That evening, after dinner, Althea and Jasper took a walk through the garden together. The air was warmer than it had been the past week as they strode together through the candlelit pathways. While most of the summer flowers had grown brown and shrivelled, the beautiful fall mums had sprung up from the ground in an array of blazing autumn colours. From deep maroons, to burnt oranges and fiery yellows, they weaved in clusters through the long wavy grasses that blew in the light, warm breeze.

September was only a few days away, bringing them closer to the bitter cold days of winter. She wondered if she and Arsalan would still train outside? Surely not if the air was frigid and it was snowing right? She wouldn't put it past him to make her train out there and call it a learning exercise.

She leaned into Jasper, yawning sleepily. Her training today had worn her out tremendously. The heat hadn't helped either.

"Are you tired my love?" Jasper asked, brushing a hand through her hair as they stood together. She was, but she didn't want their time together to come to a close. Her favourite time of the day was spent with him holding her and tracing her skin with his fingers as they sat together.

She shook her head quickly. "No, no, I'm just..." she looked for the words to build a lie but alas they eluded her.

Jasper chuckled and sat down on a grassy patch near a cluster of freshly bloomed asters. He had worn a grey herringbone suit to dinner that evening and his long brown hair was tied back using a grey ribbon.

"Here, lie down in my lap and relax," he instructed, patting his palm down on his thigh. Smiling down at him warmly, she obeyed. He really was such a gentleman.

Althea's mind hopped to Arsalans words from earlier, deeming her jealous of the woman he'd bedded. She rolled her eyes, what could she possibly have to be jealous of when she had a kind and loving person like Jasper by her side. She could hardly imagine herself with a man like Arsalan. He was cold and harsh and the complete opposite of what she wanted and what she was. But still, she thought of the feeling that rose up in her at his words of bedding a woman. Why had they made her feel so... uncomfortable? She was not jealous. Maybe it was just hearing someone speak so openly about it that made her feel that way. After all, in modern society speaking of intercourse was considered a taboo, especially when bedding someone who you weren’t married to.

"I hope your new trainer didn't wear you out too hard today," Jasper said, rubbing her scalp with his fingers as he brushed them though her curls. She had opted to let her hair dry naturally after her bath, and kept it down for this exact reason. She loved the way his fingers felt as they combed through her brown locks.

"No, it's not too much, I've just never used my body like this before, so it will take some getting used to," she said.

Laying in his lap, she looked up at him. He stared up at the stars, not noticing her as she gazed at him. Her eyes fell on the curve of his jaw and the way his long neck craned up at the sky above them.

His features were soft, unlike that of Arsalan, he did not have that rugged look about him. He glanced down at her, noticing the way she stared at him. A blush spread over his pale cheeks.

"What?" he laughed. She loved the way his cheeks dipped in slightly when he grinned.

"Just admiring you," she said honestly. He closed his mouth, still smiling to the side. Craning his neck, he bent down to lay a smooth kiss on her lips. She tilted her head up to kiss him back, reaching her hand to touch his jaw. It was a brief kiss but any warm touch of his lips against hers was always welcomed by her, no matter how fleeting.

When they pulled away she opened her eyes again to see his hazel ones gleaming at her. He was truly angelic. He reminded her of the murals she'd seen painted of angels flying high through the clouds. She imagined them looking down upon those they loved on the ground below.

"I have a surprise for you tomorrow," he cooed, running a soft finger over her forehead to brush away a curl.

Furrowing her eyebrows she sat up to look at him, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"What is it?" she asked, looking between his eyes for any hint of an explanation.

He just grinned mischievously.

"Now if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise," he laughed.

"But after your training tomorrow, meet me at our spot in the courtyard. There is somewhere I want to take you." Her mind raced as she thought of where it could possibly be. Was it out of the institution? She hadn't been out in the real world in over a month. Not that she minded all that much considering it was full of misogynistic men whose ideals for women were cruel and grotesque. But it may be nice to get out with him. He would never treat her with such cruelty.

"Okay," she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice as she said the word.

He laid fully down and she curled into him on the soft grass, nestling her face into the crook of his neck. He smelt of citrus and she found herself breathing in his scent deeply.

Her eyes began growing heavier and before she knew it, she'd fallen into a slumber beside him. She hadn't even realised she'd been asleep until Jasper's words crept into her mind.

"Althea my love," he chuckled quietly in her ear, "you've fallen asleep. Come, let's get you up to your bed chamber."

She opened one half squinted eye at him and he leaned in, leaving light kisses on her neck and ear tickling her with the stubble that grew on his face.

"Okay okay, I'm getting up," she laughed, pushing him off as she sat up, he stood first and reached his hand to take her still gloved fingers, in his.

After helping her off the ground, they walked together to her bedroom. Every night Jasper walked her to her room, and each night he gave her a kiss before plodding back to his own room which was a floor above hers. She'd never been in his room and she found herself wondering what it looked like. Did he decorate himself or keep the room as it was when he arrived at the institution? Her mind was dizzy with thoughts as her eyes drooped from exhaustion.

When they stood in front of her door, Jasper looked at her with admiration in his eyes.

"Sleep peacefully my love," he whispered, leaning in to brush his lips against hers. She exhaled a shaky breath as Jasper's full lips embraced hers in a warm kiss. Althea stumbled back slightly and his arm shot out to clasp her waist, pulling her into him as their kiss continued. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, bracing her against her chamber door. His other hand sat beside her head, using the door to prop himself up.

Jasper's soft lips moved from her mouth down her chin and to her neck, licking and sucking her skin causing her to squirm under him. She felt like her body was on fire. Her core was molten and radiated through the rest of her. Althea arched her back, bringing her body so close to his that there was no longer any space between them, as he kissed just above the bustier lining her breasts.

She didn’t wish for the thrill to end. Every part of her felt as though it were made of ambient buzzing energy, as though she were no longer flesh and bone, but something else entirely. An enigma cast in warmth and light. As Jasper reached a hand up to gently squeeze her left breast, a small moan escaped from her parted lips. The noise sounded foreign to her.

Althea opened her eyes as they parted slightly. She studied him, still leaning over her, she could see the desire burning behind his gaze. See the unspoken promise written there. This is not the end.

But it was for tonight. There was also a mutual understanding poised between them, for they both knew if they did not find the strength to pull away now, there would be no turning back.

"I bid you goodnight, Althea," he spoke, his voice raspier now. With one last kiss to her cheek, he strolled away from her. She just watched in awe as he made his way down the long corridor, looking back before he turned up the stairs, to wave at her.

She locked herself in her bed chamber, pressing a hand to her still rapidly beating heart. Althea danced around her room as she undressed and readied herself for bed. Her fingers traced each spot Jasper had kissed her, the scent of citrus still lingering on her skin.

When she laid down, Althea allowed the thoughts of him to swirl through her mind, hoping he may grace her slumber that evening.

…

Monday morning came too quickly for Arsalan, for the night had been a series of restless turns, punctuated by a recurring dream. In it, he sprinted across a field toward something or someone. However, obstacles continually thwarted his advance. Sinkholes yawning open, a ravenous pack of wild wolves closing in, or an impermeable, invisible barrier blocking his way… Each awakening only offered a fleeting respite, for the dream persisted with unyielding consistency each time he closed his eyes anew.

He got up before sunrise to meditate on the hillside. It soothed him to do this, it always had. Meditation and fighting were the two things he had always turned to when he felt himself struggling. When his parents' deaths got to him more than usual, when he occasionally fell into pits of despair and turmoil and felt that he was beginning to spiral out of control, this had helped him.

Arsalan didn't know what exactly bothered him that morning. Perhaps it was his inability to properly decipher the meaning behind his repetitive dream, or that none of the female officials, or females in general the night before had any features he found attractive, and even if they had, the collective gaze and hushed murmurs they shared in his presence compelled him to consider exiting the room. He harboured a strong aversion for those who opted to discuss him rather than engage with him directly.

And then there had been her... Arsalan thought back to the black dress she'd been wearing the previous night, the way it hugged her curves in all the right places and cascaded down her body like an ebony waterfall. Then his mind shifted to the way her face lit up when she looked not at him, but at her lover, that feeble little boy. He gritted his teeth at the thought as he leaned too far to his right, stumbling slightly. He was distracted by his own thoughts.

"Hm, your form looks a bit off." The playful voice of Althea echoed from behind him. He didn't turn towards her but followed through his entire sequence of movements. He didn't have to see her to know she was there, for she reeked of a male scent. His scent. The odour of wet grass was pungent as it filled Arsalan's nose. He found his mind beginning to wander, thinking of why Jaspers' scent covered her.

"Don't you ever bathe? You smell like someone chewed you up and spit you out with a lawnmower." He realised after the words came out, that she would have absolutely no idea what a lawnmower was, seeing as she could not yet travel through time as he had.

"A what?" she laughed coming around to sit beside him below the tree. The sun was fully over the horizon now, shining golden light over the two of them. He glanced towards her wearing new training garbs. These ones were like the others she'd worn but the sleeves were long and instead of shorts she wore pants. It had been rather cool out when he had begun his workout.

"Never mind," he said, closing his eyes as he leaned forward resting his head and forearms on the ground before kicking his legs into the air above him, pointing his toes to the vibrant sky above them. To his delight, he could hear Althea gasp quietly to herself.

"Eventually you will be able to do this..." he crooned, then smirked as he lifted himself onto his hands. "And this," he added. Finally, he lifted one arm to his side so all of his weight rested solely on one hand. He bent his legs backwards towards the ground behind him, his back arching with the movement. The Buddhist monks in Beijing had called the pose zhī zuī or scorpion. His instructor Keo had taken him to the Yonghe Temple where the Tibetan monasteries had taught him how to relinquish his mind fully to meditation, and the art of Tai Chi. "And maybe eventually this too." If he were being honest it had taken him quite some time to master the pose as it took an incredible amount of balance and strength.

"I seriously doubt that," she muttered. He brought his legs down fully behind him in a back bend before standing up, letting the blood rush down from his head and back into the rest of his body. He picked up his towel, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

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"You have little faith in me I see," he remarked.

She let out a sigh, "no, but I do have doubts in myself."

How could she remain oblivious to her own formidable strength? With every training session they shared, she fearlessly conquered the things that terrified her, continuously pushing her limits to transcend even his own expectations.

"It will take patience, but I know there will come a time when you look back on this conversation and laugh," he said, not taking his eyes off of her. He loved the way her own eyes sparkled when he complimented her. There was a subtle ache that unfurled in his chest every time he noticed the way she criticised herself. And intertwined with that ache, was an ardent longing to witness that spark in her eyes, and the subtle upturn of her lips that bespoke a hidden vitality.

"I suppose we shall see," she said, her English accent strong in each word.

He beckoned for her to pull the orange stone from the bag he had gifted her. She did as told, staring at the cold carnelian in her palm.

"Today we will be working to unblock your creativity. In order for you to begin feeling that you can depend on yourself, you must first be comfortable in your own skin, and comfortable in your ability to house your mind," Arsalan said, repeating the words Keo had spoken to him during his training. His mind flashed with the image of the old man. He had long black hair, speckled with the white of natural maturity. His wisdom stretched farther than any other cadre member Arsalan had ever known, even the elders of the board. It was a shame he hadn't lived long enough to teach more members.

"Arsalan? Are you okay?" Althea asked, leaning towards him, those familiar forestry eyes shifting slightly in the morning light. He hadn't realised he had been quiet until she snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Uh yes, I was just thinking of which meditation ritual to practise today. We are going to start with more breathing work in a few new poses but this time I want you to close your eyes and listen closely to my words."

He moved his legs into a lunge position, stretching his back leg all the way out as his hands reached towards the sky. Althea followed and he watched proudly as she found the balance he'd trained her on last week, and shifted into the position without wobbling or struggling. When her eyes fluttered closed, Arsalan did the same and began.

"I want you to envision the flow of colour as beads of rich red blend together with the pure illumination of yellow to make a vibrant shade of orange. Similarly, think of the foundation you have put so much time and energy into and realise your deepest potential. Once you stop holding yourself back, you can achieve your true capabilities," he paused, opening one eye to look at her. Althea's mouth was slightly agape as she breathed in and out deeply. Her eyes moved back and forth under her lids as she was envisioning whatever images lie in her mind.

"Now when you breathe in, I want you to think of something you don't feel confident you can complete, and on your exhale, I want you to relinquish that mentality and embrace that you can do anything as long as you have faith in your ability to achieve it."

He could hear her breath hitch but then she breathed in deeply and released it a moment later. He wondered what she thought of as she did so. Arsalan could feel the skies beginning their stormy descent as small rain drops hit him at random.

"Continue releasing each negative thought as you breathe out," he said then remained quiet. The only sound between them was their synchronised breathing. That was, until the water droplets began bouncing off of the leaves on the tree above, ticking and tacking around them.

As the cold rain swept down over them, Althea did her best to keep her mind within the meditation. On an inhale, she thought about fully understanding her ability and how she felt it would never happen, then on the exhale she told herself that it would happen, she would not only understand it but she would master it.

As the thoughts roared in her mind, the sky seemed to mimic them. She could see a bright flash of light even through her closed lids. She knew lightning had struck nearby based on the sonic boom that followed immediately afterwards. Suddenly the rain poured over them, so heavy it nearly knocked her completely over, as she posed, still in the lunge stance. When she opened her eyes, Arsalan was still in his position, eyes closed as the frigid rain soaked him. She was freezing, but closed her eyes again, trying to continue. Althea didn't understand how he could keep his thoughts and meditation straight through this.

As she breathed in, she thought about how she would never win a fight against Arsalan and on her exhale she told herself that she could demolish him. She was about to put this affirmation to the test right now if he didn't end this training. Her braided hair was now soaked and flattened to her head.

Althea couldn't take it anymore, she opened her eyes and began standing. To her surprise Arsalan had already stood and was smirking at her now. The rain only grew heavier. It was so dense that she could just barely make out the institution's walls across the large field.

Arsalans eyes flickered down to her chest before he quickly looked away from her. She looked down, noticing her peaked breasts beneath the thin material of her training garbs. She quickly covered them with her arms, feeling the raised goosebumps on her skin. What a deviant mind he possessed. Her hair was completely soaked now, some pieces undone from her braid and clinging to her face. Arsalans' once nicely swept back mop of wavy hair was now laying in a soaked heap on his head, some strands falling into his face as well.

"Okay, perhaps we shall finish training early today," Arsalan suggested at last. She wanted to smack him.

"Wow really? You think so?" Althea called back to him, the iciness prevalent in her voice.

He only smirked, flinging his pack over a shoulder. They walked swiftly back to the institution, or tried to at least, while the rain still pounded against them. The wind blew to the east in gusts that nearly pulled Althea's feet from the ground. They fought their way through it as they walked towards the south facing institution doors. Suddenly there was a gust so strong it howled past the building and hit her like a ton of bricks, sending her toppling to the ground and landing on her backside. Her tailbone ached from the impact.

Arsalan snapped around quickly, bending to help her off the ground.

"Are you okay?" he yelled despite being in front of her, the mix of wind and rain was so thunderous it was still hard to hear him.

She just nodded, not wasting any time as she continued forward. Her joints ached from her training over the last two days, and the pain was even more prevalent thanks to the rain.

In an instant, she felt the world tilt as Arsalan deftly swept her up off of the ground. Startled, Althea realised he had gathered her into his arms, bearing her weight with practised ease. Surrendering to the sudden shift in her surroundings, she instinctively clung to his neck, finding solace in the contrast of his warmth against the brisk chill of the air. Her teeth chattered faintly, a testament to the frigid bite that swirled around them. She inhaled deeply, savouring the rich, heady notes of his musky, spiced scent that enveloped her.

Althea closed her eyes feeling each sturdy step as he carried them the rest of the way to the institution. When they finally arrived at the doors, he used a foot to open one. Right before they made it inside, the rain turned to pebbles of ice, striking Althea’s skin in sharp, painful, jabs. How had the weather shifted so abruptly in such a short period of time?

Arsalan set her down, both of them dripping water on the stone floors of the institution. Althea's body shook, the cold remaining with her even despite the warmer air around her now.

"Here come with me, my guest room is on the first level, I'll get you a towel," he said, leading her to the wide staircase. She followed him, still shivering uncontrollably.

He looked back at her, those normally icy eyes appearing to her now in a calm blue. He reached out his hand for her to take so he may lead her with him up the stairs.

She took it, not intertwining her fingers with his as she did with Jasper, but merely enjoying the warming sensation of his skin on her frigid hand. It brought back feeling to her nearly numb fingers.

When they reached his guest chamber, he opened the door, allowing her to step inside. The room was simple, it was a guest chamber after all. However, beside his bed, leaning against the wall were at least a dozen various weapons. A bow and quiver, a longsword, various daggers, a set of sickles, a rapier, and a katana. He followed her gaze to the ensemble of weapons at the side of his bed.

"Those will be of use later in our training," he smirked at her, but something in his eyes shifted when he beheld her.

His dark hair still dripped with rain water, as did hers, she watched as a droplet slipped from a gathered cluster of his hair and slid down the skin of his neck. For a moment, it almost felt as if time moved slowly around them, as if they had both simultaneously summoned their abilities and made everything around them grow still. She watched the bead of water disappear beneath his grey tunic and she brought her eyes back up his neck to his face. Something unfamiliar danced in his own eyes as he peered back at her, and a part of her wished she could have studied that imperial gaze for longer. But in a forceful tug of his head, Arsalan pulled his eyes from hers and cleared his throat.

"Let me get you a dry towel," he said, opening the door to his bathing chamber and letting her step inside. Various bottles of soaps and oils sat on a table beside a large tub. He reached for a towel from the shelf and walked back towards her, wrapping her in it.

"Sit here," he motioned towards the seat in the corner of the bath chamber, "I'll go get one of my dry tunics for you to put on."

“You don’t—” she started to decline, but before she could speak further he had disappeared back into his room, rummaging through his wardrobe. Althea stared around at the wood carved mirrors and stained glass cabinets. As she inhaled, his scent filled her nose again. This entire room smelled of him, which she considered wasn't much of a surprise since it was his bathing chamber… but what shocked her was the way she allowed herself to bask in it, breathing in deeply as she sat waiting. For a brute, Arsalan certainly didn’t let himself smell like one.

"Here you are, you can change in here," he said, handing her one of his tan tunics without meeting her eyes. He turned to walk away but she reached out her hand to stop him. His skin was rough in her grasp. They were the calloused hands of someone who regularly wielded weapons and fought with their hands. She thought about how he had mentioned palm strengthening exercises and wondered if she may eventually have palms that felt like his. He turned, looking at her now as she pulled her hand from his.

"Thank you," she said, gifting him an affectionate smile. He just nodded, looking away, before leaving her to change her top. Something in his eyes gave her the impression he was longing for something. She wondered if perhaps he missed his home, did he have friends there? Or a woman he loved? Surely not if he had bedded someone here only a few nights ago. Although men never seemed to take that into consideration when they slept with whoever they wanted. It occurred to Althea that she really didn't know a lot about Arsalan, outside of his ability mirroring hers. She found her mind swimming with questions all orbiting him. If the old woman had been correct with her odd ramblings, then perhaps she should get to know Arsalan better if she were to follow him to the answers she had about this cadre.

As she stripped off the sticky elastic shirt, her skin was cool and damp beneath it. Althea pulled his dry tunic over her head and couldn't help the giggle that erupted from her as she looked at her reflection in the dusty wooden mirror. His tunic was massive on her. She was practically drowning in it. Raising a brow, she removed her equally drenched trousers. With the tunic being so large on her she could practically wear it as a short gown.

The door squeaked as she pushed it open. She paused her exiting when the sight of Arsalan's bare back came to view before her. He stood in front of his wardrobe searching for a new shirt for himself. The silver outline of his dragon tattoo shimmered in the candlelight as he turned to face her. He swallowed, clenching his jaw as his eyes travelled down from her face to her feet in one quick, but evaluating, movement.

She noticed the full tattoo that was splayed across his chest and arms now. She’d noticed it during their training, but had avoided studying it so she didn’t embarrass herself further in front of him. She wasn't exactly sure what she was looking at, only that it was unnaturally beautiful with neat geometric symbols. She wanted to reach out and trace a finger along the ink lines on his skin. She of course did no such thing, instead returning her gaze to his eyes.

"Let me just find a fresh shirt then I will escort you up to your room," he said slowly. She watched his throat bob as he swallowed. Once his eyes were no longer on her, she watched him. The muscles beneath the tanned skin on his back moved and flexed with each movement he made as he looked for a shirt in his wardrobe. She blinked, looking away from him, unsure why there was a rising guilt building inside of her, as if she was looking at something forbidden to her. She sat on his bed looking over at the various weapons beside it. Althea wondered how long it would be before they used them in her training as he'd promised. She wondered how long he planned to stay here and train her. Wouldn't he miss those he loved where he came from?

Deciding to get some answers, Althea asked, "do you ever miss them? Your family and friends I mean?" She looked back over towards Arsalan who was now holding the tunic which he wished to wear.

His body visibly tensed. Was it because of her question?

"No," he said curtly, not expanding on his answer any. He really didn't miss anyone from his home?

"What about your parents?" she asked as he slipped the cotton shirt over his head.

"Occasionally... but they've been gone for a while now. They died when I was just seven."

He didn't sound overly sad when speaking of them, and this was the first time Althea found herself wondering about his age. She knew he was older than her, but she didn't figure by very much. She was tempted to ask but didn't want to change the subject so abruptly.

"They both died the same year?" she asked, a sorrowful expression written on her features.

He nodded, looking back at her now. His eyes had that icy gleam about them again. Had she taken the conversation too far?

"My mom died in childbirth... so I never got to know her," the sentence fumbled from her lips in a clumsy manner. She wanted him to know that he wasn't alone, but also that she wasn't just trying to pry, but also connect with him.

"I'm sorry," he said. She couldn't read the words as he said them with little emotion. Why was she even trying to open up to him? She didn't need to know him any better. He was there to train her, not be her friend, he'd made that clear to her already. Why was she even still here? She should be asking Jasper about his life… about his parents... Jasper!

She'd nearly forgotten she was to meet him in the courtyard today after training.

"Well I'll be on my way now, I'll give this tunic back to you tomorrow," she said standing up and hopping quickly towards the door.

"Wait, do you want me to escort you to your room?" he asked, suddenly reaching a hand out towards her. She stared at his fingers, hovering close to her arm but not touching her. He corrected his movement and reached instead for the doorknob to open the door for her.

"No, that's quite alright. I'll be fine to walk myself to my room. Thank you though," she flashed him a warm smile before turning and exiting his room.