullseye.

Several students murmured in approval, and Elyra nodded. "Good form," she said. "With practice, you could become quite skilled."

Rurik flushed slightly at the praise, muttering, "Thanks."

Mikel clapped him on the back. "Look at you, Robin Hood! You've been holding out on us."

Rurik glared at him. "I'm not stealing anything."

"Not with that attitude," Mikel quipped.

Leon was the last to step up, his heart pounding as he gripped the bow tightly. He tried to remember Elyra's instructions: steady your breathing, line up your shot, and release smoothly.

He drew the string back, his arms trembling slightly from the effort. The arrow wobbled as he released it, flying in a shaky arc toward the target.

It struck the outermost ring with a soft thud.

"Well," Mikel said, clapping, "at least you hit the target. That's more than the tree can say."

Leon sighed, lowering his bow.

Elyra approached, her sharp gaze studying him. "Your aim is weak, but your form is correct. With practice, you can improve."

Leon nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed her.

As the lesson continued, Mikel grew increasingly restless. By his fifth missed shot, he had abandoned all pretense of taking the exercise seriously.

"Okay," he announced, picking up an arrow and balancing it on his finger. "Time for a trick shot."

"Don't," Leon said immediately.

Mikel ignored him, stepping back from the line and turning his back to the target. "Ladies and gentlemen," he declared, holding the bow over his shoulder, "prepare to witness history."

He drew the bow and released the arrow in one smooth motion.

The arrow soared into the air… and promptly arced downward, hitting the ground with a dull thunk.

"Ha!" Mikel said, raising his arms triumphantly. "Nailed it!"

Elyra appeared beside him, her expression unreadable. "Mr. Draymir," she said, her voice icy, "if you are quite finished entertaining yourself, perhaps you would care to retrieve your arrows."

Mikel blinked. "You mean… all of them?"

Elyra raised an eyebrow.

Mikel sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I get attacked by an angry squirrel, it's on you."

That night, back in their dormitory, Leon and Rurik sat at the small table, reviewing notes from the day's classes. Mikel, meanwhile, was sprawled on his bed, tossing a rubber ball into the air.

"You know," Mikel said, "I think we made some real progress today."

"You hit a tree," Leon pointed out.

"And almost hit a squirrel," Rurik added.

"Exactly!" Mikel said, grinning. "Nature's a valid target too."

Leon shook his head, but despite himself, a small smile crept onto his face.

"Get some rest," Rurik said, closing his notebook. "Tomorrow's going to be another long day."

"Another day, another adventure," Mikel said, stretching out on his bed. "Can't wait to see what else I can hit."

Leon groaned, lying back on his pillow. Despite the chaos, he felt a flicker of gratitude for the friends he'd made. The academy might be challenging, but at least it wasn't boring.