Extra's Fate
Chapter 55: Catching Up

Chapter 55: Catching Up

"Ughh... I give up."

I growled, my voice rough with frustration as I glared down at the mana arrow lodged in my stomach.

Sharp pain radiated from the wound, but it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.

Aveline had clearly pulled her punches or rather, her arrows.

If she’d gone all out, I’d be skewered through and bleeding out on the grass instead of standing here, grumbling like a petulant child.

Still, the speed of that shot had been absurd, a silver blur I couldn’t hope to dodge even with Shadow Step. In a real fight, with adrenaline flooding my system, I might’ve had a chance to slip away, but here?

In this so-called ’training’? It was laughable how outmatched I was.

Before Aveline could close the distance between us, I gritted my teeth and yanked the arrow free with a low, guttural growl.

Blood oozed from the wound, staining my shirt, but I barely flinched. The Bloody Emblem hummed faintly against my skin, its familiar warmth spreading through me as it began stitching the torn flesh back together. I pressed a hand to the injury, feeling the slow, steady pulse of its magic at work.

Good enough. I’d live.

Aveline lowered her bow, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as she approached.

The setting sun painted her in hues of gold and shadow, her regal silhouette almost otherworldly against the dimming light.

For a moment, she said nothing, her gaze flickering from my face to the bloodied hole in my shirt. Then, to my surprise, her expression softened, just a fraction, but enough to catch me off guard.

"I... apologize."

She said, her voice quieter than usual, tinged with something that might’ve been regret.

"I didn’t intend to strike you so directly. I’ll hold back more next time."

I blinked, momentarily thrown by the admission.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, she reached into the small satchel slung across her shoulder and produced a vial of shimmering liquid, a healing potion, its faint glow catching the last rays of sunlight.

"Here."

She said, holding it out to me with a steady hand.

"This will mend it faster."

I glanced at the potion, then back at her and shook my head.

"No need."

I muttered, waving her off.

"I’ll be fine."

Her brows twitched upward, the barest hint of surprise breaking through her composed mask.

She didn’t press the issue, though.

Instead, she slipped the vial back into her satchel and stepped back, giving me space.

Silence settled between us again, broken only by the distant chirping of evening crickets and the rustle of wind through the trees.

I shifted my weight, trying to ignore the dull ache in my stomach as the Bloody Emblem worked its magic. It wasn’t fast, not like her potion would’ve been, but it was reliable.

I could feel the wound knitting itself shut, the pain fading into a tolerable throb.

Ten minutes passed, maybe less, though it felt longer under the weight of her stare.

I kept my eyes on the ground, focusing on the steady rhythm of my breathing, until the last trickle of warmth from the Emblem faded. I lifted my hand from my stomach and peeled back the torn fabric of my shirt. The skin beneath was smooth, unmarred, not even a scar to show for it.

Good as new.

Aveline’s voice cut through the quiet.

"You... heal fast."

I looked up to find her watching me. Her head tilted slightly, the same subtle gesture she’d made back in my dorm, like she was piecing together a puzzle I didn’t want her to solve.

"Yeah."

I said simply, nodding once.

"I do."

I kept my tone neutral, offering nothing more.

The less she knew about the Bloody Emblem or any of my other tricks the better.

She didn’t push, though her gaze lingered a moment longer before she turned away, adjusting her grip on her bow.

"Very well."

She said, her voice slipping back into its usual calm authority.

"Shall we try again?"

My stomach twisted, but I forced a tight smile.

"Sure. Why not?"

She nodded and stepped back, resuming her position fifty feet away.

The sun had dipped lower now, casting long shadows across the training field, the air cooling as night crept closer. I tightened my grip on my sword, the familiar weight grounding me as I watched her conjure another mana arrow.

Her posture was flawless, as always with her shoulders squared, fingers resting lightly on the bowstring, ready to draw. Even after her little detour through my dorm and that awkward ’cofa’ moment, she radiated control out here.

"Whenever you’re ready."

She called out, her voice carrying across the distance with that same unshakable calm.

I exhaled slowly, my mind racing as I weighed my options.

The first round had been a disaster, she was too fast, too precise and I’d underestimated just how wide the gap between us really was.

Going in recklessly would get me skewered again, but playing it too safe would just leave me a sitting duck for her arrows. I needed to adapt, to think. Survival was the goal, always had been. I couldn’t afford to show her everything, but I couldn’t afford to lose this badly either.

’Adapt. Analyze. Survive. Survive. Survive. And... survive.’

The mantra echoed in my head as I shifted my stance, planting my feet firmly in the dirt. This time, I’d be ready or at least, I’d try to be. The moment my weight settled, she moved.

Her bowstring snapped back, and another flash of silver streaked toward me. I reacted faster this time, instinct kicking in as I twisted my body to the side. The arrow grazed my arm, slicing through fabric and leaving a shallow cut, but it didn’t stick.

I heard it thud into the ground behind me as I darted forward, closing the distance between us. Fifty feet was too much, she’d pick me off long before I reached her if I didn’t move now.

Another arrow came and I ducked low, letting it sail over my head. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging as I pushed my legs harder.

Shadow Step flickered at the edge of my senses, tempting me to use it, but I held back. Instead, I zigzagged, trying to throw off her aim as I halved the distance between us.

She didn’t flinch.

Her fingers moved with practiced grace, nocking another arrow as her crimson eyes tracked my every move. I could feel her aura pressing down on me again, suffocating, unyielding, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through it.

Twenty-five feet. Almost there.

The next arrow came lower, aimed at my legs. I leapt, tucking my knees as it whizzed beneath me and landed in a roll, springing back to my feet without losing momentum.

My sword gleamed in the fading light as I raised it, now just fifteen feet away. Close enough to strike, if I could get past her bow.

Aveline’s lips twitched. She drew again, faster this time and I knew I wouldn’t dodge it. The arrow flew straight for my chest and I swung my sword up in a desperate arc, deflecting it with a metallic clang. The impact jolted my arm, but I kept moving, lunging forward with a quick slash aimed at her side.

She sidestepped effortlessly, her bow already raised again, but I was too close now. I feinted left, then swung right, forcing her to backpedal. For a split second, I thought I had her, until her foot planted firmly and she pivoted, drawing an arrow point-blank. The silver tip gleamed inches from my face.

I froze, breath catching in my throat. Her eyes locked onto mine, calm and unreadable, the bowstring taut in her grip.

One twitch of her fingers and I’d be done.

"Yield?"

She asked, her voice steady.

I swallowed hard, lowering my sword.

"Yeah. Yield."

She relaxed the bowstring, stepping back as the tension drained from the air. I let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through my dark hair.

"You’re ridiculous, you know that?"

Aveline tilted her head, that same subtle gesture and for once, I thought I saw the ghost of a smile.

"You did better."

She said simply.

"That’s enough for tonight."

I nodded, too tired to argue.

The Bloody Emblem was already working on the cut on my arm and as I watched her turn away, silhouetted against the twilight, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much she’d held back this time.

That last exchange...

I wonder... if I could dodge that last arrow with my Shadow Step?

"..."

Probably not.

However, this was still a huge win. I managed to close the distance between us and force her on her backfoot albeit briefly.

"I’m catching up..."

I muttered to myself, a small grin spreading across my face.

If I went all out right now, my chances of winning would be around 15%. That was way better than I expected at this stage.

Plus, I still haven’t mastered the first movement of my Sword Art nor have I used the meteor shard I’ve bought from the auction.

I still had some tricks up my sleeve...

"Hehe..."