Reincarnated as the favorite of an obsessive goddess: gave me a system-Chapter 20: Horses.

Kai woke up early, before the sun had fully peeked over the trees. The lingering worry from the previous day’s events hadn’t vanished completely, but he had decided not to let it take root. Not today. Not when the village needed to keep moving forward, and when he himself needed to feel like he still had control over something.

Lyla was sleeping deeply beside him, breathing with a stillness that always seemed to lend him a bit of peace. Kai leaned in carefully and gently brushed her long hair aside before leaving. She murmured something in her sleep and rolled over toward the empty spot he had just left.

The village was still mostly silent. The well sparkled under the first rays of sunlight. A few children were already out, helping their parents carry water buckets or simply running between the half finished houses. Kai took a deep breath. The air smelled of damp earth and woodsmoke from the fires that were slowly dying out.

He found Thorne near the improvised chicken coop, checking on the laying hens. The big man looked up when he heard footsteps and let out a low, gravelly laugh.

"Good morning, Chief. You look like someone who spent the night thinking far too much."

Kai shrugged. "Not so much that I can’t get things done. How many horses do we have right now?"

Thorne frowned, counting mentally. "Two old mules, the carriage with the two horses you took to the jungle, and a pony Mira found lost a few weeks back. Enough to send messages or bring small things from the forest, but that’s it. If we want to move heavy loads like lumber or harvests when the time comes, we need something better. Real horses and mares, if possible, for breeding."

Kai nodded. He had been thinking about it for days. The village was growing and the fields were expanding, but mobility remained a bottleneck. They had the carriage, but it wasn’t enough for the expansion they planned.

"We’re going to Athelgard," Kai said suddenly. "Today. We’ll buy what we need."

Thorne raised a bushy eyebrow. "With what money?"

Kai pulled the small leather pouch from his belt and opened it. Fifteen silver coins and four bronze ones. The meager loot they had scavenged from the traffickers.

"It’s not enough," Kai admitted. "Not even close. A decent horse costs between forty and fifty silver coins. A good mare, even more. We need more."

Thorne scratched his beard. "The Adventurers’ Guild always has well-paying missions. If the two of us go, we can pick up something decent. I’m Rank B, even if I’ve been retired for a while. I’m sure they’ll give us something worthwhile."

Kai gave a sideways smile. "Then let’s go. I’ll tell Lyla and we’ll head out in an hour."

Lyla didn’t object when he told her. She simply gave him a quick hug and whispered in his ear, "Come back in one piece. And bring me something pretty if you can."

Kai nodded. "Promised."

An hour later, Kai and Thorne were leaving the village via the main trail. They carried light packs with two days’ worth of provisions, water, daggers, and Thorne’s large axe. The journey to Athelgard was a three day trek on foot at a good pace, with luck, they would arrive by sunset on the second day.

They walked in silence at first, surrounded by the constant rustle of leaves and birds. Thorne occasionally broke the silence with comments about the terrain, but Kai responded in monosyllables. The worry was still there, even if he tried not to let it grow.

At noon, they stopped by a stream to eat bread and dried fruit. Thorne sat on a flat stone and looked directly at Kai. "You’ve been quiet since we left. Is it about yesterday?"

Kai sighed. "Yes. I can’t stop thinking about it. Why they came here. What it means."

Thorne nodded slowly. "I don’t blame you. I’ve got it on my mind too. But look." He pointed back toward the path they had traveled. "The village is still there. The children are still watering the sprouts. Whatever is coming will come. In the meantime, we do what we can. Step by step, Chief."

Kai looked at him for a moment and exhaled. "You’re right. Step by step."

Thorne grinned, showing his tusks. "That’s what I like to hear. Now eat up. If we get to Athelgard on empty stomachs, we won’t be in any state to negotiate."

They resumed their march after lunch. The path was familiar well trodden trails, log bridges over creeks, and clearings where previous travelers had left cold embers. By afternoon, a soft rain began to fall, a fine drizzle that smelled of earth and leaves.

That night, they camped under a rocky overhang that shielded them from the rain. They built a small fire and spoke little. Thorne told an ancient story from his village about a wolf that learned to hunt with humans, and Kai listened, letting the words fill the silence his mind wanted to occupy with worries.

The next day dawned clear. The road grew wider and busier. They began to cross paths with travelers, merchants with carts, families moving house, and the occasional lone adventurer with a guild plate hanging from their neck. Finally, they reached Athelgard at sunset on the second day.

They entered through the south gate. The streets were full of life, with food stalls, blacksmiths hammering metal, and children running between the legs of adults. It was just as Kai remembered from the first time he arrived in this world.

They went straight to the Adventurers’ Guild. The counter was attended by Dilya, the same receptionist as always, who looked up and smiled when she saw them.

"Thorne! And Kai!" she said with genuine surprise. "It seems you’ve met, I’m sure you’re getting along well."

Thorne let out a laugh. "We need quick money. Good horses for the village. What do you have in the medium or high rank with a good reward?"

Dilya opened the mission board and scanned the papers pinned there. "You’re in luck. An urgent Rank B request just came in. It pays two gold coins plus bonuses for every piece you bring back intact. The client is a nobleman from the East District. He needs an escort and the recovery of a lost shipment. A wagon with very valuable cargo was ambushed three days ago on the North Road. The bandits fled toward the hills, but rumor has it they’re hiding in an ancient cave. He wants the wagon back in one piece and the cargo intact. If you bring proof that the bandits have been neutralized, he’ll add fifty extra silver coins."

Kai and Thorne shared a look. It was a perfect mission to earn money without unnecessary risks rewarding enough to buy six or eight good horses, perhaps even a young mare for breeding.

"We’ll take it," Kai said.

Dilya handed them the parchment with the details. They left the guild with the mission in hand and two gold coins already guaranteed if they succeeded. It was exactly what they needed.

Thorne glanced at the parchment as they walked toward the north gate. "Inventory list? Mana crystals... those are expensive. The noble must be desperate."

"As long as there are no surprises, we’ll be fine," Kai replied. "Let’s head to the inn, buy supplies, and set out at dawn. I don’t want to spend more time than necessary away from the village."

They spent the night at a modest inn near the north gate. They ate hot stew, drank light ale, and talked about the horses they wanted strong, hardy, and with good temperaments. Thorne described a grey mare he had seen once in his home village, with legs like pillars and eyes that seemed to understand you.

At dawn, they headed north. The road was broad at first, filled with carts and travelers heading in both directions. After a few hours, they turned onto a secondary path that climbed toward the rocky hills. The terrain became more uneven, marked by large boulders, thorny bushes, and steep slopes. The air grew dry, and the sun beat down hard.

At noon, they found the site of the ambush, deep wheel ruts in the dirt, remains of broken wood, and dried blood on the ground. The wagon had been dragged toward the hills, leaving a clear trail of furrows and boot prints.

Thorne crouched down and touched a mark. "Seven or eight men, lightly armed. Not professionals, but organized. They took the whole wagon."

Kai looked toward the hills. "The cave is a few hours away. If we go now, we’ll get there before dark."

They followed the trail. The path narrowed, forcing them to walk in single file. The sun was low when they reached the foot of the hills and saw a high rock wall with a dark opening at its base. The cave entrance was partially hidden by dry brush, but fresh tracks and the remains of a recent campfire were visible.

Thorne raised his axe. "They’re inside. Smells like smoke and sweat."

Kai drew his daggers and peered into the darkness of the entrance. "We go in carefully. If they’re armed, we try to talk first. If not... we know what to do."

Thorne nodded. "Right behind you, Chief."

They moved forward slowly. The cave opened into a wide tunnel with torches mounted on the walls, illuminating a makeshift camp. The stolen wagon sat in the center, covered with tarps, surrounded by open crates of tools and scattered fabrics. Seven men sat around a fire, laughing and drinking, their weapons leaning against the rocks.

One of them looked up and spotted them. "Intruders!" he shouted.

The seven men sprang to their feet instantly, weapons in hand. Kai raised a hand in a gesture of peace. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"We only want the wagon and the cargo. Nobody has to die today."

The leader was a tall man with a scar on his cheek, he let out a raspy laugh. "And who are you to talk to us like that?"

Thorne growled. "You just have to hand it over. Nothing bad has to happen."

The leader smiled and pointed his sword. "I don’t think there’s a deal to be made."

The seven advanced, swords drawn and bows taut. Kai felt his pulse quicken, his body ready to move. Thorne raised his axe with both hands, muscles tensing. In that instant, the air in the cave grew thick with pure tension.