Trees swayed as the cool breeze of the autumn wind brushed past them. The sun was up, but the clouds moving slowly blocked its light from time to time.
From afar, Mona could see the beacon tower of the fort situated at the east wing. A shadow moved from there, indicating a soldier was on duty.
Looking at the opposite side, she could see the knights busy with their training, and beyond them was the part of the wall that was being reconstructed with new protective devices.
She shivered as another rush of the cool wind brushed past her. Her long hair floated in the air while the frills and ruffles of her long-sleeved tunic fluttered. Fortunately, she only brought trousers to wear since riding the horse with dresses and robes could be uncomfortable.
Glancing down a few meters beneath her, she could see her brother walking casually with his hands in his pockets. He looked up upon sensing her gaze and gave her a childish grin, to which she replied with shivers while embracing herself.
She felt the world grew on her as soon as she saw her line-of-sight decrease. Not long after, her boots felt the solid ground and she stood steadily. A thick coat covered her, put on her by her brother. She mumbled thanks and they went on their way to the stable.
Luven was silent along the way. He wasn't uncomfortable or looking awkward at all, he just looked like someone enjoying that moment quietly. Contented with just having a walk with someone dear to him.
It made Mona hesitate to ask or break the silence.
The two of them, although they were traveling together, still hadn't caught up on too many things. In times when she wasn't with the Grand Duke or the knights, she was with Sandra and Shelly.
Luven was a bit close to the Knights of Adri, but she never saw him approach the maid and the head mage if it wasn't she was with them.
Besides, she wanted to ask about the count. The first and last time she met that man, she felt something amiss. Like something wasn't right. But she could also tell that Luven had probably, no longer in touch with his father.
With the count's former title passed on to him even if he's still alive and kicking, and the divorce of his parents. Asking him directly would sound so inconsiderate.
"Are you still cold?"
She shook her head at his question. As well as shaking her intrusive thoughts away. She will ask him, for the memories of Luna she always have hasn't come as often as before, she had to ask the people around her to put the pieces together.
But not now.
Their relationship just got mended, even though it wasn't broken in the first place, she won't risk this relationship they had just to satisfy her selfish search for answers.
"Are you okay? Did it scare you?" Luven blocked her path and lifted her chin, examining her face with a worried look and a bit guilty.
She raised her eyebrows and answered, "Heights don't scare me. In fact, I like flying."
"You almost screamed earlier though."
"I was surprised. Lifting me so suddenly like that." She brushed his fingers touching her chin and continued on her way. "Let's fly again next time, both of us."
Luven stared at her when she said those words, she casually looked away and walked again. Sometimes, his perception is as sharp as the Grand Duke who can easily tell her thoughts. Or is it she was just transparent and an open book?
They reached the horse stable after a few walks of silence. As soon as she entered, the familiar neighing of an overly lively horse welcomed her. Nyx jumped merrily on its spacious stall, waiting for the stable master to open the gate.
She glanced beside him, where Frost was quietly sitting on fine bedding, and just watching things unfold in her surroundings.
She had the urge to take her out for a walk as well, but the white horse drooped her head down and closed her eyes. It seems like she could finally take a proper nap, without some other horse yapping beside her.
She took Nyx and walked him outside.
Luven looked at them and came closer, "Let's ride him."
Nyx snorted and nudged her side, telling her to agree with her brother's suggestion. He seemed to be happy getting to be ridden again.
She remembered the Grand Duke, probably looking for them already. But somehow, her stubborn self couldn't still get over the embarrassment of her post-confession and agreed to go around the fort.
Luven took the rein and she rode next to him at the back. Sitting with both of her legs on just one side. She wrapped her one arm around his waist and leaned on his back. Nyx started to walk slowly, she expected him to be running wildly since he looked so excited, but the walk was calm and steady.
The surrounding felt so tranquil that she couldn't help but close her eyes and breathes in the fresh air.
"You were thinking about something deep, aren't you?"
She heard her brother ask. "Hm."
"Can't you tell me?" He probed.
But she answered him with just silence. Nyx obediently walked to the path Luven is heading, and she realized it was towards the beacon tower she saw earlier. The path is slightly sloped upward.
Nyx trod on the cobbled pathways toward the tower. Some knights they passed would casually glance at them and continue with their business, but no one had dared to openly insult her or glare at her again.
"We're supposed to see what Nyx's ability...right?" She responded, ignoring his question. "Why are we riding him now?"
Luven sighed and answered, "You said you like flying."
"And?"
Nyx neighed happily and flared his nostrils. His tail slaps left and right repeatedly.
"Nyx is a horse that belongs on the phantom-type magic beasts. Phantom magic beasts have two things in common. They can hide well in the dark with advanced senses, and they can blend in the air in the form of smoke."
Luven stopped when they reached the entrance of the tower. There was a sloped road leading to the top of the fortress beside the tower, it was the wall that served as the boundary and barrier. The width of the wall is a meter, and it's several meters above the ground. "Buckle up."
She grabbed his waist with both of her hands and Nyx began running on the ramp. It wasn't too steep and Nyx runs like the path wasn't sloping at all.
The moment they reached the top, her eyes landed on the cluster of houses that looked like ants from her place. But even if those houses are still kilometers away from her, she could see the spire that holds the empire's flag with the royal family's insignia. It was small, but she knew it was the royal place.
She unconsciously clutched her chest and stared from the distance. The place where it all started. She's coming back to that place again. Where she almost got executed, chased, assassinated, and thrown out.
She hadn't steadied herself properly again when Nyx jumped from the wall.
"Nyx!" She yelled out of shock and only realized that she was the only one left sitting in his back. Grabbing the rein on their fall, she looked above and saw Luven standing on the edge of the wall, smiling at her and shouting something.
"Share your mana with him!"
'The hell?!' Mona cussed at her thoughts.
Why not tell her before letting them fall? She asked inside and glared at him. She let mana flow from her hands to the rein, and before they reached the ground and died, Nyx's feet disappeared.
Or so she thought since a clamp of dark smoke looking like clouds swayed beneath them. Nyx's falling body slowed down and he began to move his legs like he was running. The dark smoke swayed as he moved and Nyx ran in the air like some Pegasus. Turning around from here and there.
She grabbed the rein tightly and followed her body in the course of his movement. It's like she's riding a plane or more like a sleigh that she needs to navigate properly in the air.
From afar, she saw the image of her man looking in her direction. Giving her a gentle look and a proud smile. Without even ordering the horse, Nyx flew towards him, calmly waiting while gazing at her warmly.