Martian Archer

Leon wandered the streets, his mind racing.

"A new bow. That's all I need."

But every store he passed had prices that made his stomach sink. The cheapest bows cost thousands of credits—money he didn't have.

Then, he saw it.

A large, circular sign hung above a sleek shop with a black and gold exterior. The words Bolt & Feather gleamed in elegant cursive.

Leon stopped. He had heard the name before.

" The best bowmakers on Earth."

If he could get a bow from here, it would be his best chance at the academy.

With renewed determination, he pushed open the door.

The inside of the shop was like stepping into a museum of archery.

Bows of every kind lined the walls—sleek recurve bows, powerful longbows, even futuristic energy-enhanced models. Some were displayed in glowing cases, while others hovered mid-air, rotating slowly under the soft golden lights.

"Ah-ha! A customer!"

A loud voice made Leon flinch.

From behind the counter, a man with a perfectly curled mustache and a bright purple vest leapt into view. He had wild, wavy hair and an exaggerated grin.

"Welcome, my dear, precious, financially stable friend! I am Hugo, the legendary bowmaker, the artist of arrows, the king of craftsmanship! Tell me, what marvelous piece of archery are you looking for today?"

Leon hesitated, thrown off by the dramatic introduction.

"Uh… I need a bow for Horizon Academy."

Hugo gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "A student of Horizon? Oh-ho! A young warrior in need of a weapon? I shall find you a bow that sings to your soul! Something elegant, powerful—"

Then Hugo froze.

His eyes landed on Leon's worn-out Martian clothes.

His grin faltered.

"…Wait a second."

He suddenly leaned over the counter, narrowing his eyes.

"Kid, where are you from?"

Leon swallowed. "…Mars."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Hugo snorted.

He straightened up, waved his hand dramatically, and turned away.

"Nope. Get out."

Leon blinked. "What?"

Hugo sighed as if exhausted. "I don't do charity, kid."

"But—"

"No money, no bow. Simple as that."

Leon's heart sank.

"There has to be something I can do. I'll work for it!"

Hugo laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, sure. Let me just pay you in the most expensive bows on Earth. What a fantastic business strategy."

"Please," Leon said, gripping the counter. "I need this."

Hugo stared at him for a moment.

Then, without a word, he reached over and grabbed a small wooden sign.

He placed it on the counter.

"NO FREE BOWS. NO MARTIANS. NO EXCEPTIONS."

Leon felt a sharp anger rise in his chest.

Hugo sighed dramatically. "Look, kid, I don't have time for sob stories. Come back when you have money."

And with that, he turned away, whistling to himself as he started polishing a bow.

Leon clenched his fists.

He wasn't giving up.

"There has to be a way."