Prince of The Abyss

Precision is one, if not the most important thing with the bow... but if he had to say, what mattered most when firing an arrow, was the mental state of the user. Emotion can play a very big role in using this weapon, like any weapon, really, but with the bow, it matters a lot more than a sword.

After all, with the blade, you can just swing it around even if your stress levels are through the roof, with a bow, being stressed can be the difference between hitting your target and missing completely.

It’s why he always took a deep breath before firing the arrow, to try and calm himself down so he could hit the exact place he wanted, though, for him, being calm wasn’t the problem; it was his skill; he wasn’t very precise, ironic since he used a rapier. But it just went to show..

’Just how hard the bow is to learn from the ground up without anyone’s help.’ Firing the arrow, Aether watched as it pierced the bandit’s neck, making him fall to the ground in a pool of blood. He had missed, but luckily, a hit to the neck without any medical help is almost always lethal. It moreover depends on the arrow and the speed. If it had hit with hardly any speed, then it wouldn’t have killed.

But he didn’t think this was the case.

Aether crawled over to the dead body, picking the arrow from his neck. If he wasn’t dead from the hit, he was going to die from the blood loss.

But now things became complicated, as he had reached the center of the outpost, where it was mostly open. How was he supposed to kill anyone if there were people constantly around?

And the worst part was that he didn’t have that much time. After all, the trick he had pulled wasn’t going to last forever; he needed to think of something.

But before he could think of something, he saw something, in a far tent, the shard resided. In clear view, as if it were just another broken piece of one of their blades. Aether looked back at the gate, where most of the bandits were waiting. Then, to the three bandits he had in front of him.

If he tried to make a run for it, they were going to catch up most likely, and fighting would be risky, as it gave time to the ones at the gate to catch up.

But the thing was that he had only two arrows; was he ever going to kill all three?

Looking at his bow, he thought about something, something that could be the most hilarious and ridiculous thing he has ever done in his life. He loaded his arrow with the two arrows he had, holding the bow with one of his hands, and with the other summoning Voidpiercer, he wrapped the chains around the string of the bow, retracting the sword so the chains would hold the string tight, and so that he could reach the hilt of the bow. Pulling the blade back, the string also got pulled back.

’Can’t believe I’m doing this.’ He said, throwing his blade at one of the bandits’ heads and watching as the arrows got fired, the bow also went flying, but that was something else; he had also gotten a bit pulled, but the chains were big enough.

The sword had hit its target, but that wasn’t what he was worried about; the arrows were the thing he worried about. But when he saw that one had pierced the man’s thigh, and the other the third’s foot. He instantly jumped over the crate he was hiding behind and retracted the blade back into his arm.

While running towards the shard, he untangled his bow, quickly putting it over his shoulder as he reached the tent where the shard was being kept, with the bandits running towards him, but too far away to catch up. And those who had been too close to him were unable to run due to their injuries.

Aether smirked as he turned to leave, but the moment his foot was about to leave the tent, a wall of fire covered the entrance.

’Damn it!’ Aether cursed under his breath as he staggered back.

He heard someone clapping, but he couldn’t see who, at least that was until the same man he had seen in the forest appeared in front of the tent.

The Master of the Fire Will.

”What a show, I’m impressed.” The man said, chuckling.

Aether frowned. He didn’t understand how he was here; he had left way before him, and more importantly, sure, he had spent time making the trap for the bandits, but it shouldn’t have been enough; he was supposed to be leaving from the camp around this time, so how was he here... unless he had left the moment he did... but then...

”Ether... that was your name, right? Excuse me if I got it wrong. My name is Ramius, but you can just call me Ra, as everyone else does; it’s much shorter and easier to say.”

Aether clenched his fists while taking small glances around him.

”Aether.... not Ether.”

Ramius paused for a second before breaking up in a laugh. ”There’s similar enough, cut me a break... how about I just call you Aeth? It’s easier-”

”We’re not friends to use nicknames. Ramius.” He made sure to use his full name, after all, not only would he be going against his own statement if he were to call him Ra. But he said it himself; his friends called him that, not him.

The man’s face dropped; it was clear he wasn’t happy with Aether ruining his fun.

”That’s not very nice, you know, of course, we are friends... a friend of a friend is a great friend. And me and your master Kael are best friends-” Before he could even finish the sentence, Aether had already pulled out his blade, pointing it at Ramius’s neck. Through the fire, which made the man’s eyes widen, both at his boldness, but also the fact that his fire didn’t burn the blade.

”There’s no need to get mad, I was only joking, you know?” He said, raising his arms.

Aether sighed, letting the blade back into his arm. This made Ra’s eyes widen again. ”Cool trick!”

”What do you want.” Aether bluntly said. He didn’t wish to let this useless conversation last any longer than it had already done. Over as soon as and as fast as humanly possible.

Ramius laughed. ”Nothing, I just wanted to meet you. It’s sad Kade isn’t with you, though. I was far more interested in him than you... Though now seeing you in person, you certainly are a weird one... Either way, don’t worry, I’m letting you go. I don’t need the shards, nor do I care about them. I just wanted Kade, and since he’s not here with you, I have no reason to keep you.

Sure, I could kill you... But I won’t. I’m not going to tell you why, of course,” He chuckled. ”Since who knows, I may or may not still have some plans where you take part in.”

Then the fire wall disappeared, and Ra stepped out of the way.

”You are free to go.” He said with a bright smile on his face.”

Aether stood frozen for a good second before clenching his fists tighter, starting to walk out of the tent. All the bandits had lined up, all staring at him as he went to the exit of the outpost. Some looked angry over the fall of their man.

But most...

We’re laughing.

The moment he left the outpost, he disappeared into the forest, not taking even a glance back.

...

”Damn it.” He cursed. He had been tricked and humiliated more than. They knew all of the bandits had known, and then laughed at him; they found it hilarious.

He had gotten away with the shard, but only because the bandits and Ramius had wanted to. It made him question just how much of the plan he had made and pulled off would have actually worked if they hadn’t let him get away with it.

He gritted his teeth.

It was one of the worst moments of his life. He felt completely powerless; he had tried his best, trying to figure out and do with what he had, only for it to have been a trap. All that effort for nothing, worse of all.

Plus, he was only alive because he wasn’t important in Ramius’s eyes. He was just another Will-less, who tried his best to change the world.

And worst of all, he was after Kade; he was the one he wanted. He should have known...

He put the boy in danger... what will happen when Ra reaches Kade? What plans did he have with him?

...

And the worst part was that he couldn’t do anything, no matter what Ramius had planned.

...

All he could do is continue his original plan.