It was located near the forest where two streams met.

The crowd hustled and bustled into the bath. Though their number would've scared Octavia out of her wits, she found it hardly rare to get a private space. As usual, she was the first to come. Not that she made it coincidental. After helping Arthur and taking nearly two hours deciding which clothes were the best to a bath, she figured coming midway through their juicy gossips would only result in a group of women gaping at her. Thus, the unnecessary haste to the bath.

Once she set foot on the stoned floor, her eyes darted across the room. Children were running and tumbling down the slippery ground. Families after families entered and exited. She felt her spine tingling by just entering the common bath.

Octavia was the type that was willing to come at midnight to skip the crowds. During such hours, the people she would see were usually the people who were in the same boat as she was. There were men and women and occasionally, there were teenagers. Nobody talked. Nobody judged. Everyone did what they needed to do and relaxed.

However, this was havoc. She couldn't start to imagine how dirty the water was at that point of time even if the streams swept away their impurities. Her legs slowly took steps towards a corner- a quiet person's dream. No one was there anyway.

What never failed to impress Octavia who had seen and experienced a wide variety in life was the architecture. She may have came here countless times but the design of the place always made her gawk in awe.

Back in the empire, common baths seemed to be adorned with painted carved marble. Each corner had arches of flowers and a trail of leaves to remind you of spring gardens. The water was somewhat more elegant in its steady pace. Glass panes made up the roof. During nightly visits, Octavia often tilted her head back to see the stars twinkling, small yet very vibrant.

In Albion, the sculptures were robust and ridiculously exaggerated. Water poured out of gargoyles, roaring lions and vases held by dramatically posed angels. The water was steadfast and Octavia always felt as though she would eventually be swept away by the current. Columns of pillars had spiral patterns engraved instead of straight ones.

The biggest difference was its lighting. Due to the fact that it didn't have a clear roof, night visits to the bath were commonly lighted by torches. It gave a somewhat eerie yet romantic ambiance to the common bath.

She left her clothes by the edge of the bath and dipped herself in. It was cold. Compared to her usual hot baths, this bath was freezing. But, she didn't mind it since it was summer so the temperature suited well.

Octavia sat and bent her legs, slightly shivering by the sudden cold shocks the bath gave. Curling into a cocoon, she watched. Many playful children caught her eyes as they scattered around and played with the cold water. Shortly after, as expected, they were scolded for impudent behavior.

She smiled. She had never experienced that. The nobles in Rome would always stay prim and proper. Not a hair out of place. Seeing the imperfections in some families, Octavia would call it, made her eager to know more about the people of Albion.

"Oh?"

Octavia turned around in shock. Morgan was the first to pop up in mind but it was just Rhiannon. She could see that even Rhiannon had grown taller. Her body had gained more curves as well. Octavia wondered whether her family possessed a slow growth spurt. She shrugged to herself.

Rhiannon gave a radiant smile. Octavia blinked, still deep in thought.

Although she was much older than this brunet, she couldn't help finding her a bit like a mother figure. Perhaps it was because she often scolded her brother and Octavia. Borderline dangerous swordsman training was on her list of things to ban in Albion. She also took a habit of nagging nowadays. Octavia and Arthur had a mutual interest in getting on her nerves. Aside from her puffing her cheeks being completely adorable, it was definitely entertainment to Octavia's boring life.

"How are you?" Rhiannon spoke after a long silence. "Hurt? Dying?"

Octavia snickered. She couldn't help it.

"It's not funny! I'm really worried for you two. Every time you two practiced, it's as though it's a fight to the death," Octavia lowered her voice and covered her mouth by her fingertips. Rhiannon slid her limbs one by one into the water. "Like the other day… Arthur could've really slit your neck…"

"He wouldn't," Octavia said, turning to Rhiannon. "We encounter a lot of those types of situations but we never proceed,"

"What if you accidently do?" Octavia looked into Rhiannon's eyes and kept quiet. Rhiannon sighed, fluttering her eyelashes. "I don't want to lose my brother and I don't want to lose you…" Rhiannon raised her brows as her head rested tenderly on Octavia's shoulder.

"My apologies," Octavia replied. What a way to start her bath- with a nagging.

"By the way, why are you here, may I ask?"

"Ah," A pause. "Morgan invited me,"

"Why of course. I've not seen you joining us for baths before," She looked at the surrounding. "Octavia, do you swim?"

"Mm…" Octavia mumbled. "But I don't like it,"

SPLASH!

A small tsunami jolted Rhiannon and Octavia to the side. Morgan dived first. Then, Llyr jumped. Trailing behind her was Limwris walking up to the bath. Octavia tensed. This was it. They were here.

"Ah!" Morgan barked, hugging Rhiannon and Octavia with her long arms. "Good to see you two conversing!" The people around them looked at the pretty ladies having a bunch of giggles at each other. Some families were seen chuckling along as well. Inspiration struck a few kids- some quickly climbed out and tried to dive in like how they did.

"O-Octavia!" Llyr yelped and arched her back to a bow. "I didn't see you there! How unlucky of me…" Octavia reached out to gently pat Llyr's head.

"There's no need for luck to see someone, Llyr," she said in a fine voice. The girls chuckled. "It's been a while since I've last met you, Limwris,"

"Thus the need for such group baths," she answered, raising sarcastic eyebrows.

The group bath ended up being unexpectedly enjoyable. When Morgan said gossips, Octavia was certain she was to endure rumours and unvarnished prejudice they might reveal among themselves. However, it was more of the things they've done the past week and it sometimes trailed onto small quirky topics. Octavia also didn't anticipate the bath to last this late.

"Indeed. Ogam is the wisest man when it comes to Elves and Spells," Rhiannon breathed as she continued to rest her head on Octavia's shoulders. Octavia trembled. The cold water was getting to her core. "Also wise in marriage tips, I must say," The women widened their eyes.

"What?" Llyr murmured baffled. "Why on Earth would you say that?"

"Just the other day I spoke of Arawn being in a somber mood lately and Ogam gave me a whole lecture to counteract such a situation," Rhiannon said as she smartly gripped her chin. "I followed his advices and it unbelievably worked… And rather effectively,"

"Probably it's just him being very helpful,"

"Mm…"

"It's just sorrowful the fact that he's too old to marry someone," Morgan slurred. She shrugged with a naughty grin. "With such wisdom… What a waste!" The girls looked at her with unnerving looks. Octavia flicked her forehead. "OW!"

"And how, do you suppose, would you feel if you were in the same unfortunate situation?" Octavia scolded, jerking her head to the side. Her hair followed the brief motion.

"Hmph!" Morgan puffed, splashing water at Octavia. She flinched. Her brows furrowed at her friend's indecent manner. Even a drunk Morgan wouldn't act so brazenly. "I've got Arawn!"

"As we all do…" Rhiannon mumbled with an irritable look and rolled her eyes.

"Of course!" Morgan bellowed with a smirk. "I won't fall into such unfortunate situations now, would I?" Octavia glared for a long moment.

"And you're so sure that he'll stick to all of his harem?" Octavia said. Dark. That wiped the smile on Morgan's face. She was at lost of words- the same to all of the other women. "A-ah. My apologies. I-it was just a joke…" She gulped.

Limwris was the first to break the awkward silence. "Let's all admit that we do have our doubts, don't we?" Llyr nodded and so did Rhiannon. Morgan narrowed her eyes to slits at Octavia. The blonde knew that look. Being her closest partner on the battlefield, she recognized the look as the same one she gave to her enemies. Particularly before she impaled them with arrows.

"How about you?" Morgan hissed. "You're so sure that Arawn will stick-"

"I'm not interested in the Demon King," Octavia snapped.

Silence.

Octavia could feel Rhiannon tensing against her as she straightened up her body. This was one conversation she didn't want to be half-dazed in. Especially when she was the mother figure in this piece.

"What do you… If you're not even interested in Arawn, then whom are you interested in?" Limwris stammered as, over Morgan's shoulders, she watched Octavia. They inched closer.

Octavia tilted her head down, glancing at Rhiannon's worried eyes. All she could do was hope for a change in topic. Love interests were the last things on Octavia's mind at the moment. She didn't see a need for it.

"Probably some imperial lad," Morgan slurred. Octavia stared. "We are like oil and water, don't you think so? Gold can't fall in love with diamonds," Octavia could feel her heart skip a beat. That was a direct insult to her family. Her lineage, Aurelia, meant 'gold' in Latin.

"Are you referring to your relationship?" Octavia snarled. Morgan's eyes darted at Octavia's. She neared her.

Octavia wasn't one to worsen a relationship, even if they were random. She usually cherished them with brute honesty. But this crossed the line. Llyr distanced herself while Limwris tugged onto Morgan's shoulder.

"Greetings, ladies," A low voice spoke. The group turned around to find the King nearing the water. They blinked, surprised. "How are you all?"

"Dear brother," Rhiannon rejoiced, as if a savior came to stop the bickering. She slid to the edge and tapped his boot. "Thank heavens. Why are you here?"

"I came to pick Octavia up," he said with a blank expression. Everyone was silent as they shifted their gazes to the blonde woman. They waited for a response. The King folded his hands as his face turned dour. "I would like to have a word with you. It's urgent,"