Banter Batch 1: Iolene/ Lexi

Lexi: "So, you are the daughter of Aelius and Laelia Ovideus. Must have been an interesting childhood... Life on the run, escaping everything and everyone who will betray you."

Iolene: "Yes it was very exciting!" * fakes excitement * "I was in a temple for most of it." *sighs*

Lexi: "Temple? As in a priest sect? Well, that ruined my fantasies... Cannot imagine anything more boring. I struggled with my own studies, being confined in a stuffy place for so long."

Iolene: "Yes, it was boring. Actually, thinking back on it... It is even more boring than anyone can imagine... I was forbidden to go outside as my favourite outdoor activity was staring at the sunlight hole. Along with reading books from the library of course. Me being stubborn, I had my ways of trying to escape. Thanks to those attempts they allowed me to work in a hospital one or two days a week."

Lexi: *laughs* "That must have been interesting. Elders hate it when apprentices escape and break the rules for some fun. Sometimes one day in the week is not enough... When I signed up, to become Kenneths' apprentice, I quickly realised they had no idea of what the meaning of fun is. Let's say I made my own fun with some other apprentices, to make up for their lacking activities..." *giggles*

Iolene: *claps* "Oh! Did you manage to make friends and play games with them? What did you play?"

Lexi: "Oh we played many games! Dragon rod, body twist, card games with special rules, meeting the phoenix..."

Aaron: "LEXIANA!"

Lexi *laughs uncontrollably*: " What? Oh, Aaron, You played those games too... Don't shame me, sir!"

Aaron: "I am not shaming! Iolene... Has lived a sheltered life, she has no idea!"

Iolene: "I am so lost..."

Lexiana: "Never mind sweet thing. You will learn in time..."

Banter 2: Fred/ Aaron

Fred: "Iqosha soldiers... They have an interesting reputation you know."

Aaron: "And what reputation is that?"

Fred: "I heard Iqosha's are trained for any kind of scenario. Is that true?"

Aaron: "Depending on the scenario... Primarily we are soldiers. Those you use in the vanguard or guard nobility. We are strong not just with strength but with discipline, we are durable and can stay awake for long periods at a time."

Fred: "Does that include the sexual favours? A rumour I heard." *laughs* "And as for you... Slave are not disciplined, I see you break concentration all the time."

Aaron: *sighs* "Yes, we are trained in the art of pleasure. We need to perform whatever our master orders. Master Isil loves his money... Sex sells... Especially to those who know how to perform. And as to that insult of my discipline, I am very much so. Mali has been breaking my habits since we left Dominus Sahara... I can tell you now, if I am stationed to protect Iolenes door, I will guard it for days without rest. I can do it... I just don't need to right now..."

Fred: "Alright then... Prove it to me tonight!"

Aaron: "Will you be able to handle it? It is harder than it looks. Gaining that ability was torturous..."

Fred: "Sure I can! It is very easy! Just watch me!"

Banter 3: Fred/ Aaron

Fred: "So slave... About Blondie... I-"

Aaron: "No..."

Fred: "I didn't get to fin-"

Aaron: "No.. "

Fred: "Blondie is sh-"

Aaron: "No..."

Fred: "You are really piss-"

Aaron: "No..."

Fred: *groans in frustration*

Aaron: "No..."

Banter 4: Lexiana/ Aaron

Lexi: "So, Did you like the book I got you?"

Aaron: "Interesting to say the least... The details are vivid. Who needs to have imagination?"

Lexi: "Wild isn't it? When Lord Jon threw her on the bed and gave her the best kiss of her life."

Aaron: "Keeps my attention to reading that's for sure. I had no idea of someone can choose different words to describe manhood... Insane and hilarious."

Mali: "What are you two talking about?"

Aaron/ Lexi: "Nothing."

Banter 4: Lei/ Lexiana

Lexi: "Lei, I wonder. Since your family won the war. What is your mother doing now?"

Lei: "The war was short, but it destroyed much of our connections and trust with the South... My mother will be supplanting new lords and ladies. Those who fought against us the heads are executed, the rest are forced to move and work for another family."

Lexi: "So families were spared? Empress Vatra would have wiped them out. An easier full proof measure to make sure they never attempt a coup again."

Lei: "That is not our way, as we learned from the past. Killing them all does no favours. We want no more bloodshed."

Lexi: "We spared the Green Royal family and their consorts once and look what happened. Our Emperor died in the name of peace. How can your mother reassure that this will never happen again in the future?"

Lei: "She cannot, who can? But they are still alive and breathing. They will remember that."

Banter 5: Lei and Iolene

Iolene: "How are your brothers? Have you heard from them?"

Lei: "I have. Chin is healing as much as any person can after being mutilated ... He will never be the same again. No news of pregnancy as of yet... Poor Lan has much pressure on her to deliver a child."

Iolene: "What will happen if Chin cannot help produce a child?"

Lei: "By the law of succession. The Emperor title will go to Chen... But how he is as of late. I very much doubt it. He has become volatile... He attacks everyone in sight. He is in no state of mind to rule a country..."

Iolene: "Has Empress Zhen thought of a backup plan?"

Lei: "Yes me."

Banter 6: Lexiana/Iolene/Stein

Lexiana: "So Iolene, I have always wondered..."

Iolene: "What is it?"

Lexi: "About your healing powers... How did you obtain or train for them? Healing draconium powers are one of the hardest skills to learn and perfect."

Iolene: "I don't really know... I discovered my ability in the hospital. I volunteered at most two days every week. I helped a boy with a cut, it wasn't big or heavy bleeding. Just a slice from a knife... I was in a rush and without thinking I released mag energy, I thought I hurt him. But it was the opposite, the cut healed..."

Stein: "Gold being the catalyst of both destruction and healing. Most living beings have draconium in their bones and in life, some abilities come naturally. Lexi, you have the ability to conjure flame at will. Iolenes' thinking and attitude tuned her natural abilities. She is not the only natural healer to happen. Erastus was a healer and Emperor Odysseus was one of the best."

Iolene: "My grandfather?!"

Stein: "Yes! He was a terrific healer. And Aelius was fantastic in using mag abilities for battle."

Iolene: "What about my mother?"

Stein: "She was never much a user of draconium abilities. But she was a brilliant swimmer, and fisher and can hold her breath underwater for a long time."

Iolene: "How long?"

Stein: "We timed an hour. Aelius had a heart attack fearing she would die." *laughs*

Banter 7:

Iolene: "Fred?"

Fred: "Yes blondie?"

Iolene: "I am curious about your family."

Fred: "Nothing special about them..."

Iolene: "I believe it is. Your family lineage is thousands of years old, ruling the Green Empire since its founding. The amount of history your family has! Emperor Kaspar III the wielder of Earthquake, Emperor Arman VI the sweet, Emperor William VII the man who became the mountain..."

Fred: "I do not know any of them and don't care."

Iolene: "That is a shame... To learn history is to not repeat mistakes and to realise the good of those before us. To never forget..."

Fred: "I have other shit to worry about, then think about my family. They annoy me enough now, let alone those from the past I do not care about."

Iolene: "No matter how much you say it, Fred, we all see through it."

Banter 7: Fred/ Aaron / Mali / Iolene

Fred: "Do you ever stop screaming or fretting when you sleep? It is dreadfully annoying. You said you can stay up for up to two weeks. Do it, saves us all sleep."

Aaron: "I have been awake for the past two weeks."

Mali/ Iolene: "AARON!"

Fred: "Someone is in trouble."

Mali: "We will take turns watching tonight. Aaron get some sleep! I'll let Iolene give you a good dose of nightshade."

Aaron: *sighs*

Mali: "You need sleep! No more of this!"

Aaron: *sighs*

Banter 8: Aaron/ Lei

Aaron: "The hall of Love huh? Did you enjoy it? You know, apart from the attempted kidnapping."

Lei: "I was with a man called the Mountain. Tall, handsome with tattoos... Mother would have been furious. But I had a great time, it was the first time I ever did something like that."

Aaron: "First time? I knew you liked men..."

Lei: "Well, yes... I am not allowed to have such indulgences at home. The amount of scandal of me just liking men was hard to go through enough. I was meant to marry Mei Jona. Until Sazan had a spy on me... I tried to lie. But everyone knew, shaking it was hard. Until I decided I could not be bothered anymore."

Aaron: "Huh"

Lei: "You want details? You were there, what did you do?"

Aaron: "We can talk about it tonight. But I will admit now, I did not touch anyone."

Lei: "Hm... Is it because the one you love is here and in front of you?" *Points Iolene talking to Mali in front of them*