Shadow of the Evil God

"I can go ahead of you," Cesar told him.

"No, I'm trying to find some faith in the Holy Father's past memories. If she finds you trustworthy, then I can trust her again," Mirava said. Cesar wasn't just listening to what he said, but also paying attention to his tone. There was an elusive emotion in his voice when he spoke of this—joy? Joy for what? Revenge for Soler abandoning him to Alante?

In fact, Cesar did not want to figure it out so thoroughly, but his words were almost like the whisper of a thrush, incredibly pleasant to listen to. I don't know if he knew this himself, but if he was willing to open his throat, his trembling syllables would surely spread like moonlight and soak into people's eardrums.

"I think you should trust your knights and ministers more," said Cesar.

"The knights followed me because of the promise of victory. As for my subjects, my thinking has changed from that of old Milava. I believe those with silver spoons in their mouths are untrustworthy. Although they bow and scrape before me, carefully flattering me with smiles, I now realize that no subject is truly loyal to their monarch. Perhaps they will be loyal when the monarch is invincible, but once the tide of victory turns, their loyalty will rot along with him."

"I wouldn't necessarily stand for the position you'll stand for in the future," Cesar said.

"This is better. Observing your actions this way will actually be more enlightening to me. Does this mean that when we stand on opposite sides of the battlefield, I will be enraged and want to kill you? No, I will observe you more clearly. I will gain from you what I don't possess. Then, I will transcend my own limitations, and naturally, transcend you."

"There's too much imagination and too little reality in what you say," Cesar had to point out.

This time, Milava really turned around, and in the third person's perspective, it looked like a rosy light was imprinted on his cheeks, and faintly on his chest, which was not very high and almost looked like a girl's.

It must be said that his black hair, stained at the tips and scattered across his chest and shoulders, looked even more vivid against the rose-red hue than he had imagined. His lips were half-open, as if he wanted to scold him like he had scolded the teacher Soler had found for him, but because of the different circumstances, he couldn't open his mouth.

The bloody aroma emanated from his skin all over his body, seeping through Allandi's slim-fitting robe. His slender body seemed transparent, his skin like a thin layer of ice, illuminated from within by the rose-red light emitted by his blood, and his bones were as exquisite as jade.

"What are you looking at?" Miraval finally spoke. "Is it the revelation of Analik's path? Does it make you feel like you're looking at a piece of food? Do you want to peel and eat the Chosen One?"

"Fighting the longing brought on by Analik's path is something I've been doing all my life," Cesar said. "I once met a follower of Hiel. Even though she was just a young monk who dedicated herself to caring for the sick in the city, I still spoke harshly to her, instinctively using the sharp edge of my words to undermine her faith and deprive her of her perseverance. Sometimes I can't explain where this longing comes from."

Then, they waded through the water in silence. Cesar gradually recovered, but Milava, weakened by the memory of the injured Alante, finally had to carry him forward. Cesar glanced at Milava and saw his head tilted to one side. When Cesar looked forward, he turned his head back, observing carefully with only one eye open. It seemed as if he was consumed by a thousand thoughts, yet he couldn't quite make sense of them.

Strange cracks appeared behind him again and again, gradually spreading outward, rapidly transforming both humans and beasts who entered their range into something else. Claws clawed at the cracks in the remnant memory, but it was impossible to tell what kind of beast it was.

The place was growing colder. Seeing Milava wrapped tightly in his robes, his fair, oval face covered in a thin layer of frost, Cesar reached out to wipe it away. As the back of his hand touched his, Cesar felt a sudden blush spread across his face. The guy closed his eyes even tighter, and the curves of his cheeks and neck seemed to soften.

Chapter 437: Old Thane's Confidant and Milava's Knight

For the next period of time, the two of them trekked along the direction pointed out by Milava, and finally saw many teams on the road. Some were teams of knights in black armor, divided into many small teams rushing to the temple of Helgast, and some were teams from other temples rushing to rescue. It seemed that in those days, the temples still maintained a certain degree of friendship, and there were refugees who were helping each other escape from the battlefield, and they were among them.

Although Milava fell into the memory as Arlandi, he now looked like a young girl covered in blood, so no one recognized him.

Along the way, several knight teams approached the refugees, questioning them and confirming the situation ahead. Several temple teams also offered to accept them, apparently hoping to recruit new followers. However, they had no intention of following them. This was, after all, a remnant of memory, a memory on the verge of extinction. Finding Firiels quickly was paramount.

Though they both felt the temperature of the remnant gradually drop, the people within it remained oblivious. Considering the presence of Sevra from the past nearby, Cesar traveled with extreme caution, trying not to reveal his presence. Sevra, or rather, the Sevra who hadn't yet filled the void with a portion of Ajeh's flesh and soul, now wandered a temporal fork in the Tomb of the Wise, and also within this remnant, intent on finding Cesar at each fork and slaying him.

To be honest, Cesar really wanted to have a conversation with her, to ask her what was causing this unsatisfied emptiness. He wanted to confirm how different she was from the later Sevra, but that was difficult to do.

During the time of Milava, Sephora was a creature gradually heading towards destruction. It was finally Firiel who sent her to the land of the Sassulai people and gave her a second life.

Cesar hoped to ask her a few questions before her memories faded and her journey to the Tomb of the Wise ended. He also hoped that the Sevra of his own era could be listening nearby. The Sevra beside him had been avoiding the events of the past, but after speaking with the Sevra whose memories had not been erased, she might change some of her thoughts. Even if this did not change her avoidance, it would make her less resistant to facing the past.

He recently discovered that if he looked deep into himself, he would see Sevra on the other side. When he found himself eager to seek and obtain, Sevra would silently watch and then silently leave. When he found himself trying to get answers through dialogue, Sevra would want to solve all the confusion by killing.

Perhaps it was because of this opposition that they never reached a dialogue during Milava's time, or perhaps she felt that there was no need for dialogue on this matter.

In the days of Milava, she longed to kill him and make him a part of her to fill the void. But later, on the walls of Neuen, after she had truly become one with him under Ajeh's guidance, she no longer wanted to do so.

Why not? Perhaps because she felt that this feeling of becoming a part of each other was too extreme, more intimate than any other union. It was like a man penetrating a woman's body and giving birth to a new person, they entered each other's flesh and blood, and after the union, they created a complete person.

This is their root, that is, they can call themselves Cesar, they can call themselves Sephora, and even pick up the names they first dropped.

Cesar trudged along, noticing the growing number of groups on both sides of the road, which had already formed a small crowd. However, he didn't think this was a good thing. The more people in the residual memories, the more flesh and blood would be transformed and born, and the more troublesome it would be to deal with those outside the residual memories.

Soon after, Milava announced that Firiel was nearby, for the carriage carrying her magical supplies was parked by the roadside, its horses lying on the side of the road, looking exhausted. The young Emperor of Farran, staring at the horses with a burning gaze, seemed to want to cut some flesh from them and roast it in a secluded fire.

Cesar acted immediately. Even if it weren't for the remnant memory, he wouldn't mind taking some meat from the horses along the road. Just as he was about to strike, the sound of warhorses' hooves approached like drumbeats. He figured it had nothing to do with him. Neither Sevra nor Ferrieres had any experience riding horses, so he sheathed his knife and waited for the knight to pass.

The approaching knight, tall and strong, riding an even larger mare, immediately reined in his horse when he saw Cesar. It seemed that this matter really had something to do with him.

Cesar didn't want to cause any more trouble, but when he saw the man take off his helmet, he was suddenly stunned. - Askrid? Was it Askrid, the confidant that old Sean had won over from Domini?

This scene made Cesar's brain daze for a moment. For a moment, he thought he was in a stage play. Everyone was not themselves, but actors in costumes. In addition, in Neuen's play and Milava's play, there happened to be an actor who played two roles in two different eras.

"Looking at your eyes, I know you still remember me, boy," Askrid shouted. "It's been just over two years since His Majesty ordered you to protect the Queen, and you've already gone off on your own, Nerse? Where's the Queen? Could it be that she deposed you because you weren't protecting her well enough? But you seem to have brought back a beautiful girl. Are you planning to take her back to the city to have children? This is wartime!"

Cesar did not know the name of Askerid in this era.

He knew one thing for sure, though—Old Thane's confidant was Milava's former knight. If Milava emerged from the Tomb of the Wise and awakened Askrid's memories and experiences, would it be Old Thane who lost a loyal confidant, or would Milava lose a loyal knight?

"I have been separated from the Queen," said Cesar, "and the knights who came, believing me to have neglected my duty, have sent me back to await my fate."

"It fits her reputation of changing knights every two years," Askrid said. "It's a good coincidence that we met. We were ordered to watch over the mage's belongings. Would you like to come and help?"

This was said very casually, but Cesar was stunned. Alanti changes a knight every two years, which means that Sefera has to kill a Cesar every two years?

As if sensing his thoughts, Milawa nodded slightly without leaving any trace.

"Is she the queen's sister?" Cesar asked.

"That's not your concern." Askrid dismounted, his manner no different from his in Neuen. He threw the reins aside and strode forward, his aura no different from the general who had threatened to slash Aya's father, the mute porter with a burned face, to death. This guy never hid anything.

"I just want to know if the wizard's camp can help her recover from her injuries." Cesar glanced at Milava, "The girl is very weak." Milava frowned but remained silent.

"Ah!" Askrid sighed and rolled his eyes. "Okay, I know, I know. Everyone has their own troubles to deal with. Just bring her over. We have the best campground around here. We can accommodate many people. But you have to be patient and work hard."

It must be Firiel's camp. Back then, she was alone in a tent on the edge of the battlefield, but now she has a team of knights guarding her camp. However, after more than a decade, this shouldn't be surprising. People don't always stay the same, and Firiel will gradually mature and master the secrets of power.

Cesar complied.

"Very good," said Askrid. "Although you have lost your duty as the queen's guardian, you now have the authority of her sister, which will save you from suffering in the future. Today, you and the girl you brought with you can have a good meal and meet some new friends. Tomorrow, you can put a pile of wizard's reward in your pocket. Sounds good, doesn't it? Working for a wizard is much better than working for anyone else!"

Cesar noticed that Milava had grown increasingly silent, his mood even more disturbed than before. He suspected Askrid was the so-called loyal knight Milava had chosen, and that he would continue to serve him in the future. But now, the young Milava suddenly realized that this loyal knight had many thoughts, even thinking that working for a mage was better than serving as a personal guard for the emperor.

Do I need to tell this guy that Askrid in later generations even conspired with the White Nightmare, the alien god priests, and the beastmen? Although Cesar himself was no different.

Askrid returned to the charger, grabbed the reins with one hand, and with the swiftness of a sword, leaped onto the steed's back. "The horse is over there. Bring the girl with you," he said. "I hope you haven't forgotten your riding skills, Nersay."

Cesar didn't think much of these names, which changed every two years. He simply mounted his horse and wanted to reach out and hug Milava to him, but he climbed onto the horse's rump and sat behind him. "The girl you brought here seems to be very good at riding. She's fast and agile," Askrid said. "She reminds me of Tilia. Many years ago, we found a red-haired little devil from a remote tribe. We recruited her because of her riding skills."

Many years ago, the red-haired imp...

As he pondered, he felt Milava grip his waist tightly, her fingers gripping him with exaggerated force. It wasn't like she was holding him for support, but rather pinching him to vent her emotions. Yes, he'd heard it too. This loyal knight, Askrid, not only had his own agenda, but after accepting Firiels's job, he was also recruiting people everywhere. His behavior wasn't like that of a knight, but more like that of a mercenary leader from later generations.

It was probably because of Askrid's character that he nonchalantly abandoned Dominic's royal bloodline and knightly honor and directly defected to old Sean.

"Calm down," Cesar said, turning around. "This is just a remnant of a memory. Don't make it a fuss. If you have any complaints, you can go to a place called Noyen and question him yourself."

Milava remained silent, leaving Cesar with no other options but to gallop, the young Emperor of Farran behind him, to catch up with Askrid. Soon, they stopped at a secluded clearing. Honestly, it was just as secluded as Ferrieres's previous residence in the Remnant of Memory, but the tent was much larger, practically a circus tent.

Dozens of tied war horses were grazing in the open space outside the tent. There were also some unorganized knights and a group of remote tribesmen who were not knights wandering around. Some were taking a nap lazily, while others were gambling and drinking. How could they be described as living a life of freedom?

"It is indeed easy to work for a mage," Milava suddenly whispered. "It is truly delightful, my swords of the realm."

It seems that not every knight can empathize with Milava back then, Cesar thought. Some people come to be knights, but they are just looking for a job.

He was just trying to make a living, but he happened to be identified by Mirava as a loyal man and was marked with a mark for future generations to wake up to. It can't be blamed entirely on him.

Chapter 438 Ajiehe's Whip

"Look at this one!" Askrid exclaimed. Cesar didn't know his name from this era, but since this remnant of his memory wouldn't last long, he didn't intend to ask. "Our queen has changed her knight guard again," he announced. "This is my fellow countryman, Nerce. Well, Nerce, you're in front of the Thirteenth Order, but privately we call ourselves the Ranger Knights, accepting any skilled warrior seeking a position, regardless of their origin."

The men and women in the camp looked at the people from the various outlying tribes. Some stood up to greet them, while others just nodded. Most were busy with their own business. Seeing Cesar coming, they showed neither disgust nor welcome. If this was the result of Ferriers's indulgence, it would be truly strange.

"Should I report to the great wizard next?" Cesar asked him.

"Indeed," Askerid said, "but before that, I must explain a few things. I am currently the commander of the cavalry regiment in the camp, but except when meeting His Majesty, there is no need for us to discuss who is a tribesman and who is a knight. Just remember this, and the rest of you will find an opportunity to introduce yourself to you."

In order to hide her emotions, Milava, who never hides her emotions, hid behind him, not only hugging his left arm, but also burying her face behind his robe so that it could not be seen at all.

However, Cesar felt Milava's hold on him tighten. The more Askrid spoke, the worse his mood became. He seemed angry and confused at these people's inaction. His hand tightly grasping his wrist seemed to say, "The Empire is in such a crisis, and you are so lazy under the command of a wizard who will defect in a few years?"

"So now..."

Before Cesar could finish, Askrid interrupted him. "Before you meet with Firiel, her people will observe you first. This is customary," the cavalry commander said, pointing at Mirava. "Can you do odd jobs? This place doesn't support noble ladies. If you want to go with the cavalry, you'll help in the kitchen. Once you understand, move away from Nerse. I'll take you to the camp where the cooking is."

Cesar's brow furrowed, while Milava's fingers trembled slightly, not with fear, but with excitement. It was clear that Milava wanted to teach Askrid a lesson, to show him the wrath of an emperor, even though he was still a young emperor, not even emperor himself, but had only inherited the memories and experiences of the old Milava.

"What do you mean by her people?" Cesar asked.

"The Master Mage's personal guards, two somewhat dangerous fellows, and very unsociable." Askrid said, gesturing to Milava to go to the camp kitchen. "I can't say which one is more difficult to get along with. One is like a silent venomous snake, and the other is like a noisy wild dog. But you have been with the Queen for two years. You can handle this kind of thing, right?"

Cesar remained silent. Askrid's words made him realize that Firiels had visited the Tomb of the Wise before Milava decided to explore it. She hadn't explored it very deeply, but she had found Ajeh from the past.

Combined with the ancient visions he had seen in the northern jungle while guarding the fortress, Cesar realized that Ferriers's whereabouts had become very strange over the years. She had been using teleportation spells to travel back and forth. Sometimes she was in the barracks, asking the ranger cavalry to do her work, and sometimes she was meeting with her fellow mages in faraway places, making plans to explore some Kuna ruins, the Tomb of the Wise being one of them.

If Ferriers continued to wander around like this, it wouldn't be surprising if she met someone from the Kasar Empire, and it wouldn't be surprising even if she reached an agreement with them. This roaming cavalry regiment she had released reflected her attitude to a certain extent - she didn't care which empire she was in or which monarch she was loyal to. She had never felt that way.

Seeing Milava leaving with a gloomy face, others thought that the girl was unhappy because she left Cesar. Only Cesar knew that Askrid was about to be in big trouble.

At this time, Cecia... No, it's Tilia, in this era it's Tilia.

Although he'd suspected it, Cesar was still a bit dazed to see Cecia, a few years younger than Noyen, appear. He almost called out to her teacher, adding a few casual sweet nothings. Though dressed differently, she still had the same relaxed, casual air of a mercenary. Cesar could sense a hint of pity in her gaze, as if meeting Ferriers's two personal guards was something worth sympathizing with.

Her eyes seemed to say: It will be hard at first. Would he get to know Ajeh and Sefera in a different way? He couldn't help but wonder.

"Are those two difficult to get along with?" Cesar asked Cecia, knowing the answer.

Her clear, bright blue eyes blinked, and she lowered her face, as if greeting her future colleagues. "Hold your sword, knight," she said. "Remember to hold it tightly. It would be embarrassing if you accidentally drop it."

"If I don't hold it tight, you have to teach me how to hold it tighter," said Cesar.

"You are a knight, my friend, and I am just a tribesman." Cecilia was a little surprised.

"Fate is unpredictable," Cesar shrugged. "If I ever find myself in exile, maybe you can save my life."

Cecia raised her eyebrows, "You

Does this guy just want to get close to women when he sees them? The girl you brought with you has only walked less than a hundred meters."

"I just want to get to know someone who's different from everyone else. Don't you notice that you stand out wherever you go?"

Everyone around laughed, but Cecia sighed, holding her forehead. "With your personality, it's no wonder you were kicked out of the Queen's Guard," she said. "But there are people here who are much more conspicuous than me, as you'll see later. When it's over, you can tell me again if you want to get to know someone who's different from everyone else."

As she spoke, Cesar heard the clatter of horse hooves and saw two tribesmen leading two wild, untamed horses. Their muscles were incredibly developed, their eyes were wide and dark, and their mouths reeked of blood. Judging by their sharp fangs, they must be a breed unique to this era. These wild horses, having grown sharp teeth under Analik's curse, specialized in devouring animal flesh, vacillating between becoming carnivorous beasts and transforming into beastmen.

The wild horse's reins were long and strong, clearly used by animal trainers. He had given them to him now, and who knew who was trying to catch him in a show? Although Cesar didn't want to cause any complications, forcing his way through was difficult at this point. While he was thinking, someone had already mounted the horse: Ajeh, her graying hair flowing freely over her shoulders.

This person was covered in leather armor and a cloak, her face buried deep in a mask. This look would definitely be rejected in other camps, but in this camp full of tribesmen, she was very comfortable. Maybe even if she was recognized as a beastman, the Ranger Riders would not ask for her because of Ferris.

The she-wolf held neither rein nor a hand, instead clutching an incredibly long whip. The tribesmen, eager to watch the fun, cheered and applauded, their clamor driving the wild horses, which hadn't yet been fully domesticated, into a frenzy. Cesar even saw the sharp toes on the tips of their hooves, their outlines resembling the claws of carnivores.

Ceshia patted his shoulder and said, "Ride this wild horse and have a race with her. This fellow is a wild child that the Mage picked up from somewhere. Although his origins are unknown, everyone wants to see the newcomer suffer a little. But fortunately, as long as you don't get too embarrassed, the Mage waiting at the finish line won't look down on you." She raised her voice and said, "That's about it, let this Queen's knight go up!"

Wild Child...

Cesar struggled to describe this assessment. How old was Ajehe now? Ten or so? The tribesman leading the horse was also fierce, throwing the heavy reins directly at his face. If he hadn't caught it, he would have been crushed and bleeding. The reins pulled the wild horse even more wildly. It let out a long, piercing cry and raised its hoof to kick him. If this hoof had landed on a person, it would have ruptured the chest at the very least.

He dodged the horse's front hooves, earning a few applause. He then tried to grab the reins to rein in the horse, but a whip swung directly at him, hitting him in the neck and right cheek. Needless to say, it was Ajehe. Before Cesar could figure out how he had offended the she-wolf, more tribesmen began to cheer.

Cecilia pulled the wild horse hard to prevent Cesar from being trampled. Then she pulled him up and asked him if he had any conflicts with this guy before. She had never had this attitude before.

Of course, Cesar didn't know that there was a huge scar on his face, running from his forehead down through his left eye and extending all the way to his neck. He had to make this guy know what price he paid, and then send the memory of this price to Ajiehe, who was beside him, so that she would remember it well.

Now he was certain that Ajeh must have attacked certain Cesars who were replaced every two years during the time of Milava, perhaps even more than once. Since this girl had always avoided talking about the past, he would use his own methods to make her remember the past more deeply.

Cesar exhaled, and with the same energy he'd used in his battle with the Faceless One, he charged at the wild horse, dodging its frantic kicks and clutching its reins. Meanwhile, Ajeh spurred her horse around him, occasionally lashing out with a whip, threatening his every move. "You seem familiar with the trajectory of my power?" a familiar voice uttered from beneath the mask, a hint of curiosity. "Can you tell me why, Queen's Knight?"

He was about to answer when the guy whipped him across the chest. "Don't be distracted, knight!" She actually laughed. "Do you know what you're doing? This is a vagrant's hangout, not a knight's training ground!"

Where did this guy get all this emotion from? Was it because Sephora was already paying attention to him?

Although Cesar was annoyed, he said nothing. He reached out and grabbed the end of the whip, digging into his gauntlet. A large number of split tentacles quickly bit and wrapped around it, making it impossible to slip away. She pulled the whip but there was no movement, which made her feel a little confused. Cesar took advantage of her hesitation and tugged back, immediately pulling the guy off the wild horse's back and falling in front of him.

Compared to him, this guy was incredibly light. He was well-versed in Ajeh's bestial nature; judging by her posture, he knew what she was planning. Seeing her about to pounce on him like a wild animal, he dodged, grasped the back of her neck with his left hand, and grabbed her belt with his right. Using the momentum, he launched her forward like a slingshot.

The she-wolf turned in mid-air and blew a whistle. The wild horse rushed over like a dog to carry its master, or rather, the beastman who had suppressed its bloodline. Cesar frowned slightly, seeing that his wild horse was still

The wild horse bared its teeth at him, so he grabbed the reins and pulled the wild horse's head, kicking it on the front leg, which made it fall to its knees with a loud cry.

Cesar mounted the prostrate stallion, yanking the reins before whipping Ajeh with his whip. The beast neighed in pain and charged at the crowd. Cesar yanked the reins again, turning the horse around and charging at Ajeh, stomping directly at her and her stallion.

Chapter 439 You grew up eating my flesh and blood

Ever since leaving Neuen, Cesar had watched from his perch as soldiers fought and bickered, their heads bruised and bloodied over trivial matters. Now, for the first time, he experienced the commotion firsthand. Though a fleeting memory, the shouts and cries of the people were as real as they had been in the past. The unorganized knights began to place bets on their fight, and even the servants, doing odd jobs, joined in the action, shouting and clamoring.

Many people were eagerly anticipating Ajeh's battle, and they all seemed to have a good relationship with her. However, Cesar could sense the disharmony between this she-wolf and the rest of the world. It could be said that she didn't even care about these people. Furthermore, after Ferriers's fork in the road and chose the Casar Empire, she was the first to turn against her and murder her former comrades.

This guy wouldn't develop feelings through a natural interaction; to use the term "beast" to describe a beast, he simply couldn't be tamed. She always needed something more bloody and cruel, something unforgettable.

A sharp blade suddenly flashed from Ajeh's waist and danced towards his chest. She had previously concealed the fact that she wielded a sword, seemingly preparing for the shock of this moment. However, Cesar had witnessed this many times in another era, even experiencing it many times when she possessed him. He didn't have a sword at his waist, perhaps because the knight had lost it during the attack, but he still had a mace and spear at his waist, which was not just for decoration.

The instantaneous clash of metal and steel was more menacing than thunder. Cesar swung his hammer with all his might, in the exact direction Ajeh was accustomed to swinging his sword. The hammer head dented the sword, shattering it, sending fragments scattering to the ground.

The two wild horses were hit by the huge force and stumbled back at the same time - he whipped Ajiehe's wild horse on the hindquarters, frightening it instantly and making it gallop out of the crowd like crazy.

Seeing that he had succeeded, Cesar immediately kicked his horse's belly and followed closely behind.

In a matter of seconds, the two wild horses had bolted, leaving the group behind and charging into the dense forest where Ferrieres was. The forest was dense, and the path was muddy and ravine-filled, making it unsuitable for horses to gallop. Soon, Ajeh dismounted along a narrow path lined with dense trees. She leaped onto the treetops, her long gray hair swirling like ash in the wind.

This creature wanted to use the methods of a wild beast to engage him in a bloody hunt in the forest, but how could Cesar have the leisure to accompany her in such pleasure? He slit his wrist, crouched down, and fed the blood to the wild horse. The evil creature, which was only one step away from becoming a cursed beastman, suddenly went crazy. It screamed loudly and rushed forward like a rhinoceros, smashing trees and crushing rocks.

At this point, this guy's legs could no longer swing the horse's hooves faster than before.