The Silent Archer

The woman remained silent. Her face betrayed no emotion as she stayed focused on her meal, as if the man's words were nothing but background noise. But the man was persistent. He extended a hand, attempting to touch her back and thigh.

Suddenly, an arrow whizzed through the air from an unseen direction, cutting through the stillness with deadly speed. It struck both of the man's hands, pinning them down and halting his actions instantly. His scream of pain reverberated through the entire eatery, causing him to stagger back and collapse to the floor. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the wooden boards.

The atmosphere shifted dramatically. The patrons, previously absorbed in their meals and conversations, froze, their eyes wide in shock. Yet, amidst the commotion, the woman remained indifferent. She continued eating with calm composure, as though nothing unusual had happened. Sana, after a brief moment of astonishment, tried to mimic the woman's calmness, resuming her meal despite her trembling hands.

Arga and Nico, on the other hand, couldn't hide their shock. The arrow had flown perilously close to their faces, mere inches from ending their lives. The thought made their hearts race as their eyes darted around, searching for the archer.

The wounded man writhed on the floor, his groans turning into a furious roar. "Hey, you lot! Catch that woman!" he yelled hoarsely. "I'll make her feel the same pain! She'll be mine, no matter what it takes!"

His outburst sparked chaos. Several people stood up, their expressions shifting into menacing glares. The malice in their eyes was evident as they moved closer to the woman. But before they could get too far, another volley of arrows rained down from above. Each arrow struck its target with deadly precision, halting the advancing crowd in their tracks. Bodies hit the floor with thuds, scattering any remaining resolve among those still standing.

Tension thickened in the air. Arga, Nico, and Sana sat frozen, trying to make sense of the rapid series of events unfolding before them. The woman, however, remained unaffected. With graceful movements, she finished her last bite, placing her chopsticks gently on the plate. There was an unsettling serenity in her demeanor, as if she had experienced such situations countless times before.

In the distance, a shadowy figure atop a building flickered briefly before disappearing like a bird's silhouette against the sky. The mysterious archer added yet another layer to the enigma surrounding the woman.

The eatery descended into turmoil like an uncontrolled storm. People scrambled for cover, desperate to escape the relentless rain of arrows. Screams and the sound of shattering dishes blended into a symphony of chaos. In the midst of it all, one woman sat motionless, the center of attention she hadn't sought. Across the table, Arga remained seated, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. He searched for the attacker but saw only fleeting shadows above the rooftops, like phantoms playing at the edge of his vision. One thought burned clearly in his mind: this woman was no ordinary person.

Suddenly, the second wave of arrows intensified, as if the heavens themselves were enraged. Arga's body moved before his mind could catch up, driven by instincts long honed. In a heartbeat, he lunged toward the woman, wrapping her tightly in his arms and pulling them both to the ground. The bowl of soup she had been holding flew from her hands, spilling its contents onto Arga's clothes. But that was the least of his concerns. His sole focus was protecting her from the unseen danger.

Not far from them, Nico acted quickly as well. In a clumsier but equally panicked motion, he grabbed Sana and pulled her to the ground, shielding her from the rain of arrows that continued to hammer their table. At that moment, the once lively dining area had transformed into a battlefield, its silence broken only by the pounding of hearts and the whispers of fear.

Arga and Nico worked in seamless harmony, without exchanging a single word. Together, they flipped the wooden table in front of them, turning it into an improvised shield. In Arga's arms, the woman remained silent. Her body was stiff, her eyes wide with fear, but slowly her gaze fell to the face of the man shielding her. Arga, though his breathing was labored, stood firm—a living shield for the woman. He knew every second counted, and fear had to be set aside to protect the life in his arms.

Suddenly, the woman moved, pulling herself out of Arga's embrace with a rough motion. Her face flushed, whether from embarrassment or anger, but her tone quickly revealed her disapproval. "W-what do you think you're doing?! I don't need your help!" she snapped, her voice high-pitched, though still trembling slightly. She glared at Arga with piercing eyes, attempting to mask her nervousness with stubborn defiance.

"I was only trying to protect you," Arga replied calmly, his body still poised to counter any threats around them. His gaze remained steady and attentive, ensuring she was truly safe.

"Hah! As if I can't protect myself," she scoffed, crossing her arms in irritation. Yet her eyes flickered briefly towards Arga, checking to see if he was still nearby.

Meanwhile, Nico squeezed his eyes shut tightly. His grip on Sana was unrelenting, like a man holding onto the last thread tethering him to life. His face was pale, yet he remained motionless, seemingly frozen by the gravity of the situation.

Above the village hall tower, a man stood tall. The bow in his hands was steady, each arrow he loosed cutting through the air like lightning, striking down enemies one by one. Behind him, a group of soldiers moved with disciplined precision. The man surveyed the battlefield with calm authority, every movement reflecting his experience and leadership. He was like a rock in the storm, an anchor for his men.

The woman, though defensive in her demeanor, glanced at Arga once more. Her gaze softened for a brief moment before she quickly looked away, as if trying to hide her feelings. "Don't think for a second I'm going to thank you!" she said curtly, her expression hardening again.