They were three.
Lucidus and Hasta escaped together. The regal mare had chosen the lowly peasant. Together, they stumbled upon Bellum. But they were not the first. Acerbus kept the lands to himself, preferring the solitude. When the pair came, they intruded on his silence.
Acerbus was noble; an impressive beast. Hasta was smitten, and so, he stole her away. Lucidus was furious, and vowed for revenge. He left Bellum for many years.
In those years, Hasta mothered many foals, the first of which with striking resemblance to the missing stallion. It made her curious, and she slipped away from Acerbus in search of her past lover.
Lucidus was furious. He followed her back to Bellum, and challenged Acerbus. Hasta had no choice but to stand and watch.
The battle ensued for days. Acerbus grew weary, but as night fell, so did Lucidus. His cry as he slipped over the cliff and the resulting splash echoed through Hasta’s mind.
In his triumph, Acerbus turned on the last reminder of the now deceased stallion. At the sight of the body of the wounded filly, Hasta flew into a rage, striking for the head of her mate. She struck true, gouging his eyes with her hooves.
Having fallen into darkness, Acerbus could not see the red hot fury glowing in Hasta’s eyes as she dealt the killing blow.
Hasta outlived the stallions by only a few years. She lived long enough to see more horses come, drawn by the tale of the deadly trio.
With her dying breath, Hasta cursed their curiosity, wishing that the tale was never learnt outside of these lands.
After her death, the world began to change. Eyes darkened, lightened, glowed.
Some had the intense blue-green of the sea floating in the eyes, just like the waters Lucidus had fallen to.
Others had eyes of the deepest black, like Acerbus’ last vision.
And others still had glowing amber eyes, resembling the fury of Hasta.
Frightened by the changes, many turned to leave. But Hasta’s dying wish had been granted. Their story would no longer leave these lands.
Now they are many.
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