[Dun duh duh DAAAAA!!! It has arrived! I made it long to make up for the belatedness]

‘Uhh...that’s okay, I’m fine watching for know. Observing. Not...getting served.” I stammered. That was all I got out before Chalan’s [also unshod] foot came out of nowhere and acquainted itself with my forehead. Little stars danced around my vision, and I heard Chalan say disappointedly. ‘That won’t do at all.’ And then I saw his foot. Again. Really close. This time though, I had the sense to duck. Quick. ‘Yes!’ Chalan cheered. ‘That’s lesson one- react instantly. Lesson two is this- assess. You already did that, I suppose, Now, lesson three.’ He snapped his foot towards me again, but this time, I didn’t just duck. I ducked, and made a wild grab where I thought his ankle was. It was, and he toppled down beside me. ‘Good!’ he said, beaming. ‘Lesson three is that- react after you’ve assessed the situation. I guess that doesn’t really need a third step, but three steps always sounds better than two, don’t you think?’ I nodded numbly. ‘Being the Archer, reflexes and hand-eye coordination are essential. Not as essential as if you were the Rouge, but still way up there, Other than that, the main skills you’ll need to know are these- knife throwing, short/long knife fighting, and, obviously, archery. Which do you want to start with?’ Knife throwing? Like Russian Roulette? I couldn’t see how that could ever work out. Chalan certainly didn’t know me too well if he thought that I could ever throw knives. So,,,’Archery, I guess.’ Chalan grinned mischievously ‘Perfect. And I think you can throw knives, no one here could rip you to shreds, I’m sorry I’m so cheerful, I’m not that old, and I’m really not gay. And I’m not really reading your mind. It’s a bit different than that....more of sensing.’ My jaw dropped for the second time today, ‘Let’s get archery-ing!’ Chalan said, and pulled me away to another clearing.