“We’re here.”
It was almost dusk when I finally saw a familiar windmill standing tall on top of a hill. The forest was getting thinner and a village could now be seen from where I sat on my horse.
A gentle wind touched my face. I couldn’t hold my excitement as my mouth curved into a smile.
“It’s been so long I forgot how soothing this place is.”
I pulled the reins on my horse to stop it and raised my right hand as a signal to stop my troops—all a hundred and fifty men wearing armors outside their white long cloth with the church’s symbol embroidered on it. I didn’t have to look back to know that they had stopped walking obediently as the sound of their clicking armors no longer could be heard.
“So, Rowan, this is the so-called Catun Village?”
A soft and slightly high-pitched girl voice came from behind me along with the sound of her horse walking closer.
She then stopped right beside me so I could see her smiling. As a high-ranked holy knight, she wore white clothes that were slightly different from my troops. Her armor curved to cover her slim body from the waistline to half of her chest. A short cape with gold ornament stuck out from under the shoulder armor to her elbows, showing the white skin between her chest and her neck that was not covered by anything. On her back, I could see her huge silver shield accentuating her job class as a Paladin.
Under the twilight , everything turned orange, perfectly matched by her long, straight, peach hair swaying in the wind. With her beautiful face, this scene looks like it came out of a painting.
Ep 1 Pict 1 [https://scontent.fjog3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/341948519_1995857207412808_7457304107705200575_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=_NksxKTo-IEAX8pXFZ_&_nc_ht=scontent.fjog3-1.fna&oh=03_AdQ3CFQnRYTS8GYKnMQG22Rt3CG2Qx5hzeYzIzB9IqvXlg&oe=6476C0ED]
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
“Yes, Hilda. Sorry to disappoint, but I already told you it’s just an ordinary small village on top of the hill. Nothing special about it.”
Hilda chuckled as she covered her mouth with her right hand.
“It’s obviously special for you. You have to see your own face when you get excited knowing that we’ll pass this village on our expedition.”
I hid my embarrassment by turning my horse away from Hilda.
Later, I gave orders to the troops to build camps and re-supply in the village. After confirming that everything was in order, I told them that I was going to the village for the night.
As my second in command, I appointed Hilda to take over the troops while I was away. But Hilda immediately rejected me outright.
“No way! I also have things to do in the village. And who knows, perhaps we’ll accidentally meet and I’ll tag along with you.”
Before I could say anything, Hilda already trotted her horse through a track into the village.
I knew her long enough to know that although she was gentle and friendly, it was useless to stop her when she wanted to do something. She might be only a year older than me, but she climbed to be my second in command in no time. And she proved to be a reliable front-liner, besides being a sight for sore eyes inside a male-dominated troop of holy knights.
“You are staring at her, aren’t you Rowan?”
Startled, I turned my eyes so fast to the young man in his mid-twenties who was now beside me. He was tall and has short, blonde hair that stood out over his all-white uniform which resembles mine but was slightly shorter. Over his shoulders, his gold-ornate cape covered the armor that clung on his chest and his whole arms.
“You have been my best friend since before I was appointed to lead this troop, but sometimes you are annoying as hell, Gerard.”
He grinned as if accusing me of a petty crime—which I didn’t commit.
‘Hilda is beautiful but I’ll never ask her out. I’ve set my goal and I have no time for romance.’
Although I only said it to myself and just snorted at Gerard in response.
I left Gerard who was laughing and turned my horse towards the village, following Hilda’s path. Gerard was following me.
“Hey, wait! I’m coming with you!”