Way of the Knights

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Fire Origin Spring. Many people had interesting speculations about this Natural Treasure.

Some people said that the Fire Origin Springs are formed by underwater volcanoes. Some said that it is a habitat for oceanic beasts that likes high temperatures. And the most absurd speculation is that, Fire Origin Springs were embryonic fluids of a Phoenix. 

Nonetheless, it doesn't matter what speculation was true or how they are formed. For Ellen, what matters the most is to finish her task, which is to reach the core of the spring.

Just like Paul, Ellen also received multiple tasks. First is to soak in the spring for a whole day without passing out. 

Next was to dive at least 30 meters deep into the spring and stay there for a whole day without losing consciousness. She just recently passed this level with much difficulty. She remember having burns all over her body during her first few attempts, there was even a time when she looked like an old lady due to how much her skin shriveled up. 

It had not been easy for her. In fact, if it weren't for her high fire affinity, she might've already been fried alive due to the sheer heat that the spring has. It had to be known that as one goes deeper to the spring, the higher temperature they have to endure. The heat that Ellen has to endure could already fry someone alive but she managed to pass this task with flying colors.

But the challenge didn't end there as there is another task that she has to go through. And that is to reach the core of the Fire Origin Spring. 

Ellen had a clear sign where to go. She had been diving this spring for about six months now for heaven's sake. Whenever she plunges to the depths, she would always see a sharp brilliance at the bottom. From the moment she saw this, she knew that this was her destination. 

In a sense, she could feel the depths calling out to her. She tried going closer but the heat was preventing her from doing so. It had to be known that her tolerance to high temperature had been raised multiple times during the past six months. In fact, she could even strut inside a burning house and be perfectly fine. But reaching the core of this spring is still something that's completely beyond her at this point. 

She might want to answer the call from the depths of her soul but she was also apprehensive to it. What if something goes horribly wrong? Wouldn't this be akin to a moth to a flame then? 

Therefore, Ellen could only take her time and take things slowly. She has enough time to gradually raise her tolerance to the heat and eventually reach the core. Training with Raven and the rest taught her to be patient and not allow recklessness to affect her mindset. 

She has a complete faith to herself that she could do this, and if Raven was here, he would've probably said the same thing. And if in any chances that she wasn't able to reach the depths before the time is up? Who cares? She already made a decent progress over the course of six months, it very unlikely that anyone at her age could achieve her accomplishments.

Building a nice and solid foundation, is the proper way to go. Impatience will only lead to injuries or her death and she absolutely couldn't allow that to happen, so it's better for her to take one step at a time. 

'Endure the heat, girl. You can do this! Don't be in a rush. Don't be impatient. An opportunity to temper you're physique had come, don't mess it up.'

'If I could just somehow hypnotize myself into thinking that this heat is comfortable instead of painful then it would be good.'

She then did what she just thought of and tried hypnotizing herself that the heat doesn't hurt and instead felt comfortable. Ellen was so concentrated the she unknowingly slipped into a trance at the bottom of a the spring.

***

*Pew!*

An arrow was released from Anne's bow which then pierced the air with a staggering amount of force and speed.

As the arrow flew along its trajectory, its target saw it coming and prepared to dodge it when all of a sudden, the arrow curved and followed its movements. The target was shocked and had no time to evade before the arrow pierced its head, killing the target on the spot. 

Anne's wasn't even looking at the poor thing when it died. She had a good reason for not being able to do so. It's because there's more to shoot.

How many targets had she shot during the past six months? Anne couldn't recall since she had long since lost count of them. There's just way too many of them. They came in different shapes and sizes, different speeds and kinds as well. Bipedal creatures, quadrupedal creatures, flying ones, slithering ones, little ones, big ones, aggressive ones, stealthy ones, humanoids, demonic beasts, you name it.

Anne's task, just like Mark, is just a one simple task. That is, to not allow any of these creatures reach her. 

But then again, simple isn't easy. There are a few factors that made this task extremely annoying for her. 

One is that she had no idea on what kind of target will appear. Two is that she had no idea when they will appear. Three she had no clue on how many will appear at the same time. Four she is clueless about how many waves of enemies she had to face before she run dry of energy reserves. And last but not the least, all of this unknown factors had been stressing her out, stretching her mental capacities in lengths that she had never knew possible.

In fact, Anne had encounter an accident that almost made her fail the task she was given. During the ceaseless wave of monsters, the bow that she received as a reward from the invasion, snapped in half.

Anne was plunged into the depths of despair at that point. There were at least 30 enemies rushing towards her and she can't shoot any of them. Some of them were big and bulky creatures that threatened to ram the pillar she was standing on. For the first time in her life, she experienced the threat of death looming around her. 

It was then that a timely intervention arrived by the appearance of a pristine and extremely mesmerizing bow. 

Her Spirit Entity, Annarosa's Bow, manifested before her and shot out a swift and precise volleys that took down her enemies. She then saw the remnant will of her late grandmother, Matriarch Victoria, personally passing down Annarosa's Bow to her with a proud and loving expression. Anne could still remember her last words before she truly left this world.

##

"I've been watching you from above, Annie. You grew up to become a wonderful woman, and extremely powerful too."

"This is the last remaining will that I have from this world. At least, before I truly pass, I've found a worthy inheritor of my Legacy."

"Treasure this bow, Annie. This bow was the one that save my life on many occasions. Treat it as a friend and it will never fail you. Take care of it since it will grow with you."

"I walked unhindered with this bow by my side, and I am confident that you could reach an even greater heights than I could. That, I am sure of."

"This bow also contains all of my lifetime's insight. This is my inheritance to you, dear. I ask you not to blindly follow them, for we don't walk the same road. Instead, I want you to learn from it, use it as a guide only and discover your own path. That way, you'll never go astray."

"I am extremely proud to have you as my grandchild. Take care of yourself, Annie. Granny Vivi loves you."

##

Anne will never be able to forget that moment. Specially now that the Annarosa's Bow is now hers to use. 

Unlike any other bows, this one doesn't require her to hold it since it took on a spiritual shape. The bow itself was weightless but pulling the bowstring requires strength to do so. The bow doesn't require arrows for her energy manipulation was enough for that. If anything, the bow does amplify the strength of her arrows depending on how taut she pulled the bowstring. 

Matriarch Victoria's inheritance also came in a timely manner. Anne had received tons of help from her experiences and learned for them to perfect her own techniques. Now, Anne could confidently say that in terms of Archery Skill, no one in her clan or even the entire kingdom could come close to her level.

After all, Anne only needs a simple glance at her target and pluck from her bow to end them.. It doesn't matter how fast they were, so long as they are within Anne's cultivation level, there is no way that they will able to avoid the arrow targeting their heads.