1 Emperor

''Know how to listen and you will profit even from those who talk badly'' - Plutarch

Albus waved his hand infront of his face. It was hot, a scorching morning. He had trouble getting out of bed, he always had trouble. He got out of bed with a lot of effort, his calves were screaming in pain. His back felt like it was about to pop. He got up and walked to the window. He opened it and a fresh wind blew in his face.

He immediately could tell it was the northern wind, Aquilo. He sighed in bliss and leant on the window frame. His eyes met the sun for a split-second and he immediately looked away and put his hand over his eyes. He couldn't wait to get in the shower, but he had to look out the window for a few seconds longer. He knew this peaceful view wasn't going to last. And maybe for the better.

His eyes fixated on the reflection from the water under him. It was the Tiber, it was flowing peacefully, Tiberinus was having a good day. The little waves rippled against the river banks and produced new little waves which then curled once more. He averted his eyes, the colosseum looked glorious in the morning sun.

The heat made ripples in the air and it wasn't even noon. Looking at the colosseum made him excited as it made him sad. Which kind of beasts did he have to slaughter today to please his Emperor?

The city stretched far beyond the colosseum with parks and people walking all over. He heard a loud bell and looked in the vicinity of the sound. He saw that the market just opened and people flocked to the place. Farmers were selling their crops and other goods. Animals walked over the place and were being weighed and heavily analyzed by the salesmen. The farmer and salesman finally agreed and they shook on it.

The salesman took the pigs he just bought and went next door to the butcher. Where he was waging another deal. A few women in a group were talking loudly whilst buying groceries. Children were crying. Boys were fighting over a girl. Overall, any day like the other. The sun gleamed down heavily upon the middle of the market square where there was a pond.

The water reflected the sunlight into a glass structure which made light reflect everywhere like some kind of candle. The trees were regaining their leaves after the cold weather from a few weeks ago. And on that thought he was rudely interrupted by a knock on the door.

Albus quickly grabbed a tunic and got dressed. ''Master? Breakfast is ready''. ''I'll be down in a minute!'', Albus replied. Albus heard footsteps fading and sighed. He smelt his own tunic and thought it smelt funny. There were also holes in it from the brawling from yesterday. ''I have to get Leona to sow this'' muttered Albus to himself. He sighed and forced himself to take another look outside. The city he loved and hated so much. The music from yesterday's party was still ringing in his head.

He adored the sound of the woman playing the cithara. But the lyre player wasn't that bad as well. He could've spent days just listening to them playing. Their music playing felt like heavenly bells ringing but without the obnoxious reverbing echo. He felt like he was being lifted up, finally being able to meet the Gods. But when they stopped playing he immediately crashed down onto Gaia. Taken into her sweet but firm embrace.

He wondered if the Gods didn't allow people to rise anymore, that they could only encounter bliss for some minutes to be then be pushed down from Olympus. He could only hope that was not the case. He finally snapped out of his heretic-like train of thought and stepped into the shower. He poured some cold water on his head which sent chills down his spine. The water might feel cold at first but it actually mended his bruised ribs and he felt way more positive than before.

When he was done cleaning himself he picked up a new tunic from the ground. Made from white linen with purple edges, traded with the Egyptians. It was some of his better clothing wear. He put his arms through the short-sleeved chilton when he heard a call from outside again.

''Don't forget to wear your toga, you have dinner plans tonight.'' Albus sighed. He took off his tunic because it wouldn't fit well with his toga and searched around for a more fitting tunic. He found another white tunic also made with linen but with gold edges. He then put on a purple toga made from the finest silk along the Nile.

He looked into a small mirror, his reflection wasn't very welcoming. He had dark brown hazel eyes but with a lighter green edge. And his hair was a very rough dark blonde, which fitted his eyes. He had a thin nose which went well along with his delicate thin face structure. He had a scar on his face which stretched from his eyebrow to right side of his right eye.

It happened when he was twelve, he was the youngest gladiator at the time. Not even an adult yet. He had not much strength at the time but he has a quick-witted mind which he can think his way out of any challenging situation.

He was battling two other gladiators one with only a spear, Albus took his shield by spinning the arm from the man with the shield. He remember how the man roared in outrage and pain. He was quick to put him out of his misery after that. But before that happened he got snatched by the other gladiator with his net.

The gladiator tried to poke his trident into the net to end his life but by doing that his trident got stuck in the net and he had to cut the net so his trident could be freed. He focused his attention to the gladiator with the spear since he had the most range and was the more skilled fighter.

The gladiator ran at him with full speed. Albus' heart was racing, he felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins which made it difficult to calm down and think. He decided he would let the gladiator with the spear hit his shield and then twirl the spear out of his hand by grabbing onto the spear which would be lodged into the shield.

When Albus looked up and was about to take action, the man with the trident threw his trident against Albus' shield. Which made him lose his centre of balance. Albus was out of options, the man with the spear was about to skewer him. He had to think fast. Albus then instead of regaining his balance let himself fall.

The spear flashed in front of his eyes but not without hitting the top of his eyebrow. The man with the spear then pressed harder which made the spear go right next to his eye resulting into a big but thin wound next to his eye.

He had to finish this quickly, otherwise he would lose a lot of blood. Blood was flowing into his eye making his vision dark red. The crowd was cheering as loud as they could be. Humans killing humans, the pinnacle of entertainment.

He saw the Emperor smiling and cheering, the ruthless emperor who let humans kill other humans in the colosseum for sport. He was inclined to join in himself sometimes, he would then massacre the other gladiators leaving nobody to satisfy his hunger for power and blood. His train of thought was interrupted by a loud yell by the spear gladiator. He then proclaimed

''I got you kid! It's time to feel the wrath of Jupiter!'' This made Albus angry. ''Who gives you the power to speak for the gods! You're a simple-minded nobody and this mistake is too grave for me to let you live!'' he shouted.

The spear gladiator frowned. ''You really think you can kill me? I want to see this!'' he proclaimed. The trident gladiator was laughing from a distance and cheered the spear gladiator on ''Get him Baeron!'' Albus looked around. His shield was lying in the sand with a massive trident lodged into the front.

He wouldn't be able to use that anymore. His gladius( Small golden sword) was laying in the sand a few metres away from him, it got knocked out of his because the impact of the trident.

He wouldn't be capable to get the gladius before the spear gladiator would pierce him with his spear. He thought of the next best thing. He insulted him. ''Tibi mentula perva est'' (Your private parts are small) he yelled. The spear gladiator stopped in his tracks and looked at him in disbelief. ''You dare say that, you child!'' The gladiator's face turned a deep red in anger.

The trident gladiator was cheering even harder to kill him ''Stab him in his Podex,(Ass in Latin) he won't be as brave then!'' This distraction bought enough time for Albus to grab his sword and switch into a fighting stance. He exhaled deeply and muttered ''It's up to Ares now.'' The spear gladiator charged once more, Albus had trouble standing up because of his loss of blood.

Albus stood as wide as possible making the spear gladiator think he had given up and was going to take the spear head-on. Instead when the spear got close he used his toes to quickly spin around the spear and stabbed the spear gladiator as he was storming by.

The gladius was stuck in his gut. The gladiator immediately fell to his knees and was coughing up blood. Albus expected his opponent to be furious that he could fall for that. His life wasted on years of training to die in the colosseum to a kid. But the gladiator smiled and said ''It's finally over'' He then pulled the gladius out of his stomach and gave it to him.

''You fight well kid'' He then paused, and seemed to be deep in thought. Finally he said ''Could you tell my family I fought well? They don't watch my fights. My wife doesn't want the kids to see that'' Albus knelt next to the man no longer a gladiator, but a loving husband. ''I will'' said Albus.

This put the man to rest and he closed his eyes never to draw a single breath again. From a distance his face looked to be intimidating and with a constant pained expression. But from a closer inspection he seemed to be an okay person not worthy to be slaughtered in a ring of death.

He then faced the trident gladiator, who seemed terrified. Never did he think a kid would be able to pull this feat off. He was trembling from top to bottom. He got on his knees and started begging for mercy. Tears were flowing down his eyes whilst he begged for forgiveness. Albus approached him slowly, barely able to walk due to the immense wound on his head.

He never had such a banging headache. His ears were filled with an immense ringing. He tried to shake it off but to no avail. It only made his headache worse. When he got to the man, no longer a gladiator but the shell of one, begging for forgiveness.

The man was crouching on his net he used to trap Albus earlier. He looked to the Emperor. The man who decided everyone's fate. The Emperor lifted his hand slowly, keeping the crowd in suspense. Suddenly a huge evil grin appeared and the Emperor turned his thumb downwards signaling the end of the gladiator's life.

The crowd cheered Albus' ears off. Albus looked down upon the man, his eyes filled with shock, shouting at the Emperor, begging for his life. It was too late, he was about to be killed. Albus lifted his gladius above his head, ready to strike. The man was wailing even louder now, this made Albus hesitate.

Suddenly the man grabbed Albus by the ankles and made him tumble on the sandy floor. His gladius was now in the gladiator's hands. ''This is your punishment for showing compassion'' he said coldly. Albus was stunned for a moment but quickly got up sneakily grabbing a side of the net they were both standing on.

When the gladiator lifted his arm to swing Albus quickly pulled on the net which made the gladiator fall on his back. Albus then wrapped the gladiator in his own net. The gladiator was struggling heavily and shouting all sorts of insults in Latin. Albus picked up his gladius and in one fell swoop he beheaded the gladiator.

The crowd cheered loudly and chanted his name ''Albus! Albus! Albus!'' Albus nearly threw up because of the horrid sight of the beheaded man. He spoke encouraging words to himself ''It's just like any other dead man calm down''. The smell of blood hit his nose and made him all queasy.