chapter 18 : Separation

Two and a half months after the last games when the rain fell, Batiatus ludus experienced unprecedented growth! His name was most famous even in the capital, Rome.

 Since Orion defeated Theokoles, his combat performances were requested by several rich men, nobles or senators and he has had several fights in primus.

 Many of the higher-ranking women also paid for his massages, but for all his fame, Orion was growing tired of his gladiator life.

 Theokoles had been properly cared for by Orion and had even joined the ranks of his employees among the Spartans who welcomed him very well. Day after day, the Greek giant felt less alone amidst the laughter of others.

 Marco and Celia liked hanging out with him, he was a real legend so they asked him questions about his life as a gladiator.

He wasn't a man who talked a lot, but he made an effort for the children.

 At ludus, Orion was literally harassed by two women, Seppia and Aemilia, despite his massages and his refusals, they only had desire for his cock inside them.

The two women offered generous payments to Batiatus to convince Orion but the principal concerned didn't care.

 However, Orion was not the only one with popularity. Spartacus and Varro had become known for their exceptional performances in the arena.

 Each of them could handle two to three other gladiators very easily and when they fought together, they were impossible to defeat, except for Orion.

 Crixus too was making much progress in his training with Oenomaus, the pressure and terror he felt towards Orion was still present and the only way for him to deal with it was to become stronger.

 Aside from gladiators, the other phenomenon that shook southern Rome was the blood of Venus.

The beverage had more and more demand and became much more expensive, so expensive that some tried to imitate the composition of the precious wine but the attempts all ended in disaster.

 Marcus Crassus who had tried to reconnect with Orion, the creator of this wine had been ignored by him.

Men even tried to kidnap him several times but he killed them each time.

 In addition, he also asked that the sale of Venus' blood be more discreet.

 Zena and Aurelia had never shown their faces during the sales and if one of the buyers tried something, attacks, shadowing or bad payment then they would be killed in cold blood by the Spartans.

 They had built a reputation as decent but extremely ruthless salespeople.

 Orion and Marius had become really rich, their men too! Aurelia had more than enough money to take care of herself and her son, unlike in the show. Thanks to Orion, she lacked nothing and didn't become pregnant.

 Varro could stop his gladiatorial life at any time and spent his free time visiting his wife and son.

He no longer worried much about Spartacus who had found his wife's arms so he spent whole days outside with his family before returning to the ludus to resume his training.

 Batiatus under Orion's request was even now much more flexible and protective with Spartacus bringing back huge victories, he was the strongest gladiator after Orion.

 His prosperity was such that sometimes he even gave a whole day of rest to his gladiators but deep down, all the slaves knew that Orion was the cause of their well-being even if he was becoming more and more rare at ludus.

 Today was a day off given by Batiatus and Orion was sitting with Oenomaus playing their board strategy game.

The other gladiators drank and ate the food that Orion had delivered to them, he was rich so this expense was nothing to him because every day, the money entered his pockets by the hundreds.

 They had been eating better meals than their usual porridge for a month. They even considered Orion a brother, even Crixus and Barca had become more docile even if for Crixus, Orion was still an insurmountable obstacle.

 While he was playing, Spartacus came to Orion to talk to him about Sura.

Since the last time they saw each other, Orion had hardly spoken to her, not that he was angry with her, on the contrary he completely ignored her.

 According to Spartacus, Sura was disturbed and regretted having hit her savior. As Orion wanted to answer him, they heard a noise, it was Ashur and some guards who brought a new arrival of male slaves.

They were going to become gladiators but they were greeted by the insults and curses of the gladiators veterans, it was apparently tradition !

 Oenomaus: I have to go there to gauge this arrival of wimps!

 Orion: Do what you have to do, I'll go talk to Batiatus.

 Orion went to the Villa where he found Batiatus, Lucretia and Ilithya near the balcony chatting while observing the new slaves. He arrived near them and spoke to Batiatus.

 Orion: A new purchase ?

 The three turned in surprise to look at him, he immediately ignored the two women to approach his associate.

 Batiatus: Ah, Orion!! These are new slaves taken from the market just now. I was supposed to buy a few but to humiliate that ass-eater Solonius, I bought the whole batch of slaves.

 Orion: A great acquisition, some look promising and more specifically the last three to the left.

 Batiatus: Oh you have the eye! If I can get an expert's opinion then great! The big muscular one is Segovax, a Gaul while the other two are the Germains brothers Agron and Duro.

 [Among the gladiators]

 Oenomaus arrived in front of the new slaves who were lined up and asked sternly.

 "RECRUITS, what do you have under your feet ?" 

 The slaves said nothing for a few seconds before Duro responded,

 "Sand" 

 This statement caused general hilarity among the gladiators and his brother Agron cursed him, asking him to keep quiet.

 Doctor: SPARTACUS!

 Spartacus stepped forward and replied "The sacred ground Doctore, ground watered with tears of blood" 

 Oenomaus nodded and turned back to the slaves, pointing his whip at them.

 "Your tears, your blood. Your little forged lives have come to an end… (bla bla bla)… listen, learn and maybe you will live… as gladiators! Now salute your master"

 He pointed to the balcony where Orion, Batiatus and the two women were.

 The slaves looked at them but quickly fixed their eyes on one person in particular. Some of them couldn't even tell correctly whether it was a man or a woman.

 Orion had let his hair grow longer and several strands fell on his face.

 He sat casually on the edge of the balcony as Batiatus moved forward to make his speech to his new slaves.

 Batiatus: YOU HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE TO FIND YOURSELF HERE AT THE LUDUS OF QUINTUS LENTULUS BATIATUS , SUPPLIER OF THE BEST GLADIATORS IN THE WHOLE REPUBLIC!

 The Gladiators: YEAAAAAAH (Orion rolled his eyes)

 Batiatus: LEGENDARY OR EXCEPTIONAL GLADIATORS LIKE OENOMAUS, CRIXUS AND THE STRONGEST FIGHTER IN THE WHOLE REPUBLIC, ORION, THE DEATH STAR!! (he pointed to Orion who was just sitting silently)

 The slaves looked at him with clearly visible shock. Some had heard of the new champion of Capua, the one who had defeated Crixus the old champion and Theokoles the legend without any difficulty, the man who made the rain fall and won all his fights with ridiculous ease.

 As usual, the most heard thing was that Orion was as handsome as he was strong but looking at him in the face, they were in disbelief.

 Batiatus: PROVE YOURSELF DURING THE DAYS TO COME, STAND OUT MORE THAN THE COMMON SLAVE, MORE THAN AN ORDINARY MAN… (blablabla)

 As he gave his speech, the women complimented his speaking skills and even Orion was in disbelief at his speech.

 "This bastard really has a gift for talking to crowds!" Orion thought with a mocking smile.

 Batiatus:…SUCCEED AND YOU WILL PROUDLY TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONG MY TITANS!

 The gladiators: BATIATUS… BATIATUS…BATIATUS…

 Oenomaus started his speech again and the two women started talking about gladiators again until Lucretia told Ilithya that she could buy one of these future gladiators if she wanted.

 By making Ilithya satisfied, they will have a chance of having the good graces of her husband, the legate Glaber. They already had the attention of several nobles but Batiatus was greedy in ambition.

 Batiatus praised his wife's ingenuity in his head and claimed to Ilithya that she could for a small fee buy one of the slaves and when he fights for the ludus, she will only spend on his needs.

 Attracted by the idea of ​​having her own gladiator, her own beast, Ilithya wanted to respond when Orion interrupted them.

 Orion: If it's possible to buy them then I'll buy the two brothers and the Gaul ! Lady Ilithya will choose from the rest of the slaves.

 *Silence *

 Orion: What?! You just said we could buy them and pay for their needs while letting them fight here right ?

 Lucretia: Yes but…(interrupted)

 Orion: I buy them! 60 denarii for all three, a price well above their original cost I suspect.

 Ilithya: YOU…(interrupted)

 Orion: It's not really you I'm talking to, but Batiatus! Don't disturb civilized people in the middle of a conversation. (he turned his head away to speak in a low voice) What a lack of know-how!!

 At this point Ilithya wanted to explode in anger but Batiatus calmed her down by telling her that one of the slaves will be offered to her and that she no longer had to pay anything.

 He agreed to sell these slaves to Orion without much discussion, he owed Orion favors and was already used to his whims.

 Ilithya although slightly calmed down looked at Orion with a lot of rage, "I promise you that I will have your arrogant tongue cut out one of these days." 

 Orion's face turned cold, the three felt something was wrong this time and got chills.

 Orion above all hated threats, he advanced slowly towards Ilithya and seeing that his champion was going to act against her, Batiatus took Orion to take him inside the villa.

 He was annoyed at Orion's ways but Batiatus strangely didn't try to raise his voice at him. They talked a little before Orion left yawning after admitting that he had bought these slaves to annoy Ilithya because of her attitude towards Spartacus.

 [On the balcony]

 Lucretia: Ilithya, please calm down, dear. 

 Ilithya: Why?!...Why does he hate me so much?! (She said as tears fell from the corners of her eyes.)

 Lucretia: Ilithya…

 " I'm in love with him... " She said as she sat down!

 Lucretia :... 

 Ilithya: I love my husband Caius but…

 Lucretia: I understand you, Orion in what he is seems...

 Ilithya: Divine! Both in appearance and in skills. Why does he hate me so much ? Is it because of the Thracian and his wife ?

 Lucretia: Most certainly, they are friends and he is the one who found the woman. The contempt you and your husband have for Spartacus is known to all.

 Ilithya: We're friends, aren't we?!

 Lucretia: The best there is.

 Ilithya: Then keep what I told you a secret, don't even tell your husband! I know you sleep with Crixus who the opposite of Orion is just a slave.

 Lucretia:...the gods themselves will have to snatch it from my mouth so that your secret can be divulged.

 ---time skip---

 A month and a half later, Orion had nothing important to do so he went home for a few days to hang out with his men. He had accomplished everything he wanted to so far and was bored with his life as a gladiator.

 Not being an ambitious person but the type to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, his desire for fame in the arena left as quickly as it came so he spent his free time training with his men or training Marco and Celia.

 Marius' two children had a ridiculously great admiration for Orion, they only talked about him almost all the time.

For Celina, it was not a bad thing that her children wanted to learn from Orion because he was someone with a lot of qualities.

 However, for Marius, even though he loved Orion like a brother he couldn't help but feel jealous of his friend. After all, these children are his.

 While Orion was training one evening with Theokoles and the others (and yes, he never stops), Marius came to them while he was completely drunk.

 He began to provoke Orion and challenged him to a practice fight with real swords.

 Orion, seeing as it was his best friend, took things as a joke and accepted the duel to the laughter of the others.

They started to fight but Orion only blocked his friend's blows because he was drunk.

 The others began to encourage the fight with laughter and whistles. However, the detail that unlike the others Orion understood was the intentions in Marius's attacks.

 Usually in a practice match, especially with real swords, both sides have some restraint to avoid vital areas or serious injury to the other. However, Marius's attacks were unrestrained.

 Soon the others noticed it too and the smiles vanished from their faces. Celina, who had put her two children to bed, went out to help the others outside when she stopped her steps to watch a completely drunk Marius fight Orion.

 She sighed, shaking her head and just watched.

 Marius, seeing that Orion was not attacking, began to get angry.

 Marius: Why don't you attack, my friend ? You're around the gods so much now that you even look down on your best friend?! Attack like you do so well in the arena.

 Orion: Marius, you're drunk! We should…(interrupted)

 "DON'T TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO!" 

 Marius shouted as he sent a diagonal attack which Orion deflected.

 Orion: I'm not giving you an order ! Your mind is clouded by alcohol, we have to stop, you have to pull yourself together quickly so that Celina doesn't find you in this state.

 Marius didn't say anything for a few seconds before he started laughing stupidly.

 "Here we are huh ? Filthy Bastard! " Marius declared while spitting.

 Orion: What are you talking about?!

 Marius: My wife! You dare tell me now how I should approach her ? You now believe me unworthy of her unlike you, the great and majestic ORION ?

 Orion: WTF!!

 "MARIUS STOP IT !! "Célina shouted to calm her husband.

 Marius: SHUT UP WOMAN. YOU THINK I CAN'T SEE YOUR GAZE ? YOUR LAUGH AT HIS JOKES ?

 Orion grabbed Marius' shoulder,

 "Brother, you should stop this right now. You and your wife are like brother and sister to me. Alcohol makes you say things that you perceive but which are not real."

 *Shrap*

 He sent a horizontal attack at Orion that tore his chest open and caused his blood to flow. The latter could grab Marius' arm to block the attack but preferred to step back slightly to minimize the damage.

 Seeing this action, Orion's men wanted to intervene, especially Theokoles, but with a gesture of his hand, Orion signaled them not to do anything.

 Célina had both hands over her mouth because of the shock.

 Orion: Marius, now I will ask you to put down your sword! You managed to let off steam and even made my blood flow, which is a feat. It proves that you are not inferior to me, you don't have to feel jealous of anything.

 Marius: Obviously I am not inferior to you! You were just a dirty slave when we met here again, a waste on the verge of death whom I was willing to help to honor a debt.

 Orion: And I can't thank you enough. 

 Marius: Yes! Of course you can !

 (Orion frowned)

 Marius: Leave! If you want to thank me properly then go, go very far from Capua, far from my family, far from MY children, from MY wife and take your men with you.

 Celina: Orion don't listen to him, your friend is drunk. 

 Orion had understood the depth of Marius's thoughts, he even admitted to having become too involved in their family life and even understood Marius' frustration with the influence he had on his children. He looked at Celina, smiling calmly.

 "Alcohol doesn't make people tell lies, it just highlights what people really think. Your husband is just worried about you."

 He looked at Marius again.

 "We'll leave before dawn. My house and all the blood of Venus that closes inside will be your property now. Thank you my friend for everything you have done for me." he said before coming to find Celina who was crying.

 Orion: Take good care of the two little monsters, if they are looking for us then say that we are off on a long journey. I'm sorry to interrupt my lessons for them like this.

 Celina: You don't have to leave. You can wait until this idiot has a clear head tomorrow to sit down and discuss it.

 Orion: Your husband only said what was on his heart. Goodbye Celina! Let Aurelia work here for you, she and her husband are good people.

 She gave him a hug and he came back to Marius,

 "I'm sorry for indirectly pushing you to this extrême. Goodbye My friend." he patted his shoulder before leaving with his men.

 Vayline went to say goodbye to Celina because in addition to having been her guard, they had become very good friends.

 As he left, Orion looked at the faces of his men who were all dangerously cold.

 "Stop it right now!" Orion said.

 Apollos: Orion, we must understand. You did a lot for that son of a bitch and he…(Interrupted)

 Orion: It doesn't matter, you have to focus on the present moment. Aren't you excited to see other horizons ? I had actually been planning this scenario for a while.

 Them: Huh?!

 Orion: Humans are very predictable creatures, I knew Marius hated me a little deep down. I had wanted to look elsewhere for a while without frustrating them and without hurting the children.

 Demiclas: And now you have an excuse while being the victim ?

 Orion: That's exactly it ! Good old Marius took longer than expected to react.

 Others :…

 They took their belongings and Orion's chest filled with tens of thousands of denarius and put it on the cart.

 On leaving, he asked his men to leave for Naples. He told them to go see a certain Licinius who was guarding a Ship that he had purchased for some time in secret.

 Their mission was to prepare the boat with water, food, etc. for their trip.

 "I'll meet you there in a few days, while I finish my business with Batiatus." he told them before leaving with Salma who followed him on her own without discussion.

 "I don't know about you but there are days when the boss really gives me the shivers. Everything that has happened so far was planned by him. He scares me !!" Ajax said when he saw them leave. 

 Apollos: A sneaky man!

 Stratos: Shameless!

 Vayline: A manipulator.

 Ajax: Remember his moist eyes in front of Marius' hatred ?

 *Silence *

 They burst out laughing with everyone in mind of the scene where Orion pretended to be a victim before leaving for Naples.