A Lesson in Archery [Private w/ Sashi]

Calli was walking to the arena, hoping to practice her archery skills since she felt kind of inferior compared to her other brothers and sisters. They were all so good and Calli hoped that she'd be able to become as good as them when she grew up. She was only 12 and knew that she was one of the youngest in the Sun God's Cabin but that didn't stop her for trying her best in all the abilities an Apollo's kid should have.

With determination, she strode purposely to the archery area only to falter in her movements when she noticed one of her brothers was practicing there too.

Great, I'm going to make a fool of myself in front of him

But she didn't walk away, instead she stood rooted to the spot as she watched him take out an arrow from his back and notched it on his bow. He took a confidant stance and aimed the arrow at the target point. He breathed in and after a few seconds of silence, he released it. Right at the red dot.

Calli could feel her jaw dropping and before she knew it, she let out a sound which sounded pretty loud inside the empty arena.

"Damn"

Calli shyfully fixed her black but golden streaked hair with a bowed head to hide her flushed face.

I can't believe I just said that!

And not only that. He knew her name whereas she didn't until a few seconds ago. She felt like a horrible sister not knowing. But looking up at him made Calli snapped out of her thoughts and she suddenly remembered she hadn't given him her answer yet.

"Uh, yeah that's right" Calli muttered and she felt herself go red again for such a stupid answer.

Come on, you're suppose to be a hardcore girl! This is just your brother for crying out loud! No need to get intimidated

With that thought, she squared her shoulders and really looked at Ellis in the eye.

"Nice too meet you. That was a great shot you did there by the way"

See that wasn't so bad

But then Calli's eyes suddenly drifted to the target point where her brother's arrow was still placed on the bull's eye.

"Though I wonder how you did that" Calli uttered to herself, not realizing she said it out loud.

Calli looked at him incredulously when he said others could do it with their eyes closed. She couldn't even do it open! And tricks? What else could you do with a bow and arrow than just shooting stuff?

Although, I don't really have much experience so I can't talk.

Calli eventually got out of her amazed and shocked stupor when he made a perfect shot...again and went in to her own stance.

Okay, just do what he did. Easy. I mean he did say it was in my blood and all that...jazz, was it?

Comforted with that knowledge, she held her arrow against the bow and looked at her target. Calli remembered her brother breathing in and out and so she did the same too which oddly calmed her mind and after a few seconds, she released it.

Right at the center of the target.

Calli grinned so wide she thought it would never go back to its original form. Success gushed through her veins and a feeling of accomplishment took over her.

Without Calli even knowing it, she ran up to her brother and hugged him with all her might, chanting "thank you" all the way. She didn't even care that her actions were a bit extreme because she really wanted to hit that bull's eye so bad and become just as good as her older siblings.