IQSBM 13

Chapter 13

“Are you okay, Captain?”

The vice-captain asked, nervously glancing at Calix, even though he had already announced everything himself.

Calix glanced at Boris and Jude, then nodded with a word of approval.

“Do as you wish.”

Then his gaze shifted to me.

“Riana, can you ride a horse?”
“Huh?”
“You’ll need to ride all the way to the Droia territory. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Oh! Of course…”

I didn’t know how to ride. Even when I volunteered at the temple or lived as a saint, I had always ridden in carriages.

But if I admit I can’t ride, they probably won’t take me.

“I can ride. But it’s been a while, so I’d like some training before we leave.”

I added a small lie, and Calix, hearing me, turned to the vice-captain.

“Damon, what training were the new recruits scheduled for this week?”
“Ah, it was supposed to be basic swordsmanship.”
“Then change it to horseback riding.”
“Huh? Yes… I suppose it’s better if they’re a bit more familiar with it before we take them. Understood.”
“Good.”

Calix stood up. Passing by me, he spoke quietly.

“I’ll be counting on you, Riana.”
“Huh? Y-Yes!”

Calix left the dining hall. As soon as the door closed, Boris cheered.

“Wow! I didn’t expect we could participate in a mission so quickly. I’ll do my best! Let’s all give it our all!”
“Why all the excitement over basic horseback riding? It’s something you’re supposed to know.”

Boris was thrilled, while Jude spoke nonchalantly.

“Exactly. It’s something we’re supposed to know, but this is just a chance to get back in the groove.”

I responded too, even though I really had no idea about horseback riding.

That afternoon, at the equestrian training ground.

We were each mounted on horses led by the trainers, slowly circling the arena.

The horses moved leisurely, following the trainers’ directions, making soft thudding sounds.

The sky was clear, and the wind was gentle. It felt more like a horseback-riding sightseeing experience than training.

‘It’s not that hard, actually.’

The horses were taller than I expected, which made me nervous, but surprisingly, riding at a walking pace didn’t feel too difficult.

“Trainer, if someone has prior experience, can they try the advanced course?”

I wasn’t the only one thinking this. After circling the arena about three times, Jude, who could no longer contain himself, asked, and Boris also spoke up, perhaps because he actually had some experience.

“Oh, really? Then I’d like to go and gallop a bit too.”
“That’s fine… Hey, you there. Riana, is that the case for you as well?”

I quickly shook my head at the trainer’s question.

“No! I want to stay here. I’d like to get a feel for it slowly.”
“Is that so? Then… Riana, you continue circling here slowly. I’ll take these two and run along the back path. You said it’s not your first time riding, so it should be fine, right?”

Even if it was my first time, it seemed manageable. We were just circling slowly inside the arena; nothing could go too wrong.

“Yes! Of course.”
“Good. Understood.”

The trainer removed the reins from the horses and mounted his own.

“Alright, follow me, you two. Let’s go!”

He took Jude and Boris and dashed out of the arena.

‘Wow… they really can run fast.’

Watching them disappear in a cloud of dust, I gripped the reins tightly.

The cream-colored horse I was riding continued walking leisurely, but being alone in the large arena made me a bit nervous.

I muttered to myself the instructions the trainer had given me.

“Hold the reins evenly with both hands, wrap the reins with your whole hand, keep your waist straight…”

While I circled slowly, I noticed something.

“Huh?”

I saw the woman from that morning and Calix coming out of a building a short distance away. Behind the woman was a fancy carriage, with servants bustling about loading luggage.

‘She must be a noble, not a commoner.’

The woman handed something to Calix, but he shook his head and refused it. She returned the item to her servants and spoke something to Calix.

‘What are they talking about? What’s their relationship?’

I was lost in thought when a loud shout came from behind.

“Cerberus! Come here!”

I turned my head and saw a small white butterfly fluttering down to land softly on the cream-colored horse’s hindquarters.

Then it happened.

“Woof!”

A fluffy brown dog leapt up and bit the horse’s rear.

“Eeeek!!”
“Ah…!”

The horse let out a scream-like whinny and lifted its front legs. I instinctively pressed close to its back as it reared.

“Ahh!”

But that wasn’t the end. The horse put its front legs down and kicked back forcefully, bucking wildly. It was as if trying to throw me off.

I clutched its mane and pressed down.

“Hey, it wasn’t me who bit you!”

I felt panic rising as the horse bucked several more times, then suddenly started galloping, its hooves thundering.

‘No! If it runs now, I’ll be thrown off for sure.’

Of course, I’d recover even if I fell, but it would be a problem. It could even be reported as an incident at the temple.

Just as fear overwhelmed me, I felt a strong hand grip the reins and someone climb onto the horse behind me.

“Riana.”

Two arms reached around me from behind, holding the reins.

I didn’t need to look back. I knew that voice.

“We need to run a bit to calm it down, so hold on tight.”

A solid body pressed against me from behind. Calix held the reins and ran forward with the horse.

The startled horse ran to the end of the arena, lightly leaping over the fence. I instinctively shut my eyes as we were airborne. Calix’s arms held me tightly around the waist.

“Just a little longer. You’ll be fine soon.”

It was as if he read my mind, whispering softly in my ear.

The horse entered the mountain path where the trainer and the others had gone. The sunlight filtering through the trees illuminated the quiet trail, and the horse gradually slowed as it calmed.

When it was almost walking pace, Calix gently pulled the reins, and the horse finally stopped.

“Wow… we finally stopped. Thank you.”

I turned to thank him and froze.

Calix’s face was inches from mine. His eyes shimmered a brilliant blue in the sunlight filtering through the trees, his expression almost unreal.

‘Is this it? Could this be my awakening?’

If I just tilted my head a little, I could touch his lips.

Just as I was about to move—

“You don’t seem used to riding.”

Calix turned his gaze away.

‘Damn, too late.’

The moment was lost. I had learned the hard way to act faster. Plus, he probably realized I wasn’t good at riding.

What now?

“Ah… this is the first time I’ve seen a horse get startled like that. Haha.”
“You lack experience riding.”
“Oh… yes… but still…!”
“But still?”

I hurriedly added that I would train hard so I could join the expedition, worried he might suggest I skip it.

“I’ll train diligently for a week. Then I should have no problem going on the mission.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Wha-?”

Calix drew a firm line. No, I couldn’t be excluded from the expedition…

“Is it uncomfortable?”
“Huh?”
“Riding like this.”
“Like… this?”

Calix paused the horse, then continued.

“I mean riding together, close like this.”
“Oh! No, it’s not uncomfortable.”
“Then we’ll go to Droia territory like this.”
“Eh?”
“…Don’t you dislike it?”

There’s no way I could dislike it. He was offering to take me along like this!

“No, I like it.”
“You do?”
“Of course.”

Calix paused the horse, looking at me quietly, then spoke again after a moment.

“…Well, if you don’t dislike it, we’ll do it this way.”
“Thank you!”
“Let’s head back for now.”

Calix pulled the reins, and we started moving.

‘Thank you, animal friends.’

Thanks to them, I was confirmed to join the expedition even though I couldn’t ride well.

I tried to hide the wide smile spreading across my face and gazed at the distant scenery. The open view made my chest feel lighter.

It was one of those afternoons when the breeze carried Calix’s soft breathing to me.