"Vel... I can't ride."

"Surely, you can ride a bit, can you?"

"I suppose..."

As we were travelling to the campgrounds with our troop, I had Vel's help with the horses. We had to cross rivers and lakes, navigate difficult paths in the forest and woods, horses would be the quickest and most efficient form of transport.

It didn't take long before I was drawn towards a white mare with dark spots on her neck. The mare stood very still, unafraid of my presence. I stroked her neck gently.

"That's it," Vel encouraged, adjusting the saddles on her own mare. "Let her get used to you."

The mare was relaxed, her warm breath tingled my bare arms exposed below my rolled-up sleeve.

"Get onto her slowly," Vel mounted her own mare, "don't move or nudge her."

I did as she was told, being extra careful with the stirrup this time. I swung my leg over and sat onto the saddle. It was easy. The mare wasn't frightened at all.

"Good job!" Vel clapped, her purple eyes looked alive and bright. I was more than glad to see her in this spirit. Her beautiful dark brown mare bobbed her head, giving a playful nudge at my mare. I didn't stop my laughter.

"How come you never learnt how to ride?"

My lips thinned. I could hear Julian urging everyone to the exit of the troop cave toward a small path leading out from the Academy.

"My parents were worried," I said quietly. "I could see it in their eyes and... I hate to say this but it was discouraging. Every time I finished riding lessons I would find it harder and harder to get on the horse the next lesson. My mother, especially, would always give me a long speech about being careful before and after. Later, I just quit."

Vel was quiet for a while and, not wanting to place her in the spotlight, I smiled reassuringly. "You see? I'm a fine rider now! I've come to learn that horses are beautiful creatures."

"They are," Vel stroked her mare, her eyes sparkling with affection. "When I'm riding, I feel... free. I feel almost like an eagle. When I feel their strength, the speed and the wind... everything leaves my mind. I am just living in the moment."

I could see she was telling the truth, and perhaps reliving part of her memories.

"Who taught you?"

Vel grinned, giving a gentle nudge of her heels. I copied her and our mare began to move into a nice, slow walk. "Robin taught me."

I saddened, though Vel didn't seem to be saddened at all.

"In fact," Vel smiled, her eyes in the distance. We moved slowly to the entrance of the cave, following the others, "Robin taught both of us. Me and Jaxton."

Tracy was taking the roll. Ted and Will spotted us by the entrance. Ted gave us a playful wave and Will, a nice grin, before Tracy ushered them out the cave.

"You're blocking everyone's way!"

Vel had to resist the urge to laugh. As we passed Tracy, I gave her a nod as she impassively addressed us, ticking our names off the clipboard.

"Robin's good at a lot of things. I always wanted to be like him. Smart with my hands and head."

Our mares instantly went into a nice trot after we exited the cave, and I was clumsy at first, forgetting the riding lessons I had attended as a little girl, then I remembered to rise and lower my body with the rhythm of each step. It didn't take long before we went back to the walk.

"Not bad, Cassie," Vel gave a tug of her reins, sensing her mare getting distracted. "See! You can ride!"

"You flatter me," I replied. "I much prefer the horse at a walk, if possible."

***

"You look tired, Cassie."

I was dismounting my mare when Vel sounded. I stifled a laugh, trying my best to hide the fact that she was right.

"I didn't sleep well last night," I admitted, hooping the reins to the front. I stroke my mare's forehead and gazed into her dark orbs, almost as if they were speaking to me.

The campsite was set in between the woods. Julian assessed the area carefully, with Tracy trailing along. They picked a clearing. We didn't need any trees falling onto us in our sleep during a thunderstorm.

I heaved the baggage down from the mare's back and began setting up.

"I brought a big tent," I said sheepishly. "It's the only one I could find."

"Don't worry," Vel and I pulled open the tent and then staked the tent corners to the ground.

"We have one big cosy tent," Vel exclaimed.

The tent was in a rectangular shape. The end of each tent has flaps and zips which can be zipped up into separate, individual rooms.

I circled my hand around, forming half of an ice ball. Vel pulled on her gloves, her fingertips glowing in a golden light. She pointed at the centre of the ice ball, where I left a space, and closed her eyes. I held the ice ball tightly and watched her curiously in her concentrated form. The centre of the ball began to glow. I waved my fingers over the top, closing it into a sphere.

Vel opened her eyes and grinned. We dropped the light source into baskets, lighting up the tent with a nice, warm glow.

Vel and I left our tent to join the others. The campfire was lit. Julian was checking all the tents and the number of people — we don't need an incident such as losing someone along the way, do we now — and Tracy was setting up the table. I noticed that no one was helping her.

"Should we help her?" Vel noticed it too.

I bit my inner cheek, thinking. Tracy and I weren't on good terms. Even though Julian explained why her attitude was like that, it still couldn't excuse everything she had done. Though, it was true that Tracy hadn't given us much trouble since that day.

I cleared my throat. Maybe it was time to flip the page.

"Let's do it."

We walked over.

"Tracy, do you need a hand?"

Tracy spared me an icy glance and said nothing, she unpacked the plastic plates from the package and laid them to the side. I looked to Vel and Vel gave an uncertain shrug.

I took the initiative and opened up a package of plastic cups. Tracy didn't reject me nor validate my actions, so I gestured for Vel ahead. Soon, the three of us worked in silence.

"Julian would need help with the horses," Tracy broke the silence and left the sentence at that. Vel and I gave each other a look.

"I'll go," Vel offered, giving me a nod. "I'm pretty good with horses. See you when dinner starts!"

"See you, Vel."

I brought out the cake, which they brought to celebrate the first camp night. "We should slice this open. Do you have a knife anywhere-"

Tracy placed the knife on the table and I couldn't say it was a gentle gesture. I took it, making no comment as I began cutting up the cake in reasonable portions.

"Don't pretend you're a good person, Williams," Tracy started. I knew she couldn't hold it in. It just wasn't her. "Just because you came here and helped me with these food, it doesn't make you any better than you were."

"I don't think I'm a good person but I also don't think I'm a bad person," I began. "I'm not trying to be the good guy or the hero here. I simply do what I think is right."

Tracy let out a bitter chuckle but said nothing.

"Julian personally had to apologise for your mistakes. I'm willing to let things go but I didn't think it was fair on Julian."

I sensed her stiffen. "What do you mean?"

"It's not fair because you should be the one to apologise."

I sensed her anger simmering but she held it. "I thought you were going to let it go."

"I am. I don't expect an apology from you. Take whatever I said about Julian as a comment." I happily looked at the sliced up cake and began wiping the knife. "He's a good person."

"I don't think that's for you to judge."

"You don't think he's a good person?" I shot the question back, avoiding her statement. Tracy finally met my gaze fully but kept her mouth shut. "I'm not here to start an argument, Tracy. I'm here to make peace, believe it or not."

Tracy seemed surprised. "Even after I sent you to the Mirror Palace?"

"As I said, I'm not a good person. I really hate you for sending me there but what can I do about it now?" I shrugged, acting casual. "Thankfully, I am alive and when I'm alive, it means I can make choices. Right now, I choose to flip the page, but from your previous comment about 'good-person-bad-person', I'm not so sure you want to."

Tracy scoffed. "Why does it matter anyway?"

"It doesn't matter to me but it matters to Julian."

Tracy stiffened again and I sensed her actions slowing. She still cares about him and, from her actions, she always knew what Julian hoped of her. For her to let go. For her to start seeking a purpose away from hate but from... herself. Oddly, I found I could relate to her... just a little bit (especially when I was at that world-hating phase).

"You might want to keep this safe, somewhere," I handed the knife back to Tracy and she took it carefully. I had thought she would snatch it from me, but I guess she was deep in thought. Her hazel eyes were locked on the knife and she turned it aimlessly.

"You're right."

"Um, sorry?"

"About Julian," she breathed. And I think that was the best I could get out of her. She cleared her throat, lifted her chin and put on her old, defensive look again. Her eyes sharp, her lips in a frown. "The job here's done. You can go."

"Gladly," I half-shrugged, offering her a smile before I pushed myself away from the table.

"Wait."

"Yeah?"

"Why do you never lock your door? Sometimes?"

I furrowed. "How do you-"

"When I'm on duty, one of my jobs is to make sure no one goes snooping in other people's dorms for no reason."

That surprised me. I heard from other troops that they had looser standards. Most of the time, they never check.

"If I find it odd, I might make a record. Normally I let it slide," Tracy rolled her eyes. "Who knows what these sensitive people are going to make a ruckus about..."

"I..." I rubbed my neck. "Most of the time I do lock my doors... don't I?"

Tracy shot me a look. "There were a few times you didn't."

I thought back and realised that Will had managed to enter my dorm and almost spot Jaxton because I didn't lock my door. I didn't admit it to Tracy though.

"You should lock your door and check you've locked it," Tracy leaned closer to me and I resisted the urge to twitch away. "These days, I've seen Ted entering your dorm."

I felt an icy prick on my neck but I didn't show it, I simply stared ahead as Tracy continued.

"I've locked your door for you for a few times," Tracy said it as though it was something ordinary but she had no idea how grateful I was for this information. "That's why I said room capacity is one. Having too many friends won't benefit you too much... as proven."

I exhaled gingerly, quiet for a while as I organised my thoughts. "Tracy-"

"Save the thanks." Tracy crossed her arms and began walking away, approaching a quiet corner where she sat down and began opening her lunchbox in search of her dinner. While I had to force myself away from the table, pretending that everything was fine.

Because I knew exactly where Ted was at that very moment. He was with Will... somewhere in this camp.

Suddenly, I didn't feel safe anymore.

***

A/N

Ted or Will, readers? Place your bets.

L