Luck in horses 1

By the time Rue got his guardian, nothing was easy. Although it was customary for the guardian to protect his highest and carry out his orders, in the first years of coexistence it clearly didn't look like that. It was the highest Infey who taught his guardian everything.

Middle class Infey already knew some basics from training, but only his highest chose the direction in which he would raise his guard. And since Rue was a prince, his particular one had to be flawless and exceptional in everything. However, it wasn't easy and a lot of effort was required to meet all expectations.

"Qie, why did you hide?" Rue bowed to the straw behind which his red-haired guard was sitting.

The blue irises of the ten-year-old boy's appearance looked at him, allowing Rue to see remorse in them: "I-I'm sorry...I'll go back...I'm sorry," he mumbled and stood up shakily.

"Don't apologize, Qie, answer the question...sit down." Rue sat next to him and lightly stroked his hair.

His highest's touch calmed him as always, so Qie admitted, "I was scared."

"What are you scared of?" Rue added patiently, stroking him lightly.

"He was running after me...he's big and makes loud noises...and when he got on two...I ran away...I'm sorry," he muttered.

"It's okay, Qie," Rue wasn't angry, "everyone gets scared sometimes, the important thing is that you get over it."

"Everyone? But you don't, right?" Qie didn't believe that Rue would ever be scared of anything.

"I don't," Rue laughed, "that's why I'm with you. And I always will be so you don't have to be scared. How about you come with me and we try again together?" he asked.

Qie stared at his highest for a moment before lightly nodding and standing up with Rue.

"Sir?" he began.

"Yes?" Rue led him to the stables.

"Why are you so nice to me, even though I'm incapable? I saw the highest Crey whip his guard the other day when he couldn't run." he didn't know why Rue wouldn't punish him.

"You aren't incapable, none of you comes trained to the palace. Patience and love are needed to raise a good guardian of you, not yelling and whipping. Crey is from an older generation and we see things differently, it's common to see things differently, but I'm not going to punish you for anything. As I say, patience and love make a good guardian." he explained.

"Love?" Qie didn't understand.

"Bond, affection...something that has been building for a long time, and a true highest should be able to awaken them in his guardian. I believe we will get along too when you grow up a bit, Qie." he clarified.

Qie thought for a moment before adding, "I love you even now, sir, when you gave me your Luck, you became everything for me," he said, "Thank you for choosing me, I will try my best," he promised.

"Good attitude, exactly, try...especially with today's lessons, since I'm going to see people soon, you'll need to know how to ride," he led him to the horse he'd gotten away from before.

Qie nodded and really tried to get close to the horse. However, it wasn't long before the horse sensed fear and neighed loudly again, forcing Qie to fall to the ground and violently grab Rue's legs.

"It's nothing," Rue patted the horse and looked at Qie on the ground, "get up and try again, just stroke him lightly, the horse is a living being, every living being is connected with Luck, the basis is to understand and approach it with them." he clarified.

Qie stood up shakily. He closed his eyes and hesitated for a moment before touching the horse and waiting. However, nothing happened and the horse didn't react, giving Qie the courage to continue.

It took a while for Qie to be able to pet a horse without really panicking, and even longer for Rue to teach him how to mount a horse. For long months and long years, he taught him how to live with his fear and how to learn to ride.

Their first real ride was with Rue assisting. He sat behind Qie, holding the reins together with him and trotting lightly.

"Hold them tight, you control the horse, not the horse you, calm down and watch where you're going... the horse won't know what you want if you don't know it yourself... if you want him to stop, pull, if you want him to he sped up, bend down and push him into a gallop...don't be afraid, the horse won't trust you if you're afraid of him." he clarified.

Qie's palms trembled slightly as he realized that he was sitting on a large horse and was trying to fulfill his highest's orders. However, it took some time to really get the hang of it and the first ride ended in a crash. The rough fall, which wasn't too painful due to Rue catching him, was just one of many he went through.

And not everyone turned out well.

However, Qie was quite a talented guard outside of riding. In combat, he was one of the first-class, in getting things done and in dedication as well...only riding remained a problem skill for a long time.

When Qie turned fifteen and was finally able to go to the human world with Rue, he galloped for the first time on real land unknown to horses. Even though he had changed over the years, even though his relationship with Rue had greatly improved over that time, this situation was still a comical comparison to their beginnings. It didn't matter if he was fifteen, twenty or older.

While one of the horses trotted contentedly across the meadow towards the nearby village, the other trailed more slowly behind him.

"Qie! Speed up! Or do you want to walk instead?" Rue laughed lightly.

"If you allow me, sir, yes, I'd rather run after you." Qie summed up his impressions.

Knowing he was joking, Rue laughed softly and forced the horse to slow down. He got next to Qie and looked at him contentedly. The red-haired Infey mesmerized the horse in front of him with his blue eyes, though he knew he was supposed to be watching the landscape. He acted as if he had never ridden it, although he knew the horse well and they had galloped together for a long time. However, they always rode in a familiar terrain that they were both used to, and the unexpected change was a problem for Qie.

"The horse got used to the terrain as soon as we came out here, Qie. But if you worry unnecessarily, you won't let him gallop like always." Rue clarified.

"When I stop restraining him, he will gallop but you won't see me again. Do you want a new guard? I hope you don't want to raise another one," he laughed.

"Who knows," he joked, "if we're late today and the king finds out it's because of you, maybe I'll be strict and take away your supply of luck for a month."

"It's your Luck, I'm grateful that you at least share it with me. You can take it back any time, but sir," Qie began, "don't you think I'm lacking it today? Otherwise, the horse would have behaved normally." he stated.

"Ah," Rue sighed deeply and let go of the reins, slowing the horse down and simply standing on its back. Before Qie realised what was happening, he just jumped on the horse behind Qie and sat down abruptly, hugging his guardian from behind as if he was having a good time.

"W-what are you doing?" he didn't understand, "How did you do that... and what about your horse?"

"Shh...watch, sense, and get used to the ride so the others won't see you galloping with the escort," Rue stated, swinging the reins roughly in his hands, spurring the horse into a gallop.

Qie let out a loud shriek as the horse started running and violently grabbed his neck while Rue laughed loudly enjoying the ride as always. While Qie screamed and panicked, Rue excitedly galloped on.

"Qie...don't lie, watch, or I'll jump down and leave you with the horse." He laughed.

"D-don't joke!" Qie shouted, but not wanting to disappoint Rue, he let out a light sigh and stared ahead with pursed lips.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Rue asked, "Better than home, isn't it? Endless meadows, long roads, animals and flowers everywhere. It's like the taste of freedom, isn't it?" he was having fun, and when the horse jumped more violently, he grabbed Qie's waist to keep him from falling, as he knew he would.

One time he was holding the reins, the other his guard, who didn't look amused at all and was talking about how free galloping was. When they finally stopped, Qie just dismounted and collapsed into the nearby grass, exhausted.

"Fun, isn't it?" Rue leaned over him and touched him lightly.

Guardians of the highest Infey were one of the few people who could enjoy the touch of Infeys of Rue's rank. Because each guardian was for their highest exceptional...for some more, for some less, but still worthy of their touches. At least usually.

Qie watched him from the ground for a while, staring into his golden eyes, letting Rue stroke his hair, and after a while he nodded, "Everything is fun with you. But I'd prefer a carriage myself," he stated.

"If you ride to the village alone, I'll have the carriage ready on the way back," he promised and rolled down to him in the grass where he happily lay down.

"Aren't we in a hurry, sir?" Qie asked.

"There's nothing in the world that won't wait when you feel like stopping for a while,"Rue laid down in the grass and breathed out how happy he was, "and right now I want to stop here and be with you...however long you want."

Qie looked like he didn't understand, but he actually knew that Rue could clearly feel his nervousness from the former gallop. That's why he just smiled lightly and added:

"You know I'll follow you everywhere, right? You don't have to stop for me."

"Will you?" laughed Rue, "Even on a horse?" He asked.

"Even if I had to stay on it forever. If it was the only way, if you wished, I would follow you everywhere, even on the horse," he said.

Since Qie's words were truly significant, Rue smiled contentedly and lightly tugged on his red hair, "You're a hundred years away from being able to truly follow me somewhere if necessary, Qie," he stated.

"That's why you don't have to just yet. For now just keep up and I'll slow down. And in a hundred years, when you're experienced enough, let me keep up with you, okay?" he smiled lightly, "But Qie, you'll never have to worry about someone replacing you, cutting you off from luck and ruining your life. I'll never do that... so now just perfect the little things like driving on a horse to make me proud, okay?"

Qie watched him for a while before nodding, "I won't let you down, sir," he promised.

And Rue just smiled lightly and gently touched his red hair again, "I know you won't, that's why Luck gave you to me, Qie," he whispered softly, "my guardian you are the only one to I truly believe in, so remember those words and keep them. Because I will remember them and if you break the promise, I will be really angry, Qie. So don't forget, okay?" he laughed lightly.

And Qie automatically nodded.

It was just a shame that Rue wasn't the one who remembered their words after all. While the other would never forget them. Just as he promised.