My fabulous horseback riding with the mini black beast

MAGNUS

I shot through the open clearing like a desperate man running away from his debt. These little ones, who have the same looks as their parents can sense me. They can't see me but strangely enough, they can know which direction I paved through.

The big Beasts are casting shadows on the whole field with their massive wings. I dare not scream - heck I'm too old for that. But the way these tiny ones swerved and stomp on the ground with two alternately hopping feet is so unbelievably repugnant.

I think they're trying to play rabbits here. And they failed - not with those sizes.

One creature almost ran over me and I can't duck in time. It's coming at me and I can't outrun it. I know it was wrong of me to think they're alternately hopping just to know how rabbits feel. Not when their speed picks up twice its number and the enchantments is affecting my strength endurance.

I can't swerve in time. I can't jump. They are almost forty of them now. And they're coming...

Three - I stop dead on my tracks.

Two - my mind is racing what to do. But froze in between when I made eye contact with the Black Beast at the center.

One - my brain failed me, so my body reacted on its own. There's about two miles from the high mountain the Rank Elder instructed me to go. And I surely can't run it at foot. Not with my strength rapidly draining and senses muddled. I don't know what has gotten onto me at that time. Even after I've done it I realized how stupid I was.

In the middle of tiny Beasts raging towards me, I planted my hand directly on its snot, flip my body mid air and landed at its back. The spikes still feel like bumps on rough scaly skin so it didn't hurt me when I made a back riding space on its body. Like a horse.

The creature shriek and wailed. But it didn't stop running. I tighten my hold on its neck. They're still babies so maybe they weren't that hostile. I tried to slide my hand on its scaly oily forehead. Careful not to touch the horn. I became a stable boy for three years. Withstand the stink of horse sh*ts and endured their snobby attitude before they open up and give me a ride on their backs.

So this guy - if I think he's the little donkey I treated well back then - maybe...he'll let me ride.

"Hey, hey shh shh, it's alright beastie. I won't hurt you. I just want to ask some favor. Take me to that mountain eh? And I'll leave. Then we'll go on our own way. That simple. But if you continued to resist further..." I paused. Patting my back for my cross swords.

I forgot to mention the Rank Elder gave them back to me after I put on the cloak and mask. Of course I wouldn't venture out of the barrier without weapons for defense. Although it's pretty useless if I'm not getting hold of my senses.

"Or I'll drive this shiny squeaky clean blade on your throat. Now you wouldn't want that do you?" I said those words as sweetly as I could. Not in any way showing hostility or threatening.

The tiny beast slowly calmed down. It leads his friends in the direction to where I indicated it to. I doubt it understand what I just said but who cares. When I looked over my shoulder I see the big shadows behind the blur of my eyesight going in the opposite direction.

To where the Rank Elders and Rank Ruler is fighting. My righteous instinct told me to come back. To help them. I could probably kill twenty or thirty Beasts...But something is telling me that's not right. And I would insult their efforts to fool the Ruler and risk their lives if I did that.

I tore my eyes and stared ahead. To where my destination is. To where the terrene of land meets the sky. To where I submit the stone in the sun and used its power to open the gateway towards the realm of Deities.

I don't know if that was really possible... But I need to try. I need to speak with the Deity - who could give me wisdom on my journey in finding the Eklektos.

Up ahead, the rough green color mountains are getting close. I don't know how much time has passed. My sense of time is failing me. My head is getting chaotic by the second.

I can't begin to describe the feeling like I'll be smashed to the ground at any moment now. Especially if those creatures at the top realize I'm using their children as free rides because I'm too dizzy to take the mountains.

The wind whipped around my face. Flinging the red cloak at my back. My legs and butt are aching at the texture of the creature's skin. I shifted and wrapped my arms around his neck. A slight vibration coming out his throat.

I ignore it. By the time they stopped, my consciousness is fluctuating from drowsiness and staying alert. When the beast screeched I'm startled awake and flump on the ground with a loud thud. I shake my head. Trying to recover my eyesight and looked around.

The sun is buried under the pile of thick dark clouds. The tiny beasts are nowhere on site. They abandon me. I patted my cloak and stood, wobbling on my feet. I guess that was obvious.

The pebbles and twigs on my feet crunch when I step on them. Around me spots of green and tall brown green decorate my eyesight. As if I'm surrounded by trees. Completely different from the open field I was in earlier. Have I reached the mountain?

How much more do I have to climb before reaching the top?

My face is getting stuffy under the mask. I lifted my arms to remove them. And saw the glowing Deity stone on my stash pouch. Wait... I haven't reached the top yet. Is it time to submit it to the sky? I look up, removing the mask in the process.

Realization kicks in when the scenery behind me is nothing but a bright stream of light. As if the sunlight has come down to touch the land...

Huh?

Touch the land...? I scooped out the Deity Stone and held it against the light. All of a sudden a ring of assorted lights burst out of the stone, shaking the leaves from it's branches, swirling the dust on the ground at the distance.

Miles from where I stood, I heard the familiar voice of the Dark Elf as he bellowed on the cliff "HOW DARE YOU TREAT US LIKE FOOLS?! THE SEEKER HAS REACHED THE OTHER SIDE! AFTER HIM!"

And then all went white.