The Elder Council meeting finally ended — painfully, reluctantly, and with a level of droning that made Finric question his own sanity.
Beside him, Cael muttered, "They're still down there with Draven. His trainings are getting too extreme."
Finric chuckled. "You didn't have a problem with that before you met a certain redhead. I distinctly remember you saying you wanted him to go harder on the students."
"You didn't have a problem with it either until Captain Cormaire got involved." Cael said dryly.
"You mean Lieutenant Cormaire. He's demoted and placed on borders." Fin said.
"Good. But I'm going down there. It sounds like Draven might need some help."
"I might be able to help too," Fin said, already walking. His mind kept going back to her that entire meeting and it was driving him crazy.
They arrived just as the class transitioned to target practice.
No one noticed the two high-ranking males entering silently on the edge of the training field.
And what they saw… was chaos.
An arrow ricocheted off the top of a shield rack. Another launched straight into the sky and vanished over a rooftop. Millie hurled her bow to the ground with a growl, and Kylan somehow managed to fall while pulling his string back.
Draven's voice was nearing a breakdown. "NO. NO. YOU DO NOT HOLD THE STRING LIKE IT'S A DRAGON TAIL, KYLAN! I SWEAR IF YOU—"
An arrow nearly grazed his cheek. Draven caught it with one hand. Slowly. Without blinking.
Cael stifled a laugh behind his hand. "Elle and Nova told us their class was terrible at target practice… I thought they were being dramatic."
Finric didn't bother hiding his laugh.
He stepped forward. "Mind if we help?"
Draven looked like a man who'd just found water in a desert. "PLEASE."
Another arrow whizzed past.
"AGAIN?! KYLAN, THE TARGET IS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!"
He stormed off toward the smallest boy in the class, muttering curses under his breath.
Fin and Cael approached Elle and Nova — currently laughing and distracted, not even pretending to be practicing.
"What are you two troublemakers doing?" Cael called out.
Both girls jolted upright like they'd been caught sneaking sweets from the kitchen.
"How long have you been standing there?" Elle asked nervously.
"Long enough," Fin said, grinning. "Some of your classmates are… gifted."
"Let's see you both make a shot," Cael added.
"We're both really bad," Nova said plainly.
Elle snorted.
They each took a shot.
Elle's arrow fell short — but at least it didn't go backward this time.
Nova's landed just outside the outer. She at least hit the target. But still wide.
Elle groaned and tried again. Nova notched another arrow.
Finric stepped closer. "May I?" he asked softly.
Nova nodded, and he moved behind her. One hand guided her arm gently, the other adjusting her grip and stance.
"Lower your elbow. Relax your fingers. Tension will mess with your aim. And breathe out before you release."
His voice was low, calm — his breath brushing her ear. She swallowed.
"Okay," she said quietly.
He stepped back.
Nova released the arrow — and it hit dead center.
A perfect bullseye.
Cael let out a whistle. "Show off."
Fin handed her another arrow, smiling faintly. "Again."
She nodded, set her stance, adjusted like he taught her — and hit the bullseye again.
Draven shouted from across the yard, "WELL, AT LEAST SOMEONE'S IMPROVING!"
Finric smiled. "You're a quick study."
Nova glanced back at him, her face glowing with surprise — their eyes held for just a moment longer than they should have.
Then Cael clapped. "Elle! You're up. Try to hit somewhere on the target board."
"Don't hold your breath," Elle muttered, reaching for another arrow.
Nova laughed.
Fin handed her another arrow. Bullseye again.
He handed her another one. Bullseye, this time splitting the prior arrow she had shot down the center to hit the exact same spot.
And in her chest, something fluttered she couldn't quite explain — something warm and confusing.
Fin and Cael went around giving pointers, corrections. After 45 minutes 3 other students had landed on target. Not bulls eyes, but hit the target. No arrows were flying backwards.