𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 ; 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒏𝒆 | (being rewritten, on hold)

𝓕𝐎𝐔𝐑

♔ ♛ ♔

KEEP your aim steady. Don't let anything distract you.

Brylyn held the bow firmly, pulling back the bowstring, aiming straight for the target. Droplets of sweat beaded her forehead, and her breathing steadied as she kept her eyes focused on the large, maroon circle, painted neatly on the wood. A short second passed before she let go of the arrow, allowing it to fly past her head, straight into the wood, hitting the bullseye. She heard distant clapping, slowly getting louder, along with a few murmurs and whispers among the other archers.

Her instructor, Adrien, stepped out from the group of archers on the sidelines, nodding to her. "Nice job as always, Miss Emorly. Looking forward to your performance at the Solstice Games." His grin was subtle but proud.

She sighed, the corners of her mouth dropping slightly. "I wouldn't be too confident, Adrien," Brylyn held her bow at her side, eyebrows creasing in skepticism. She never liked setting the standards low for herself — it always ended in disaster. "My aim is a bit off and—"

The instructor scoffed, lifting an eyebrow. "Your aim is just fine, Brylyn. Don't overthink it." he shook his head, lightly patting her shoulder.

Brylyn could hear the whispers. The talk behind her back about her archery skills. Some of her classmates admired her for it. Others didn't care. And some were just plain jealous. It wasn't as if Brylyn enjoyed that, necessarily. But she didn't mind the attention as much as she minded her imperfection for her archery. Everything needed to be perfect, even when it came down to shooting an arrow, or properly holding a bow.

That was what set her apart from the others. She actually wanted to do better. Brylyn quickly shook her head, disagreeing with Adrien's words. "'Just fine' doesn't cut it with me. You of all people should know that." she argued, sighing once again.

The spring breeze wasn't as strong as it was a few weeks prior when the annual "Summer Solstice" was not closing in as it was now. Brylyn silently wished the cool, breezy weather could last longer, although that would've been an unrealistic ambition. Different species of birds were scattered around the forest, playing their melodic tunes. Thick, high oak trees were planted close, side-by-side, acting as free homes for the variety of animals that called the area their home. Deep green grass was strewed all around, along with patches of moist dirt that complemented it.

Her black combat boots were slowly sinking into the weak mud, already heel deep. Ever so often, Brylyn would shift her feet to prevent her light frame from getting stuck in the sludge. Smooth, dark hair fell shortly above her shoulders, framing her deep brown skin. Part of her hair was clipped back by a silver pin that matched her striking, pearl-colored eyes. Her lips were drawn into a thin line, her expression nameless. Adrien, on the other hand, had narrowed his eyelids, studying the wooden target she had shot at previously. Brylyn would be lying if she claimed she wasn't even a little proud of herself for making the shot. That's what she's been training for since she could walk — archery.

"Okay, then we'll go with perfect. Your aim is perfect," her instructor confirmed, motioning toward her arrow. "It took me years to perfect that shot, and you've got it down at age sixteen." he peered at her, the ends of his mouth forming an impressed smile.

Brylyn suppressed another scoff. Was he serious? She knew his motive, though. All too well. "Adrien, no matter how much you try, I'm not going to do it. I don't want to do it." she glanced back at the target, pulling out another arrow from behind her. Steadying her aim, Brylyn took another shot, the arrow landing a couple of centimeters shy of the first arrow. It calmed her, gave her reassurance that everything was fine. It's not fine.

Adrien raised an eyebrow, taking a glimpse of the arrow, now lodged into the wood. Another beat of silence passed before he replied to his student. "I know, I know, but I think it'd be a good experience for you," he laughed at Brylyn's 'are you for real' look. " Who wouldn't want to train young archers?"

"I wouldn't," Brylyn retorted, dryly.

Her instructor shrugged, sighing in mock-defeat. "I wasn't just laying it thick, Brylyn. You are a remarkable archer," he then winked. "Which is also why you were being offered the job. You'd be the perfect recruit."

Brylyn waved him off, "Don't you have the rest of the class to teach?" Brylyn gestured to the rest of her classmates, who stood on the sidelines, conversing amongst themselves. They tuned out of her conversation with Adrien a long time ago, "Since apparently, I'm 'perfect' at this."

The sides of Adrien's mouth pinched slightly as his faint wrinkles from age appeared near his eyes. He wasn't too old, but the pressure of everything arising in Draydon had gotten to him. "And I should assume you'll be training some more?" he questioned.

"Obviously," she said, matter-of-factly.

He whirled around, blowing his whistle hanging off his neck to cue the rest of the class to start their training. "You should rest. We don't want a depleted archer." Adrien didn't look back at Brylyn, instead, he moved toward the rest of the students, struggling on keeping their bow steady.

His words wavered in her mind a little longer before she attempted to shake them off, grabbing another bow from her sack. Practice makes perfect. Her silver eyes pierced the target, studying it like how a predator watched its prey. She wasn't going to stop. Not now. Not yet.

But still, the words of her instructor rang in her ears, ceasing to flee.

♔ ♛ ♔

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

this was kind of a filler chapter, but at the same time it wasn't?? I don't even know anymore :,)

you see, I know how the story starts, how it ends, and some parts in between, but that's it. like idek what ship (s) are actually gonna sail. buttttt, i do know one thing:

charlie is my little gay smol bean that i will protect <3

okay okay anyways, here's your daily question:

Q:  would you rather be bald forever, or be forever cursed with the worst haircuts?

A: honestly, why do I keep doing this to myself.

okay uhm, I guess bad haircuts for the rest of my life, bc somehow ima make them work heh—

oki ima head out now -

thank you for reading, love you <3