Pacific Garden sat in the southeast corner of Hamerton Manor, a haven of seclusion and
serenity, close to the seaside and the ranch. It was an ideal place for recuperation.
Morpheus had chosen this tranquil retreat after returning to Centrolis with Persephone.
However, rather than finding solace, he became even more withdrawn than before.
Theodore paid him a visit, checking in with the caretakers to ensure everything was in
order. After confirming the details, he patted Morpheus on the shoulder.
A radiant smile broke through the gloom as Theodore cheerfully called out, "Morpheus!"
Turning around, Morpheus offered a polite smile. Yet, Theodore sensed a forced quality in
both his speech and smile, mirroring the demeanor of his sister since their return.
Theodore had been on a mission, tirelessly organizing various types of entertainment for
Morpheus, according to his parents' insistence.
Despite Morpheus' willingness to bond, most of the time, he would be found gazing at the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtdistant clouds and hues, lost in contemplation.
The only constant was Morpheus' kindness towards Persephone. He visited her daily,
silently accompanying her even when words were unspoken. His anticipation of her needs
seemed almost telepathic, always prepared beforehand for whatever she might desire.
Persephone, in turn, grew dependent on him. Her smiles brightened at the mere sight of
him.
"Hey, Morpheus!" Theodore coaxed him to the equestrian field. "Since my sister won't
come out, let's have a horse-riding competition! You pick one!"
Morpheus obliged and selected a tall, grand horse with a reddish-brown coat glistening in
the sunlight. Blaze, as it was known, stood out among the racing field horses, boasting
exceptional build and graceful muscle lines.
"Morpheus, you've got a great eye!" Theodore's eyes sparkled. "This horse is called Blaze.
Our stable masters said it has a good lineage and fiery temperament. Can... Can you
handle it?"
After a moment of hesitation, Morpheus cautiously stroked Blaze's mane before taking the
reins. To everyone's surprise, Blaze behaved unusually docile. Even the stable masters
gasped in amazement.
"It seems there's a bond between animals and humans!" Theodore smiled. "Blaze has
thrown off several people in our stable, and no one dared to touch it! But as soon as you
arrived, you tamed it. It looks like it only recognizes you as its master!"
Morpheus displayed a surprising level of horse-riding expertise. He urged Blaze forward,
and they galloped ahead with perfect balance, adjusting seamlessly to every movement.
Theodore watched in awe. After their lap, he admired Morpheus even more.
"Morpheus, you're amazing!" He was so excited that he almost lost his grip on the reins.
"Did you often ride before?"
Morpheus smiled but remained silent.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Sephy said when you were in Flinge, you were a fighter, and besides that, you're
excellent at riding horses! Is there anything you can't do?"
"I'm not as good as Sephy thinks," Morpheus said in a low voice, patting the horse
randomly. "It's still a bit lean. Don't feed it regular fodder."
"Oh? Then what should we use?"
Morpheus mentioned a name—a highly specialized feed—that Theodore hadn't heard of.
"Morpheus, I'm increasingly in awe of you," he marveled. "You even know this?"
Morpheus chuckled. It was just that this kind of feed wasn't available in Centrolis. It was
used for the horses of Southeast Aciatic's royals.
"Hey, Morpheus, how did I do filming you?" Theodore pulled out his phone and showed a
video of Morpheus riding moments ago. "You're really cool!"
"Don't praise me like that," Morpheus pursed his lips. "I'll get proud."
"You should be!" Theodore laughed. "You've got a style while riding. If we were in ancient
times, you'd definitely be a general on the battlefield!"
Morpheus's face darkened abruptly, and his demeanor turned somber.