After the javelin contest with Agnar, the three of us got a bite to eat. Since I was the loser, I ended up footing the bill. Our lunch consisted of just slabs of at cooked over a fire, and I helped myself to an apple juice that was freshly pressed. Of course, Agnar being the monster he was, ate his weight in silver, so my funds were screaming at . Cerila was also quite the eater. I guess maintaining that kind of physique requires it.
Regardless, it was a simple, but excellent al. When I’m at Forward University or when Bowen’s maids cook dinner, it’s always extravagant and high-class. It’s not that I dislike that food. If anything, I think I prefer those als as they are far healthier and more filling than what I had, but…this had its own charm.
Reminds of my days of adventuring. Not that those lasted all that long.
After our lunch and a bit of walking around, Agnar bid us farewell and went to cause havoc in the lifting stone competition. I felt bad for anyone who tried to compete with him. They were destined to face off against a living titan.
It was almost midday when we parted ways. The cool winter wind swept through the snowy trees as Cerila guided out into the forest. A few archery ranges were set up for people who wanted to get away from the crowd and just let loose. We also turned our dungeon items back in and got our deposits back for them.
I asked Cerila if she wanted to compete anywhere, but she told that we could co back next year. That she actually wanted to have a competition with , and that’s what led us to our current situation…
I signed weakly.
Cerila was off to my right holding her sides and letting out a thunderous laugh mixed in with so moans. Of course, since she couldn’t hear herself, she had no idea just how loud she was. But it was evident that when she made those kinds of noises…she was honestly laughing her hardest without a care in the world.
she managed to sign in between her laughs.
I looked down. I argued.
Because it is.
The short bow I was using was the one I pilfered from…uh…what was his na again? Ah, whatever. The sa kid I rightfully secured my Spatial Ring from in honorable combat.
The bow was high quality, albeit it was just made out of high-quality material, a brown oak with random engravings. Unfortunately, the craftsmanship wasn’t much to brag about. Sobody was probably just trying to pull a quick one over so noble’s head.
Either way…the bow was small and had a asly draw weight. And much to Cerila’s enjoynt, in my hands, the bow looked silly beyond belief.
But that wasn’t the only thing she is laughing about…my skills with the bow are… lacking.
I lanted that fact in my last hunt, but I hadn’t done anything to change it, so it was no surprise that I was still behind. I just didn’t have much of a reason to use a bow and arrow these days since most of my opponents have been monsters or people. I was a far better mage than I ever was an archer.
And it was no wonder Cerila found it sowhat amusing. Back in the day, I was the archer going around in the woods hunting animals and tiny monsters while she followed behind with magic.
But now…
“How is that even possible,” I muttered.
Cerila wasn’t coming from a place of incompetence but of pure skill. She hit the target dead center with ease and it wasn’t the first ti she had done it. No, she was regularly smacking the bull’s eye like it was just another morning for her. Her skills with the bow far surpassed mine. Honestly, they were probably even better than my father’s.
And her bow…how does that thing even function?
Cerila’s longbow was made entirely of pure white ice. It was like sobody had carved it straight out of a glacier. If the light hit it just right, you could see straight through it and out the other side. Even the bowstring looked to be made of an icicle. I thought at first that Cerila had made it with her magic as it fit her perfectly.
However, in theory, that bow should have been the world’s most useless weapon, but since it ca from a dungeon it could completely ignore the laws of…everything. Therefore, I shouldn’t even attempt to make sense of that weapon. I’d long since given up on trying to apply logic to items found in dungeons.
I asked her.
Cerila nodded and then proceeded to hit another perfect shot.
She quickly nocked another arrow, but this ti sothing was different. The iron arrowhead frosted over as ice crept down the shaft. Before it reached Cerila’s fingers, she let the arrow loose, and it smacked into the middle of the target once more, splitting the previous arrow in the center.
Frost quickly spread out from the impact and consud the target. It was as impressive as it was deadly. That begged the question…
I questioned.
Cerila shrugged. she explained.
I summoned an earth wall next to the target, and Cerila launched another arrow. Sure enough, as the second the arrow hit the stone wall it disintegrated, barely even chipping the surface. And I hadn’t done anything to reinforce the wall. A normal iron arrow should have found so purchase in it.
Mmmm…a bow that excels at killing soft targets is interesting. It might be a C rank overall but in the right scenario, it could be highly deadly.
Cerila let out a long sigh and looked over at . I got the impression she wanted to say sothing but she frowned slightly and walked over to a wooden stump while beckoning to follow her.
I asked.
she said as a long brown wooden box appeared on the stump.
The box didn’t appear to be anything special, but Cerila gave an expectant look, so I went ahead and opened it. Laying inside a straw bed was a silver recurve bow with sky-blue accents. I ran my hand across the cool tal and marveled at its craftsmanship. It seed to be made of Dwarven steel with a bit of cobalt here and there.
The black leather for the grip felt just rough enough to feel secure without being too excessive in any way. The weapon was uniform and sleek, but I noticed a small engraving on the upper limb upon further inspection.
K C P?
I looked at Cerila for confirmation, and she was just smiling softly.
I see…
I grabbed an arrow from the bucket and decided to give the bow a test drive. Pulling back on the bowstring revealed that the draw weight was on the heavier side, more than I was used to. But with a bit of mana enhancent, the arrow went back smoothly and I released it with a satisfying twang and woosh.
I chuckled slightly as my arrow missed my mark by a bit. Unfortunately, no matter how good of a bow Padraic made or how expensive and rare the materials were, it couldn’t compensate for my lack of skill.
Even still, the bow was indeed fantastic. Just thinking back to the first knife Padraic ever made at his Dad’s forge, this was a night and day difference. He ntioned that he practiced while on the road, but it seed that Bowen permitted him to use the forges at the school. He’d improved dramatically over these last few years.
Those two went out of their way to make this thing for . It had been a while since I’d gotten such a personalized gift. I won’t lie, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, nor could I suppress the feeling of happiness.
I really should thank her and—
“What! What the?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY TARGET?”
Oops.
—
We managed to sate the anger of the man by paying him handsoly for the damage done to his arrow and target. It was only natural that we do so…since the range was free of charge, and we did ruin the target of our own accord. Cerila apologized sheepishly, and since we got the feeling that we weren’t welco at the range anymore, Cerila suggested we go hunting in the nearby forest.
Since I didn’t have any counters to suggest, I agreed, and the two of us wandered into the woods, looking for sothing to hunt. We were told that so monsters might be lurking about if we went far enough in so we did just that. The woods were deathly silent, eerily so. And Cerila and I hadn’t said much since we embarked.
She was constantly sneaking glances my way, and I didn’t know exactly what to say. It seed that I had a lot to talk to her about, and it appeared that she was also considering so things. I also had to thank her for the gift as well as give her a gift of her own that I had prepared.
Cerila abruptly stopped and gave a rather complicated look.
Although she asked it as a question, I got the feeling it was more of a statent. I agreed.
I made us so seats out of earth magic, and Cerila took out so wood to be used for a small fire. We worked quickly and had a small campsite set up in a few minutes.
The crackling of the fire was the only noise besides the occasional howl of a beast in the distance. Cerila’s amber fox eyes reflected the fire as she listlessly stared into the blaze. I stared into the fire for just a mont before I felt her gaze on .
We stared at each other for a while before Cerila averted her eyes first. A worried expression ford on her face as she bowed her head low. she signed
Mad? What? Do I seem angry or sothing? I swear it’s just my face.
I told her.
Cerila raised her eyebrows at , and her ears pulled back as well.
What?
I explained.
she asked, taken aback.
I signed with a smile.
Her eyes went wide, and I thought she would be happy with my response. Everything I said, I ant. I really did have a good ti with her, and the gift was sothing special, just for . I was thankful for her and for Padraic. I can only hope I got that across but…
she asked with downcast teary eyes.
Geeze…have I been so awful to her that it really made it seem like I hated her? I never intended to do that or make her feel that way. I wouldn’t have dread of it in a million years. She looked over at , tears dripping down her face.
But…I can’t refute what she is saying because it’s true. Well, not the hating her part, but the driving away feeling, even I feel like that.
I wasn’t sure what to say at first, but I think…I have sothing. It may just be putting a bandaid on the problem and calling it good, but it’s better than whatever this is.
I admitted.
Her eyes widened in shock. She looked panicked like I was about to bolt off and never co back. But I had no plans of leaving her.
she signed with a pained expression.
I see…of course she does. She told as much.
I asked.
She nodded as she wiped her face with the corner of her hood.
she asked hesitantly.
I signed.
Cerila shot up slightly and leaned forward.
We’ll see about that.
I asked.
she asked, looking a mixture of confused and anxious.
I explained.
Cerila looked at with a mixture of tears and rapt attention. She wouldn’t even blink , fearing to miss anything I said. But I waited a mont for her response. she asked.
I told her earnestly.
She smiled bitterly at that and started nodding her head, wiping the tears from her eyes again.
I explained.
Cerila nodded sheepishly, and her ears folded down.
I narrowed my eyes, not in a hateful or angry way. But in a serious one. Well, I hope I did, at least.
She looked away, her ears still pressed down.
I said with a nod of the head.
Cerila jolted forward again, and I had to placate her with so hand warnings to stop her from exploding into a frenzy.
Cerila backed down and nodded her head thoughtfully, tears forming in her eyes again as she clenched her jaw.
she asked.
I interrupted.
Cerila winced slightly at that, which made feel bad. Talking about my feelings for Sylvia right in front of her probably didn’t make her feel that good inside. I would understand if she grew to hate after all of this.
she signed nervously.
Now it was my turn to look away from her.
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