Chapter 129: The Horsemen’s First Ride

Solomon pulled tight the leather straps on the saddle before taking a step back.

The longer he had Mercy, the more he began to feel as though his steed wasn’t that difficult to read at all.

Even though he was learning more and more words every day, Mercy didn’t really talk a lot. Usually just one or two sentences that conveyed what he saw, or what he was hungry for, followed by several hours of silence. Unless he was directly spoken to, that is.

But the spirit horse had some very specific tells that were rather easy to pick up on. The rigid, stoic posture he adopted was similar to a pose a child might use to mimic a heroic character.

With the wind blowing through his mane and his new armor glimmering under the morning sun, the Stallion looked every bit as good as he felt. The fact that he was aware of it meant that he took all the more pride in himself.

“There we are. You look good, boy. How do you feel?” Solomon stepped back.

“…Powerful.” Mercy said.

The twinkle in his eyes told Solomon that the horse was more than just a little enthusiastic.

“I think you look very handsome, Mercy.” Jiaoying held up a simple carrot in front of his muzzle. It was gone in less than a second.

The other riders were busy fastening their new armor onto their horses as well.

Eir’Vael, or rather Everett’s mother, had truly outdone herself with such exquisite craftsmanship.

The saddles and armor didn’t just look amazing; they were heavily enchanted as well.

Not only would they keep the horses cool even in the harshest deserts, but they also helped the horses conserve stamina and had their own defensive capabilities.

Not to mention, they made the horses much stronger than they already were. Even carrying Solomon and Yari, Mercy would have been able to run at a speed of two hundred miles an hour for five entire days before he needed rest or water.

The fact that the armor made the horses look very intimidating was just a bonus.

“Alright… No time like the present!”

Nila leapt atop Scorn, and her armor slowly appeared on her body.

“Come along, my newly discovered siblings! It is time that the land of the fae learn of the legendary Mayhem! Rider of the Red Horse, the Vanquisher of the land of Feral Humanoids!”

Solomon rubbed his eyes, feeling an incoming migraine approaching. “Nila…Why are you wearing your armor when we aren’t fighting anyone?”

“T-The others were doing it too!” Nila pointed.

“Snitch!”

“Tattle tale!”

Solomon turned around to find Everett and Dakota sitting atop their horses, also fully armored like Nila was.

Yari and Jiaoying covered their mouths so that they wouldn’t snicker. Solomon, on the other hand, brought a hand to his face as he nursed an incoming migraine.

“Guys… Why are you all dressed for battle?”

“W-Well, you know, it’s our first ride together since we got this stuff, a-and it’s kinda cool, so…”

Dakota raised her hand abruptly. “P-Plus, we’re supposed to be hiding our faces for the time being in case the Dean comes looking, right?? So it’s strategic as well!”

All three of the idiots nodded together at once, as if their idea had made perfect sense.

Mercy turned to Solomon with an expectant look.

“…No. Don’t be influenced by their madness.”

Mercy leaned forward.

“I said no, boy.”

Mercy pressed his face against Solomon’s.

“…Alright, fine, you beast.”

Solomon’s armor appeared over his body at a moment’s notice. Since this was also the first time Yari and Jiaoying had seen it, they were aptly surprised.

“These are… Quite something.” Yari poked the floating weapons around her lover with the flat of her finger.

“How exactly are you making them hover like this…?”

“I’m not. My weapons are a bit different from those of the others. It’s like they’re part of my armor itself.” Solomon slipped his hands around Yari’s waist and lifted her onto Mercy’s saddle.

The act clearly flustered her, but she did not say anything about it. Mostly, she just tried not to look in the direction of Nila’s burning gaze.

“What do you mean they’re a part of the armor?” Jiaoying questioned.

“I cannot quite explain it… But I can move them in much the same way that I can control my fingers, arms, or toes.”

To demonstrate, Solomon spun the weapons over his head in a splendid show. They almost appeared to be dancing.

Solomon fastened their packs to Mercy’s saddle before turning to embrace Jiaoying. “Though, of course… I am still rather inept with most of these weapons, as I have only ever used swords before. I might require a tutor to help me.”

Truthfully, the only thing Jiaoying was confident in wielding other than a sword was an axe. But was she going to learn what she could in hopes of getting up close and personal with her young lover? Absolutely.

“…We’ll see what we can do when you get back.” She said nonchalantly.

“Oh? I look forward to it.”

Solomon kissed Jiaoying on both cheeks and her lips, earning jeers from all three of his siblings.

“Oh, shut up, you lot.” Solomon rolled his eyes as he released his woman and leapt atop Mercy’s back. With a thought, his weapons vanished from everyone’s sight.

Yari leaned down to bid her lover goodbye as well. Their lingering kiss drew their own set of jeers from the surrounding horsemen. Yari responded by dropping gallons of water on top of their heads.

When she pulled away, she rubbed Jiaoying’s cheek affectionately as she tied a headscarf over her hair.

“We will miss you during our time away. Hopefully, it will only be a short heartache.”

Jiaoying resisted the urge to grin like a giddy schoolgirl.

“When you both get back… We should go on an actual date for once. I know quite a few establishments that…”

Everett, Dakota, and Nila listened as Jiaoying blurted out the most opulent, affluent, luxurious, and sensual date possible.

Dakota seemed to think it was sweet. Nila thought seeing her aunt like this was gross. Everett became very jealous.

“… I have got to get a sugar mama.”

He flicked Riot’s metal reins, and the horse instantly took off. His powerful hooves left patches of azure flame in their wake.

Nila grinned beneath her mask as she flicked Scorn’s reins. “Yes! No more romance! The horsemen ride to blood and glory!”

“Y-Your aunt is here too..” Dakota reminded her as she followed behind.

“The horsemen and Tee-Tee ride to glory!”

Watching the other horses run, Mercy became noticeably antsy. He could no longer stand still, and breaths of excitement escaped his flared nostrils.

“I suppose it’s our time then.”

Solomon grabbed hold of his reins as Yari held onto him from behind.

Both of them gave Jiaoying a final look back before Solomon put on his helmet.

“Take care, my darling.”

“We will be back soon.”

Solomon barely had to flick the reins before Mercy shot off onto the beaten road.

Wind crashed through Jiaoying’s burgundy hair as she watched her lover’s horse instantly catch up with the others.

She stood in place for a long time, until she could no longer see the backs of the four riders racing down the road.

Finally, she looked down.

“I guess it’s just us, huh?”

Bansha looked up at her expectantly.

“…Ever been to the capital before?”

“Arf!”

“It’s a work trip, so you have to behave, and you can’t bark at anyone. But if you’re good, then we’ll get dinner on our way home.”

Bansha raced around Jiaoying excitedly, her tail wagging fiercely enough to kick up a dust storm.

“Alright, alright, pooch.” Jiaoying giggled as she picked up the small Cerberus. In response to being carried, Bansha extinguished the flames on the back of her head. Making Jiaoying blink in surprise.

“…You can do that?”

Bansha burped, and three columns of orange flame shot out of her mouths.

They crashed together in the sky, creating a shower of embers in the morning sky.

“…” Jiaoying looked down at the pup in her arms with a semi-stunned gaze.

Though this eventually gave way to a very endearing smile.

“Oh, we are going to have so much fun together.”

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