A week had passed since everything happened. I had yet to adjust to living in such a large city, but slowly I knew I would get used to it. Moses didn't speak to me much after what I said to him. It looked like my words had done a good job with eating their way into the deepest part of his mind. I only hoped he would make up his mind and come back with me to our homeland.

As for the others, I was getting along fine with all of them. Well... almost all of them. There were still a couple issues with Jay and I, and Norma gave me the creeps with how bright and happy she was. Especially that temper. Man, it was like my sister all over again.

I found I was most comfortable being around Senel and the blonde girl, Shirley. The three of us had a few missions together and every once and awhile Chloe or Norma would tag along, but usually the team always had Senel and I together. We worked well side by side. Since we were both close range fighters and had two different styles, we highlighted each other's abilities. He helped with my poor dodging, and I accompanied him in bigger combos. When we had time off we often trained together. I thought for a moment we could have been friends, but that idea went downhill when I remembered I wouldn't be staying there much longer.

It was a typical sunny day in Werites Beacon. I crawled out of the tent I shared with Csaba—refusing up and down to bed at Will's house or even attempt to rent from that crazy innkeeper—and let out a loud yawn. Bending backwards I stretched my arms high into the air. The morning was beautiful. I had to admit that the Legacy was a lot better looking than back home.

My nose twitched as my bangs flickered in front of my eyes. Running a hand through the short hair I frowned. It was getting greasy. I'd have to take another bath. Shirley had been kind enough to buy me a bag of bathing tools when I told her I used a cheap bar of soap at Lumen Springs. The gift made me feel like she pitied me but it didn't matter. Free stuff was what a thief loved best, even when it wasn't stolen.

Quickly I dove back into the tent and fetched the bag. I pulled open the top and peered inside. Instantly I was hit with a pleasant smell and my lips twisted upwards. She was such a sweetheart, that girl. This stuff had to be expensive. There were three bars of soap, shampoo, a scrub brush and—oh hell—even a little rubber ducky. I chuckled, grabbing the yellow toy, 'Good one, Shirley.' I thought.

And so, with my bag of wonderful scented items, I happily made my way to the spring. There were only a couple places I could ever use a shower in and not one of them pleased me. Despite my love for beds and heated houses, there was something about bathing in a lake I enjoyed more than anything else. I guess it was my wild Sandor blood that gave me the trait.

Halfway there I heard a shrill cry, "Lexy!" I grimaced. Oh joy. My favourite person in the world.

"Hey, Norma." My greeting wasn't half as cheerful as hers but she didn't seem to notice.

The brunette beamed at me. Placing her hands behind her back she tried catching a glimpse at the bag I had slung over my shoulder. "Where you headed?" She asked.

"Lumen Spring." I replied.

"Oh." She paused. "Why?"

I knew what she would say if I told the truth. Unfortunately my mind didn't process that fast enough and yet again I spoke too soon. "To have a bath?"

She giggled and at my glare covered her mouth to stop the hysterical laughter. "A bath? In a spring? Don't you know what a shower is? It's this thing where you stand in a private stall where hot water you can control comes down on you and—"

"I know what a shower is, Norma. I'm not stupid like Moses." I grunted.

"Then why are you going to a spring?"

I shook my head. She would never understand it. "Old habit." That was good enough for her, right?

It seemed so because she took it. "You have weird habits. I guess all savages are the same though."

"Y'know... I find that a little offensive..."

She smiled sweetly. Too sweetly. It made my stomach churn with detest. I hated fake smiles with a passion. I tried my best not to use them unless I was trying to make a good first impression. When she wore them it made my blood boil even more. "Sorry, Lexy. Anyways, Teach wants you to come to his house in a little bit. He's off doing something right now, but he said to tell you to come in a couple hours."

I sighed. Another mission? "What is it this time?"

Norma shrugged. She leaned back on her heels and stared up at the sky. "I dunno. He said something about the problem with the water still not being fixed." Suddenly smiling again, she turned and hopped down the road. "I'll see you later, Lexy!"

"Yeah..." What a weird kid. She sure was cracked in the head. I rubbed my neck and started walking down the road. The water issue wasn't dealt with yet? But Will said that it was the spring in the Waterways that was making the water smell bad and after they (I got to skip it by hiding for the day.) cleaned it out the rivers went back to normal.

Upon reaching Lumen Spring I glanced around the area a couple times. After making sure there was indeed nothing in the bushes watching me I began to undress. First I shook off my jacket and let it drop to the ground without caring much about keeping it clean. My dark shirt follow suit and my pants joined the pile not long after. It took maybe three minutes to strip completely.

When all I wore was the skin on my body I stepped up to the spring's edge and touched it with my foot. Same as always, nice and cool. I slipped in smoothly and let out a low noise as the water engulfed me. Nothing could ever beat natural bathing.

Turning to the side, I eyed Shirley's gift with a smile. It was time to try out my new 'toys'. I reached over the ledge and pulled the bag close enough so I could look through it. I touched the shampoo bottle tenderly. What if I used it all up too fast? My guilt overwhelming me, I took one of the soap bars first. I'd been using them to clean myself off for years, what difference would it make if I went on a little longer?

The sun kept my back warm as I stood in the waist high water. I ran my hands over my arms, lathering them in the bubbly substance before dipping into the spring and rinsing them off. This procedure repeated quite a few times until I was satisfied that my body was clear of all grim. I leaned back and simply soaked in the chilling water, closing my eyes. The bar of soap lay safely back in the bag.

It suddenly dawned on me I had forgotten something very important. Something I was in deep trouble for not bringing. A towel. How the hell would I dry off without one of those? I scowled and threw my fist into the liquid. "Dammit!" I cursed. What was with me lately?! My brain just wouldn't work properly at all! It was beginning to piss me off.

"Alex?" I jumped. That voice! No, no, no, that wasn't good. My eyes widened and I spun around in time to see a familiar figure come out from around the corner. "Alex, is that y..?"

Csaba froze in his step when he saw me. His eyes grew large and he swallowed hard. "Oh." Was all he managed to get out from his tight throat.

Heat rushed to my cheeks and I sunk as far as I could into the water. Shit. Why did it have to be him? Anyone was embarrassing but him..? I'd never get over it. "Uh... h-hi..." I had no idea what to say.

Obviously he didn't either. He nervously stood there, awkwardly shifting side to side and looking everywhere except in my direction. "I... I uh... I'll... I'll go then..."

He turned to leave but I raised myself up out of the water. "N-no, it's okay." He stopped moving and stood there listening. "I mean... you came here for a reason, and I don't want to wreck that for you so... just... continue doing whatever you were gonna do."

I swore he smiled. "R-right... well... why don't you get changed first?"

"Y-yeah... there's a problem with that..." I glared at my clothes, not pleased with the idea of getting into them wet. "I kinda forgot a towel..."

He laughed and I wanted to throw my soap at him. What an arrogant bastard. "I'm not surprised. Here," he took off his vest and closing his eyes, turned around to throw it towards me, "it's not much but it's better than nothing, right?"

I blinked. "You sure?" When I reached out and took the article of clothing I scanned it over. It looked pretty clean to me.

"Yeah, I'll wash it later." He faced his back to me again and crossed his arms. "Don't take all day."

Drying off with a simple vest was extremely uncomfortable. Especially when you had a childhood friend standing right near you. There was a chance he could turn and peek over at me but I highly doubted he would ever do that. We used to bathe together as children—he, Moses and I. That was years ago though, and I knew the time gap was a big problem with him ever seeing me naked again.

Despite the awkwardness, I managed to get most of the moisture off my skin and quickly changed back into my outfit. I hesitated with putting on my jacket and weapons but shrugged it off. There wasn't a point. We wouldn't get attacked out there. Even if something did come after us we'd sense it fast enough to prepare for battle.

"I'm done." I called after I clasped my belt and slipped my rod through the strap that held it. We turned and faced each other at the same time. I stepped forwards and threw his vest at him. "Here. Sorry if it's too wet."

Csaba shook his head. He folded the vest and tucked it under his one arm. "It's fine. I kinda knew it would be. Are you dry enough?"

"I didn't get my hair very well." I admitted sheepishly, running a hand over the wet strands that began to drip water.

He chortled and walked up to me. He placed his palm on the top of my head and grinned. "You're so much like Moses it's almost scary."

I pouted. "Hey! I could take that as an insult y'know."

The teal-haired man smiled and stared tenderly down at me. "No... I know you wouldn't. Moses is a great guy and you know it."He trailed his hand down my hair, smoothing it back. When he brought it back up he touched my cheek with his fingertips.

I shuddered at the cold feeling. They were wet from my hair and made goose bumps rise on my skin. Momentarily I closed my eyes. Somehow it felt good. It felt... caring. Warmth was spreading my in chest and I nearly reached up to grasp it. What was this emotion? Was it nervousness? My stomach was doing flips yet my face didn't respond to it. I simply looked up to meet Csaba's gaze. "Y-yeah... That's... true..." My words were hesitant, almost forced. I couldn't talk properly and it felt like my chest was going to explode. What the hell was wrong with me?

It happened so slowly I wondered later on in life why I couldn't do anything to stop it. At first we stood there but cautiously he leaned down. He was so weary, so dazed. My state was similar yet I couldn't move. He had me caught in the moment, caught in his charm. I was wrapped up in all my feelings; my senses broke down.

He touched his lips to mine and I breathed out softly. I could feel the recoil of my breath coming off him. It made me close my eyes and I stepped forwards, closing the distance.

The kiss wasn't anything special. It was long and tender. Sweet yet bitter. We didn't know what we were doing. Two kids swimming in hormones, unaware of what our actions meant. When we parted we kept our faces apart by mere inches until he bent close and once again we were pressed together, attached by a simple action.

That time we kissed with passion. His tongue snaked out and wriggled its way into my mouth. We battled and swirled together for minutes on end, parting only to breathe but coming back together seconds later. He held me close to him, his one arm around my waist, the other in the middle of my back. I kept my hands in his hair, playing with the loose strands, tugging chunks out from its tie.

Whilst still kissing he somehow managed to get me on my back, lying on the ground. How he did it I still don't know. For the second time that day I lost my clothing, and for the first time in my life, I lost something else. Something a lot more valuable than anything I've ever stolen. Something that caused me a little pain, but more pleasure than anything I'd ever felt. Something that, although time stretched on, I would never forgot.