The Unbreakable Bow

Chapter<1> of the Searcher:

In the name of the great creator,<1> he who placed the universe in course,<2> the ruler of the worlds and everything in between<3>and the judge of our ultimate destination<4>may you put us on the right path<5>for we seek nothing but your wisdom<6>may you notice our humble lives in your marvellous creation<7>

Chapter <2> of the Humble:

Fa mi<1>This is a book of guidance carrying the wisdom for who seeks it<2>It has no error or flaw<3>and that is the matter for creation<3>the creation just does not see it<4>This wisdom is for those who seek it<5>a blessing from your creator<6>for those whom hearts are truly faithful<7>and for those who do not seek our wisdom, let them be<8>they will be judged by their actions as all of the creation<9>they know and we know<10>

Read Aefrine early in the morning. He had gone to sleep yesterday after such a fruitful conversation. He woke up and seeing that he didn't know what to do, he thought that he should read some of the holy Baal. He thought that God might help with the test if he did so, plus, maybe he do something about curses... "and those who bring suffering wherever they go and claim to do it in my name will be cursed in life and the afterlife" That verse still scares his soul so much despite not reading it yet. He only read the first chapter which contained only seven verses. The verses definitely felt relatable to him. He is seeking some wisdom from the creator and he is desperate for him to notice his humble presence. Then he read the second chapter which was very long. He only managed to read ten verses before the door knocked.

He opened the door to find a servant waiting with his breakfast. He thanked the man and took an observing look at his food. There was bread, a slice of apple (a giant one that made half of the plate full), a small jar of honey and finally a cup of wine. He started eating the apple first that was when Larry woke up and decided to talk.

"Beware of t'e seeds, master."

Aefrine gave him a thumbs-up while continuing to eat the apple .

No wonder Stephen loves these.

He put the honey on the bread and as he was about to take a bite, the door knocked again. He opened and this time it was Çetin.

"Hello,there. Hope I am not interrupting anything. "

His mouth was fulled with bread...

"Oh..no, er sorry."

"Well, hurry up, we need to get to townhall early to make sure that nothing funny happens..."

"Er yeah, sure . Just give me a moment..."

He looked at Larry for some time. Yeah, I can't just leave him all day.

He closed the door and get everything that might seem useful including his holy book . He also left half of the apple but no bread on the plate while not touching the wine. Aefrine isn't a fan of alcohol . He exchanged his marks for duvats with the innkeeper and went out with Çetin to get his enchanted tools before he explained that he would need anything more than an ID card to enter the test.

"So, your brother is sick..."

"Yes..."

"And he can't show any of his skin."

"Yes..."

"Ok, I won't bother more..."

They were now marching though the lifeful city .

Around him, the market square buzzed with life. Merchants shouted their wares, showcasing a dazzling array of goods—silks from the South, spices that filled the air with exotic scents, and fresh produce laid out on wooden stalls. A large feathered dinosaur, wandered leisurely through the square, its long claws gently nudging at piles of vegetables as children laughed and chased after it, delighted by its playful nature.

The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as people from various backgrounds mingled—traders haggling, artisans showcasing their crafts, and townsfolk sharing news. He noticed a group of women weaving intricate tapestries, their fingers deftly moving through the threads while chatting amiably. Nearby, a small dinosaur scurried between the vendors' feet, occasionally stopping to snatch up scraps of food.

As he continued walking, he marveled at the grand fountain in the center of the square, its waters sparkling in the sunlight. It was adorned with statues of mythical creatures and figures from history, captivating the attention of passersby. A number of Syracos grazed peacefully at the edge of the fountain, its horns glistening, drawing curious glances from children eager to pet the gentle giants. Perhaps that Stephen is peaceful after all?

As he wandered further, the narrow streets opened into a vibrant harbor, where ships of various sizes bobbed on the water. The sight was awe-inspiring, with sailors shouting commands and cargo being loaded and unloaded with precision. He spotted a massive dinosaur at the docks, its long neck stretching towards the rigging, curiously inspecting the ship's sails, much to the amusement of the crew.

He definitely saw one of those if not a horde of them.

He asked Çetin about them .

"That is a Brach, only the richest of people would have one . They are very strong, only an A rank would be able to hunt one since they live in hordes." He said giving him a pat on the head.

He isn't making fun of me, right ? I know I said I hunted two T.rexes but still...

Wait a second, he isn't much taller than me !

When finally finished with observing his surroundings and checking on Larry who was shadowing Aefrine's movements, he noticed that Çetin had sword on his back. Its handle looked very decorative despite the sword itself not being very long but rather thick and a little curvy.

"He have a nice sword."

"Thanks, it is an A rank cutlass. I never travel without it. It is my favourite if I had one."

"Really what does it do ?"

"I am sorry, kid, not even the closest members of my guild know that much about my blade. But let's just say that one of its many abilities is that is almost indestructible. "

"Wow. It will would be terrible if an enchanted tool simply broke."

"Trust me kid . It happens more often than you might think especially with low rank ones. That is why the professionals always stick to at least one high rank on which they can count on. And we have arrived. "

The townhall's grand stone façade was adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and allegorical figures. Tall, arched windows allowed light to stream into the spacious interior. Above the entrance, a large clock tower chimed the hours, its bell echoing through the bustling streets. Surrounding the building, vibrant blue banners of orange triangles fluttered in the breeze.

"Let's hurry up."

As they entered, the whole building of men who were either speaking or walking. Once again, Aefrine felt like he is a complete outsider. I mean he is .

He was constantly trying to keep with Çetin while making sure that Larry didn't get lost. They finally arrived at a window. Inside said window, a man with a very grumpy look sat. And he started talking for a while before Çetin said while opening his hand :

"The ID card . Come here."

He gave the card and went closer to the window. The grumpy man asked after reading the card:

"Aefrine Sven, do you wish to apply for the job of a raider?"

"Er..yes of course ."

"Ok, put your finger and place your mark. By signing this paper, you agree to take place in the raider tryout test while knowing the possible dangers of such test as well as becoming a raider. It might include death. Are you aware of that ? "

"Yes..."

"Good then sign it"

He put his finger in the bottle of ink and placed his mark on the paper .

"Now, the test will take place tomorrow morning on the outskirts of Olson. We expect your arrival at the Eastern gate of the city by the time the sun has fully risen. No company allowed. Your results will determine your rank for the next year. Understood ?"

"Yes!"

"Good, you can go on your way. And remember the big wagon with the letters R.T.T is the place you should be tomorrow morning at the Eastern gate"

"Right...Goodbye."

The man didn't reply...

And so they left the building.

"So,anyway, prepare yourself and maybe just relax . The test shouldn't be too hard for someone who killed two T.rexes."

Could you please stop pointing that out...?

"Ok..."

"I need to go for now. You know guild master duties..."

"Oh,I understand. "

"Have a nice day."

"Goodbye"

"So, do you like to do the tour around the city ?"

"As you like, master ."

I am trying to make you have fun. But what would a skeleton want for fun...

They travelled around the tour for a bit. It wasn't fun. Children would chase the cloaked Larry. They didn't care about what Aefrine would warm , so the only way to keep away from thew was running. One of them almost took off Larry's cloak. They had to go near the Syracos where the kids' attention went away from Larry.

Aefrine tried to find something that Larry might take a liking into but everytime Larry would simply reply with a different variation of "your choice, master". They were now at an enchanted tool market. All the tools were C rank or below . Aefrine was wondering of there was anything that might be useful for tomorrow...

A salesman approached him when he was just about to leave.

"Oh, hello sir. With what can I help you today?"

"Er, I am looking for ... what can this ring do? "

"Ah, sir. Excellent. That is a D rank ring. It uses Light magic to create a huge beam of light in one direction to blind the enemy. It is sneaky and can work as a good cover. You never know when bandits show up against you."

"That actually sounds good... How much does it cos-"

"Oww."

A black-haired woman crashed into him softly. She quickly lowered her head as apologising while backing away before passing by him. As he left, the salesman quickly said :

-check your handbag, sir. You never know who is a thief .

Aefrine immediately checked everything in his bag, his money, his book, his card. Everything was there . Nothing at all was missing. Maybe this was just an accident. He was just confused why the woman didn't say anything.

"So anyway ... how much the ring?"

"900."

"What ?"

"900 ducats that is all I can do, sir."

"Ok..."

Well, now he has a silver ring with white jewellery on it that can blind the enemy hurray! He tested it before buying it of course. It worked but for only like a few moments. He returned to the inn and went inside. The night had fallen and he had eaten his dinner. He left the wine untouched...

He took a peek at the tavern where he didn't spot Çetin. So he returned, he had no need to spent extra money for nothing. Now, he was in bed curious about tomorrow's test or maybe anxious.

"Hey,Larry what do you think the test will be like?"

"I 'ave no idea, master. I don't remember any raiders in my time..."

"Your time?" Larry how old are you ?"

"No idea, master..."

"Is there anything that changed a lot since your time?"

"Err, just raiders , I t'ink...?"

"Do you remember anything important like a face or place?"

"No. "

"Then how do you remember what is new ?"

"I don't know, I just know how to talk and move and stuff..."

"OK Goodnight "

"Goodnight."

Aefrine took his holy book again to finish what he started.

Only the creator will know the truthfulness of their deeds<11>And only he has the authority to judge<12>Yet, there are some who will be upon who will say 'we are the believers'<13>yet there only follow in seek of power and wealth<14>the people who say 'follow you' but they only follow themselves<15>indeed they are the hypocrites<16>they are the ones who purchased my wisdom for earthly matters<17>

They are worse than the disbelievers<18>

God is mad with them as much as he is patient<19>and if he wanted he could have taken them from this world and make them an example but he is ever forgiving<20>