Bab 21: Casper.
"Yun Ki-ssi, have you saddled up?" The instructor asks, walking into the ring as Yun Ki tightens the leather over his true white Albino Stallion that stands 5 feet tall beside him, hair floating in the wind as the seat is adjusted over its back.
"Yes, Seonsaengnim." Yoongi replies, petting the rare, one of a kind breed he'd welcomed into his Kingdom.
His loyal comrade, Casper.
Casper was a 4 year old Albino male horse, whose gallantry had earned him quite a few praises from the mightiest men in Baekmin.
It's father served The Late King Min II and was slaughtered brutally in the infamous Silkim-Baekmin war that broke out 7 years ago.
It's eyes were crystal blue and it's skin beneath the ashen grey hair, baby pink.
Many believed Casper was made just for Yun Ki.
They looked similar, shared the same hair that wafted through the wind when they rode together, past the greenery expansing the Capitol city.
Yun Ki had only recently started riding Casper and post his first gallop session, Yun Ki was in love with the mystic creature.
Casper wasn't a horse that could be tamed or controlled.
It was notorious for breaking past the wooden barriers in its shed and trotting away, untamed.
It belonged in the wild but stayed back, after it met its master, Min Yun Ki.
That's what his riding instructor said.
They were like brothers.
Yun Ki made it a point to visit Casper once a day, feed him rolled oats with his own hands.
The instructor had even caught Yun Ki talking to Casper, one too many times.
He was almost unrecognisable with Casper.
The high pitched praises that left past Yun Ki's lips in appreciation of his pal were endearing.
Casper taught Yun Ki unity and togetherness.
He taught Yun Ki to value the relationship with loyal creatures.
They both were outcasts in their own Kingdom and provided comfort to one another, in the coldest of times.
"Alright Yun Ki-ssi, mount yourself just as we'd learnt last week. Keep your foot on the stirrup and raise your body weight from that support. Hold onto the horn, need be." The instructor comments.
Yun Ki raises himself over Casper, rather smoothly and hears encouragement in return.
Casper neighs in response, shaking it's tail in excitement and Yun Ki laughs, caressing it's mane in return.
The instructor guides Yun Ki through the parts of the Bridle, teaching him to pull and tug at the reigns, to guide the Horse's direction.
Yun Ki was in the midst of cantering when Soojin walks into the arena, followed by a maidservant who had held an umbrella over her head, rendering her shade from the afternoon sun.
Yun Ki finds himself distracted and prods over to her, tugging at Casper's reign in Soojin's direction.
She watches the Albino Horse with it's master approaching her.
"Yun Ki-ssi, I'll leave you with Her Majesty. I shall return after 20 minutes."
Yun Ki bows his head in his Instructor's direction before turning to look at Soojin, dressed in her red Hanbok, her hair tied in a tight plait, flowers adorning her braids.
"What brings my Queen to the arena on a scorching hot afternoon?"
Yun Ki asks, seated on Casper, who seems to grow restless and is comforted by Yun Ki's caresses.
Soojin scoffs.
"I wanted to visit Casper, your loyal comrade, someone who's made quite a name for himself in your Kingdom." She says, staring at Yun Ki's mask adorned face.
"Made a name for himself? How so?" Yun Ki asks.
"For being the only living breathing creature that reciprocates affection towards you." On a regular day, Yun Ki would've lost his temper and given Soojin an answer to remember but today, he was somewhat happy in Casper's company so he chose to go mellow.
"Well My Queen, let's just say that Casper has loved me for who I am as a person. He's had no prejudices towards me. He doesn't care about my past or the number of people I've trampled over to get to this stature. He reciprocates what I give him- pure and unadulterated love and care."
Soojin scoffs, "It's just an animal, My Lord. It has a limited memory. I'm sure it'd abandon you if it knew the kind of man you were on the inside."
Yun Ki stops petting Casper.
"Soojin-ah, Casper isn't just renowned for its gallantry. It feels emotions via gentle pats and caresses planted over it's neck. It bears the power to gain a feel of the kind of person you are through a simple touch. You think I'm bluffing, aren't you?" Yun Ki asks of Soojin who has her arms crossed over her chest in defiance.
Dismounting off of Casper's back, Yun Ki tightens his hold on it's reign lest it should gallop away.
Casper was known to be antsy around unfamiliar faces.
"Here, pet him." Yun Ki asks of Soojin, rubbing the fair skin of Casper's neck as a satisfied sound leaves past the Horse's lips.
Soojin's arms fall by her sides and she raises a hand towards Casper and just as she's about to touch the creature, it kicks one of it's hind legs and raises its front ones, becoming aggressive causing Soojin to stumble backwards and Yun Ki to tame Casper.
"Casper-ah, simmer down. It's Soojin. The one I told you about. Don't give me a bad name, yah!" Yun Ki mumbles, holding onto Casper.
A giggle leaves past Soojin's lips at the scene between The King and his loyal pet.
Soojin's hand is grasped by Yun Ki as he pulls her closer to him.
He plants her palm over Casper's neck as she clings onto Yun Ki afraid that the horse might trample over her in rage but, it doesn't.
It simmers down.
The warm skin feels soft beneath her clammy palm and a pulse is felt through it.
The horse flairs its nostrils and neighs in response to her touch.
An excited laughter is emitted from Yun Ki's throat.
"See, it likes you too!" He smiles looking into Casper's eyes and all Soojin can do is stare at Yun Ki.
Yun Ki who looked unfamiliar.
A lot more gentler, composed and bright.
A halo of light surrounded him, peculiar and different from his usual dark persona.
It was the first time she'd seen the shrewd man smile.
It was the first time she'd felt a soft caress of his hand over her own as it kept her shaky palm over Casper's neck.
"It grows fondness for those in adversity, towards the ones who've lived in shackles, much like him. All he's known is captivity, Soojin." Yun Ki comments, patting the top of Casper's head, lovingly.
"What shackles does The Head of Baekmin adorn, Yun Ki?" Soojin asks, solemnly.
"Only the tightest and heaviest ones. The ones that draw blood out of one's wrists, every living minute." Yun Ki breathes out.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
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Power 
-- Power
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