<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans"><i>He was going to do it regardless of what he did. </i>Cygnus didn't understand. To Altair, one lash was as bad as ten. It wasn't even the pain he feared, but the scars that would remain, ugly and vile on his alabaster skin. Altair valued himself greatly on his appearance. How could he present himself to anyone after this? He would be a mockery of Dusan, and the ideals they upheld. He'd have no place in his home country, even, no reason to return because he would no longer hold status amongst the other slaves, no matter his training.<br/>
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“You don't realize what you're doing,” Altair told him, forlorn.<br/>
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Everything had been set so that others could see; a show for Cygnus to put on. The other slaves likely were thanking the gods it wasn't them tied to the mast.<br/>
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“You said I would not be punished so severely if I cooperated!” Altair leaned into the bindings, trying to pull himself free. “You've already done plenty. Your point has been made. You have nothing to gain from this! Only loss.” The handle of the whip was touched to his skin and Altair flinched, like it burned him.<br/>
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“<i>Please!</i>” Altair's breathing spiked, the whites of his eyes growing in fear. He struggled now out of sheer panic, regardless if the bindings tightened. “<i>Koa, koa. e kore e taea ki a koe. Nga mea katoa kua mahia e ahau mo!</i>”<br/>
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Please, please! You can't! Everything that I've worked for!</div>
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“You know what you can hold over me, to guarantee my compliance. Do this, and you will have no leverage! One mark of that lash, and nothing will ever matter the same for me.” Altair was trying to reason. It was true, he had made a mistake. His pride had gotten in the way, and now he was going to be punished for it in the worst possible way. He'd never met this sort of man before, and his punishments had seemed trivial compared to this. It didn't occur to him that there were people who would follow through with this sort of thing.<br/>
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“I'm sorry. <i>Au pouri ahau!</i> Things are different for me, with my training! Let me figure out what you need me to be! <i>Koa</i>, give me another chance to show you!” Altair was on the verge of hyperventiliating, speaking so quickly and anxiety shooting through him. Tears were starting down his face, and he closed his eyes, placing his forehead to the wood, in an attempt to block out the world around him.<br/>
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“<i>E kore e toku atua whakarerea noatia koe. ka inoi ahau mo koutou rerenga taratara, me te moana ki te swollow koe instread katoa.</i>”<br/>
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">My goddess will never forgive you. I will pray for your rough voyage, and the sea to swollow you whole instead.</div>
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His words began to spill, less audible this time, but it would be apparent to most that he was praying in his native tongue. Praying, and cursing them all, though unless they spoke fluent Dusanian, no one would know the difference. The prayers had calmed him, and eased his shaking body, at least for the time being.</span></span>