章節 31: Fateful Archery
Sadiki slowly sprints to the pile of bows and dashes back to her while trampling on a soft dandelion. As he was doing so, he felt a massive force pushing through his tightened chest.
He lends Aletha the sturdy curved wooden bow and attached one large, spear-tipped arrow on the thick flimsy string. He stands behind Aletha, pushing her towards a flourishing grass field.
The swift rich breeze blows on her silky long white hair, fluctuating back and forth like a glistening dragging ribbon. The sun blazes as if it is a spotlight, shining behind a circle of swirling white clouds. As Aletha firmly grips the bow, Sadiki begins to explicate.
"Now, Aletha. Try to grip your fingers on the center of the string tightly."
He grabs Aletha's arm and rubs his hand against her soft skin. The pace of his breathing grows heavy, and he blinds in thick patches of fog. As the thick puffy clouds block the sun and cover the plains in shadow, Sadiki's eyes raise nebulous, staring at Aletha's gray eyes before the sun shines vividly at him once more.
His furtive glance at Aletha made her feel suspicious of him, so she tries to ignore Sadiki's winsome looks.
He slowly mutters to her. "Wow, Aletha. I never knew how pretty you are." He takes a deep sigh and stares at her chest. "You are gorgeous."
Aletha's face produces a red hue, incapable of containing the pressure any longer. She nervously whispers to Sadiki while reddening. "S-Sadiki, what are you doing?"
Sadiki's eyes swell with a slight purple luminance, with the overlooking shadow hovering over his round eyes.
"I don't know... I feel different. Just stay away from me, f-for now. There is some sort of force."
Aletha faintly replies. "O-Okay..."
She shoves Sadiki away from her and stands on the cobblestone road. The luminance enshrouding his eyes dims away, with his face filled with a light red tint. He shakes his head and mumbles.
"What was going on? N-Nevermind, let's just continue training."
Sadiki and Aletha continue to train using the bows and arrows underneath the vibrant sunlight. Sadiki firmly grasps Aletha's wrist and points the bow towards the red target standing behind the fence.
Sadiki backs away and slowly pulls the bow while Aletha's hand continuously shakes. Sadiki lightly chuckles.
"You're shaking a lot. Heh heh. Settle down, Aletha."
She shudders her lips and steadies her shaking arms. As the arrow ideally aims at the target, Sadiki swiftly pulls the needle with her and yells.
"Release!"
Aletha's fingers slide away from the string, and suddenly, the arrow pierces perfectly straight through the air, forming a perfect streak and directly hitting the center of the target. Sadiki cheers Aletha while his fluffy tail wags.
"BULLSEYE!"
Aletha swiftly tosses the blade upwards and has immense excitement.
"WOOHOO!"
The bow swiftly shatters into pieces and hits Sadiki's leg.
"AHHH!" Sadiki screamed painfully as she accidentally kicks her back. Aletha's eyes widen, and she gets knocked back towards the pile of bows. She shatters four more of them, with Sadiki's violet eyes widening in shock.
"Aletha, a-are you okay?"
She brushes the dirt off from her glittering dress and swishes her hair back and forth. Sadiki feels a genuine attraction to her looks and asks.
"Aletha, have you ever noticed... how people stare at you?"
"...They do? I never noticed..." Aletha cluelessly replies.
Sadiki slides his fingers under his chin and raises his eyebrow. As he stares at the blinking Aletha, he says in his mind.
"I guess she is one of THOSE people. The ones that don't notice how beautiful or lucky they really are... until it is pointed. Sigh, I... think I have to be the one who will state it.
Sadiki nervously coughs and whispers to Aletha.
"No one has such a vibrant shade on their hair in this world... except you and Asahi. You're practically precious, a rare breed among the sea of living beings."
Aletha tilts her head to Sadiki and confusingly mumbles.
"Huh?"
Sadiki shakes his head and places his palm over his forehead.
"What I am saying is that you have--" Sadiki shakes his head. "N-Nevermind, let's continue training."
Aletha nods her head and grabs another bow out from the pile.
As time passes, Aletha continuously releases arrows without any assistance. One after another, the hands hit the bullseye each time after another. Her accuracy was beyond Sadiki's predictions, hitting each bullseye time and time again.
After she releases her last bullseye, she drops the bow and pants heavily. Sweat slithers down her face while staring at the drifting white clouds. Sadiki claps his hands in awe, with his round amethyst eyes broadening in surprise and support.
"Aletha, you're a natural at archery! Have you done this before in the past?"
She brushes her hair with her fingers, then nods her head.
"No, I hadn't. I just so happened to get the supposed 'Bullseye' twenty times in a row. Speaking of which, what is the reason that you want me to practice?"
"O-Oh... I just wanted to see the combat skills that you strengthen. Now I know that you are indeed an archer; it shows me the primitive skills you have strengths. It makes clear sense because of your attire. Now that I think of it, your dress gives me the idea of a swordsman, not an archer. Have you forgotten a swordsman's combat skills by chance?"
Aletha slowly looks at her fingers, trying to recollect her memories of wielding a sword. However, there is some sort of obstacle that is blocking her from retrieving her memories. So, she did what is best and decides to return to the village.
"It feels strange when I don't have Asahi around. It's like my mind and soul are somewhat connected to him." She swiftly shakes her head and yells. "N-Nevermind. Let's just return to the village!"
The wind blows over Sadiki's glimmering silver hair and the flourishing grass plains. They decided to return to the village and find out what Asahi and Clover are doing. However, it was relatively too late to interfere, and instead, Sadiki and Aletha encountered Akwan, who was examining the bright child-sized dandelions spread across the village's perimeter.
* * * * *
His shining blonde hair blows with the bright, calming breeze of the fresh Pladtioan atmosphere. His golden and crimson eyes stare deeply into the flowers while pricking the tip of them off with his nails.
"Ah, the nature of Pladtioa will always hold a position in my beating heart. Oh... what's this...?"
The dandelions implode into small bits, flying with the breeze in front of his face. He hears the faint distant steps of Sadiki and Aletha coming from behind. He slowly tilts his head and peers his crimson eye at Aletha.
"Ah, are you back from training already? I suppose you have some sort of skill you discovered, correct?"
Aletha slightly smiles and nods her head with Sadiki.
"Yes, we discovered that I am skilled in archery."
Akwan backs up for a moment in shock. Just by the tone and look on his face and voice, it was enough to express the genuine confusion he had for Aletha.
"Archery? That's strange. Usually, wearing such slim attire, you would at least be wielding some sort of melee weapon? I don't understand..."
Sadiki points out while nearing Aletha's hand.
"It could be that she forgot to wield the weapon. Don't worry. She has only attempted twice in sword training. There is a possibility that she will remember later."
Akwan nods his head and pushes himself upwards. His attire flocks back and forth, hovering over the small crimson stars attached to his belt. He releases a faint yawn and glares at Sadiki.
"What do you want now?"
Sadiki replies in a kind filled tone, projecting a valid friendly expression towards Akwan, despite the many negative influences he gave to him in the past.
"We just want to know where Asahi went? Or rather, the others." Sadiki asked in a kindful tone.
Akwan nods his head and shrugs her shoulders. He takes a deep sigh and looks at Sadiki.
"I have no idea. Shouldn't you be the one responsible for the two for today?"
Sadiki jumps out in realization, then replies while grabbing Aletha's wrist.
"Oh, Clover! She said that she would introduce her parents to Asahi. Okay! Aletha, let's go to her house. I know where she lives, so it wouldn't be much of a conflict for us."
* * * * *
They sprint through the cobblestone roads and try to find Asahi and Clover. The villagers stare at them as they pass by, curious about the attire on both of them. It's clearly evident that both of them are not from this nation. Sadiki knocks on her house's dark oak wooden door and stands silently, hearing the calm birds chirp. Sadiki anxiously stomps his feet while Aletha takes another bare sight around her.
The door slowly opens and reveals a middle-aged man with dark green hair and brown eyes, glaring at both of them with a curious tone. He tilts his head and curiously asks. The man said in a naturally grown tone.
"Huh? I don't remember you two being around these parts. Anyways, what do you need?"
Sadiki politely answers while Sadiki grabs his other hand.
"We were looking for a girl named Clover? Have you seen her by chance? I assume that you are her parent."
The man nodded his head and chuckled.
"I have no idea where my daughter is."
Aletha relaxes her arms, and both of them sigh. Sadiki tilts his head to the bright luminescent sun shining on the drifting white puffy clouds and asks the man.
"So, where do you think she could be at this time?"
After the question has been given to Sadiki and Aletha, a massive beam of light trembles the ground and swiftly pierces through the clouds. The forest in the distance gets knocked back, and the sun deflects the massive energy light beam. Sadiki and Aletha hold onto the wall as a powerful shockwave blasts through trees and tosses rocks into the air.
Sadiki comically mutters to himself. As Aletha grips his hand tightly, Sadiki mutters to himself.
"I think I know where they are now..."
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