Years have passed since Eilistraee was rescued from her home by General Acaius, she has grown under his wing and she has become his own daughter. She's grown from a child to a beautiful young woman—But raising a child does have consequences like keeping her safe from the outside world. In Eilistraee's case; being trapped inside her own home.

Luckily she wasn't entirely alone. She has her two tigers she named Aspen and Fayler, both brothers she had rescued after their mother died in the Colosseum, she took in and nurtured them to health while in return they protected her with their lives.

There was also Lucilla; Acacius's wife but her and Eilistraee don't really connect like Acacius does with Eilistraee but she's shown to be a great motherly figure to her.

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One night in her chambers she lay in her bed reading her book, already wearing her nightgown with her bangles and circlet on—her red curls of hair dangling down to her side.

Aslpin and Faylin lay on her bed, somehow for two fully grown tigers—the moonlight glows on Faylin's white fur.

A quick knock on her door and the creek open was enough to wake the tigers up, "I'm in no need of any further help, thank you Lucinda."

What she thought was her maid, but instead it was. "Well that's one way to greet your father."

Turning her head she saw her father who came back from his trip to conquer Numida in Roman's name, she smiled at him—standing up on her feet she glided her feet to wrap her arms around his waist. Acaius did the same, his cheek resting against her hair.

"I swear you're getting beautiful everytime I see you." Acaius comments with both of his hands on her face.

She giggles. "I know, father. You say that almost everyday." She sat down on her bed, Aspen took the opportunity to roll on his back for Eilistraee to rub his stomach. Acaius sat next to her, "They're will be times where I think I won't come back to you." he confessed while stroking Feylin's head.

"But you're here now, you are alive thanks to the Gods." she tells him.

Acaius chuckles, "Yes, that's true. Now," he stands up, making Faylin chuffs in absence of Acaius's strokes. "Best get some sleep, Dove."

"But, I'm not a child, father." Eilistraee dejects.

"I know." He spoke, his hand enclosed on the door handle. He turned his head to look at her, "But know that you'll always be my child." that put a smile on her face.

The sound of the door closing; Eiliestraee's room was filled with silence, she let out a sigh as her body fell to the mattress.

The flickering licks of the torch flames dancing across her room, casting a warm glow as her shadows dance along the glow—she simply let her mind wander far from reality. About what? She wasn't sure.

But she did wonder how many lives were lost in Numida; How many women were widowed? How many men have lost their wives? Lastly; How many children were orphaned or lost their father?

All for what? For Roman to claim another city as theirs.

For the twin emperors; Emperor Geta and his brother Caracalla. Pair of damaged goods from birth, Eilistraee sees them of the dead risen from the grave by how pale they look. Plus, they're revolting on how they eye her like she's a piece of candy.

She was brought back to reality when she saw Aspen look at him with a concerning look in his yellow eyes, "I'm fine, Aspen." She assures him.

Aspen grunts and nudges her sides playfully, making her giggle—Faylen saw his brother playfully but also cautiously pawing at Eilistraee, wanting in on the fun he did the same thing, she laughs "No fair."

After that's done the tigers relax and cuddle with their mother to rest up for the next day.

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A party wasn't something the Eilistraee had in mind; The party was meant for the emperors and senators alike to witness a fight between two gladiators—even though Acaius forbid his daughters to go anywhere near the twin emperors, Eilistraee can be rebellious.

Besides, it wasn't like she's going to strike a conversation with them.

So she snuck out and went in fully unnoticed by the guards, she then stopped to turn to look at her tigers. "I need you both to say here." she tells them.

Faylen let out a chuff and nudged her hand, the thought of her being in there with unknown strangers and the twin emperors had her kittens on edge. "Don't worry, Faylen." she scratches his head. "I'll be okay, I promise."

She then heads inside where she could hear Senator Thraex speaking "Lord, ladies and gentlemen and senators, for your entertainment the art of combat. May I present the barbarian versus from my old stable, the mighty Vijay."

Then her eyes met a handsome man around her but older with piercing blue eyes met golden brown, she felt something pull in her heart. She wasn't sure what.

She watches the barbarian fight with Vijay, the fight was brutal with swords clanging against each other—the fight ends with the barbarian impaling Vijay in the abdomen, he pulls back the sword. A spurt of blood landed on Eilistraee's dress, making her cringe in disgust.

Disgusting but also...alluring.