In the next day, I decided to take some cla.s.ses in archery. I went to the archery field to find Chiron the centaur making a new bow. If you want to learn how to fire an arrow, go and find a centaur. They are the best in archery, second only to the divine archer Houyi. The problem is, they are very hard to find, even if you do find one, it won"t help you.However, Chiron is different from other centaurs. He loves to teach young warriors, since he was the one who trained Hercules himself.
Once I was beside him, he turned his head towards me and stood up in his hoofs. He coughed and said, "Junior brother Hasan."
"Senior brother Chiron," I returned the salute.
"What can I do for you?"
"I just need to learn some archery techniques, since they would help me on my quest."
"That is true. Come, brother, test this new bow that I have made." He handed me the bow and an arrow. He indicated for me to fire at a round piece of wood which was divided into many levels.
I held up the bow and pulled the string back with the arrow. After aiming on my target, I released the string and the arrow shoot in the air, trying to rip through the wind to reach its target. The arrow hit the wood only a level below the central one. Chiron said while clapping his hands, "Not bad, brother. Not many can do this on their first attempt. Now, repeat the same movements until you succeed. Once you do, there will be other things."
I did as he instructed and tried for at least ten ten times till I fired an arrow straight into the center. I repeated many more times in order to insure that I do it right. Without me knowing it, the arrow movement became strange. I was shocked, since the time I discovered this was when the wind was going to unsettle the arrow, I wished it to continue straight without stopping.
Chiron looked more shocked than me. He wore an expression of disbelief on his face. "Even I reached this stage after a year of training! I couldn"t believe my eyes that someone achieved it after only a few tries! Yet it happened right before me," he murmured.
"What are you talking about? And why did it feel strange while shooting the arrows?" I asked him, waking Chiron from his shock.
"I am talking about Heartforce, my dear talented brother! You have achieved the threshold into becoming a Heartforce cultivator. Richard has definitely to know this."
With this, he galloped towards the mansion in full centaur speed. I just stood there, confused, not understanding what had just happened and also what is Heartforce. I figured out that it must be an important thing that it even needed to be told to Richard.
After an hour of bored waiting, Chiron returned and at his side was Richard. Chiron looked like he had calmed down, while Richard had the usual indifferent expression on his face.
"Show me again what happened," he said while summoning a soft gust of wind. I shoot the arrow again and wished in my heart that it would continue without any obscurity. Just as I have wished, the arrow went under the gust and then returned to its path, striking in the center.
"This is definitely Heartforce," said Richard.
"And what is Heartforce exactly?"
"Heartforce is a type of energy that generates from the heart. It is mostly used in archery, but it can be applied to any other kind of weapon. You can also apply it for your body and soul."
"As easy as that?"
"Don"t get your hopes up too much. Although you are rapid, it would take you at least a thousand years to reach the second stage of Heartforce."
I must have shown my disappointment on my face, since Chiron said, "Don"t be disappointed, my dear. It is a miracle that you have reached the threshold in this short period of time. I had to train day and night for over a year to reach it!"
"How about we make it more difficult for you to shoot?" suggested Richard. I shook my head while Chiron nodded. He took Chiron"s response and ignored mine.
We marched through the forest where Richard put the wooden target between trees. The obstacles were the trees and the winds."Remember, when the arrow flies, the heart flies with it," said Richard.
I stood about fifty meters away from the target and shoot the arrow and willed it to get under the branches and above them, and to avoid the gusts of wind. Indeed, the arrow did as I told it to do. Finally, it reached the wooden target in the center.
I lowered my bow while Richard said," Congratulations on reaching the first stage of Heartforce." He then turned towards his house without looking back.