She shyly looked away when Celeste met her gaze, "Not quite... But it was something like that." then looked down in surprise when her hand was taken. The only human touch she'd known for centuries was that of her father and that was different. The mage's hand was delicate, soft, and warm. But when the woman trembled, Maia's first instinct was to try to catch her. She stepped close and her free hand went to the mage's waist  to help with support until she realized Celeste wasn't falling at all.<br/><br/>Maia backed away then, her cheeks tense with a full-on blush this time as she murmured, "Sorry." then shook her head and went back on topic. "It is hard, but I've always had my father around. He's a mage too." She chuckled lightly, "Funny how that works. I don't think your men will be as quick to befriend me as you have, but I guess it's worth the risk. Maybe you should shout at them that I'm not a 'Chelaxian' when we're close? Do I really look so much like one?"<br/><br/>A moment passed before she softly asked, "What are your reasons for helping? What will theirs be?"