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House of Batiatus. Capua, Roman Republic. 3 months later.
With his sister returned to him, Flavius Helvetius Seuso found himself feeling rejuvenated and Re energized. His already considerable skills in the art of Samnite combat increased dramatically. He sparred with every single gladiator more than once during training and he had soundly defeated them all; Barca and Ashur included. It got to the point where none of Batiatus's titans wanted to spar with the son of Mars, since no matter what forms they fought or tricks they used, he would without a doubt defeat them and smash their asses into the dirt. This improvement in stamina and slaughter also transferred over to the arena. Flavius fought dozens and dozens of opponents in the 3 months since Messiena had been found and paid for. He proved an unbeatable foe for other gladiators in the Samnite class, as well as those in Murmillo, Thraex, and Retiarius. Flavius more than earned the moniker that had been bestowed upon him.
Even more so, his marriage to Diona was as good as ever. He had never known such love as she gave to him. She was everything he'd ever wanted in a partner
Messiena Papa Seuso had also found her fortunes to have improved since become Lucretia's 2nd body slave. Diona had indeed proven to be a loving sister in law and was a welcome comfort. However, she still had nightmares of the horrors she had endured from her several former masters. Some had beaten her like a mule, while others had done far worse things in pursuit of their own pleasure. Things that she never dare tell her brother, lest he think her unclean. She had told some stories about her time spent in slavery, but some stories were better left forgotten and lost to time. Thankfully for her, Lucretia had a better domina then any who had followed her. She was a strict woman, but she seemed fair when she was in a good mood and considering how her last domina had forced her to perform degrading tasks for amusement, Lucretia was practically an angel. Another aspect of the house of Batiatus that raised her spirits was the Syrian Ashur. Since he was apparently the best of friends with her brother, he had gone out of her way to speak kind words into her ear whenever he laid eyes upon her.
"Good Messiena, your face could make the goddess Venus like an ugly wench." Ashur had said 1 day with a smirk as she tried hard to hide the blush upon her face and ended up failing miserably. It made Messiena feel as though she could forget about all of the wrongs that had been done to her.
The person to most benefit from all of this was Quintus Lentulus Batiatus. Since Flavius had been declared as the champion of Capua, requests for the son of Mars to appear in gladiatorial matches had come not only from Capua, but from the larger venues of Milan and Corinth. Every family with a stories name and a handful of coin was clamoring for Flavius to perform in their games. The magistrate of Capua was now at Quintus's beck and call. The best part was that Quintus had reduced his once friend turned rival, Marcus Decius Solonius to barely an afterthought in the Lanista business. So many of his gladiators had fallen to either Flavius or Ashur's sword and he was running out of money to keep buying more. The house of Batiatus had indeed risen beyond anything his father could have hoped for.
House of Batiatus. Capua, Roman Republic. The next day.
The good fortunes eventually came to a grinding halt on the day that Septimus Curtius Augurnus paid a call upon The Batiatuses. Quintus was enraged when he learned who was at his doorstep.
"That hemorrhoid sucking fuck brings a fucking bear into my house and expects pleasantries in return?" Qunitus asked in rage as he summoned both Lucretia and Flavius, because he surely had to have been the point of the visit.
"That man should be hurled from the cliffs." Lucretia growled as the black bear attack was still fresh in her memory.
"A fate well deserved for such a shit!" Batiatus agreed as Septimus stepped inside the lanista's office, looking pleased with himself.
"Good Batiatus, a pleasure to lay eyes upon Capua's favored lanista." the legatus said with a slimy smile.
"I wish I could share sentiment." Batiatus replied with anger. "You disrespect my house, try to kill my champion at every turn? No...pleasure is the last thing upon fucking mind when eyes land upon you." Septimus shook his head as he ignored the lanista and turned towards his champion.
"They kiss your ass." He muttered with a cruel gleam on his face. The citizen who became a soldier, the soldier who became a slave, the slave who became a gladiator, the gladiator who defied a legatus."
"A powerful story, one to be told for generations." Lucretia shot back as she earned his cruel gaze.
"Won't those same generations want to know how the story ends?" Septimus challenged before turning his eyes back towards his most hated enemy. "I suppose, only a glorious death will do, and what could be more glorious than for the son of Mars to face the legatus in the great arena in front of every elite in Capua!"
"You would fight me?" Flavius inquired as he was genuinely surprised at the suggestion.
"Why not, do you think me afraid?" Septimus asked angrily.
"I think that you are afraid that you will never gain the power you desire, unaware that the greatest obstacle is yourself." Flavius answered.
"Unlike the son of Mars, who knows no fear?" the legatus asked angrily.
"Apologies...Flavius is much in demand for games." Quintus replied.
"Whatever the cost, I will see it paid." Septimus insisted as Batiatus turned to Flavius, making sure he wanted this. The Roman nodded his consent.
"Principal cost plus 80%." Quintus demanded.
"Done." Septimus replied without skipping a beat.
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