Chapter 2: Testing oneself
Since Malene was only allowed to play right outside their home, it was not known by many that she was indeed blind. But it would be strange for a young Payonese child to not learn to use a bow, thus it was inevitable that she enter training as an archer.
Though she started her archery training considerably late as compared to the other children, she was quite fortunate to have her parents and her brother to teach her the ways of an archer. Before long she was able to shoot straight and true, but how was she to aim?
It was only on the day of her archery exams that she learned just how cruel the world was, and just how much of a handicap this so called blindness was.
"Next, umm...let me see...Tourmaline Surculus."
The young girl stepped up at the mentioning of her name. She stood in front of the target. Carefully, she drew the arrow back and released it, sending it rocketing towards the target. It was by more than sheer luck that her arrow managed to pierce the innermost circle. This alone was proof that she had true archery blood in her veins.
After all of the young novices had taken their turns, the ones who had passed were herded into a small room where the recruiter in charge of the exams sat waiting.
"I am very pleased to announce that among all those who have applied, more than half of this batch has passed, congratulations to all of you. But there is on whom I would especially like to commend. Will the youngest of this batch please step forward...Miss Surculus, is it? Please come up here child."
The girl carefully made her way towards the sound of the voice, but was stopped by someone else.
"Hey, take off your shades! Don't ya know that's rude?"
The kind, middle aged recruiter spoke up.
"Now then, there is no need to speak so harshly. But he is right. Miss Surculus, may I please ask you to remove your sunglasses?"
She hesitated. Her mother had told her never to remove her sunglasses in public. But she had the feeling that she had no choice but to comply. Slowly, she closed her eyes and reached up to pull off her violet tinted sunglasses. But at the moment she opened her eyes, the entire room fell silent.
For her eyes were pure white, the telltale sign that she did not have the ability to view the world around her.
"I'm sorry, but we cannot accept a visionless novice to become an archer."