By the third day on the road with the bandits, as we navigated the Apennine Mountains, I had almost forgotten of my previous life. Every morning I woke up to the trekking of narrow mountain passes, steep ravines, and dense mountain forests with strangers removed me further from what came before.
I was tempted to think it was all a dream. Especially as our bandit group came upon breathtaking sights like sweeping valleys, cascading waterfalls, and mountain peaks shrouded in mists. I had never seen such beautiful sights before.
How could all of this be real? Perhaps I was going insane and I was in a hospital chair somewhere, with my mom and dad pleading with the doctors for help with my delusions. After all, Rome had fallen long ago and life wasn’t oriented like a video game. Yet here I was, with a status bar that told me I was fully recovered but still weakened from being gelded, continuing to prove this was no dream.
Health: 50/50
Stamina: 50/50
Seeing it fully recovered gave me relief. I didn’t want to think about what would happen if I died. I already didn’t know what would happen if I died in my previous life, so where would I go if I died here? Would it be Tartarus? I shuddered at the thought.
Periodically along our journey, what looked to be a notification symbol at the corner of my eye blinked. I focused my attention on it to see what it was.
* The officer who let Elegapolus’s slaves slip through his fingers has just been 'promoted' to experience their intended destinies firsthand. Elegapolus sends his thanks for the entertainment.
* Viking longships spotted off the coast of Britannia, offering the coastal communities of King Arthur a unique chance to indulge in widespread panic and fear.
Viking longships? I thought, bewildered. This world is bigger than I realized. It seemed I would have to face not only Rome but other forces of great antiquity as well. Becoming stronger was the only path to survival.
The System was also very maniacal and universally mocking. I wasn’t its only target, thankfully.
I made a mental note to check on those notifications frequently in case something important occurred.
I was finally able to stand on my feet without throwing up on the third day. Walking silently in the back with the other rescued boys, I also had plenty of time to get familiar with this new world and its System. If this world truly operated like a game, I knew that I would have other skills and abilities to reach for. And if I was going to survive, I would need to get familiar with everything.
Thinking of skills brought up a glowing red list before me.
* Divine Blessings
* Skills
* Glory Progression
* Honor System
Hmm, I thought, intrigued. Let’s start with skills. The thought of skills opened up more text beneath it.
* Combat Skills Tree: Strength
* Crafting Tree: Health
* Stealth Tree: Stamina
* Art of War Tree: Intelligence
* Art of Rhetoric Tree: Wisdom
* Trade Tree: Charisma
Interesting. So it seems every base skill like Strength is tied to a specific tree. So if I leveled up my Strength, presumably I would get stronger combat skills. Let’s see what skills there are.
* Sword
* Shield
* Spear
* Thrown Weapons
* Dagger
* Archery
* Unarmed Combat
* Mounted Combat
The choices were a bit overwhelming, but it made sense. Like with anything in life, I was going to have to specialize if I wanted to become great. Seeing as the reward for killing Cetus was the Pilum of Ares, it might make sense to focus on my throwing weapons’ skills out of all of these, along with a typical sword and shield approach for close range combat.
Before I could delve deeper into my options or the other trees, Bulla Felix at the front of the group stopped our march with a raise of his hand. The bandit leader pointed to a fortified encampment nestled just beyond a pair of wooden gates before us within towering pine trees and the craggy terrain. I hadn’t noticed it before, for it was well hidden in the mountains and would not be noticeable if one were not this close. Two bandits stood guard of the gated entrance, nodding to Bulla in respect. No torches surrounded them. Secrecy must be their goal.
A red text notification appeared before my eyes.
Location Discovered: Bulla Felix’s Hideout
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Brothers,” Bulla Felix said, eyeing us freed slaves, “I present to you our hideout. You will be safe here from Emperor Elagabalus and his giants, I assure you. And Cetus can not reach us here with his terrible bite. But, we true Romans know we will never be safe as long as he and his tetrarchy rule. I give you the freedom to stay with us one day to recover. Equip yourselves with any weapon and gear you deem necessary and may the gods bless you on your travels should you leave us. However, if you are to stay and join us, I will require of you your service, for we are no mere bandits. We are the peoples’ men, First Citizens of Rome indeed. And we will serve her people with honor.
“Tomorrow morning, if you should stay, we will begin your training. I will see to it that you will become men indeed, for you are no longer slaves.”
With that, he nodded to the guards to open the gates and strode promptly through, leaving us behind to decide our fates. Considering my only path to survival and regaining my manhood lay within befriending Bulla, my choice was clear.
A notification appeared before in blood red.
Title: Roman Bandit, Runaway Eunuch
I cringed at the second title. I was very much looking forward to scrubbing that from my identity and reclaiming my masculinity. I would be only a shadow of a man until that was done.
In the meantime, I would do well to learn more about the bandits and how this world worked.
The group dispersed and we entered through gates into the small circular valley. The first sight we came upon was what appeared to be a training ground centered at the heart of the camp. At least a dozen men were practicing on wooden targets with swords, while a makeshift stable adjacent to the grounds held about twenty horses. As I scanned the area, I noticed a very serene and contemplative man reading a book by the stables who paused to look at us. His expression was unreadable, stoic even, and his gaze was penetrating so much that I had to look away.
Surrounding the training grounds, the mountains rose well above and were pocketed with several caves alit with torches. If I had to guess, that was where their sleeping quarters and mess hall would be to keep the light hidden from Roman scouts who drew too close in search of the bandits. From the bandits walking about the small camp and greeting Bulla as we entered, there couldn’t have been more than fifty or so of them.
“Ah, these must be our latest batch!” a man said emerging from the training grounds to embrace Bulla. The man was tall and robust, exuding confidence as he strode towards us. He was balding at the top and was clean-shaven. Almost immediately after he glanced at me, I found my emotions to shift in an unnatural positive direction towards him, as if I liked him all along and could trust him instantly.
“Cataline,” Bulla nodded in respect. “Our numbers have been strengthened. There is great potential among them.”
“Good,” he said, smiling as he sized up our group. “And have they chosen their blessings yet? Do they have any unique abilities that will be of aid to us?”
Blessing?
Bulla gently shook his head. “I did not plan to overwhelm them. Remember how our rebirth was for us? We will find out tomorrow after they receive some rest.” Turning to us, Bulla pointed towards one of the caverns beyond the stables. “In there, you will find our sleeping quarters, the mess hall, and a shrine where each of the twelve gods is located. You may pick whichever god calls to you the most. You can change your blessing at any time, though only once a day. Be warned, each god’s blessing also comes with a curse. Take the rest of the day to acquaint yourself and recover, and tomorrow we will unlock your potential.”
Turning back to Cataline, he pointed for him to follow to another cavern, presumably Bulla’s, to speak in private. As soon as Cataline left with Bulla, my emotional trust in him dropped, like a rubber band once held in tension now let go.
The whole experience was surreal. There was more to this world than I realized.
Hearing of the blessings intrigued me and would probably serve me well on my quest for vengeance. I nodded to the other freed captives before leaving for the shrine.
The horses whinnied as I walked by and the bandits nodded their heads in greeting. I had never ridden one before and would probably make a fool of myself. Though from my study of history, cavalry combat would be a vital component of warfare if my own physical prowess was lacking.
“Welcome, brother,” a bearded bandit said as I passed by.
My thoughts were suddenly stopped when a book slammed into my face. Oddly, I didn’t feel any pain, and a split second later, I was two steps back from where I was a second ago, right beside the bandit who had just greeted me.
“Welcome, brother,” the same bandit repeated.
Out of pure instinct, I snatched the book that came flying at me again, surprising myself and the bandit beside me.
My head swiveled to find the one responsible for throwing the book at me. It was the older man from earlier who was reading beside the stables. His previous stoic expression broke for a moment in amusement.
“Good catch,” he said, stroking his beard.
“How… what,” I began, stumbling over my words. What just happened?
“Come,” he said, standing to his feet and walking up to the cavern above on the rough path.
Completely befuddled, I turned the book over to see what the man was reading: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
“Aurelius?” I said, running to catch up with the springy man.
“Yes, I was as perplexed as you were when I found my own book,” he said, his gaze looking ahead but somehow far away simultaneously. “What is your name, son?”
“Max,” I said, still shocked by the wisest of all Romans I was speaking to.
“I see you’re a well-read man as well,” he said as we entered the torch-lit cavern sprawling with supplies, weapons, and men. “You have quite the insight.”
I stopped in my tracks, causing Marcus to halt. “Did you know about my gift?”
He nodded, still amused. “It is my gift to see the nature of others. I noticed it upon my rebirth, and it has proved very useful. I can see your talents and the kind of man you are. You have great potential, Max, even with what has happened to you.”
I lowered my voice to avoid being overheard. “So you know I come from a different reality?”
He shook his head as we explored the tunnels, nearing a large room where candles flickered inside. “We all came from reality. Now it seems we’re are given a second chance at all of this, our pursuit of a glorious Rome and a victorious life. However, I fear many of us will make the same mistakes again that brought both our lives and our state to ruin. Nevertheless, you should hone your predictive insight if you are to survive in this world. Rome is ruthless, its rulers rotten. This gift might just save your life.”
“Thank you,” I said, clutching the book. Since this was one of the wisest men in history, I would do well to read from him.
Marcus smiled as if remembering something from long ago. “Come find me after you choose your blessing. I will take you under my wing. There are many in this world, even in this camp, who will seek to use you for their gain. I know the quest you are on, Max, and I will aid you with my wisdom in this endeavor.”
Marcus turned to leave me to the shrine room, but before he left, I stopped him. “Why? Why help me? I am the weakest of all men. I… I’m not even a man anymore. I don’t understand.”
Marcus smiled warmly. “And who says that you are no man? All that you've done before, or failed to do, is of no account. The past is dead and gone. Why carry yesterday's regrets on your back? Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Live now according to your principles.”
Marcus said no more and turned away, leaving me alone to my thoughts. He was right. The past was dead, though I didn’t understand what he could see before me, I would trust the wisest of all men. Today was the true first day of my life. All of my failures from before were behind me, my lack of masculinity of no concern, my void of achievements and ambition and purpose from the previous life a passing thought. At least that was what I would strive towards.
It was time to be a man.
I took a deep breath and entered the shrine room to accept a blessing and a curse from the gods.