The logs were placed over a piece of wood for leverage.
Maeyurai and Naguta stood next to their designated logs with the axe in their hand.
And then, Wuyo commanded them to start.
"Start chopping!"
After commanding the two, Wuyo would head into the barracks. He had some business to do back in the building.
The two lifted their axes and began to chop down the logs.
It was quite difficult to cut, as it was hardwood. Maeyurai was barely making any progress, while Naguta was already far ahead.
"Ugh, my axe keeps turning to the side," Maeyurai complained, putting all his strength into it whenever he swung his arm.
Naguta continued to cut down the tree. "That's because you're doing it wrong. Align your swing with the blade so it actually cuts."
"Huh? Okay," said Maeyurai, trying the advice.
He raised the axe and swung it down carefully, trying to line his swing with the blade. And to his surprise, it worked. It felt satisfying, and the axe penetrated the log's skin.
"Oh, it's working. Thanks, Naguta."
"Hm," Naguta let out a hum, his way of saying 'No problem.'
After a good while, Maeyurai finally managed to piece a part of the log off. Naguta, on the other hand, was already halfway to getting his second log segment.
Tch, looks like I won't be able to win.
I'll just try to finish up as soon as possible.
Second log, third log, then the fourth log. Maeyurai was close to getting his fifth log segment. If estimating from the size of his log, he only had to cut three left.
Naguta only had to cut down one more; he was quick when chopping down a log. This was from experience.
Soon, Maeyurai would finish up his log. It took him quite a while, but he finally did it.
"Ah... Finally," he muttered, sitting on the logs that he chopped.
"Took you quite a while," Naguta said, drinking from a cup of water.
Maeyurai's eyes drifted towards Naguta. It seems he was thirsty.
"Hey," he called out. "Can I drink too?"
After drinking, Naguta would reply, "Yeah, there's a well on the side of the barracks, the same place where the logs are kept."
"Okay, thanks," said Maeyurai as he stood up, heading off towards the well.
On the left side of the building, which was to Maeyurai's right side, there was indeed a well. Just nearby were a bunch of logs, uncut and kept. Huizen, when he was still alive, really loved to use logs in training.
On the well, there was a random table with several wooden cups placed on top.
What the...?
Who put this here? This is so weird.
Maeyurai was perplexed. The table looked so out of place, it felt like it shouldn't be there.
Then, he took a cup from the table, turned towards the well, and pulled the bucket up. Once the bucket was up, he dipped the cup in until it was full.
Pulling his hand back, he drank from the cup.
"Refreshing," said Maeyurai, relishing the cool water that entered his mouth.
He placed the cup back on the table and went back to the field.
Before he could walk away, someone called him.
"No! Don't just put your cup back on the table!"
Startled, Maeyurai turned around with his guard up. "Huh?!"
"I said, don't put your cup back on the table!"
Maeyurai was silent, baffled by the sudden appearance of the blonde man in front of him.
"Who are you supposed to be?" he asked.
The blonde man replied. "Take your cup first, and I'll answer."
"Ugh," Maeyurai uttered before approaching the table to take his cup. "Answer the question."
"Okay, my name is Sune Maru. If you're going to ask, I placed this table here because it's my job. Don't ask why."
"Uh, okay. Nice to meet you then, Maru. I'll be going on my way now then."
"By the way, place your cup back in the kitchen, and tell Naguta to do the same," Maru added.
"Got it," said Maeyurai as he walked away.
Walking his way back, he saw Wuyo talking to Naguta. It seems that Wuyo finally returned from whatever he was doing in the barracks.
He approached the two with a neutral face. "When is the next assessment?"
"It starts now," Naguta replied right away, turning his face towards Maeyurai.
"Oh, okay."
Then, Wuyo spoke up, his back facing them. "Come on, you two."
Maeyurai and Naguta shifted their gaze in Wuyo's direction and immediately followed him.
Wuyo then brought the two of them to the other side of the field, which was the archery range.
"Alright," said Wuyo. "The third assessment is all about aim. Get your preferred bow from the rack near the shooting line."
Maeyurai and Naguta nodded and approached the bow rack, taking their preferred bow. Maeyurai took a longbow, and Naguta got a longbow as well.
"Huh," Maeyurai uttered, looking at Naguta as they both gripped the same longbow. "This one is mine."
"What do you mean? There are other longbows. Take the others," Naguta bit back. He attempted to claim the longbow as if it was his, but Maeyurai wasn't giving in.
"This one is the closest to the one I use," replied Maeyurai.
"I don't care. I use this one all the time."
"Oh, so you use it all the time. Good, let me use it then."
Maeyurai didn't let Naguta reply and continued, "It's only fair; since you use it all the time, then you should use other ones, yeah?"
"Tch," Naguta clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You sure are persistent, huh? Just take a smaller one; it would barely make a difference."
As Maeyurai opened his mouth to argue, Wuyo stepped into their talk.
"Alright, that's enough."
"Maeyurai, you can take it," Wuyo said before turning his face towards Naguta. "Naguta, just use the closest one you can use. You're getting a free dinner later anyway; just let it be."
Naguta averted his face from Wuyo with a weak scoff. "Psh, fine."
He then took a smaller longbow and headed to the shooting line with Maeyurai.
To their side was a singular table that contained arrows. After shooting, they could just reach out to their side and have another arrow loaded in their bow.
Additionally, the two of them placed their cups on the table so they could bring them to the kitchen later.
"Just so you know," Naguta said to Maeyurai. "I'm not going to go easy on you."
After speaking, Naguta felt a hand on his shoulder.
"This isn't a competition, Naguta."
A stern voice was enough to have Naguta square his shoulders up. He felt threatened and shrank back in fear.
"Sorry," said Naguta in a weak voice.
"Great!" Wuyo said in a cheerful tone. "Just keep reminding yourself that you only have to accompany Maeyurai in the assessment since he's the only one doing it. He would be lonely, right, Naguta?"
"Yes, captain!" Naguta replied immediately.
"Good."
"Now then," Wuyo continued after. "Start now, both of you."
Naguta and Maeyurai nocked an arrow to their bow and drew. Then, they aimed towards the targets from a hundred meters away and shot.
Fwip!
Fwap!
The sounds of the bowstring flicking forward to launch the arrow filled the range. Naguta's form was incredible; it was almost flawless and neat. Of course, Maeyurai didn't shy out and showed a very decent form as well, only faltering whenever he nocked a new arrow.
As Naguta was shooting arrows, he was watching Maeyurai. "Did this guy really start a few weeks ago...? His form is already good. Maybe he already has experience... Who knows?"
The arrows flew across the field silently, and after a second, they would create a sharp sound.
Crack!
Pack!
It was the sound of the arrows hitting the targets. There was one every two seconds.
After a good while, Naguta hit a bullseye. He himself was unfazed, but Maeyurai was astonished by his skill.
Damn, I can't even get close to the mark.
This guy's acting like what he did was nothing.
No wait, to these archers, maybe it is not that impressive.
I'll have to step up my game then.
Maeyurai started to shoot slower, taking time to aim his bow.
His eyes opened wide due to intense concentration.
The mark that showed up in his left eye during The Hunt has returned. However, it was different. Instead of it being a horizontal slit, it was a vertical one.
Maeyurai's gaze lingered to his side, looking at Naguta and the surroundings. Then, he returned his attention to the target.
I can see it.
...
Naguta fell silent, frozen. He felt a sharp gaze on him, like a predator's, but couldn't discern what or where it actually was.
As Maeyurai was taking his time to aim, the other archers finally returned. They all walked together through the path, going to the archery range.
When they were near, Maeyurai shot the arrow.
Thwap!
The arrow carried itself through the wind, passing by quickly. And then...
Kack!
A bullseye.
Everyone who was watching at the back saw how perfect the arc and landing were, and all of them were stunned by Maeyurai's display of aim. Not because the shot was actually crazy, but because of the existing fact that Huizen told them when he was still alive:
'I have a student named Maeyurai! He only started three days ago, but he's already doing so well!'
Another draw, another elegant bullseye.
And for the next two arrows, he hit a perfect bullseye consecutively. Four bullseyes in a row for 100 meters—it was a great record.
Maeyurai blinked, and upon opening his eyes, the mark was gone on his iris.
He shot another arrow.
However, the trajectory was off by at least seven meters. The sudden drop in accuracy confused everyone, including himself.
"Huh?" he uttered, his left eye twitching in response.
His eye was straining, tearing up, and reddening. The special ability that allows him to see way better than normal humans exhausted his sight quickly.
Looking around the surroundings, what he could see were only blurs, a striking reminder of what he always saw when he still had impaired vision.
His face tightened up. Lowering his bow, he brought his other hand to rub his eyes. His eyes continued to tear up. And when he opened them, they were incredibly blurry.
Oh no... What's happening to me?
My eyes... What did I just do...?
He dropped his longbow and turned his gaze towards the people behind him.
"Guys?" he worriedly asked, eyes squinted as he looked at the faint silhouettes of everyone.
Wuyo immediately ran over his way to check up on Maeyurai, as his eyes were red, a clear sign something was wrong.
"Maeyurai? What's up?" Wuyo asked in concern, trying to figure out what could possibly cause his eyes to turn like that.
"I—I don't know what's happening. Wuyo... I was doing great, and then this..."
Maeyurai reflexively dropped the longbow that was in his left hand and used both hands to press on his eyes, trying to relieve himself of the burning pain and possibly return his vision to how it was a minute ago.
"Hold on, come with me to the infirmary, quick!" said Wuyo, placing his hand on Maeyurai's shoulder and leading him to the barracks, inside the infirmary.
Everyone watched in silence, including Naguta. They were all worried for Maeyurai, and Naguta was no exception despite the forming rivalry.
Wuyo and Maeyurai entered the infirmary inside the barracks.