*Trrruunnnnng!
The sharp sound of a horn echoed in the forest to catch everyone's attention.
"The first round will begin now!" Professor Darius announced.
The nobles immediately readied.
*Trrruunnnnng!
After the second horn, the horses quickly moved and surged forward. The horses' hooves pounded on the ground.
In no time, the nobles arrived at the first course, where they would be challenged. Since it was just the first, it wasn't that hard yet.
Wooden markers were placed along the forest to lead the riders in a gentle curve before pointing them toward the edge of the forest. And in there, what's waiting for them was a path with a series of wooden bars that were spaced evenly apart.
Each bar was set at a different height. The first was low, the second was a little higher, and the third was the tallest of them all.
This course might look simple, but it tests the nobles basics knowledge in riding. It's because without enough momentum, the horses would hesitate or fail to jump over the bars.
*Mehhh
*Mehhh
*Mehhh
One by one, the nobles urged their horses to run faster. The sound of their neighing grew louder as the horses broke into a run.
The first jump was easy for everyone. Most horses cleared it without trouble. The second jump demanded more force, but it was doable.
However, the third jump was the true test. The bar was set high enough to make even skilled riders tense up. In this last bar, horses had to run fast and leap with confidence. That's when a few nobles failed because they hesitated and slowed down before the jump.
"Oh… this is quite challenging," Lionel, who was one of the few who were last, sighed.
He might find it challenging, but he was surprisingly calm. He guided his horse calmly, feeling the rhythm of the movement beneath him. His tightened just slightly on the saddle, and with his guide, his horse surged ahead, springing into the air.
For a heart-stopping second, it seemed like they were about to fail. But Lionel was confident enough that they would clear it. He just closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his horse had already cleared the bar perfectly.
"Woohh…" Lionel exhaled lightly before a small smile formed on his face. He had passed the first course without a single mistake.
Around him, other riders were finishing as well. By the time the round ended, five nobles were eliminated.
"Ahhh! No! My horse!" one eliminated noble groaned before slapping his palm against his forehead.
"Blast it, I had this one, but my horse didn't jump!" another cursed out loud, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he dismounted.
The eliminated nobles muttered complaints and cast frustrated glances at those who were still riding. Some shook their heads, while others tried to console their horses, who were already breathing heavily.
A few chose to leave the field immediately, walking back toward their tents to rest. While 3 out of 5 lingered to watch their friends.
They took a rest for a few minutes before the horns sounded again.
"The second round will begin now!"
Trrruunnnnng!
The horn sounded again, marking the start of the second round.
The horses moved forward once again. This time, the course led them deeper into the forest. Unlike the first round, the path was narrow, allowing only 4 riders at a time.
Tall trees were planted close together, and thick roots twisted across the ground. There were also low branches that were hanging overhead, forcing the riders to duck or steer their horses carefully.
Some nobles rushed ahead, but their speed worked against them. A few horses stumbled on the roots. While others slowed down too much after nearly hitting the branches.
Lionel stayed calm. He was thinking of getting eliminated, so he just guided his horse at a good pace.
For some reason, his tactics worked perfectly for him because those who rushed around mostly lost their balance. By the time the course ended, five more nobles were eliminated.
"I'm still in the game?" Lionel looked and made a face. He was planning on falling voluntarily to lose, but he never got the chance. The others had failed too quickly before he could even try.
"The third round is just straight ahead. Go there and be find ouut what it is!"
*Trrruunnnnng!
The nobles barely had time to catch their breath before urging their horses forward again. The people around just told them to go straight. And after a few minutes of riding, they encountered a lake.
"Huh?"
"Are they joking?"
The water was clear, but it was obviously deep. A narrow route marked by flags showed that it was really what they had to cross.
"Oh no…"
"A lake?"
"That looks deep…"
"It's fine, guys. That's just a lake." Cassian proudly muttered. Among the hesitant crowd, he confidently guided his horse and was the first one to take the road.
"I guess we have no choice…" One by one, the horses stepped into the water.
*Splaaash
Cold water splashed as the horses entered the lake. Some horses snorted and slowed down, clearly uneasy at the sudden challenge, while others pushed forward, creating waves that splashed onto their riders.
Cassian crossed without much trouble. His posture was steady, and his horse moved with confidence. His teammates also followed closely from behind.
Following them was Lionel.
Lionel could feel the coldness of the lake's water. Lionel kept his grip loose, letting the horse move on its own. He actually had no plans on crossing.
This is it, he thought calmly. This is the perfect chance.
Halfway through the lake, Lionel shifted his weight slightly, just enough to throw off his balance. At the same time, he loosened his grip on the reins.
He was planning to just slowly fall down. However, the horse suddenly jolted as one hoof stepped into a deeper spot.
"Woahhhh!"
*Splash!
Lionel was thrown off the saddle as he flew high at the sky. Water burst upward as his body hit the lake. The cold swallowed his body fully, soaking his clothes in an instant. His head even went under for a second before he resurfaced, gasping for air.
Shit!
"Lionel!"
"He fell!"
"Someone help him!"
Shouts erupted from the onlookers. Because of the loud shouting, the horse ran away in panic while Lionel struggled in the water, making it look messy and ungraceful. The instructors rushed forward to save him.
"Are you alright?" one of them asked urgently.
Lionel coughed and nodded weakly as water dripped from his hair and clothes. "I'm… fine," he said quietly, avoiding everyone's eyes.
This is not what he planned at all!
"I apologize, Lionel." Professor Darius frowned. "But your falling means you are eliminated from the event. You should rest and dry yourself in your tent. Your attendants are already waiting for you."
"Thank you, Sir."
Lionel bowed his head but his shoulders were still slumped. He did not say a word anymore as he walked away from the lake. Once he was in the land, his attendants hurried toward him.
"My lord!"
"Are you hurt?"
"Let's immediately go back to your tent!"
Lionel raised a hand slightly. "No. Leave me alone," he said softly. "I want to be alone. I can go back on my own."
The maids hesitated since their lord was so wet. However, when they saw that Lionel couldn't even hold his head up high, they eventually nodded and decided to wait for a moment before following.
They were afraid that with their interference, their young lord would even become more embarrassed.