Arterius

Grace sighed. It was becoming a bad habit for her. She had sighed upon hearing duke Egon had supposedly been seen heading to the baths. She had sighed through practically every step required to enter the public baths.

And this time? She was sighing as she sank into the warm waters of the baths. While Grace disagreed with the amount of time the Duke spent in the baths, even she found them relaxing.

Looking around the baths Grace had not yet seen any sign of Egon. Maybe he was running late or had otherwise been held up. Or maybe he had never actually come or already had left? Grace had no idea.

Grace was here now and had already paid for her towels and things. It would be a waste not to enjoy her time here. Slowly she sank into the water to relax until just her head was above water.

Grace’s concerns would soon be answered as Egon came into the bath house. As he round the corner to enter the bath itself, he was wearing nothing but a small towel around his waist to give himself some sort of modesty before he would enter the water. The man’s body was a marble of perfection with well defined muscles upon his toned frame, his pale skin unblemished.

His eyes would soon spot Grace which he was surprised to see. “Ah Grace, it’s a surprise to see you here, I hope you don’t mind my intrusion” he would say to her as walks over to the pool of water stepping inside and just before he would sit, he would remove the towel around his waist before immediately sitting in the bath and relax a bit in the nice hot water, his hair all tied up in a bun. “The bath’s are lovely aren’t they?” He would ask as he engage in small talk with her

The baths were certainly lovely. So much that Grace had in fact closed her eyes. Not do much as to rest but to relax and take time to organize her thoughts. Her relationship with D'Or, her work on creating her hunters and her status among the Holtzen.

Thus Egon found her like this. Lost in thought, neck deep in the soothing baths, her long silver hair floating all around her like a silver cloud. Until he called her name that is.

Seeing that it was Egon who had called her name Grace reached one hand out of the water to gently pat the surface beside her, much like one would pat a seat. "Instrusion? Nonsense. It's been a while cousin Egon!" She'd comment with a smile.

Grace had not bothered with tying up her hair. Which proved beneficial now, her long hair helping cover her chest as she sat back up. She used the move to also avert her eyes while Egon entered the water.

"They are very lovely. I had a meeting with Xu D'Or earlier. It was a little...heated. So I came here afterwards to relax." As she spoke, just thinking back to the meeting caused Grace's face to turn bright red.

With a smile as he settles in “It has certainly been awhile” his reply to her as he tilts his head back to slow his body to truly relax within the waters. At the mention of D’Or, he would peek one eye open as he raised an eyebrow, still smiling. “Oh? What did the middle sister of the Xu want? Always need to be on your guard with them, schemers they are” he coos even though his tone wasn’t disdainful of them, but certainly was cautious of the Xu family in general.

A giggle slipped from Grace as she gave Egon a knowing nod "Yes...Sly as foxes. We finished up the Merrimac buisness. It'll be out of our hair soon enough."

Turning to face her cousin Grace rested herself against the side of the bath "We spoke about sharing monster information for the Hunters I'm preparing. She agreed to help so as long as I promise to be safe and that I'm given time to spend with her...and not to hide our love. " as she spoke Grace couldn't help but grin and giggle, her eyes filled with love just from speaking of D'Or.

“Excellent once that issue is done, we can focus on the others, giving info on the monsters also helps, I know both the university and the library here in the city have quiet the selection too” Egon says with a nod of his head approving on how things are going. “You know some of the family won’t approve of your relationship with D’Or even if you are from a cadet branch…I don’t mind either way, whatever makes you happy, just keep in mind what you say” he says with a soft smile on his face as he gives her a friendly wink.

He would look up as he sighs “Always problems in this land…Xu are having supply issues as there trains are being raided, rumor has it, it has prompted Haruko to make her way to the city…not to mention that the crafty bandit Estefania has spurred the rest of bandit population to be more bold on there strikes as well as the unnerving development of the significant increase of the undead presence in the mountains” he would say giving a quick run down of developments.

With a half hearted chuckle he would state “Just another day in Arterius and a reason to come to the baths” as he sinks in lower into the water.

"One amongst many issues. Once these hunters...my jaegers...are formed I'll have them copy the information from both of them." Grace sounded proud when talking about her still forming unit. But at the mention of the family she couldn't help but groan and sink back into the water some "I've heard the rumors of what's said about me already. One more thing to speak about me won't hurt...but I will be careful about things I say." Again she can't help grinning from her love "..and yes she does make me happy. I do truly love her Egon."

Grace would join Egon in appreciating the baths beautiful ceiling while listening to the mounting problem "While I can't do much about those first two, the Jaeger's can help cull the undead...once formed. I still need supplies and people...and I've barely been granted any coin for either."

With a sigh she would lazily sink back to her previous of just her head out of the water "So many problems...no wonder you come here so often. It feels like we are racing headlong into another time of strife."

Egon couldn’t help but smirk hearing Grace lament about how things are spoken about her. Though Egon couldn’t help but see the positive in that “Grace, you are such a Maverick, it’s admirable what you do for this family and yet the older generation just looks down on you for it…feel like our family has become one of sleezy business owners trying to squeeze every last coin” he grumbles as he sinks into the bath.

“Actually, when your jaegers are formed, I would want them to commit reconnaissance on the undead, I would like to pinpoint where they are coming from and see what plan the undead are up too. With D’Or, you could possibly ask if your hunters can act as guards for train shipments going in and out of Arterius through the mountains, they’ll be able to see what the undead are doing as no attacks from the mountains have been reported” Egon suggests to his cousin.

“Any information you can get, I’ll do my best that men and supplies come your way” he says with a soft smile wanting to at least support his cousin in this endeavor.

"I appreciate your kind words cousin. My father would always tell me...We are the knights of Arterius and it is our duty to protect the city and aid it's people, even at the cost of our lives...an oath he upheld until the end. Mayhaps the others have forgotten their oaths?" Grace said with a frown. She certainly didn't disagree with Egon but she offered her own interpretation on the matter.

"Both are fine ideas...but it will be some time yet. Pulling together a company from scratch has proven very difficult. But we will start investigating as soon as we can." giving a thumbs up out of the water Grace smiled at Egon "Thank you for your support."

"Still...I can't help but feel I'm meant to fail. If I solely use what I've been given, the jaegers will be badly undermanned, with shoddy equipment and little else." While it was not a direct accusation, the thought had crossed her mind while trying to get things in order. A thought she couldn't help but express.

Egon bobbed his head in thought “Very house takes a different oath, but they are all similar…” he would sigh “Good chance they have forgotten” as he looks up. Though he would look over as Grace vented a bit. “You are a proven warrior, but you are an unproven leader. You need to show that not only can you handle yourself but handle others, have order and discipline. I know for fact if your missions are successful, you will get more support as you have proven yourself” he explains simply to her.

He would flash her smile “There is an old saying Victories forgive all transgressions” as he continues to look at her. “Prove to the others you can handle this role and you’ll get more support”

Ultimately Grace knew that her cousin was correct. She was a young, unproven leader being asked to form a new untested and non-traditional company. But she couldn't help but vent. "I apologize for that outburst. It has been...stressful being given this task so soon after father's passing."

With a sigh she turns to look at Egon "I suppose you are correct. I have to prove myself capable...and we need to remind them of the oaths they swore." Grace's tone was a little more hopeful as she said her piece.

Grace had been in the water too long, she was starting to get wrinkly. "I have greatly enjoyed seeing you my dear cousin. I would stay longer but I still have errands to run." She said while grabbing her towel from the side of the bath.

Turning her back to Egon, in one fluid motion she stood from the water and wrapped her towel around herself before turning and smiling down at him "I've enjoyed this. We need to see each other more often Egon."

Egon understood her frustrations as he went through them as well. To the eyes of his brothers and sisters, he was untested upstart, constantly being pressured to stay at the bottom of the totem pull. Yet he was able to raise himself up somewhat, but still had a long way to go. He knew at least his cousin will get an easy go, once she is proven and tested, unlike him. “It’s alright, I understand how you feel. The more prove yourself the more support will come your way” he says optimistic of her jaeger squad success.

With a smile on his face, he would nod seeing his cousin leave the bath. “Don’t worry, I would enjoy your company more, but yes, the toiled work beyond these walls all call before us. I hope to see you again cousin, and I pray for your success” as he gives a friendly wink at her as he waves goodbye to her.