(I fucked up my drawing, so I'm taking a break so I don't make myself sick because of it. Don't know if I'll do another since I don't have much time left to complete one. Still, I hope I continue with my stories as long as I can before next semester at college…because it will likely be worse than the one before. Hope you all enjoy the update.)

Noble Six: Thanks.

Gemm1mt: Thanks.

Chapter 11: A Man's Focus

(Adirondack Park, the next day)

Connell sat on a large tree limb up 10 feet in the air. One of the spirits stood below, instructing him.

"Lad! What's the farthest thing you can see from there and describe in detail?!" The spirit called out, his thick English accent carrying a slight chuckle, as he looked up at his pupil.

Connell's eyes narrowed some and he tried his best to photograph something in his mind.

"I…I'm not sure…" Connell stammered.

The spirit sighed, and Connell lowered his head at that sound. Being taught by the legendary archer and outlaw, Robin Hood, meant being able to have keen eyesight. Right now, Connell wasn't doing so well.

'Come on, Connell, you damn idiot. You can't keep messing this up.' Connell growled at himself in his mind.

Robin Hood's spirit studied the young man as his face became a mask of anger as figuratively glared at himself.

"Lad, come on." The archer said.

"Oh…sorry…" Connell replied.

The young man hung his head in shame. Robin Hood shook his head and walked up to the trunk of the tree.

"Archery needs focus and precision, lad. Sight on the target and your weapon hitting it exactly." Robin Hood said.

Connell nodded to his teacher. Robin Hood motioned for the young man to climb down, to which his student did.

"Form the bow, lad." The archer said.

Connell inhaled slowly then exhaled. He raised his left hand and a green, ethereal bow appeared in it.

'I don't think I'll ever get used to that.' Connell gasped in his mind.

"See those two branches on that tree down there?" Robin Hood asked, pointing to a tree about 50 yards away.

Connell's eyes strained some, but he saw what the archer said. Two branches barely hung onto a large tree limb, that looked ready to break off at any time.

"Yeah…but I don't know if I could hit that." Connell stammered nervously.

Robin Hood chuckled at the young man's statement.

"I have the bow…but…where's the quiver…and arrows? I don't feel them on my back." Connell said, reaching his right hand back yet not finding what he sought.

Robin Hood laughed, his chuckling voice filled with life and joy. Connell's right eyebrow raised in confusion as he tilted his head to the side. The archer grinned and shook his head in amusement. He did the same as Connell, raising his left hand with a long ethereal bow appearing in its grasp. However, he used his right hand to grasp at an invisible bowstring and arrow., but when he pulled back to level with behind his head as his body turned, an arrow and bowstring appeared. Connell couldn't help but stare in wonder at this as well. The archer grinned at the young man. He looked at the tree again for a split second as he adjusted his bow, then looked back at the young man instantly afterwards and released his right hand. The ethereal arrow flew through the air as swift as a falcon and took off one of the loose branches.

"Wow." Connell gasped, only being able to state that one word in pure amazement.

The archer chuckled, then opened his other hand, the bow disappearing. He stepped towards the young man and put his left hand on Connell's right shoulder. Connell felt like there was an actual hand on his shoulder, but that didn't entirely surprise him.

"Now it's your turn." Robin Hood said.

"I'm not as good as you, nowhere near it." Connell replied.

Robin Hood grabbed his face and turned him to face him. He looked deeply into the young man's eyes, and Connell felt a bit of a shiver up his spine at this.

"Lad, you need to focus. These villains you face are much like the corrupt, greedy authority I battled when I was flesh and blood. You must be ready to fight them, and that means training to be ready. For now, you are training, if cannot prepare you will not succeed." Robin Hood said, laughter gone from his voice yet no menace present either.

The archer released his hold. Connell didn't say anything, he just dimly nodded. The young man inhaled deeply as he raised the ethereal bow and pulled back an arrow from the now visible bowstring and missile like the legendary archer.

'Come on…focus…focus…' Connell hissed to himself in his mind.

The young man concentrated on the target, yet his hands were trembling and eyes shaking. Robin Hood nodded his head to himself and turned his beak to his pupil.

"When I was alive, the damn crown and law…really the same in my humble opinion, drove the people into debt for years…did me best to take 'em on…hard fought battle…never could go at 'em in open combat, that would have led my men to their deaths because of the so damn many men the king and sheriff ordered to hunt use…had to use our wits…and support of the people to bring good fortune and health to Nottingham…the sheriff hated me, several times he tried to track me through the Sherwood Forest, me and my men…never could catch us." Robin Hood chuckled, his memories of his life coming back to him.

Connell's attention turned from his target to his teacher.

"Despite my…humorous and…flamboyant nature…I always knew that there are times even when even the most foolish of men needed to become serious when times turned against the people. We fought for the people and we embraced our new nature. Again and again men of the law tried to hunt me and my men through the forest…but a man cannot outwit a fox, most truly not in the woods that the fox calls home." Robin Hood continued, an ethereal tears flowing down his spectral hooded his face.

Connell lowered the bow and arrow, turning to the spirit.

"Take it from this ole' fox, lad. You must do what's right for those who are oppressed, even if it seems everything is against you. Can you?...lad?" Robin Hood asked, his voice low and gloomy.

Connell turned slowly from him then back towards his target. He raised the bow and pulled back on the once again visible string and ready arrow. His vision focused, concentrated and fired his arrow. The ethereal missile hit its target, taking it off the tree limb just like Robin Hood's. The spirit smiled.

"Good lad." Robin Hood chuckled then disappeared as the spirit rose into the air like a rising mist.

To be continued…