The next morning, Aiden prepared for his five-hour hike to the horse farm. He donned his light armor and a hooded blue cloak, the official color of military students, with his sword strapped to his back. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead, and began walking eastwards towards the edge of the old city.

He thought of the rolling hills and the quaint farmhouses dotting the landscape. He knew, however, that the countryside outside Tirovna was not always safe. Bandits and wild animals were known to roam the area, and Aiden remained alert as he continued his journey.

Leaving the Knowledge District, he heard the familiar strains of music in the distance. Curiosity getting the better of him, he followed the sound to a small crowd gathered around a woman with a guitar, singing a beautiful melody. He watched as she finished her song and the crowd applauded. As they began to disperse, Aiden approached the woman.

"Excuse me," he said, "I couldn't help but overhear your music. You have a beautiful voice."

The woman smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, that's very kind of you."

They introduced themselves, Aiden learning that her name was Lila. They chatted for a few minutes, with Aiden expressing his admiration for her talent. As he prepared to leave, he dropped a few coins into her hat as a token of his appreciation.

As Lila put her hat back on her head, she let out a small gasp. Aiden noticed the concern on her face and asked what was wrong.

"My shoe," Lila replied, sitting down. "It's got a big hole in it. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Aiden wished he could help the woman, but needed to reach the farm by mid-day. He wished her good luck.  

As he walked along the long boulevard and park in front of the cathedral, Aiden couldn't help but think of Lila and her music. He wondered if they would meet again someday, and if she would play him another song.

As he walked, he couldn't help but think about his family. His father had always been a tough but fair man, with a deep love for horses. His mother was the heart of the family, always making sure everyone was fed and cared for. Aiden had two siblings, a 14-year-old brother named Tomas and a 9-year-old sister named Emilia. Tomas was always eager to help his father with the horses, while Emilia loved nothing more than to chase after the chickens and play with the crows that perched on the fence.

The sun had risen high above the distant hills, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. Aiden took a deep breath of the fresh morning air, the cool breeze sweeping through his cloak and rustling his hair. As he walked down the dusty road, he saw fields of wheat and barley swaying in the wind, the bright green leaves waving to and fro. Several crows flew overhead, cawing in the sunlight. The scent of wildflowers filled his nostrils, and he could hear the distant roar of a river somewhere in the distance.

Aiden's thoughts drifted as he walked. He thought about his family and the life they had built on the farm. He thought about the horses and how much he loved working with them. He thought about the people of Tirovna and the various adventures and battles they faced. As he walked, he could feel the stress of his studies at the Combat Institute slipping away, replaced by the peace and quiet of the countryside. He was content to just walk, lost in his own thoughts, until he arrived at the farm.

But his thoughts were interrupted as he saw his father waiting for him at the edge of the farm. Aiden's heart sank as he noticed the worried look on his father's face.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Aiden asked, his concern growing.

"The horses are sick," his father replied, his voice heavy with worry. "It's some kind of sickness we've never seen before. We've been trying everything to cure them, but nothing seems to be working. I don't know what we're going to do if we lose any more of them."

Aiden felt a pang of fear in his chest. The horses were their family's livelihood, and if they lost them, they would be in serious trouble. He promised his father he would do everything he could to help.

As he walked towards the stables, he saw Tomas already hard at work, feeding and caring for the horses. Emilia was chasing after the chickens, her laughter filling the air. But Aiden could tell that the weight of the situation was affecting them all.