Day Fourteen.
Rika drew her bow and focused on the target across the training field. The arrow materialized between her fingers, formed from pure magical energy. She took a breath, calculated the distance, and released.
The arrow curved off its intended path and dissolved against the barrier wall with a faint shimmer.
She stared at where it had gone. She wasn't just missing but going completely off target by several feet. Her calculations had been perfect, her form was correct, but somehow the arrow had still gone off course.
Silence settled across the training field.
Alice blinked from across the arena. "Uh, was that a trick shot or something?"
Rika lowered her bow slowly. Her voice came out quieter than she intended. "No."
Sirin didn't comment right away. She just watched with those observant blue eyes that seemed to see too much. Rika hated that look. It meant Sirin had noticed something was wrong and was trying to figure out what.
