I DO NOT OWN SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA OR THE DIALOGUE.
House Of Batiatus. Capua, Roman Republic. The Next Day.
Flavius still felt tired when he was awaken to begin that day's training. A good breakfast would have been most appreciated, but it was not to be. As the recruits went up to get their gruel, Barca and Actus spat globs of saliva into it before the men could stop them.
"YEAH!" Barca roared as the others cheered him on.
"Ass eating shit," Flavius whispered as they threw away their gruel, hoping that they could have a better chance with their lunch. He, Ashur, Dagan, Indus, and Crixus trained in the left hand corner near the cliffs which was typical for recruits who did not deserve to train in the same area as true gladiators. Indus and Dagan dueled each other while Flavius worked the paellas. Meanwhile, Ashur and Crixus were locked in a hard battle. The Syrian eventually got the upper hand and the Gaul was knocked on his ass.
"Crixus!" Doctore bellowed. "You lower your shield when you thrust, see it raised or find your fucking brains upon the sand."
"Yes Doctore." Crixus replied as he got to his feet.
"Lucky blow." Ashur said, trying to raise the Gaul's spirits.
"Blow well struck, I will not make the same mistake." Crixus replied as he faced off against the Syrian. Ashur scoffed as he began attacking again. Crixus did better this time as he blocked Ashur's blow.
"Good...again!" Ashur teased as he landed a kick to his chest and knocked Crixus back on his ass. As Flavius fought his wooden opponent, he saw another gladiator come out. He had tanned muscular skin and long, dirty blonde hair.
"Doctore, I would work the paellas...in the shade." He called out as Doctore gave his permission. Flavius and Crixus both eyed the man who seemed to be exempt from the harsh training regiment that the other men were subject to.
"I would not let gaze linger." Ashur warned.
"Who is that?" Flavius asked.
"Gannicus is a fool, but one of deadly skill." Ashur explained. "He is often rewarded for his victories in the arena with wine and cunt. Gain Dominus's favor and such delights can be yours!"
"Wine and women are not my concern." Crixus replied in an unimpressed tone of voice.
"More for me then." Ashur smirked as he lashed out at Crixus once again.
"You can have them." Flavius shot back. "All I desire is my sister safe and Legatus Septimus Curtius Augurnus dead." As the recruits continued to train amongst themselves, they were suddenly stopped by Oenomaus who was attacking Barca with great ferocity. Quintus Lentulus Batiatus was also witness to Oenomaus's fury.
"Oenomaus, you return to form!" Batiatus exclaimed as the former champion stood tall. "Pair with Crixus and bring him up to speed." Oenomaus's face fell at this, but he obeyed.
"Dominus..." he said quietly as Crixus walked over to being sparring with him. Flavius took his spot and began to spar with Ashur.
"Oenomaus does not relish sparring with a recruit who has not yet earned the mark." He said as he battled with the Syrian.
"Can you blame him?" Ashur asked as he guarded himself against Seuso's blows. "He was once the champion for the house of Batiatus, the champion for all of fucking Capua!"
"What happened?" Flavius asked.
"Theokoles." Ashur answered.
"Who is Theokoles?"
"The shadow of death, he stands undefeated in the arena."
"Yet Oenomaus stands." Flavius replied.
"The fight ended with a draw." Ashur clarified. "Most would count Oenomaus as victor. To have faced the shadow of death and lived. He is the only gladiator ever to accomplish such a thing."
"If that is truly the case, you had best pray that you never face him in the arena." The Roman said as he gained the upper hand against the Syrian and held him at sword point.
"Should I be saying the same about you?" Ashur replied with a laugh.
NEXT TIME, FLAVIUS HAS A ONE ON ONE MEETING WITH QUINTUS LENTULUS BATIATUS HIMSELF.