Chapter 18: Episode 18: What Do You Recommend?
Luna was humming as they walked through the mountain range.
If one were to wish to go from Antlia Kingdom to Circinus Kingdom without having to face the beasts on the Dark Forest then going through the mountain range is their other option. Though this path takes longer as it curves around, it is still safer.
When she was asked a while ago where she wanted to go, she suggested that they go to Antlia Kingdom as it is still closer to Circinus Kingdom than going through the Vulpecula Desert to check the other three kingdoms.
It is estimated that they will arrive in another five days based on their current pace, which is not so fast but not so slow either.
"Hey, Luna," Spencer called out to her.
"Hmm?"
"Do you not plan on getting a new sword?"
Her sword had actually shattered after they returned from the Dark Forest when she fell sick. It seems that she was not holding back in her attacks while she was unconscious, the sword couldn't keep up.
Luna thought for a bit before with reluctance started speaking what was on her mind.
"Can I… get a bow and arrow?"
Everyone turned to her after hearing her words.
She had expected their reaction that she could only smile at them with uncertainty.
She had always been their main attacker and even if she won't buy a sword this time, they expected for her to buy her main weapon. But instead she told them that she wished to buy a bow and arrow instead.
She scratched her cheek before turning her back on them with her hands clasped behind her back.
"If needed I would rush to the front to be the main attacker. But while we can call it as all of us being in a peaceful moment, I wish to keep my distance from the battlefield."
She looked back at them and she had a complicated smile.
Spencer smiled and went over to place his hand on top of her head, "Don't look like that. Didn't you already say that we are to live our lives with our own decisions? Why look at us as if asking for our permission for what you wanted to do?"
Luna smiled back and looked at the other three.
Richard nodded his head, Aaron placed his hands behind his head and Preshea just shrugged.
Luna breathed in and started walking again, she was even skipping on her steps.
They were happy for her, they had been living as freely as they wanted for the past two years but for her, this is just the beginning.
They will pass by a few villages under Antlia Kingdom, from the mountain range before they arrive at the imperial city of Antlia Kingdom.
They decided to stay in the village for the night before continuing on their journey.
This village is still close to the Dark Forest, so it was natural that it has potion and weapon shops. This is the first village of Antlia Kingdom after one passes through the Dark Forest.
"Hmmm."
"Are you going to buy something dear customer?"
She had been looking at the bows and arrows for almost an hour but she still had not decided on what to buy.
"Shop owner, what do you recommend?" Luna looked at the shop owner.
The shop owner was a man in his fifties.
He was not impatient towards her at all, despite staying in his shop for almost an hour without buying anything.
Because among all buyers what he liked the least was the person who would buy anything that they like just because they have the money but soon those weapons would either be abandoned or would not be used to its fullest.
Instead he liked the ones who would take their time to consider everything to buy the weapon compatible with them.
Luna is obviously looking at each and every bow and arrow in his shop, she was choosing very carefully.
"Could you be a first timer in using bow and arrows?" he asked her.
"Uhmm I have little experience."
More like she had experience before but it has been so long, her body may no longer really remember using one. It is better to say she can barely use it than to embarrass herself by saying that she can, only to end up being unable to wield it properly.
"Then why not start with a softer one? You would be able to pull it much easier and then you can gradually adjust as the time goes by," he suggested.
"Do you have samples of each?" she asked instead.
"Samples?"
"Yes. So that I can gradually adjust right here before buying."
The shop owner nodded his head, "Come follow me."
He tasked one of the attendants to watch over the shop while he guided her to the back.
The shop is a one story shop but it is spacious enough to house the different weapons. And accommodate more than twenty people at the same time.
Behind was an open area, a place where one can train with the bow and arrow. And when no one is training with bow and arrows then it can be used as a training ground for swords and other weapons.
He handed Luna the easiest bow to use.
She stood in position and pulled back an arrow through the string.
The shop owner watched her with studying eyes.
He blinked when he noticed that despite her words, she was positioned properly. Her back is straight and the level of her shoulders were just right.
Luna took a deep breath.
The feeling of the bow and arrow felt both familiar and unfamiliar. Her mind tells her she just used it a few weeks ago but her body tells her that it has been a while.
*WHOOSH*
The arrow flew across the field and hit the mark right on the center.
She closed and opened her hand before looking back at the shop owner.
"Can I try the others?"
"Go on. Though I must say you don't look like you used it only for a bit. It seems you have used it a lot before stopping and after a long time, you are once again picking it up."
Luna's eyes widened, "You can tell?"
"You got all the basics down but your body isn't following what you want."
She clapped her hand, "You are amazing, shop owner."
"I have been selling weapons for more than three decades already. I have seen a lot of people."
She looked at him in amazement causing him to just feel embarrassed in the end.
"Go on and keep trying. Don't just look at me," he cleared his throat causing her to laugh.
She continued checking on the bows until she found one that she is comfortable with.
She looked through the weapons for sale that are almost the same with the properties of the bow she tried a while ago.
"Here you go," he handed her the weapon of her choice.
"What is it?"
Luna looked at him when she noticed hesitation as he handed her the bow and the arrows.
"I just felt like this bow is still lacking for your strength."
"Do you think I am compatible with bows, shop owner?"
She looked at him expectantly.
"Yes, I can see that you are quite compatible with it. Though I can also see that this is not your main weapon."
Luna was stunned for the second time, "You have an amazing pair of eyes."
"I told you it is not because of my eyes alone but because of my experience."
Luna laughed, keeping the bow and arrows.
"Where are you heading to, young lady?' the shop owner asked.
"We are heading to the imperial city of Antlia Kingdom."
"Go and find a bow compatible with you in there. Though Antlia Kingdom is smaller than Circinus Kingdom on the other side of the Dark Forest, it prides itself more in its weapon making."
Circinus Kingdom prided itself with the strength of its knights and had focused on the people. They rarely took notice of their weapons. As long as it is of a precious rare material, they will find a way in incorporating it with their weapons.
And most of the time, they focus on swords. The other weapons are barely being given attention.
Antlia Kingdom, on the other hand, focuses on both aspects.
Knowing that numbers could be their downfall, they decided to strengthen themselves instead.
Quality over quantity.
"Thank you for the suggestion. I hope your shop will prosper even more," Luna bid the kind shop owner goodbye.
In time to chance upon her friends outside, looking for her.
"Did you find a bow to your liking?" Spencer asked her.
She enthusiastically nodded her head, "Yep and the shop owner was kind, letting me find the bow compatible for me, not sending me away despite taking too long to choose one."
Then her eyes went to Preshea.
"You bought a different weapon as well?"
Preshea smiled, "I find swords entertaining while I used it for a bit these past two years. I think I am more comfortable with it now than just being in the back."
Luna stared at her for a good while before she smiled, "I see."
Preshea furrowed her brows when Luna walked to her, clinging on her arm.
"I see."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone