The next few weeks was a blur. I went to the few homes the augur told me about and managed to get three people to join my little band. To each one I told them, "Corvus oculum corvi non eruit." One of the recruits was a beautiful girl named Andromeda. I fell in love with her immediately. I loved everything about her. She was courageous and was willing to be put at risk for a greater cause. She was also as nimble as deer, and when we were in trouble, I could always count on her to watch my back. Each person that I recruited knew other people that will willingly join us. Aemilianus, the guard that pushed me into the arena, was also not a fan of the gladiator games, and joined us as well. Our group was soon no longer a "little band," but more of a symphony of people in an orchestra.

We planned riots and protests around the city. In the beginning, it was successful. People who were loyal to Emperor Arcadius and his love for gladiator games became doubtful of their loyalty. But then, our luck ran out. The Emperor's imperial army full of highly trained soldiers that were professionals of their occupation and were motivated by money seemed to anticipate our every move. At first, it was just a few attacks on our riots and protests, but when the number grew, I knew with led in my heart that there was a spy.

I pulled Aemilianus aside, the person I trusted most other than Andromeda. "I need to discuss a matter," I began quietly, so no one in our camp outside the city border would hear.

"You can tell me anything," responded Aemilianus.

"There's a traitor among us," I said. Shocked, Aemilianus's mouth hung open in surprise, than quickly closed it.

Glancing around nervously, Aemilianus whispered, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure of it. Emperor Arcadius and his army had been interfering with our every attempt to stop the gladiator games. There is no way that he is able to do this without someone on his side working in our midsts," I told him sadly. I felt like that all these people working to stop the gladiator games was my real family. They protected for me and one another like any family could. And now, they would be heartbroken to find that one of them was not who she or he said she or he was.

"I will keep a lookout Achill. Don't worry," reassured Aemilianus. I smiled grateful smile. I knew I could count on Aemilianus.

"I'm already planning another protest. We will come in from here," I pointed to a spot on the map tacked to the wall. "Then, we will advance from there." I paused, thinking for a moment. "I know that this protest will probably be thwarted, but at least there will be people knowing that someone is working to help the humankind."

Aemilianus nodded, but didn't say anything. He looked, guilty? "This protest will take place in three days," I continued. "Please inform the others." Aemilianus turned to go but stopped when I added, "Aemilianus? Please know that I'm very grateful for your help. I wouldn't have made it this far without you. You may go now."

In three days, everybody was antsy and anxious for action. When I made sure that everything was in place, we held our torches high and marched into the village. Then, chaos filled the air. A flood of soldiers rushed in, and screams ran untamed. No, no, no! I thought. I unsheathed the sword I always brought with me, a gift from Andromeda. Just thinking about her made me smile, but I knew there was no time for that. I charged into battle, helping as much people as I could. Emperor Arcadius and his men had ambushed us again. My jaw clenched. When I get my hands on that traitor he or she will be sorry he or she ever turned his or her back on us.

As I fought, I noticed something strange. I spotted Aemilianus weaving in and out during the battle a few times. The next time I saw him, he wasn't even nicked. The soldiers all were intent on fighting everybody else but Aemilianus. At first, I could only stand, slack jawed. Then my brain was able to process the clues. The guilty look on his face. The days when he was breathless and tired, as if he ran a marathon during the night. Aemilianus was the traitor. The person I trusted most besides Andromeda. The one that I depended on. He would pay for the damage he caused to my family.

Just then, I felt a sharp pain in my gut. My eyes widened in surprise as I noticed the sword impaled in my gut. Then, I was falling, falling down to the ground. "Achill!" I heard a scream. It was Andromeda. She rushed over and knelt over me. "Don't die on me! You are NOT allowed to die!" Her tears stained her clothes and there were flecks of blood on her hair. Beautiful. The last thing that I will see will be something beautiful.

"Andromeda," I croaked. "Promise me, promise me one thing." Breathing was getting painful now, and I could see stars dancing before my eyes.

"Shhh. You will be all right," Andromeda cradled my head in her lap, but I knew that she knew deep down in her heart I won't be all right.

"Promise," I insisted. "Promise me that people will know of my story. They will know not to give up and fight for what's right, even if you die."

"I'm not promising anything if you die," Andromeda cried. But she was nodding, and I knew it was okay to let go. That's what I did, let go, and let my soul float peacefully away, knowing that I made an impact on the world, which is all I ever wanted.

1 week AFTER 400 AD:

The body bundled up in linen was so still, so dead, that had to fight the urge to scream and run away. But I didn't, for Achill's sake. When the shovel was handed over to me, I closed my eyes when I poured the dirt over the body. He's gone, I told myself. He really is gone. My mind was a blank after burying Achill. I had work to do though. I made a promise, and I wasn't about to break it.

4 years AFTER 404 A.D.

This is the forgotten legend of a great hero who changed the course of history. After Achill's death, our group fought on, powered by vengeance and loss. As news of our associating spread throughout the empire, four years later, a monk helped us, but sacrificing his life, just as Achill did. During a gladiator fight, the monk tried to separate and make peace with two gladiators forced to fight against each other, getting killed in the process. The horror of it abruptly ended the gladiator games once and for all. As for what happened with Aemilianus, i the chaos of the battle when Achill died, a soldier had mistaken Aemilianus for someone else and he too, had fallen.

As for me, Andromeda, I was able to move on after Achill's loss, but my life wasn't as vibrant as it once been before. I'm proud of Achill though. He was brave, empathetic, and loyal. He even died in a noble way, doing what he believed what was right, not cowering behind a pillar. I'm here to send a message from Achill. He would want you to know that even doing what seems like the impossible, like going against the Emperor and almost everyone loyal to him, is hard, yes, but definitely not impossible. Don't give up, even if you are on the edge of a cliff. Lastly, don't do what everyone else is doing, be unique, be special, and be right.