At first it was nothing. Alexander was notorious for having lines and lines of people fall at the slightest move of his hand. Even back in Macedon, down onto their faces, cowering in awe they went. They flattered him, got a piece of gold nothings in return and quickly went their merry ways. Some stayed for a night and others kept coming back for more until the king himself would tell them to pack their things because a dangerous campaign awaited him and his army, even when no plans had been presented yet. Never was Hephaestion the one to ask Alexander for his reasoning behind this charade, and never did Alexander himself come to Hephaestion to talk about it.