Chapter 99: Avenge
Although Asher could have easily asked Lyra to ride the horse and be done with it, he knew that wasn’t the point. He was here to enjoy the moment, the process, not to rush through it like a speedrun.
With that in mind, Lyra moved to the next lesson: mounting the horse.
Asher didn’t really require much instruction for this part; he had seen it done countless times in movies and anime. Still, Lyra demonstrated the correct way to mount a horse, gracefully swinging her leg over and sitting firmly in the saddle. Asher followed suit, mimicking the motion effortlessly.
Even if he hadn’t known how, he could have easily finessed his way onto the horse’s back with his physique and coordination. Nevertheless, Lyra made him repeat the process several times, ensuring it became second nature.
Then, they proceeded to the third lesson: sitting posture.
Lyra spent a few minutes correcting Asher’s seated position as she gave concise and purposeful instructions. "Keep your legs relaxed but close to the horse’s sides," she instructed calmly. "Hold the reins softly, with your hands low and steady, just above the saddle."
Asher absorbed and replicated every word with ease. Thanks to his Perfect Muscle Memory, anything he physically performed was done with precision. Even if Asher had wanted to slow the learning process to enjoy it more, his ability paid no attention to such sentiments.
Next came the fourth lesson: basic commands.
This involved learning how to guide and direct the horse using both physical cues and verbal signals.
Minutes blurred into more minutes, and soon Asher had absorbed every necessary instruction. Before long, he was trotting across the open field, the horse responding seamlessly to his commands.
A bright smile spread across Asher’s face, boyish and carefree, as the wind swept against him. He could easily outrun the horse if he wanted, his own speed far exceeded that of any steed, but that wasn’t the point. The experience itself was what mattered. He even found himself leaping over a few hurdles scattered across the training grounds.
’I’ve seen people shooting arrows while riding... maybe I should try learning that too,’ Asher mused as he rode without restraint. Behind him, Lyra followed calmly atop her own horse.