That same sunny morning, Adelpha had been painting and visiting with her mother, Althea, at their family homestead. Her father was off on yet another mission and the two women had passed the time quickly and unknowingly, painting away all the way into the afternoon. While Adelpha was currently working on a landscape of a warrior in mid-battle, Althea focused on touching up the walls of their home with fresco paint. Although Adelpha’s father, Leander, didn’t always approve of the two ladies painting murals on their household’s walls, Althea claimed it was for the well-being of their “creative spirit.”


That alone is why the young artist bonded with her mother and still did even now, into her budding adulthood. Once it came close to noon, Adelpha set down her paint brush and turned to glance at her mother. “Should I head down to the market to buy us some fresh ingredients for supper, mother?” The tall brunette glanced to her aging mother and the older woman turned to her daughter to reply to her, her own paint brush still in hand.


“Why, yes, dear, you should, but don’t take too long.” Her mother replied to her softly with a smile. Mother and daughter looked alike, although Althea’s long brown locks had streaks of gray running through it and her blue eyes had the gentle creasing of crow’s feet from her waning years. “And wear your sandals this time! I can’t stand when you go without them.”

Adelpha laughed softly to herself as she made her way towards the villa’s archway, leading out of the courtyard and towards the Upper Levels of her home, Colchis. Though, the young woman minded her mother’s words and slipped on her sandals first, before heading for the city.


Although the afternoon was still in its early hour and supper typically wasn’t for another several hours, the young woman craved the alone time to herself and think. It wasn’t much longer before she was about to leave for Taengea and the sooner, the better, she thought. Her graceful frame made its away down the upper levels of the city, her blue eyes thoughtful as the willowy brunette let her mind wander, letting her feet carry her towards the market.


Walking and wandering around the city was one of her favorite past-times, searching for new sources of inspiration and letting her mind drift. It was something Leander found irritating about his only daughter, but she still hadn’t told her parents of her plans to leave for Taengea and soon. But her father had left on yet another battle assignment and considering he was a hoplite, it would likely be a few more weeks before he returned home for a brief visit. Her thoughts about Leander quickly turned toward her best friend, Maximus and she felt her cheeks flush.


“I still haven’t found the best way to tell him how I feel.” Adelpha said softly to herself. The woman sighed as she thought about her best friend, that she had known since she was a young child. When it came to Maximus, Adelpha always found herself unable to tell him how she had always felt about him and this deeply puzzled her. Althea was always pushing her daughter to try and find a suitable husband, but it was a little more complicated for a timid soul like Adelpha. She deeply worried that if she ever told Maximus how she really felt, it would ruin their close friendship and that was something Adelpha prized more than anything.


During her reverie and walk, the young artist lost herself in her thoughts; that is, until she stumbled upon a familiar-looking face walking the same street as her and her blue eyes brightened with warmth. The willowy brunette tilted her head, watching Maximus walk towards her and she smiled in her friend’s direction as she spoke.


“Out for a walk, I see. Hello dear friend.” She spoke softly in greeting, but her blue eyes creased slightly with concern. Her friend’s expression definitely wasn’t all there, in that moment. “Is something wrong?” Adelpha approached her friend and gave a light squeeze to the warrior’s forearm, a brow arching curiously. It wasn’t like Maximus to be so out of sorts and she sensed this.

The lithe brunette blushed brightly, shades of pink and red crawling across her pale cheeks and spreading to her ears. Adelpha was always more than overjoyed to see her dear friend and she hadn’t seen him for so long, that she realized, she had missed his closeness and his presence. Although the embrace was received warmly by her, she had forgotten what his touch felt like and she certainly wasn’t ready to confess yet, in that second, how it made her feel. She cleared her throat softly with a slight smile and gently squeezed the large warrior giving her a hug. “Long time, no see, Maximus. It’s been far too long.” Adelpha spoke quietly and dear Apollo, she couldn’t help but notice how he had filled out over the years she hadn’t seen him. That certainly wasn’t helping the young woman in maintaining a straight face and though they had exchanged letters, it was entirely different to see how he had changed.



Of course, most things remained the same and that was his steadfast determination to becoming a dedicated and loyal soldier. She respected that about Maximus. He treated most with kindness, once his trust was earned and that was something Adelpha had never forgotten about her best friend. She missed Basil as well and her thoughts made her smile again, before she let Maximus go from her embrace. “I’m….happy to see you, too.” She spoke softly, a couple of tears forming in her own blue gaze and she listened to his words, before replying.



“How did it go? Win any glory and fame during those battles of yours? I was working on a painting, this afternoon, of a battle scene.” She laughed softly and smiled. “Guess I was thinking of you.” Her sapphire gaze softened and she gently offered another soft, comforting squeeze to her friend’s forearm. “I’m sorry those images likely follow you everywhere, I bet.” The artist was more than willing to listen and she knew it wasn’t easy for either Maximus or the other men to return from war, back into society. If anything, she was all too familiar. Her own father typically suffered from such nightmares, having to kill other men in battle and such dreams followed them back home, even months later.



She cleared her throat and straightened her hair once she was released from that comforting and warm embrace, the flush slowly fading from her cheeks and she made a bit of a face. “Now, hey, I have changed a little!” She protested playfully, a slight smile forming back on her lips and she bit back a laugh. “Though you are in trouble for not writing me often enough, I guess I can forgive you.” Her voice was soft, though playful, her blue eyes settling back on Maximus.