NOVEL NEXT Chapter 63: The Secret
Hayden looked at Stormbreaker…
He was a magnificent stallion and his coat was glossy black and instead of wild eyes like the others suggested, it seemed that it was actually intelligent.
Nonetheless, Hayden wouldn't ignore the stallion's reputation so he had to be careful. After listening to his classmates, he confirmed that it was indeed known for being stubborn, unruly, and downright dangerous.
'And you wanted a nine-year-old kid to handle that kind of horse?' Hayden thought. If it was others, they might really get injured. It seemed that this instructor wasn't thinking right.
In any case, he wasn't planning to give up.
As Hayden approached the stallion, Stormbreaker snorted and stomped his hooves, his ears even pinned back, showing his defiance.
At this time, Hayden's classmates, whom he couldn't even remember the names, gave some concerned advice and encouragement to him.
"Good luck…" One of the students said. "You're gonna need it. That horse isn't something you can tame."
A female student then gave Hayden a sympathetic look. "Be careful. That horse is a nightmare. If you really can't handle it, just request a different one. Professor Cedric probably just wants to show you that his class is not easy."
Hayden nodded as he remembered their faces... "I'll be fine."
***
Professor Cedric watched from a distance as he waited for Hayden to fail. Of course, he didn't want Hayden to get hurt but simply wanted him to show the importance of his lessons. Lessons that he had missed prior to this practical class.
"Let's see what you've got, Hayden. Stormbreaker's not an easy ride, but if you can really handle him, you'll earn my respect." He muttered.
Hayden approached Stormbreaker slowly. He was observing the horse and he was unhurried in his movements.
As expected, the stallion eyed him warily, his nostrils was even flaring as he let out a low, warning snort.
"Easy, boy," Hayden said with a soft voice… "I'm not here to hurt you." He said with a smile on his face… However, he was simply trying to concentrate to control his Aura. He didn't want to use too much.
At this time, the Stormbreaker tossed his head and his mane flew back as he took a step back. Hayden could feel the horse's tension…
Indeed, Hayden knew he couldn't force Stormbreaker to obey—that would only make things worse. Instead, he decided to use his Aura subtly, to calm the horse and establish a connection.
He wasn't sure if it was really effective but in the books that he read, this shouldn't be that impossible. Aura Knights would definitely use their Aura in order to connect to their horses.
Hayden closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the faint energy within him. He let it flow gently, like a warm breeze, enveloping Stormbreaker in a calming aura.
No one else noticed this action which was not surprising at all.
"Ohh…" Hayden smiled as the effect was actually immediate.
Stormbreaker's ears twitched, and his tense muscles began to relax. He let out a soft neigh and his eyes looked at Hayden differently!
Hayden reached out and placed a hand on the stallion's neck gently. "That's it, boy. We're going to work together, okay?"
Stormbreaker snorted again, but this time it was not aggressive and seemed even more curious.
With the horse now calm, Hayden mounted Stormbreaker smoothly… Of course, it was with his Lens' guidance as he had never ridden a horse before.
Just like that, the stallion shifted beneath him but remained steady, his earlier aggressiveness was now replaced by a quiet attentiveness.
"This…"
The other students watched in awe as Hayden guided Stormbreaker around the arena, the horse responded to his commands with complete obedience.
"How is he doing that?" One student muttered with his jaw almost dropping. He was completely surprised by the situation.
"I don't know… But it's incredible." The female student who had given an advice to Hayden replied. Her name was Phoebe and she was supposed to be the best student of this class.
Even Professor Cedric looked shocked but was soon overwhelmed with admiration. He was truly impressed, though he tried to hide it.
"Not bad, Hayden. Not bad at all."
***
As the class came to an end, Hayden dismounted and patted Stormbreaker's neck. "Good job, boy. You're not so bad once someone takes the time to understand you."
He said for everyone to hear since he could tell that they all wanted to ask him a question. Now, he could just tell them that they couldn't understand the horse's feelings, so they failed.
The stallion nuzzled Hayden's hand, showing that his earlier hostility was completely gone. It was seen by everyone in the class and could only accept that Hayden was special.
Hayden smiled as he felt satisfied with this result. Even if it was simple, he learned another way of using his Aura.
As as expected, even after the students dispersed, there was still someone who really wanted to ask.
Phoebe approached Hayden, showing a hint of respect.
"How did you do that?" Phoebe asked. "Right… I can tell from your face that you don't know me. I'm Phoebe…"
"I'm Hayden… I just approached him with kindness and showed that I'm not afraid." Hayden simply replied. Well, he believed that this conversation wasn't that important anyway.
However, as he was about to leave, Phoebe still continued to follow him.
"Stormbreaker's thrown off everyone who's tried to ride him. If there is anything in particular you did or if that's a secret of yours, I'm willing to pay the price." Phoebe said with a determined face.
She really wanted to know his secret.
Knowing that she was willing to pay, Hayden smiled. Well, it wouldn't be long before everyone would learn about him becoming an Aura Initiate, so he might as well earn some money before that happens.