Chapter 23 : The Hidden One

I immediately failed at my first attempt at riding a horse. It wasn't too bad because a lot of people laughed. Well, my dad said it's a good thing if you can make people laugh. Laughter equals happiness, making other people laugh means making that person happy. Yeah that's right, and they were happy over my failure. The hell with my dad's advice.

I actually don't expect much. I already know where my limits are and I'm not a child of god blessed with many miracles once born into the world. I'm not as great as a chick that can run as soon as it hatches from its egg, nor as great as a turtle that can swim in the open ocean as soon as it hatches.

I am a human being who can do things because of the learning process. I've never learned to ride a horse, and even to mount one I still don't know how to do it properly. I'm not ashamed of myself and my abilities, because only I know how much effort I've put in.

The appraisal troops shook their heads as they scribbled on the paper in front of them. Some of them seemed to be stifling laughter. I turned to Gerard and he just stared at me without making an expression. He literally just stared at me. I flashed him a bitter smile and he instead turned his attention to Angela who came over.

Then I was asked to move to the archery area. There were five targets I had to aim at and five arrows I could use. That meant, there were no second chances. I stared at the bow, remembering how my father had taught me to hunt with arrows. I managed to shoot a squirrel while my father managed to shoot a boar. The result of my hunt did not make dinner for the family but my father gave me great appreciation because for him it was very difficult to shoot a squirrel that nimbly jumped to and fro from one tree to another. He said I was talented and I believed it until this moment.

"What are you doing? Why are you standing still? Don't tell me you don't know how to hold a bow and arrow either?" , someone sneered from outside the arena fence, bringing laughter from the people around.

I picked up my bow and an arrow. It was so quiet when I started to draw my arrow. I focused my concentration, closed my eyes and tried to drown out all the noises around me. Once I opened my eyes, there was only the target circle at the end, no sound, nothing else that I could see.

Before shooting the arrow, I caught my breath and after taking a deep breath, I held it and released the arrow. I kept staring at the arrow until it finally hit the black dot in the center of the target circle.

I got 10 points.

I let out my breath when the arrow had reached its target and just then I could hear the voices around me. When I looked around, they all seemed shocked, couldn't believe what they had just seen. The judges stood up to look and make sure the arrow had actually hit the center of the target.

"10 points!", shouted someone standing by the target board.

I smiled with relief and pride. My father was never wrong. I was talented at this.

When I hit the second, third, fourth and fifth targets, all the arrows I shot hit the center of the target. my smile grew wider. I may have been amazed when I saw Angela riding, but I'm sure she felt the same way about my archery skills. As evidenced when I turned to her next to Gerard, she didn't look happy.

I glance around but no one is cheering or clapping. Everyone is silent or I'd rather call it stunned.

Even the judges looked at each other, until one of them embraced and smiled with satisfaction.

"No 84!", Gerard shouted, taking the next contestant, kicking me out very subtly.

I walked out of the arena feeling proud. It was fun. I hope no one underestimates me after this.

"Did you see that? I was great, wasn't I?" I asked as I passed Gerard.

He looked at me with his shady eyes, "You should learn to ride a horse." , he said.

Angela reacted with an amused chuckle. Though I'm sure a few seconds earlier she looked displeased with my appearance. I chose to stay out of the way.

Outside the arena, people were looking at me wonderingly as if I was walking with clouds at my feet. Now I understand what it's like to be a noble who always attracts people's attention. It's not much fun because we unconsciously try to look good. That's what happened to me. I unconsciously changed my walk a little to look dashing but still graceful.

Our dinner went by so fast, unlike breakfast this morning. Maybe the reason was that everyone had something to talk about with each other, they enjoyed the food and the conversation so much that the time flew by.

This time I had dinner with Sam. The doctor who treated him said Sam had recovered and just needed to be more energetic to overcome the restlessness in his mind. I wanted Sam to eat in peace, so I didn't engage him in conversation and focused on my dinner. Besides, I was very hungry since I had just exhausted all my energy to carry out my punishment. Apparently despite the major changes to the schedule, Mr. Wymond didn't give any leniency for punishment.

"Looks like there was some excitement this afternoon, huh? They all looked enthusiastic and worried at the same time." , Sam opened the conversation.

I raised my head, looking at Sam and his dinner in turn, "Finish your food, then I'll tell you. Because it's a long story." , I replied firmly and resumed eating, not wanting to hear any bargaining.

Sam unexpectedly complied. He finished his dinner in less than a minute and put his spoon down hard as if to brag.

I smiled at that and did the same, "Let's talk outside. It's too noisy in here." , I said as I stood up to return the cutlery to its place.

We were talking in front of the dormitory building, leaning against its wall that was slightly dirty by the porous outer stone walls.

As I looked up, I saw that the moon was still perfectly round, casting a silvery reflection. It looked so big and close. It was beautiful yet terrifying at the same time.

"Earlier, your father, Mr. Wymond made an announcement that was not him at all. I thought maybe he was possessed by something this morning." , Sam said without taking my eyes off the moon.

"What did my father say? Something about loving his children or announcing that I'm his son?" , Sam responded, sounding unhappy.

I turned my head and chuckled, "I don't mean to disappoint you, but that's not what he said," I replied as I elbowed him lightly, "There's a schedule change for us. No, I don't mean just us.

but all. All troops, both senior and junior. Our schedule will also increase with the night patrol schedule. Anyway, we'll be very busy! All the troops--" , my speech was cut short when I faintly heard someone shout.

"The results have been announced!" , someone shouted from the second floor to the people still outside the dorm room.

"Come on, we have to see it too!", I called out to Sam, forgetting that Sam still didn't know what the announcement was about.

The names of the soldiers were divided into 2 parts, the intermediate group and the beginner group. The announcement paper was distributed on each room door and I saw that no one had taken the paper in my room. I quickly pulled the paper from the door and searched carefully for Anne's name that might be written on it.

My excitement began to fade when I reached the end of the names of the intermediate level troops. There was no my name there despite checking it three times but, not finding it anywhere.

I still couldn't believe it and checked once more. The result was still nothing. Cold sweat began to break out and my heart beat faster. There was nothing I could imagine other than this was a sign that I was expelled.

"Are you here? Mr. Wymond is looking for you. Hurry up and meet him." , said someone standing at the top of the stairs. It was Gerard.