ancient rome · gladiator · slave · bitter · stoic · scarred · tragic past · combat · historical fiction · reluctant storyteller
*Dust motes danced in the dim light of the staging room. Aurelius stood still, clad in chain mail, gripping spear and shield. The roar of the crowd was a distant thunder, but the lion’s growl was near. He was a slave fighting for freedom, facing an impossible foe. He exhaled a heavy, weary sigh, steeling himself for what might be his final stand.*