Shoot!
1375 Words
I was far too excited to train with long-ranged weapons that I forgot that I need to sleep. I mean, I did sleep, but only barely. So, I attended school with my head on the clouds. I was busy submitting the requirements for the whole day. It is a relief that school is about to end; now, I can entirely focus on improving myself on fighting.
Alisa and Lance were already at the school gates, and I call out as I went to them. They looked in my direction and waved.
"How are your requirements?" I asked them.
"I'm almost done. How about you two?" Alisa replied.
"I'm done with mine!" I exclaimed.
"How about you, Lance?" I continued.
"I'm almost done too."
"That's good." I said, and we started to walk to Uncle's shop.
"I never saw you in such a hurry to complete your requirements, Albie." Lance chuckled.
"You didn’t?" I asked.
"Yeah, you were always chill during these times. Although, not passive, but you sure take your time not wanting the classes to end."
"Maybe because I'm thinking of training hard for this break." I stated.
"Albie, why did you suddenly gained an interest in learning self-defense?"
Lance suddenly asked.
"Yeah, I remember you were really interested in using weapons and not really on just self-defense."
Alisa said.
"Umm... I just want to learn something new? I mean, self-defense can be very helpful for girls like me, and also boys."
I answered, and I was trying hard to maintain eye contact with them. I know I'm partly telling the truth, but I am not telling them the whole truth, and it somehow bothers me.
"What about your desire to learn how to use weapons?" Lance asked again.
"Oh, that? I just want to up my game. That's all."
I gave him a nervous smile and looked away.
"I can relate. I mean, there's not really a reason why I asked Uncle to train me. When I was younger, I remember watching Uncle train some of his clients, and that sparked my interest and desire to train too."
Alisa confessed.
"How about you?" Alisa asked Lance this time.
"Me? Nothing really, I just wanted to join you guys."
The rest of the walk was quiet then. Maybe it is because all of us are mentally exhausted due to the events at school.
Uncle Vadim welcomed us as we arrive at his shop. He ushered us to come inside. I notice that there were several weapons lined up at a table, each different from the other.
"You choose for yourself. Let's see if you know your capabilities well now."
Uncle told me. Lance and Alisa gave me encouraging smiles as they let me get closer to the table that Uncle prepared. I smiled back at them as they went inside to go to the shooting range.
Uncle Vadim introduced the weapons to me. There are rifles, some pistols, boomerangs, some shuriken, and a crossbow. There are still several others, but my eyes were already glued on the crossbow. It was not as ornate as Kronos. In fact, it was the simplest among all of the weapons presented on the table. But there was something majestic about it, maybe because I was always amazed by archers? And crossbows look like a rifle and a bow was merged into one, which makes me think they're a lot better.
I move closer to the crossbow to touch it. I trace my fingers on its red mahogany stock with a black metal trim. I stare at its beauty in awe, feeling its parts, careful not to scrape it. But unlike the rifles, this doesn't have a scope, so aiming must be done with naked eyes.
"I'll take this."
I smile as I told Uncle. I turned to him and noticed that he was faintly smiling as he stares at me.
"Okay. Try to carry it."
"How? What if--"
"It's not loaded, Albie. You'll be fine. Just take it, feel if you'll be comfortable with its weight."
I nervously grabbed it by its stock. I'm afraid I'm doing it wrong. I looked at Uncle.
"Use your other hand to hold it by its foregrip. Here."
Uncle moves closer to me and guides my other hand to the foregrip. He positions my other hand that is cradling the crossbow and guides it near the trigger, reminding me not to put my finger on the trigger unless I'm ready to shoot. He lets go of my hands and takes a few steps back as he looks at my stance.
"Is it too heavy?" Uncle asked after checking my stance.
"No. I mean, it is, but it's not taking too much of my strength. It honestly feels right? Is that even normal?"
Uncle chuckles.
"I think it is, yeah. So, let's learn how to load that?"
I nod.
"Let's go to the shooting range then." Uncle said.
"I'll help you with those arrows."
I offered to help him carry the arrows for the crossbows, but he stopped and instead looked at me.
"They're called bolts." He told me.
"What?" I asked.
"The 'arrows' used for crossbows are called bolts."
I nod in amazement, and he started to walk towards the shooting range.
"Really? Are they different?" I asked.
"Yes. Arrows are for bows. Bolts are for crossbows."
I just nodded at him and followed him to the shooting range.
Lance and Alisa were already doing their rounds at the shooting range. Uncle showed me how to load the crossbow and naming the parts of the crossbow and their functions. He told me that loading the crossbow is not an easy task, that I should not worry if I will not be able to load it quickly.
After showing me how to load the weapon, Uncle let me load it on my own, which was no joke, it is as complicated as it looks. I sighed in relief when I was finally able to load the crossbow on my own. Uncle nodded at me proudly and pointed a target. I noticed it wasn't the same target that Alisa and Lance were shooting. It looks like it was made of foam...? But thicker. Something like that.
"Try hitting that. Don't pressure yourself too much on hitting the bullseye. Perfect aiming takes time."
Uncle advised.
I positioned myself, took deep breaths as I aim for the target. I concentrated, and as I exhale, then shoot!
The bolt was fast. I only caught a shadow of it as it whooshed towards the target.
"Nice!"
Uncle exclaimed.
My eyes widened as I look at the bolt that is now planted on the target's bullseye.
"That's just mere luck. I can't accept that that happened on the first try."
Uncle chuckled, "Shouldn't you be happy?"
"Well, yeah. But, that was just mere luck. Luck is not consistent."
I insisted.
Uncle smiled, "Okay, suit yourself."
I grabbed the bolt from the target and loaded the crossbow again. I shot .again, and this time it hit the lower right region from the bullseye.
"That's better."
I loaded the crossbow again and shot another time. I look at it as it hit somewhere at the upper left of the target.
"Aim for the bullseye again, Albie. There's nothing wrong with hitting it on your first day of training with the crossbow."
Uncle told me.
I nod as I aim for the bullseye this time, "Okay."
I load the crossbow once again and shoot.
"Woah!"
I heard Alisa and Lance exclaim as they witnessed me hitting the bullseye.
"I guess you're a natural at this, Albie."
Uncle said, making me blush, flattered.
"Yeah! I had a hard time mastering my accuracy in shooting, but here you are! You're amazing, Albie."
Lance told me as well, elbowing me jokingly. I looked at him, and he smiled at me brightly. This made me blush even more.
"Woah! You're not really a beginner, don't you?"
Alisa turned to me, "And look at you turn into a tomato! You're so cute, Albie."
Alisa hugged me as they laughed.
"Thank you, guys."
I shyly smile as I scratch the back of my neck and look somewhere, trying to avoid their eyes and hide my blush.
- Writer
