Three tall horses stood at the gates of the Ember Palace, one boy holding their reigns. They carried bags on either side and were properly saddled. Gavin was petting the horse to the very right, feeding it treats while cooing and running his hands through its red-tipped mane.

Valeriana was in awe at the rare breed, wondering if the red coloring of their coats was something they were born with or artificially done. They were elegant creatures, but the girl felt a flip in her stomach at the thought of riding.

"Um, we have a problem." She said aloud, enough for Corvan, who was a step behind, to hear.

"What is it?"

"I don't know how to ride a horse." She told him.

Corvan was beyond shocked. "You are incompetent in horseback riding?"

"Yep!" She popped the 'p' and scratched her head.

"What did you learn as a child, then?" He asked, standing beside her. "Do not tell me your were such a--"

"It's not that!" Valeriana stomped her feet, beyond frustrated. "Horseback is such a traditional way, it's not commonly done in the city except for areas like Texas! Or . . . whatever."

"Oh, good Arland." He shook his head and brushed past her to approach the group ahead of them, calling for the attention of the stable boy and engaging into a conversation.

Valeriana jogged to catch up just in time to hear what they were talking about. Gavin gave her a smile which she forced herself to return.

"Sand Fire will not be hard to maneuver?"

"No, your excellency." Answered the boy. "Sand Fire is very sensitive to the rider so it won't be too hard."

"And for an amateur with no riding experience at all?" He asked.

The stable boy shot a curious glance Valeriana's way. "So long as nothing aggravating is done, it won't be a problem."

Corvan gave Valeriana a long, hard stare as though he was inwardly debating what course of action should be taken. Valeriana stared back, watching his face take many expressions all at once.

Well, he is handsome so it's totally not strange if I have a crush on him. She thought, then realized what she had resonating inside her brain that she flushed and turned to look at the pony instead.

It isn't a pony. It is a horse. She told herself. Whatever the difference. I still think it's a pony. A cute cute little pony I hopefully won't fall from.

She sighed.

It's a lie. I totally don't have a crush on him.

She then snuck a peek once more and accidentally caught his gaze. Hastily, she avoided his gaze. I still don't! I totally don't! He's a jerk! He's arrogant! Stuck-up! Inconsiderate! Insensitive! Who would have a crush on him?!

Whe growled in frustration at the inward battle.

"Valeriana. Valeriana! Pay attention!"

She gave an angry frown as she looked over to him. "I totally don't!"

"What?"

"Crap." The girl muttered. "Nothing."

"Alright. Let's get you on it's back." Corvan pushed her to the horse she just basically called a pony and gave her instructions. "Use your right foot when mounting from this side, otherwise you'll end up facing backwards. It is usually customary to mount on the left side because of tradition, and this usually accounts for the weapon on your left hip. Even so, let's mount ypu through the right."

Confused, she hoisted her left foot and placed it on the stirrup.

"No! No! Stupid wench, I said right not left! Where is your mind wandering?" He yelled.

"Alright! Shut up, you arrogant jerk! You were saying left so I thought it was left!" She screamed back at him, causing the stable boy to feel horrified at her address. "Right right?"

"What do you mean right right?" He grumpily replied as he watched her lift herself with her right foot, throwing her left over the back of the horse.

"I mean right . . . right? Like, right, is that right?"

"Need I repeat myself?"

"No. I've had enough of you." She huffed, struggling to pull herself up into a stable sitting position while grabbing on to the pommel of the saddle. Corvan was beyond frustrated seeing her acts of stupidity.

Gavin chuckled at the exchange, shaking his head.

"So why ask the question?"

"Shut it. I'm sitting."

"Fix your posture. You don't sit atop a horse slouching!"

She puffed out her chest and tilted her chin upwards. "Alright! I'm doing it!"

"Don't exaggerate! Do it normally! By the gods . . . in the name of the king!" He shook his head exasparatedly, muttering things to himself as he nodded to the stable boy. "Alright. Let's try this. Give her the reigns."

"B-but . . ." The stable boy seemed worried.

Corvan looked at Valeriana as she was handed the reigns. She shifted uncomfortably, and so did the horse. She was mildly startled at the movement.

"Careful. Don't do anything callous. Your horse is sensitive so any gestures might be taken for a sign to--"

ACHOO!

Valeriana did not know what she did except for sneezing the next moment while Corvan droned on about something.

Shockingly, the horse threw its front legs in the air at the startling sound, neighing loudly before taking off for the open gates. Valeriana was so shocked that she almost fell off if it wasn't for the fact that she had braced her legs together in an instinct while she clutched the reigns like a lifeline.

In a split second, she had gotten out of the gates atop her horse.

"Holy craaap!"

"--take off." He finished, the frustration clear in his eyes as Valeriana's screams of distress echoed.

"This girl attracts trouble." Commented Gavin with brows raised, moving fast after figuring out the dilemma.

"BLOOOOOODDDYYYY MUUURRDDERR!"

"What on Valemnia, Valeriana!" He exclaimed, rushing to his own horse at the sight and mounting in record time.

Gavin mirrored his actions as Corvan snapped his reigns and urged his horse forward. Though he fell a little behind, it took him little effort to enter the same pace as Corvan.

"Idiot! Do not sit like that! You might fall off at that rate!" He yelled out, watching her comically bouncing on the back of the horse as it ran forward. "And don't hold on like that! You'll kill the horse!"

Did this girl have an ounce of grace in her?

"You're exaggerating!" She screamed at him, clutching its neck tight. "That ain't true!"

"Your feet in the stirrup! Lift yourself!"

"Valeriana, heed his words!" Gavin exclaimed. "We both run in the same pace, it'll take some time to reach you so help yourself! Lest you want to crash!"

"You can do this, Valeriana." She told herself encouragingly. "Stop being such a baby."

Struggling, Valeriana followed Corvan's instructions and raised herself into those riding styles she saw on televisions, holding onto the reigns instead as her surroundings blurred past her with the wind rushing to her face. It seemed as though every little movement she made increased her chance of slipping off. Judging by the way the ground fell back below her . . . she bit down on her lip as she tried to find her balance, finding it hard. It wasn't as it easy as it seemed, not to mention the fear kept kicking in.

"Oh my god. I can't do this. Please calm down." She told it pleadingly. "Please calm down! I'm sorry for scaring you!"

The situation was making her panic and what made her panic all the more was the fact that she could not quite tap on that connection that allowed her to hear animal's voices.

Why?

"What the heck! Why isn't this working?"

She gazed past the curtain of mane billowing at her face and saw that they were speedily approaching the gateway to the village below. It had been a long and fast ride down the foot of the mountain from the upper grounds of the palace.

"Corvan! How are we supposed to reach her?!" Asked Gavin with urgency.

Corvan urged his own horse to hasten its pace. "We're almost there."

"The village approaches!"

The pavement created a different sound under the hooves of the horse, the footfalls sharper and louder. A woman scrammed out of the way when she saw Valeriana coming, with two more figures atop horseback directly behind her. Along the streets were busy civilians going about their daily lives and children playing--oh wait. Children!

The horse leaped over a cart of some sort parked on the way, causing her to fly on its back. Her grip around its neck secured her, but her legs were thrown off to the side and she was dangling dangerously.

"I'm sorry! Please get out of the way!" She screamed.

Even so, there was still that small child no older than five by human standards wandering into her path.

"Claeon!" A woman gasped, dashing for her daughter. She jumped right on, holding the girl close to herself that moment. She shielded her child with her own body.

"Oh lord no." Her hands folded around the reigns and she earnestly tried tl lift herself back. "I can do this! I can do this!" Luckily for her, her feet snapped into place. With utmost effort, she pulled on the reigns as hard as she could.

The horse felt the force and pressure, throwing its legs in the air and throwing her off but stopping like she needed it to. It was just an inch or so before the mother and child got trampled by the horse she rode. On the other hand, she had to pay with her back hitting the warmed ground, her shoulder blades painfully colliding with the surface at the impact, making her gasp. Her vision swam as she felt something fly out of place--a bone perhaps, but she could hear Corvan and Gavin arriving immediately. They both rushed to her side and asked about her condition.

"Valeriana! Good gods!" Corvan rushed to her side while Gavin took ahold of the horse and siezed it.

"I-I . . ." She wanted to say she was alright but the pain was foo excruciating to bear.

Man, I hit it hard.

"I'm good." She continued. "Those two . . . are they alright?"

"Seems they are fine." Gavin told her. "You stopped in time."

"Ow. Ow. I think I broke something."

"Why so careless?" Corvan asked. "This happens because you act so recklessly! You do not heed me at all."

"Wait. Don't touch that spot!" She exclaimed with remorse.

The scene was quite a spectacle it gathered the attention of the people around them.

An old man came forward and said, "Wait. Let me check her."

Corvan moved back as he saw the bearded man with round glasses inspect her. Valeriana was more than embarrassed being unable to move.

"I am a healer." He proclaimed.

"Did I break anything?" She asked worriedly.

"No. It's just dislocation."

"Holy crap. This is where those part in the movies come where they get their arms twisted to pop the thing back to place and they're all like, 'This'll hurt for a moment but you'll feel better!' then they just twist the thing and the person goes like--"

The healer did not wait for her to finish and got into position, doing the necessary procedures and popping her dislocated arm back to place.

POP!

"--OH MY GOOODDDDD!" She screamed.

"Took the words right out my mouth." Replied the man. "You're lucky I came by."

The height of the pain came and went before she realized it, her vision turning white for the briefest of moments. The old man then leaned forward and sent a burst of calming green energy running down her body, an explosion of light she had never seen any other healer do.

"You're all good, now. Can you stand up?"

Corvan watched silently the entire while but came forward and acted as support as she stood. Valeriana felt midly weakened at the recent experience but felt alright. There were no signs of pain in any part of her body. In fact, it felt as though she never dislocated her shoulder.

"I actually don't feel anything." She said, shaking off Corvan's hands and standing tall. "Well, that was an experience! Thank you!"

Corvan sighed. It was astounding how quickly she changed moods. Gavin merely chuckled as he led the horse to stand with the others.

The old man nodded. "You're very welcome."

In a flash, she ran straight for the mother and daughter standing on a safer spot. Her sincerest apologies rolled out of her tongue and her eyes watered with guilt at the thought of having almost killed a mother and child.

"I'm really sorry." Valeriana gazed down at the innocent child with a blue dress staring right up at her with the biggest eyes. "Are you alright? Were you both hurt anywhere?"

The mother shook her head, a bit shaken herself. She was a woman with fairly dark skin and hazel eyes. She was brushing her daughter's locks with her fingers. "We're fine. Thank you for your concern."

"Shucks. I'm really sorry. Are you sure you're alright?" She repeated.

"Yes. Yes. We are. You stopped in time. You were more injured."

She shook her head. "Really really sure?"

"Yes, miss." The woman nodded, her face was still pale.

"Gosh I feel guilty. Is there anything I can do for you?"

The woman shook her head. "Just please be more careful next time. We weren't harmed at all so you need not feel responsible."

She nodded guiltily. "I'm Valeriana Kerrigan and I come from Celeste Academy so . . . if you need my help in anyway, please don't hesitate to come and find me."

"Celeste Academy?" The young girl echoed. "You're from Celeste Academy? Are you part of the Twelve?" She drawled out with interest.

"Um . . . yeah, kinda."

The girl gasped and rare happiness showed through her eyes. "I really want to go there and study when I grow up. I want to become a knight too!"

She found a smile growing on her face simultaneously. "Just make sure you don't become like me." She patted her head. "We're currently out on a mission so I'm sorry for coming in like that. I accidentally startled the horse I was riding and sort of . . . well, you know the gist."

"Are you out to hunt demons?" She asked innocently.

"Something like that." She nodded.

"Can I come with you?"

"Claeon!" The mother scolded before looking up to meet Valeriana's eyes. "I'm sorry." She then tugged on the hands of the child and pulled her away. "Come on, let's get you home."

"But mother!"

"Quiet down. You've been in enough trouble for today!" She exclaimed, throwing one more glance to Valeriana containing all her gratitude. "Thank you."

Gavin came to her side. "How surprising of you, Miss Valeriana. You seem to attract trouble yet are lucky at the same time."

"That's so not true."

"You call having not conveniently drawn a healer to your side who was in the exact same place at the exact same time after you fell off that horse after such a shocking ride not lucky?"

"Well, I guess I'm kind of lucky." She muttered.

Corvan approached them, the reigns of the horse Valeriana just fell out of in hand. He locked the horse against his and, while doing so, said, "I will not risk another headache-inducing incident happening today so you will have to make do with riding with me."

Valeriana sighed while Gavin gave out a chuckle. "That seems to be the best solution done. You should've thought of it before!"

Valeriana opened her mouth.

"I will hear none of it. If you desire to come along, you will have to obey. Agree or disagree?"

She watched Corvan mount the horse once more, glaring up at him as he looked down at her from its back.

Gavin mounted his own horse and Valeriana walked hesitantly towards Corvan. She recalled his instructions and mounted his horse with the right foot instead of the wrong one and clumsily straddled the horse behind him.

"Hold on."

Valeriana flushed as she wrapped her arms around his waist, unconsciously feeling his abdominal muscles.

Man, this must be what they call washboard.

He urged the horse to move forward in a canter before increasing the speed, riding out of the village and into the wilderness beyond with Gavin following closely.

At least they got a headstart of some sort.