After receiving her bow, Nana checked its material. At the same time checking how far it could bend and how far it could stretch.("Remember, you can never blame your weapon. No matter what weapon you have, you can still use it to kill. Everything else depends on your capabilities. First check just how much power you can exert from the weapon handed to you. At the same time remind yourself that it is not yours, it is different. With such mindset you will be able to use the weapon much better.")
She smiled upon remembering how Eureka had taught her back then. She hated training but back then for the very first time she had seriously listened and learned from her.
"I"ve heard, you are also an archer," Diane who was standing not far from her, spoke upon seeing her check the bow.
"Indeed I am," without looking at her, Nana replied as she continued trying the bow.
"Then why are you not using your own?" Diane felt rage building inside her after being answered in such a way.
"There"s no need. What you have in here is enough."
"Is she saying that she didn"t have to use her own weapon to defeat me?"
Diane sneered upon thinking this. Her hatred towards Nana reached a whole new level.
Nana was not really trying to show off but Diane never showed her anything other than hatred, why does she have to curry favor from this person?
If they"re talking about her future as the queen, she already have the support of most of the people. She can just do her best to gain other people"s approval. But that didn"t mean that she is willing to lower herself for such people such as Diane.
"We are here to witness a duel between two young ladies in order to know who can stand beside prince Natsuki. This was given permission by the king himself."
Not long after the announcer started speaking.
"Someone who can stand beside Natsuki? Wow they sure made it big, is she planning on showing the other ladies that once this is over Natsuki"s marriage is set in stone?" Nana"s lips twitch upon hearing this.
"The mechanics are simple. The one who got most of the targets will win. The speed of these targets would be chosen randomly. The level would keep changing until the king himself said stop. That is to be made individually. That is to say a part of this compet.i.tion involves luck as well."
Ichiro stood up mumbling to himself, these people even dragged him to this mess, he really didn"t know how to face Akihiro if Nana were to have difficulties in this duel.
The one to go first was Diane, with a smug smile she stepped forward to the platform. As she waited for Ichiro to say stop. She was confident, the fastest that she could hit here is at level four. Most of their people have difficulties in this level.
Her ability back then was speed after all, that is why fast moving objects have slower speed when she looks at them.
And just like that, the level for her ended up in level 4. There are 100 targets, all were in the size of a CD. The speed were 10 kilometers per hour for the slowest and 50 kilometers per hour for the fastest.
"START."
Just as the word was said, the targets started moving from one side to another. Once one side shot a target the other side would shot the next after 2 seconds. The whole range of the shooting area was 50 meters. The distance from the platform and the target was 10 meters.
Diane stretched her hand and released the first arrow full of confidence.
*PLOP*
The arrow missed the target by a wide distance and dropped just below the end wall.
Her eyes grew wide upon seeing this, she was confident what the h.e.l.l have happened? She continued shooting only to find out that her expected outcome didn"t go as she had planned.
After all 100 targets were shot out, Diane have only manage to hit five targets and currently she was breathing heavily. Her energy was drained.
The n.o.bles supporting her were completely shocked as well. In the past she was able to hit all targets with energy to spare, what had happened?
"*laughs awkwardly* It seems that Diane was not yet used with the change of nature," one n.o.ble said as he glanced at the Duke.
Duke Banji was also shock but he was able to comfort himself by knowing that the other girl would surely be even more humiliated. And yet before he could completely calm down.
"*scoffs* Not yet used? I ask you gentleman, with her travel and all. Why do you think did that lady bring her bow with her? Just to show off?"
Everyone was stunned silent, Natsuki have actually defended a girl?
While those who knew of her was on the same boat, what shocked them was different.
"The war just ended and the travel from Aurora to Confederate was tiring enough. Did the princess still trained?"
As Diane walked back to her sit, "Pathetic."
She abruptly looked at Nana completely enraged but the other have already pa.s.sed her and was now standing in the platform.
When Ichiro said stop wis.h.i.+ng for a two or one, the level that came out was five!!
His eyes grew wide as he look at Natsuki.
"Don"t bother uncle, no matter what time you stop the outcome will still be the same."
Hearing this, Ichiro understood that they have tampered the thing. But since Natsuki and Nana knew but still didn"t do anything, he could only silently watch what the two are planning.
Diane and the duke, on the other hand, were silently rejoicing. This woman no matter what she do, she would surely embarra.s.s herself. She won"t be able to hit a target at all.
("Moving or not, a target is a target. You always have to consider your surrounding before releasing your arrow. How fast was the target? What about the wind, how strong was it? How far are you? How strong is your weapon? Once you take all of these into consideration, you would surely be able to hit anything, anytime you want.")
("Then would I be able the hit just like you? Even with all the obstructions?")
("Anyone can, as long as they use their mind to look at every angle. A glimpse is enough for you to hit your target before it was obstructed.")
"START."
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Nana focused greatly. Indeed the speed this time was faster than Diane"s but it"s fine she can still see them. She can feel her surrounding becoming one with her. The wind, the distance, everything.
*WHOOSH*
The first arrow flew.
*BANG*
It hit the first target, pinning it in the end wall.
Silence instantly fell on the training ground. No one have expected such loud sound. They thought that maybe if there was not a wall, the arrow would have flown even farther.
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
Everyone could only watch in astonishment and amazement, her posture was so beautiful, her hair that flattered as she pulled on the string. The sound of the arrow flying and the sound it produces as it hit the target before pinning it to the wall.
They felt like they were watching a show instead of a duel. She was performing right in front of them, taking their breaths away as one arrow flew one after another.
Natsuki had a smile on his lips as he watched this.
(Flashback)
"No more, I no longer want to train," Nana complained as she threw the bow away.
This was already the nth time she had said that, Theo and the others were helpless. And being someone who just came Natsuki could no longer watch and said, "Stop being childish. This is not a game."
Nana who was not scolded after what had happened with Eureka was stunned to hear him say that.
"A princess like you should just go and sit the. You can just watch how everyone dies because you didn"t want to do anything," Natsuki continued before turning and left, leaving everyone stunned silent.
It seems that after he left Nana who was insulted took up the bow again and was muttering, that she will show him. The others were even thanking Natsuki for berating her.
After a month of that incident, as he was walking by the lake late in the night.
*BANG*
A rather loud sound took his attention, looking around he saw her. Sweat drips at the side of her face. Her eyes were filled with seriousness and her posture have improved so much. The way she hits were amazing as well.
Compared to when their kingdom fought against Orange and Yellow, her improvement this time was rather drastic.
The moon that s.h.i.+ned down at her was so beautiful.
*Thump Thump*
His heart that had long been frozen made a sound he never heard before. Clutching unto his chest he watched her as she continued training.
(End Of Flashback)
"That"s right, it is this look of yours that made me fall in love with you. The determination you have once you set your mind into something."