The newest gladiators stood in a line, their bodies glistening with sweat. Their first week of training was complete- they were now going to be given a speciality in gladiatorial combat. Eugi's glance shifted nervously to Riou, who seemed to be on the verge of a mental breakdown. Gionoci, however, seemed eager to find out what sort of weaponry he'd be using. The first week of training had all been strength building, weights, and obstacle courses. Now was the time they wielded a weapon. The air was tense, and it seemed like every last one of young men were holding their breath, whether it be in apprehension, fear, or excitement.

Bacura strolled down the line, several slaves at his side carrying wooden training weapons of all sort. He would examine each man thoroughly, making a comment on his disappointing progress, or snarling about his need for improvement, then barking out a classification of gladiator for him to train as. Eugi felt his heart rate pick up as Bacura neared him. He'd heard tales from the older gladiators of men not being good enough, and being sold to quarries rather than given a weapon. Of course, whether or not these were just rumours to spook the newcomers, he couldn't tell.

"Murmillo!" He shouted out, a slave handing the addressed man a wooden training sword. "Hoplomachus!" Bacura roared, enjoying the way they all clenched their jaws nervously. At last, he arrived in front of Eugi. The shorter man tried to look straight ahead, afraid of what Bacura might say.

"Disappointing. Very disappointing. You train without passion, without that energy burning in your eyes that made me buy you in the first place. You're a weakling compared to these real men. Disgusting. But maybe you can use that to your advantage. A skinny little thing like you might be fast on his feet, given the proper training. I'll give you another chance-" he sneered, "but I want to see that fire in your eyes again. When you learn to fight with that fire, then you'll become a true Gladiator. And maybe even a man." Eugi gritted his teeth, refraining from shouting the obscenities that threatened to flow from his mouth like the blood flowing from an open wound. Bacura turned, crossing his arms.

"There it is- there's that burn of hatred. Just remember the oath. The gladiator's oath? You remember that don't you?" Eugi's face twisted into a snarl as he repeated the oath he had taken a week earlier alongside of Gionoci.

"I undertake to be burnt by fire, to be bound in chains, to be beaten, to die by the sword."

"Good. Don't forget that. Retiarius!" He shouted, and then moved on to the next man. A wooden trident was tossed into Eugi's hands, and he examined it. He'd seen men training with tridents, using nets as well. Cruel irony, that he was given the type of Gladiator that represented a common fisherman- for that was exactly what his father had been back in his village. He sighed angrily, glaring at the ground. One day, he would find some way to avenge his slaughtered family, his murdered friends, in a way without bloodshed. There had to be something he could do.

Bacura came after a while to Gionoci, pausing considerately.

"You're the only one here who hasn't let me down. You may be stultissimus* but you're strong, and filled with passion for fighting. You should make a fine Murmillo. Take the sword- you can train using the large shield later on." Gionoci nodded; hurt by Bacura's comment about his intelligence, but glad he wasn't going to be a stupid sort of Gladiator with a pike or a spear, or something useless like that. His grip on the wooden sword tightened, and he felt adrenaline rush through his body already. It felt so right, to hold a sword in his hands. One day he would know what it felt like to wield a real sword, and to stand, victorious, the crowd chanting his name.

"But YOU!" He suddenly heard Bacura roar, turning to see Riou wilting under his master's gaze. "Pathetic! If you were not contract bound to this school, I would have sold you long ago! You will never get anywhere, and you will never be a gladiator! I'm amazed I even let you in here in the first place!" Riou's jaw twitched, his eyes directed solemnly at his toes. "You are still weak! You would lose a fight to a woman! Come back for a weapon when you have the strength to lift one! Until then, I'm keeping you on training with the newcomers." Riou sighed, nodding slowly.

"Ita, dominus.*"

That night, Eugi made his way to Riou's quarters, walking in without much modesty. It was just the way things were, and they were good enough friends.

"Hey… are you alright?" Riou nodded, his eyes dull and pained, although he didn't show any other emotion. "He let you down pretty hard."

"No… it's okay. I'm… I'm used to it by now." Eugi tilted his head to the side slightly, raising an eyebrow.

"You're used to it? Riou… how long have you been here?" The pale man shrugged, sitting down on his bed.

"About maybe… half a year?" Eugi's eyes widened in shock.

"And he still hasn't let you train at the next level?" His response was a shake of the head.

"He says the same thing every month. That I'm still not strong enough, that I need to train harder." Eugi noticed for the first time that Riou might be small, but his arms were coils of tight muscle and sinew. He must have hid his strength well, for Eugi had never seen that before.

"But if you've been training for six months, you should have been in your first practice battle by now!" There was a rapping of wood against plaster as Bacura passed by, tapping on the doorway with a cane.

"People are complaining, they can't sleep. Stop making noise and go to your own room. You can talk tomorrow." Eugi sighed and nodded, leaving and going back to his own room. He did need sleep. The next day, the training would be difficult, and he knew it.

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stultissimus – very stupid, the stupidest

ita, dominus. – Yes, master.

I know that was short, but I'll update sooner next time because I have an idea in my head of what I'm going to do with the next chapter. Review if you liked, give constructive criticism if you didn't! ^_^ Either way, please review!