Amidst The Storm

Chapter 3

   Will slept thoroughly that night. The sounds of nature calming him as he slowly drifted into sleep. He was woken up by the sound of dropping silverware. He got up got dressed and went to the kitchen.

  On the table there was one last wrapped object. No bigger than his fist. It was wrapped in a cloak like Matthias's. It was a mottled Burgundy, grey, and brown cloak.

  "What is this Matthias?" Will asked.

  "It is your power source for your bow," Mathias responded ",along with something else."

  Will caught a glimpse of excitement on Matthias's face, but it was gone in an instant.

  Will sat down at the table. He looked around the cabin. He noticed that there was a back door leading out to a well, and a door that Will supposed led to Matthias's room.

  After a minute Matthias brought the food over to the table. The breakfast was amazing. It consisted of hash browns, bacon, pancakes, sausage, and fried eggs.

  Will wolfed down his breakfast. Then sat impatiently for Matthias to finish. Eventually Matthias finished eating and got up from the table.

  Knowing what was going to be asked of him, Will got up and cleaned the table. Leaving only the wrapped objects on it.

  "So," said Matthias ",you really want to know what is in the wrapping don't you?"

  "Y-yes sir.. I mean, Matthias," Will responded quickly.

  "Well, then open it up!" Matthias said enthusiastically.

  Will glanced down at the cloak that was wrapping the objects. Slowly he unwrapped the objects. Inside were two things, a crystal, and a bracelet that had a metal knife on it going across a bow. The insignia of the chasers.

  Will picked up the crystal. It immediately turned a bright purplish pink. Matthias looked on in awe.

"H-h-how? That isn't right!" He stammered.

  "What's wrong with it Matthias?" Will asked,"looks normal to me."

  Matthias got up and went to his room. He came back with a piece of paper and gave it to Will. The paper looked like it was from years ago. It was yellowish and fragile. Scrawled across the paper was written.

A Chaser of unusual colour
Will rise and surpass all others
And chase evil back to its home
To save or destroy his kind on his own
The fate of Menoven in his hands
He must keep peace in all the lands
All in limited days
For the world decide to keep or raze

  Will looked up at Matthias.

  "Why did you give this to me?" He asked.

  "Well, look at your crystal" Matthias said. "Normally it turns one of the primary colours, Red, yellow, or blue. Yet yours is... Magenta."

  Will was taken aback at this statement. "So, you mean that I'm the one of the prophecy?" He said exasperated, "I'm the one who the world is going to have to trust on!? I mean, like what if I screw up?"

  Matthias just shook his head in shock. "I.. I.." He stammered, "I don't know."

  Then, Matthias got up and started to tell Will about the items. Including the cloak. "It keeps you hidden at night with the burgundy and brown side, and it keeps you hidden during the day with the grey and brown side." He told Will. All the excitement seemed to have been drawn out of Matthias.

  The crystal went just inside a small door on the back of the luminarc handle. This time when Will grabbed it, it sprung to life and glowed a bright magenta. The bracelet went on the hand that you hold your luminarc with.  After the bracelet was put on, it could not be taken off.

  "So," said Will, "when do we start training?"

  "Right now." replied Matthias with a chuckle.

  Will, dressed in his cloak, and all his weapons on him, went outside to meet Matthias at the archery range. When he got there, Mathias had already gotten his luminarc out and had shot at the target that was placed roughly one hundred meters away. Matthias's luminarc was Blue, and it matched the colour of the sky.

  Looking at the target now, Will noticed that there weren't any arrow shafts sticking out of it. Then Will remembered that luminarcs shoot lasers instead of arrows. So that explained why there were small burns around tiny holes in the target.

  "Well, let's see you shoot." Said Matthias.

  Will took out his luminarc and immediately it sprang to life. Glowing a bright magenta. He formed the "Bear Claw" with his three middle fingers and drew back on the string.
He sighted down the arrow and let go of the string.

  The arrow flew down the archery lane and went right through the stack of hay a foot to the right of the target.
Will looked up at his mentor solemnly.

  "Not that good was it?..." Will asked Matthias.

  "Well, I've seen better," Matthias replied, "however I know everything you did wrong with that shot."

   A. You sighted along the arrow. When you shoot, try to create a mental image of the shot. It will give you the most success that way."

   Matthias quickly showed Will what he meant then moved on.
 
   "B. You were holding it too tight. Try to relax your grip on the shaft. Do what I just told you and you will have excellent accuracy and power with the luminarc."

   He showed Will this too. Then he had him shoot at the target again.

  Will sighted, creating a mental image in his head of the flight of the arrow and relaxed his grip on the shaft of the luminarc. In one fluid motion he let go of the string, releasing all the tension and sending the arrow on its way.

  Will watched as the arrow burned right through the target. Leaving a hole right on the edge of the bulls eye.

  "Not to shabby," Matthias said, "now keep practicing and practicing"

  "Until I get it right?" Will asked.

  "No," Matthias said, "until you don't get it wrong."