Initiation Training: Dodging...Arrows!? [INV]

Odd places, insecure buildings, dark alleyways; These were just some places Sasha frequented during her ventures. Uncovering the truth behind urban legends became more than a hobby, it was now part of her. Most cases were either inconclusive or false, however, some truth existed behind rumors to begin with. During her cases, as she called them, Sasha picked up various tricks but most needed refining. Thus far Sasha's methods involved mostly salt and herbs. For some reason certain scents, or whatever mystical properties they held, drove weaker spirits away. But for people with power like Tanya, and stronger spirits, Sasha could only avoid them.

"What are we doing?"

Deadpan expression, eyes half closed while glaring at Tanya almost moppingly. An open field far away from civilization wasn't an ideal place for training, not as far as Sasha could grasp. Could they be out here for meditation? The ring she approached reminded of her wrestling, just much larger in comparison. She tried viewing one arrow in the far distance but couldn't see it. Standing at the edge of the -barrier- she turned to Tanya and began typing.

"Is this a perfect square?"

What kind of person taught her how to shoot!? That's when she stuck one arm into the -barrier- and waved it. Nothing happened. Was something suppose to happen? That's when she took a single step inside.

Frantic movements without true direction, shapeless liquid that didn’t conture. To adapt meant surviving yeet emotions ran high. Proper calculations, observational analysis clouded by muddled, fear driven thoughts. Electrical synapses fired wildly with mind forgoing what was truly happening. Humans feared what they didn’t understand. Often barking and lashing out until either they, or it, was strapped to a table and probed. However, when Humans couldn’t view, let alone grasp, was running was the only option? She immediately halted upon feeling something brush against her chest from inside; A sharp drop like guilt or losing someone dear. Muscles tensed with joints locking, Sasha coming to a sliding stop as the arrow nearly hit her. Had Tanya’s trajectory been off?



Mouth agasp and upper body bent backwards. Forearms shook uncontrollably. An icy bolt, sharp dagger like wind shook her being. Churning stomach and collapsing body, held up only by knees clashing together. She didn’t need to turn around to know that another arrow nearly struck her. The fear froze Sasha’s body. She couldn’t tell if she was breathing or thinking, only that a chill air came from her nostrils. Head turned towards Tanya. Like this, Sasha would die. Tanya could’ve killed her at any time she wanted. The absence of flowing thought, incapable of movement. Death was scary and there was no point in trying to try when she couldn’t do anything. Like those chains that bound her years ago, but now Sasha was being held back by her own fear. Sasha hadn’t changed at all. She was still just a kid.



....





A simple cool breath inside her mind. Thought wouldn’t form into words but air brushed, causing a jerk in her right ribcage and to twitch her body. This amount of fear hadn’t been felt since years ago, a fear she had felt once before. And like a damn that was giving way, her purple eyes glowed for a moment as spiritual power spiked into her body, snapping her back to her situation. She took a step back and grit her teeth. Despite still shaking she was now focused on Tanya but hadn’t yet realized she was now focused. Nor had she realized her faint spike in spiritual pressure like back in the Kareoke bar. Though it was less focused than that time it was there.

The arrows lacked power and speed, being equivalent to normal arrows used by Humans, by time they made contact with Sasha. Her body got stronger when focusing heavily in her spirit but that alone took Sasha being still and force it to come out, like moving a sleeping limb. With neither time nor emotional stability survival seemed hopeless. To concoct a plan based around observational analysis now might give Sasha a chance, but how could she in this situation? A flurry of negative thoughts: What if, Why, How; Tried forming yet they were unnecessary, yet were suppressed by an unknown factor Sasha didn’t understand.

The arrow in her arm grasped, it felt warm but solid. A form of energy given corporeal form, or something like that. Face twist, shoulder rising with tightening muscles as she writhed from burning and freezing pain assaulting her as the arrow was pulled out. The energy arrow held in her hand was foreign. Sweaty palms let it go and covered her wound. She glanced to it and back to Tanya as she stood. It didn’t go all the way through. Her whole body was shaking. Her chest felt tighter and tighter. The idea of moving didn’t cross her mind, she just knew she had to else she’d be hit when Tanya decided to fire again.

Sasha rolled, lept, ran and slid to dodge three arrows. Two hit her in the back, causing her to tumble. But Tanya shot off a sixth for the first time, Sasha watched as it was let loose. Her head rose and as it was coming down on the kneeling Sasha she leaned to the side and it missed her.

....

Once again a breath passed in her mind. Her eyes latched on a distant thought past the arrow, and turned her gaze towards Tanya. A gaze of pain, confusion, but also defiance. She hadn’t lost yet.