The training field was filled with the sound of arrows slicing through the air and the groans of students struggling to hit their targets. Several students missed entirely.
Only few managed to hit the edges of the bullseye but cursed under their breath, frustration clear on their faces.
The professor paced behind them, giving curt instructions, though his attention kept drifting toward the one figure standing calm, Leonhardt Caulem, I mean Reo.
Reo's stance was steady, his focus sharp. He nocked an arrow, drew the string back smoothly, and held it, his crimson eyes locked on the target ahead.
Then he released the arrow.
The arrow flew straight and true, piercing the exact center of the bullseye and splitting an arrow already lodged there.
The field fell silent. The professor stopped mid-sentence, staring at the target. Disbelief etched across their faces.
One boy beside Reo struggled to notch his arrow properly, muttering, "How the hell is he doing that?"
The violet braided haired girl next to him, who had yet to even hit her target, shook her head in frustration.
"He's never been good with weapons," she whispered.
He let out a low breath, lowering the bow as if his shot had been nothing special.
I've never even touched a bow before, he thought, glancing at his hand. His lips quirked into a faint grin.
Well this skill… weapon mastery.
[The Weapon Mastery skill I granted you ensures proficiency at an intermediate level with any weapon,]
[But even for you, this level of precision is noteworthy.]
The professor finally found his voice. "Leonhardt!" he called, his tone a mix of astonishment and confusion. "Where… where did you learn to shoot like that?"
Reo turned slightly, giving a casual shrug. "Oh, you know," he said vaguely. "I've been practicing."
Without another word, he nocked another arrow. This time, he whispered, "Wind magic." A faint glow surrounded the arrow as the air around it twisted.
When he released, the arrow shot forward with a sharp whistle, slicing through the air like a blade. It struck the target, the impact so powerful it splintered the wooden frame, reducing it to fragments that scattered across the field.
A collective gasp swept through the students. Even the professor took a cautious step back, gripping his clipboard tightly.
Reo blinked at the shattered remains of the target, lowering the bow slowly. "Huh," he muttered, genuinely surprised. "That's… new."
[Wow, Reo. Even I didn't anticipate you combining magic with the skill effectively.]
[You've managed to amplify its impact significantly. Impressive.]
His gaze drifted to the violet-haired girl—Rin, he recalled. She was struggling again, her slender fingers trembling as she loosed an arrow that sailed hopelessly wide.
Her face was red, and she ducked her head, strands of that vibrant braid slipping free to frame her sharp cheekbones. Reo's eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary, noting the way her chest heaved with frustration, her lips pursed in a pout that was equal parts adorable and enticing.
Still holding his bow, Reo took a step back and called out, his voice calm but firm enough to cut through the noise. "Rin."
The girl startled, looking up in surprise. The attention from him, of all people, seemed to catch her off guard. "Y-yes?" she stammered, clutching her bow tightly.
"You're holding it wrong," Reo said bluntly. His eyes narrowed as he gestured toward her. "Straighten your back. Relax your shoulders. And don't rush. You're losing focus before you even pull the string." His tone wasn't harsh—it was measured, almost instructive. The students nearby paused their own efforts, turning their heads to watch the exchange.
Rin hesitated, her embarrassment clear. "I… I don't think it'll make a difference," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.
"Just try it," he said simply, as if there was no room for argument.
Rin jolted, her wide eyes darting to the professor, who remained silent, then back to Reo. Hesitation flickered across her face, but there was a spark there too—intrigue, maybe attraction.
She adjusted her stance, her hips shifting slightly as she mirrored his advice, the motion accentuating her lithe frame.
The other students watched with growing interest.
"Pull the string evenly," he instructed. "Now focus on where you want the arrow to go. Block everything else out."
Her hands quivered, then stilled. She released it. The arrow streaked forward, thudding into the target—not the bullseye, but a solid hit. Her lips parted in a gasp. "I hit it!" she shouts, her voice bright and breathless, her earlier frustration melting into a radiant grin that lit up her face.
She bounced slightly, her braid swaying, and Reo caught the faintest hint of a sway in her step as she turned toward him, her pink eyes shining.
He arched a brow, unimpressed but secretly amused. Girl you hit the outer ring, not the bullseye, he thought, though he kept it to himself.
Footsteps shuffled closer. A small cluster of students approached, their faces a mix of nerves and hope. A mousy girl with big eyes spoke up, her voice timid. "Could you… teach us too? We're kind of hopeless."
Reo scanned the field—arrows strewn everywhere, targets barely nicked, students slouched in defeat. The Bronze Class, he thought darkly. Instructors never bothered to care for them like Gold and Silver. He sighed, raking a hand through his red hair.
"I'm no master," he said, his voice carrying a quiet authority. "But sure. I'll teach you."
Their faces brightened, and they crowded closer, a flicker of hope replacing their earlier despair.
From a second-floor balcony, a silver-haired girl with piercing violet eyes watched in silence, her golden brooch glinting against her pristine uniform.
Her gaze stayed fixed on Reo, unreadable yet intense.
Down the hall, a knot of Gold Class second-years lounged, their laughter sharp and careless. Elara stood among them, her golden eyes distant as she leaned against the railing, only half-listening.
One girl sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Look at that loser, playing teacher to a bunch of rejects."
Elara's head tilted slightly. "I heard Leonhardt challenged Garrik," she said, her tone even. "That true?"
Astrid, beside her, scoffed. "Yep, it's official. That creep lost it since the attack."
"Garrik's gonna smear him," a boy added, grinning. "No contest."
"Anyone betting against Garrik?" another asked, sparking more laughter.
The silver-haired girl remained silent, her eyes tracking Reo as he nocked another arrow below. This time, fire mana flared around the shaft, the air shimmering with heat. Astrid faltered, her voice dropping. "Wait… fire mana? That's insane control."
Reo released, and the arrow blazed across the field, striking the target in a fiery detonation. The frame erupted, embers spiraling into the sky as the students below gasped in unison.
"What was that?" a boy in Elara's group choked out, his bravado gone.
"That's not Leonhardt," another muttered, voice trembling. "No way."
The silver-haired girl turned from the railing, a ghost of a smile softening her features as she glided past the stunned group.
Reo stood looking the shattered target, embers flickering faintly as the last traces of fire magic faded into the breeze.
Around him, his classmates watched in silent amazement.
The professor's whistle broke the trance. "Class dismissed!" he barked.
The students shuffled off reluctantly, casting glances back at Reo as they filed toward the edge of the field. He moved toward the stands, putting down his bow.
The crunch of footsteps behind him caught his attention. "Leonhardt?" Rin's voice was hesitant yet warm, a note of shy courage breaking through.
He turned, catching sight of her standing a few paces back. Her pink eyes glinted with something new—gratitude mixed with a spark of awe—and she smiled, small and tentative but unmistakably genuine.
"Thanks for helping me earlier," she said softly, her cheeks coloring faintly.
"I… I finally hit something for the first time."
Reo's gaze swept over her briefly. She wasn't hiding behind her braid anymore. She looked taller somehow, more composed than the nervous.
"Don't worry about it," he replied coolly, stepping past her without breaking stride. "Try for the bullseye next time."
Rin blinked at his words, her face warming even further before she called after him hurriedly, her voice rising as though afraid to lose his attention. "Be careful in the duel tomorrow, okay?"
Reo paused mid-step, tilting his head slightly without turning fully toward her. Catching the nervous glint in hers.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice steady and brimming with confidence. "It's not about being careful. I'm winning." He resumed walking.
"Good luck with that!" she called after him, her tone filled with genuine hope. She tucked a stray violet strand behind her ear, her lips curving into an excited smile as she watched him go.