After a few more minutes of staring, Taka turns to Rowan with a soft smile.

Rowan knows that they can return to business. 

They continue down the hallway.

They exit through a large doorway, stepping outside. 

Taka's head lifts up to the sky.

It was raining just a little while ago, but now the sun shines brightly.

The ground is still muddy, making the air smell earthy.

Rowan hands the letter to a green-haired knight.

“See that this gets taken care of immediately. It's urgent.” 

“Yessir.” 

The knight quickly rushes to the stables. 

“What's that?” 

Taka's voice is somehow even more enthusiastic than usual.

Rowan follows his little finger and chuckles. 

“That's a horse.”

Taka's eyes sparkle as he watches the horse snort and whinny. 

Rowan thinks for a moment. 

“Do you want to ride one?”

Taka turns to him, practically vibrating with excitement. 

“You can ride them??”

Rowan can't help but laugh. 

“Yes, I'll show you.”

He holds out a hand and Taka quickly takes it. 

He leads Taka into the stables, the green-haired knight passing them on the way. 

Taka looks at each of the horses one by one. “Hello, Mr. Horsey!” 

Rowan leads out a white steed, tying him to a post.

He places the saddle blanket over the horse's back, then the saddle, fastening it beneath the horse's stomach. 

“Taka, come here. Don’t run.”

Taka slowly walks over, his eyes never leaving the horse. 

Rowan picks him up and carefully places him in the saddle.

Taka stiffens.

Rowan pulls himself up behind him.

“Hold onto this part here.” Rowan sets his hand on the horn of the saddle. 

Taka does so obediently. 

“So tall…” Taka whispers to himself, relaxing his shoulders.

Rowan lets out a soft laugh as he turns the horse out of the stables and into a grassy field.

Instead of looking around, Taka's eyes remain fixed on the horse. 

His head bopping along with each step.

…

Taka looks up at Rowan. 

“Can I touch it?” 

Rowan nods. 

Carefully, Taka lifts one hand and gently strokes the horse's neck.

The horse flinches. 

“Did I scare him?” 

“No, he does that when he feels something touch him. It scares away the bugs.”

“Oh…”

He continues to pet the horse as his eyes slowly drift upward. 

“His ears are moving!”

“He is listening to our surroundings.”

“Can he hear a lot?”

“Sometimes.”

“Sometimes?”

“Sometimes he doesn't like to listen so he pretends he can't hear me.”

“Oh…”

“You are a bad horsey sometimes.” He whispers.

Rowan chuckles. “He is.”

Rowan feels a warmth in his chest.

…

After their short ride concludes, Rowan hops off, picking Taka up off the saddle behind him. 

“Do you want to give him a treat?”

Taka's eyes widen. 

“Yes!”

Rowan pulls a sugar cube from his pocket.

“Lay your hand flat like this.” Rowan says, holding out his hand.

Taka copies the gesture. 

Rowan places the sugar cube in his palm and lifts it in front of the horse’s mouth. 

Without hesitation, the horse lips it into his mouth. 

“He ate it!” Taka shouts.

“He knows how to find treats.” 

Taka imitates again, laying his hand flat. 

“Why does it need to be flat?”

“Because he might mistake your fingers for the treat and nip them off.” Rowan explains as he unfastens the saddle. 

“Oh…” 

Taka stares at his hand. 

Quietly opening and closing his fingers.

A smile comes to his face as he watches Rowan remove the blanket.

…

Today was better than every day before.