Walking through the lively streets of Inormi's bustling capital, Edo and Leni soaked in the morning atmosphere. The glow of the rising sun reflected off the cobblestones and windows of the townhouses, and the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves added to the city's unique charm. Their path led toward the stables that Leni had pointed out. Though they were drawing closer, Leni seemed noticeably irritable, evident from the sharp looks she occasionally cast at her companion. Edo felt uncomfortable in the silence and decided to break it, intrigued by her behavior.
"How much longer are you going to look at me like that?" he asked, visibly annoyed. "You're looking at me as if I'm a criminal!"
Leni glanced at him, then looked away before replying, "How can someone not know how to ride a horse? How have you been traveling so far? You're not going to convince me that you've always walked on foot, unless you've spent your whole life in the capital. That would make no sense, especially for someone who visits an adventurers' stop. You're quite the oddball, you know that?"
Edo lowered his head, feeling her words strike him like a blow to the heart. But gathering his courage, he overcame the momentary setback and replied, "Then maybe you could teach me to ride. It can't be that hard, right?"
Leni sighed and answered bitterly, "Do you really think we have the time for that? You've never been around horses, and now you want to ride one? By the time I teach you the basics, Emil will have found that shipment in the forest ages ago. Like I said – it's best if I go alone."
Edo immediately grew serious. "You can't. I promised you I would help."
Leni stopped and sighed. "I've already told you, you've repaid your debt. Why do you keep wanting to help me?"
The boy thought for a moment, gathering his thoughts before answering, "You saved my life. Do you think that deal I got with Emil could pay back such a debt? No way! I'm seeing this through, and you don't have a say in it!"
Leni looked at him in clear surprise, her blue eyes catching the morning light. After a moment, she smiled slightly and replied with a touch of irony, "Bold words for someone who can't even ride a horse."
Edo blushed, realizing how foolish his speech sounded in light of his own incompetence. Leni sighed, still smiling.
"What am I going to do with you... Fine, since you're so stubborn, I'll take you with me."
Edo looked at her, astonished.
"And what about the fact that I can't ride?"
Leni responded confidently, "Simple. We'll ride on one horse. I'll rent a bigger one that can fit us both. Now let's go before others rent the best horses."
***
Edo and Leni entered a large red building that immediately stood out from the rest with its distinctly rural look, a stark contrast against the backdrop of elegant townhouses. The second thing that caught their attention—or rather, their noses—was the smell, which didn't surprise the boy, as he had expected it, though he did feel sorry for people who lived near such a stable.
When they stepped inside, a scene unfolded before their eyes, one that looked like it was straight out of a Western movie, a genre Edo had watched quite a lot of in his day. There were many horses in the stalls, which suggested that they were among the first customers, if not the very first. Suddenly, a tall blond man dressed like a typical farmer— with red shirt and blue jeans complete with a straw hat—hurried over to them. Even Edo, who had seen a lot of people in Inormi, found his rural attire unusual.
"Welcome! How can I help you?" the man asked warmly, though he looked slightly surprised when he noticed Leni. After a moment, he spoke again.
"Leni, is that you? You're the court mage? That explains why I haven't seen you around here—that clears up a lot!" said the blond man with a friendly smile. Edo realized that this must be someone who knew Leni quite well.
"Yes, I became the court mage. Good to see you, Bob. I need a large horse, preferably a very fast one," Leni replied.
The man in the straw hat thought for a moment before saying, "I know just the one. Please, follow me."
Edo and Leni followed Bob down a long stable corridor filled with the scent of hay and horse sweat. After a moment, he stopped by one of the stalls, patted the wooden divider, and pointed to a beautiful, powerful chestnut horse.
"Red Currant. That's the name of this horse," Bob said proudly, gently patting the animal's neck. "Perfect for your journey. Strong, fast, and big but tell me one thing... Why only one horse? What about that young man who came with you, Leni?" His gaze lingered on Edo, as if he were assessing his suitability for the journey.
Leni sighed, as if she no longer had the strength to answer similar questions. "This boy doesn't know how to ride a horse. He'll be riding with me."
Bob looked at Edo once more, analyzing every detail of his appearance. Then he shifted his gaze back to Leni and smiled in amusement. "Ah... I see. He's your boyfriend, huh?" His tone carried a hint of playful teasing.
Leni blushed deeply, and Edo was speechless with astonishment. For a few moments, they didn't know what to say, but finally, Leni exploded, "Bob, what are you thinking? Making such assumptions?! I'll make you regret your jokes!"
Bob only laughed, as if sensing that he had managed to embarrass them. "Calm down, calm down! I was just half-joking. I was simply surprised that someone... well, who can't ride a horse. But never mind." He shrugged, pointing to the horse. "Anyway, one thing's for sure: the price for this horse is eight silver coins per day."
Leni, still a bit flushed, reached into her pocket for her coin pouch. She handed him eight silver coins but couldn't resist commenting, "Prices have gone up since last time, haven't they?"
Bob shrugged, pocketed the coins, and explained, "Well, most adventurers can now afford their own horses, so prices have risen. But in your case, I'll make an exception. I'll give you a day for free, as a gift to celebrate your promotion to court mage so when your trip gets a little longer you don't have to pay for it. Safe travels, Leni!" he said, then turned and headed back toward the stable entrance, where other customers were waiting.
Leni sighed in irritation, looking after Bob. She muttered to herself, "What was he thinking, saying something like that? Right, Edo?"
Edo was still slightly dazed by Bob's earlier words. "Yes, you're right… You and me? What was he even thinking? That… that we could be together? That's… impossible!" His face flushed as he realized how awkward his words sounded.
Leni looked at him intently, raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm ugly?"
The boy blushed even more, frantically searching for the right words. "Of course not! That's not what I meant! You're actually… very pretty. It's just… you know… it just sort of happened…"
Before he could add anything else, he realized that further explanations would only make things worse. He sighed heavily and slapped his forehead.
Leni laughed softly, watching his reaction. "Relax, I was just kidding. Although… I didn't expect you to be so shy," she said with a light smile, clearly amused by his embarrassment.
"That was uncalled for, Leni. Now I feel like a complete idiot," Edo replied, trying to hide the embarrassment still painted on his face.
"Consider it compensation for not being able to ride a horse," she replied with a slight smirk, then moved toward Red Currant, leading the horse out of the stall.
The horse was equipped with a large, brown leather saddle adorned with delicate embossing and metal studs that gleamed in the light. His back was also burdened with sturdy saddlebags that seemed incredibly spacious, as if they could hold supplies for an entire journey. Leather pouches were securely fastened to his side, along with intricately crafted stirrups meant to help with mounting. However, Leni didn't need them—she jumped gracefully, and with her movement, a gust of wind appeared beneath her, lifting her high enough to land gently on the saddle, as if she was accustomed to using magic even for everyday tasks.
"Come on, what are you waiting for?" Leni called with a smile, looking at Edo, who clearly had no experience with horses.
Hearing her encouragement, Edo tried to mount the horse. He stepped into the stirrup and tried to pull himself up, but something kept going wrong—each time he either lost his balance or slipped, landing face-first on the ground. His frustration grew, and the repeated failed attempts only discouraged him further.
Leni, observing this with mild amusement, sighed, then sarcastically added, "It's clear you've never dealt with horses. Strange that people like you exist in this world..."
Finally, seeing that Edo couldn't manage on his own, she extended her hand to him. Edo felt relieved, thinking Leni would simply pull him onto the saddle, but he was mistaken. Suddenly, he felt his entire body become light, as if he were lifted off the ground. Before he could realize it, he was already floating in the air, gently tilting toward the saddle, as if an invisible wind had picked him up.
Surprised, he looked at Leni, who only smiled mysteriously. The wind magic she wielded with skill delicately but effectively guided him into place behind her. Once he was close enough, Leni relaxed her hand, and Edo softly settled on the saddle, perfectly positioned behind her. He was embarrassed and stunned but couldn't hide his amazement.
"You didn't have to use magic, you know?" Edo said, trying not to look too embarrassed. "I could have managed myself..."
Leni replied with a slight smile, "I know, I know. But I thought it would be funnier. Now hold on to me so you don't fall, silly. And don't get any ideas, understood?"
Edo felt his cheeks heat up once again. He held onto Leni lightly, trying not to invade her personal space. "Who do you think I am, huh?!" he replied, offended.
Leni laughed softly, retorting, "A fool who doesn't know how to ride a horse."
She laughed while signaling to the horse. "Alright, Currant, let's go." She spoke the horse's name gently, and the animal moved smoothly, leading them out of the stable. They rode onto the main road, then headed toward the eastern gate of the city. Before them lay the beautiful view of the capital, slowly leading them toward their destination—the Forest of Mists.