Cursus Honorum – Andabata

It’s been a few days since the group of loyal devotees had begun their journey together. Nephthys, the desert mare with the fierce stare, aiming to become a priestess of Ares. Azrael, the male forest-mountain cross who obsessed over Aether and would do anything to become a troubadour for the highlord. And Thespian, the chimeric mountain stallion with the monochrome coat who had embraced Tyndariai’s ways. The group, although so unique and different from each other, had met at the charred plains and decided to travel together, as they were all heading the same direction: The temple of the three. They hadn’t known each other before and along the way they’ve had arguments too, but now that they were all exhausted from the journey, everyone had been a little on edge. For the past couple hours, walking along the slim path that had been carved into the mountain, they had not talked much – everyone just keeping their personal goal in mind and focusing on their steps, until suddenly, Azrael exclaimed: «Look! We almost made it to the top!»

The three felt a wave of relief wash over them and felt new energy as they saw the roof of the temple peek from the rocks. But they were not alone up here…

«Hello?! Please anyone, you have to help me! I can't stand up on my own!»

Surprised about this unexpected call that seemed to be coming from ahead, the three looked at each other for a moment, then kept going cautiously. Behind a ledge, they finally discovered the ballator in distress. A black Mountain mare with a large splash marking, covering her whole underside and most of her face, was lying on the ground a few steps away. She seemed to be in pain, as she frowned and gritted her teeth. Her voice was shaky, but she was clearly relieved someone had come by. Who knows how long she'd been waiting here in the middle of nowhere for anyone to show up.

Nephthys glanced over at her company, the small flames on the branches of her Solar Crown burning steadily, the orange light reflecting in the metal headpiece and creating deep shadows on her face. The branches had been fastened to her own horns and seemed to create a chaotic mess at first glance, but the whole crown had been fitted to her perfectly and crafted with much care by another of Ares’ huntresses. 

Azrael reacted exactly how the desert had expected he would, first snorting loudly at the stranger before replying to them: «Well, that depends purely on your alignment. Tell me mare, are you affiliated with Hannibal's treacherous Legion?»

He squinted his eyes and stared the traveler down, keen on discovering any potential lies. While Nephthys thought to herself that he was a judgemental and arrogant fool, at least he was like an open book. His judgemental attitude and commitment to Aether may make him a difficult ballator to be around, yet at least you always knew what he was about and could even manipulate him at times.

Meanwhile Thespian had studied the splash mare quietly as well. Part of his face was obscured by the colorful, shimmering crown he wore, yet Nephthys could see in his eyes that the stallion's expression was blank. Still, he was thinking, if only for a moment, about whether offer his help or not. To the desert mare it seemed almost as if he was tossing a coin in his mind, randomly deciding what to do whenever he had to make a decision. 

During their journey together she had realized that he was completely open minded towards ballators of all kinds, no matter their origin, sex, beliefs or type. He did not care about anything like that, and even after he had heard about her and Azrael's reasons for coming to the Mount of Three, he didn't treat them any differently, accepting them just as they were. In this aspect, Azrael and her were more alike. The seal bay stallion clearly despised all of Hannibal’s Legion and did not think too highly of Wayfarers or Ares' Hunters either, but even Nephthys herself disliked unpledged ballators. To her they were lacking commitment, running away from an unpleasant truth, because if they liked it or not, the lords were living among them and there was no way to ignore that. Avoiding the lords meant they were unreliable and to her, even those that believed in Hannibal were more honorable than that. Her partner Ramanach was proof of that.

Yet Thespian was very different compared to them and that was what she didn't like about him. He was not evil, at least she didn't think so, but she had no idea how to reckon up his character when he seemed to change his opinion on a whim. Then suddenly, after making up his mind, the chimera turned and walked away from the stranger without another word. Nephthys watched him continue walking up the mountain, but instead of following the stallion she focused on the task at hoof.

«Shut up Azrael, it doesn't matter whom she believes in – we have to help her.»

The appaloosa was speechless for a moment, as he clearly didn't like the way she talked to him just then, but knew this was neither the place nor the time to argue with her. Not now that they were so close to their goal of the Temple of the Three. After all, Aether may hear him.

«Th...thank you!» the mare exclaimed, clearly uncomfortable with the way this meeting was going so far, but just happy they didn't leave her here on her own.

«My name is Pulchra.»

«Well, what happened to you Pulchra?»

«Well...this is a bit awkward. I came here looking to make some new…aquaintances.»

«Aquaintances. Here of all places? This is the mount of the three, not a dating cafe.»

Nephthys couldn't hide her disapproval, but the stranger only sighed.

«I don't need a lecture from someone I don't even know. That's not what I'm asking you to help me for.»

At that moment, the carey was seriously considering just leaving and thought to herself that Thespian, even without knowing it beforehand, had been smart to get away from this shallow Ballator. She tried her best to keep calm and not verbally lash out, as Nephthys knew that this mare was not worth the trouble.

«So what's the problem then?»

«I think I sprained my ankle. I have weak pasterns, and as I was walking along this rough terrain I must've rolled my ankle and now I can't walk properly. Perhaps a strong, handsome stallion like you could help me out?»

She fluttered her eyelashes at Azrael in vain, whose suspicious and annoyed expression had not changed since earlier.

«You do have three legs that still work fine, right?»

Nephthys boxed the appaloosa in his side to urge him to do something.

«Just help her so we can finally keep going. That's what Aether would want you to do, no?»

Grumbling to himself so quietly nobody could understand what he was saying, the stallion helped the stranger get on her hooves and supported her as they kept walking up the mountain while Nephthys trotted ahead. Thankfully it was not very far anymore, but all along the way Pulchra Deceptus put her whole body weight on him, almost as if she was trying to cuddle up to him while walking.

When they reached the top and had walked towards the final steps to the huge, decorated white stone temple towering over them, Azrael – very annoyed from this whole ordeal – just leaped forward, almost making the mare fall when her support was gone so suddenly. He didn't even enjoy the view after this long and exhausting journey, the peaks of the rough mountains around them scratching at the clouds, yet none of them as impressive as the one they were on right now. It was so cold up here that the cross' breath was visible in the chilly air, yet the climb had warmed him up so he didn't mind at all and just focused on his goal. The mare however was not done with him yet.

«W...what now? I need to get down the mountain, I can't stay here forever!»

Azrael spoke as he walked towards the entrance, without turning his head around.

«Not my problem. I got you to shelter, you can just prop up your leg and rest here until you feel better I'm sure.»

«Hmpf. How rude! And here I was thinking I met a chivalrous knight to help a girl in need!»

Now he stopped, his ears twitching. Slowly the stallion turned around to look at the mare standing in the middle of the mountain plateau, trying to show herself from her best side, but to no avail.

«That must've been a misunderstanding. My heart belongs to Aether and Aether only, not any obscure broad I happen to stumble across. If you were looking for someone to hook up, you will be severely disappointed.»

«Hmpf...I see. Well then we must say farewell. Please don't run after me if you change your mind» she said, hoping he would indeed do just that.

Before Azrael could ask what she meant, the mare turned around and walked back the way they came from to get down the mountain. Her 'injury' was gone all of a sudden. A miraculous healing apparently took place at the god’s temple.

The stallion was clearly disgruntled now, stomping around trying to find his travel companions, which was not a difficult feat, granted he could hear them from afar. He discovered them both outside, around the corner of the temple, arguing with each other.

«...Well she wasn't OUR responsibility either, yet it would've been great if you had stayed to help us out!»

«I didn't think you needed a babysitter, Nephthys. You two seemed like you had it all under control, even without me. And after all, we hardly know each other. I don't owe you anything and you don't owe me.»

Thespian's voice was calm, but the desert was getting more angry by the minute and the flames on her solar crown seemed to grow and burn more fiercely, emphasizing her rage.

«See, that's the problem with you! You're only focusing on yourself! I highly doubt your esteemed deathlord would endorse this kind of behavior!»

«You know nothing about Tyndariai, huntress.»

«And you do?? Don't kid yourself! Even to his own followers the deathlord is still shrouded in mystery! He doesn't even care about your loyalty!»

«I'm not doing this to prove myself to him or anyone else.»

«Then what ARE you doing it for?! Why are you HERE?!»

Before they could start going at each others throats – or rather Nephthys going at Thespian's – Azrael stepped between the two.

«We made it all the way here, let's not forget the lords are listening. Arguing won't make a good impression and we have to put our best hoof forward.»

«You're right» Thespian said. «It's been a long journey and we are all exhausted. Let's get some rest before we continue.»

The mare was fuming mad, but his gaze, piercing her through his duality crown that shimmered and almost seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun, made her reconsider. She realized he would not listen to her anyway, so she whirled around and stormed off on her own, leaving the two stallions behind. 

In order get some rest himself, the chimera took off his heavy crown and placed it carefully on a rock next to him. The metal was so shiny, it was clear he took great care of it and he did not want to enter such a sacred place with dirt or sweat on his beautiful headpiece, which is why he proceeded to clean the crown carefully and diligently. Azrael, who did not wear a crown himself, just watched him for a while. Thespian pulled out a small but beautifully embroidered handkerchief from the inside of the crown, breathed on the metal and softly rubbed the outside with the fabric. It was hard to overlook how proud he was of this piece of jewelry that fit his own split appearance so well. Azrael was curious and tried to make smalltalk.

«Is it as heavy as it looks?» 

«It's a small price to pay.»

«For what exactly?»

«Feeling closer to my Lord. As you may have noticed, this crown is different from others in that it needs no fastenings. Tyndariai's power is what holds it in place and many times after I pray I feel it even gets lighter than it normally is. That may be an illusion of course, but I like to think my Lord listens and watches over me, lifting the weight. This crown makes me feel like he's there, even when he's not.»

«Have you ever met him? When the red star rose?»

Thespian shook his head slowly.

«I did not get the chance, no. But I'm sure I will someday. How about you, have you talked to Aether before?»

«Why of course! I have talked to him in my dreams!»

«Is that so? I was not aware this happens to many ballators.»

«Well, I am his most loyal devotee after all. Of course he knows I'm special.»

«Of course.»

Thespian, being his usual self, did not judge Azrael for his words nor his arrogant behavior. He just accepted what he said, taking it at face value until proven otherwise, even if he may not truly believe it.

«That sounds comforting.»

«It is the greatest honor I have ever known.»

For a moment they remained silent, thinking about their Lords and the journey that brought them here. The stallion with the split appearance finished up polishing his crown, tucked the fabric away and looked over at his smaller companion, then he started to speak once more.

«By the by, what happened to that injured mare from earlier? Did she not come with you?»

«HA! Well she was, but then that shammer took off again. Turned out she was not even injured. And to think I brought her all the way here.»

«Perhaps Aether wanted to test you?»

«There is no need to test me. I am loyal to the highlord in every way.»

«Perhaps this wasn't about resolve, but rather selflessness. Or purity of heart.»

Azrael snorted.

«Highlord Aether is not a trickster like some of the other lords. He would not do that.»

The chimera understood the critical comment towards Tyn, but just nodded and replied: «If you say so, it must be true…»