Achilles has mixed feelings about being here on Mount Pelion. Itās always been part of his future, heās known that his whole life. But still, it makes it strange to finally be here. Another part of his life thatās carefully chosen for him, another part of a puzzle that he had no role in setting out.Ā
But he has Patroclus here with him, so at least heās not alone. Achilles sits side-by-side with his companion, listening to Chiron until a girl comes back to camp. He nearly greets her, and then she speaks, and his eyes flash with annoyance.Ā
He would defend himself, proclaim his title to her and insist on respect. But he doubts sheāll give it, so he bites his tongue and scowls at her, scoffing with disdain for her comments before he returns his gaze to Chiron. The girl doesnāt go back into the cave, but he mostly manages to ignore her. Sheās annoying, he decides immediately, and disrespectful. He wonāt enjoy her presence, but she was here first, and heās a student here, not a prince. He canāt give orders.
She finally turns to him, and Achilles leans back with his hands supporting him, eyes narrowed as he looks at her.Ā
āI was brought here to learn, same as you,ā he says sourly, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.Ā āI owe you no other explanation as to why I was chosen to be here. I am Achilles. Who are you?ā
Day one of this and she was more than ready for it to be over with. The one thing that made it remotely bearable was that a majority of her time here as a student had passed. Now all she had to do was get through a little over a few years and she could return home to her family and never be another demigod or hero's plaything. It was the greatest gift and show of love from Ares she had ever received and she was thankful for that, thankful enough to begrudgingly suck it up by scathing tolerance. Penthesilea's look is grim, tight-lipped with narrowed eyes before she starts to ease up.
Giving him some space, she sighs. "Good, you stand up for yourself without simpering or being a pushover. Respectable, Achilles." Confidence, metaphorically standing straight without indicating that, as she had done to him, Penthesilea did not belong here as a woman. Respect for him even if she has yet to like him -- truly -- he stands out compared to more self-entitled men. "--Penthesilea. Princess, Daughter of Ares, and younger sister of Hippolyta and Antiope of the Amazons. And your companion, what of him?"
