“Lord Boris, a shadow tier has been confirmed in India.”

“What! What are you speaking Ivan, are you on nuts?”

“Yes, my Excellency. I think it has started, the signal for the grand war *open window*”

The wind within the Royal Grand Kremlin Palace to the open sky, running across the edges of the lands, to that window where the subject of their talk is getting ready.

Isavaka gets up from his bed and stands in front of the mirror. In the mirror, a reflection of 5 feet 2 inches tall. His face was oblong shaped. He had dense black hair. He wore a white T-shirt and a red cargo holding his suit in his hand.

Kai pushed him aside and started combing his hair.

It was 9.00 in the morning, the Chayas went out to their respective classes. It was the first practical training for archers. Isavaka was excited for his first aim of the target board. Anji leaped upon the closet and sat on Isavaka’s shoulder.

“So, this is the first practical class which decides a lot. The grade in your practical decides if you are fit to stay in Aastrana or get out. Your grading will start in the coming month. Till then practice hard, my students.”

Everyone shouted, “YES, MASTER!”

“This is what I expect. Now, follow my instructions. Take your bow and hold it in your dominant hand. Now just hold it very lightly by the grip of your index finger, which should be folded towards the inside and your thumb, which should not be folded. Now slightly pull the string and hold it till an arrow is built out of nowhere and then release *arrow release* Now your turn. Ten by ten come forward and aim. Now start!”

Everyone shouted, “YES, MASTER!”

One by one everyone came forward in the line of ten and aimed forward. The arrow would appear and fall at least a distance of 20m. It repeated for a while when the last trip arrived. Anji got down Isavaka’s back.

Isavaka stepped forwarded and did as master ordered them to do. Usually, the time taken for the arrow to appear is more or less 1 minute for a beginner but for Isavaka, it passed 2½ minutes, but it did not appear. Master was shocked. He went to him and checked if there was any problem in the bow.

Master concluded there was no problem and suddenly the arrow started appearing. Isavaka’s feeble arms could not hold the stretched bow any longer and released it. It hardly crossed 10m.

“Master, why did my arrow appear so late?”

“The reason might be this is a shadow tier, or you lack the will of an archer.”

“What does that mean, Master?! What is the will of archer!? Why do I lack it, Master!? Master, -”

“Enough, *sigh* I thought I’ll explain it later. Now listen this story:

During the first Draryavirda-Zhongguo war, there was one archer of Draryavirda who was in the edge of death. He was surrounded by a mutiny of 20 swordsmen. That day a miracle happened. That archer who was completely swollen out of wounds, defeated not only those 20 swordsmen but also shot down their whole aerial attack squad alone.

When he was interrogated about how he did this, he said that every bow has its own life force which can think and react. When you and your bow are synced together by the bond of your character which represents the tier orb and so the bond between your character and your astra is born. How your character is before having this astra and after having this astra, is what the will of an astra is. This will can give you immense power when your astra think you're in problem.

So, it means that your shadow tier bow has recognized you for your attitude of fighting against the hate that you get, according to me. Nowadays, I am not getting that vibe from you in which you fight against the taunts you get from your mates and fight against them and make your foes, your friends. I’ll say, fight. Thats what your astra expects from you. Practice till the time you can, till the time you feel your astra. You have a month. It is Survival of the Warrior in you, Isavaka. Thats it from me. Now everyone, dismiss”

Everyone shouted, “YES, MASTER!”

Listening to his Master’s advice, he stood back and practiced and practiced till he killed the fucking slacker in him.