Now Xi was at his haunting grounds, the training yard. New tools new weapons, new mindset. Learn something new, everyday. Xi lifted the bow off of his shoulders, now he would practice his shooting. The heft of the bow was astronomic, being the same height as him, for now all he would try to do would be pull the bow string back. Hauling the beast of a bow off of the ground his left hand held it in place as he accustomed himself to the weight. Testing out the pitch and yaw of the bow Xi found a spot that was good for him. Placing three fingers on the bow string he gave a strong pull. Hauling the string back, the burn on his biceps was intense and the strain on his chest horrendous. This bow was well taught, and highly strung. He drew the string back as far as his arms would allow him. Right back to the corner of his mouth. Then let his fingers loose on the bow. The snap of the sting against his bracer was audible, but that bow had some kick. Drawing an arrow from the quiver by his waist, he slid it free from it's holster slowly. Nocking the arrow into the string and laying it flat across the back of the bow. The shaft of th arrow ran along his hand as he drew the string back.
Reaching the corner of his mouth again he held the string in place, and then his fighting instincts kicked in. Ramming all of his weigh into his rear right foot, he rose his left onto the ball. Now he had to make his shot. Anchoring his eye's on the dead tree stump infront of him. He loosed the arrow, but something went wrong in the release he let his hand go to slowly and the arrow shot wide, arcing left of the stump and burrowing into the soft earth. DAMNIT...Ok... calm down, it's a new skill... Drawing another arrow from the quiver at his side. He nocked the arrow and drew, the swell of burn starting to appear in his arms, and across his chest. Now he needed to slow his breaths, as the air filled his lungs it relaxed the burn in his chest and he made sure to lock his target this time, the sharp shots of his arrows, would make their mark on this stump. Now he loosed his arrow, and this time it found it's mark, though his aim was off. The arrow dipped low and right, what was he not doing right? As Xi began to ponder his predicament, a strong, commanding female voice filtered over. But it was not designated to help him more to criticise.
"Fool, you'd be better using a bow meant for a child." And with that from the tree line, a myrian woman walked into view. Why is everyone in the spires naked ? More to the point why aren't you naked? Why not join them ? I don't see a problem there. Well there would be a few problems, and of course you wouldn't you act on primal instinct alone! Xi let the bow fall and felt the tip sink into the ground a little from it's weight. he let the woman before him speak. She strode over next to him and stood almost as tall as he did. She drew her much smaller bow next to him, less than half the size of his monster bow. She crouched slightly before pitching her bow slightly to the right to angle the arrow better between her hand and the bow. Drawing the bow string back she pulled it from her arm to her ear. before looseing the arrow. The speed with which the arrow flew was only half the speed Xi's bow could produce but the shot hit the mark. Dead centre. Maybe this myrian woman had some skill at this. Xi hefted his bow again taking a deep slow breath and anchored his weight on his back before hearing the woman speak again almost snapping at him. "NO! Child, put your weight on your right foot, and your shots travel wide. Place your weight on your left foot, and the shots stay true." Raisin an eyebrow Xi looked at the myrian woman again, be shifted all his weight onto his left foot, and then the weight of the bow seemed much less. So stance had a lot to do in more weapons than just unarmed fighting. Pulling another arrow from his, he nocked, drew and held his shot, useing all the power in his arms to hold the arrow as he lined it up. The shot strained his chest as he held it, waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Then release! The shot fired and sang true through the air landing only a little to the left of the myrian woman's smaller arrow. He was improving.
"Thanks for the lesson. Mind if i ask the name of the marks-woman helping me?" Xi drew another arrow taking his time with his shots as he listened and waited for the myrian to speak. By now though his arms were burning with pain and stinging in fury. "My name is Karoul, and i did not expect you to speak my tongue human." Xi grinned as he loosed his next arrow, keeping the stance from earlier but this one went up and to the right of where his last one thrummed into the dead tree stump. Xi stretched out his chest again, he was starting to feel the wear of the bow on his upper body He drank a deep breath before looking at the Karoul. "I'm full of surprises. And how did you get so good with the bow and arrow? I just started, a few minutes ago. Oh and the name's Ximal. But everyone calls me Xi for short." Xi tiled his head to the side as he watched the woman fire another arrow at the target, almost hitting her first arrow. Xi was less interested in her accuracy than her sat this moment. Watching how she stood the motions her body went through as she took aim and loosed her arrows. Something about this woman seemed a little off, though he want going to ask what. |
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