"Are you kidding me?!"

Esther's shriek carried on through the training grounds inside of the palace. The former 'Conductor' was orchestrating yet another grueling exercise on orders from Gaius. When it came to fighting, Gaius was not kidding and neither was Rowen. That she learned a week ago when this torture started.

"Giving up already, young miss?" Rowen asked as she was on all fours and fighting for air. The artes these Rieze Maxian people used was unreal, but if she was ever in a rough spot… chances were that she'd have to face them. For right now, she was soaked to the bone from a Water Arte he just poured all over her. She was never one to whine, but this was just making her want to hide in her room like a child. Not that she felt proud about that.

"How am I supposed to fight back against artes when I cannot use them?" she asked exasperated as she strained her muscles to stand up.

"Endurance and patience," he said simply as he came at her with a physical attack that she quickly out maneuvered despite her exhaustion. "You simply need to dodge and find time to get to where you can. Cunning moves can outwit anyone if given time and the patience to find it. I am here to teach you that." He was coming at her with only half of his abilities, but he could see that she was being pushed further than she ever really had. However, already he saw an increase with her endurance and strength. Those alone made him see the merit in this grueling exercise.

As she lost her footing, he placed his fencing sword to her neck and lowered it. "And I can see that we have done enough for today," he said to her as he noted that she was shivering despite the fires keeping this place relatively warm. "No use on making you sick, now is there? Come now and we shall freshen up before attending to the paperwork."

Nodding solemnly, she rose and accepted his jacket as he placed it on her shoulders. Taking her up to her room, he closed the door behind him as he left her to freshen up and found Gaius to be standing not too far away. Leaning against the wall, no doubt he wanted a report. The man wasn't too coy with his actions.

"Curious, Gaius?" Rowen said as he approached. The man didn't even need to answer before Rowen carried on. "She is progressing rather well. Already her skills are increasing and despite her small form she can withstand longer than at her previous skill level. You are certainly worried for her safety…"

"I cannot worry about her condition constantly while I am away. I would hate to see her hurt while under my supervision is all. She is my assistant and I must not allow her to be unable to defend herself. Out of everyone around me, Esther is near my side most and will continue to do so. Given the delicate process of peace, I will not have her threatened if there is something I can do to help," Gaius said as Rowen nodded his head in agreement.

"From what I gather from both her stories and my time over there, Elympians have a tendency to use what they can to get by rather than fighting for it. Not to say they cannot fight, but it is a more select few because they do not need to brave much of the elements and prefer the life of luxury to that of hardship." It was a rather negative view of the issue, but it was a realistic one none the less.

"I would like to go there myself within the next year and take in all the surroundings. To gather what is being said about us and try to build some sort of relationship with them as a whole. But for now, my work does not permit me so. Only a half hour of sleep most nights and all the treaties are taking their toll. But it is necessary to progress and for that I will sacrifice that which I can do later," Gaius said as they made their way into the meeting room where the paperwork Esther put out earlier was organized.

"She does organize it very well, sir," Rowen said with a smile as he noticed how everything was in order and pens with ink ready as ever on a small stand. Gaius sat down as Rowen stood behind him, agreeing with a simple nod and chuckle.

"That she does," he said as he looked over and saw small notes of interest on some pages. Her penmanship was really neat and tidy as well. Honestly, he was amazed they practically 'tossed' her to him. With such professionalism and dedication, she almost trumped his dedication in some cases.

XXXXX

"Ah, I haven't enjoyed a bath this much since… well… ever," she said aloud as she sunk into her large bath filled with purifying salts and some bubbles from her soap. The week had been hard on her and yet she couldn't deny that there were results taking place. Muscles she didn't even know she had were starting to work and she couldn't help but feel even lighter on her feet. Sighing as she sunk so far into her tub where her nose was just above water level, she couldn't help but feel tired. The lack of sleep from all the work to be done and the work they had done was insane. The maximum of maybe four hours a night was getting to her.

After finding herself rather prune feeling, she rose out from the tub and grabbed her towel. Wrapping it around herself, she went into her room and found a simple red and pink toned outfit similar to her blue one from the tour. Changing quickly, she went to dry her hair and brush it out until it was soft to the touch again.

Heading out into the hall, she could only guess where Gaius was and it turned out that she was spot on. Rowen and Gaius were going through her paperwork she set up from before the training exercise while Gaius was in a private meeting with the people from Orda Palace in Fennmont.

"I see that things are going smoothly," she noted to make her presence known as both men turned to acknowledge her.

"Yes, I was able to go through these much faster thanks to your notes," Gaius said as he set his pen in the stand and noted how she looked rather refreshed despite the lack of sleep, no doubt, and the training that Rowen had put her through. "For that, I thank you."

She blushed profusely at the thanks. Not because she wasn't used to it, but she was more used to hearing it from Rowen rather than Gaius himself. "It's my job, and anyone would be rather overwhelmed if they had so many papers to go through with more coming in by the day. King or not," she said with a smile as he said nothing in return but picked up his pen to get back to work. In other words, if he had time to chat, he had time to work hard.

"I will go get some tea," Rowen said as he moved aside and gestured for Esther to come stand where he was. Right behind Gaius, she could feel a sense of duty and warmth coming from him. He worked so hard for his people that it made her heart bleed for him whenever she wondered when he slept. Treaty talks day in and out, paperwork to get through, and not to mention touring the cities every once in a while. Not that he had been able to tour around so since her appearance a week ago now, but Rowen mentioned that it was amazing the man was still functional.

Being lost in thought, she didn't notice when he turned his head up to face her. When his voice finally caught her attention, she turned her head and it was impossible to not see his magenta eyes covered by ebony strands and how they were almost nose to nose. Given, she had been leaning down to look at the paper, but she had to look away quickly and stood up straight as she finally registered that he was awaiting a response.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" she asked obviously embarrassed as her cheeks were red. Feeling even more so embarrassed when she felt his warm hand against her forehead.

"I hope you are not catching a fever, Esther," he said sounding worried as she shook her head and moved away from his hand.

"No, I'm fine, sir. Sorry, I was just lost in thought."

He was wondering just how sincere that really was considering her flushed face, but then he had also noted that when their noses almost touched that her eyes had glazed over ever so slightly. It was a look he was not familiar with, but then he knew that women were far more complicated than he dared try to understand. Agria and Presa were examples of that very sentiment.

"I asked about this particular line. It is part of your laws, but I wish for it to be explained in a different manner," he said as he decided to just carry on and see how she was later. The night he carried her up to her room was crawling into his mind night after night though whenever he noted how tired she seemed once the day was done. As her voice answered his question, he was committed to hearing it, but his mind would not fully grasp onto what she said. Just hearing her voice was comforting enough for him to relax as she explained things rather well for him. "Ah, yes. Thank you."

Nodding her head, she felt another surge of warmth come onto her cheeks. "You are welcome, sir." Holding back a relieved sigh, she couldn't help but feel thankful that he did not pursue the issue of if she was sick or not. He was her boss, it wasn't like she could tell him that he was physically attractive beyond all doubt. A part of her wondered if he was even aware of the aura he gave off to women. She could see the Rieze Maxian women giggle with delight when he would pass by and she was with him on and errand. It was only when they saw her that they scowled and would go the other way. The man had sex appeal radiating off of him and he just called it 'respect from his people' when they accepted him so willingly. Smiling slightly, she couldn't help but wonder just what sort of woman would be able to handle such a clueless man.

His head tilting up again, she wasn't so lost in thought this time and she noted that he was looking at her face rather hard. "Is there something wrong, Gaius?" she asked curiously as her eyebrow shifted up slightly. Her head tilting to the side from curiosity, she was thinking of what it could be. "I wonder where Rowen is with the tea," she continued when he didn't answer her.

"Are you comfortable here?" he asked rather out of the blue and she looked at him in shock.

Finding her voice again, she wasn't expecting that question. The answer came rather naturally though. "Well, I am not accustomed to everything, but I am slowly getting used to the harsher conditions. The work is steady and keeps me from worrying about every little thing. So, I suppose I am."

As she smiled, he couldn't help but see that what she spoke was what was on her mind. He appreciated her honesty, and respected her for it. "I am glad to hear it. I know that you were transferred here suddenly and did not have a chance to properly say a farewell to your sister. For that, I am sorry. Once work settles down here, I will grant you time to see her or for her to come here. Whichever is most convenient for the two of you. However, I did just pass a law that eliminates airships and wayverns to travel from Rieze Maxia and Elympios. Just with the events six months ago, we cannot have a scare. The seahavens should be able to be running shortly since the Marksburg city is just finishing up in being built and the seahaven connecting the two nations is there."

Esther smiled at his thoughtfulness, but before she could say anything there was a loud knock on the door. "King Gaius, sir! There is an urgent letter… it's from Exodus!"

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AN: Sorry if it seemed to take a while to get some action going here. Just setting up the stage for some fun over the next few chapters. Feel free to review and put your input of what you would like to see happen or continue. Want more action, more little every day scenes (mini chapters perhaps), or something else? Just send me a message or write a review.