By Your Side

It had been a long and transformative journey of two yearss since I first embarked on my training under the wise and revered Lord Chiron. The passage of time had not only honed my skills but also enriched my mind with a vast array of knowledge that was highly sought after by many. The privilege of receiving such teachings was not lost on me.

As I stood in the midst of a serene landscape, Lord Chiron's voice, filled with patience and wisdom, resonated softly in my ears. His guidance was a constant reminder of the immense responsibility that came with my training.

With focused determination, I carefully positioned my self-crafted bow, its intricate details a testament to the countless hours I had spent perfecting my craft. Ahead of me, a graceful deer grazed peacefully in a meadow, blissfully unaware of our presence.

Both Achilles and I had been fortunate enough to witness the masterful hunts of Lord Chiron. Under his expert guidance, we had learned the art of crafting our own bows and arrows, honing our skills in archery, and mastering the delicate art of tracking down our prey. But Lord Chiron's teachings went beyond the mere mechanics of hunting; he instilled in us a deep reverence for the creatures we would inevitably take the lives of, reminding us to honor their sacrifice so that we could sustain our own.

As we stood in the presence of the majestic Lord Chiron, his voice resonated with a blend of authority and compassion. His words carried the weight of countless years of wisdom. "Remember," he began, his voice laced with instruction, "breathe in and let your focus lock onto your target. When you are ready, exhale and release the arrow, allowing your skill and intention to merge in perfect harmony."

I drew in a deep breath, feeling my heart rate slow as I steadied my aim on the unsuspecting deer. With a practiced hand, I released the arrow, watching as it soared through the air and struck the animal with a resounding thud. For a moment, I thought I had missed my target, but then I heard the deer's mournful moan, and I realized that I had indeed hit it. A surge of pride and excitement coursed through me. 'I hit it!' I thought to myself, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over me.

"Bravo, Patroklos." Lord Chiron's approving voice broke through my reverie, and I turned to him, feeling a sense of validation at his praise.

"Finally, I'm starving." Achilles let out a chuckle from beside me. His hunting skills were already well-established, and he had taken down his fair share of prey. He was a true natural with the bow, as well as with the lyre and spear.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his comment, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "If you're that hungry, you could have always gone hunting on your own," I quipped, the sarcasm dripping from my words.

Achilles shot me a playful grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I could have but I didn't want to steal your moment." He retorted, his tone light-hearted.

"Enough." Lord Chiron's voice cut through our banter, reminding us of the task at hand. "The deer is still alive, Patroklos. You know what you must do." The deer still lay wounded, its fate resting in my hands. His words were gentle yet firm, a reminder of the solemn responsibility that came with taking the life of another creature.

With guidance from Lord Chiron, Achilles had been gradually discovering the various capabilities of his unique spear. He now skillfully unsheathed it, allowing only the blade to emerge from the top.

As Achilles entrusted the weapon to my trembling hands, I clutched it tightly, feeling its weight and coldness seep into my very being. Desperation flooded my thoughts, for I had prayed fervently that this moment would never come to pass. Yet, against all hopes, it had become a harsh reality. My arrow had missed its mark, and now the poor creature lay before me, its anguished groans piercing the air, a haunting testament to my failure.

"The longer you hesitate, the more the animal suffers," Lord Chiron's voice resonated with a mix of compassion and urgency, his words a somber reminder of the dire situation.

My breaths quivered, each inhalation a struggle to steady my racing heart. My hands trembled uncontrollably, betraying the turmoil that raged within me. Summoning every ounce of willpower, I drew in a deep breath, attempting to regain composure. But the weight of the moment proved overwhelming, and my attempts at self-control proved futile, as my inner turmoil threatened to consume me whole.

I couldn't bear to remain idle any longer, watching the creature writhing in agony. A surge of determination coursed through me, urging me to take action. With a resolute breath, I mustered the strength to drive the weapon towards what I believed to be its heart. The blade pierced the air with a swift, decisive motion. My entire being recoiled, my eyes instinctively squeezing shut, unable to witness the outcome.

Silence settled upon the scene, broken only by the echo of my pounding heart. Slowly, cautiously, I dared to open my eyes, bracing myself for the sight that awaited me. There, before me, lay the deer, its once vibrant form now still and lifeless. A pang of remorse gripped my soul, and I found myself whispering an apology so faint, it was barely audible even to my own ears.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, the words a fragile offering to the fallen creature, as if seeking solace in the midst of my own conflicted emotions.

"You did well, Patroklos. I'll carry it back home, and you will prepare it." Lord Chiron announced as he lifted the body onto his shoulders, his long dark brown hair becoming soaked in blood, as did his exposed back.

Achilles extended his hand towards me, his fingers outstretched in a gesture of assistance. I let out a deep sigh before grasping his hand, using his strength to pull myself up from the ground.

Achilles flashed a cocky smile as he spoke, his words dripping with a playful tone. "I only wanted my spear back, but I guess pulling yourself up works too. You're welcome." He said, relishing in his own wit.

My expression remained neutral as I regarded him, unimpressed by his attempt at humor.

"Fuck you." I muttered under my breath as I turned to walk away.

Achilles quickly realized his mistake and jogged to catch up to me. "Hey, I was joking! Come on, I'm just trying to cheer you up." He said, positioning himself in front of me to block my path. "It was just a joke, I promise."

"It's not about that," I replied, my voice heavy with emotion. The memory of the deer was weighing heavily on my heart.

"Then what is it?" he asked, his concern evident in his expression.

"The deer...the way it looked at me, it was sad," I explained, my voice barely above a whisper. The image of the deer's mournful eyes was replaying inside my mind.

"Well, it was dying. How else would it look?" Achilles retorted, his voice laced with a hint of indifference.

I let out a frustrated yell, unable to contain my exasperation any longer. "Are you seriously this clueless, Achilles?! Do you not feel a shred of sadness when you take a life? When you extinguish someone else's existence?"

"Why would I?" Achilles replied, his tone nonchalant as he shrugged lazily. "Death is an inevitable part of life. You live, and then you die. It's as simple as that." He seemed unfazed by the weight of his words. "That's why you have to become a legend! So that no one ever forgets your name, and therefore you'll live for eternity!"

"You don't have to be a merciless killer to be remembered!" I shouted, my voice filled with desperation. I hoped that my words would penetrate his stubborn facade. "Is that truly what you want your legacy to be? A trail of blood left behind in the pursuit of glory?" I implored, hoping to make him understand. "When you killed those thugs in that alley, you were laughing. You revelled in it. But did you even take a single moment to look into their eyes and witness the life fading away? I have never seen something so horrific..." The memory of their lifeless eyes haunted me, etching a deep sadness within my soul.

Achilles' expression underwent a chilling transformation as soon as I finished speaking. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by an icy detachment that sent shivers down my spine.

"I did," he responded, his voice devoid of its usual playfulness. "I did look at them, and I enjoyed it. I relished in their deaths, but it wasn't for the sheer pleasure of it. Otherwise, you would see me slaughtering people indiscriminately, without reason. I killed those thugs because they posed a threat to your life. I don't care how sorrowful their eyes may have been, or how much I should be burdened with shame for finding pleasure in it. I did it for the right reasons." He turned abruptly, his back now facing me. The tension in his stance was palpable. "Just because death doesn't affect me in the same way it affects you, it doesn't mean I am heartless."

Achilles marched away.

After reluctantly leaving the scene of the deer, I made my way back to my humble abode, a small cave where I had first encountered Lord Chiron. With his guidance, I began the arduous task of preparing the deer, its blood staining my hands and clothes, leaving a distinct, rusty scent in the air.

Lord Chiron, ever watchful, oversaw my efforts, offering advice and guidance as I worked. By the time I had finished, I was covered in a dry, dark residue of blood, a stark reminder of the life that had been taken.

Sensing my weariness, Lord Chiron gently instructed me to cleanse myself in one of the nearby rivers. Not the one we relied on for drinking, of course. With a mix of exhaustion and anticipation, I followed his guidance, finding solace in the thought of washing away the physical and emotional weight that clung to me.

As I reached the riverbank, I shed my clothes, leaving behind the remnants of the hunt. The chilly water greeted me, causing an immediate reaction in my body as goosebumps formed and a shiver ran down my spine. I hesitated for a moment, bracing myself for the cold embrace, before stepping into the river, the water rising from my ankles all the way up to my hips.

"Hey," a familiar voice broke the silence, and I turned to see Achilles approaching, his presence both comforting and unexpected.

"Hey," I managed a weak smile, grateful for him coming here.

"Can I join?" Achilles asked, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability.

"Sure," I replied, a mix of surprise and relief washing over me.

Achilles slowly began removing his tunic, and though I averted my gaze out of respect, the familiarity of our shared history allowed for a certain level of comfort in this moment.

As he stepped into the river, the water proved deeper than expected, submerging his lower body up to his hips. The shock of the frigid temperature jolted through him, causing a high-pitched scream to escape his lips-a sound I had never heard from him before, nor did I ever anticipate hearing.

"OH MY GODS! IT'S FREEZING COLD!!" Achilles shrieked, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

Unable to contain myself, I burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the serene surroundings.

"Stop laughing! It isn't funny!" Achilles retorted, annoyance lacing his words.

"But it's quite funny," I managed to respond between chuckles, finding amusement in the unexpected reaction.

For a moment, we locked eyes, our laughter fading, replaced by a shared understanding and a sense of camaraderie. And then, as if unable to resist the infectious joy, we both erupted into laughter once more.

After a while of simply floating in the river, finding solace in its gentle embrace, I mustered the courage to break the silence.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I realize now that your love for fighting doesn't make you a bad person. I shouldn't have insinuated otherwise," I spoke, my voice carrying a mix of sincerity and remorse.

Achilles met my gaze, his eyes filled with understanding and compassion. "I'm sorry too, I know you were upset and saying those things wasn't right. I know how badly the death of your father has upset you." He responded softly, his voice like a delicate feather drifting across a vast ocean.

I sighed, the weight of my emotions palpable. "You're right about my father. His death has left an indelible scar on my heart, a wound that will never fully heal no matter how much I try. I just hate seeing people losing their lives for nothing. Those thugs were bad men but maybe they weren't always like that. Maybe they were driven by desperation, by the need to provide for their families or escape a life of hardship....or maybe they were actually just horrible people, but we can't just kill them."

"They were going to kill us. What else would you have had me do?" Achilles questioned, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

"You're right, and I am grateful for saving me. But there's always another way. We could have incapacitated them, handed them over to the authorities. They could have faced justice, had a chance to atone and perhaps even change."

"Or they could have been released, only to continue robbing and killing." He countered.

"Perhaps," I conceded, my voice laced with uncertainty. "But it's their right to try. We can't deny them that opportunity."

We continued to float side by side, our elbows occasionally brushing against each other. In the quietude of the moment, Achilles spoke my name, his voice filled with a tenderness that sent a gentle ripple through my heart.

"Patroklos..."

"Yes?" I responded, my voice barely a whisper.

"You have a heart that cares deeply. I've never met anyone quite like you. Your ability to see the good in others, even when they don't deserve it... it's a beautiful thing. I'm grateful to have you by my side," he confessed, his words enveloping me like a warm embrace.

His admission caused my heart to skip a beat, a rush of warmth flooding through me. "And I too am grateful to stand beside you," I replied, my voice filled with sincerity. "Remember my promise to you, we don't have to agree on everything, or even anything at all. I will always stand by your side, no matter what." I repeated those same words.

It was true. Nothing could change that. I would stand by Achilles' side through every trial and triumph, our differences only serving to strengthen the bond that held us together, not weaken it.