Episode 97 - Valley of a Hidden Storm ‘Archery Assessment‘

After many, many arrows were released, their perception of distance to the target began to be established. With time, the small target appeared to look bigger to their eyes, enabling them to easily release the arrows onto the bullseye.

Not only were they able to think of ways to counter the wind, everyone felt as if they became one with their bow and arrows. This bond excluded Aeselak who wasn’t proficient with these types of things. Aeselak struggled from start to end even though she had improved to shooting the bare minimum of 7. Still, it was a hit or miss. 4 arrows missed, and everyone will fail.

“..... Your bow is curved on one side and straight on the other?” Eugene’s voice suddenly popped up from behind Aeselak, making her jolt back in surprise.

“Ah! Eldest Miss, you scared me!” Aeselak held her heart as her face ashen.

“......” Eugene pursed her lips.

Behind Eugene, are Euria, Aedelak, Aernest, Dea, and Louis.

“Aeselak! Let’s switch bows!” Euria happily cheered!

“Miss…” Aeselak speechlessly muttered.

“Switch it,” Eugene said curtly.

“... But Eldest miss..”

“It will be alrighty! Sir Kal said to shoot the bow & arrows you made for the training session. And the training session is over! He didn't say that we need to use our bow and arrows for the real assessment, you know? He didn’t emfie... Emfa..?” Euria glanced at Eugene with eagerness.

“Emphasized.”

“Yes! He didn’t emphasize it! ~ Right, Sir Kal?” Euria turned towards Kal.

“....” Kal’s mouth slightly opened. “You’re... Right.” He blinked in realization.

“Training session two requires you to shoot with the bows you crafted! However, don’t think this training will be easy to pass!” Kal warned his thirteen students.

After finding the loophole in Kal’s words, people who are always able to shoot the bullseye switched their bow with people with a hit or miss shooting. Aeselak then switched her bow with Euria, who then switched in with Eugene.

“......” Eugene blinked. ‘How did this end up in my hand, again??’ She stared at the… not so perfect bow and deeply missed her perfect bow. Aeselak’s bow was taller than 2 bodies of Euria stacked up, and thick, whilst her original bow was at her height, and thin.

As she began to feel around her bow, Eugene’s face went from blank to more blank. Aeselak bow felt rough, different from what she got from the Great musician.

‘Ah!” Her eyes widened in realization! ‘I have an idea!’ Eugene felt her path to success widening. Even though the lower hold was basically straight, and the upper hold is curved, if it was that method, she should be able to pass with flying colors!

Eugene was in her world when she realized all the adults had gathered at the assessment area. Duke Marleigh, Duke Rodriguez, and Ario were right behind Euria.

Looking at Duke Rodriguez’s eager look, Eugene hummed. ‘He’s anxious in case he has to stay back for evening training?’ She pursed her lips and gave him a blank look.

Contrary to what Eugene thought, Duke Rodriguez was anxious for the upcoming swimming training.

And so, the Archery assessment begins…

____

WhooSH! WOOSH!

Both Dea and Louis passed with flying colors. They each shot 10 arrows consecutively in 30 seconds. These all naturally landed straight in the middle, and around the middle of the bullseye with 5 eye blinks.

Although not surprising, it was still flabbergasting how their assessment took only 30 seconds.

“......” Eugene swore she only blinked her eyes 5 times! She shook her head to disperse her speechless face. ‘I’m telling you, I'm not a genius. The true geniuses are the 4 Veria siblings.’ She sighed.

Ramon, Arie, and Aren pulled back their strings and their arrows shot out.

WOOSH WOOSH WOOSH~

“9/10!” Kal shouted!

“......” The three stared at each other speechless before jumping up in happiness! Surprisingly, the three were able to do better in the assessment than training!

‘So it was the bow and arrows that were bad!’ The three telepathy to each other, blaming the equipment and not their skills!

WOOSH!

Everyone blinked. Aedelak’s assessment ended in 40 seconds, scoring 10/10.

“I must say, Aedelak and Dea’s perception of Archery is the most natural. They have the talent to shoot…” Kal commented, making Aedelak go red under everyone’s stares. Dea too scratched his head in embarrassment.

“Young master Louis, Con, and Miss Euria are textbook perfectionists. Everything they do, they will do it well. Aren, Young master Aernest and Miss Aeselak are hard workers. Young master Ramon and Arie are intuitive types. They will persist and complete their goals. Young master Ron and Argen are the lucky types. They will get by anything. And Miss Eugeneia…” Kal pursed his lips.

“Miss Eugeneia is not natural, doesn’t need to work hard, not textbook perfect.”

“....” Eugene stared straight.

“... She has practice. Posture that indicates practices. With her creative mind, she can think of a way out. She thinks outside the box we are caged in, yet will succeed at the end.” Kal gave his analysis of Eugene’s character.

Though no one thought much of his compliment-like-words, Eugene felt her alarm antennas going off. For the first time, she felt her body going cold. Although she knew it was a compliment, she couldn’t help but feel wary of his words. It felt as if he was close to the truth of her origin.

Whilst Eugene was deep in her world, Ron Graeme, Aeselak, Aernest, and Argen took the assessment and each scored 8/10.

Aeselak had missed 2 because her bow and arrows were too good. However, she soon got used to Euria’s bow and with a little adjustment, was able to shoot 8 arrows to the bullseye consecutively.

“Good job!” Kal nodded in acknowledgment.

“Miss Aeselak did well, despite your dislike for physical sport.”

Aeselak gasped in surprise and looked towards Duke Marleigh. ‘Did teacher....’ Her eyes widened. However, contrary to her thoughts, Kal was able to pick out this trait of Aeselak just by looking at her. Duke Marleigh never said anything. Nor has he said anything for the past few hours.

“She is suited for strategy.” Duke Marleigh suddenly spoke out for the first time in 2 episodes.

“I thought so, nevertheless, she is still good! If she has the motivation, she can go big!” Kal smiled at Aeselak whose face got red.

“Sister…” Aernest tugged on Eugene’s shirt, bringing her back to reality. “Are you alright?” He asked worriedly. Within the past few minutes, Eugene’s breathing and heartbeat have accelerated beyond the usual.

“....” Eugene looked at Aernest. “Yes.” She sighed. She felt all sorts of emotions because it felt as if she was standing naked in front of commander Kal.

‘Focus on the archery assessment.’ She quickly switched mood. ‘It will be alright.’ She persuaded herself.

‘It will be alright.’

Like Kal’s words, Con was textbook perfect and scored a 10/10. Like Dea and Louis, it took everyone 5 blinks to see that all his arrows had landed on the bullseyes. After shooting, he quietly walked back and stood in silence.

Euria was next. She sneaked a hug from Eugene before quickly running up to stand behind the white line.

“Good luck sister!” Aernest quietly cheered from the side.

Dea looked at Louis before whispering. “Commander says that your sister is textbook perfect, what do you think?”

Louis stared at Euria blankly before frowning. “I don’t know.” He muttered.

Ramon looked at Louis in surprise, before he too moved his line of sight to Euria. ‘There’s something, Eldest brother doesn’t know? Why?’ He couldn’t help but question.

Euria’s performance today was shocking. It was something he didn’t expect. However, to him, Euria was the opposite of his Eldest Brother. He loved her very much because she was cute and small. She was his little sister he adores. But unlike the Commander’s statement, her abilities don't hold a candle to his Eldest brother. It just wasn’t Euria’s character.

Euria took a big inhale before exhaling out. Lining her body with the target, she focused her sights on the bullseye. With three fingers, she pulled the string back, adding speed and power when releasing the arrow.

Breathing in again, Euria pulled her buttocks in, making her pelvis protrude out.

Just like Eugene, Euria’s back was curved in a perfect arch, before releasing her arrow to shoot.

WHOOSH!!

Euria followed through with her pose until her arrow reached the target, before repeating the steps 9 more times.

WOOSH!! WHOOSH!! WHOOSH!

The surroundings became silent with only the sound of nature being prominent. Everyone except Eugene and Aernest, hearts skipped a beat, with Euria’s first arrow. Her fingers, her aura, her shooting posture, everything was Eugene’s replica.

Even the after picture of Euria standing still in place resembles those of an adult. As if Euria, too turned into an adult.

Yet unlink Eugene, Euria turned around whilst breaking out in the most comedic face. Her face was scrunched up like a middle-aged woman, as she hopped to Eugene and Aernest.

“.... What’s wrong with your face.” Eugene stared at Euria in disgust. How did her cute face become so wrinkly?

“..... I forgot to smirk in the beginning…” Euria pouted.

“... Smirk?” Eugene speechlessly muttered. ‘Did I smirk in the beginning?’ Eugene blinked.

The answer was, yes, she did smirk in confidence.

“You did well sister!” Aernest smiled with all his teeth bared.

“...Eh..” Euria shrugged.

Whilst the three were conversing happily, everyone else still stood in silence. It was Aren and Argen who exhaled loudly, bringing everyone back to mother earth.

“HAAA…” Aren and Argen breathed out their Co2. They glanced at each other before looking over at Euria who was running around Eugene with fast speed. Only her leftover shadow could be seen. A naruto run...

“You did well Euria.” Eugene finally complimented Euria. With those words, Euria jumped on top of Eugene and gave her a big hug!

Euria is a genius. This statement, Eugene has repeated 10 times throughout the past 4 episodes. For the past 3 years, Eugene grew up with Euria. She lived with Euria. And they were together for at least 10+ hours daily. That was how she was able to comprehend Euria’s abilities. It, too, shocked her at first. Because Euria was a lazy child.

But surprisingly, this lazy child was someone who was able to execute anything with or without pressure. Although she wouldn’t get it right the first time, she will get it right by the second, or third time. If you showed Euria something once or twice, Euria will be able to execute whatever you showed her, with perfection.

Just… It depended on her mood most of the time.

“This child… has some serious talent.” Ario speechlessly muttered.

“You are right,” Kal said blankly.

“Is she … always like this?” Ario frowned and glanced towards Duke Marleigh.

“...... No wonder she wasn’t good with strategies…” Duke Marleigh blinked.

“......” Duke Rodriguez gulped. He had misplaced Euria to study strategy with Duke Marleigh when she should’ve stayed with him to study martial arts.

“... She trains under you?” Ario quickly turned towards Duke Marleigh in surprise.

Duke Rodriguez nodded his head.

“She didn’t pass the assessment, so she now studies strategy.” He replied in Duke Marleigh’s stead.

“... She has no patience?” Ario chuckled yet questioned.

Duke Rodriguez nodded. “Hahaha yes. She has no patience with martial arts.”

“Let’s see how the older twin will do. Her bow is switched after all.” Kal glanced at Eugene.

“.....” Eugene walked to the straight line and gulped.

She was confident alright? But! Mishaps can happen!

She blinked at the target 50 meters away and sighed. Closing her eyes, she indeed.

‘Let’s do this!’ Eugene opened her eyes, and look down. Using her shoes, she dug a small hole right in front of her.

“.... What is she doing?” Arie muttered.

“.... Is she... Playing?” Aren, the bald twin, moved his head.

“.....” Louis blinked. He watched as Eugene began dancing with her soles because sticking the lower hand of the bow into the hole she dug.

“....” Louis blanked out.

Eugene scooted the sand she dug out around the bow to hold it steady. ‘Lifehack skills 101!’ She smirked.

Everyone watched Eugene not knowing if she was being serious or not. They wanted to say something, but considering her skills, they held themselves from speaking. Just then, they see her sitting on the ground, with her right leg wrapped around the standing bow and her left leg arched.

“Huh!?” Ramon shouted in horror. ‘Wha... What… What?!?’ He glanced back and forth between Eugene and Louis.

‘Is this... Alright?’ He gulped.

“Mehehe~ Sister is having fun!” Euria cheered, grabbing Aernest’s arm.

Not listening to the commotion to her side, Eugene scooted back. With her right hand, she held the hand handle whilst using her right feet to push against the bow.

Yes, she was using her feet to forcefully make the bow curve. And yes, she was on the ground, looking like a commoner.

“Ah!” Everyone gasped. By this sight alone, they finally realized why she is doing what she is doing. She is going to force out all the strength of Aeselak’s bow to its maximum peak. And to do that, she needed the force of her whole body!

“Smart” Kal gasped in surprise! ‘However, what about the string that is incredibly loose?’ He glanced at Eugene to see if she had noticed.

“.....” Duh! She noticed. The string is literally so loose that it became useless!

Eugene slowly let go of the handhold and cease her strength on her feet. She then started to untie Aeselak’s string and re-tied it tighter.

‘Tsk. With the string this loose, it wouldn’t even go 10 centimeters!’ She complained internally.