Chapter 74: Heart (2)

"Archery will never pass Magic. Do you wish to know why?" Minerva asked, her eyes on Jake.

A thick silence blanketed the workplace.

No one dared to disturb this unusual mood, which wrapped Jake and Minerva.

In this short but valuable time, the players at the scene had come to understand The Imperial Mage's character. She took pride in her birth and talent but wasn't obnoxious about it.

In fact, she comported herself with a common royal sense, receiving respect in return.

She wouldn't have said those words without a reason.

Jake nodded, "Yes."

"For Magic is the closest to the heart," Minerva said, putting her hand on her left breast, on which her badges of experience hang. "You can find many mages who say that magic comes from the heart, but that's false. The crux, however, is that a heart produces mana. In the far past, long before the golden dawn of magic, people used mana unconsciously. Archers as well.

Upon entering their archery forms, their muscles would unconsciously strengthen themselves with mana. Those who could consistently repeat this feat were known to be the strongest archers. Viktor's ancestors were one of them. They were also a step ahead of others because they could drape arrows with mana, bending their trajectories and sharpening them. The same applies to swordsmen..."

It was valuable knowledge Jake swore to remember.

He even repeated a few times what Minerva had said word-to-word about archers while she went ahead to talk about swordsmen and other classes.

At last, she finished her speech with a brutal reality, "Magic does not require a medium. You might find that surprising since even I use Magic Orbs to conjure magic. The truth, however, is that people are able to bring forth magic with their hearts alone. We're not at this level yet.

That said, if a mage can create a mana arrow and bend its trajectory with just a sweep of staff, how can archery ever be able to compete with it? I can even go so far as to say that archery does not have a heart at all."

Jake glanced at Viktor.

The man had been glaring at Minerva, but upon noticing Jake's stare, he looked away and wiped off his feelings.

Jake clenched his hands. He wanted to argue with this grandma and share his thoughts with her, but he held himself back because of the respect Minerva induced in him.

His stubbornness, however, took hold of his feelings and urged him to share his view with her.

Jake fought hard against it.

He wasn't on the tutorial island where NPC would be forced to interact with him.

He was on the mainland, on which people were like ants. NPCs also had their own lives and ambitions that didn't have to extend toward everyone they met in their lives.

In a nutshell, each action was followed by a consequence.

Jake's meeting with The Imperial Mage must have already started some kind of domino consequence.

'I have nothing to prove... no, I just can't prove anything to her,' Jake thought as he fought against himself. He could be stubborn around Richard, but not to this woman, 'The gap between us is huge, and I've only licked a little of the archery. My months of wielding a bow can't be compared to her knowledge...'

When he got to this point, Jake's eyes gleamed with a sudden understanding.

He smiled, free of his shackles.

He said, "I respect your opinion. You haven't just insulted archery like other players I've met on the mainland. You have stated fair points that make sense, and I can tell you've spent time studying archery and its past. Allow me to disagree, however. I don't have much to offer now to this debate, though, other than the fact that when I hit my targets, I can feel that drive and passion in my bones.

It's not mana, but it's the drive that I'll pursue to prove others wrong, including you."

After getting onto his two feet, Jake wiped off his lips, patted his pants, and squarely looked into Viktor's eyes.

He said, "I'll prove everyone wrong."

It felt good to know that archers from the past also used mana.

Jake felt sometimes dirty about it, but he now didn't even have scruples about it.

"The bow and arrows will always be my mediums. Those make me an archer. I'll craft anything to supplement them. I'll be that archer who crafts anything for his archery! And everyone who wants to be an archer will be forced to follow that path, too! Because that's what will make us the strongest!

In this world where the game system is like the sixth sense, everyone will be able to use my experience in the form of skills and guidance, just like I use Richard's skill to extract valuable parts from carcasses! This is my path, and I will go for it! I'll be one with archery in more than just one sense! That will be our Archery Heart!"

Viktor was speechless.

He turned to Robert, but the player just grinned, finding Jake's ambition cool.

It was so nice to have such a passionate drive!

"You can count on us, Jake," Robert said.

He peeked at Viktor's face, noticing the man inwardly struggling with his emotions. Perhaps Jake's resolution had somewhat resonated with Viktor's heart. They were both archers, after all.

Viktor spat and turned around, "Whatever."

Jake chuckled, "I count on you tomorrow. I want to start a Fletcher lesson! There's something cool I have to show to you, too."

That was when Mary entered the workplace.

"Me back!" she announced with a broad smile, "Let's finish our casual quest back in the capital and have some drinks before logging out! Jake, you haven't drunk any alcohol yet, right?"

Jake chuckled, "I haven't and can't drink right now. I promised Lukas I would drink with him. He wants that virginity."

"Disgusting!" Mary took a few steps back!

Jake grinned, "Hah! Women, you are so soft!"

Robert and Viktor curtly nodded.

Without Minerva's presence, Mary was the only woman and, therefore, was at a disadvantage. She couldn't do anything when the three of them were on the same page.

No, she just could force them to leave the workplace.

"Fine, you will drink apple juice, then! Hey, Viktor! It was fun! Good to know you, too! We're off for today!" Mary shouted at the oldest man at the scene.

Viktor nonchalantly waved his hand at her, "Just leave me alone already."

Robert nodded, "Alright. It was also a pleasure to meet you. Take care of Jake for us."

Jake was the last one, "Can't leave her alone, so see you tomorrow. Thanks for today!"

Once the door closed, Viktor sat down in silence and muttered, "In a way, I brought all of this upon myself..."

He sighed.