"If you continue playing and don't take it seriously, then you both will lose and take the punishment right now!" the captain shouted and stunned them both. The audience raised their eyebrows because they couldn't seem to see something wrong; just both losers were fighting.
"I'm sorry." The skinny man raised his sword and forcefully found an opening to Amishta. She was stunned but was able to block the sword, but her strength was nothing compared to the skinny man. She was pushed down and hurt her back. Even before she fixed herself, a blade was already glaring at her neck.
"I lost," she surrendered. It is quite inappropriate to say that she surrendered, but she merely stated the fact that she lost. After the fight, all the soldiers were even mocking her. They didn't even see the skinny man as powerful, but they only felt that the result should be like that as he fought with a weak woman, even if he is skinny.
"This round, the losers will fight with the other losers to have the losers punished before the sun sets. Remember, losers, you only have this last chance. If you lose again, then be ready to be punished." The vice captain shouted and began fighting.
Amishta's body was totally bad, but she can still manage. She got a tall opponent, but based on her observation, she can still fight with him, though she is at a disadvantage, but she can use some tricks. She manages to gain back her confidence and seriously look forward to the fight.
She started to attack, but the opponent was keen and blocked her every move. As the man blocked her move, she was being thrown away with the man's strength, but she never gave up. She stood up and used some trick; she pretended to thrust her sword into his stomach, but in the middle she jumped her best and attacked his head. He might have been able to see it and blocked it, but he was still surprised with Amishta's action and lay on the floor with Amishta pinning him.
Amishta's sword was near his neck, and his sword was swiftly taken by Amishta. The man felt insulted, but he still praised Amishta in his heart. He vocalized his loss and stood up. He knew that he lost because he underestimated the petite girl in front of him. He nodded and walked to the side.
The soldiers looked at him in different ways. Some admired how she, as a girl, knocked out a man, but some said that she was a calculative woman who only won because of some tricks. She just couldn't help but chuckle and smirk.
"Alright, that was quite a show. All losers will follow me up to the mountain and experience some fun and accumulate some heat. For the first batch winner, a feast was readied for you. As for the second batch winner, your prize will just be safety from the punishment. That's it. Tomorrow shall be an archery practice. To the winners, enjoy, and to the losers, let's go!"
"Yes, sir!" Every winner can't contain their happiness and chats with their comrade. The losers were totally low but respectfully followed the vice captain to the mountain.
"Hey! That was amazing," Marco stated and smirked at Amishta.
"Thanks," Amishta stated while trying to massage her body. It was so painful, and Marco noticed it by Amishta's expressions. Marco just keeps his mouth shut because Amishta doesn't want it.
"Do you know how to use a bow and arrow for tomorrow?" Amishta nodded her head.
"Are you sure? Don't you want me to teach you? I mean---"
"I mean it. I really knew how, but thanks anyway." Marco acknowledges her words and smiles but becomes stern when he foresees that the skinny man is walking towards them. He has a bad impression of him when he uses too much strength when they fight with Amishta.
"Hey, I am Jose, by the way, and I just wanted to apologize for---"
"No. No need for apology, as I am quite thankful to you. I am Amishta, and this is Marco." Amishta pointed at Marco, but seeing him with a gloomy face, she just smiled at Jose. Amishta knew how powerful Jose was, and if he didn't control it, then probably Amishta was coughing blood already. Marco was disappointed with Amishta, but he kept it to himself.
Jose just scratched his head as he doesn't know what to say. He is rather shy, and it is a big move for him to talk with Amishta just to say sorry. Amishta was entertained with Jose's antics, but she can't afford to offend someone powerful, so she excused herself.
"Where do you rest? I can go along with you. I can't just see you leaving in a bad condition." Marco tried to assist Amishta while walking, but since she has a hidden identity, she refused the help.
"No. I am just fine. I can't always rely on someone for such cases. I wouldn't be able to grow up if I always depended on anyone." Amishta speaks from her heart, and Marco sees through her, so he just lets go and walks separate ways with Amishta.
Amishta bumped into Jane in the room; thus, Jane helped Amishta to lie on her bed. Jane was very worried about Amishta, but she said nothing. She just helped Amishta in smearing medicine on her bruises. She tried to make it softer to not hurt her too much.
"You've changed," Amishta stated and looked intently at Jane.
"Change? I didn't, Princess. I will always serve you and---"
"No. Not that. In just a few days Butler Li changed you. I felt your worry a while ago, but you didn't even say anything, which is probably not you. So what do you think of Butler Li?"
"He is like a father to me, Princess. He always guides me to be a better servant for your main goal. Coming here, I actually never understood you, but Butler Li explained it in a way I can understand. I want to change myself to protect you." Amishta hugged Jane. She was just emotional right now, maybe because of the pressure and the pain she is dealing with.
"Actually, I never considered you as my servant, but I just want to be with you. Please refrain from saying that you are my servant; rather, you can say that you are my---" Jane broke the hug, and with tears all over her face, she refused.
"Princess, don't take away the only reason why I am living. I don't have anything in life, and serving you was the only thing I knew." She kowtowed in front of Amishta. She was very determined, and Amishta can't help but just agree.
…
"For this day, we will practice archery and follow the same rules as yesterday. Winners will receive a reward, and losers will again accompany me to the mountain. The soldiers were very determined to win, as losers yesterday were all full of bruises all over their faces and bodies; they can only imagine how hard they have been through to get such colors in their faces.
Amishta was confident in this field, as she had already become an archery champion in the modern world. It was just a hobby for her, but it became helpful after coming here. Her only problem was her strength, as bows are heavy. She will just finish everything in one go to not exhaust herself from holding the bow.
Amishta started to stretch her arms first before holding the bow. Soldiers were looking at her weirdly, but she didn't mind. They thought that she was just making a move to not hold the bow. Amishta was quite surprised, as her bow is not that heavy. She remembered holding one in the palace, but it was too heavy.
"What do you think? Is that weight good enough for you?" Marco smirked. Amishta smiles and looks at Marco gratefully. She knows that Marco also has a hidden identity, but she never thought he was powerful enough to be able to sneak in a lighter bow for her to use.
"Tha---"
"No need. Just win, okay? The food served for the winners will probably be tasty. Let's eat together, okay?"
"Yes, big brother." Amishta ran towards her post and looked at Jose beside her. The person whom they fought yesterday was the same person they will play with in archery. They need to be able to shoot arrows at the target for them to win.
Jose greeted Amishta and asked her to shoot first. Amishta nodded and easily shot arrows at the five targets and did not miss a single one. All soldiers were stunned by her archery skills and gradually tryied to accept her as a soldier. She was as fast as lightning, and even Jose was impressed by her.
Jose also finished the target perfectly, so the captain suggested that they just have a target that was moving, and whoever shot it first would win. Soldiers around were interested in them, so they slacked off a bit and watched them. The captain agrees silently.
Two apples were tied in the middle of the training ground. They were constantly being moved by the soldier in charge. Amishta just concentrated and shot an arrow while Jose was a second late to calculate the apple's movement. The crowd was so quiet but cheered after Amishta's arrow destroyed the apple, though Jose was also able to shoot the target, but Amishta was the first one to.
They didn't even believe their eyes and looked at Amishta as if she was a goddess. They were still just new recruits, and such skill just amazed them. They immediately forgot yesterday's fight and just remembered Amishta as their Archery Goddess.