The Forest Under the Sea

Chapter 3

A week before her 17th birthday

THUD!!!

THUD, THUD, THUD!!!!!

That is the sound of  Kanashimi's arrows hitting their mark followed by a satisfying, but barely noticeable, twang of the string as her arrows are released. Since she sang her bow from the tree, she has practiced nonstop. Well, almost nonstop, Gramgram does make her stop to take care of herself. 

By age 10 she had mastered hand to hand combat, and by age 13 she had mastered the dagger. But before that once she sang her bow from the tree it only took her a year to master it. By age 9 she had become the best archer in the village. But all this was only because she had nothing better to do, or at least that is what she told her grandmother.

THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD!!!!!

Inside Kanashimi was lonely and lost. She felt like something was missing, but she had no idea what it was. It is almost like there is a black hole in her chest that slowly expands silently harming her. She feels almost as though if she doesn't find a way to stop it, she will disappear. But right now she had to focus. The exams are in an hour.

While she was being taught by her grandmother Kanashimi was attending the villages trade school. At first they tried to turn her away, but with her persistence and determination. She made them take her.

That Day

Why wont they let me in? I'm just as good if not better than everyone else they are letting join. Well I'll show them and then they will have to let me in. I refuse to be treated like this.

Upset and hurt, Kanashimi wasn't exactly in her right mind. She had decided to finally show the town what she was capable of. Because they shunned her, they had no idea of her skills. At age 9, most other children were playing and having fun, none of them had the skill sets she did, and none thought to even consider gaining them. Well, she was about to shock the hell out of them.

***

Just a peace of advice to you humans, don't fuck with someone that has something to prove. You will always regret it. 

***

She headed home using the treetops to avoid other people. Swinging from branch to branch, gliding between trees, the only indication of her presence was a slight rustling of the leaves as she passed.

Her home, one of the oldest in their village, is on the outskirts of the town where her room is easily accessed through a glassless window. Swinging easily from her arms she slingshots her body through the window and rolling to a stop right before her bed.

Looking around she notes sadly just how bare her room is compared to others her age. Her bed sits across from her window facing her door so she would know if anyone were to enter without expressed permission. Beside the window is a small chest of drawers that holds her clothes and artwork that fills the bottom 3 drawers . Her dagger, simple in design, is kept under her pillow while her bow is hung on the wall unstrung with her arrows in their quiver under it on the floor. 

She quickly threw her quiver over her shoulder and grabbed the bow off the wall. Placing one end of the string on the bottom of her long bow. She places that end on the floor and steps over it with her right leg. Bracing the bow against her leg she user her right arm to bend her bow so that she can finish stringing it. 

Stepping out of her bow she carries it in her left hand and throws herself out back out her window catching the tree limbs easily. As quickly and quietly as she can she heads back toward the center of town.

The town isn't exactly like their homes. For one, the buildings were built by hand and not sung from the trees. The only exception being the town hall, that is directly in the middle of town. Plus the wood isn't from the trees in their forest, it is from the trees of the surface. They seem to be placed haphazardly, but upon closer inspection you will notice they are placed strategically. The shorter slanted buildings are easy for archers to access so that they can easily slay intruders. the buildings are all like this leading to the town hall.

Kanashimi was now using this to her advantage. With the villagers oblivious to the silent predator that stalks their rooftops, she heads to the school arena. Landing silently in the shadows she watches as the students practice under the watchful eyes of their Sensei. 

Perfect timing, she thinks as she notes they are in bow practice. Still in the shadows she watches and waits for her opportunity. As the students line up she notes there are 10, along with how poor their form is.

The first student a girl with long, silky, black hair that reaches her waist. Struggling, she pulls her bow to half draw, and releases. Her arrow going wild, she misses the target and it strikes the stone directly next to a Sensei's head. Blushing deeply the girl bows and quickly steps back. 

Every student is given a chance to shoot with only three striking the target. The final student striking the center with a perfect form and beautiful draw. With everyone clapping and congratulating the final shooter Kanashimi steps out of the shadows and releases her arrow. Within a matter of seconds four more are smacking the bulls eye with every shot. The only shot that takes her longer is the last one. By now everyone has stopped and is watching her, even some of the Sensei.

Focusing on her target, Kanashimi takes a deep settling breath and releases it just  as she releases her arrow. For a few moments it is as if time stands still while everyone follows the trajectory of the arrow. With a solid THWACK, and the sound of wood splitting there is a collective gasp of surprise.

Kanashimi's own arrow had completely split the boys arrow in two is now stuck in the stone behind the target. A bright smile on her face she turned to the students and Sensei and simply bowed. 

The students erupted in applause and cheerful shouts, all of them except the boy. He simply glared his hatred at her, but then again Kanashimi was so used to it that she payed it no mind.

The boy, who she would later come to know as Okami, was not the only one who was furious. As she stood up she saw the Sensei moving in on her to catch her, but she was to far way from them and to fast. Before they could get her she had flipped over the wall and was running across the rooftops home.

But unknown to all the head master had seen the whole thing and had come to a decision. So he called a meeting of all his Sensei and had one of them fetch her. Ever seance she had been attending the school and today was their exams to move up and finally pick what job they want to be trained for.

After the exams, if they passed, they would be given three days to choose. And at dawn of the third day they would meet before the council for the choosing ceremony where we will make it known how we will serve our village and the world above. There are five parts to the exam and all are meant to test you to the extent of your abilities.

They are:

Hato no tesuto The test of Heart

Kokoro no tesuto  The test of Mind

Bodi no tesuto The test of Body

Supiritto no tesuto The test of Spirit

Tamashi no tesuto The test of Soul

All of them have their own challenges and hardships, but Kanashimi is determined. And when that happens don't get in her way because she's not stopping.