-The next day.
In my large backyard, I was standing alone some distance away from the round, red-white targets.
It was still early so mom and dad weren’t ready to watch my practice.
The target was behind a wooden log this time.
I was trying to spin the arrows to the side and then hit the target.
‘It looks difficult, and it definitely is. Well, I just have to try repeatedly and learn from the previous attempts. I am sure it will work out if I don’t give up~.’
I took out an arrow from behind me and stood in the position.
‘The book affirmed that the position of the arrow on the bow has to be right for the arrow to bend on that one side.’
I took some time to remember the exact positioning and prepared to give it my first try.
Taking a deep breath, I got into my position.
Looking at my target, which should be right behind the wooden log, I thought. .
‘ The arrow will tilt to the right side after that, spinning in the straight line… it will hit the target.’
I released the arrow.
-Sweeeeeeeehs. -Sweshd.
The result of the first attempt was…
‘Well done, I failed.
It just hit the wooden log itself. Nothing to worry about, though.
I am just getting started.’
Giving up isn’t something I would do so easily. That’s what I learned from my previous as well as this life.
If I really think there is not even a fraction of a chance to succeed, I wouldn’t even try. But leaving the things I started midway is not something I want to do.
I took out the second arrow and repeated the entire process.
It failed again.
The third try. Failed.
The fourth try. Failed.
The fifth try. Failed.
The sixth try. Failed.
*
After trying roughly 21 times… the arrow finally bent. But still, it didn’t hit the target.
But that was enough for today.
‘Good progress for today. Is it actually a bit easier than I thought it to be? Well, that’s good for me, anyway…’
I thought and started to turn around when I heard two very familiar voices.
“That was outstanding! How could you learn something that difficult so quickly!?”
Dad shouted loudly. He had an envious look as well as a proud look of a person whose child had just won a medal.
“Eon~, that’s so cool! How did you do it~? That focused expression of yours was as serious as your dad’s when casting a hard spell! Come here~.”
It was mom this time. She was with dad right now and not on the balcony.
And, from the way she was talking, it looked like they were watching me for quite a long time.
‘I didn’t realize at all? Was I that focused on the target this time?
Well, it could be good in some way… I am improving,’ I thought as I reached them.
Mom hugged me tightly and dad watched us with a smiling face and concerned eyes.
‘He really has exceptional talent, and that’s exactly why… I’m concerned. But she is many times more anxious than I am.’
He thought, looking at his wife, who was hugging their son.
Maybe Axion didn’t realize what his father was thinking as he hugged his mother back.
They stayed that way for some time, and after that, Mom started talking.
“Your hands look hurt. Let’s go treat them first!”
After those continued attempts, my hands were bruised. Mom knew right away as she dragged me in without letting me speak.
Dad watched us with a helpless look and followed up.
***
“Hmm. This should be enough. You will have to rest until tomorrow and DON’T DO anything~,” mom ordered as she tied both of my hands with bandages entirety.
‘This definitely is some kind of punishment.’
Did she wrap both of my hands in bandages for something small like this?
Just some medical herbs would have worked.
She even prepared some potions but dad stopped her saying that would be too much.
‘Well, I can’t do anything about mom. That’s just how she is. Me getting hurt… would be the last thing she wants to see.’
But this will also prevent me from doing anything for the time being.
‘Well, I should have some rest anyway.’
“Ok then~. I will feed you dinner today!”
Mom said with a cheerful look on her face. She was excited, but there was a look of concern in her eyes too.
‘My little baby is growing fast and… I can’t play with him as much as I want. But if he likes what he is doing, then I can’t stop him either.’
She hid her concerns and sat down with her son.
“So, what should I make today?”
Dad asked while looking at us. Mom answered his silly question with a mischievous smile.
“Oh honey~, is that even a question? Whatever you make is so amazing that I want to reward you every time I eat it~.”
Dad just looked the other way after hearing that, as he understood what reward meant.
He seemed a bit delighted after hearing mom say that.
I asked in a different tone after hearing her question. This was also something that was on my mind for a long time.
“Will I get a reward if I make something like dad too?”
To be honest, I wanted to learn to cook from my dad but couldn’t ask him.
This was a wonderful opportunity for me to accomplish that dream.
“Yes. I would give you whatever you ask if you cook something special for me~.” She was excited to hear that I would make her something.
“Ok then! You have to keep your promise~.”
“Definitely~.as long as it’s within my limits.”
She clarified with a calm smile, but there was a doubtful look in her eyes for a second before it disappeared.
“Ok! So I should go and start preparing for it.”
Dad left and mom and I were left alone in the room.
Mom and I chattered about some other things before dinner.
Mom is actually a very smart person. But… she worries too much.
‘I love them…’ I thought while looking at a clear, beautiful hand holding a spoon.
I opened my mouth and ate the stew.
‘Mmm. Delicious as always.’
Dad’s cooking was top-notch.
The day was coming to an end, and I was in thoughts of perfecting my technique.
But I enjoyed the food more than that thought today.
Maybe because mom was the one to feed it?
‘Well, it’s… a good feeling.’
***
-The next day
Standing on the grass-clothed ground, I took the stance. The sun was already setting, so this one might be the last try.
Staring at the place where the target should be with an unblinking gaze… I released the arrow.
-Shwooooook. -Thud.
The arrow hit the target somewhere between the edges and the center.
‘That was hard.’
After practicing for the whole day, I was able to land the arrow on the target.
That was a lot less time than an average archer who practices archery exclusively would take.
“Ok then. What should I do for my next…”
I stopped and thought about something.
‘Now that I was able to fire three arrows perfectly, I should give a try to blind firing.’
Blind Firing was just as its name suggests. Shooting the arrow without looking at the target.
This one was a long shot, but I was many times more eager to try it out.
‘And I can do two things at once while practicing that!’
I will have to enhance my scenes with the flowing <Energy> inside me and to do that, I will have to gain more control over my body.
So I should start meditation starting tomorrow with my regular training.
‘By meditating and circulating the <Energy> inside my body and fusing it with the environmental Mana, I will be able to enhance my senses as well as progress further in completing the <Mana Nucleus>.’
For this plan to work, I had to gain a certain level of proficiency in handling the environmental Mana so that dad wouldn’t notice it.
That was the reason I had to practice that at night.
But, I think I am now ready to do that as practice training.
‘So, I’m now closer to the path of a [Magic archer] and now I have something I can convince mom to let dad teach me magic with.’
But whether mom gives the permission or not will be decided by her.
‘If she doesn’t approve dad to teach me, I can just self teach myself with the knowledge I have from reading books from both worlds and playing games in the past world.’
It would all be in the future anyway. I just have to do my best in the things that I am doing.
‘I believe mom will disagree first but, she promised to give me anything I want if I make her something special.’
So I will also have to ask dad to teach me cooking.
“Haaaaa….”
The next some months will definitely be difficult but, I will have to endure them and make my way towards the destination.
Everything should work out if nothing goes wrong with my plans.
‘Ok, so let’s do some running to end today’s training session.’
I thought about how I’m still a 5-year-old kid who was doing this many things all at once and a weird smile appeared on my face.
‘Thinking it like this, I admire my parents even more now.’
They have to be amazing to even agree with everything I do…
I sighed and continued running with a small smile.