Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

21 Training Inside the Magic Ball

It was Noah’s second summer in the United States, and it was pretty much sweat, heat, and dry air for the past days.

Last year was the beginning of his dreams in a busy city. He didn’t have any friends, he didn’t have a clue as to what he would do with the paintings he found inside the Magic Ball, and he didn’t have the tiniest idea what to pursue in life after he quit his white-collar job in Italy.

For months, he didn’t even have his own place to live in, but thanks to one of his colleagues Brice, he gets to have a place to crash while he’s processing his residency and finding a house to live in with his dogs.

Just before Christmas, he got to visit his family in Italy. He would never forget the shock that etched on his mother’s face when he rang their new house’s doorbell. Upon opening the door, Noah squished her in a tight embrace.

It was the best Christmas celebration he had in a while. Although he only had little time to spend with his family, he still managed to relax and treat them to a fancy restaurant.

He’s practically twenty-seven years old now, and soon, he’d turn another year older. His younger brother Elijah, unexpectedly announced his engagement when they were opening the presents underneath the enormous Christmas tree their father bought at a Christmas Bazar downtown.

Mary was the first one to burst out crying, hugging their equally shocked mother. Their father just stood at the alcove that leads to the living room, his eyes bulging from the shock that his youngest son would now take the path of marriage.

Noah tackled Elijah and hugged him tightly on the carpet. He told him how happy he was that he gets to find a woman he was willing to spend his entire life with.

Elijah patted his back and told him that he, too, was relieved—he was the happiest.

Despite Elijah’s busy schedule as a booming software developer, he announced to everyone that he would definitely find the time for a wedding and a loving wife.

Noah tipped his head and laughed so loud his voice resounded in their entire living room. Tears sprang at the tip of his eyes, and he had to suppress his grin a little at what his brother is implying at his current love-less life. He assured Elijah that it was alright and that sooner or later, the right person will come for him. Elijah smirked and said something along the lines of you better be.

Giving his mother a side glance, his sister Mary giggled and teased him that she would probably get married before Noah does.

Noah raised his eyebrows at her remark and asked if she found herself a boyfriend. Mary smirked and walked out of the room, their father erupting in a fit that his mother chuckled at. Noah guessed no one knew that she was dating a teacher at her previous job.

When he went back to Maple City, he spent his days grooming and aiding the needs of his animals—both in the Stream Ranch and inside the Magic Ball. He let Thomas—his esteemed and trustworthy employee—handle the remaining animals he placed in his Stream Ranch while he was away in trips inside his Magic Ball. Of course, his employees questioned him, but Noah had come up with an excuse; he told them that he had the new animals placed in a separate ranch and that he wouldn’t transfer them to the Stream Ranch until they’re a year older.

Though hesitant, Noah sensed Thomas put aside his doubts as he nodded, assuring Noah that his livestock and poultry will be in good hands. Noah reminded him about the only adult horse he owns, and Thomas said he would walk the horse every day.

Entering the Magic Ball was getting easier than it had when he first found it on a stream. His eyes landed on the foals—but they were no longer foals—they have become adult horses that can run around non-stop. Noah had to do a long whistle for them to notice his presence.

Bean was the first one to respond, and despite the pouring rain inside the Magic Ball, Bean was always the first one to respond to Noah’s call. His damp mare stuck to his muzzle. He shook it, and the rainwater splattered on Noah’s sweater.

Noah can’t help but wonder why it was raining hard at the Magic Ball, when in fact, it’s still snowing back at his world. He had noticed their discrepancies in weather the moment he entered the Magic Ball in spring, but what he had seen inside it was autumn. And now, it’s spring again, but the outside world is an ice-cold, frozen land.

Noah has this theory that the Magic Ball speeds its time faster than in the outside world. That would explain to why the animals had a growth spurt inside it.

A sad thought got him thinking. If that’s true, then it meant all his animals would die earlier than their probable life expectancy.

Eyes bright as the sun, Noah watched how Snowflake consistently lingered a few feet away from Bean. Noah observed that she deliberately stands at the end of the group when they are doing their daily run inside the fence Noah built around the wooden cabin. He’s relatively sure that Bean is the king amongst them—the superior horse of the group. He was the horse that every foal he bought would follow whenever he sits on the lush grass and bask underneath the sun’s heat. Now, all of Noah’s horses ran on mud and puddles without a care in the world.

One time, he caught Bean running close to Snowflake at a fast speed. Snowflake just stood there, casually waving her mare at Bean. Noah almost died of a heart attack when he saw how angry Bean was. Whatever Snowflake did, it affected Bean too much that he looked as if he will stomp and bite at anyone who tries to stop him from running over Snowflake.

Noah can’t help but think the way Bean looked at Snowflake as if she was an enemy—they’re becoming more and more human by day. All animals, especially Bean and Snowflake, stare straight at Noah’s face when he’s talking to them in the field as if they understand what he’s saying.

Again, Noah had the chills that these animals understand every word that he will say.

Clasping a baseball in hand, he tested his intuition right away. He reached the yellow-striped ball to Bean. “Can you dip this on the pond?” he asked nicely without taking off his eyes on Bean’s.

The horse sniffed the ball. He looked at it for a long time. And when Noah was about to repeat the question, Bean slowly bit the ball in Noah’s hand. He neighed long and galloped toward the pond, the ball safely tucked in his mouth.

When he reached the pond, Bean lowered his muzzle on the water and placed the baseball on its surface. The ball floated without a care in the world. Bean turned his head at a gaping Noah, and neighed loud, as if to tell him, here you go. What’s next?

Noah looked at Snowflake approaching from behind him. The shinning horse nuzzled its nose on Noah’s neck, probably sensing that he was at a lost for words.

With his free hand, Noah wrapped the other on Snowflake’s neck, tilting her cheeks at his. He needed to test this one more time—Noah managed to say just this once.

“Snowflake, can you drag Bean here?”

Snowflake’s huge eyes moved to Noah’s as if he was saying something impossible.

“Come on,” Noah begged, his voice alluring, while his bright eyes lingered on Snowflake's. The horse literally rolled her eyes at him. It started walking casually toward where Bean is. Then, she bit Bean, and he erupted into a hundred, loud neighs. His foot even attempted to kick anyone within his vicinity. It was a good thing they’re inside the Magic Ball.

Next, Snowflake bit Bean’s left ear and dragged him toward where Noah is. The two horses towered him even if he’s already six-feet tall.

Whistling, he gave Bean an apologetic smile. Bean neighed at him, his nostrils flaring hard. He caught Snowflake’s unbothered expression, and Noah noticed he started getting angrier than he had earlier.

Through such interactions, Noah proved that animals raised inside the Magic Ball tend to be atleast five times more intelligent than those raised in the outside world. No wonder Mik, Ginger, and Cole acted more human than he had seen in any animals.

Three weeks went by in the blink of an eye, and Noah managed to teach the horses a few of his tricks in communicating. In the course of twenty-one days, he disappeared from his Stream Ranch without saying a word to anyone. Thomas assumed he was going on a business trip, and it was the same reason he told Nancy and Wynn. Noah liked the consistency of the story it was heading to.

Stroking a brunette horse’s muzzle, Noah said to no one in particular, “how am I supposed to bring the other animals here?” but then again, Noah thought he should just put a new cattle and sheep here. He won’t tell a soul, and once he’s done with raising them for a year, he will turn over the responsibility to Thomas.

Pulling his straw hat further down his eyes, Noah crouched on the soil and began lazing around. Placing his arms behind his head, he dragged the straw hat over his face. Closing his eyes, he breathed the refreshing wind that caressed his arms.

While he crossed his right foot over his left, he felt the galloping of horses near him. Taking the straw hat off from his face, he spotted Snowflake looming above him, her face contorted into what looked like worry.

“What is it?” Noah asked as if she knew how to answer.

Snowflake sat on his right, her eyes focused on Noah. “I’m okay, girl,” Noah said as he reached his hand to run his fingers on Snowflake’s flaxen-colored hair.

The female horse neighed softly and placed her head down near Noah’s. The gesture made Noah chuckle. He thought she must have been worried if he was sick.

A movement came from his left side. Sitting gently, Noah squinted his eyes at the black figure running to where he was. It was Bean, heading fast to where Noah is. His hair flew with the wind, and for a split second, Noah thought he had black wings on his back. His hair shined brighter than the sun.

Stopping in front of the fence’s lock, Bean tilted his head in question. Noah watched him wondering what to do with the locked fence.

Would he ask me for help? Noah thought as he caught Snowflake, shaking her head to where Bean is.

Just when Noah had decided to open the fence for him, Bean began lifting his left leg. Noah’s mouth slightly opened as Bean unhooked the lock on the fence’s door. When he saw the chain fall, he moved a foot away from it. Lifting his left foot again, he pushed the fence’s door open.

Bean met Noah’s eyes as he made his way to where they were. Noah was in shock, but he didn’t show it. The animal might understand what he’s implying.

To witness Bean’s actions, Noah is completely convinced that they have higher intelligence than compared to the animals raised outside of the Magic Ball. He’s so swayed by the miracles of this land that he wanted to place every animal he owns inside—here in his perfectly mowed lawn.

“That was amazing,” he said while giving two pats on Bean’s belly.

Bean’s a king, while Cole is a leader. Noah thought there’s nothing better than to see them grow up into beautiful and intelligent animals.