A Gladius, A Crown and A Broken Empire (Reichpol) [Hiatus]

On the way

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Poland's POV

He rolled his shoulders in circles, trying to ease the tension on his arms as he walked to the cell where the goddess of gladiators stood. Lowering his head, he entered the room, kneeling in front of the dark statue and holding his hand over his heart. Another battle won had been added to his record, and he was grateful for the protection of Nemesis today, but he wasn't here just for that.

A part of him knew that if he wanted to ask for luck he should be praying to the goddess Fortuna, but he couldn't see himself doing it. He wasn't a roman, after all, and the only deity on this land that he could really trust in was the always vengeful Nemesis.

He was one of her warriors, swearing to give his blood to the always thirsty amphitheater until he could gain freedom; he was one of her sheep, hurt and in need for shelter, one she would want to help avenge. The goddess had taken him under her wing and he could only hope she wouldn't throw him out of it for this little selfish wish.

He took out the gift of the Sagittarius, wrapping his fingers carefully around the wood, as if holding the most delicate thing in the world. Maybe it was because he wanted to have the divine presence closer than ever, maybe it was because he needed to double the chances of the goddess responding to his plea or maybe it was because he was looking for the dead man that had become a father figure for him, but he just kept it close to him, whispering on his native tongue.

"Please, allow me to be happy just this time"

He had seen the patrician at the end of his fight, reclining against the wall of one of the tunnels of the amphitheater with a happy smile. The sun had shined upon his figure just in the right way, the orange rays of the sun caressing the tricolored face of the man.

He had felt the breath catching on his throat, finally seeing Reich after the long weeks without his visits, a part of him beaming in happiness as soon as he recognized his strange friend.

How much had he missed him?

He had lowered his gaze, forcing himself to receive the roars of the crowd and tearing his gaze apart from his secretive visitor. Then, he had walked through the cage-like doors and back to his cell, his heart racing with the mix of the excitement from the fight and the nervousness of seeing the tall man again.

Only then he had remembered Reich's promise to take him to see the sea and he had rolled his eyes when the feeling of butterflies had invade his stomach.

Battles had passed, and when the Emperor of Rome had disappeared to see chariot races, the tall country had walked into his cell, dismissing the guards and sitting with him.

"You're still alive" he had talked, his eyes shining with a soft feeling Poland hadn't been able to pin completely. "Do you remember my promise?"

He had jumped, whispering a sharp reply. "How are you planning to take an infamis to a vacation trip, if I may ask?"

Reich had laughed with that deep voice of his before walking away. "You'll see" he had said, and then had walked away.

So now he was here, in the cold cell of Nemesis, praying for this little moment of peace. After all the cold pain, all the bitter suffering, all the burning hate and all the heavy guilt, he could be allowed this little feeling. Right?

He got up, walking back to his own cell, laying on the stone bench, waiting for the rest of the fights to end and wishing that everything would go fine.

Just this time.

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Reichtangle's POV