LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 68: Horse Riding
The rhythmic sound of hooves against the dirt path filled the air as Ranav rode Midnight. Beside him, Paramita sat gracefully on her snow-white horse, Lucky. The two rode leisurely, with Grandpa Khan walking alongside them.
"Young master," Grandpa Khan said, glancing up at Ranav, "you've made good progress with Midnight. But don't let your guard down. He was an unruly horse before and might revert to his old ways at any moment."
Paramita smirked. "Don't scare him, Grandpa Khan. Midnight looks pretty calm now. Ranav might actually survive the course."
Ranav chuckled. "Very encouraging. Thanks for the vote of confidence."
As they approached the racecourse, the lush greenery gave way to a carefully constructed training ground. The open area was surrounded by a ring of tall trees, creating a sense of seclusion from the rest of the estate.
Grandpa Khan paused at the entrance, gesturing toward the series of obstacles ahead. "This is where your training begins, young master. Each obstacle is designed to prepare both rider and horse for real-world challenges. We'll start with the simpler ones and work our way up."
Ranav adjusted his grip on Midnight's reins, eyeing the first obstacle: a low log lying across the path.
"This log simulates fallen trees you might encounter in the woods," Grandpa Khan explained. "Guide your horse over it. No need to jump, just steady control."
Paramita went first, nudging Lucky forward. The elegant horse stepped over the log gracefully, barely breaking stride. "See? Easy," she said, glancing back at Ranav.
Ranav urged Midnight forward. The Voidcharger hesitated, its ears twitching. "Midnight, just follow Lucky. Do what he did. Be a good horse and go," Ranav coaxed. Midnight finally stepped over, though not as smoothly as Lucky.
"Not bad, young master," Grandpa Khan said. "But you'll need more practice. Midnight isn't trained like most horses, so your job is harder. You'll need to explain each obstacle and send clear signals with your feet. Lucky can guide it for now."
Next was a narrow path flanked by tall wooden poles. Grandpa Khan pointed it out. "This tests precision. You'll need to guide Midnight straight through without touching the poles."
Paramita demonstrated again, guiding Lucky with ease. Ranav followed, gripping the reins tightly. Midnight started to drift, but Ranav adjusted his posture and managed to keep him on course.
"Good correction," Grandpa Khan said with a nod of approval.
The next obstacle was a shallow ditch carved into the ground. "Now for a small jump," Grandpa Khan instructed. "Approach at a trot, lean forward slightly, and let the horse do the rest."
Lucky cleared the ditch effortlessly under Paramita's guidance. Ranav took a deep breath and urged Midnight forward. The Voidcharger leaped with surprising power, landing smoothly on the other side.
Ranav grinned. "That felt amazing!"
"Impressive for a first attempt," Grandpa Khan said. "Your bond with Midnight is already showing."
The next challenge was a winding path marked by stakes driven into the ground. "This tests agility," Grandpa Khan explained. "Weave through these stakes without knocking them over."
Paramita led the way, steering Lucky through the path with fluid, practiced movements. Ranav tried to follow, but Midnight's larger size made the turns tighter. He knocked over several stakes but managed to complete the course.
"We'll work on that," Grandpa Khan said encouragingly. "A smaller horse would have an easier time, but you'll adapt with practice."
The final artificial obstacle was a shallow trench filled with water. "Many horses hesitate at water," Grandpa Khan said. "Let them inspect it first, then guide them through confidently."
Lucky splashed through without hesitation. Midnight paused at the edge, sniffing the water. Ranav patted his neck reassuringly. "It's just water, Midnight. Let's go."
After a moment of hesitation, Midnight stepped forward, splashing through the water. Ranav laughed. "He's picky but brave."
Grandpa Khan chuckled. "That's the spirit, young master."
As the morning sun climbed higher into the sky, Paramita suggested they end the training session for the day. Ranav, feeling the pangs of hunger, readily agreed.
As they exited the racecourse, Grandpa Khan gestured toward the surrounding forest. "Out there, you'll face real challenges… bushes, fallen branches, uneven terrain, and more. But we'll save that for after you've mastered the racecourse."
Paramita turned to Ranav, her smile teasing. "Think you're ready for the wilderness, Ranav?"
Ranav smirked, patting Midnight's neck. "One step at a time. But we'll get there."
Grandpa Khan nodded. "You've done well today. Midnight trusts you, and that's no small feat. With practice, you'll master any obstacle."
The trio returned to the stables, Ranav felt a growing bond with his horse and newfound confidence in his abilities.
After a quick shower, Ranav put on a fresh set of clothes and headed to the dining room for breakfast. As he sat down, the Countess entered from the kitchen.
"Ranav, you're late again," she said with a mock sternness. "I told you not to delay breakfast. Morning exercise is good, but you need to eat within an hour of waking up."
"Sorry, Aunt Vedika," Ranav said sheepishly. "I had a horse-riding lesson today. It took a bit longer than expected."
"Who was your trainer?" she asked.
"I went with Paramita. Grandpa Khan was with us too," Ranav replied.
The Countess nodded in approval. "That's good. Khan is an excellent trainer, and horses trust him."
At that moment, Paramita burst into the room, brimming with excitement. "Mom! Guess which horse Ranav rode today?"
The Countess raised an eyebrow. "It wasn't Lucky, was it? You're too excited... it must have been my horse, Vijoy."
"Wrong! You won't believe it… it was the black horse!" Paramita exclaimed.
"What!" The Countess's mouth hung open in shock. After a moment, she regained her composure and turned to Ranav. "Is that true?"
Ranav nodded. "Yes, it's true."
"How did you manage that? We tried for years to train that horse but failed. Even professional beast tamers couldn't do it. We eventually gave up and left it to its own devices. Your uncle will be astonished when he hears about this!"
Ranav shrugged sheepishly. "I've always liked black horses. When I saw it, I thought I'd give it a try. Thankfully, it worked."
Paramita chimed in, "Mom, you should've seen it. Ranav touched the horse's head to communicate, and when it didn't agree, he literally punched it! Then he healed it and scolded it. After that, the horse became obedient. Grandpa Khan is still in disbelief."
Ranav protested, "I'm not an animal abuser! I felt the horse wanted to test my strength, so I acted accordingly. You're making me sound horrible."
The Countess laughed heartily. "Ranav, don't worry. You've accomplished something extraordinary. That horse has finally decided to be mounted."
Paramita added, "Ranav named it Midnight."
The Countess smiled. "A fitting name for such a magnificent horse."
As they ate breakfast, they discussed Ranav's riding experience, and the Countess shared tips for training Midnight.
After breakfast, Ranav returned to his room to read about horse riding in the ring's library. Later, he meditated to stabilize his darkness star circle until a maid knocked on the door, calling him for lunch.
With Regenesis, Ranav was no longer tired from meditation, and the ring's ten times faster meditation room allowed him to progress at an astonishing rate compared to normal mages.