She noticed it even as she finished taking the oath. The men looked at her differently, even as she took her place in the back of the formation. They used to view her as Markus' daughter, the constant observer, then again as a curiosity down on the training yard with them. But now she was in formation with them, following along with them, training along side them, learning the strikes and blocks and parries. She wasn't quite sure of what their new expressions meant. It wasn't any look she had seen before, it wasn't pity, or distain, and yet not approval either. Every day she went to sleep and her arms and legs ached, she wasn't used to such exhaustion. The training wasn't meant for someone so young or so small. For her the swords were long and heavy, none of the armor fit. It was only a few days before Markus had that particular deficiency fixed and a smaller set of leathers brought to the villa. They fit her well and she knew that she would have need of them for a while and whenever she outgrew them she was going to have to find something else to use.

She had only been at training for a week or so when she encountered the first of the problems that her father had warned her about. After training one day she walked to her friend's house who lived next to her. The servants who had so many times before greeted her with smile and a warm welcome now barred her way and told her she was no longer welcome to visit. When Jessica asked why she was told it was because the master of the house didn't want his daughter learning anything dangerous or picking up any of her bad habits.

It stung that she couldn't see her friend anymore but what hurt even more was being treated like a wild animal for wanting to take up the mantle of service by joining the warrior class. All the boys who had joined the school were extolled for their service and congradulated for gaining entry. She received no such greeting and no congradulations. Mostly people would avert their eyes whenever she would walk by. That is of course unless she was with her father. They were all so certain to not show such indignity around him. So they painted on their smiles and warm greetings for the both of them. Jessica wondered what they all really thought of her father and yet would not say to his face. What they said about him when he wasn't there to hear the words. Would they speak ill of his because of the choice she had made?

All of their indignity and indeference she felt only served to strengthen her resolve about the decision she had made. She was going to be just like her father she was going to make her name known so that when she walked down the street and into the market everyone would welcome her and treat her with the same respect they treated her father. Every word her father spoke was listened to by someone. While on the training ground the men obeyed his word without question as did she. And when he went into town and people would ask his advice about matters of military, policy or otherwise they would listen when he spoke.

She had always stood at his side at such times, but now it was different. She wore the vestages of a student in his school and people treated her differently as such.

As of late he had become more and more involved in the matters of the political class. He would receive sumons from the council on a regular basis while he was teaching and would oblige them and attend almost or as many times as he would ignore them, or send his regrets. Markus himself would not say it, that he had just absorbed all the sway and power that the Casius had held on the council but rather that he had received a small bit of it apon his wife's death and had begun to grow that influence through his own charisma and leadership as well as his near celebrity status due to the events of the war.

Restarting the school had also been good for his position with the door open again private and Imperial gold once again filled the family purse. Even Jessica as a student of the school began to receive a stipend. Markus was unsure what to make of it at first. He as many times before desided to let her have it and deside for herself what to do with it, even though as a daughter in his house any costs she had were taken care of.

“Do with it what you will, my daughter.”

“Father, I know you told me before it was mine to do with as I please, now I ask you as your daughter for your advice on what I should do with it. Even when I go into the market and buy all the honey sweets I want, or the few small changes of clothes that I require I still have much of it left over.”

“Well my daughter, if you ask for my advice I will give it. First I would say to honour the gods, Take an offering of a few pieces to the temples and offer them to the priest and priestesses there with a prayer. Second I would tell you to go and purchase something that while it may not be of so much value to you now may be worth more later, as it grows more rare, or take your money to the lenders in the market that in a few seasons you may see the increase of it.”

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The young Jessica set to take her father's advice She took from the purse of coins she had received on her first month a few gold coins, each stamped with the imperial eagle on their lustrous surface, and with them a few of silver and copper she had received as change upon the purchases she had made. She fit them into a smaller pouch and made in the direction of the temples. She had been a student for more than a full month an already she was recognized. The vestages made it clear to all who weren't familiar. She walked through the streets with near impunity, workers moving aside as she passed, even if none would look her in the eye they still seemed to now hold defference to her chosen occupation. As she arrived at the hill where the temples were located she realized she was only passingly familiar with which temple belonged to which deity. From the statue outside of one she knew it to be the Temple of Mars. She entered the diasis and was greeted by a grey haired man who leaned heavily on a crooked walking stick.

“How can I help you young lady?”

“I wish to learn of this place and to make my offering in an appropriate manner.”

“Well it is unusual for one as young as you to arrive here unaccompanied, But who am I to turn away any who wishes the favor of Mars.”

“Thank you sir.”

“And such a polite visitor, Mostly here we see warrior students praying for success in training or those wishing victory in a competition.”

Jessica kept silent as he perhaps had not noticed the insignia on her tunic or maybe it was a test of some kind.

“Mars is the god of war, of the sword, Patron of this city. For hundreds of years this city has produced the finest warriors of the Impire. Those who go out and have now conquered all the known lands.”

“My father was a part of the last campaign.”

“Unfortunately not many men returned from that campaign, If it wasn't for the strength and wisdom of the hero Markus Verotis, and Mars blessings on the same man, it is said that all would have been lost.”

“I have heard those rumors before.”

“They are not mere rumors child!” Every man who returned sings praises to that man's name. Not only did he conquer the kingdom but was also able to make friends with the king and make the transfer of power to a governorship seamless. Those men and many more would follow him without question no matter where he marched.”

“No offense meant”

“If your father was one of those to return alive then you would be well served to give prayers of thanks for Mars blessing.”

“He was such a one.”

“Come to me again if you wish to speak of the gods. Beyond this room is the room for offering prayer and beyond that is the room reserved only for Mars servants the warriors themselves to give their offerings and prayers.”

“Then that is where I shall go.” and with that she quickly stepped around the old man and headed straight for the rear of the temple, leaving the old man reeling.

“I said it was only for those of the warrior class. If you pass through those doors you may well invite Mars' wrath upon you.”

“It is good then that I have those credentials, I would not want to go offending the god who brought my father back to me.”

The priest stood there dumbfounded as she proceeded and closed the doors behind her. The room was small just larger than her own bedroom back home. In the center of the room was a large statue of Mars with the eagle of the Impire resting on his shoulder and his arm outstretched to the sky, sword in hand. She took two gold coins from the pouch and tossed them at the feet of the statue were rested other such coins from other patrons. She fell to one knee uncertain of what exactly she was to do. She looked up to the statue and spoke.

“I do not know if it was you who had a hand it bringing Father back, or if it was the strength of his own arm. He believes in you and in your blessings. He is a wise man that led our men to victory in the Land of the O'Donovans. I have come here to offer my thanks for this. I have taken up the mantle of your followers. I am to be a warrior like my father. I pray that I may be blessed with victory as my father has been.”

She was uncertain of what to expect, a voice from no where or the torches to flicker. But only silence and stillness lingered in the air. She arose and turned and left the room and made her way through the empty main chamber and back to the street. She looked down the street to see which of the temples she might visit next. As she took a step forward her way suddenly blocked by a young woman in her late twenties. She had long red hair pulled back into a braid and emerald eyes. She stood in Jessica's path and looked down at her as if studying her.

“You are the daughter of Jullianna Casius are you not?” The woman spoke to her.

“Yes she was my mother , but rightly I am the daughter of Markus Verotis, my father.”

“The goddess knows who your father is.” She said in a stern tone.