The Explorers of the Universe
Archery Tournament
993 Years after the attack.
School is on a long holiday this year. All the residents are looking forward to this day. This is the opening day of the Archery Tournament.
Asteria and Viana sat side by side in the stands reserved for spectators in the field that was transformed into a tournament arena, which was behind the royal castle.
Thousands of people filled the seating area. Their cheers filled the air space.
“ Anyway, you have to win the Archery Tournament this year, Aster,”.
“Let's just relax, I've been training really hard!” Asteria describes herself training a year back. He practiced archery harder than ever.
Last year Asteria lost, and he did not want to repeat his defeat this year. In her practice, Asteria made her own wooden sculptures for her practice shots. In addition, he shot from a great distance, he also made his own obstacles to maturing his practice.
Asteria spread out the wood as wide as 8 fingers of her hand, then she walked on it. His wooden sculptures lined up in random positions from a distance. Asteria had to shoot right at the head of the statue while walking on long wood from a distance. In addition to requiring the force of the bow pull and focus, he also had to maintain the balance of his body walking on the wood.
After falling several times and his archery missed, Asteria continued to try until she finally managed to hit all her shots perfectly. Not only that, Asteria made a practice method with many things, such as hanging a wooden statue and swinging it.
Asteria should be able to shoot right at the head of the statue as the statue swings. He also made archery techniques and studied the shots, between the distance, the strength of the shooting material, and the strength of the pull.
“May daydream!” Viana patted Asteria. Make Asteria come back to life.
Asteria smiled. “ Anyway, this year I will definitely go through all the stages and win the game. Besides, I also want to make my parents proud.” He said with passion.
Viana smiled hearing that. He was proud of his friend's faith and spirit.
Their attention was split as loud trumpet sounds sounded. All the residents who were originally cheering a lot, were silent for a moment. The atmosphere became calm. Everyone is waiting for something, more precisely an announcement.
From the north, a royal soldier made an announcement.
“To all residents of New Ferrata, this year's Archery Tournament will open soon. To all registered participants, immediately gather in the middle of the field!”
After the soldier was silent, all the participants descended from the stands towards the field.
Asteria turned to Viana before descending. “Pray me, yes!”
“That's for sure. Good luck.” Viana smiled.
All the participants are now gathered in the field. Asteria was in the last row. He turned his head. See the whole audience that filled the stands. Heart rumbles.
Asteria strengthened her heart, “This time, I will make all the audience mention my name. Look, I'll win. I will not repeat my defeat again,” muttered Asteria.
He then glanced at some of his opponents standing in his row. Their faces were full of confidence, but Asteria was undaunted. In front of him, lined up teenagers his age only visible head behind him.
The field is filled with young men aged 14 to 18 years. Approximately one hundred and forty-two people took part in this year's Archery Tournament.
Meanwhile, from a distance, Viana continued to chant prayers. Ask for the best for your best friend. Archery Tournament is only for boys, that's what makes Viana unable to participate.
A tall young man with a sturdy posture, handsome and white skin, walked out from the top gate of the palace castle. All the people looked up to see the Prince. The prince called the Young Prince stepped towards his seat.
From the highest point, he could see the entire field and the audience. All the residents, especially the girls, screamed and hysterically saw her good looks, including Viana.
“Please keep everything quiet,” the royal warrior continues his duties after the Prince sits down. “Tournament will start soon. For that, the participants to prepare the equipment. Next, I leave it to Warrior Eri who will open the Tournament Stage 1 as well as read out the rules.” the soldier who did not mention his name closed the announcement.
In her place of self-talk, Asteria and other participants began to justify the position of the bow and arrows on her back. Make sure everything is ready.
“Good, thank you, Private Nara,” Prairiah Eri said. It takes over the attention. “Without waiting for more time, Archery Tournament this year, opened!”
Applause rumbles.
Soldier Eri raised his hand. All stopped.
“I will read out the tournament rules at this stage 1. First, each participant can only carry 3 arrows. Second, each participant must find a wooden statue that has been stored separately in the forest, then shoot it. For those who can shoot statues, it will pass to the next stage. Third, there should be no physical competition among participants. If it is known that someone has a physical fight, it will be disqualified. Fourth, your time to get the statue is limited, only 1 hour. After the west and east gates are opened, each participant must leave the field and go outside through one of the gates. Remember, you have to shoot 1 wooden statue to be able to escape to the next stage, then take the cloth on the neck of the statue as proof that you have got the statue. And, the number of sculptures being spread out was very limited. For those of you who do not get it, then can not proceed to the next stage!”
The other royal soldiers who had prepared in the field rushed towards the participants, checking them one by one so that no one used the tools outside the provisions. In addition, they took the participant's arrows and left only 3.
Each participant's arrow is given a different sign between one and the other, to facilitate judging. It's some kind of proprietary code.
The participants will be released unsupervised, they will return after time runs out. The jury will only look at the code of the arrow stuck in the statue to find out who shot it and then match it with the cloth the participant brought, each statue has a cloth that is given a certain code to distinguish.
“Alright, if the inspection is done, Tournament Stage 1 will be starting soon!” Warrior Er reopened her echoing voice. “
Time began since the west and east gates opened. Happy competing!” shutup.
All the participants looked tense. Attention is on the two gates. Penenton who filled the stands waited anxiously. Among them there are those who come to support his son, his brother, his girlfriend or his best friend.
The west and east gates slowly opened. All the participants ran towards the two gates. They split into two, heading west and east, at their own choice.
Asteria was still standing in the middle of the field. By ourselves. He was still confused about choosing west or east. Meanwhile, all the spectators were watching him full of question marks and anxiety because all the participants had already left.
“Asteria!” Viana yells. “Do not be foolish. Run and grab the cloth!”
Asteria thought hard. Consider this and that. He did not hear Viana's screams because the voices of the audience both screams and whispers made an unclear rumble.
Asteria looked up, right at the location where the Prince was sitting. Then on some of the soldiers who were around the Prince. He caught on with the details. No exception for Private Er who had just opened stage 1.
“Alright, I understand.” Asteria then ran towards the west gate. [Next Part 5]
