Capítulo 66: Voidchargers
"Me? Gloomy aura?" Ranav was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
Jessica's voice echoed in his mind. "You've just formed your Darkness Magic Star Circle, so traces of darkness magic are lingering around you. I'm suppressing it for now, but you'll need to learn a concealment spell later."
"There's a spell for that? Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"You should read more. On Earth, you were a bookworm, always devouring books… even those unrelated to your studies. Now, all you think about is magic."
"Okay, okay. Don't start lecturing me now… we have company."
Relieved, Ranav said to Paramita, "Sorry about that. I was delving into darkness magic. It should feel normal now."
"Yes, that feeling is gone," Paramita confirmed, then asked, "Where are you going to practice magic?"
"Normally, I practice in the back garden. But since you're with me, I was thinking we could try something new. I noticed a racecourse behind the trees. Do you think someone could teach me horseback riding?"
"I can ride horses!" Paramita said enthusiastically. "I even have my own horse at the ranch. Do you know anything about riding?"
"I have some basic knowledge. I tried it a few times, but we don't have horses at home, so I never got to practice properly."
"Alright, let's go to the ranch. If any trainers are around, you can start learning."
They walked to the ranch near the pond. Along the way, Jessica filled Ranav in on horse-related knowledge.
According to her, horses in Vishvam were different from Earth's. They were stronger and more intelligent. Most lived near human settlements and understood human language. To ride a horse, one had to either overpower it or strike a deal. Without this bond, the horse wouldn't obey, some even attacked unworthy riders, regardless of the breed's temperament.
When they reached the ranch, Paramita called out, "Grandpa Khan!"
An old man with a robust build stepped out. His long white hair draped over his shoulders, and a thick beard covered his chest. He approached them and bowed slightly. "Young Miss."
"Grandpa Khan, this is Ranav, our guest," Paramita introduced. "Ranav, this is Batu Khan, a former knight and now the caretaker of our ranch. You can call him Grandpa Khan like I do."
Grandpa Khan bowed to Ranav. "Young Master, how may I assist you?"
"Thank you," Ranav said. "I'd like to learn horseback riding..."
Before he could finish, Paramita interjected, "He has some basic riding experience but needs a trainer to guide him. Also, I wanted to show him our collection of horses. Is now a good time?"
"The boys just finished cleaning the ranch," Grandpa Khan replied. "I can show you around."
They followed him inside. Morning sunlight streamed through open windows, illuminating the spacious stalls. Ranav hadn't realized how large the ranch was from the outside.
Grandpa Khan began introducing the different breeds.
"These are Bridlehearts… loyal and easy to train. They're ideal for pulling carriages gracefully. You've likely seen them in the city."
"These are Fieldrunners," he continued, "known for their immense stamina… perfect for long-distance travel."
"These are Clayhoofs, hardy and adaptable. They're commonly used for pulling carriages in rural areas."
"They're Mudbacks," he said, pointing to another stall. "Strong and versatile, they excel in tough terrains."
"This stocky breed is Earthshards," he gestured, "resilient and unyielding, ideal for mountain and rocky regions."
As they walked, Ranav admired the horses, each more majestic than the last. Grandpa Khan paused by a stall housing a sleek horse with fiery markings.
"This is an Embermane. They emit faint warmth, making them excellent companions in winter."
"This elegant and celestial-looking horse is a Starbind. People say it is blessed by the stars."
Paramita chimed in, "This is my horse. His name is Lucky." She stepped forward and caressed the head of the white horse. Lucky closed his eyes contentedly, enjoying the warmth of her touch.
After petting Lucky for a moment, the group stepped forward as Grandpa Khan introduced the horses to Ranav.
"This is a Thornstrider. It is a strong horse bred for navigating through dense, treacherous forests."
He gestured toward another horse and continued, "This agile horse, with cloud-like markings, is a Skyreaver, known for its speed and grace."
Paramita added from the side, "This is Mom's horse. His name is Vijoy."
She then pointed to the next horse and said, "And this is Dad's horse, Veer. Its breed is Ironhooves. It's a warhorse capable of resisting magic to a certain extent."
Grandpa Khan pointed to the last horse stall, where a pitch-black horse stood motionless. "This horse was a gift received by our lord a few years ago from a mountain tribe. It looks elegant but is incredibly stubborn. We still haven't been able to ride it. It doesn't mingle with other horses and does nothing except eat and sleep. We still don't know its breed. We even tried to sell it, but it became violent whenever someone tried to take it away."
Jessica's voice echoed in Ranav's mind. "This is a Voidcharger. Look at its hooves—they're as black as the darkest night. I think it's still young, so not all of its features are fully developed. But I can sense darkness magic within it. It has a red magic core. If you activate your darkness magic and place your hand on its head, it might acknowledge you. This horse has a rare ability: it can fade into shadows and reappear in bursts of speed. It's also resistant to fear."
Jessica then shared all the information they had gathered about Voidchargers in Ranav's mind and added, "This horse will be easier for you to ride. If it doesn't already have a master, consider yourself lucky. If I've identified this breed correctly, it only bonds with one master in its lifetime. Once it accepts you, you will essentially own it."
Ranav hesitated. "But it's not my horse. And even if I wanted to buy it, I don't have the money."
"I didn't tell you to take it from here," Jessica replied. "I said you should try to become its master. Besides, you don't have the facilities to raise a horse right now. When you have enough money, you can ask the countess to sell it to you. Magical horses are incredibly rare. If I'm right, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Ranav sighed. "Okay. I'll listen to you."
Despite agreeing, Ranav felt conflicted. The members of this house had been especially kind to him, and he didn't want to betray their trust. Still, the potential benefits outweighed his hesitation, and he resolved to compensate them in the future.
Conversations through their mind link moved much faster than normal. By the time they finished, Ranav heard Grandpa Khan saying, "You should start learning to ride with the Bridlehearts. They're easy to handle, and if you feed them some grass, they'll fully cooperate. Let's go to the first stall to pick a horse."
Grandpa Khan began walking back, only to glance over his shoulder and stop in his tracks. He saw Ranav standing before the untamed horse, his palm resting on its head. Both the boy and the horse were still, their eyes closed. Grandpa Khan's face turned pale with fear.
Beside him, Paramita stood speechless, unable to believe what she was seeing.
On the other side, Ranav followed Jessica's instructions. He connected to the darkness magic circle within him and placed his palm on the horse's head. He immediately sensed the horse's anger flare. Concentrating hard, he sent more darkness magic into his palm, but this caused a serious problem.
Once again, he felt the abyss staring back at him, cold and overwhelming. Frozen in place, he hurriedly severed his connection to the darkness magic. When he regained his senses, he realized the horse was no longer rejecting him. It stood calmly before him, and a faint connection seemed to form between them, as if the horse was waiting for something.
Confused, Ranav asked Jessica, "What's happening?"
"The horse is ready to accept you as its master," Jessica replied. "But it wants you to prove your strength. There's only one thing left to do—hit it."
"What?" Ranav was incredulous.
"It wants to test your strength," Jessica explained. "If you don't hit it, how can it know you're strong enough to be its master?"
Ranav sighed. "Fine. I'll follow its wishes."
Grandpa Khan and Paramita watched as Ranav stepped back from the horse. They both sighed in relief, thinking he had given up. But their relief turned to horror in the next instant.
Ranav rushed forward and, with a booming sound, punched the horse squarely on the head. The impact reverberated through the ranch, and the horse staggered backward with a pained groan that echoed in the still air.
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