Chapter 13

As I walked toward my room, I began giving orders to the runners.

“First runner, go to the Royal Builder and instruct him to start construction on a warehouse and then a library. Tell him to meet me at 18 bells behind the castle to discuss the plans.”

The runner acknowledged the command and dashed off.

“Next runner, summon the Crest Maker to my room within 30 minutes.”

Another runner took off.

“Next, inform the king that I wish to use the royal training grounds until I have my own.”

The third runner ran off.

“Next, find Bao and tell him I want him present during the challenge—with his best whipmaster and raper.”

Another one sprinted away.

“Last runner, locate the Royal Alchemist and inform her that she must meet me in my room within 30 minutes.”

With all the runners dispatched, I reached my room and turned to Aldric, my trusted guard.

“No one is to enter my room for the next 20 minutes.”

He nodded in understanding and took his position outside.

Once inside, I quickly freshened up and changed into simple clothes. Wasting no time, I retrieved a Carbolium ingot and began crafting arrow shafts. The process was swift—I managed to create 50 shafts from a single ingot using my powers. However, the screwable heads, nocks, and fletching were still left to be completed.

By the time I finished, 15 minutes had passed.

I opened the door to find the Royal Alchemist, the Crest Maker, the five runners, and Aldric waiting patiently. I beckoned them inside and shut the door.

First, I grabbed a pen and parchment from a nearby table and began sketching out the design for my crest:

A massive, ancient tree—the Depiction of Eterna.

At the top, my father’s crest crowned with royalty’s symbol.

In the center of the tree, an open book symbolizing knowledge.

Beneath it, an image of a compound bow.

Turning to the Crest Maker, I asked, “Can this crest be completed before the challenge?”

He studied the design and nodded. “This is easy to make, Asher, but I have a question.”

Anticipating his curiosity, I summoned my compound bow. His eyes widened in admiration as he examined it. After a moment, he hesitantly asked, “May I hold it for a few minutes?”

I handed it to him without hesitation.

“Aldric,” I said, “accompany the Crest Master and ensure the bow is hidden well.”

The Crest Master looked at me, puzzled.

“Master, why not let me take this with me? It will aid in creating the crest. I’ll keep it concealed until you’re ready to reveal it.”

I nodded in agreement. He bowed with gratitude and departed with Aldric.

Now, my attention turned to the Royal Alchemist. I picked up another parchment, scribbled a note, and handed it to her.

As she read, her expression shifted. Narrowing her eyes at me, she suddenly grabbed my ear and twisted it sharply.

“You wicked, naughty, troublesome boy!” she scolded.

I winced but kept silent.

With a huff, she crossed her arms. “But honestly ... it serves him right for being so arrogant. He’s been nothing but a headache to me.”

She smirked, then added in a sinister tone, “You better win this match, young man—or else.”

Then, as she turned to leave, I heard her mutter, “Good riddance.”

Her evil laugh echoed behind her, sending a chill down my spine.

Next, I sent a runner to fetch feathers for making 50 fletchings and to bring me a hardened steel ingot for crafting arrowheads.

The runner returned within 10 minutes, carrying a bundle of high-quality feathers—perfect for stabilizing my arrows in flight. I inspected them briefly before getting to work.

Crafting the Arrows

The fletching and nocks took me 20 minutes to complete. Each arrow had to be precisely balanced, ensuring maximum accuracy and flight stability. I carefully attached the fletchings, making sure they were positioned at the correct angles for optimal spin and aerodynamics. The nocks were carved meticulously to fit securely onto a bowstring, ensuring clean, consistent releases.

Now, only the arrowheads remained.

I took the hardened steel ingot and began forging a variety of interchangeable, screw-on arrowheads, each designed for a specific purpose. Instead of crafting a single design, I opted to create a versatile set:

Armor-Piercing Arrowhead – A reinforced, razor-sharp tip capable of penetrating heavy plate armor and thick hides. Perfect for use against knights and heavily armored opponents.

Down Arrowhead – Designed to inflict maximum injury, this barbed tip would cause deep, non-recoverable wounds, making it nearly impossible for an enemy to continue fighting without immediate medical aid.

Bodkin Point – A specialized monster-hunting arrowhead, featuring a long, needle-like design for piercing thick hides, scales, or exoskeletons. This was an essential tool for dealing with beasts and magical creatures.

Field Point – A rounded, lightweight arrowhead intended for small game hunting or practice. Unlike the others, it wouldn’t deal lethal damage but was precise and reusable.

Each arrowhead was forged with precision, ensuring a perfect fit with the Carbolium arrow shafts. The screwable design allowed me to swap arrowheads based on the situation, granting me unmatched versatility in battle or the hunt.

By the time I finished my work, it was time for the upcoming challenge.

With everything prepared, I took a deep breath and stretched. The real test was yet to come.

I got up, got ready, and opened the door to head toward the challenge grounds. Aldric stood outside, waiting with my bow in hand.

I took my bow from him and gestured for him to lead me. We walked through the castle corridors, eventually stepping into the open, where a massive crowd had gathered.

A Surprising Audience

The arena was packed—far beyond my expectations. The King and Queen sat on their thrones, surrounded by my six brothers and sisters. The entire royal court was present, including high-ranking officials, nobles, and knights. Even the local townspeople had gathered to witness the challenge.

I was shocked to see so many people at nine in the morning, all eager to witness what they must have assumed was a one-sided match.

Then, the announcer’s voice boomed through the arena, officially declaring the start of the challenge. As soon as he mentioned the stakes, the entire crowd fell silent.

Setting the Stage

After a few moments, five targets were brought out and placed 300 meters away from the shooting line.

Kane stepped forward, bowing to the King before speaking in a falsely humble tone.

“Your Majesty, I must speak the truth. I have been unfairly set up by Darius, who seeks to remove me from the army without cause.”

I could see through his act immediately, but the King simply ignored his words. Instead, he offered Kane a formal nod and wished him luck.

As Kane walked away, he shot me a smug smirk, his expression full of arrogance and self-assurance. It was clear that he believed he had already won.

I facepalmed but remained silent. There was no point in arguing with a fool who had already lost the battle in his mind.

A Tactical Adjustment

Once Kane had left for the shooting ground, I called over two runners.

The first runner was sent to fetch five arrows identical to Kane’s, ensuring a fair comparison.

The second runner was instructed to tell the announcer to delay my turn by ten minutes, allowing me time to prepare.

I then approached my father and requested permission to step away for a moment. He gave me his blessing, though I could see the worry in his eyes. In response, I smiled reassuringly before stepping forward to hug my mother. She whispered a few encouraging words, her warmth giving me an extra boost of confidence.

With that, I left to make a few adjustments.

Kane’s Attempt