The goal of our excursion was to reach the Guards, a mountain chain that separated the Vetulonian peninsula from the rest of Helena. The first week wasn’t so bad. We did a lot of walking, but it was nice being out in the wild. It was late summer, so nights were still warm. Most of us didn’t even bother to set up tents, we preferred to sleep on the forest ground near the fire.

I got to know a few people better, especially Cassius. He was a bit vain, but overall a smart and kind person. The two of us had good political debates. Often I'd tease him, asking him trick questions, and by answering them he shattered his own arguments. That made him furious.

Still, I missed Marius and wondered how he was doing. I had written to him a couple of times back in the camp, but he never responded. I knew he wouldn’t – that was Marius. He could only focus on one aspect of his life at a time and now that was the legion.

I missed Otho as well and wondered how he was holding up. He was never an outdoorsy person. I hoped our groups would encounter each other somewhere in the woods, although I knew that was not in the plan.

Antonia cooled down her affections for me and spent a lot of time with Tilius, a blonde from Arabor. That made me mad, but I tried not to show it.

One morning, by the end of the first week, I and a colleague named Livia were assigned to fill a bucket with Asa berries. She was from Lux as well so we had a lot to talk about. She had thick black hair and green eyes. Her nose was crooked, but it suited her face.

“Have you been to any other cities?” she asked me as we walked through the woods.

“Yes, I have some family in Arabor and Stelarium. But from what I’ve seen, I like Lux the best.”

“Because it's your home.”

“Perhaps. Gods, I’d kill for a tobacco stick right now. I smoked all of my stash in the first couple of days!”

“I can’t stand those things, they smell,” she frowned.

“It’s an acquired taste,” I smirked and remembered my brother, who always nagged me about smoking.

“It was very bold of you to drink the tea so fast.” The tone of her voice changed.

“I wouldn’t call it boldness,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Well… In any case, it’s refreshing to see someone so goal-orientated. It shows a form of maturity, even wisdom,” she smiled.

“Well, I’m a very wise person,” I said with a pinch of irony and a bit of sorrow.

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“So, are you and Antonia, you know… More than friends?”

“Not sure what you mean?” I played a fool.

“Are you intimate?”

“No more than with others.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

She was out to get me, I could sense it in my very bones. Not that I minded. After a while of walking we finally stumbled upon some Asa bushes – near a large, peaceful looking pond. We were picking the berries for a couple hours until we filled two buckets.

“Now comes the hard part, carrying it back to the camp,” I sighed.

“Eh, we have it easy today. Others have gone hunting. Misery! I hate killing animals, nasty business… Hey, Antonius, why don’t we go for a quick swim, to freshen up?

I knew what she meant and I almost took the bait, but then remembered Antonia. Then my mind jumped to her and Tilius, that blonde donkey, which in result increased my desire for Livia. But a small voice inside me was whispering that would be wrong.

Besides – nothing happened between Antonia and Tilius, she’s only getting to know other people, don’t be so paranoid! my mind lectured me.

I could almost hear Marius laughing at me. Ha ha ha! Do it, Livia wants you! Gods, Antonius! Always a philosopher! Do you check wrinkles in your feces every morning as well, trying to decipher what elusive meaning they’re hiding?

“It’s best we head back. We must feed them,” I smiled to Livia, declining her offer. My answer startled her. Then she said with defiance:

“Well, I’m going for a quick swim. You can either join me or not, it’s your choice.”

She took off her clothes and walked into the pond. I stood there, watching her, like a clueless fool.

It was almost dark by the time we came back to the camp. I sat nearby Cassius, tired and annoyed.

“Good job, I love berries” he said with a hungry voice. I didn’t respond, so he added:

“What’s Livia like? I fancy her.”

“Oh, do you?”

“I’ll approach her tomorrow.”

“And say what?”

“I don’t know yet!” We both laughed.

After we ate I set up my tent. I didn’t feel like sleeping under the stars and also wished for some privacy. In about an hour or so the talking stopped. You could only hear a snore here and there. Then my tent opened and a shadowy figure appeared in front of me. The tent was low, so the figure was on its all fours. For a moment I panicked, but then I recognized her smell. It was Antonia.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“It’s cold tonight, I thought we’d keep each other warm.”

“Oh. Fine, come.”

She snuggled next to me and I hugged her.

“So, you managed to fight off Livia, ha?” she whispered and giggled.

“You know about that?”

“I do. She blabbed everything as soon as you came back. She called you a eunuch, ha ha.”

“Well… I don’t know what to say about that. What about Tilius?”

“He’s just a friend, Antonius. You weren’t jealous, were you?”

“A bit.”

“I like what you did. Or not did, ha! With Livia. Tells a lot about you.”

She then kissed me and all the tiredness went away.