A Strange Selection

“Child, you ought to stop scaring me like that.” Gaia sighed after finally managing to wake Mia again, ten minutes later. “I’m starting to think I should have chosen someone else to be my rider.”

“I’m sorry, Gaia.” For the first time, Mia called the wolf by her name, and Gaia felt her heart warm, just a little.

“Let this sink in… You said you chose me. But I thought I ended up here because you pitied me.”

“No, that was… just an unfortunate coincidence.” Gaia gazed deeper into her eyes, and Mia immediately sensed that something important was about to be said.

“I’ve been watching you for months. Before I found you, I was traveling the world. I was on a mission to choose the greatest rider. So far, I haven’t come across anyone whose abilities match yours. That’s why, that night, I came and took you. I saved you by coincidence. But even if no one had tried to incriminate you, I would have taken you eventually; and maybe you’d have hated me for pulling you out of your comfort zone. But if I’d chosen someone else… you would have been burned at that stake.”

Mia’s throat went dry. The taste of blood and tears returned to her lips.

“So… you know the truth, right? That I didn’t kill the horses?”

“Of course, I know. As I said, I’ve watched your every step.”

“Oh… that’s a relief.” Mia’s voice trembled, tears welling in the corners of her green eyes. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but the simple acknowledgment that someone knew her side of the story brought unexpected solace.

“But Mia, listen closely now.” Gaia’s tone sharpened. “Now that you are in this world, you must forget your old one. Soon you’ll understand that you can’t afford to let your emotions control you. Your mission will demand your full commitment.”

“What mission did you choose me for, Gaia? What do my riding skills have to do with all of this?”

“To be my protégée,” The wolf replied simply. “I’ll guide you, gradually introducing you to this world; and of course, you’ll have help from others along the way.”

“For what purpose?”

“Oh, for—Mia, you are a little airheaded, aren’t you?” Gaia scoffed. “If I bothered to tell you the tale of the Horseriders, it’s obviously because… I’m going to expect you to defeat them.”

“I—I’m sorry?” Mia stepped closer, as if to check she’d heard right.

“Yes, you heard me.” Her tone was firm. “My tongue doesn’t misspeak. You are going to defeat them and stop, once and for all, the catastrophe happening in your old home.”

Mia just stared at the wolf. She’d never been this quiet for so long since arriving in Luminesis.

“What? Are you intimidated?”

“No!” She snapped without thinking twice, with the same defiance she’d had as a babbling child, back when her father and others mocked her clumsiness, saying she couldn’t ride. But Mia was afraid, and Gaia could smell the fear on her.

“Do you want me to send you back?”

“No!”

“Then we ought to go. There’s much to be done. Put on those clothes.” The wolf pointed with her nose to the white garments hanging from a nearby hook. “I’ll be waiting outside.”

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

"I want to wear something else. Please, just give me back my old clothes." Mia couldn’t stop fidgeting with her waist. Her fitted bodice was made of rough fabric that hugged too tightly, as if it might dig into her ribs. The skirt fell only a little past her knees, and though she felt underdressed, Gaia assured, with eyes fixed straight ahead on the path above them. They had been walking for about five minutes now, making their way through a narrow stone corridor.

"It is mandatory for you and your classmates as well. But you'll see, they're much more comfortable for long hours on horseback."

Yeah, we’ll see about that, Mia thought.

After another few minutes of walking, a large wooden door came into view at the end of the hall. It led to a great chamber that instantly reminded Mia of the mead halls from the Beowulf ballads she’d grown up listening to, except there were no towering banquet tables here.

Instead, there were two lines stretching from opposite ends of the room, both slowly inching forward toward a pair of tall doors at the far wall. Tons of people that looked around her age were wearing the same uniform as hers – well, nearly the same. The boys wore knee-length breeches instead of skirts. Mia barely had time to take in the small details before someone stepped in front of her.

“My! The last girl is finally awake! Welcome, dear!”

The man who approached Mia was... strange, to say the least. He was unusually short (barely reaching her waist) with long, ice-blue hair slicked back neatly, falling all the way to his hips. But Mia had already seen a red-furred wolf and a floating beam of light… so, at this point, she wasn't particularly shocked anymore.

“Yes, Professor,” Gaia said calmly. “I’m glad her mind survived the transition between worlds.”

“Ah! That only proves your excellent judgment, Gaia! A brilliant pick!”

“Only if she survives.”

“Survive?” Mia echoed, her voice small and hesitant.

“Don’t scare her just yet, Gaia,” the little man chided. “Come along, child.”

He gently placed a hand on the small of her back. Mia hesitated, glancing back at Gaia, silently asking for permission.

“Go on, Mia,” Gaia nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

The peculiar man led her to the end of a long line of other students.

“My name is Esten. I’ll be one of your instructors during your training,” he said with a proud little puff of his chest.

“Oh, I see...” Mia shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. She wasn’t used to being treated so welcomingly by strangers. Furthermore, and to be honest, she couldn't quite imagine what someone his size could teach her about horse riding. Still, she extended her hand politely.

“My pleasure, Sir Esten.”

“No need to be so nervous.” He took her hand in both of his and rubbed it gently, as if trying to wipe the anxiety away. “Now then, it’s almost your turn. We’ll be sorting your horse soon. Your loyal partner who’ll be with you throughout your training.”

Mia smiled politely in return, but her heart wasn’t in it. A strange feeling settled in her chest; for the first time, she would be riding a horse that wasn’t Brave Ice Rose.

“Please wait patiently here,” Esten continued. “Another teacher will call you outside when it’s time. The horses will choose their riders.”

“Choose me?” Mia asked, puzzled.

“Yes! These horses aren’t like the ones you knew. They’re observant creatures. They pace around, watch closely, and when one feels a connection, it’ll approach you and bow its head. That’s how you’ll know.”

“Oh. That's interesting. Also, Professor, will you be in charge of teaching everyone here?”

“Oh, these students and many more! We’ve been at this for three days already.” Upon hearing this, Mia let out an audible gasp, which earned her a few chuckles.

“Today’s the final round of selections. Classes begin tomorrow, so I’m glad you made it just in time!”

“Me too.” Mia said softly.

But her eyes weren’t on Esten anymore. She was staring at the last girl further down the other line, who had been watching her first with an odd, unreadable expression, as if trying to say something her lips couldn't whisper. Mia only turned her gaze forward again, standing quietly in line, her thoughts drifting toward tomorrow… and what it might bring.