[Despite the short length of time that Liem has spent in Hayame’s company, years of training have drilled into him the importance of adapting his tactics to fit his current situation, including his current partnership with her. When a single hunter isn’t sufficient to conduct the work that needs to be done, he’s turned to fellow inquisitors, city guards, mercenary groups, even hired labour to tighten the noose around a target. He’s quick to note her snarling leap, and even as he shifts to continue his pursuit of Makoto, he takes care not to wander back into the path of her bow. Instead he snatches a quarrel from the quiver at his hip, intending to drive it into the young man’s back before he can recover from his blow.
But his position at Makoto’s rear makes him ill-suited to interrupt the rapid strokes of his hastily performed ritual. Liem notes the slashing rectangle in almost the same moment that he completes it, and when he plunges the quarrel toward his ribs, the point finds purchase in only empty air.
He doesn’t lose sight of him for long. Following his gaze up to the bruise-dark sky, he spies the demon’s wheeling silhouette—and smiles grimly as it plummets back down towards him. His eyes flick back to Hayame to note her position before he loads the quarrel into his weapon and swings the tip up to aim at Makoto. This time he doesn’t aim directly for the heart, but rather for one side, so that if he twists to avoid the shot to his wing, his line of sight will swerve away from Hayame—and from the trajectory of her own arrow.]
no subject
But his position at Makoto’s rear makes him ill-suited to interrupt the rapid strokes of his hastily performed ritual. Liem notes the slashing rectangle in almost the same moment that he completes it, and when he plunges the quarrel toward his ribs, the point finds purchase in only empty air.
He doesn’t lose sight of him for long. Following his gaze up to the bruise-dark sky, he spies the demon’s wheeling silhouette—and smiles grimly as it plummets back down towards him. His eyes flick back to Hayame to note her position before he loads the quarrel into his weapon and swings the tip up to aim at Makoto. This time he doesn’t aim directly for the heart, but rather for one side, so that if he twists to avoid the shot to his wing, his line of sight will swerve away from Hayame—and from the trajectory of her own arrow.]