The nights sleep was comfortable- well more comfortable than average. Acrius' body usually woke itself up at 4:00 AM as part of his daily training and internal body clock. However a shadowy figure slunk into his room five minutes before he would usually wake. The creaking door had already woken him up; being a heavy sleeper in his line of work was a death sentence. Soon a figure stood on his bedding and he heard the sound of a bow being drawn. Acrius was getting ready to take down the would be assailant but he recognized the figure after opening his left eye slightly.

It was [url=https://i.redd.it/figc76qvn0061.jpg]Celeste Roesche[/url]. A figure that's been bothering him for awhile now. [color=#FF9900][b]"Celeste what in the godsdamned hell are you doing in my quarters,"[/b][/color] Acrius asked, his voice still deep and croaky from being awoken early, [color=#FF9900][b]"Nevermind that. Who let you IN my room?"[/b][/color]

The string was let loose and a padded arrow hit Acrius' chest. Air escaped his lungs as he tried to catch his breath. Celeste seemed pleased with herself.

[color=#3498db][b]"Acrius!"[/b][/color] She jumped down and enclosed Acrius into a hug, [color=#3498db][b]"I've come with Sergeant whats-his-name to assist Bergkoff. Have ya gotten fat?"[/b][/color]

Acrius' eyes bore down on Celeste as he got up with her clinging onto him like a koala. Though he didn't notice, it seemed that the girl was also taking in his scent in. The reason for her infatuation stemmed from the past; A younger Acrius saved her family and her caravan from bandits. The oranged-eyed swordsman was 15 at the time and was passing by on foot to another town. Three bandits were in the process of robbing and threatening Celeste's family. Acrius couldn't stand to hear Celeste's and her brother's cries and intervened.

The three bandits were simple cutthroats and easily fell to Acrius' blade. It was also his first time fighting versus a group of people as opposed to simple one-on-ones. It was a valuable learning experience, at least. The Roesche family was eternally grateful. Acrius began walking away; he didn't expect any reward as he did it of his own volition. The family was appalled and insisted on letting him ride with them to the city and even offered him accommodations for the duration of his stay. It seemed that they were a smaller noble family. Recently, the Roesche family have built up and consolidated their power thanks to the wit and smarts of Celeste's brother- Robert Roesche. Though when asked, Acrius would simply think they were some noble family. It wouldn't be a stretch to call them one of the bigger noble houses of the empire now.

If Acrius had to guess she probably picklocked the door and snuck in. He was certain others weren't allowed into the private rooms. [color=#FF9900][b]"Can you get off now."[/b][/color] He continued, [color=#FF9900][b]"Weren't you on the trail to find out my 'origins' or some such? Even when it's a fruitless endeavor."[/b][/color]

[color=#3498db][b]"It isn't a fruitless endeavor-"[/b][/color] Celeste stopped herself as she caught a whiff of an unknown fragrance on him and released the hug, [color=#3498db][b]"Wait this smell..."[/b][/color]

Acrius stretched and began getting ready for his morning routine. [color=#FF9900][b]"Probably from a girl I met during this campaign, Elizabeth,"[/b][/color] He said, [color=#FF9900][b]"... Speaking of, women from this city are more forward and dangerous than those from the capital. One even exchanged rather uncomfortable pleasantries last night."[/b][/color]

Celeste was used to Acrius' denseness and knew that he wasn't the type to be a playboy; he definitely wouldn't do anything to a girl. Still, the boy was catnip to women so it wouldn't have surprised her if the women here were more forceful than the capital. [color=#3498db][b]"What did this woman do?"[/b][/color] She scoffed, [color=#3498db][b]"Kiss you or something?"[/b][/color]

[color=#FF9900][b]"I guess so,"[/b][/color] Acrius said simply, [color=#FF9900][b]"I think that's what the action was called."[/b][/color] He stepped out of the door and his eyes met a few guards who gave him ear-to-ear grins and nodded at him. He arched his brow, those same soldiers simply ignored him yesterday.

Celeste stayed in the room with a dumbfounded expression. [i][color=#3498db][b]Someone actually stole that idiots first. Who the hell was this woman?[/b][/color][/i]

[hr][hr]

Acrius got breakfast at the soldiers barracks and ate by himself. Food was one of his secret vices and he enjoyed a good meal. However he was also used to the horrid gruel and food served during marches. The food in Bergkoff was, atleast, decent so he could enjoy it to some degree. He didn't have an opinion about the noble meals, he was talking more of meals served to commoners.

Acrius did his normal morning routine after thirty minutes of letting the food settle. The routine itself was intense, it was devised by him; normally it would leave him winded and out of breath. However he thought it prudent to not get himself too tired on the day that he predicted would be a long and tiresome one. Afterwards he would prepare a bath by himself with the help of serving girl to wash off the gruel and dirt from yesterday.

Finally he would step into the room with the other royal guard and greeted them all by name. He silently listened to Leonidas' suggestions and Balthazar's ever in-depth analysis from his scouts. The more information the better, even Acrius knew information is important in war. If you had to ask him; it'd be best in the sewers for full on action for him or the north for the chance to test his mettle versus Orcs. [color=#FF9900][b]"Full on melee on the sewers sounds fun- err, strategic. The orcs also seem a tantalizing option."[/b][/color] Acrius said, [color=#FF9900][b]"I will, however, go where Prince Leonidas commands."[/b][/color]