The Forbidden Touch From the Abyss (EDITING)

Chapter 5

"Why am I doing this again?"

Ace threw her another arrow, stepping back for her to try again. "Cause you don't want to die."

Jule pursed her lips, loathing the fact that he was right. She raised the bow, placing the nock of the arrow to its nocking point, on its arrow rest. She squinted her eyes to get a better glance of the bull's-eye which was an empty water bottle.

She felt like she could do this, that she would ace it. Putting her two fingers on the fletching, she pulled the arrow back. With a few more seconds of trying to come up with the perfect aim, she finally released the arrow.

Her hope of making bull's-eye died when the arrow went straight past the bottle. By several inches. She huffed as she looked over at Ace, he sighed and walked towards her. He took the bow and arrow from her hand, and began to do the steps she had to shoot.

With ease, he pulled the fletching back and let go without a second thought. What not surprised her at all was the fact that the arrow shot right through the water bottle, sending the bottle flying back with it. He handed her the bow before walking over to pick up the bottle and arrow, smiling.

Jule crossed her arms she stared at him curiously. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." He put the bottle down back to its place. "It's just after all these hours of teaching you archery, you still can't manage a shot."

Jule glared at him. "It's hard, and least I mastered fighting with the sword."

He walked up, and gave her the arrow. She snatched it, put it in position and let go without without a second thought. And...she made nothing.

But bull's-eye! She jumped, immediately hugging Ace. When she let go, he gave her a small smile. Jule continued to cheer, lifting her arms up and down in triumph. She knew she could do it, especially after three days of working on fighting. She was a pro.

"Don't get your hopes too up, that was one good shot. And it wasn't because of your skills, it was your anger."

Jule arched her eyebrow as she stared skeptically. "My anger?"

He nodded. "Your anger towards me made that shot. You were unconsciously picturing the bottle as me. That is what's going to make you master, channel your anger. Your passion."

Jule nodded distractedly, pumped up to try another thing. "Alright, so what's next?"

"We continue our journey. Let's go." Ace grabbed his things, and began walking away leaving a shocked Jule.

She widened her mouth as she stared at him with mere disbelief. "Now?"

"Yep." He answered, without a single look back.

Jule groaned, and followed after him. After all that time of training her, he decided to move. She stilled needed to master archery, dying wasn't an option.

Walking beside him, she couldn't help but feel warmth flowing through her body. It was welcoming, yet...safe. Her mind immediately traced back to Nate, how she feels like she's somehow betraying him even if she wasn't doing anything wrong. She shook her head, wanting to let go of that thought. 

She looked at Ace, frowning. "So you know the legend right? The Forbidden Touch From the Abyss?"

Ace arched his eyebrows, but didn't turn to look at her. "Yes, I know it. Why?"

"So you believe it's true?"

"Of course. That book you showed me, its in my bag. I read it recently, I know it's true."