140AD - The Rise to Empress || [GxG] ||

Chapter 43

 Ianuarius (January), 143AD

Another year was ushered in on foreign soil. Lexa hadn't been able to welcome a new year on home soil for two years; having of spent the first in Egypt only to return to Rome for a short while before setting off without a choice once again. Now the second year has begun and she was no closer to home. Arguably though Greece was much better than Egypt.

The leather over her shoulders creaked as she pulled it down farther, lacing the strap through a small metal loop twice before wrapping it around the piece of metal until finally finishing in the smallest of knots. She looked herself over in the most distorted of mirrors as she finished the knots on her bracers as well.

The once gladiatrix now turned mercenary again was satisfied with what she saw. She looked healthy again; no longer beaten and bruised and on the brink of mangled. Her wounds healed well considering all things, and with all the hard labor on the farm, it looked as if she was fresh from Polis entering the city of Rome for the very first time; completely bewildered by the size of the architecture around her.

Except today, she wasn't entering Rome. She was traveling to a nearby Greek province named Arkadia. Lexa merely had an idea of where she was going, having been explained a fair route the previous evening. It was the final night for a long time that she would be able to have dinner with the Flavius family and the idea twisted her heart with a little bit of ache.

She had spent just about four or five months with the family, each and every day. Somehow each one had managed to nestle themselves into her heart, even the two mischievous boys. However, if she'd have to explain it to anyone in such a way, using the peculiar word of 'somehow', it wouldn't be the complete truth because she knew exactly how they had managed to get into her heart.

They felt like a family she truly belonged to, one that cared for her as she cared for them.

Once Lexa was completely satisfied with the way her weapons belt sat around her waist, she spared one last glance in the silver mirror before descending the steps and heading out of the Flavius home into the open of the farm. She breathed in a deep breath of fresh air before wiping at a drop of perspiration on her brow. Whether it was the humidity or her nerves about the coming journey, she's unsure.

Today's ride was going to be hellish. Riding in the sun wearing pitch-black armour was a sure way of reaching boiling point. Besides that fact, she had to admit that it was quite an adjustment to go from just wearing a form-fitting tunic every day to moving on to wearing heavy armour again. An adjustment that wasn't in the least easy.

Leonardo was standing next to Lexa's steed, fastening the last little bit of her belongings to the animal. She didn't own much except for a few articles of clothing. The rest of the things were just dried goods for snacking and a few pouches of drachmae that would get her a place to rest and a decent meal whenever she'd need one.

"So this is it then for a while, eh?" Leonardo questions, smiling sadly. He too had grown fond of the gladiatrix, even with her extensive stubbornness and sternness. Below all of her so-called traits of 'difficulty', she was a woman with a heart big enough for anyone.

"I suppose so."

"You won't be away too long, will you?" Nyx asks, a tone of hopefulness in her voice. Lexa had brought a sense of security and safety over the farm but now that she was leaving she couldn't help feeling like the safety was leaving as well. And above all that ... her conversation wasn't all that bad either. She was a much-needed friend.

Lexa pursed her lips before licking them in consideration. There never was any easy way through departures and goodbyes. There was no telling if one would come back because the fates were strange and the gods had their own sense of humor. And well ... accidents do happen. Not even she was immortal to accidents.