Luciel stepped out of the house with an iron lunch box in his hand and spotted Elara practicing her archery nearby.
The white-haired girl loosed an arrow high into the air, then quickly fired another. The second arrow struck the tail of the first mid-flight before both lost momentum and drifted away in the wind, vanishing against the sky.
"The arrows are gone," Elara said, lowering her longbow with a sigh as she looked at her empty quiver.
Luciel smiled faintly. "Try using fixed targets. It'll save you some arrows."
Elara shook her head. "That's not the same kind of training."
"Then use a moving one," Luciel offered. "Arachni can spar with you — that'll improve your aim and reaction."
"Not yet…" she murmured. But as soon as she spoke, her voice caught in her throat.
Luciel noticed the hesitation in her tone. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you waiting for, Elara?"
The girl lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes.
