Chapter 664: An Envoy Answers

Eirwen checked her bowstring beside the Alder embassy pavilion as the envoy arrived with the arena terms for Hajin.

The sweet fragrance of pine sap and blooming silver-bells hung thick in the cool afternoon air of recovery week six.

Eirwen stood beside the equipment pavilion, checking the silken string of her carved yew recurve bow.

Across the lawn stood an eleven-Shard Alder outrider captain named Ronen, his dark green cloak fluttering in the autumn breeze.

"Your prolonged residence in this human city has dulled your edge," Ronen declared, his tone sharp and critical.

"Our elders sent an expeditionary escort to safeguard an envoy, not a court ornament who watches street tournaments."

"If you believe my bowstring has slackened, prove it with arrows instead of insults," she replied calmly, nocking a practice shaft.

"A moving trial," Ronen proposed, gesturing toward the woodland obstacle course where fifty wooden target disks swung from high branches.

"The archer who claims the most rings while clearing the lane controls the vanguard escort into the old road country."

"Agreed," she answered without hesitation.

"Shall we activate the embassy root field to test our terrestrial mana manipulation?" Ronen asked, reaching for a ground focus stone.

"No magical ground fields," she refused firmly, stepping onto the starting line.

"This dispute concerns our personal archery, not who can channel ambient forest spirits."

Over beneath the shaded cedar pavilion, Hajin sat quietly with a cup of warm tea, watching her with relaxed confidence.

He did not offer advice, shout encouragement, or interfere with her duel in any way.

He knew her twelve-Shard precision was second to none, and today belonged entirely to her sovereign skill.

"Archers, take your marks!" the referee commanded from the lawn boundary, raising a silver signal horn.

"Begin the trial!" the referee shouted, blowing a sharp blast that echoed across the grounds.

Ronen bolted forward into the woodland course like a hunting panther, his green cloak blending into the foliage.

He fired two arrows in mid-sprint, puncturing the centers of two swinging disks with sharp thwacks.

Eirwen advanced along the parallel trail with fluid, dancing steps, drawing and releasing three arrows in under two seconds.

Each shaft found its mark with mathematical perfection, splitting the painted bulls-eyes of three separate swinging disks.

Ronen grimaced as he fell behind in score, darting toward the narrow ravine where the course entered a blind corner.

He fired through a swinging target, attempting to shatter the wood and force her off her shooting line with flying splinters.

Eirwen did not yield an inch of ground, ducking beneath the shower of bark without breaking her forward stride.

Ronen bounded up a rocky ledge, drawing his bow to strike a hidden target concealed behind a dense cluster of birch trees.

She did not need to see his target directly, tracking the subtle alignment of his left elbow and the tilt of his shoulder.

In a single blinding motion, she drew three arrows simultaneously from her side quiver and released them into the air.

Her first arrow streaked through the canopy, colliding with Ronen’s incoming shaft in mid-flight and splintering his arrow in two.

Her second arrow whistled past the birch branches, striking the concealed target dead center an instant before Ronen could blink.

Her third arrow struck with terrifying surgical accuracy, driving cleanly through the leather strap fastening Ronen’s quiver to his chest.

The severed strap snapped with a sharp crack, and Ronen’s entire quiver tumbled from his shoulder into the fallen leaves.

"Wait—did she split my shaft in mid-air?" Ronen shouted in utter shock, his hands trembling against his empty bow.

"Course complete!" the referee announced from the lawn, his voice trembling with reverent awe.

"Lady Eirwen claims thirty-eight targets, zero misses, and a decisive disarm!"

Eirwen lowered her recurve bow, stepping up to the base of the ledge where the outrider stood paralyzed.

"You are a skilled archer, Captain Ronen," she said calmly, offering him a hand to descend the rocks.

"Your scouting expertise will be invaluable for our northern expedition... provided you follow my commands without hesitation."

Ronen swallowed hard, bowing his head in deep humility as he accepted her offered hand.

"I spoke out of foolish arrogance," Ronen confessed, his cheeks flushed with shame.

"The vanguard will follow your bow to the ends of the continent."

Later that evening, as twilight painted the embassy gardens in shades of violet and amber, she walked beside Hajin along the reflecting pond.

"You made that disarm look effortless," he murmured, his shoulder brushing gently against hers.

"He telegraphed his draw with his elbow," she laughed softly, tucking a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear.

"I wanted to settle his doubts before we venture into my homeland’s ancient migration roads."

"Juna found an ancient survey marker outside the city yesterday," he mentioned, gazing at the calm water.

"Ferra believes it matches the old transit networks built before the regional collapse."

"Then the timing is perfect," she whispered softly, leaning gently against his arm.

"There are ancient groves in the north that remember the stars before the gods broke the world."

"Will your elders object to a human summoner traveling the high roads?" he asked, turning his head to meet her gaze.

"They may question it at first," she admitted with a soft, confident smile.

"Then you will show them the seven Rings, and their doubts will dissolve like morning mist."

"I prefer convincing people with actions rather than displays of raw authority," he chuckled softly.

"That is why you will win tomorrow... and that is why I trust you completely," she whispered.

"And tomorrow, you show the Grand Guild what seven Rings can do."

Earlier that afternoon, Master Vella conducted Hajin’s final medical examination, formally clearing his channels for maximum combat output.

The autumn night wrapped around the quiet gardens in peaceful warmth, leaving the scent of silver-bells lingering in the air.

The long weeks of rest were fulfilled, every conduit was restored, and tomorrow’s grand arena awaited the summoner’s return.

High above the tranquil embassy, the celestial broadcast interface lit up with a brilliant cascade of golden donations.

[ Seoul_Tactician: "EIRWEN’S TRIPLE SHOT WAS SICKENING! Splintered his arrow in mid-air, hit the target, and snipped his quiver strap!" ]

[ StarlightScholar: "’This dispute concerns our personal archery, not ambient forest spirits.’ Pure martial integrity from our elven queen!" ]

[ IronVanguard: "That is how a twelve-Shard archer handles an arrogant subordinate! Absolute dominance with zero malice!" ]

[ HearthKeeper: "Hajin and Eirwen walking by the reflecting pond holding hands... my heart is melting into a puddle!" ]

[ ShadowMage44: "Vella cleared his channels after six weeks of rest. Hajin, do not burn them out in one fight!" ]

[ TacticalNerd: "Notice how Hajin let her win her own trial without interfering? That is real mutual respect!" ]

[ NewViewer_02: "Eirwen split that arrow in midair! Did the envoy see how close she came?" ]

[ CringeSlayer91: "Ronen went from ’you have gone soft’ to ’I will follow you to the ends of the earth’ in three minutes flat! Classic!" ]

Eirwen looked up into Hajin’s split-colored eyes, her hand resting warmly in his palm beneath the autumn stars.

"Send the arena rules in writing," Eirwen told the envoy. "He has recovered, and he deserves to know every limit before the horn."

Her command was secured, his strength was restored, and the tomorrow they prepared for had finally arrived.