Eireen’s demotion sent her to the position of a hostler, one of the lowest rank of job a person could have. She had to clean and take care of the mounts in the stables, but her life was never been so peaceful without Jace’s special attention on her. He probably already forgot about her and she was more than happy to be forgotten.

On her first day on the barn, the first thing that hit her first was the smell. As she lugged open the unwieldy, cinnamon-painted door adorned with its tired hinges that creak sorrowful, a puff of the sweet, musty odor assaulted her nose at her first slow breath. Then she detected the undertones; the stuffy musk of animal fur and the stank of old dried out dung and droppings. Soon after the smell, her eyes compensate for the dim pallor of light, and she began to make out the shapes of dusty frames of the wooden stalls and poles, and the heavy bosom of the loft that hangs from the ceiling. Her pinkish eyes glanced around the old stable and noticed the beautiful creatures. There were six of them. Each one unique in their own way. But her excitement didn’t get the same amount of responses. Each pair of their beady eyes glared at her cautiously, some even started making agitated snorts. Eireen took another step in and finally her eyes caught it. A beast. It was much bigger than the others. The biggest Hoiho that she had ever seen. The beast snarled at her and its beady eyes focused solemnly on her. It shook its neck; making the long mane flipped over to the other side. The creature didn’t look friendly at all. It swished its tail around as she carefully approached it. She was too curious. By the time she was close enough, the beast suddenly reared up. Enraged. The large hooves approaching the wooden doors which separated them. She stepped back just in time for the impact on the doors. The beast snarled again and faced her straight on with its head lowered ready to attack. It groaned and its giant hooves stomping the ground menacingly. Eireen petrified. The ominous beady eyes have calcified her. When suddenly…

'Hey! Need help there?' a man voice infiltrated her mind, broke the beast spellbind and made her drop the bucket of water she had prepared to do her duty. The sound of the rolling bucket echoed in the room and everything moved as if it was slowed down.

The animal saw the opening and it reared again. This time the doors could not hold. They flew across the little corridor; kicking up dust. The rosy haired girl made clumsy- rushed- steps to the back and she slipped; fall first on her buttocks. She has no chance to complain about the aching on her back as the beast approached her, slowly and deliberately threatening her. She inched backward as best as she could to keep her distance. The beast shook its huge head and reared once more. Standing on its hind legs ready to stomp the girl to death. Eireen closed her eyes tight and put both her arms over her head hopelessly.

Without a warning, someone rushed from the side to grab the reign of the beast. The man then made clicking sounds in the attempt of appeasing the giant Hoiho.

“Woo… woo, calm down boy, it’s me…,” said the red-haired guy while pulling and nudging the reign gently but with firm control.

He kept on whispering comforting words to the beast while patting it softly. After a while, it started to make nickering sounds and rubbed its head lovingly toward the man.

“There we go… good boy,” he rubbed its huge head and giving it a soft kiss, before finally turned his attention toward the girl that was still on the floor; watching his interaction with the mount.

“Are you okay there, miss?”

“I-I am okay… thank you,” she said while staring at her savior in awe.

The man appearance caught her attention. He was very tall and muscular more than any common man. His face was clean with dark short burning hair, his skin like sunset sky and his gazed was blunt and edgy.

“Are you a Builderat?” Eireen asked. She has heard about the race who lives at the land to the far northeast of Ursa Kingdom. The Land of the Giants that’s how they called Haeban kingdom. The people who lived there were taller than any human, born with a strong physical affinity and muscular body. Their famous red garnet eyes were as fierce as their blunt and brash character. It was her first time on seeing a Builderat this close.

“Aye! you have very good eyes miss, may I know what gives in?” the man chortled; obviously teasing.

Then he offered his hand to help her. Eireen accepted the hand and stood up. She brushed the dust on her aching back before bowed down to the man to show her gratitude once more.

“I am sorry,” said the man with an apologetic grin plastered on his face.

“For?”

The man then patted the beast next to him, that now nickered and whined like a docile pet, “he usually sweet and cuddly, I guess new place made him nervous.”

“Sweet and cuddly?” Eireen drew in her breath sharply, “being nervous really could change some peopl- -animal I mean. Anyway… is he yours?”

“Yeah,” he then glared at the giant Hoiho, “Xanth apologize! You should feel bad for daunting this lovely lady.”

The mount snorted and moved his huge head up and down as if he was doing what the Builderat told him to do, then his muzzle went closer toward the rosy-haired girl. Eireen backed away in reflex, but the man caught her arm,

“It’s okay, Xanth just wants to nuzzle you,” he led her hand toward the beast and placed it on its head, “see… isn’t he sweet?”

Eireen stared the beast while nervously patted its forehead. He was beautiful, glossy as silk. A flowing mane that unfurls and whips as the wind calls it and its muscles that roll underneath the supple coat hangs majestically on the frame.

“So, you said he is nervous, are you by chance one of the new drafters?” asked the girl who started to enjoy the feeling of patting Xanth, the giant Hoiho.

“Yep, just came in yesterday, Z is the name; at your service,” he made a bowing gesture.

“Z? that’s a unique name for a common name, did you choose that yourself?” Eireen asked.

“Aye, it’s simple and easy to remember. Battlefield doesn’t require long stretched name, they need strong men,” he said confidently, “and I am here to provide that.”

Eireen quickly liked the guy and she knew right away that it wouldn’t take long for them to be best friends.

-At the end of the third year of the great war-

The silvery flakes drifted down, glittering in the bright light of the setting moon. The sun was rising and the thick blanket of snow was now visible. The walnut brown trees swayed in the cold winter wind. Icicles on the trees dropped with a smash. The weather was frosty and the snow was glittering. Like white sequins laying all over the floor. The ghostly wind broke the peaceful sound of silence. The snow was damp, every step felt like walking in the mud. It was dawn. The horizon was candy red. The sun shone a dandelion yellow along with strokes of carrot orange.

Eireen watched each footfall sink into the crystalline snow as she made her way to the barn. Smoke breathed out from her mouth. She tightened her winter coat. Her hands that carried a big pail of water felt numb. She stopped. The barn wasn’t that far away, but with all the slush and freezing weather everything has become further, heavier, and harder. She put down the pail and blowing her frozen fingers. Shivering at the brush of winter breeze, she rubbed her hands together then softly patted her cheeks to warm up. As she bent down to reach the pail handle, a distance loud commotion from the Kingdom's gate reached to her ear. She rose her gaze toward it curiously. Her head tilted attempting to get the words out of faint noise. Worries started to coil in her mind.

‘Did Cailea’s army manage to breach here?’

She looked around her, trying to find someone that might know what’s going on. Seeing no one in her perimeter, she decided to trudge to the gate herself. The moment she arrived, a big crowd of people already gathered in front of the gate.

“Something is coming!”

“Is it Cailea’s troops?!”

“Did the guard has informed the king?

She could hear the murmur of those people around her, so she decided to see it by herself. She quickly went to the guard tower. Climbing up as fast as she could. Reaching the top, she saw through the sunrise that was illuminating the horizon. Over the color of the sun which pouring across the skyline, a glowing up ahead too low and too white to be the sunrise and she lifted her eyed to meet it. A figure approached descended from the sky, not human but human form. It was not reflecting the morning light, but emitting it, actually glowing from within. His skin was glittery white almost metallic and he was tall. His hair was dark as the night and his eyes were glowing blue that flickered and sparked. He flew low with his huge dark wings and finally landed in front of their defensive fort gate.

Then he spoke, deep and deafening, “Fear not. I am Lugos one of Goddess Aine loyal Zanj, here to bring you good news. Open the gate!”
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