Octavian's Slightly Biased Diary of Events
Chapter 2: Daily muster
Octavian pulled out his phone and checked the time, ten minutes to ten minutes to daily muster – which everyone knew what the real time you should arrive to daily muster. He shoved the phone back into his bag and left the temple making a note to come back and look for Jason again. As he walked over to the first cohorts barracks he pondered what Hazel had said, if she was right than monsters were reforming even faster than before, he wondered if that included demi-gods, and possibly humans as well.
He'd have to investigate. "Octavian!" Octavian looked up in surprise as a distressed looking girl came bursting through the gates. "Octavian it's terrible!" She gasped stopping in front of him and a cloud of dust. Octavian closed his eyes and braced himself. "Gwendolyn what's her name had the nerve to tell me that she thought I needed to practice my swordsmanship. When she goes parading around like she's a bloody goddess and doesn't even need to practice hers. She's a bloody hypocrite!" the girl finished in Latin.
Octavian raised an eyebrow. "But, Victoria, you do need to practice." Victoria's eyes snapped to his, bright blue she had uncontrolled short black hair and tanned skin. The only hint that they were siblings was the fact that she turned to him whenever anything went wrong, and the fact that he'd made her a centurion even when she was anything but centurion material. "Who cares? That's not the point!*"
"What do you want me to do about it? Go tell Reyna." Victoria glared at him. "I don't want you to do anything. Just tell me I'm right and if Reyna asks anything back me up." Octavian rolled his eyes and tapped her shoulder. "Right, will do," He moved on but then she caught his hand, her expression had changed. In a low voice she whispered, "Can you get Hadrian to hurt Gwen for me?"
Octavian looked over his sister, biting the inside of his lip. "Fine, but you owe me." She nodded and let go, whistling as she left. Octavian shook his head; Victoria got insulted by the smallest things. An idea began forming in his head, but not right now, he'll think about it later. At the barracks he had a private room like all centurions at the end of one of the dorms. Inside he kept his uniform because what was the point in carrying it back and forth every day, though he knew a few people did.
When he left everyone was filing out. His gaze went over each of them checking their uniforms, everyone was perfect…except for one. He stared at the probatio Frank Zhang as he waved good bye to the new boy. Percy hurried away, to the Fifths barracks a funny looking sword in his hand. Zhang was the problem however he was running over to the principia with the worst uniform Octavian had seen in a long time. Did he know that he looked like an idiot? Did he not understand that one person with incurrent uniform could deface the entire legion? This would not happen under his supervision. "Probatio Zhang, where are you going?"
Zhang took a double take. His mouth gaped. He started fumbling for an answer to a question Octavian was sure he didn't even understand why he was being asked it. "I will repeat, probatio Zhang, where are you going?" He seemed to understand that his answer would not be satisfactory but instead of saying something else, because saying anything other than daily muster would also land him a similar punishment, he looked at the ground and mumbled, "Going to daily muster,"
"I am going to daily muster, sir," Zhang nodded. "Yes...sir."
"Now, probatio Zhang, why are you going to daily muster in clothes such as those?" He looked up in surprise and stared at Octavian not really comprehending. "Mr Zhang, if you are about to tell me that this is what you call your uniform then I will be required to double your punishment." Octavian already had a punishment in mind; he could kill three birds with one stone, so really Zhang was going to receive it no matter what he said at this point.
"I'm sorry, sir. What do you want me to do?"
"You'll have care for Reyna's pets for the next two weeks." He watched Zhang's face fall and smiled at the lad. "But you know, I do believe you're sorry, so if you would like I can change it to one week." He paused and pointed at the SPQR on his amour. "A secret between comrades," Zhang frowned at this but Octavian was already leaving, he looked over his shoulder for a second. "Remember to were the correct uniform next time."
Then he turned around he left Zhang to go about this day. Now to find Christian and tell him that he now had a lot more free time. Octavian smiled at the boy's face and said, "And next week when the voting comes around, you'll think of me right?" Christian nodded. "Yeah, sure, I was going to vote for you anyway." Octavian nodded back and moved away. He was on a roll today.
"Reyna, have you heard of my decision?" Reyna glanced at him and shook her head. "No, what decision?" Octavian raised an eyebrow. "So, Hazel lied about the fact that you were thinking about letting him into the legion?" Reyna blinked a bit and then shook her hand.
"Actually I'd completely forgotten about that. So I'm assuming the auguries were not in his favour."
"Oh no! Reyna, Reyna, of course he's in. Nothing wrong with the guy. Maybe he needs to be directed to a bath and a new set of clothes but other than that." Reyna scowled and nodded. "Got it," Then she gestured for a boy named Vespasian to blow the horn. Octavian walked over to his cohort. They stood in lines. Victoria had the folder, marking down names. In the front was Hadrian, Octavian's younger brother, though on that point many people didn't believe him. Hadrian had the same dark hair and tanned skin as Victoria, except he had brown eyes. He looked just like their father, tall and muscular; he was a nice guy most of the time.
As everyone lined up Hazel and her brother made a rather grand entrance running into the street down to her cohort. Octavian smiled at her though it looked more like a smirk. Victoria finished the role. Hazel ran passed Reyna who had mounted her horse, Scipio and was moving around with less grace than his mother had on a horse – let's just say she wasn't the most graceful rider. What she said next made up for it though. "Hazel Levesque, so glad you could join us." A few people from the First and Second, including Victoria, sniggered. Octavian silenced her with a look, the rest knew to follow. Death Junior walked over to where Percy was standing, he'd left his odd sword back at the barracks, Octavian approved.
Percy had been to the baths and he been given a change of clothes, compared to his friend he was certainly dressed well. At least he can do that…Octavian thought. The Lares decided to arrive at that point flicking around, Octavian waited as they sorted themselves out, sending Hadrian over to where one of them had decided it would be a good idea to stand half way inside Rebecca Hart.
When it was all done Octavian shouted, "Colours!" The standard bearers stepped forward, they each held up the cohorts emblems, the first's was definitely the best. Octavian watched as Jacob held up the legion's eagle with a hint of satisfaction. That had been a great plan once upon a time. He felt the normal ripple of embarrassment in the legion. Reyna stopped prancing around, perhaps she realised she looked stupid, no it was too good to be true.
"Romans!" She called, "You've probably heard of the incursion today. Two gorgans were swept into the river by this newcomer, Percy Jackson. Juno herself guilded him here, and proclaimed him a son of Neptune." He watched his cohort turn to look at the boy, he didn't look too thrilled to have everyone looking at him, he raised his hand and said, "Hi."
"He seeks to join the legion," Reyna continued, "What do the auguries say?" Annoyed that he had to say it against, holding his hand up and announced, "I have read the entrails! The auguries are favourable." He gestured at Percy with a flop of his hand, "he is qualified to serve."
"Ave!" the campers shouted, there was something happening in the Fifth but Octavian ignored it. Reyna gestured for a centurion from each cohort to come forward. Octavian walked over to Percy, smiling at him briefly. This was his element. "Recruit! Do you have credentials? Letters of reference?" Percy shifted but instead of looking all sad he looked more confident.
"Letters? Um, no," Octavian scowled at the tone in his voice. He wasn't getting away with that. "No letters?" He forced the regretful tone to his voice. Then he turned to the legionaries, starting with his cohort he swept his gaze over them, deciding just how to phrase this, "Will any legionaries stand for him?" Octavian felt himself cringe when he saw Frank step forward.
"I will! He saved my life!" Octavian rolled his eyes; he fell for so badly it was embarrassing. The other cohorts started to protest. Reyna took control. Octavian let her, she can go make another enemy if she liked, "Frank Zhang, for the second time today, I remind you that you are a probation. Your godly parent hasn't even claimed you yet. You're not eligible to stand for another camper until you've earned your first stripe."
Frank looked like he might have died of embarrassment. Then – only partially surprising – Hazel stepped forward as well. "What Frank means is that Percy saved both our lives. I am a full member of the legion. I will stand for Percy Jackson." Frank and Hazel shared a glance and someone could have thought they'd planned to look like idiots. Reyna looked at Percy with a sorry glance, she clearly wished for someone else to have volunteered for him, she turned to Octavian. He smiled and shrugged, still suppressing laugher, idiots!
"Very well!" Reyna said. "Hazel Levesque, you may stand for the recruit. Does your cohort accept him?" Everyone other than the fifths started coughing; none of them could really believe this was actually happening, not much actually happened normally at daily muster. Another loser for the Fifth was the message. Frank started pounding his shield against the ground and then they all were, the lack of enthusiasm was touchable. He watched Dakota and Gwen exchange looks, that's what you get for annoying my sister, Gwen.
"My cohort has spoken." Dakota said, "We accept the recruit." Reyna looked at Percy with pity.
"Congratulations, Percy Jackson. You stand on probatio." She told him so the entire legion could here. "You will be given a tablet with your name and cohort. In one year's time, or as soon as you complete an act of valour, you will become a full member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Serve Rome, obey the rules of the legion and defend the camp with honour. Senatus Populusque Romanus!" The legion echoed in response.
Reyna rode away from Percy her face grim. Scipio flapped its wings ready to leave, bored from the events. "Centurions, you and your troops have one hour for dinner. Then we will meet on the Field of Mars. The First and Second will defend. The Third, Fourth and Fifth will attack. Good fortune!" Everyone cheered and the cohorts broke up, heading to the mess hall. Octavian was dragged away quickly and he didn't get a chance to go and talk to Percy again. He had a feeling it wouldn't be a year until that one was a full member of the legion.
*the words written like this when they are taking English is all in Latin
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