Capítulo 14: 14. Pride!
…
The trio made their way to the main gate. Hiro walked behind the two girls, regretting why he didn't object to coming along.
Akane and Elta chatted noisily on their way to the main gate. Hiro wished he could return right now and cultivate.
They arrived at the huge gate and before it was a carriage. Shula stood before the carriage door, while Izuhi held on to two horses.
Akane got in and Elta followed after her. Hiro on the other hand…
"Young master, you should enter the carriage," Izuhi voice sounded.
Elta and Akane stuck their heads out the carriage.
"Hiro what're you doing?" Elta asked. "Get down,"
"I'm good up here," Hiro said.
~Neigh~
"Oh, do you like me?"
Hiro asked the horse but it remained silent. "I guess that's a no,"
"Hiro get down before you hurt yourself," Elta said.
"Relax, everything is fine,"
~Neigh~
The horse cried and raised its front legs. Hiro grabbed its mane and held it tightly.
"Hiro!"
"Oi! Relax, I'm not going to hurt you,"
~Neigh~
"Easy," Izuhi said and patted the horse.
"You really won't listen? Don't regret it later,"
Akane squirted her eyes at Hiro as he jumped down. The horse snorted and turned away.
"Hiro!" Elta yelled.
Hiro got on the other horse and patted its neck with one hand while he brushed its mane with the other.
"Your friend over here is grumpy, hope you are different,"
There was no response and Hiro continued. "I'll take that as a no, you are not grumpy,"
The other horse snorted at Hiro's words. Akane widened her eyes and asked.
"Hiro, can you understand what they say?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do you hear when the horses cry out?"
"Neigh! Why?"
"Oh, then why are you talking like that?"
"Can't they understand what we say?"
"What are you saying Hiro? They can't," Elta yelled.
"What? I thought they could. So I've been talking to myself?"
"Pretty much,"
"Oi, do you understand me? Cry out twice if you do?"
The horse snorted and remained quiet. "If it can't understand, then why that reaction? Its definitely grumpy towards me,"
"It's probably angry at you for climbing its back," Elta said. "Now come down,"
"Izuhi, give me that,"
"Sorry sir, you'll get hurt I can't allow that,"
"If I get hurt I get hurt. It would be an experience,"
"Sorry sir I can't agree,"
"Do tell me, what will happen to me if it runs and you hold on to that?"
"Sir!"
"Let go or I'll startle it. I'll get hurt and you'll be in a lot of trouble,"
Izuhi looked at Hiro's face. He had seen the look on Hiro's face before. It was the same one he had while talking to old Sai. It meant Hiro wasn't going to back down.
After thinking for a while, Izuhi gave Hiro the leash (lead rope). Hiro took it with a smile and turned to Elta and Akane.
"Can we go now?"
"If you get hurt, I'll give you a beating," Elta said and stuck her head back into the carriage.
"Sure,"
"Let's go Shula," Akane said and went back in.
Shula went to the front of the carriage and sat down. He nodded at the rider and the carriage started moving. Izuhi got on the other horse and followed.
"Do you really not understand me? Cry once if you don't and twice if you do?"
Hiro whispered while patting the horse's neck. Izuhi turned back to him. He had heard Hiro's whisper.
~Neigh, Neigh~
"Yes! Yes, let's go, I'll get you something good later. What would you like?"
The horse bent its neck and cried out. ~Neigh~
"Hmm, I don't understand. I'll tell Izuhi to get you twice your usual,"
~Neigh!!!~
"You like that? Good,"
Hiro raised his head and his eyes met Izuhi's eyes. With a smile on his face, Izuhi zipped his lips. Hiro smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
"Hiro! I told you not to get on. You can't ride it!"
Elta, who had stuck her head out, shouted loudly. They had passed the gate and gone quite some distance.
"Coming," Hiro yelled and whispered. "This is my first time so take it slow, okay? If you ride well, Izuhi will triple your meal,"
Izuhi shook his head slightly and Hiro clenched the leash. ~Neigh~ the horse cried out happily and raised its front legs. Immediately they landed back down, it dashed forward, running passed Izuhi and catching up to the carriage.
"Alright, alright," Hiro cried out, clenching the leash even more. A bit more running, and he will fall off.
~Neigh~
The horse cried out loud. It's speed not diminishing in the slightest. Obviously, it was quite excited and had reacted too much.
"Wait! Stop,"
Hiro gritted his teeth and clung to the robe as hard as he could. Struggling not to fall off, Hiro held on as his body kept bending to one side.
"Oi, wait. Shit… ah,"
~Bang!~
…
~Somewhere Not Too Far Away~
"That's the boy?" the first elder asked. He had watched Hiro ride away quickly.
"Yes grandfather," Lu Aoi replied.
"According to your uncle and aunt his aptitude is above average,"
"If that's the case he should have the foundation establishment realm at least. I don't like him being here,"
"Don't bother about it, he'll only stay for a week or two. Your uncle is sending him to the capital,"
"That's good,"
"What I don't understand is, when did your uncle get him? Since we returned from the battlefield, I can say I knew all his whereabouts,"
"You mean?"
"Your uncle and aunt are hiding something," first elder said and sipped from a cup. "But seeing the boy, it is obvious he is an insignificant child,"
"I thought the same grandfather,"
"Anyways, I'll be going into seclusion. I want to charge at the ancestor realm,"
"I wish grandfather success,"
"So I'll be in seclusion even when the ranking wars begins. Do not disappoint me. It's either you become the head or you become the head. Failure isn't an option,"
"I understand grandfather. I have only one threat and that's Elta. She just recently reached the eight stage, my foundation is stronger,"
"Lu Dei, is also a threat,"
"He is only at fourth stage of the core formation realm, how is he a threat?"
"Every time I look at him, I see his mother in him. He is as unpredictable as his mother and that's what makes him a threat,"
"But he is far too weak to get a subordinate as strong as me,"
"Yield my warning child,"
"Yes grandfather," Lu Aoi said. "Does grandfather know where I will be sent to,"
"The location each of you will be sent to will be picked at random on the day you'll be sent out. Even the patriarch doesn't know that yet,"
"Understood grandfather,"
"Do not expect help from me, I will not tarnish the tradition of several generations long and bring disgrace to my ancestors' pride,"
"You don't have to worry,"
…
~In An Unknown Courtyard~
"Mother, I've met the patriarch's son,"
"And what are your thoughts about him?"
The second elder asks Lu Dei who was playing with a dagger in his hand. With an exhale, he replied without looking at her.
"Not good, and not bad, I just find him strange,"
"That's good, but I need you to be on good terms with him,"
"May I ask why, mother?"
"The patriarch doesn't do things without a reason. That's how he outsmarted me in the previous ranking war,"
"Mother means?"
"The patriarch will not adopt a child for no reason. I have a little guess about what might be the reason,"
"What is that mother?"
"Aoi and Elta must have told you guys about something big that happened on the battlefield that led to our victory,"
"Hmm, according to them, a strong warrior appeared on the battlefield and forced the ancestor level beast to appear. It was because of this warrior the old ancestor had the chance to sneak attack the beast. Unfortunately, he died too,"
"I heard the warrior looked at least sixteen, at most seventeen,"
Lu Dei frowned at her words. He held his dagger tight and looked at her. "Mother can't be sure he is the same person,"
"True, but it wouldn't hurt to be on good terms with him. If he is the same person, then he is a wounded ancestor level expert. There's a chance he will recover,"
"That can't be possible mother, he is barely sixteen. If he were, why haven't we heard about him ever since? Why will a talent like that appear out of nowhere?"
"Hmm, when Aoi and Elta told you about the warrior, did you believe?"
"I…"
Lu Dei swallowed his words. "This child understands. I promise to be on good terms, but I can't promise we'll become close friends. I don't like people and I will not fawn over anyone,"
"That's my son. Never loose that pride of yours,"
"Yes mother,"
…
Estado de energía semanal
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Poder 
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Poder