Haras gave his heavy, calm “You’ll survive,”

  and Norris — sounding bored, but moving fast — waved his hand.

  — Let’s go. You need horses.

  We exchanged looks.

  Finn whispered quietly:

  — You’ve got to be kidding…

  But no one was joking.

  The stables were near the northern wall of the capital — temporary ones, hastily rebuilt after the recent battles.

  The smell of hay, sweat, and herbs mixed with fresh wood.

  A stable boy — barely older than us, thin but quick, with black hair — hurried over.

  — Captain Norris?

  — These twelve, — Norris said shortly, pointing at us.

  Seteya snorted.

  — Kids on horses… I already see disaster.

  Silver smirked.

  — You cause more trouble than the horses.

  She snorted but stayed quiet.

  Haras, as always, watched silently, as if scanning the space itself.

  The stable boy clapped his hands.

  — Well then! You’re lucky — you get to choose.

  — Horses are few, but there are good ones. Choose fast.

  While everyone was still trying to figure out how to approach the horses,

  a mare walked up to Elinia on her own — snow-white.

  So clean it was as if she’d been pulled straight from a cloud.

  The mare nudged Elinia’s hand with her nose.

  Seteya rolled her eyes.

  — Perfect. A white princess and a white horse. So subtle I’m going blind.

  Elinia said calmly:

  — She came to me.

  Siren whispered:

  — Horses are afraid of rejection too.

  Finn laughed.

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  Tara and Siren walked up to two dark bay horses — fast, steady.

  The horses looked at the swordsmen with the same cold calm the swordsmen gave them.

  — Suitable, — Tara said.

  — Suitable, — Siren echoed.

  It was the shortest horse selection in history.

  Black.

  Not just dark — coal-black, with a sheen as if his coat were woven from night itself.

  He stepped out on his own.

  Walked past everyone.

  Stopped in front of me.

  And… rested his head against my chest.

  Just like that.

  As if saying: “Go on. Choose.”

  I raised my hand — he didn’t flinch.

  Finn whistled.

  — No way… He came to you himself? That’s—

  The stable boy rushed over, pale.

  — HIM?!

  — You chose HIM?!

  I blinked.

  — He chose me.

  — BAD choice! — the boy squealed. —

  — That horse is UNRULY! He bolts! He throws riders! He doesn’t recognize anyone at all!

  The black horse growled quietly, as if confirming it.

  Seteya grinned.

  — Perfect. One lunatic chose another.

  Haras looked at the horse… and for the first time spoke with respect:

  — A smart one. Horses like that don’t choose without reason.

  I sighed.

  — Well… all right. If you’re asking.

  I swung into the saddle.

  And immediately — as if he’d been waiting — the horse surged forward.

  He carried me like an arrow.

  Fast. Straight. Confident.

  Then he stopped sharply — almost threw me off.

  I held on, smoothly — with mana.

  Only the horse noticed.

  He looked at me… and slowly lowered his head.

  “Understood,” I thought.

  We returned to the group.

  The stable boy stared at me as if I’d tamed a dragon.

  — Uh… how did you…?

  — He throws everyone… except you…

  Silver said quietly to Norris:

  — Strange kid.

  Norris replied:

  — Strange — but useful.

  Seteya smiled like a predator.

  — We’ll see how useful he is when I’m done with him.

  By evening, we were gathered near the northern gates.

  Each of us received:

  — a warm cloak,

  — a bag with rations,

  — travel gear,

  — gloves,

  — and a black uniform.

  Black fabric.

  Thick.

  A white rose on the chest.

  The symbol of the temporary Northern Legion.

  Finn spun around.

  — We look like elite assassins.

  Seteya said:

  — You look like kids whose faces I’ll smash until they become fighters.

  Haras corrected quietly:

  — But you’ll survive.

  Silver stepped closer, his gaze more serious than usual.

  — You’ll have to ride fast. Very fast.

  Norris raised his hand.

  — Listen up.

  We fell silent.

  — You are a temporary mobile unit.

  — Your task: reach the city of Dordwut.

  — All remaining legions are gathering there.

  — We must arrive before the demons do.

  He stepped closer.

  — You ride north.

  — No stops except for night camps.

  — If we’re lucky — three days.

  Seteya snapped her fingers.

  — Mount up!

  — Now you’ll learn what real riding is.

  Finn sighed.

  — I already miss the Academy.

  Elinia adjusted the reins of her white horse.

  — If we’re late, there’ll be no one left to miss it.

  Silver Norris checked our gear one last time.

  — Stay close.

  — Don’t play heroes.

  — And listen to Seteya, even if you hate her.

  Seteya smirked.

  — They already do.

  Haras raised his spear.

  — Mount up.

  I felt the black horse beneath me gather himself — like a shadow rising from the ground.

  He wanted to run.

  So did I.

  Norris shouted:

  — FORWARD, SQUAD!

  The sun set behind the walls of the capital.

  The wind struck my face.

  The horse lunged forward like a storm.

  We rode north—

  toward the place where the next chapter of the war would be decided.