She changed to one of the male set robes. She looked like a young master, stoic and beautiful. They made their way to the horse market. They entered the biggest one and as Xin Huo was with her, they welcomed them warmly.

There were many stalls with horses. Purebloods, half-bloods, and mix types of blood. There were even some wild horses, there were only three in the history that could take them. One of them was late emperor and after him was no one.

That race was very majestic and proud. They chose their masters and not the other way around. That was the race Lou liked the most.

No one could control their lives and that was what did make Lou respect them. She thought that they weren’t only stupid animals that follows everything and were intelligent like people.

Xin Huo was looking for a pure-bread for her and chose one that he liked. Lou saw that it was him that chooses and pouted. ‘Mph, first he says I chose and then he does it himself’.

She couldn’t take it and walked away. As she made her way out she again saw the wild horses. She paused to look at them and was automatically lost in thoughts.

After a while …

Xin Huo realized Lou wasn’t there and started looking for his little girl. After some minutes he found her, but to his surprise, she wasn’t alone. Many people gathered to look at what was happening, and it was that a small girl was dazing out before wild horses.

She wasn’t noticing anything or anyone, and a horse was tugging her sleeve for attention.

“Lou!” angry voice woke her up from the daze and was it was her brother Huo. He finally remembered of her existence. When she remembered she looked away and pouted, at the same time realizing her sleeve was tired by a horse.

“Hello there, boy" she greeted the horse and started patting his head. Everyone was stunned, even Xin Huo. Who would have thought that she could take a wild horse?

The horse was grey with black mane and tail. Its eyes were black and deep like the deepest part of the sea. Lou liked it and wanted to take him with her.

Xin Huo woke up from the daze and approached Lou. “Sorry, I forgot that it is you that was going to choose and not me.” She could hear that he was sorry.

“It’s okay now, and I want him!” she pointed at the horse before her. “Okay" was a simple one-word reply.

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…

On the way back to camp with many clothes and a horse he asked Lou, “Do you know how to name him?”

“Ash" almost an immediate reply from her. She already knew what to name him the first time she saw him. “It’s a good name for your horse”

‘Her horse’ these words made her incredibly happy and she had a big smile on her face.

Lou woke up early in the morning. Fast changed into a black set of male robes and come out of her own room. The room she got was small, but spacious with a single bed, table and a bookshelf full of bocks.

Actually, she couldn’t wait to go and see Ash so, she actually sprang to the stable. When Lou was there and saw him, a smile popped up on her face. She was happy, it wasn’t a dream and he was actually here.

Ash that was in the stable wasn’t really happy. That type of horse hated being closed and was on a rampage just when he saw Lou, only then he calmed down. She come and patted him.

“So, you too hate being closed” she smiled and giggled a little.

“It just that type of race. They don’t like being locked” from nowhere come Xin Huo’s voice. He was there before him, she just didn’t notice him.

He saw a wild horse on rage one second and an obedient bunny next second. It surprised him that in that small amount of time they actually created such big bound to each other.

“Brother! What are you doing here?” in a little confusion asked Lou.

“You need someone to help you learn how to ride, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

He took the saddle and come near the horse, but Ash didn’t like that and started to riot again. Lou claimed him down fast and took the saddle from him and approached Ash. This time he didn’t react much.

After everything was in place Lou took Ash out from the stable and come to a big training ground. There were soldiers training archery with horses and when they come in they were frozen. After a minute they started to chatter.

“What is a wild horse doing here?”

“Can even someone ride on it?”

“W-Wait is that a little boy?”

“Commander is there too!”

The excitement was now on everyone’s faces. Not only a wild horse appeared, but their commander too. What was the meaning behind it? That was what everyone wanted to ask.

“What do we start with?” Lou asked not wanting to wait.

“First you should know how to sit and not fall of your own horse!” Xin Huo was awe-struck, that she didn’t know even that.

“Okay!” Lou wanted to hop on the horse, but there was something in the way and that was her height.

She was too short and couldn’t do it by herself. Xin Huo seeing that wanted to laugh so much, he almost started to cry. Ash seeing his owner had difficulties, decided to lay on the grass.

Lou felt warm seeing that and hopped on, only then Ash got up again. Xin Huo was amazed that a horse can be this intelligent without any training or command. He wanted to see more of what Ash could do and what can they do together.

Soon he becomes aware that they weren’t that amazing he thought. Lou slipped of Ash all the time. It was so hilarious that everyone there busted into a big laugh. Lou didn’t care, but her brother Huo did.

“Silence! I’m trying to learn my brother here!” He shouted, and it became dead silent. Many of soldiers went back and some stayed to look more.

The sunset come, and Lou only then stopped to practice riding. She was in brushes and cuts from falling off. She was satisfied with today. Before she didn’t even dream to ride and now she managed to at last ride at walking speed.

Only that her body was aching now.