Then Archery is my path

The days of adaptation and rehabilitation were quieter. Of course, there was muscle pain, even from the simplest exercises, but that pain was accompanied by visible progress.

The new limbs didn't feel foreign. I could control them as though they were my original ones. However, to be fair, they were much weaker and far more fragile—for now.

I resumed my search for professionals who could train me, but finding someone suitable was proving difficult. The list of necessary conditions was long:

Expertise in martial arts tailored to the Ventus, Ignis, or Terra constitutions.

Independence—they couldn't belong to a clan or family that restricted their martial arts to descendants.

Ability to teach despite my lack of two general aether arteries.

Missing the forearm artery wasn't entirely disqualifying, as many techniques required only one hand.

However, the absence of the essential artery in the leg posed a far greater challenge. Balance, power transfer, and resistance to external pressure all relied heavily on the lower limbs.

For one month, this was my sole focus. I sifted through files, and if anyone seemed promising, I would ask Rebeca for more details. But so far, no one fit the bill.

In the meantime, rehabilitation progressed rapidly. My right hand and foot were now at roughly 50% of the strength of those on my left side. Still, I had to account for the fact that I wasn't in the same condition as before the accident. I had lost around 10 kilograms, and my aetheric output had decreased by approximately 12–17%.

August 27, 3104

Nickname: WindKing

Name: Evans Hidklife

Rank: 999 ManaMaster (retired)

Specialization: Scout and professional in archery with a wind element affinity.

Unique Trait: Missing the general artery in his left leg.

Maximum Ejection Fraction: 83%

Constitution: Ventus

Background: Independent professional, participant in the 4th Elf War.

I stopped and read that short paragraph three more times.

83%? ManaMaster ace tier? How?

It was widely believed that becoming a ManaMaster required all essential arteries and an ejection fraction of at least 85%. This didn't make sense.

Could it be a mistake?

With that thought lingering, I sent a message to Rebeca asking her to confirm the information, then continued scanning through the files.

Later, I arrived in the rehabilitation room. Although I could now walk unaided, my dear doctor (note the sarcasm) insisted that I use a wheelchair whenever I was in an area where he could see me.

As I rolled in, I noticed someone new in the room.

A girl. White hair, blue eyes, and around my age.

"Unusual," Kail thought. He had not seen any other patient his age—or younger—in the hospital before.

This wasn't an ordinary place; it specialized in treating pathologies related to hands and general aetheric arteries. Meeting a child here could only mean one thing—they came from a family or school deeply invested in such specialized care. The expenses alone could bankrupt a normal household.

Ignoring the newly appeared presence, Kail began his daily exercises.

Halfway through his set, he heard a voice.

"What are you doing?"

Kail didn't answer.

"Are you ignoring me? Why?"

When he finally finished his set, he replied without looking up.

"Why are you trying to start a conversation with someone who's clearly busy?"

"Because you're the only one close to my age."

"That's neither a reason nor an excuse."

"For me, it's both. And it worked!"

"Well done," Kail said dryly. "Now go find a job."

The girl seemed undeterred. "My mom's coming in about fifteen minutes. Talk to me until then. I have nothing to do."

"I don't owe you anything. Why would I?"

Before Kail could react, he felt something soft and warm on his cheek.

She had kissed him.

"Now you're mine," she declared. "So, what's your name?"

Kail blinked, speechless.

"You do realize talking to strangers can be dangerous."

The girl smirked. "But you look weaker than me. I don't think you'll cause any trouble. So, what's your name?"

"Who the hell is she?" Kail thought, suddenly finding yet another reason to push himself harder in training.

"Kail," he said curtly.

"Kail! Nice to meet you. You can call me Lia."

"I can't say the same."

Lia ignored his coldness and continued, her voice brimming with curiosity. "Why are you in the hospital? For me, it's hard to breathe sometimes, so I have to get medicine regularly. But after that, my skin hurts."

Kail's disinterest was evident, but she didn't seem to care.

"I have a broken arm and leg," he replied flatly.

"Why?"

"I got into an accident."

"Really? When will you get better?"

"I don't know. Maybe never."

Her eyes widened. "SERIOUSLY? Your situation is worse than mine! My mom says I'll be fully healthy in one or two months."

"Congratulations," Kail said, his tone laced with indifference.

From the hallway, a woman's voice called out.

"Lia, come on! We're going home."

Lia turned toward the voice but looked back at Kail with a playful grin.

"Mom's calling me. By the way, Kail, you still owe me for the kiss!"

She spun around and ran toward the exit. As she reached the door, Kail heard her exclaim loudly:

"Mom! I met a handsome guy!"

"Seriously? What's his name?" her mother asked.

"Kail!" Lia shouted, her voice echoing down the corridor.

"What the hell was that?" Kail muttered, still processing the bizarre encounter.

Kail wasn't used to such playful and carefree behavior. Accustomed to speaking only with adults—whether they were from his clan or part of formal festivities—this kind of interaction caught him completely off guard.

Placing a hand on his cheek, where the unexpected kiss had landed, Kail said to himself, "In general... it's not that bad."

Just then, a voice echoed from the corner of the rehabilitation lounge.

"Look at him, how could you not fall in love!"

It was only then that Kail noticed everyone in the room—patients and staff alike—was staring at him. A wave of embarrassment surged through him as his face flushed red.

The lounge, which was usually quiet, erupted with laughter. These were mature men and women, many of them war veterans or elderly individuals nearing the final chapters of their lives. Their professions and circumstances seldom offered such lighthearted moments.

"Boy, don't be upset with this old antique shop," one of the veterans chuckled. "They're not trying to offend you. It's just rare to see something like this around here."

Another patient added with a warm grin, "Honestly, it's a good change of pace. Beats being stuck with all these medications and treatments."

The hoots and laughter gradually subsided, leaving behind an air of cheer and genuine appreciation. Faces that were usually solemn or weary now carried smiles of gratitude.

"You're a good lad," said an elderly man sitting at a chessboard. He had paused his game to watch the commotion. "If you've got time later, how about playing a round of chess with an old-timer like me?"

Another patient chimed in, "If you've got questions about the exercises, just ask me. I'll gladly help you out."

Comments of encouragement and good wishes came from all directions. The lounge's atmosphere had shifted into something almost magical—uplifting and heartwarming.

The moment was interrupted when Kail's doctor entered the room, his voice cutting through the chatter.

"Alright, you hooligans, leave the boy alone. He's still got exercises to finish."

The group settled down with a few chuckles, returning to their activities.

Kail spent the rest of the day with a smile on his face—a smile that felt foreign, like something he hadn't worn in years.

The next morning, Kail opened his phone to check for updates. Among the messages was one from Rebeca:

The information about Evans Hidklif is valid. However, after peace was declared between the Elven and Human territories, he completely disappeared and has not engaged in any professional activities since.

Kail stared at the message, letting the words sink in. His curiosity about Evans grew even stronger.