“I know,” he agrees, “but I need to see how far it will go first. Just to assess your strength.”
I reach down to my boot and angle my body again, focusing on the change of weight as I hitch my hand back and throw. The dagger doesn’t even make it half way to the target, instead landing in the field of grass well before it.
“Don’t sulk,” Cal steps forward, beckoning me with him, “we’ll work on expanding your range just as we did with your small blade. But this distance,here, will be your sweet spot.”
He stops about a step after where the blade rests in the ground and gives me a smile.
“Anything thrown from this distance or shorter will find its mark,” he walks forward to grab the smaller dagger from the target as I reach down to grab the larger. He hands me the smaller and then moves to my back.
“This dagger will require more of your core, Alex,” he places a large hand against my stomach, making me flex the small muscles there, “you can’t rely on the swift movements of your arm for this blade. You’ll need to push forward with your full body for his one.”
I nod and reach behind me, throwing the larger dagger again and barely nicking the bottom of the target. I grab the smaller from my arm and swiftly toss it at the target as well, watching as it lands dead in the center and soothes my bruised ego.
“The range and skill will come with practice,” Cal chuckles, “you can’t expect to pick it up right away. It took you a full year to learn with the first blade.”
I narrow my eyes on my big friend as he shakes his head, “again.”
By the end of our session I’m successfully hitting the bottom edge of the target with each throw, still in a sour mood. When it comes time for Holis’ training, he takes over for Cal and plants my feet and arms in the correct position for the recurved hunting bow. This weapon feels even more foreign in my hands than my new dagger does, as it’s been a long while since Holis and I last practiced.
My Discerni friend tilts my elbow up from behind and glances down at my posture before nodding. “Good, let it fly.”
The arrow hits the target with a loud thud, not in the dead center but not on the outskirts either. I let out a sigh of relief, happy to know that my body hasn’t forgotten his previous lessons.
“Again,” Holis directs, “commit this stance to memory.”
I draw another arrow and pull it back, feeling my elbow dip lower. I bring it up before Holis can adjust and release the arrow, watching as it nearly hits the same spot as the first.
“Again,” Holis nods in thought behind me, “but stand taller. Use your core as Cal said.”
I straighten my shoulders and keep my elbow lifted, flexing my core. The arrow finds itself just barely outside the small middle mark.
“Not bad, human,” Alanna saunters forward, her cool grey eyes watching me, “but anyone with basic training can hit a target that is unmoving.”
“Not helping, Alanna,” Holis scowls, “again, Alexis.”
I string another arrow and take the proper stance, letting it fly. The head finds itself just on the outskirts of the middle mark again.
“One day, human,” Alanna teases, leaning down to stretch next to us.
“Maybe if it was you out there I wouldn’t miss,” I mumble to myself, reaching for another arrow.
In the single moment it takes for me to stand back up again, Alanna has quickly placed herself in front of the target.
Ancients,her Discerni speed made her a blur.
“Go on then, Alexis,” she yells from down the field, bringing her hand up to her heart and pointing at her chest, “aim here.”
“You’re crazy,” I yell back at her, shaking my head.
“Oh,human. We both know that you’ve been waiting for the chance to take me back a few marks. I’m giving that to you now!” she smirks from far away as Holis rolls his eyes, “that is, if you think you can.”
I glare at her cool eyes from afar, “I’m not aiming at you, Alanna.”
“Why not?” she laughs with a shrug, “afraid you’ll miss? Not up for the challenge, Alexis?”
I string the bow quickly and aim at her mouth, wishing she would just shut up.
Alanna laughs, “sure, aim for my face, if that’s what will help.”
