[center][h2][i][sub]Θεόδωρος[/sub][/i][/h2][hr][i]Αγάλι-αγάλι γίνεται η αγουρίδα μέλι.[/i]
[sup]ᴛ ʜ ᴇ  ᴜ ɴ ʀ ɪ ᴘ ᴇ   ɢ ʀ ᴀ ᴘ ᴇ   ɢ ᴇ ᴛ s   s ᴡ ᴇ ᴇ ᴛ   ᴀ s   ʜ ᴏ ɴ ᴇ ʏ ,   ᴀ ᴛ   ᴀ   s ʟ ᴏ ᴡ    ᴘ ᴀ ᴄ ᴇ .[/sup][hr][/center]

Pride was something Theodoros felt all too unnoticeably from his commanding officers.  It was a feeling that was swelling in his chest and allowed himself to hold his head high.  Where many of the men had failed or been exhausted, Theodoros had endured. He could feel his muscles boasting with contentment as they flexed against the reigns of his horse, high from the ground and just as determined in spirit.  His knuckles gripped the ropes and the steady movements of his horse, Manga, glided through the terrain.  

There was a calmness between the two creatures, and Theodoros thought it was of utmost importance to remind himself of  gratefulness to Cornet Leventis, his superior in the hierarchy of his current path.  He had no hope of ascending the ladder without reverencing respect and obedience to the man, and the Greek found it hard not to avowal towards the man, steady and level headed as he was. Lieutenant Karas was a completely different beast.  Such so that [i]beast[/i] was not used lightly.  However, it would be a lie to say that some of the men, swine perhaps more than sheep, needed more of a birch.

His two brothers might have been uneasy with Theodoros’ head, thinking so deeply of himself.  Thoughts scoffed at the imaginary scolds of his older, more pious-seeming brothers. He had patriotic redemption in the Imperial Lagoons. Their journey of littanies through repetitious training had made them who they were today.  Besides, Theodoros could feel, even hidden for keepsake in his pocket, the darkest wool braided and knotted for perfection, praising the tagmata for their accomplishments and commitment.  It was now that their confidence should not be scoured. The young man was not going to let his nerves bite away at his thoughts.  This was not a time for being jumpy and insecure.

“Under your guidance, I 'been able to see an' hear more clearly than before, Cornet Leventis,” Theodoros tried to speak boldly but humbly.  His tongue as unable to chant the way he wanted his words to sound, and for several seconds between his unfinished words his mind pondered in paranoia -- deeper than his usual nervousness (having tried to forcefully suppress it only to see it overcome him in a surprising instant) -- the way in which his vocals resounded towards his triptych when he made his daily prayers.  Unfortunately, Theodoros was unable to finish his statement.  His inner calm having been so disturbed by the slightest of conversation, had been weak and trembling (at least, for a soldier) and the Cornet had already withdrew himself from the conversation.

His eyes cast onward, unwilling to admit physical defeat by declining his neck or eyes. He was but a crumb on the Diskos, and as small as his duty was, it was an important one.  Slowly the grain of sand would travel along the riverside -- and with all the insight he could muster through the knowledge of his physicality, his heart was still in want for taming the madness that flickered so weighted inside his chest. Theodoros’ knuckles tightened again and turned Manga’s attention towards the Cornet.  His heels bode in heavy against the steed’s hide as he let a prayer whisper through his heart, and despite how peaceful he willed the prayer to be, the anger was still fluent in knowing his flaws and how to battle triumphantly against his Angel.