Chapter 14 : You Are Not Alone

I quickly closed my eyes and began to silently chant the mantra Sam had taught me a moment ago.

"Utinam magnus penisa mox mihi. Utinam magnus penisa mox mihi. Utinam magnus penisa mox mihi. Utinam magnus penisa mox mihi!"

I stopped when I realized the voice was completely gone. It seemed like Sam's mantra was really working. I opened my eyes and looked around. Nothing was happening and everyone was going about their normal activities. They didn't hear it.

Then I turned around and people were running towards me in droves. I closed my eyes and they all passed me by. I thought they were running to avoid something, but apparently they all went to see the horses. I opened my eyes and saw Gerard still standing where he was. We stared at each other for a few moments.

I saw him take a step forward. I was still where I was, watching him walk closer and closer. He passed me by, just like the others. Still in a state of shock as the song I was with in the forest came back, I held Gerard's hand.

He stopped and looked at me without implying anything.

"I heard it again," I said with slightly trembling lips, "Just now. That song."

My eyes kept looking at him, trying to convince Gerard. He just stayed silent, as if he was looking for a lie in my eyes. I was sure he wouldn't find it.

His hand moved up slowly to pull his hand away from mine. That was the second I regretted telling him. Now I really looked like a mentally ill person.

"I know. I heard it too." , she said calmly.

"Really? You're not making fun of me, are you?"

"Does the song sound like this?", Gerard asked and she started singing.

***Free your soul of the past

Love and the despair

Don't hold your breath

Close your eyes and dream

Of long lost pale moonlight

In the endless sapphire sky

And I'm here tonight ***

I was stunned. Although I couldn't clearly hear each verse of the lyrics when I heard the song I heard in the forest, the tone was exactly the same. I didn't even know the song was long enough. The longest duration I've ever heard is only until the word moonlight.

"You're right. You've actually heard it," I said, still amazed.

Gerard's face tensed up, "You, I mean, the song you heard, sounded like that too?", he asked me.

I nodded quickly, "Although I didn't quite hear the exact words of the lyrics, I'll never forget the tune." , I commented, "Sorry."

"Sorry?"

"Sorry for teasing you during the meal earlier. About having seen a werewolf. I didn't know you knew about that song too."

Gerard smiles pettishly, "That's why you should be quick to listen and slow to speak."

"What?"

Now his one eyebrow went up, "Do you believe in God?"

"Yea?"

"Have you ever read the Bible?"

I wrinkled my forehead, "I have, a few times."

"Then you should read it more often. Here," he handed me his book, "don't forget to come to the stables as soon as possible or you'll only get a donkey."

He walked away leaving me with the book. Okay, so I'm really the janitor in my room now?

Despite the resentment inside me, I still brought them their books. I tried to pretend I was returning my book, that's all. After all, our purpose was the same. Then I can do the same to them later. Because we were in the same place. There was no reason to refuse.

I hurried to the stables when I realized I was the only one in the dormitory building. It's bad if I really get a donkey instead a horse.

The stables were across the dormitory, past a large field with some dried up Zoysia grass. The sun was already directly overhead, its rays were scorching but the air didn't feel so hot. Maybe it's because it has entered the fall season.

If portrayed from above, this place is in the shape of a giant pentagon. The topmost point is the watchtower that directly overlooks the forest, while the two points that are farthest apart are the dormitory building where the troopers rest and also the stables that are directly adjacent to the vast expanse of land where the troopers practice horses and weapons. The remaining two points closest to the main gate were the armory close to the stables, and the other one was the administration room where Mr. Wymond spent some of his time as well as the canteen and old church.

The sound of horses neighing and their footsteps could be heard. In the riding area, there were some soldiers practicing, and some were racing on the other side close to the forest.

Some of the new troopers were watching from the guardrail, seeing how expertly the senior troopers controlled the horses. Running, jumping, standing on two legs, and also braking. All of that he could do with just a rope connected to the horse's mouth. In my perspective, all the man did was pull, pull, and pull the rope. But how could the horse do such different movements? This was still a big mystery for me.

Yes, I had never ridden a horse before. There were no wild horses in the forest and my father didn't use horses for transportation. He preferred to use his legs. Even if it was a long journey, he would still use his own legs. Whenever I asked, he would reply that it was much healthier to walk. But now I understand, my father didn't have the money to buy a horse. Even so, I once held a horse from a parked horse-drawn carriage.

One thing I do know about horses, they stink a bit.

"Hey, have you found your horsemate?", Sam asked me as I was watching the horses running around.

When I turned around, I was a bit surprised to see that Sam was already with a horse that was pitch black in color, like charcoal and had a large body.

"What? Horsemate?"

"Yes. Everyone calls it that. Something like a soulmate. The horse you chose and it chose you. It means you're meant to be together." Sam explained while rubbing his horse's body affectionately.

"I've seen someone steal a horse just by giving it two carrots. It seems horsemates are not as romantic as I imagined."

"Your words are truly cruel, Anne. You defile the sanctity of horsemate. Don't we, Wymond?" Sam said, speaking to his horse.

I was surprised when Sam called out to his horse, "You named your horse,", I paused to take in the situation, "Wymond?", I asked in a whisper.

"Yes. Wait, I have a good reason for that," he said then directed his horse to look at me, "You see? It looks similar, doesn't it?"

I squinted my eyes, looking for any resemblance of a horse's face to a human face, "I don't-"

"This," Sam said, pointing to the area near his eye. I was a bit surprised to see a long scar across his eye, "Similar, right?"

This time I nodded, "Yeah, it's undeniable. Is it okay?"

"The horse keeper said this injured eye can't see because of the injury he got as a child. But it doesn't matter to me, because what a horse needs is its legs, not its eyes." Sam explained proudly, "You should also find your horse quickly. Before you get the rest of the horses."

I nodded and left Sam with Wymond. It was a little awkward to call Sam's horse by its name, but it had become its identity now. It was just a matter of time. As long as you don't mention it during an official meeting, it shouldn't be a problem.

Honestly I don't know where to get a horse. I just followed the path of the people who had already gotten horses and I was brought to a large place with partitions and also an iron door fence. It was rather dark inside and smelled bad.

Just a few steps in, my footsteps stopped when I stepped on something that felt like bread dough on the floor. I looked down and saw horse manure the size of the palm of my hand being stepped on by my own foot.

What a friendly welcome.

I continued to walk in, until at the very end I saw a beautiful white horse, looking clean, but still smelly. I didn't know what its gender was, but I felt like I fit right in. Maybe this was what Sam meant by Horsemate.

I opened her stall and tried to pet the horse's head and it didn't rebel and even rubbed its nose against my hand. So adorable!

Soon I was leading the horse out of the cage until I found his rope tied to a metal peg. I quickly untied it so that I could take it out of the cage.

"Alright, you're free! From now on I'll call you-", before I could finish my sentence, someone was beside my white horse, it was Angela.