In the dazed state of her soul, Jessie's mind echoed with these words.0

‘What is that?’0

Almond drew the bowstring taut. He held a curved bow and gripped an arrow.0

Yes, that was a bow. A weapon to kill the enemy. It had no other purpose, which was true for all weapons.1

However, a bow could kill much faster and easier. It pursued extreme efficiency and functionality. It had no aesthetic value because such a thing wasn’t even considered, but why did it look so beautiful?5

The bowstring was made of thin rope, the bow itself was made out of water buffalo horn connected by a grass carp's swim bladder, and the arrows had bird feathers on them.0

Earth, water, and sky… Elements from all over the world converged to kill the enemy like a kind of madness. The sight made one’s heart beat. It was beautiful.3

Why did it feel so uplifting to watch Almond draw the bowstring? Because one could see perfection being honed to the extreme.0

Jessie thought, ‘They’re one and the same.’0

The bow’s beauty and that man’s...0