Chapter 22

Luna jumped out of my dress. Sometimes, I feel she's a coward. Since I got chained here she hasn't defended me. She's always hiding in my dress. Well, another part of me just believed she didn't want to leave me. Or maybe she had predicted that she can't win any fight with those men. The man in green light, my comforter stared at her that I became curious. Well, bounded in those chains limited my ability to do some things. Things like asking numerous questions, I feel too weak to do that. 

" Please help me out of these chains first" I pleaded. I still haven't believed his words about training in chains. It's not possible.

"What's her name? " He practically ignored my question.

"Luna"I said, angry.

He solemnly nodded his head.

"Is anything wrong? Are you seeing things? " I asked again.

He stretched forth his right hand and a bow and arrow appeared. While I was waiting for an answer, he shot the arrow at me. It was at the last minute I noticed it was aiming for my head. I immediately turned my neck and I heard the sound of metal hitting metal. The arrow was repelled by the iron bar I was chained to. I was breathing hard. That was close, what is he doing? Trying to kill me? Before I could think I saw another arrow coming, I turned, swerved, he didn't stop firing arrows at me and then the last one I saw it coming but it was too late, I stiffened, closed my eye, expecting the impact but to my greatest surprise, the arrow was hung in air just an inch away from my forehead. Miraculous, I raised my head to him, annoyed. I would have died for all he cares. I saw him bring the arrow down and walk towards me.

"fear, that's what kills. Why did you stop? "

"It was too sudden master"I had to sound like that. "you never told me the training had started. "

"I should not tell you. You should not wait to be told everything. I'm not training a toddler here. "

Yeah, that's true but what if I'm used to being a toddler.

"is that how the training will be? I'm gonna die one day "

"That's if you fear. I won't mind. Listen up, when in a battle your enemy will not care if you're concentrating or not or if it's too sudden or not. All you need do is to fight back no matter how close. That's how we win." He picked up the arrow. "I had to stop this from invading your skull because it's your first time, I won't be nice another time "

That's not fair. I thought he said he was my comforter. He's not comforting me, he's rather frustrating me. If only I could see Joel and Emiliar, Sylvia, I miss them all.

I heard a clash of metal above my head, a blade fell and slashed my cheek. I screamed in pain. Blood gushed out and there was nothing I could do to help myself. I expected Luna to come help but she just stood there, by my side, quiet or rather numb like she's caged also.

My comforter came to me, placed his hands on my cheek and the blood stopped. I was grateful but still I was angry with him. He just destroyed my face.

"You are never focused and that should change. You should think of nothing while in a battle. Keep your focus on your enemy's intentions and his weapons. Lack of focus has grave consequences and you just got one of it. You'll be pardoned for now after this I won't help you with wounds"

OH, now what's going on? I'm not in any battle here.

"I'm not in a battle, am I? " If I am then get this chains off me and let me show you how good a fighter I am. I wanted to add.

"yes Katrienair, life is a battle and your own kind of life has a lot. You have to be prepared for the worst every single day of your life. "

I'm beginning to make sense out of what he's saying.

"what happened to Luna? " I expected him to ignore but he didn't this time.

"She's asleep for now. She doesn't need training and she don't have to be here to help. " He moved backward again. "We are training with only arrows today and you must be perfect before I leave. You have no time, the world is waiting and every seconds counts... "

I felt he was trying to distract me so I just concentrated on the arrow. I saw him release the first and several followed, I was able to dodge all of them until I saw one aiming for my stomach. Damn it! I bound, it's going to hit me. I tried all I could to move but nothing changed. I was relieved when I saw him hold up the arrow in the air. I bent my head in shame.

"sorry master, but there was nothing I could do. I'm chained. "

"in life excuses doesn't count. Excuses are evil, try to avoid them. "

I was tired very tired and the pain on my cheek got me worse.

"by the way, can I get at least water to drink. I feel like I'm going to die. I'm too dry master"

He smiled at me. "I can't help you with that now. Maybe after today's training cause I'm not here to watch you die. "

He paused. "in a battle, only your might does not count, you have to use all you have. You intellect, your gifts. Your power can fail but the combination of the three can't fail you at once. So, I put it to you what could you have done to avoid the impact of that arrow. "

I tried to think. I was tired of looking like a failure all the time but unfortunately nothing came.

"ehm, I don't know "

He glared at me. "watch"

He moved back and let out another arrow, this time aiming for my heart. I froze, I felt my time had come. I just closed my eyes, awaiting the impact.

"DO NOT FEAR, KATRIENAIR! WATCH" I heard him warn her and immediately my eye flew open, I saw him stretch his hand towards the arrow and it hung in the air. I sighed.

He came closer to me expressionless. I was yearning to know what he had to say.

"The next time you fear, I won't be nice. I told you the decisions you make determines your destiny and you are waiting away your time. "

I swallowed. "I am sorry. " Indeed, I was.

"So tell me, what did you see? "

What did I see?

"Master... Uh... "I swallowed. " you stopped the arrow with... Magic"

I just hoped I was right.

"magic? " He asked.

"I don't know what to call it "

"fine, I'll use your word, magic. So you are gonna use magic also. " He says already setting up the bow and arrow.

"wait! "I shrieked. I was tired, too tired. "But I don't have your magic. I'm just human. "