After killing the enemies, things became more tense. The Ball waspostponed and training had began for fighting. Liz had beenone of many people who was practicing. She spent most of her time at the archery range. Liz was slightly better with a bow and arrow than with a sword. One afternoon while she was practicing James joined her.
" Hello Liz," James said smiling at her.
" Hello," Liz said smiling back, " You look quiet happy for someone who is about to fight in a war."
" Yes, I love fighting. It letsme get all my anger out," James said.
" Oh," Liz replied.After a few minutes of silence and a fewrounds of arrows James asked,
" Hey do you want to shoot at my archery range that I made just for me?"
" Sure," said Liz.
" Great," said James, " But it''s a secret ranger no one else can know about it."
" Okay, I will not tell anyone," said Liz half smiling.
They went deep into the woods before they stopped.
" This is my range," he said.
" Wow this is pretty fancy," Liz said looking around, "No wonder you are so good at shooting."
" Thank you. Today you are going to practice shooting targets from the top of that rock," James said pointing to a large rock about 40 feet away from them. Liz smiled and said,
" Okay, but I might be really bad." They walked over to the rock and Liz took her aim, but something weird happened. The targets started to move toward the rock. Liz aimed in front of the target but when she let go ithit in front of the target. Liz blushed.
" It''s okay," James said, " Try again just don''t aim as low. SoLiztook her aim. This time she aimedat the feet of the moving target. When shelet go of the stringit hit the head of the target.
" Yes,"Lizsaid jumping up and down, " I hit it."James smiled then started walking toward her. Liz looked at him. James still smiling said,
" But canyou hit it when someone or something is detracting you."
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences."You underestimate me," Liz said smiling. SoLiz took her aim, but then felt the hot air of James on her neck. She hated it. Trying to focus she shoot her arrow and missedthe target by a mile. James smiled at her and said,
" You must learn to ignore everything around you and focus on the target no matter what is going on."
" I tried," Liz said "But it''s hard when you have someone breathing down your neck." James laughed.
" Try again," he said, " This time sound out my breathing and focus on the target." So Liz took her aim. Rightafter that James''s hot breath hit her neck. This time Liz did what James said. She was able to make the sound of his breathing go away where she could only hear the rope of the targets moving. She released and it hit the target right in the head, but then she heard another rope move from behind her. She ducked down then stood back up and shoot it. Headshot.One came from the left. She shot it. One came from the right. She shot it, but while she was shooting that one, onetarget came very fast toward her face. Shebent backward. The target barely missed her, but she bent back up then shot it in the head as she did with all the others. She turned toJames who was clapping and also was in awe. For he had never seen someone shoot so well.
" Well I want you up shooting with me whenwego to battle," James said. Liz smiled and said,
" Thanks." After getting all her arrows back Liz turned to James and said,
" Well best be going. I still have to practice my swordsmanship."
" Okay, I hope we can do more shoot together again," James said smiling. Liz smiled back thenstarted to walk away when James yelled to her,
" Hey do you know the way back or would you like me to walk back with you?" Liz turned to him and yelled back,
" You underestimate my sense of directions." Then she continued to walk until she heard James say,
" Well your going the wrong way."
" I know I was just testing you to see if you know the ways back," Liz said blushing and turning the other way. Jameslaughed then joined her and they walked together back to the castle.