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Agnea loved animals so much, she'd probably be a bad hunter anyway.
At least that's what she kept telling herself as yet another arrow far missed the target. She’d been practicing, and missing, for so long that poor Ochette had given up on the lesson. It was a good thing that none of this was important. Not really. The other day, Osvald had gotten it in his head that they should all start trying out secondary jobs. 'It's simply a good strategy’ he had said after they received those blessings from the shrines.
She had become a decent warrior thanks to Hikari’s great teaching on swordplay. She had become a passable apothecary thanks to Castii’s guiding hand along with some stuff she already knew from back home. Mixing cures wasn't that different from cooking with Pa and Pala. She kind of enjoyed it even. She had given up on being an apothecary though. Castii had immediately gone way way way beyond her with medical jargon that it made her head spin.
Now she was trying to be a hunter. It was not her first choice. In fact, she had actually been walking over to Partitio to try her hand at being a merchant. Ochette had interrupted her path and begged to teach her. Agnea had started to protest, but her puppy dog eyes had stopped Agnea in her tracks. It really wasn't fair. A girl who’s half animal should not be allowed to deploy puppy dog eyes. Frankly, it should be illegal, she thought.
So, long story short, she found herself agreeing to try her hand at being a hunter. Ochette was ecstatic. She had even given Agnea ceremonial animal ears to stick into her hairband. It was hard to say no to her enthusiasm and Agnea was genuinely have a good time at first. The lesson started out okay. She had been able to handle an axe alright. Sure, it was kind of bulky for her, but at least she could swing the thing. She had even gotten an okay handle on utilizing lightning magic. She had already been using wind magic for a while now and the two were not that different, though it did feel a little unnatural to her.
It was the bow and arrow that were proving to be a lot more difficult.
She tried and tried and tried but she could not make an arrow connect with the target. Alright, she had made one connect. It was the bottom right corner of the target and it was an accident. She had done it when she glanced away from Hikari checking on them. The arrow loosened from her grip and released before she could stop it. That was hardly a victory.
She notched another arrow and tried. She really, really tried. She breathed in deeply and kept her eyes on the center of the target. Just like Ochette taught her. Alright…now release. She breathed out and let the arrow go. It hit a target….just not the one she was aiming at. She threw down the bow and screamed in frustration.
That's it. She needed help.
_____
Hikari felt like he was going insane.
He was surrounded by a circle of textbooks, some open, some thrown into piles at his side. He had decided to take up Osvald’s offer to learn to be a scholar. This was proving to be a mistake.
He had always been a decent student. He has taken his studies seriously back in Ku. True, he had always been best at sword play over diplomacy and history, but he still was an acceptable student. His mentors never had any serious complaints except for the occasional wandering focus or tardiness (getting sidetracked with helping townspeople on his way to the lessons).
Otherwise he had done decently well in his studies. Learning from Osvald was a completely different experience. Osvald was used to teaching students who already had been studying the magical arts for years. He had tried to simplify the lessons, but they were still way beyond Hikari.
His previous schooling involved history, etiquette, strategy, and language. Lessons from Osvald involved math, theory and logic. It was a lot to take in. As soon as he felt that he finally grasped some theory, the next one would set him back two steps.
It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it. In fact this was a challenge that was quite exciting for him to try and master. The magical arts were something he had always kept away from during his training. His mentors felt it best to focus on one thing until he had mastered it, so blades were all he knew for years. This was new and interesting. It was also driving him mad. Where was the line between a new challenge and an impossible task? The answer was unclear, but It could be found somewhere between the pages of the textbooks that Osvald was kind enough to lend.
What he needed was a new perspective. His mind simply was not built for Osvald’s approach. He needed someone who was more delicate; more flexible and less logic-approached. Who he needed was…
_____
Agnea approached the warrior quietly, bow slung grudgingly over her shoulder. He was sitting on the ground outside of their campsite and surrounded by a nest of discarded textbooks of varying sizes.
He had that look on his face that he always wore when he was deep in thought about something. His shoulders were stiff and his face was scrunched up, but his eyes were millions of miles away. It was cute. He always looked kind of like a statue that got confused and forgot where it was supposed to be standing. It was so cute that it was almost unfair. Were her silly problems worth the interruption? Was it worth taking that expression away?
She slipped out from behind him and waved to try and catch his attention. She didn't want to startle him, “Hi, Hikari.” He jumped anyway and she immediately felt terrible, “Oh, I'm sorry! I tried to-”
“No, that's alright.” He shook his head and smiled warmly up at her. It made her heart do a little fluttering dance in her chest. That wasn't fair either.
“What can I do for you?” He had settled quickly from being startled and had returned to a neutral, calm stillness. His eyes lay firmly on her as if nothing else in the world would pull his attention away.
“Oh, well…uh…” She suddenly felt nervous and switched tactics, “Whatcha doing?”
“Oh. Trying to learn these theories from Osvald.” He shook his head softly with a laugh, “But it doesn't seem to be going particularly well.”
“Can I help?” She bent down carefully and picked up the nearest book. It was full of numbers and dense diagrams that immediately made her eyes cross. Oh, goodness.
“Yes, I…think you can actually,” He said. Oh no. She didn't expect him to actually agree. She wanted to help but this was far beyond her. What could she possibly do?
“Umm…really? I don't think…I mean I don't know anything about Osvald’s magic stuff either.”
“Exactly.”
“What?” She blinked in surprise and dropped the book, looking back up at him. He was smiling now, eyes raking over her like Agnea was the answer he’d been looking for. She tried not to blush.
“You don't do any of these logic theories,” He said slowly, eyes not leaving her, “But you're great at wind magic. Please show me how.”
She blinked. That's what he wanted? Some kind of…demonstration? “You want me to…to show you my wind magic?”
“Yes. I think your approach will be much easier for me to grasp. Please, Nea?” His eyes, along with the nickname, made her melt.
She swallowed thickly. Did he know what he was doing to her? “Alright. I’ll show you. But, I do um…have a favor to ask as well.”
“Hm?”
She unslung the bow and held it away at a distance like it had personally affronted her, “I can't use this thing. Ochette tried but…I'm terrible-”
“You're not terrible.” He interrupted with a serious, almost hurt tone. Her legs almost gave out from underneath her in response. Gods above.
“I-I just mean…I can't figure it out properly. You're good at all sorts of weapons. Can you show me? Or…give me some tips or something?” Or at least stop looking at her like that before she turned into goo and embarrassed herself?
“That's a fair trade.” He nodded stiffly and she could easily see the princely side of him peaking through. He stood up, being careful not to disrupt any of the books. “This way then.”
“Wait, now?”
“Well, yes…did you want to start another time?”
“Uh, no. No, that's okay.” She followed after him, completely dazed.
_____
Hikari was working hard to keep his heart steady.
Agnea was standing in front of him with an arrow pulled back on her bow. She was very close and kept looking back at him for approval with those pale blue eyes that sparkled whenever she turned her head towards him.
“Like this?”
“Almost. Straighten your core and keep your legs shoulder length apart.”
“How's this?”
“No, not quite, here.” He stepped in closer and took her waist in his hands. They both tried not to blush. Thirty minutes ago she had given him explicit, direct permission to guide her with his hands. For the first ten times he had asked if she was sure. Every single time without fail she smiled and gave permission. Finally, on the eleventh, she laughed and told him to stop being so noble and just do it. So here he was. He gently moved her hips into place and then moved her leg into position to line up with her shoulders.
He needed to let go now. She was in position, so let go, Hikari. Now. Let go. Yet, they were both frozen. Her skin was so warm under his fingers.. Her muscles were tensed as she held the bow string taught. Her flowery perfume was intoxicating. Their breaths and heart beats were slowly synchronized into a steady rhythm. He felt himself melting into the moment. The closeness was morphing into normalcy around them.
“Am…am I good now?” Agnea breathed out slowly. Her expression was hard to read. Her eyes were heavy lidded and a little unfocused. If he didn't know better, he would say she was just as out of sync with time as he was.
“Yes you…you should be all set now. My apologies.” He slowly let go and stepped back a few paces.
She looked somehow disappointed, "Don't be sorry. You did what I told ya. Now…like this?” She aimed and fired. The arrow did not hit the bullseye. It did, however, come within 6 inches of the spot which was a momentous improvement among a sea of broken arrow shafts.
“Oh!” She slipped out in shock and turned to him with a stunned expression. He grinned back and clapped excitedly.
“Good job! That was much better. Try again, I'm sure you'll do it.” He smiled as warmly as he could muster through his daze. She nodded, aimed and fired. This arrow missed about as far as any had done before.
“Maybe um…try again?” He asked with an uncertain shrug. Agnea laughed and threw aside the bow in mock disgust.
“I need a break. It's your turn.”
_____
Agnea was far from a natural born scholar. She had no idea how Osvald did half of the things he could do. Let alone the fireballs and lightning bolts, his ability to read opponents for their natural weaknesses was outstanding. Most of the time she didn't have the faintest idea if she would be effective until she tried to stick her knife and saw the result. Osvald could just tell. He would focus on them for a second and then be able to call out the best plan of attack to the others. It was kind of freaky if she was being honest. It was like he was reading their minds. She often suspected he could read her mind. It wasn't a comfortable feeling.
Anyway, she would not say scholarly pursuits were natural to her. Wind magic was different. It made sense to her in an abstract way. She didn't feel like she was controlling the magic so much as guiding it. The wind was free and chaotic. It went wherever it pleased. It danced. What Agnea did was simply become its dance partner and slowly guide it into the routine she wanted. They would go back and forth. She would take a step forward, it would take one back. She would try to go left, it would yank her to the right. With practice she had learned to do the yanking and command it at least for a few seconds. The partnership was built on years of discipline - hundreds of routines and workouts. There were dozens of falls and twisted ankles and ripped uniforms; It was not an easily won time. Now they were trusted partners. When she went left, the wind would be there to ensure she didn't trip. Yes, dancing. That's how she viewed wind magic.
How on Earth would she be able to convey that to Hikari?
Agnea had set up some bottles on a tree stump for Hikari to knock over. So far he had not been able to so much as turn the logos.
She diagnosed the problem quickly. At least, she diagnosed what he did differently than her in terms of magic casting. He was too stiff.
It was his posture for one. He looked like he was trying to interview with a bank, not cast magic. More than twice already she had told him to relax his shoulders. He always ended up shifting back to a buttoned up position.
He was also too stiff in his attitude. In day to day life she did not consider him to be overly stubborn. He was disciplined in his mannerisms but he generally kept an open mind. With this task, though, he was not budging. He kept returning to his books every 20 seconds and would lose whatever natural rhythm he had built up.
“I'm hopeless.” He finally said in a huff after failing another attempt.
“No you're not.” She said gently and stepped closer, "You're just…thinkin' too hard.”
He raised an eyebrow, “'Thinking’ is what Osvald does all day long. How can that possibly be wrong?”
“‘Cause you're not Osvald, silly! You can't do what he does. You have to do what you do.”
“And what do I do?” His eyebrow raised higher. ‘Smell really good?’ She thought to herself bitterly but smiled.
“Many things. But most of all - You fight well with swords.”
“And that is supposed to-”
“Walk with me here!” She giggled a little. He really could be so stubborn, “You make plans while you fight but in the actual moment you don't right?”
He seemed to consider that for a minute, “Well no…I have to rely on instinct when I swing my sword. Otherwise I would get hurt.”
“Exactly!” She nodded and he frowned in confusion, “Magic isn't that different! It's part of you really. Think too hard on it and it'll never come out right. You're too in your head.”
“So…how do you suggest I…get out of my head?” His pout was so cute, he looked like a puppy that didn't understand how to get through a door.
She smiled, “Simple. You need to use it in combat.”
“What do you- whoa whoa!” He leapt to the side as Agnea suddenly lunged at him with her knife.
“Don't think! Act!” She laughed in amusement as he dodged and disarmed her with a shocked expression.
“Agnea! Don't do that! Someone will get hurt.”
“Aw, you're not that fragile.” She grinned at him. He was so dumbfounded, she couldn't help but laugh.
“I'm not going to attack you! That's just ridiculous! …but you have a point. Let's go find a more suitable partner.”
“I am a suitable partner.” Agnea pretended to pout and followed after him as he gathered his things and they headed into the wilds.
_____
It did not take long for them to be ambushed. Disturbingly quickly after leaving camp a pair of giant monstrous frogs hopped down into their path and croaked hungrily . On instinct, Hikari reached for his sword but Agnea tapped his hand.
“No. Magic, remember? Follow your instincts.” She smiled and started to dance, striking a pose in the peacock strut to power him up. Hikari reluctantly traded his sword for one of Osvald’s spare staves and held it ready. They had struck down dozens of these beasts on their travels, but never with just the two of them, and not without using his main skills.
Agnea knew he could do it. She slipped in a few jabs with her blade and kept them both topped off with boons while she waited and watched. He tried. Gosh did he try. Every time it was his turn he held the staff aloft and attempted one of the spells, but nothing came. There were a few sparks of something from the end of the staff and there was a strong smell of ozone in the air but no magic came.
Agnea felt safe with Hikari around, but she was starting to second guess this plan. The frogs were hopping closer and she knew she could not easily take them down by herself. Maybe one, but two of them were too much even for her roundhouse kicks.
“Hikari, maybe you should get your-” it happened before she could do anything else. One of the frogs opened its mouth and latched its enormous tongue to her center mass. She let out a disgusted squeak and was knocked suddenly forward off her feet as it pulled back, “Swordddd!”
“Agnea!” He shouted in panic and held the staff up. There was a crack and then an explosion as lightning bolts materialized around them and struck the earth. The spare frog on the sidelines vaporized on the spot and the one holding Agnea panicked and tried to flee. It carried Agnea 15 feet as crashes of lightning hit all around each hop. A bolt finally struck and with a pop it was vaporized to purple dust. Agnea fell from where she had been suspended by the beast and landed with a soft thump on the dirt below. Her hair was standing straight up while black and purple ash surrounded her form.
“Agnea! Are you alright?” He was at her side in a flash and helped her sit up. She groaned and rubbed her head slowly as she stared up at him. She knew she was dazed and possibly concussed, but boy he looked so regal staring down at him with the setting sun behind him and his hair still charged with static.
She dusted herself off and managed a smile, she started to speak, coughed up ash and tried a second time, “I'm ok-okay. Thanks to you!”
“Are you sure? You could have died, that was- I shouldn't have…I'm sorry.” He bowed his head in shame.
“Hikari, that was amazin’!” She laughed and he looked back up, startled, “I knew you could do magic if you didn't have to think about it too much! Maybe you just needed someone to save.”
“I…would rather not need to try it again. Come on. We should bring you to Castii. You don't look so good.” He nodded solemnly and to her great surprise and delight she felt herself being lifted and carried in his arms.
_____
Castii scolded them harder than she ever had before, and that was saying something. Hikari winced but took it without complaint. He felt like he deserved it after endangering Agnea like that. All for what? To test himself? That was not a good enough reason.
“I'm sorry, Agnea.” He finally said once they were alone again. She looked up from the textbook she was trying to decipher for him. She had some bandages wrapped around her wrist and one wrapped along her waist but otherwise looked back to herself. She was watching him in surprise and was tilting her head gently.
“Huh? For what?”
“Putting you in danger for my ridiculous pursuits. I will make sure it doesn't happen again.”
“‘Your ridiculous’...?” She blinked at him and mouthed the words he said like she was trying to sound them out. She shook her head gently, “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“The frogs. I shouldn't have let them get so close to you. I was being stubborn trying to learn this new role instead of protecting you. I'm sorry.” He bowed his head low in shame. He heard laughter and lifted it. Agnea was staring at him like he was being completely unbelievable. Is that what she did when she was mad?
“Hikari, that's the most ridiculous thing you've ever said.” She said through a laugh behind her hand. What?
“I volunteered,” she continued and made her smile more gentle, “I wanted to come help you. And it worked! You were really impressive. I couldn't even get an arrow to hit a target, you vaporized that thing! You're just…amazing.” She was only smiling brighter with every word to the point Hikari had trouble looking directly at her.
“But…you got hurt-”
“Aw, I've been hurt way worse than that. I'm not made of glass, you know. It was worth it to have you use your instincts. You're my hero, not my…tormentor, or whatever mean words you wanted to say ‘bout yourself.”
Hikari wasn't sure what to say. Such praise from Agnea was potent. She shined on every stage she stood upon. When she was off the stage she pointed that shine directly at whoever she was talking to. “Thanks, Agnea.” Is all he could manage but she smiled anyway. Something about her attitude always made him feel better.
“No problem. I'm glad we got you more comfortable.”
They sat in peaceful silence for a while. He didn't necessarily feel that he deserved it, yet the quiet was a nice change of pace. Especially when it was shared with Agnea.
Across camp, they watched Ochette who was dressed in purple and tip-toeing over to Partitio while he stirred a pot over the campfire. Throné was watching from a safe distance and had a disguised grimace on her face at her pupil's technique. Ochette barely lifted a hand before Partitio tilted his head down to her with a raised eyebrow. Ochette let out a squeak and ran to the other side of their clearing. Throné groaned and put a hand to her forehead. It seemed they weren't the only ones struggling a bit to learn a new job.
Change is good every once in a while. It didn't mean they should forget who they were. Instead it was an invitation to grow and to change into something better. Perhaps it was not just their job roles that were changing. Across camp, Partitio was working on learning new recipes for them to try. Castii was working on being more understanding while Throné was working on her patience.
Agnea was growing into a fantastic teacher. Hikari was working to accept aid from his friends and not just protect them. And the two of them together? Well that still wasn't clear. A bit more change would not hurt.
“Well…” Hikari finally said as he picked up one of the text books scattered at his feet and closed it. He didn't need it anymore. “Shall we return to your archery practice?”
The color drained from Agnea’s face, “Oh no.”