"So, are we on?" Liliana asked, her voice filled with a newfound energy.
"Yes," Elias replied, glancing at the window. "The rain is finally letting up. It's the perfect time."
They stepped out of the mansion into the fresh, damp air. The scent of wet earth and pine was intoxicating. Elias signaled the stable hands to bring their mounts.
"Let's start over there," Liliana said, pointing toward two ancient elms that stood like a natural gateway. "That will be our starting point. We'll race to the great oak at the edge of the far field. Is that acceptable?"
"More than acceptable," Elias said, though he couldn't help a small smirk. "But Lady Lil... are you quite sure you can best a man in a race?"
"If I weren't sure, I wouldn't have challenged you," she countered. "And please, promise me one thing: do not go easy on me just because I am a woman. That would be the greatest insult of all."
"I promise," Elias said solemnly as the horses arrived.
"Hello, Light. I missed you," Liliana whispered, patting the stallion's powerful neck. "Do you want to show them what you can do?"
Light neighed loudly, tossing his head with excitement.
"I see the two of you have a deep understanding," Elias noted, impressed by the horse's lineage.
"Yes... Light is the only one who truly understands me," Liliana said. Suddenly, Light turned toward Elias and let out a sharp, protective snort. Liliana laughed. "And he doesn't much care for strangers getting too close to me."
"I noticed," Elias replied. At that moment, his own mount—a massive, coal-black stallion—snorted back at Light, as if accepting a challenge.
"This is Dark," Elias introduced him, patting the horse's flank.
"He is magnificent," Liliana admitted. Dark seemed to preen under her gaze, but Light simply snorted again, unimpressed. "Peace, Light. You are handsome too. Now, let us begin!"
Liliana mounted Light with the grace of a seasoned rider, and Elias vaulted onto Dark. With a single shout, they were off.
The race was grueling. The forest floor was treacherous, turned into a slick mess of mud and debris by the storm. They tore through the woods, jumping over fallen branches and weaving through narrow paths. Neither of them gained a clear lead; they were neck and neck, two shadows—racing against the wind.
Just as they reached the final stretch before the field, something small and dark darted out from the bushes. The horses, startled by the sudden movement, reared up, neighing in alarm. Liliana and Elias fought to keep their mounts under control.
Liliana looked down and saw a tiny, shivering shape in the mud. She immediately dismounted. "It's a kitten," she said, her voice soft with concern.
"It's completely covered in filth," Elias noted, stepping down beside her.
"It needs help," Liliana said. She looked at the distant oak tree and then back at Elias. "I suppose our bet will have to wait for another time."
"Unfortunately," Elias agreed, though he didn't seem to mind.
The kitten suddenly let out a weak mewl and scrambled back into the dense bushes. "Wait!" Liliana cried.
They pushed through the wet foliage, following the kitten deeper into a part of the forest that felt ancient and untouched. Suddenly, Elias reached out, his hand moving swiftly to cover Liliana's eyes.
"Huh?! What are you doing?" Liliana gasped, her heart jumping in her chest.
"Don't move," Elias whispered, his breath warm against her ear. "And don't look yet."