Roles

"Bow and Arrow?" Theo asked her like she's saying something incredulous.

"You have great control with your ability, but I might say your sword skill is normal."

"Nor- Wha- I'm telling you, I have been practicing with my father, and even with that Gato since I was young," Theo defended.

"And? What of it?" Eureka asked like what his saying is nothing.

"You- You really have a sharp tongue, don't you?"

"I'm telling you this because I can see that you will become even a greater knight with a different weapon, yes you are plenty strong against others, but a lot of people out there are even stronger than you are. If you stick to what you want then you would end up dying one day. A change is not a bad thing if you really want to be someone others could rely to."

Theo fell silent, he then looked at Fumito, "Let me borrow a bow and arrow."

Fumito then run inside and came out holding one.

"Show me then, if you are so sure of me using a bow and arrow instead of a sword. Show me how I should use one," Theo said handing the bow and arrow to Eureka.

Eureka took it without saying anything, she pulled the string and released the arrow like it was nothing.

*SWOOOSH*

It went flying past the tree in front of them and hit the falling leaf from another tree behind it, pinning it on the trunk of that tree.

Both Fumito and Theo have their mouths opened.

"You, you really are amazing!!" Fumito exclaimed as he looked at Eureka with adoration.

he couldn't help but think.

"Let me try then," Theo said enthusiastically and took the bow and arrow from Eureka.

Theo then raised it, he pulled the string and focused on the tree in front of him, wind surrounded the bow, then he released it.

The bow then just dropped in front of him. He then looked at Fumito and Eureka as if he was doped.

"*sigh* I thought you were smart, I guess I was wrong," Eureka said before she left.

"Wha-" Theo looked at Fumito as if he was wronged.

"Even I want to hit your head, your highness. If I'm just not thinking of your position," Fumito answered his look.

"What did I do? I just tried what she told me to do," Theo rebuked.

"When did you ever use a bow and arrow?" Fumito asked defeated.

"Uhmmm never?" Theo replied with uncertainty.

"And you expect yourself to be good at it the instant you hold it?"

"I think?"

"If you are the same as that girl then maybe I would have believed you, but you are not. Go and train first with plain bow and arrows before incorporating your ability in it," Fumito replied before returning inside his place.

"You guys!! You should have said it sooner!!" Theo complained as he was left there alone.

*****

"So you really are leaving?" Shigure said to Akihiro as they were saying their goodbyes. The time they spent together was not long but it wasn't short either, they have shared a lot of things that their bond is already as strong as those who have been together longer than they were.

"We've stayed long enough, and that stay is a wonderful one as well," Akihiro said.

"I know I'll miss you all. Maybe I'll just go and visit you once everything's settled in here already," Shigure said as he pat Akihiro's shoulder.

"You are more than welcome to be there," Akihiro said as he too pat Shigure's shoulder.

"I'll have no one to speak to now," Sana wiped the tear in her eyes as she hold Haruka's hand.

"Oh Sana, it's not like I'm leaving for good, I'll just go and search for myself that's all," Haruka replied as she hold Sana's hand back.

"I'll miss you," Sana replied as she hug Haruka.

"I'll miss you too," Haruka hugged her back as she tries her best to hold her tears back.

"Take care all of you," Shigure then said to Yukimura and the other three.

"Your highness, are you sure about this?" Eureka then asked Shigure facing at the escort that is already far ahead. Everyone looked at her baffled.

"What do you mean?"

"You're letting your son come with us?" Eureka replied pointing at the escort group up ahead.

"What son?"

Eureka faced him like saying, 'Are seriously asking me that?'

"He's already way over there, in front of the escort."

"THAT BRAT, WHO GAVE HIM THE PERMISSION TO GO!!" Shigure roared.

"*laughs* A willful one," Akihiro said looking at Shigure's face.

"He needs to return this instant," Shigure said as he signaled one of the guards to follow them.

"I think it's fine," Sana butted in stopping Shigure's instruction.

"What do you mean?"

"He can train there differently where no one will treat him as a prince. I've heard him complain about you telling how he's not smart. His been grumbling ever since he came home yesterday," Sana then said to Eureka.

"But."

"It's alright, I'll watch over him, don't worry. He needs to stay away from his comfort zone once in a while," Haruka then said to Shigure.

"Then hit him ten times for me, he didn't even ask for my permission," Shigure muttered.

"Then, we really should be leaving already. My brother already sent a letter berating me for staying away for so long. He said that he will up and go if I don't return this instant," Akihiro laughed as he remembered the content of the letter. Really Kaoru hates paper works, he's amazed that Kaoru was able to endure for these long.

And with one final goodbyes, they went on their way.

"You should have told your father before leaving, he was panicking awhile ago," Haruka said after they met up with Theo.

"He obviously wouldn't allow me to join if I told him," Theo replied removing his head wear.

"Why did you suddenly want to come with us anyway?" Akihiro asked this time.

"I want to train even more, far from those who knows my identity. So can we keep quiet about it, your highness? I can just be the guard of aunt Haruka," Theo pleaded to Akihiro.

"You want to hide your identity? Why? What if someone or some of the knights over there would bully you? I say, not all my knights have good traits," Akihiro replied.

"It's better, then I can assess myself even more," Theo answered.

"Fine we can do just that. But you have to be more careful, I don't know how I'll face your father if something is to happen to you," Akihiro could only accept.

"I understand, your highness. Thank you very much," Theo smiled at him.

"I apologize that you have to worry for the two of us," Haruka couldn't help but feel troubled.

"It is alright, we can do that much," Akihiro replied.

Eureka was only watching them, to be more precise she was watching Akihiro

After a few days of travel.

"In a week we shall be arriving to our border, it has a different weather over there. So you have to be prepared," Yukimura said to Theo.

"That's exciting, I grew up In a place full of white but these past few days, I am actually seeing other colors," Theo replied as he kept polishing some of his arrows.

"Your highness," Raven called to Theo.

"Please, Theo is fine we are all of the same age. Plus I am no longer in my kingdom. Just treat me as one of your friends," Theo replied looking at Raven and Azusa.

"Very well then, would you like to spar with me?" Raven asked dropping all formalities.

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea. We never had the chance while we were there after all," Theo said pulling out his sword.

As the two of them spar,"Who do you think is stronger?" Yukimura asked both Akihiro and Eureka.

"I guess they are equal," Akihiro replied.

"If they are using their abilities then they are equal, but with plain sword fight, Raven is far stronger. It seems that Theo grew up being always considered the prince so all of his practices with sword must have not been as extreme as you have trained Raven, sir," Eureka instead replied.

"Did you practice with him?" Akihiro wondered after hearing her reply.

"I had once, and his control over his ability is great so I had suggested that he change weapons, your highness," she answered.

"Is it bow and arrow?"

"Yes, if he can control the arrow with his wind then he'll have more opportunities to support those he is with and since he can still wield sword just fine, he can even be of support in the front lines."

"Are you saying, he's more of the support one instead of being one of the main fighters?"

"There are people whose support is much needed, there are people who are much needed as the main attacker. In a war we can't all be doing the same thing, our roles are different but still needed the same way. Without the supporters who can hit from a far, those in front won't have anyone that has their back. Without those in front, those from a far won't last long once the enemies got closer," Eureka replied.