Since my loss in the silver tournament, I tried to stay busy exploring the stalls and looking for magic to learn. I picked up some basic enchantment and enhancement magic, but though I got the skills I lack the knowledge. The girls also found out more about where I can see more magic. The magic tournament start shortly after the Gold spear tournament and finish as the main archery tournament starts. We were planning to go home after the main archery tournament anyway, so the timing is perfect.

It is the morning of the archery preliminaries. I have been placed in one of several large groups. To qualify I need to be one of only a few standing in the group. An outright winner is not required. This preliminary, unlike the silver spear tournament is not a tournament itself, just a way to reduce the number of contestants to manageable numbers at the main tournament.

Looks like they have turned one of the largest training grounds into a massive archery field. At one end archers are lining up side by side in small numbered squares. Each square has a young boy standing next to it, and further out on the field is a small mobile target with the same number. There is no bull's-eye, I guess I just have to hit it. Having read the rules, I know that the boy is supposed to fetch my arrows for me while I stay in my square. He can also fetch new arrows if I need any replacing.

The goal is to put three arrows in the target within five seconds. At the start of the final second a horn sounds until the time is out. As I get ready in my square I notice Kira getting into her own square. She kept that one quiet. There is no rule against crossbows, but considering the speed requirement, she is the only one on the field. My pump action crossbow should make the speed more than achievable.

I fire off the three arrows in just over two seconds, I could do it a lot quicker, but I take my time, making sure the arrows are spaced out on my target so as not to damage them. Looking over at Kira, I see her loosening her second bolt. It just about hits the mark. Summoning the last crossbow bolt she takes her time and puts it in the target. Pretty good considering she hasn't been training for long and could not even hit the right tree in the beginning.

Surprisingly me and Kira are not the only ones using soul storage to quickly summoning arrows. It is actually quite common. And here I thought this was my original invention. As my arrow boy hands me my arrows I inspect them. I notice Kira doing the same. There is no damage to any of them. As I prepare for the second round, the rules change. The targets are moved further away and we now have four seconds to put all arrows in the target.

Only a few archers were asked to leave the field in the first round. I suspect a lot more will leave in the second. I easily repeat my feat from the first round and look towards Kira. As I suspected the range is the biggest weakness of the crossbow. It was built for speed not for range or power. Since she has to aim at an angle her aim is a bit off and she misses the last arrow just as the horn blows.

Kira leaves the field with half of the archers. Only the most capable archers are left. The difficulty is increased further with the distance being increased and the time limit reduced to three seconds. Seeing no reason to change what I am doing I repeat my actions and see how the others are doing. A lot are caving under the pressure. When the horn stops blowing there are only four of us left on the field. One of the guild workers informs us that we have all qualified for the main tournament. That was surprisingly easy.

As I catch up with the girls I make a note of not repeating my last thought. "I didn't know you were planning to take part." Kira smiles. "I just wanted to see how well I could do. It was just on the spur of the moment when I was told I could use my crossbow." "Next year I will make sure you have a crossbow with better reach." Kira appreciates my comment. She hasn't blamed her tool, since I made it, but I know it is the main reason she didn't make it past round two.