In Control (HIATUS)

Ch 16: Confidence

Ryker pov:

I work on my moves outside by myself. Arthur was at fencing practice and Athena was at dance practice. My mom was upstairs in her office and I had no idea where my dad was. One thing was for sure, I was being watched.

Our parents told us this morning before our guest woke up that Artemis would be staying with us for a while. None of us really cared, she seemed cool and was apparently good friends with my dad.

Only thing was that she put me on edge, much like my dad when she trained us. I could feel her staring at me while I worked on my form. She didn't approach me till I was done working, standing off to my right. I sat down to catch my breath and she joined me in sitting.

"You are a talented young man, Ryker. Why do you lack confidence?" She asked me suddenly. Looking at her I see a kind and confused smile.

"I don't lack confidence." She lifted a brow and snorted.

"Yes you do. It is in the way you stand and carry yourself. Why is that? Do you not like yourself?" She laid back and casted her gaze up to the sky.

"I don't know. I think I'm fine." I shrugged my shoulders, looking up at the sky to see clouds moving about.

"Y'know. I was like you at your age, a little lost." She chuckled, moving her hands to relax behind her head.

"What'd you do?"

"I found something to give me confidence till I could find it myself." She flipped up to stand and went inside. I was confused till she came back outside with a long black case.

"What's in there?" I looked over her shoulder as she opened it.

"Your confidence." She showcased it to me, making my eyes bug out a bit.

Inside the case was an advanced looking combat bow. She took it out along with a quiver with some arrows in it. She handed me the quiver and made me walk with her. We stood at a distance from the tree in the backyard, a smile on her face and excitement in my heart.

"You need muscle to pull this bow, it weighs 100 lbs to even draw it back let alone land an accurate shot." She takes an arrow from me and easily attaches it before drawing the string back like nothing.

"You must focus and calm yourself, listen to the wind and steady your heart." She whispered to me. I watched in awe as she took a breath and let the string go, the arrow flying and landing its mark.

"Teach me." I looked at where she shot the arrow, a fallen leaf trapped between the arrow and tree.

"It won't be easy." She touched my shoulder, offering me a smile. I nodded and offered the arrows to her.

"I know! But I wanna learn, I wanna be more confident, I wanna be better." I told her, feeling my stomach turn from nerves. She bellows out a laugh and ruffles my hair, a wide and proud smile.

"Alright, you convinced me. Why don't we start now." She offered her bow up to me. I happily took it and waited for her.

We spent the better part of the day working on me just drawing the string. It was hard and a very powerful pull that I would need to work on. She was kind and patient, a stark contrast to my own father's tough and strict training.

We stayed out till night hit. She gave me pointers and explained how I should use the bow to my advantage. One thing was clear, she was correct about it giving me confidence. I felt better with it in my hand.