Gnaji

It was a curious thing, having to decide which part of ones nature was the flawed path. In his mind there were only three choices that presented themselves to him. He could head back into the town and slay the Unicorn-Rider, thus fulfilling the task laid before him by the Ladies Gemini but at the cost of what it meant to be a Forge Knight. Or, he could turn aside from the task, and help to spirit away his fellow Riders, braving the danger that the Ladies wrath would bring to Amstra, and undoubtedly it would be great indeed. Such destruction would weigh on him and him alone, and he would fail the very people he swore to protect. The third choice was of a far more difficult affair to be sure.

A chirp across from him drew his attention back, to where Mavegen looked skywards. He too looked up to see the phoenix flying above before swiftly heading off once more. So they had managed to escape then. A part of him had hoped otherwise, so that the terrible choice that was laid before him never had to be. He knew now what had to happen, there was no other way. Wish though he might for another way, there simply was none, come what may he would not fight it.

He heard Amir coming, the clattering of the golden trinkets were as much a give away as Mavegens surprised look. He could of stopped the boy he was sure of it, but instead he remained there until suddenly, and rather unexpectedly, the boy went crashing into him. He could only imagine how much that would have hurt whilst he was simply knocked over, a flash of red and white blinded him as his head crashed into the hard ground. He opened his eyes, yet his left wouldn't budge, the pressure there must mean it was buried in the ground. But the pressure on his chest could only mean that Amir had managed to sit on top of him, he could only begin to wonder how his head ended up in such a position then.

And then the shouting began once more.

"You motherfucking fucking fuck ton son of a bitch. I should fucking kill you! You are a fucking prick a damn piece of shit that should go rot in hell for at least eight years! You left me for dead back there! You abandoned me! You're a god damn shitty ass shit stick and you can go eat a cum filled cunt!" He allowed the boy his anger, who was he to berate the boy for that? Now of all times? And yet... the sound of pattering on his breastplate... The boy was crying? And when he talked once more it was with a shake and a quiver in his voice. What did this mean? The boy felt betrayed? He couldn't fathom it, as far as he was aware Amir would have been delighted to see the departure of himself, so why was it that the boy was being so emotional? "Look at my fucking arm! This is your fucking fault you dumb ass twat sack. You see the bone? It’s regrowing! My arm got fucking cut off and all I want to do right now is shank your dumbass face with my bone stub! I can’t believe you just fucking left! I cannot fucking believe you had a mental breakdown or that I even considered the dumb ass fucking idea that your cunt ass shitty ass could ever be mother fucking reliable ever! I can't believe you fucking left me there like that!" Trytheus steeled himself, he knew what had to be said. What had to be done.

"You are right, Amir. The fault, and the blame lies with me and me alone." He spoke softly and sincerely."You cannot understand why I acted so because you have not lived the life I have. You speak with a mouth that has known the freedom to speak as it wishes, you live in a body that has not felt the weight of responsibility. I have not had the luxury of choice that you have lived Amir. Trytheus Morrela is not a name or a title... It is... A suit of armour forged from a child. I did not have.. Do not have the luxury to chose how I wish to live my own life, nor have any of the others who bore this name who came before me. We are slaves dedicated to the protection of people we shall never meet, bound in chains of oath and servitude. You cannot understand because you are as free as the wind and I bound as my own armour." He breathed a sigh for now came the truly hard part, he did not doubt the boy had ignored him as he had so many times before. But this time, he would listen for sure. "But you are right. I abandoned you to die, and to die from a fate that was of my own making. I failed to control myself when my oaths were tested. Were any in my service to act as I have their lives would be forfeit. This, is your realm. I submit myself to your judgment, I shall accept what you deem to be my just punishment for my failings."

---

Serafina smiled at the phoenix as it came to her and healed her wound. She cooed to it lightly, always a lover of all types of creatures, and thanked it for its aid. She rolled her newly healed shoulder and wiggled her fingers. It truly was amazing. It had healed right up and Amir's healing arm was yet very fascinating. She could see every nerve, ever sliver of muscle as it grew back. She would have liked to study it, Amir willing, and take notes but now was not the time for such things. It was a thought for another time. They had bigger problems to deal with. She started walking with the boy at her side and rested her hands on her swords.

"I did not say those words to pity, you Amir. As you've said, I understand the pain you've gone through and yet, can I really say that? You've experienced much more curelty. And regardless of your reasons for saving me, I am grateful to you for it. You have given me this chance and I'll cherish it, regardless of how long it lasts." she answered considering the fact that when this was all over, she may still end up dead. Without her Everglade, Meg and May would have no use for her and she would be eliminate it. It did peeve her a bit that this was her fate but she understood. She'd be reborn eventually anyway. Hopefully stronger than before. She did like her currently life however, so she'd do what she could to keep it.

The rest of their walk was in silence, but she didn't much mind that. She peered up at the sky when Hassan returned and the two picked up their pace. When Serafina saw the majestic gryphon in the distance she gave a sigh of relief. She began moving forward only to realize Amir had rushed towards Trytheus. Oh dear. Were the two going to fight again? More fighting wasn't going to get them anywhere! It was what got them into this mess in the first place! What was wrong with men that they assumed everything was resolved with a fist in the face? Though she did have to admit, she had a mind to whack the man herself. Even if his tirade had been to get the others to kill her so he didn't have to do it himself, he had left Amir to the same fate. She would have to be wary around this man. He was not trustworthy. She was surprised the gryphon had chosen to side with someone as sneaky and conniving as this man. Or with a blatant stubborn ape. One of the two.

Serafina hurried to catch up and was panting lightly by the time she reached the pair; Amir already screaming and... tearing up? She sighed and crossed her arms as she listened to the two bicker like a married couple. Though Trytheus did seem to have... sort of given up? His words were troubling and instantly sparked an annoyance in her as well. She stepped forward to get the man's attention as well.

"You seem to be making a lot of assumptions about Amir's past and his responsibilities. You do not rule Ganji, do not know what he has been through and what lay on his shoulders. His age makes no difference. You are talking about this heavy weight of responsibilities, but do we not all have responsibilities? We all are devoted to protecting those we haven't met. You acted like a child back there. I understand full well your task and am willing to accept that but I may have a way to get us all out of this situation and you will no longer have to wrestle with your seemingly black and white moral dilemma. And you don't have a choice? We all have a choice! Our names are responsibilities we take up. You think that Amir and I don't have that mantle? We are riders to, Trytheus. It was always the destiny of the unicorn to be the fragile healer but I made a choice this time around to be different and brandish swords. You can choose and you know very well that consequences come from action and inaction. We are all slaves to that past and the choices our previous reincarnations have made but that doesn't mean you can't live, Trytheus. You are using it as an excuse." She cleared her throat then to get herself out of this lecture. There was sooo much more she could say but they didn't have time for this.

"We can have this debate later. Only the unicorn comes back to life which means my creature isn't dead yet. I am still a rider. Trytheus, you need to take me back to my homeland and get me to my fallen creature. I fear for my land and the other riders that have gone after him. I am sure that he must have turned kelpie by now and as the unicorn rider, I have the ability to understand and speak to creatures. Perhaps I can tame the Kelpie before it harms anyone. Then Meg and May can't say anything about me not having a creature to help future quests and if I can't tame him, well you won't have to kill me after all because Everglade would have done it for you. Even a kelpie can't stand up to all of you; especially the dragon and the phoenix since fire is its bane. Now get up and let's go."

"You are right, Amir. The fault, and the blame lies with me and me alone." Amir freeze himself in shock, a shiver running down his spine. This was not what he had foreseen Trytheus doing, being a reasonable person. He wasn’t sure how to respond, or how to retaliate. Before he could say anything though, the man continued. "You cannot understand why I acted so because you have not lived the life I have. You speak with a mouth that has known the freedom to speak as it wishes, you live in a body that has not felt the weight of responsibility. I have not had the luxury of choice that you have lived Amir. Trytheus Morrela is not a name or a title... It is... A suit of armour forged from a child. I did not have.. Do not have the luxury to chose how I wish to live my own life, nor have any of the others who bore this name who came before me. We are slaves dedicated to the protection of people we shall never meet, bound in chains of oath and servitude. You cannot understand because you are as free as the wind and I bound as my own armour."

Amir sat gaping, still frozen in shock, straddled over the armor clad man, not really sure how to process anything. So far all of their interactions had been hostile and aggravated aggression, he had been banking on that to continue, he could use a good wrestling match right about now, the boy had wanted to hit something despite just fighting for his life. What was worse about this was Try was conceding his defeat, the boy felt his mouth drop open in shock. The stubborn asshole was picking now of all times to not be stubborn, great. Now Amir couldn’t punch him in the face without being the bad guy, meaning he’d have to be the one to apologize. The boy let out a sigh and buried his face in his one present hand. The regeneration of his left arm was reaching his wrist, the hand was the worst part of the process. The intricate make up meant for precise and slower progress as everything got put back together correctly.

He was frustrated by Try’s words, for the entire time the man had been in Gnaji he had ignored everything Amir had said in the name of some bigger cause, or his duties, or being a good person. The boy was about to speak when Sera interjected and he turned to look at her. She had quite the speech, it was long and agreeable and that pissed him off all the more. After she finished it was tense, like really, really, really tense. The blond boy looked back at Trytheus, “What the fuck… Why would you pick now of all times to not be absolutely infuriating…?”

He sniffed loudly and rolled off the man, pushing himself to his feet. He looked awful, but he glanced between the two. Trytheus just submitted himself to Amir’s judgement, which he was pretty sure meant he had a free pass to have the man do whatever he wanted just this once. It was attempting, it was a lot of power, but with Sera alive if something big didn’t happen he was sure Meg and May would take the utmost joy in tearing him apart and eating his flesh. Over and over again with the aid of Hassan, that would be miserable. He cleared his throat, a sudden smirk appearing. “Then Trytheus, I judge that you go and take the Unicorn Rider to her beast and once we see each other again you can’t make one snide comment towards me for twenty-four hours no matter what I do. There, you are judged you dumb animal.”

Once more, Trytheus was forced to listen as he was berated. They did not understand, either of them. How could they? It was true what he had said, they had known a life where choice was as simple as thought, yet for him he had not had the chance to chose his path on life. He had lived a life where such freedoms were beyond him, he had a duty to uphold, one which could wait whilst he wished for a better life. And yet he had actually managed to stump Amir. Truly he had been ill expecting that outcome, it had been far more likely for the boy to continue his tirade.

Still he was glad when the boy actually decided to move from where he was sat on his chest, if nothing to be rid of his intimidate presence. He rolled over and up to his feet with practiced ease, dirt falling from his helm in clumps as it was dislodged in the motion. He turned as Mavegen approached him, he could see the sympathy in her eyes as she stood before him. The two pressed their foreheads together as a mark of companionship as Amir declared his decree.

"Then Trytheus, I judge that you go and take the Unicorn Rider to her beast and once we see each other again you can’t make one snide comment towards me for twenty-four hours no matter what I do. There, you are judged you dumb animal." He could hear the smug pride bleeding through the boys voice, no doubt he was delighted about the opportunity to give him a command. Frankly he was surprised the boy didn't want him to kneel at his feet and declare him his superior or some such filth. He didn't even look up from where his head was pressed against the mighty griffons as he spoke, with any luck cutting off the boy before he could make another demand.

"As you say. I shall take her to wherever her beast lays or the monster it has become roams. But once it is dispatched." He pulled away from Mavegen to lock Amir in his steely gaze. "I shall fly direct to my homeland and I shall not be returning to this accursed desert." With his own deceleration finished he made his way around to Mavegens side and climbed to the saddle. Mavegen did not simply take off into the sky however she did fix Serafina with a baleful glare to show her disdane of how the Rider had decided to conduct herself. It was clear she was unpleased with the virtual attack that was being thrown on her rider. Trytheus took the chance to fight against his fellow Rider words before they took flight, he knew that the wind would make all conversation impossible.

"I do not say I have no choice as an excuse, I am not saying it as a way of dodging the mistakes of the past. The Griffon Rider is not the same as you other Riders, you are individuals, free to live how you wish. You chose to take up the sword in the defense of your people. I had the sword placed in my hand. I was not born to name Trytheus Morrela, only one ever was and he was the first to begin our cycle. My birth name, my birth family, everything that would ever have been me was lost when the child that was was taken away. Do not speak of knowings one past. For me, there was none, only the path of Trytheus. Now come, I would rather we were away and be done with this."