What now?

Yura practically jumps out of her skin at the incredibly loud banging against the door. Though its wood stays strong it's as if someone were trying to bust it down with each hit. "Stay here." I say to Yura as I slip out of her. A slight moan eacaping her before she sinks down into the water. Almost attempting to hide from whoever it is.

Wrapping a towel around myself I walk over to the door. Tilting it open before a guard in shiny armor shoves his way in. His elbow jamming into my shoulder as he forces his way past me. Then another. Then another. Three men in total forcing their way into the increasingly small space. One on each side and another at the door. Their armor is very different than tbat of the gate guards. These men, though imposing, looked as if they had never faced a fight. Their armor and even the clothes beneath in pristine condition. The only indication they were even capable of combat being the swords their hands rested on.

"STAND PREPARED FOR THE HIGH COMMANDER." One of the men shouted. His steele blue skin and matching eyes staring off into space. Not even acknowledging myself or the terrified Yura behind me. My arm instinctively raised to jeep her shielded but it couldn't so much if someone just looked into the tub.

After a moment heavy steps came down the hall. Wach thudding foot fall echoing. Breaking the almost painful silence. Finally the door is filled once more. This time by a man much... larger than the others. While they looked like a million bucks, ready for dinner or a clean fight... this man looked ready for dinner. A rather rotund man with matching features stepped into the room. His clothes matching the others yet he wore no armor. Simply an aristocrat's attire with golden embellishments. While the others were atleast somewhat ready for combat, this man only appeared ready to receive an award for his presence. His off blue skin feeling almost sickly. Grey eyes stared at me in utmost disgust.

"So you're the commoner who's sullied our streets." The man's voice held a level of insult I'd only heard in movies and my great aunt when my cousin was caught smoking weed. Yet, here he stood in full golden embroiderd cloth acting high and mighty. "You were seen in the company of The Lord's concubine. You were seen to have insulted her. Insulting him. This is your one and only warning, human, to keep away. You're not to see her, speak with her, or speak her name. You're been barred from any and all establishments bearing his Lordship's seal. Any attempts to break this will be... painful. Much like this."

With an audible huff the man turned away. His steps fading once more before the guards stepped forward. Their hands still against their blades before they reached behind themselves. Each of them pulling out a black wooden baton. I could hear Yura gasp behind me as one of tbe men raised his weapon. Bringing it down onto my shoulder. Though it stung, I could only imagine the pain if I didn’t have Eros' gift. The next hit came from the same side. This one into my ribs. The third into my stomach area. These repeated over and again as they beat me mercilessly. Each crack would have damaged bone but to me... it felt like little more than a firm hit. Though uncomfortable, it wasn't debilitating.

Though I had to sell it.

As their hits came over and over again I doubled over myself. Clutching at my stomach in agony as I cried out against their hits. As my towl hit the floor and they continued to beat me with cruel determination. With my head buried into my arms I just stared at the darkess of my covered eyes. Reacting to each hit like I should. Beggin them to stop. Eventually they did, only a few minutes of 'torturous' beating. As they left I shuddered on the ground. Pretending to be in complete suffering.

As the door shut once more I glanced up to make sure they were gone. I waped the saliva from my lips and stood up. Dusting myself off a bit before sitting against the bench. Sighing loudly, which actually did have some pain. Guess they had hurt my rib at least.

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?" Yura practically shouted at me. Standing up out of the tub before she dove over to me. Examining every inch of my body. Even making sure my member wasn’t injured.

"My guess is that I pissed of the powers that be. Something... something to do with Cecilia. They don't want me seeing her." I let Yura fret over me. Let her see no wounds or bruises.

"And why aren't you broken and beaten. They laid into you for a long time!"

"Oh, that. That would be one of the gifts from Eros. I'm more durable and my pain tolerance has gone up significantly. Though it's a bit different than just not taking damage. Still scrape my knee or cut myself, but I guess blunt **** is lessoned. Would explain how I survived hitting my head in the cave."

"You're... disturbing. You know that, right? By all rights you should at least be busted up. Needing a healer or worse. Not sitting here... speculating with your cock out!"

Glancing down I fully acknowledge my body on display. Only red marks where they had beaten me. If not for the small twinge in my right ribs I'd likely have nothing of note to care about. "Probably worse, they were really trying. But I'm alright. Eros' gifts have come in handy and this is just another example. At this rate I might become a priest for them."

"Careful, gods take priesthood seriously." Despite her concern and arguments Yura plopped down next to me. Her head resting back as she tried to catch onto the situation at hand. Something I myself was struggling with. "Cecilia is only a lower concubine. I can't think of a single reason they would come after you like this. Not unless she was marked by the Lord in someway. Unless..."

"The spark. Whatever it was. That thing that happened when she and I touched. You said that its basically like a telltale sign that something is between us, right? If she... if she told anyone... maybe they're scared I'll steal his concubine from him."

"Goddess, Leo if that's true then there's no telling what they've done to her either. Just the idea of his servants leaving is usually met with... harsh punishment." Yura stared at me in complete bewilderment. First at the lack of injuries, then at the realization of my situation. Then at the fact she was likely dragged into it all. "Gods above... Leo, what are you going to do?"

It takes me some time before I finally find the words. Every defiant ounce of energy in my body telling me the exact thing I need to do. Each and every sense of reason I have pointing to one answer. The obvious one.

"I'm going to steal his concubine, of course."