( Creak! )
Ren opens the doors which lead to the shooting range area.
Walking towards the center of the range, four individuals could be seen having a conversation.
Noticing Ren, all four stopped their conversations and greeted, "Good afternoon, Mr. Lorz".
"We will be having someone new join us, why don't you introduce yourself, Brune?" said Ren.
"Hi, my name is Brune,".
The other four introduced themself. Among the four were two boys and two 2 girls each aged twelve. The twin sister and brother were Vanessa and Ilia Teag. The other girl was Norah Cane. The three were human while the elf boy was named Babo Seeker.
"Ok, done with introductions, everyone get into your draw phase and hold while controlling your aura cycle," commanded Ren in a serious tone.
"Yes!" the other replied before spreading out.
The four stayed on the same imaginary line without standing in front of one another when aiming down the range.
Lining their feet with their shoulders, they each took in a deep breath before nocking an arrow on and drawing.
"With each breath draw in aura and distribute it in the area where feel any tension. Not only should your aura cover the arrow you must properly use it to support your legs and back. Feel the tension and think about where to concentrate your aura!" Shouted Ren.
Observing everyone in the range, Brune could see the air start to distort around the kids as they were ready to fire. The size of the distortion coming off their bodies varied in size. Babo the elf boy was emitting the most aura.
"What is the most important trait of an archer?" asked Ren.
"Accuracy!" shouted a voice.
"Nice one, Norah. To be a good archer you must hit your target, ok you may turn this way," said Ren as he gestured a seven to Norah.
"Remember you just have to hit the target, you don't have to be the first..... Five!". Shouted Ren.
Each target in the range was a humanoid-sized figure with a number assigned to them.
( Swosh! )
All four let go of their bowstrings at different times.
Upon impact, each arrow had a different reaction. Two of them struck the target right in the head area and stayed stuck on. One arrow pierces right through the stomach area of the target, while the last one nicks the left side of the target before creating a blast and bounces off the target.
"Babo's shot hit first while piercing the target followed by Venessa then Norah who struck the target in the head area, and lastly Ilia who struck the left side of the target," said Ren.
"Damn it! I'm last again and I barely hit it!" said Ilia in frustration.
( Thumph! )
Ilia slams his bow towards the ground.
"Stop it! You're making yourself look like a fool. Don't embarrass our family," said Vanessa aggressively.
Quickly making his way towards the exit of the range, Ilia gives his final remark before leaving, "I never wanted to do this, we both know we're just gonna become tools for Samus. I'm done!".
"I'll go get him," said Babo as he followed after Ilia.
Looking around and feeling the tension, Ren took control of the situation, "Ok, Norah and Vanessa, you two use this time to focus on accumulating and storing aura and try to take steps into becoming two-point users. I will teach Brune the basics of archery.".
After hearing the words of Ren, the two girls went their separate ways before sitting in a meditation pose.
( Clap! )
Meeting Brune at eye level before speaking, Ren asked, "Have you ever shot a bow before?".
Brune shook his head no.
"Ok put your hands up like mine," said Ren as he made a triangle between the space of his thumb and index finger, "You want to put it right in the middle of your sight and look at something through the triangle with one eye closed. Whichever eye is open and makes it seem as if the object in the triangle haven't moved that is your dominant eye,".
With his hands up and looking at Ren's face, Brune closes his right eye, Ren's face stayed in the same spot in the triangle. Opening his right eye and closing his left eye, his right hand was blocking Ren's face as his face shifted position in Brune's vision.
"Left eye dominate," said Brune.
"Ok you can put your hands down.... hands..... wait I forgot your gloves. Let me see your hands," Ren said in a panic as he ran over to grab Brune's hands.
*Cough* *Cough*
"I will be right back," said Ren.
A few minutes passed by before Ren came back with two different gloves. One glove was made from leather and only had three finger slots. The other one was made from some kind of fabric and had the fingertip portions of the glove cut off.
Holding the gloves Ren explains how each glove were meant to be worn, "For this one since you're left eye dominant you want to wear on your left hand. You put your index, middle, and ring finger in before tighting the strap around the wrist. The other glove goes on your right hand,". Giving the gloves to Brune, Ren watch Brune as he tried on the gloves for the first time.
Looking at his hands with the gloves on, Brune noticed the gloves were a tad too big.
"It's probably a little big but you'll grow into it and it's the smallest we got." Ren told Brune.
Gloves on, bow in hand, Brune was now ready for his first archery lesson.
Since it was Brune's first-ever lesson, Ren had to teach him the very basics, "You see the mark craved on the side of the bow towards the center? You want your hand holding the bow to be right under it as that is where you nock your arrow, or place your arrow.".
Noticing his hand placement was incorrect, Brune lowered his hand which was holding the bow.
Ren nodded to show approval before continuing to list the basics, "Take out an arrow and look at the end of the arrow that isn't the pointy part. You see how two lines cross, you want to line up one line with the bowstring and rest the arrow on the carved marks. Remember since you are releasing the arrow with your left hand the arrow has to rest on the left mark for the arrow to fly straight. Always left eye left side, right eye right side. Now there are four phases, before that that any questions so far?".
"No, sir!" Brune replied.
Ren smiled seeing the determined look on Brune's face
"I'm going to make so much money this is my first step at becoming the strongest drug dealer... Maybe I don't have to call myself a drug dealer anymore, this is my first step at becoming the strongest alchemist!", the aspiring thoughts filled Brune's head.
( Creak! )
The sound of the door opening caught everyone's attention.
Walking through the door was Babo and walking next to him was a disgruntled Ilia.
"Oh, Ilia and Babo you two are back," said Ren happily.
"I'm just back because I can't go anywhere else and have to wait to be picked up, I don't even want to be here but I have no fucking choice," said Ilia in a snarky tone.
"Ilia that is not how you should be speaking to Mr. Lorz!" Shouted Vanessa.
The angry look on Ilia's face turned to sadness as he realized what he had done, "I'm sorry Mr. Lorz,", Ilia apologized.
"It's alright why don't you sit out today's lesson. Oh, why don't you help Brune learn how to shoot, today is his first time ever with a bow." Ren told Ilia.
"I'll go get the target out from the storage then," said Ilia before running inside.
Watching Ilia run inside, Brune with a displeased look on his face thought to himself, "Do I really want to learn from a kid who can't control his emotions,".
Turning his head towards Brune, Ren tells him, "Even though he may not look and act like it, he's one of the best teachers here,".
( Creak! )
The door connecting the range and building opens once more and coming out was Ilia carrying a target on a stand.
Gesturing for Brune to come over, Ilia waited until Brune was close enough to tell him, "We want to make sure we're far enough from the others so there is no chance of you getting hurt.".
Staying near the door, Ilia walked a few feet away before setting the target down and walked back to Brune.
"Earlier what was that about?" asked Brune,
"Just family issues, Not a big deal," Ilia answered.
"If you teach me properly I will listen and give you advice," said Brune confidently.
"Hahaha, advice from a baby. Sure, I can't wait to hear it," replied Ilia.
Asking Brune different questions and hearing Brune's questions before starting his crash course in archery, Ilia wanted to figure out Brune's understanding and misunderstanding of archery and its terms. Ilia expanded on the correct knowledge that Brune knew and taught or cleared up any misunderstanding that Brune had.
"Now done with basic terms and understanding let's now focus on the four phases,". In Ilia's teaching, he focused on using hand gestures. "The first phase," with his hands closed in a fist, he raises his right index finger. "The first phase is the stance phase, you want your feet to line up with your shoulders, this phase later on won't matter as you won't always be still to shoot, but this is necessary for now as you must learn how a bow function and reacts to the one's body." Raising his right middle finger, "Phase two is the set phase, you want to set the tail end of the arrow on the bowstring and rest the arrow on one of the markings, what are the markings called and left eye what side?"
"They are called shelf and left eye left side," answered Brune as he set his arrow. Lining up the tail end of the arrow with the bowstring and placing the arrow on the shelf, he was ready for the next phase.
Taking out his right ring finger along with the others, "Phase three, the draw phase this is the one that is the most important. If you don't hold your bow properly it will affect your aim or worse take a piece of your arm. When holding a bow you want to make sure there is a slight bend in your elbow so when the bowstring comes back into its resting place it doesn't scrape off a piece of your arm. A trick to make sure the chances of having your arm intact when firing is to have a slight inward turn of your bow which naturally forces your elbow to bend." Ilia instructed.
With the bow in his tiny right hand, Brune turns his wrist counterclockwise a tiny bit forcing his right elbow to have a slight bend.
"Hold the arrow between your index finger and middle finger while pulling the string back, whenever you pull the string back you would want to to stick out your chest a bit so your back muscles fully engage," said Ilia as he watches Brune.
Setting up his arrow Brune pulls back the bowstring, sticking out his chest, he could feel the tension in his back increase.
Noticing Brune not pulling the bowstring back far enough, Ilia instructs, "Smile, right now,".
"What? What do you want me to do?" asked Brune as he was confused by the instruction.
"Smile and wherever you feel the most tension on your face is where your drawing hand should be placed," Ilia informed Brune.
Smiling and feeling the most tension on his cheekbone, Brune pulls the string back more stopping.
"Good, now to aim you must line up the tip of the arrow with your target. Aim at the bullseye of the target and whenever you're ready let go of the string and let the arrow and bow pull you forward so you don't disrupt the flight of the arrow. That is the last phase. Phase four, the firing phase." said Ilia.
Taking a deep breath and lining up the tip of the arrow with the bullseye, Brune slowly aimed, the micromovement of his arm made it difficult to keep his aim steady.
( Badum! --- Badum!)
So focused, Brune tuned most of the sound out and could hear his heartbeat.
( Badum! --- Badum! )
"Don't try so hard to get the perfect shot, the longer you hold the more difficult it'll get as you start doubting your eyes and your muscles become more fatigued causing instability. Whenever it feels right just fire," said Ilia as he gave Brune some advice.
( Badum! - Badum! - Badum! )
The nerves and fatigue started to pick up.
( Swoosh! )
Brune felt confident as he let the arrow go.