It’s just that people aren’t giant round targets—most of them, in any case—and they have this pesky tendency tomove.
Defeat weighed heavily on my shoulders as my eyes dropped to the mountain of arrows on the floor. Hundreds of them sat there, limp in a pile like fish that jumped out of water and gave up on life.
Those were the ones thatdidn’thit the target.
Three weeks of archery training culminated in that anticlimactic moment. Becauseyes, that single arrow was the result of twenty-one days of practice.
Twenty-one.
One tiny revelation gives me hope, though. It doesn’t matter how close to the humans you stand as long as the pointy tip strikes. Images flash through my mind of using the arrows like daggers, stabbing instead of shooting, and honestly… the idea holds merit.
Cherubs have magic that helps us blend in, for several reasons. Wings must be hidden, for one, and although we can put them away at will, there are times it’s a better idea to leave them out and disguise them. A prime example might be if you're trying to outrun a pissed off queen's guard.
Hypothetically, of course.
A few times in history, Cherubs were spotted with them on full display, and now libraries are filled with an entire genre of romance novels surrounding men with wings. It’s a wild phenomenon to witness, really.
Of all the Cherubs, humans only care about The Cupid. There’s even a holiday celebrating his existence. Valentine’s Day is the human’s designated day of love, something that's a lifelong search for many.
Because let me just tell you, they areterribleat picking a mate.
Red flags are handed over like a bouquet of roses, and suddenly they become colorblind.
Humanity’s distinct inability to choose a fitting partner has been noted by the Heavens since the beginning of their existence. The Cupid was created to fill that gap.
Contrary to popular belief, we don’t shoot people at random.
Well…
Usually.
Current situation excluded.
Our innate magic allows us to see the very essence of a person’s soul, giving us an all-encompassing understanding oftheir perfect match. Hopes and fears, preferences and moral compass… displayed for our inspection.
The Cupid is summoned when complimentary souls meet and form a genuine connection. One might think that such an event should forge its own path. Makes sense, right? People who already have a bond, with all signs pointing to compatibility?
Why, then, is The Cupid needed?
The answer, and I believe we’ve already covered this, is…
Humans are idiots.
They’ll walk away from a true soul connection for several moronic reasons. Sometimes it’s because they’re too shy to put themselves on the line. Other times, someone with a better ass walks past.
Fickle creatures.
Human idiocy is the very reason The Cupid is a necessary position. Our arrows don’t create artificial infatuation. We can’t make people fall in love. The magic reinforces attraction and feelings that are already there—accelerates the growth of those newborn emotions inside that person’s soul.
Connecting the dots yet?
That aforementioned straight man finding love at the wedding? He was already a raging queer—he just hid it with terrible clothing and lots of pockets.
The President and Queen of England?
Yeah…
We won’t touch that one.
