"One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood."

- Lucius Anneus Senaca The Ninth Book of Dialogues

A howling wind welcomed the people of Rome to the first light of day. The serene vestiges of light peaking through the many nooks and crannies of the torn buildings that still stand. Colds winds and the warm rays of the sun converge upon those subjected to the morning twilight. Polar opposites, yet existing in harmony under the grand dominion of nature...

Two men bask upon the moment, walking across the many residential buildings that once kept families warm...

"Do you believe in our people Marcus?..."

Julius asks, as the steady sound of footsteps challenge the silence.

"Whatever could you mean lord dictator?"

Mark Anthony replies, taken aback by another one of Julius's puzzling questions. Julius reiterates...

"Do you trust in the unknown?..."

He quickly follows up...

"Would you trust in what you don't know?..."

The sound of footsteps fill in the air as Mark Anthony takes a moment to think.

He finally answers...

"No, dictator...no I wouldn't"

Julius responds as he laughs under his voice.

"I also wouldn't do so ha ha..."

Compared to Julius, Mark Anthony was not accustomed to the humor that developed from the many years of human history. The nuances that could be found from within Julius's words were impossible for the people of this world to pick up. Even though Mark was no longer a stranger to Julius's words and antics, he still can't help but be bothered from time to time.

Like a friend fed up with a troublesome companion, Mark Anthony lets a question he did not mean to ask.

"Why then did you ask such a question of me?"

Marcus realized this slip up and quickly tried to take back his words, thinking that he has greatly disrespected the dictator. But Julius paid no mind, to him it was far from an insult. He just replied in a reassuring tone...

"It never hurts to ask a question, but it may hurt to find out..."

He stops for a moment to breath in the fresh morning air.

"Those who choose ignorance are the only ones to set themselves up for the pain of revelation."

Julius continued, facing the troubled Mark Anthony. After this exchange, the two continued on their way, Marcus said nothing else after Julius's words...He couldn't say anything else...He pondered why the dictator always seems to be heedless, its almost like his mind is wandering off to distant lands while his body stays in place. He acknowledges his skill in speaking to the people, he knows his drive and will, he is aware of what Julius is capable of...But no matter how hard he tried, Mark Anthony still could not understand Julius.

The two continue to walk for some time, eventually reaching the many pathways leading to the central square. As they turn the corner to face the plaza, a young woman could be seen pacing back and forth from one side to another.

Julius calls out to the restless girl...

"Ah, Miss Flora..."

The sound of his voice echoing across the empty space of the square.

Stolen novel; please report.

"What brings you here so early?"

He asks, relieved that it seemed like she accepted his offer.

Flora shrugs...

"HaH, I had no choice..."

She paces towards the two slowly, bowing her head as she continued.

"I just can't bring myself to look at father after what happened yesterday..."

"So I left the house as soon as I could, and now I'm her-"

Her words were cut short, as she notices Mark Anthony right behind Julius.

"-e its YOU!"

Flora shouts, as she points at him with no care in the world. Confused, Julius asked intending to clarify.

"Who?!...Marcus? you already know miss Flora?"

"Forgive me lord dictator, I don't reca-"

An image quickly flashes in his mind, he remembered, she was the woman who he tried to help on the day of the riot.

"Ah, I do recall seeing her face."

Upon noticing their familiarity with each other, Julius took this as a good sign. Thinking that since they already knew each other, then collaborating with the constructione training will be made much easier. So, he took this opportunity to reveal their pairing for the task.

"Well now, this makes things easier then. Marcus, miss Flora here is the one who will be leading the constructione training later today."

"I have yet to inform you both of the details, but the constructione is suppose to train the legions in the ways of construction."

Flora chimes in reacting to this information...

"So that's what you meant by "needing my skills", you wanted me to teach your new soldiers how to build? huh?"

Julius responds in a semi concerned tone.

"Will that be a problem?"

Dismissively, she assures Julius.

"Oh no I don't give a damn. As long as you pay me and I get to prove my father wrong, then I am fine with doing whatever."

"This is pretty surprising though, never thought I would be paired up with him, name's Flora Rencia...yours?"

She extends her arm over to Mark Anthony, asking for a handshake.

"Marcus Antonius..."

He obliged, replying his name promptly. The two grasped hands for a moment as a sign of respect to each other. Something bothered Mark Anthony however, Flora seemed to be far too familiar with Julius.

Now that the two have exchanged their pleasantries, Flora couldn't help but point out...

"I didn't think he was working for you Julius, thought he was just another pup of those dogs ha ha!"

Mark Anthony was stunned. Hearing Julius's name from Flora's mouth with no form of courtesy whatsoever. This act from Flora brought a form of anger he himself is not too familiar with.

"Who does she think she is? Saying the lord dictator's name so casually!"

He thought to himself. Perhaps it was frustration or his own prejudice, but Mark Anthony could not contain the surging injustice that he suddenly felt through the careless words of Flora.

"I implore you to address him properly miss."

Marcus mutters, demanding she show proper respect to Julius and his title.

"Huh? address who?"

Flora's reply was a genuine question. In no way did she mean any disrespect, whether it be through negligence or lack of courtesy. This seemingly innocent response only irritated Mark Anthony further...

"Dictator Julius...address him as such."

With a more forceful tone, he emphasized his wish. Julius wanted to speak up as he feared that a conflict may end up rising between the newly assigned duo. But before he could act, Flora replied spitefully.

"I'll address him how I please, besides he doesn't seem to care."

She sensed animosity from Mark Anthony, perplexed as to where this came from. Flora dismisses his request as she saw no problem with how she acted. From what seemed like out of nowhere, Mark Anthony raised his voice for the first time in front of Julius.

"You WILL address him properly woman!"

Julius did not know what to think of this reaction, he froze in place, as he processed the sudden outburst. For once, he did not know what he should do. Flora, however, took this as a form of discrimination from someone she considered to be of high social standing.

"OH...so THATS how it is huh?!"

She shouted back, thinking that Mark Anthony never really wanted to collaborate with someone like her. Assuming that he was only complying with it because Julius wanted him to.

The two clashed heads for some time. Exchanging insults and arguing with each other about many how's, why's, and whatnot's. Culminating with both suggesting to Julius that one over the other is not really needed for the constructione training to be successful.

"Lord dictator, this woman is not fit to train the legionnaires!"

"Julius, I don't want to teach with this mutt!"

Finally having enough of this senseless squabble, Julius speaks up.

"ENOUGH, both of you!"

He catches the attention of the two.

"No one is being removed or excluded from this assignment!"

"Jesus! my head hurts...I don't know what the fuck possessed both of you but you better cut it out!"

Julius pressed on the temples of his head as he breathed in deeply, sighing out as he continued...

"Marcus! bring miss Flora to the castra, when I arrive later you both better have buried the hatchet!"

He walks away, letting out one final bout of frustration.

"Ahhh...Christ..."

The two may squabble and argue. As of right now, they both may not be able to see eye to eye. To Flora, Marcus is a stiff and overly self assured man who views everything in his eyes with an order to follow. To Marcus, Flora is a rude, classless, overly familiar woman who bears no respect for rank in society. Their views about each other differ greatly, but there is one thing that they understood and both agreed upon...

"What just happened?"

Julius lost it in Italian...