[Sorry for the delay in updates. I was a bit busy, so i couldn't update. Also, there's a change in my schedule, since i'm starting work on my other fiction, "I'm the descendant of the Maou". So i'll be updating on alternating days, if possible. Thx for reading, and hope you enjoy it!]

The Nores weren’t really strong monsters, individually. They were group type attackers, who focused on a main contingent attacking from the front while a few others hid in the surroundings, sending sneak attacks. A sly bunch. But anything goes.

They primarily used wind magic, using wind blades, which were the greatest threats, since it was invisible, flying at their enemies. The wind blade is their primary attack magic, and their racial characteristic was Wind Armor, which causes the surrounding air to automatically form a current on their body, deflecting minor attacks and such. Even a variant Nores, could only use Wind blast, a violent torrent of wind, as their trump card.

Variant monsters were special, since they were created by mutations in their genes. Of course, that was my theory, and the one prevalent here was that they got stronger by gaining a great amount of mana.

Variants could be stronger, weaker, or experts in another field. Some, like the variant Nores that’s here, can use stronger wind magic, while some would lose the ability to use wind magic. The others might gain the ability to use Fire magic and wind magic. Well, you get the idea.

And right now, we were being confronted by 4 Nores and one variant. The variant was of a lighter brown, with darker green leaves on its head. I could immediately sense with a short burst of Detect that there were more than 5 hiding around us, waiting for us to drop our guards.

And the battle begins.

The magician Aura starts chanting, in some language I don’t know yet. Oh yeah. Magic had different variations too. Chants could be in different languages and the slight differences in the meanings of the words changes the power of the words significantly. The language I use to chant is the Emulcus language, the one Master taught me. It significantly raises the base ability of every magic, so it’s good enough for me. I’ve started learning the Renicus language, one which boosts the ability of Fire magic. The chant languages are like tongue twisters, and if you don’t understand the underlying meaning, it’ll only come out as “Doobidabidada” and other gibberish. Your understanding of the chant brings the magic into this realm, and your vision of the magic changes its appearance. Or so, “The guide to understanding magic” says.

Also there are three types of magic, the Model magic, the Original magic, and the freeform magic. Model magic is something like default magic, with the chants being pre written and the power and delivery is all at a set level. Something like using a store bought car for races. Original magic is brought about by one’s own understanding, so the power and delivery are maxed out. This is like using a custom car. And free form magic is almost not related to magic at all, since it involves bringing the magic into the material world, and giving it shape and specific features. Meaning, I could use fire natured mana to create a barrage of fire magic spikes. Freely forming it by one’s imagination and it doesn’t need any chants. It’s like building a car myself. But, the difficulty in freeform magic is on another level, since constant concentration is required. Failing at using it can cause a severe rebound. Or so, ‘Types of Magic 101’ says.

By the time I reviewed my knowledge, Aura finishes chanting and aims her star wand at Zwert. Some kind of yellow bands revolve around him. Reinforcement magic, I guess?

He rushes in, swinging his sword around. Is he mad? No, if I look closely, I can see the faint changes in the wind current where he hits. Wind blades, huh?

My guess was right, since even the Nores jump back, waving their hands around, and wind currents start forming. They can fire at about 3 blades per second, and there were four of them. The variant stays back, biding his time. The wind blades fly at the party, and Zwert expertly deflects them to the surroundings.

Aura starts chanting again, this time it seems to be something much more complex, since she immediately tenses up. Makes me curious.

Kai, the hammer dude, keeps guard for Aura, to make sure no one attacks her. Seems like the need of a magician is essential.

Maria, on the other hand, is weird. While everyone else is fighting, she keeps her bow at the ready, not firing any of the arrows on her back. She looks tense, and watches the fight as such. She notices my stare, gets flustered, immediately nocks an arrow and shoots.

By chance, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to look uncool in front of her junior right?

Perfect hit. The arrow flies and hits the Nores on the forehead, and it dies, the poor Unicorn Nores.

But almost immediately—

“MARIA! I TOLD YOU TO NOT SHOOT! HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY ME?!”

Zwert’s kind and friendly attitude disappears, and he roars at Maria, with rage on his face. Disobey? Dude. What the hell is going on here?

The other members of the party sent reproachful gazes at her, as if agreeing with him.

Maria looks down, her eyes clouded.

The variant suddenly takes advantage of this moment of falling out between party mates. He raises his little clawed hand, and growls. Suddenly, a huge burst of wind flies towards us, throwing the party off balance. The other Nores take this chance to prepare to fire a simultaneous barrage of Wind blades. The damage won’t be minor. All right, a bit of help is fine.

I release a quick burst of Monster Slayer energy, freezing the Nores due to the sudden killing intent from a much stronger monster.

The variant turns its leafy head towards me. Haha. You got me, tree head.

It points its finger at me and grunts. All of the Nores turn their heads towards me. Shit. My plan was a success, in a sense. Although it didn’t improve my situation.

Ok. I didn’t want to reveal myself this soon though.

But before I could start my rampage, the one other person who doesn’t lose balance, raises his giant hammer and roars. Is he the tank?

But, even he won’t get off unscathed from 24 wind blades fired in a second. But, since the hidden ones haven’t revealed themselves here, I can decrease the amount by at least 15. He’ll survive, I guess.

I move into the woods, towards the first Nores I detected. In a single slash, I finished it. It couldn’t even raise a scream. I aim at the most probable location of the second and third Nores, and leak a bit more of the Monster Slayer energy. They stiffen, and I could clearly see the leaves rustle.

Three down. Two to go. I release Detect, and discover the location of the last two. Aura is getting up. Good.

The fourth one was over when I set its head on fire and lopped it off, but I was a bit late.

The last one released a wind blade before I could finish it. Drat, it’s heading for Maria. Should I ?

Dang it, of course I should! What am I hesitating for?

So, I think, but Maria had already shot an arrow, and cut the wind blade in two, dispelling it.

Maria, is she hiding her strength or something?

I was back behind the tree I was hiding before by the time Zwert got up. There are only 3 Nores and a variant Nores left. Maria immediately slung her bow onto her back, and stepped back.

************

The fire crackled, shedding light on the darkness of the night. We set up camp in a clearing, and a campfire was prepared. Everyone sat near the fire, chatting, and I stayed inside the tent. I could faintly hear them speaking.

“Today was great huh? To think a variant would appear”

“As if. I wish it was our original party facing them”

“Right now we’re stuck with an escort quest, to protect some noble like kid. It’s your fault Zwe”

“What did you say? You were the one who suggested we call a magician in the first place Kai!”

“Calm down, both of you. We just need to finish the quest as fast as possible. We don’t need to protect that dork. Even if he died, it’s not exactly out fault.”

“…”

Silence followed. I guess they are in agreement. Sigh. I closed my eyes and began integrating more of the energies to increase my endurance with the energies. It’s my daily training that Master suggested for me.

“But, Maria….”

“It’s because you told us, Aura, that we’re still letting her go around with us”

“Yeah! Even today, we lost concentration because she broke the rules”

“She fired an arrow when we specifically told her not to.”

“Guys… But Maria was the one who formed this party”

“So? Do you want us to worship her as the founder?”

“Then, we’ll dissolve this party, and make a new one. Is that fine, Aura?”

“…..”

Maria huh. She’s not weak, I can guarantee that.

“She’s just too weak. I mean, the arrows do hit the mark, but in overall terms of firepower, an archer is useful only in wars. And in party battles, there’s the risk of friendly fire and such. If foes with strong defense come, she’ll be no more useful than that deadweight we’re carrying!”

True, Archers aren’t exactly the strongest. Maria must have heard it all too huh. Maybe she listens to this everyday…

Some amount of empathy wells up in me, since it was a bit similar to when I was young. People didn’t want to mingle with me since I was weird from a young age and frequently bullied. Shizuka was the one who first approached me, and I swore that I’d protect her, just like she saved me.

If one is left alone, they are just waiting for someone to approach them. Maybe some will deny it, but deep in their hearts, no one wants to be truly alone.

“Allright~!”

I get up, and dust myself off. I walk off from the camp site, exiting the tent. The three don’t even glance at me as I leave; I guess they’re hoping I die in the forest.

A few ways off from the main campsite, there was a small fire, dying. In front of the fire, there was Maria, her head drooping.

“Flame”

I intensify the flame, and it burns brighter. Maria wakes up in a shock, stood up and was already aiming at me with her bow. When she sees my face, she relaxes, and sits back down.

I move closer and offer a bit of meat strips I had made as emergency food. She accepts it and bites into it, with small bites, her eyes on the fire.

I sit next to her. She doesn’t seem to mind it, so I relax.

Now, what exactly do I do?

Now that I’m here, my mind is blank. How does one talk to a girl again? In this situation, I face my biggest trouble. Initiating a talk with a girl. I could reply, but never start a conversation.

Thankfully, she does it for me.

“Yuuya san, you’re really strong aren’t you?”

Poker face. Poker face.

“Hm? What might you be talking about?”

“There’s no need to hide it you know. I was suspicious of you from the start. It’s obvious that the elf chan who accompanies you isn’t exactly strong, and is only a child. Then how does one finish silver ranked quests like a breeze? It’s obvious. Yuuya san is strong.”

She paused, waiting for my reply. I remain silent, so she continues.

“And it was obvious today. When the Nores attacked, I saw it clearly. I was behind you, and I sort of sensed it. Some… something came out of you, and every one of the Nores stopped their simultaneous fire. Even the variant ordered an attack on you, didn’t it? And like a mirage, you suddenly disappeared, and reappeared in the forest.”

“Maria san, how did you?”

“Haha. Don’t underestimate an archer’s eyes”

She tapped her eye and said that. Too close. Almost fell for her. I calmed down my racing heart, and stared into the fire like her. Maria wasn’t a beauty that surpasses all in this world, but she’s cute enough to become super popular back at my school.

“Yuuya san… Do you know how it feels to be weak?”

I stay silent. Of course I do. But now, I have to let her talk. A good speaker also has to be a good listener.

“I’m… I’m really an idiot… I took up the bow since my father also used it, but once I did it, I realized how impossible it is… My friends all want to get rid of me, and people don’t want an archer to be in their party. I can’t even use other weapons since I swore to my father, but even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t, since I like using the bow. It’s like a part of me… And the bow is the weakest of all….Pathetic, aren’t I?”

I stayed silent, and after a moment of pondering, I came up with m reply.

“Maria san, what makes one strong? Is it being able to kill God class monsters? Or eliminating an entire army? Or is it the mental fortitude for one to pursue their dreams without giving up? Is it the determination to do even the most gruesome tasks, just to help someone else?”

She stayed silent.

“In the end, strength is subjective. Each and every class has its individual strengths, and weaknesses. There’s no one who’s truly strong. I’m not comforting you, Maria san, but in the end, you don’t understand what it means to be an archer”

“What it means to be an archer?”

Maria asked me, tilting her head.

“An archer’s strength is not just shooting arrows that hit a target. Like every other class, innovation and imagination can increase an archer’s strength by leaps and bounds.”

“I don’t really get you Yuuya san”

“An archer can run around the field, with the highest mobility, and fire arrows at any angle and stance. An archer can become the backbone of a party, by attacking the weak points of a monster. In the end, even an archer can be strong. But that depends on you, Maria san”

She started thinking my words over, and I could almost see smoke emerging from her ears. Then, after a while,

“Yes, Yuuya sensei”

Sensei? Well, whatever. Looks like she’s serious about it.

“You can, well customize your arrows.”

“Yes, I use steel and iron arrows. So customizing is okay. And I use poison arrows if necessary”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it?”

I’m disappointed. The archers can create a versatile skill set, and they stop with poison arrows? Fantasy world, thou art disappointing.

“Maria san, why don’t you try more stuff, like exploding arrows, acid arrows, smoke screen arrows—“

I list off everything I can from my mind, and Maria gets more and more excited from each suggestion.

“Alright, tomorrow, we’ll hunt together. We need to train your mobility and versatility. Understand?”

“Yes, Yuuya sensei!”

Ah. She looks happy.

Well, somehow, she became my student, but seeing the end result, it’s not so bad I guess.