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Chapter 40

Gentle shaking stole me from the land of possible-impossibles. I sleepily rolled over and cracked an eye open and closed it again. 

“It’s nearly noon. We have the whistle arrows ready.” 
Jongho flicked my forehead lightly. I grumbled in response, burying myself further into the sheets. 

“C’mon before I call Yeosang.” 

“No.” I whined. 

Nevertheless, I pushed my covers away and sat up. I rubbed my eyes sluggishly in an attempt to regain my bearings. Ever since Cromer had been destroyed, the nightmares of the other dimension lessened, leaving me with more restful sleep over the past week. The nightmares never stopped considering the memories were always a part of my subconscious. With straying thoughts, my feet found their way to the bathroom to freshen for the day ahead.

My hand had blisters over the areas where the string pulled at the most. I hissed at the tender blister rubbing up against the string as I shot my first arrow of the day. It whizzed through the air with a shrill. The whistle attached just under the arrowhead gave it extra weight, causing it to sail downwards. 

“It gives me the chills.” Yunho shivered, “Look, I’ve got goosebumps.” 

The two engineers seemed satisfied with their craft, not needing any notes of improvements. Yeosang volunteered to retrieve the whistle arrow which flew quite far away.
 
“Do you think the other side would keep their word with the set date?” I asked nobody in particular, “Nothing’s fair in war.” 

“You have to understand that their leader is a very proud person. He wouldn’t find any satisfaction from ambushing, especially when we are already at a great disadvantage.” Jongho answered, a little distracted by Yeosang’s little waddles towards us. 

I turned my attention forward. Yeosang clumsily trekked over the relatively bumpy path, arms flailed out to keep his balance. The arrow was enclosed in a fist akin to a baby’s grasp on their rattles. It was strange to consider him as the same person who could fling a wooden plank to the other side of a room with ease. Yeosang slowed as he neared, a wide grin plastered on his face. 

“What?” He tilted his head in confusion. 

“Cute.” Yunho murmured. 
I couldn’t agree more. 

Over the few weeks, I tried different types of arrows at different ranges. I also tried them at different elevations. Mingi suggested that I hide on the rooftop for a better scope. Everybody was preoccupied in their own styles of combat, readying themselves for the looming battle ahead. I stood outside in solitude. I considered rapid fire archery to give an illusion of multiple archers.

Without much thought, I flicked up arrows. In the process, two arrows deposited themselves on the string and I only realised when I released them. I lowered the bow in surprise. Both arrows managed to land close to each other. I tried again, this time with two differently weighted arrows. As expected, the heavier arrow hit the mark lower than its lighter counterpart. I lowered the bow, feeling nostalgia wash over me. A distant whisper of commands passed briefly like a breeze. I took a step back, taken aback by a resurfacing memory. 

* * *

“Let’s see…” 

I stood around, peering at the various items on display. It was a little overwhelming being surrounded by racks of possible weaponry but to be fair, anything can be a weapon if you try hard enough. 

“It’s here somewhere.” 

I turned my attention to somebody crouched in front of a chest. They rummaged through the chest, comically throwing things with disregard. I dodged the incoming items, narrowly missing one that grazed my arm. Luckily it was not sharp. The person stood up abruptly, hands now occupied by stick-like artefacts. He turned around, face neutral as his eyes flicked up and down my body. He reached for a bow hung high up and unceremoniously dumped all the items into my arms. Taciturnly, he turned on his heels and left the room, pausing a little to check if I were to follow behind.