История Королевы Эльфов / The story of the Elf Queen: Агенты королевы эльфов

Agents of the Elf Queen

Camrad_RIP 03.02.24 в 21:27

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Camrad_RIP 03.02.24 в 21:27

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

With a predatory whistle, the arrow snapped off the bowstring and, a moment later, sank into a round stationary target at the farthest of the three distances, two palms below the small center circle. The young man, dressed in expensive burgundy-colored hunting clothes embroidered with gold, creased his handsome, aristocratic face with a pair of pointed ears. Then he took out the next arrow from the quiver and put it on the bowstring. He exhaled a few times and, as his instructors had taught him, drew the bowstring in one fluid motion, took aim, and fired.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

This time, the arrow hit the target above the center circle, but only with one palm. Nevertheless, the young man was not satisfied. He grudgingly grimaced. For an ordinary person, hitting a target at this distance was a pretty good result. Even considering the fact that he was shooting with a real elven battle bow, which cost a lot of money and required a lot of physical strength to draw and hold the bowstring. And the same elven white-feathered arrows. His retinue and mentors would have praised him immediately and probably sincerely. But that would have made it even more sickening.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:29

Because next to him, on the neighboring ranges, his mother's parents are practicing. And it was enough to look at them to realize how far he was from the real elves in archery. That's why he went to the morning training alone, to the displeasure of the attendants who wouldn't leave him unattended. Gritting his teeth, Christian drew the bowstring again, but his irritation made the shot too hasty, and the arrow went off to the right and above center three palms to the right. As if in mockery, a moment later, at the neighboring ridge, where one of the elves was shooting, the arrow struck the target. The targets at the next range were wooden orc heads on staves, wearing horned helmets. And as if that wasn't enough, the staves were also moving, rising, and tilting to the side.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:31

The sight of such skill made him want to drop everything and return to his quarters. What was the point of wasting time on this if he was never going to reach the heights of real elves anyway? Real... Christian exhaled a few times and forced himself to calm down, then drew his bow again and aimed. It was not easy to keep the bowstring taut, but he forced himself to aim carefully and hold his breath, as he was as sharp as his mother's relatives.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:32

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

With a ravenous whistle, the arrow flew forward, only to sink a moment later into the upper edge of the center circle of the target. Christian smiled contentedly as he exhaled.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:37

"That's a very nice shot."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:52

He turned sharply and saw a pretty elf with thick, straight blond hair in a long ponytail a few steps behind him. She was dressed in tight dark-green elven hunting clothes, with coloring reminiscent of tree foliage. They emphasized her figure very favorably. On her belt hung a quiver full of the same white-feathered arrows as Christian's, and in her hands, she held an elven bow but noticeably more graceful than his. Her light green eyes were watching the young man with interest, which made him embarrassed for a brief moment, but at that moment, the elfess caught herself.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:54

"Please forgive me. That was so rude of me. I had no intention of sneaking up on you. Mistrael, of the House of River Lilies," she curtsied modestly.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:55

"Christian de Mont Ros, son of Duke Augustus de Mont Ros," the young man performed a Small Bow, then glanced at the target.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:56

"You flatter me, Lady Mistrael. I can see how a true master shoots."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:57

In confirmation of his words, the shooter at the next range again hit another target in the form of a head in an orcish helmet. To Christian's surprise, he heard a melodious female laugh in response. The elven woman came closer, smiled slyly, and said in a conspiratorial voice.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:57

"You're being too hard on yourself, Christian. I'll let you in on a little secret. Not all elves are actually great archers. Some are not as good as you are."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:58

The young man raised his eyebrows skeptically:

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:58

"Is that so? My mom said bow practice was part of every elf's life."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 17:59

"Not exactly. Among elves, it is considered good manners to be able to shoot and to train periodically to keep in shape. But to achieve the legendary elven skill, one must train hard for decades. And that can only be afforded by those who have chosen to become warriors. Besides..."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:00

A mischievous light appeared in the elf's eyes.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:55

"Don't forget the trick of enchanting bows and arrows. Tell me, Christian, your bow is not enchanted, is it?"

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:00

"No, real enchanted elven bows are almost impossible to buy, even for a father."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:00

"Oh, I'm sure that if Duke Augustus so desired, our craftsmen would have such a bow made for him to order. But that's not the point. Let me give you a demonstration. Take my bow."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:01

With those words, the elf woman handed Christian her weapon. After a moment's hesitation, he put his own aside and took the offered bow. He smelled the slight floral scent of her perfume. Her weapon was surprisingly light, but it fit perfectly in his hand. Taking another white-feathered arrow, Christian pulled the bowstring a little and was surprised by the lightness of the tension. It was practically a child's practice bow! He'd started practicing with one of these when he was six years old. Would the arrow even make it?

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:02

"I don't think its tension is enough for the far target...."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:02

"That's right, it seems to you. Go ahead, shoot it like it's your own."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:03

Shrugging, Christian stood, drew his bow, and took aim. It was a lot easier to hold the bowstring, and it was easy to aim. He held his breath and loosened his fingers.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:07

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

The arrow came off the bowstring as fast as his own bow! A moment later it was almost exactly in the center of the target. Christian turned to Lady Mistrael in amazement at this. She was looking at him with a cheerful smile.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:07

"Wouldn't you agree it's noticeably easier to shoot that way?"

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:56

"By an order of magnitude! That's amazing! It's like I was stringing my baby bow, and I shot it like a battle bow!"

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:57

The elfess laughed softly in response.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:57

That is the power of enchanted weapons. Skilled craftsmen are able to greatly reduce the amount of effort while maintaining the power of the shot. But that's not all. Allow me, Christian.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:08

As she approached, Lady Mistrael removed from her head a thin silver hoop with a small azure topaz in the center. Then, she carefully placed it on the head of the frozen Christian. Up close, he caught the slight floral scent coming from her again. It was reminiscent of the perfume his mother used.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:09

That's it. Try the shot again.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:09

Blinking, Christian shook off the sudden daze and touched the hoop. It was a little small for him, but it fit his head quite securely. Intrigued, he took the arrow again and drew his bow. As soon as he aimed, the world before his eyes changed. From the tip of the arrow, a thin, gentle line stretched out, indicating the endpoint. Surprised, he shifted the direction slightly, and the line followed the arrowhead. Now it was clear where the legs, or rather ears, of elven skill grew from. Aiming so that the end point of the line pointed exactly at the center of the target, Christian lowered the bowstring.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:10

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:19

The arrow struck exactly in the center, next to the previous one. He lowered his bow and turned to see Lady Mistrael still smiling.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:11

"So that's the secret behind the famous elven archers."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:11

Again to his surprise, the elfess laughed softly.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:11

"Not at all. Such enchantments are discouraged among the Forest Guards, as it numbs them from relying on their own eyes and skills. This is especially true of the Jagers, as the best of the best. An exception is made for the Enchanted Archers, but they are entitled to it."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:12

"Got it..."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:13

Drawing another arrow, Christian took aim and sent it flying again.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 18:13

Whew.

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:20

"Like the previous one, it stabbed precisely into the target."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 16:22

"You're doing great, Christian. Would you like to try it with more difficult targets?"

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:57

After hesitating for a moment, the young man nodded:

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 15:58

"Hmm, why not?"

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 16:21

"In that case, let's change the line."

Camrad_RIP 04.02.24 в 16:22