The void-breaker arrow struck the center of the single old leaf at the top of the blessing tree. Even though it made a loud noise, there was no explosion as it is a defensive spell. The single leaf detached from the tree and began its descent slowly from the treetop.
“Now attack that leaf with an arcane bolt arrow spell.” Porus commanded with a serious look. But a bit of surprise was playing on his face as he marvelled at Kent’s perfect aim.
“Arden Ignis Telum” [Arcane Bolt Arrow]
With a quick tweak from his finger, the bow string vibrated, and the arcane bolt arrow released with a streak of fire.
“Boom”
The leaf is broken into hundreds of parts, and some of them began changing color due to fire burns.
“Now, release the wind chain arrow and restrict the movement of falling leaf parts.” Porus spoke with a bit of surprise in his eyes.
“Vinus Ventorum Sagitta”
Kent didn’t even hesitate to do the absurd request of Porus. With a quick muttering from his lips, the transparent arrow released from his bow string.
“Whoosh…”
Soon the wind circulation changed around the falling leaves, and hundreds of leaf parts came to a sudden stop, bound by chains of wind.
“Yin-Yang wind circulation…” Porus muttered while staring at the hanging leaf parts in the air. “Boy, where did you learn yin-yang wind circulation?” Porus asked in a surprised tone.
“What is that, master?” Kent questioned with a confused face.
“Boy, don’t you know what you just did?” Porus asked with a serious face.
“No, master. Isn’t it a wind chain arrow spell?” Kent asked with a questioning look.
“It is a wind chain arrow spell. But your proficiency surpassed 50% above, crossing the elemental cap of 33%. Usually, arrows linked with elements can’t be mastered without practicing that element. But your wind chain arrow spell surpassed the limit of 33%.”
“It seems like you already have a bit of understanding of the wind element. Well done, boy. Tomorrow, I will check your affinity element and proceed with your element training once you reach master magus stage. Okey, enough talking, let’s start your training.” Porus said as he took out a normal bow from his storage ring.
Even though Kent felt surprised and happy when he listened to Peak Master Porus, he quickly let go of those thoughts and got ready for the first lecture.
As the gentle ripples of the pond water lapped against his chest, Kent stood attentively, his bow held aloft above his head, as he listened intently to Peak Master Porus’s teachings. The air was filled with a sense of anticipation as Porus began his first lesson in bow mastery.
“First, we must focus on improving your method of drawing the bowstring, watch closely, and pay attention to the subtle change in my finger movement.” Porus instructed, his voice steady and authoritative.
He explained the use of different fingers for different types of arrow spells: thumb and index finger for defense, index and middle finger for attack, and so on.
“Imagine each finger as a conduit for your magic; for defense spells, you’ll want stability and control. Use your thumb and index finger to draw the string, like this.” Porus explained, his voice low and measured.
“For attack spells, you’ll have to channel your energy differently,” Porus replied, adjusting his grip on the bow. “Try using your index and middle fingers to draw the string. This will give you more power and save you time in casting your arrow spells.”
As Porus continued to impart his wisdom, Kent eagerly soaked up every word, his mind buzzing with questions and curiosity. With the bow string in his right hand, he mimicked the demonstration of Porus and understood the changes in his spell casting.
“What if the target is moving? Is there any method to quickly tackle them?” he interjected, his brow furrowing in concentration.
“Curved arrows are excellent for tracking moving targets,” Porus explained, drawing an elegant arc in the air. “Predicting your target’s next position is key to tackling them quickly. In the case of a mirage target where the opponent creates several dapple gangers, take your time and cast a movement-restricting arrow spell first.”
“And arrow calligraphy can add an extra layer of finesse to your attacks, making them both powerful and elegant. I will teach them once you reach a certain level.”
With practiced precision, Porus demonstrated various techniques for drawing the bowstring, showing Kent different variations and grips to optimize his technique.
With each passing minute, Kent’s proficiency with the bow grew, his movements becoming smoother and more fluid under Porus’s guidance. He marveled at the newfound strength and precision he felt coursing through him.
“Master, during combat, we won’t have the time to change our fingers rapidly. For now, I’m using my first three fingers to attack in combat. Is there any better method?” Kent asked while demonstrating it on his Victor bow.
“That’s pretty basic. Here, use the index and ring fingers to draw the bow string, and leave the middle finger out to tweak the bowstring. In this way, you can release spells more quickly. Also, I’m teaching these finger variations for drawing powerful spells, which take longer time to cast.
During the war, life and death are decided by your response time and spell casting time. So, the way of drawing bow string plays a crucial part in this.” Porus explained patiently while observing Kent’s fingers, as Kent had already adapted to the technique.
After an hour of intense instruction, Porus nodded in satisfaction, pleased with Kent’s progress. “You’ve done well, Kent, but our work is far from over. Now, let us move on to the practical application of arrow spells.”
With a flick of his wrist, Porus summoned forth a shimmering array of arrows, each imbued with its own unique power and purpose. He demonstrated the intricate finger movements required to channel each spell, explaining their uses and applications as he went.
Kent watched in awe as Porus effortlessly wielded the spell arrows, his movements fluid and graceful. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and determination building within him—he is waiting eagerly to master this art and become a true bow master.
“Today, I will demonstrate to you five arrow spells from the Arcane Tome. Practice them later and show me the result tomorrow. Based on your performance, I may reduce or increase my teaching pace.” Porus said as he prepared to release the first arrow spell.
With a quick nod, Kent focused on the bow in Porus’s hands. Kent cultivation has already surpassed the Junior Elder stage, where one of the two big compartments in his elder chakra, i.e., his third chakra, is filled with pure aura energy.