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Alcryst, as usual, had screwed up.
He made a simple off-handed comment to Takumi during training. “There’s so many different styles of archery in the Order. I’d really like to see them all at some point.”
Unfortunately for him, the Summoner was walking by for her daily rounds, and just so happened to not only hear it, but started formulating a strategy to do just that. One talk with Queen Henriette later, and the Order of Heroes’ first archery competition was set.
What Alcryst meant by seeing all the styles of archery was him hiding in the corner of the shooting range, watching each archer shoot a few arrows, and doing absolutely nothing so as to not bother them. What he got instead was a showcase in front of not only every other archer, but every other Hero in the Order. Now, pitted against some of the most accomplished archers across the worlds, Alcryst was feeling extremely out of place.
“Oh...someone as worthless as me doesn’t belong here…” he bemoaned to himself.
“What are you sulking about now, Alcryst?” Takumi asked as he approached his rather dour friend.
“A-ah Takumi. It’s just…there’s so many incredible archers here. I don’t deserve to stand on the same stage as them, let alone compete.”
“What? Alear’s told me about your archery skills, and I’ve seen you shoot a few times. You’re pretty good Alcryst, and definitely no worse than some of the others here.”
Alcryst frantically shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that. On the way here, I saw all kinds of archers that are way out of my league. Listen, there was this girl who was meditating by sitting in a hole in the ground!”
“...Do you mean Setsuna?” Takumi asked. “I think she just fell down a pitfall by accident, again. Someone really should talk to Morgan about those…”
“Then there was one that had the title of ‘Archest of Archers’. I know I’m not nearly as ‘Archy’ as him.”
“You really shouldn’t be listening to anything Virion says, trust me.”
“And the most terrifying of them all. She’s incredibly stealthy, I barely see her around anywhere. But the one time I did, I saw her disarm a man in mere seconds while letting out a blood-curling scream.”
“You know, I should really properly introduce you to Bernadetta sometime, I think you two would get along nicely.” A bell sounded back at the arena. “Alright, that’s our cue. Come on then.” Takumi walked over to Alcryst and picked him up by the back of his shirt, and started dragging him along.
They arrived at the stage and took their place in the line of archers, where the Summoner was introducing them. Each one shown off seemed more formidable than the next, and it wasn’t long before the line got to them. “And next, hailing from Hoshido, he’s the Wild Card Archer, Takumi!”
Takumi gave a brief wave, and his family cheered from the audience. “Ah, it’s nice that Takumi’s family came to cheer him on,” Alcryst thought. “I don’t think Diamant and the others had time to show up. I haven’t seen them all day.”
The Summoner continued with the introductions. “And our next contestant is the Tender Archer, Prince Alcryst of Brodia!”
“Tender Archer, who in the world gave me that title…” Alcryst shot a rather meek wave to the crowd. His low energy was then immediately contrasted with the cheers that roared for him, and the display that followed.
A giant wooden statue of Alcryst suddenly emerged from the crowd. The depiction of him held his bow in the air, noble and gallant, completely unlike the now terrified Alcryst standing on stage. Based on the quality of the statue, there was only one person Alcryst could think of who made it.
Sure enough, beside the statue was Lapis, Alcryst’s retainer and fiancée. As happy as Alcryst was to see her, he felt her methods a bit…extreme. In addition to bringing the statue, Lapis was dressed in a t-shirt with Alcryst’s face on it, and was cheering louder than anyone in the audience had before. “You’ve got this Prince Alcryst! Woo!”
Diamant and Citrinne were also there, helping support the statue, and were also wearing the same Alcryst shirt as Lapis. “Alcryst! Alcryst! Alcryst!” they happily chanted. The crowd surrounding Alcryst’s supporters seemed to be in awe of the statue, and some were impressed enough that they joined in chanting Alcryst’s name.
Beside him, Takumi was busy trying to stifle a laugh. And Alcryst himself was absolutely mortified.
After the Summoner finished introductions, everyone drew lots to see what order they would go in. Thankfully, Alcryst got a later spot, and used the time beforehand to call out Lapis to meet with him.
“Hey Prince Alcryst!” Lapis cheerfully greeted as they met in one of the arena hallways. “How’d you like the statue? Frederick gave me the idea as a way to help motivate you.”
“Lapis, I-”
“He also thought we should have put up posters of you naked, posing gallantly with a bow, but I thought that might’ve been too much. What do you think? We could do it for next time.”
“Err, actually Lapis, the statue might’ve been a bit much...”
Lapis’ face fell a bit. “Oh, really?”
“N-Not that you did a bad job with it!” Alcryst quickly stated. “It was really well made, though you made me way more dashing than I actually am, both on the statue and the shirt. But if anything, that statue might’ve made me more anxious about this competition…”
“Ah, right. I’m sorry about that, Prince Alcryst.”
The look of disappointment on his fiancée's face immediately sent Alcryst into another panic. “Oh no, I’m the one who should be sorry. It’s my fault for being such a nervous wreck. Your statue was really impressive, I swear.”
“It’s okay Prince Alcryst. I understand.” Lapis then began to brainstorm. “Though if the statue didn’t work, I’ll need to find some other way to motivate you.”
“Lapis, it’s about to be my turn. I don’t think you’ll have enough time to make something else-” Alcryst’s words, and mind, came to a halt when Lapis grabbed him by the shoulders, and leaned up to kiss him. A light, soft kiss, similar to the countless they’ve shared before.
After a few seconds, she pulled away, a bright smile on her face. “How about that?” she asked. “That do the trick?”
Alcryst was silent for a bit, then he picked up his bow and marched back onto the field. “I’m gonna win this for you, Lapis.”
His fiancée grinned. “Go get ‘em Prince Alcryst!”
Despite his best efforts, Alcryst didn’t place first. Against legendary archers like Ullr, he never really stood a chance. However, Lapis’s ‘motivation’ was enough to grant him a decently high ranking.
And that was enough to reward him a few more kisses in the privacy of their bedroom later that night.