The archery range was located inside of the academy’s many controlled flux zones.

The fact it was controlled meant danger was at the lowest or in exactly Ymir’s words.The level she could handle without breaking a sweat.

The flux zone was different from Leona’s. This was a grassland stretched as far as the eyes could see.

Open blue sky hung over everything, even as targets were spread out around, each with varying distances.

Some were close enough, Dean didn’t even strain to see them while some others were like tiny red dots in the distance.

Ymir walked to an equipment rack, pulled up a bow and a single arrow.

She walked in front of a target and stopped.

Adjusting her stance, she didn’t even aim and simply tossed the arrow straight at the target while staring at Dean.

Bam!

The arrow pierced through the air and pinned directly into the red circle of the board.

Bullseye

Dean blinked, his eyes interchanging between Ymir and the target.

"That’s like one hundred meters and you didn’t even—" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Your turn," Ymir said. She tossed him a bow and a quiver full of arrows.

Dean caught the items. As he pulled at the string. The tension was solid.

Nocking the arrow, Dean pulled back just like he saw on TV every now and then. It was all going smoothly and Ymir was still smiling.

"This is easier than I thought," Dean said inwardly. As he let the arrow fly after aiming.

The arrow crossed the distance in seconds, flying in blind confidence it missed the target woefully.

And Dean lost sight of it, as it disappeared into the grassland.

Ymir leaned against the rack with arms crossed. "You hands are made of noodles,"

"Huh?" Dean turned. Feeling insulted.

"How do you miss something that’s right there?" She gestured to the target as if Dean didn’t know where it was.

Dean’s jaw tightened as he pulled another arrow. "I’ll show you,"

He nocked and pulled and in the last second, his eyes shifted, his pupils spiraled and formed a cross-like shape.

And with the clarity that Hermit’s eyes provided, the world seemed to become more detailed and slower.

Dean released the arrow and it spun through the air and tore right through Ymir’s earlier arrow to hit the bullseye.

"The–" Dean turned but Ymir was already beside him.

She tapped his shoulder softly. "Stop using those special eyes of yours,"

"How’d you know," Dean said as Hermit’s eyes deactivated like it had a mind of its own.

"Your aura changes," She answered. "I can easily detect the shift when you activate an ability."

Dean never knew it was that obvious, so those times he sneaked Hermit’s eyes on, if someone paid attention, they would easily know.

Before he could start re-strartegizing, Ymir tapped his bow. "Try again without them."

Dean picked another arrow and strung it sharply, he took his time to aim and released.

It flew wide again. "Fuck," Dean blurted. This was harder than he thought.

Suddenly, Dean felt a hand on his shoulders. Ymir stepped behind him and began adjusting his stance.

Her hands traced down from his shoulders all the way to his waist as she adjusted his hips slightly.

Dean’s eyes twitched. "Isn’t this sexual assault," he whispered.

Ymir laughed. "What?"

’How did she ?... She’s a werewolf genius,’ he thought.

"I mean, I should be the one doing this to you. Teaching you. That is what gym bros do."

Ymir cocked her side to the side to see his face. "Gym what?"

"Nothing," Dean shook his head. "Forget about it." Dean knew he had messed up.

Ymir grinned. "You’re an idiot

She moved to his arms and adjusted his grip and elbows.

"Breathe," she said. "A good shot is all about control,"

Dean took a slow breath and released. The arrow flew straight ahead hitting the target this time but still far from the bullseye.

"Finally...your eyes work," Ymir said as she stepped back. "Again,"

Dean went at it for about twenty minutes. Controlling his breath to calm himself and keep going.

Each shot was an improvement of the previous one and sooner than later, he was hitting very close to the bullseye.

"You learn really fast," Ymir gave him a gentle smack on the back. "Time to push further,"

She walked to the exact target he had been aiming at and pushed it further back by another one hundred meters.

Dean stared blankly, "isn’t that too far? One hundred and ten first,"

"No...two hundred."

"That’s too–"

"I said two hundred," Ymir gave him a death stare with a tone that left no room for argument.

Dean shrugged. Nocked the arrow and released it.

It flew terribly wide. Ymir remained quiet and simply nodded for him to go again.

Dean tried again. And again. And again, but the arrow seemed to have a mind of its own and moved to everything but the target.

Lowering his bow after another failure. Dean snarled. "That’s why I said one hundred and ten. This is impossible,"

"It’s not..." Ymir exclaimed as she reached into her pocket and pulled out an apple.

Then she pulled a ribbon from the back for the target board.

She slowly tied the ribbon around her eyes..and placed the apple on her head.

Dean couldn’t help but cringe. Does she think they were in a telenovela or something? I can’t aim for shit.

Once she was done, she spaced her legs and gestured to her head. "Hit it..."

"Are you insane," Dean said.

"Hit it." She repeated.

"It’s going to go between your eyes. You know I can’t aim," Dean sounded worried.

"Your arrow would have to get here first," she said as she gestured to the others that missed the mark completely.

Dean’s eyes twitched as a vein came to life on his forehead.

"I’ll show you," he gritted his teeth as he nocked again but paused just as he was about to let the arrow loose.

This was insane, completely insane. This woman was insane.

"You’re a mad woman. You know that?" Dean yelled.

"I know," Ymir replied. "Now shoot, noodle hands,"

Dean knew the shot was off, he knew she was baiting him but still he let the arrow fly, immediately she called him that.

The arrow flew through the air like a missile but it wasn’t aiming for the apple.

Instead it was aiming directly between Ymir’s eyes.

Dean screamed as the veins on his neck bulged. "Watch out..."

A/N: Please and Please drop a review if you’re enjoying the story. Helps the Algorithm push this.