The Warrior, the King and the Archer

I stared at the selection before me. There was a sense of incongruence at the sight of these… tools of war and death, when before had been an odd but relatively benign test on my physical and mental capabilities. Perhaps it was the shock of finally knowing why we had to undergo these tests - it was to prepare us for battle, for our survival.

My fingers trembled as I hesitated over my decision. 

"May I… hold the weapons?" I queried, with a surprisingly even voice.

For once, the System pondered over its reply. Finally, after an agonizingly long wait, it whispered its agreement.

I reached out for the sword, grasping its handle with a surety that surprised myself. I had never thought I would even know how to hold a sword, much less appreciate the way my fingers fit around the grip, the heft to the sword as I experimentally swung it through the air.

Then I gently placed it beside the spear, which I attempted to pick up with a single hand. It was much heavier than the sword, something very obvious in hindsight when comparing their length. With a grunt, I forcibly pulled it to my side, then clumsily attempted to swing it around. 

Rather predictably, it slipped through my fingers and I flinched away as it hit the ground, the sharp spearhead rebounding dangerously close to my leg. Gingerly, I picked it up once more and lay it beside the sword.

Finally, I reached for the bow. It was nothing like the modern archery bows I had seen, which consisted of metal and fiberglass with complex sighting systems that gave their user an artificial edge. Rather, the beautifully carved wood and long, single string spoke of elegance and skill. It was a weapon that relied on the mastery of its wielder, the skill that came from endless practice.

The arrows in the soft leather quiver were of finely cut arrow shafts and soft dark feathers which hinted at turkey. The arrowheads were precise to a fault, bronze that had been shaped to perfection. As I hesitantly picked the bow up with my right hand, the left gravitated toward the closest arrow, which I snagged and nocked slowly.

I gritted my teeth as I pulled the arrow back as far as I could, straining to keep it steady. The bow fought with me for control, to release the terrible tension that would send the arrow flying into the distance. My arms burned as I struggled to pull it as far back as possible… then I let go, barely avoiding the string as it whipped past my arm.

The arrow flew in a beautiful arc, before it inevitably dipped downward, surrendering to the pull of gravity before it embedded itself into the floor. Carefully, I placed the bow back in its original position, before I retreated a few steps to study all of the weapons once more.

After hesitating for a few minutes, I asked a second question.

 "Could you tell me about these weapons?" I questioned. Worried that my plea for help would go unanswered, I was desperate for a positive reply. Fortunately, my prayers were answered.

"Yes," the System replied instantly, "this sword is a copy of a master forger's first successful sword, one of innumerable copies that have been created for temporary usage. This spear is the copy of one of the first weapons the general of an army used around four million years ago-"

"You know what I mean, you ******-" 

"Very well," sighed the System, "The sword is a warrior's choice. It is a versatile weapon with average reach and is not very heavy. It can be used in many situations, which is very important due to the chaotic nature of battlefields. It is able to thrust, slash, stab, chop, parry and deflect. Unlike the heavier spears, they can be moved around faster and have a wider blade, which is of paramount importance when battling multiple combatants."

"Spears are much easier to learn. Unlike swords which require a great deal of time and practice to master, spears are relatively simple and straightforward. The greater range they possess and dangerously high forward speed are distinct advantages over the sword. Using a spear means that one can afford to make more mistakes and that a single error by your foe will easily be punished. However, spear wielders struggle when facing multiple enemies or in chaotic situations where one has to defend themselves from attacks that may come from any direction. Traditionally, spear users excel in duels, hence the name of the spear as the weapon of kings.

"The arrow and the bow have obvious advantages and disadvantages. The temptation of being able to attack from range while others must risk themselves in close combat is the first and greatest edge an archer possesses. A well-aimed arrow can be faster and more lethal than a stab from a spear or the slash of a sword, even at close range. However, they struggle against agile foes, especially at close range. They are often forced to rely on allies to keep enemies at bay while they pelt foes with arrows, and need long periods of training to achieve any form of accuracy. Worse still, a great archer must have a close grasp on the tempo of a battle to avoid accidentally shooting their allies. Ultimately, the arrow and the bow are the most unforgiving of the weapons." 

"So what do you choose, contestant?"