Chapter 193: The Fundamentals of Archery (3)
The arrows on the table were even more refined than the bow.
“This one’s called a compressed arrow, and there are two versions: one compressed to half its length, and another to a third. I assume I don’t need to tell you the difference,” Volkanus explained.
“It’s the durability, of course,” Keter replied.
“Correct. Theoretically, you could compress it down to a fifth of its size, but then the durability would be so low it would practically be disposable. Sure, it’s doable with enough time and money... but that would be a ridiculous waste.”
“Then the twofold compression is the most efficient option right now.”
“The shape also means we have to make custom quivers for them, which is a bit of a downside.”
Volkanus moved straight into a demonstration, handing the arrow to the knight again. The knight gripped the fletching and pulled, stretching the shaft out until it returned to standard length.
“The fletching is made of goblin steel, which is both flexible and durable.”
“For something you’re calling a compromise, that’s a pretty high-end choice.”
“You could use feathers, sure, but I thought metal would be more practical for storage.”
Volkanus gave a signal with his eyes, and the knight nocked the arrow into an ordinary bow. Once again, he fired at targets placed at fifty, one hundred, and three hundred meters. This time, unlike with the dual bow, the arrows landed close to the center each time.
Volkanus picked up one of the fired arrows and explained, “The tip is awl-shaped to maximize penetration, but also to make it easier to store.”