Ryke had forgotten very quickly that the training in the Ludus is a process that takes years. From fourteen to eighteen the youth are trained as warriors, officers, generals and all sorts of professions. It is a comprehensive education that teaches combat skills, life skills and professions; yet over the last week and a half he saw no one but his initial group in the Ludus.
It seems Lycus had a lot to tell him, as the boy hadn’t stopped talking once since he showed up. The rest of the candidates returned to the Ludus slowly over the last few days. Some got along quite well with the first years, mostly those from the second year. The third year was quite ambivalent about them, and the fourth year disregarded them entirely. It was interesting to him to hear about the myriad beasts that these other years raised though, as many had reached their full size and strength. The Ludus suddenly felt a lot more lively. Lycus even told him about how the animals formed bonds and friendships with each other just as the trainees had.
Many-tailed foxes and giant dogs would roll around in the sand while their owners trained in the main hall, unbothered by the noise and commotion. Birds would fly around in song while the smallest animals would scurry around in their own games. The image portrayed for him was quite an amusing one, and Ryke couldn’t wait to see it for himself.
That wasn’t the biggest thing, though. The first years had learned alot from their new comrades and some information wasn’t exactly good; including the Gladiator Ranking. Food was one of the biggest components for a low ranking Centurion and usually better food, beast or leviathan meat, would provide more vitality. The Gladiator Ranking hadn’t yet been implemented but from what Lycus was saying, the top ten would receive one serving of beast meat every day, top five would receive two, and the highest ranking would receive three.
He wasn’t sure if it was to inspire more competition within the first years or to inspire disunity, but Ryke felt there was something odd about how much information was given out before the Lanista even told them anything. Especially because they would always mention just how effective the extra servings were- one serving would double the amount of vitality you could get from three meals at the canteen. It created a system where combat was more important than talent, but also a system where those who got a headstart would stay ahead.
They got breakfast together at the canteen, spent some time in the Beast Forest with their companions and then left the Ludus for a while, as Ryke hadn’t left in a week and was feeling a little cramped. He relished in the sounds of life as he walked through the marketplace, buying a few trinkets here and there simply because of the good mood he was in. There was even a small silver tree amulet he bought for a few Aes, as well as a few books about famous Praetorians and Centurions.
He was lucky someone had change for his Chrysos, leaving him with nearly a hundred Argent and well over thousands of Aes. It took about an argent and a half to feed a single man for a month; it wasn’t until Ryke perused the Forum for his own needs rather than letting his father do so did he finally realize how much one would have to spend. It also amazed him just how much Fairrin had saved up for him, considering he doubted his father didn’t take any money for his own use.
He bid Lycus farewell as they left the Forum so they could both head home. Knowing his childhood friend’s family ran a local general store, he was relieved after finally learning the exact value of what was left to him. With the knowledge that his friend wouldn’t be in want of anything, he went home while trying to come up with ways to maximize his use of his savings.
Pushing the door to the workshop open, his gaze couldn’t help but move down towards the many slips of paper on the ground. Letters written in rather crude writing, some with exaggerated nobility to its prose, led Ryke to taking a few minutes to read them over. Mostly concerned neighbors who haven't seen Ryke or Fairrin come and go from the house in a while, but also some people who needed tool replacements, a guard who wished for a custom weapon or two, and the foreman of the local quarry who requested the monthly batch of tools.
Many of the slips didn’t seem to mention price at all, coming from what he assumed to be old customers of his father. The rest gave prices for their needs, some of which shocked him. It was when he read the tenth or so slip that he finally realized to some degree why his father never wanted to enter the Oasis Zone- he didn’t need to. He made well over what the average family would need, Fairrin just didn’t like spending money.
The tools often went for thirty Aes a piece, while each standard weapon was anywhere from one argent to five. Price nearly doubled for custom. It both explained why most people didn’t just buy weapons for self defense, while Leghan was still worried enough to put a cap on sales. He didn’t doubt rules might be different in the inner city, but the boy didn’t care much.
Spending an hour or so reassuring his neighbors that both he and his father were okay, he came back to the workshop with some fatigue. Many extended invitations for him to stay or ask for anything if he needed it, which Ryke accepted politely without ever intending to cash in on it. One neighbor even offered his daughter to help keep the place tidy, which was the only offer he actually rejected. Walking down the hall to the courtyard and past all the weapon plaques and armor stands he sighed quietly, and then decided to spend another hour cleaning the place up. It was nearly dusk when he finally got to the Aurum Tree; its golden shine dulled by the fading sunlight. He was calmest here.
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Sitting down he sorted through which orders he wanted to try doing and tried to remember which ones he simply had stock for. Fairrin left a lot of spare tools behind for sale, while he could forge any weapons. He didn’t mind spending time forging most days as it helped keep his body in shape, and the extra income could go for extra food beyond just what the canteen provided. When that was done he read the books he bought, cooked dinner, meditated until he was asleep.
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The next week or so passed just the same, though he would spend some extra Aes on food to double his daily portions. Half a month had gone by in a flash after Ryke had joined the Ludus and life for the most part had gone peacefully, except for a few.. Hiccups. He had even felt the strange sensation, now known to be vitality, coursing back and forth between his chest and his stomach. Wouldn’t be more than a few days before he could start refining his stomach.
Waking up early to eat breakfast at home, making it to the Ludus in time to grab more food at the canteen, Ryke finally managed to find some more time to talk to some of those he met in the first few days. Caius especially seemed close to sensing his Aurelius Flame, something the golden eyed youth wasn’t sure how he knew.
“Caius?” He approached quietly, watching the way the other teen moved with the sword and shield in his hands. “Do you also get in so early?”
“When I can.” Caius stopped mid swing, turning his gaze over to Ryke. He could tell somewhat that he didn’t like being interrupted, so he just noted that Caius stopped for him anyways and tossed the boy a cloth.
“I thought you might’ve been one of the few to stay in the Ludus overnight.”
“Can’t afford to.”
“Oh? How come?”
“Someone’s gotta farm the Lilevas.”
Ryke’s eyes sparkled for a moment before he closed the distance, clasping his hands around Caius’ arm, startling him slightly. Ryke had so many questions about Lilevas Fruit since Sigmar talked about the Praetorians. He had a few guesses about the connection between the fruit and the Desert Matriarch, but who better to confirm them than a farmer.
“Your family runs a Lilevas Farm?!”
“The Gentlewind farm outside the walls, yes.” Caius slowly removed his arm from Ryke’s grasp, sighing in relief when the boy clearly didn’t try to detain him
“So what’s the connection, then? Between the Matriarch of the Desert and the fruit? Did she make them? When?” Ryke bounced up and down, letting his curiosity get the best of him even as a few people looked over in confusion.
“The Mother created the Lilevas Fruit and released it to all of Cinefra. This.. is pretty common knowledge.”
“The Mother? Like, the one worshiped by the people? That’s the Desert Matriarch?”
“Yes, she.. Some worship her as a god of life. Some other Centurions get worshiped the same way but not across the entire desert like she is.”
“A god?” Ryke tilted his head. He wasn’t quite sure how the Desert Matriarch could be considered a god, and he felt it.. distasteful to call her Mother for some reason. It rubbed him the wrong way. “Aren’t gods born gods?”
“If kids can become Centurions, why can’t Centurions become gods? Not to mention she’s..” Caius trailed off, looking around and then back to Ryke, whispering. “Many Centurions simply acknowledge what she did for the people. It’s her cult and the civilians who like to deify her.”
“But.. why?” Ryke whispered back, tilting his head. He didn’t quite understand just why, but he was curious. Gods had never been too popular and he had never heard of a real pantheon since the age of the Ezros Empire.
He allowed Caius a silence as the boy was clearly thinking, his hands fidgeting with the handles of the sword and shield in his hand. His brows pressed together and his eyes not really lingering anywhere. A few moments passed when Ryke finally got his answer.
“Hope, I think.”
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“Gather around!”
Sigmar summoned the youth in his usual fashion, his stern voice bouncing off the sandstone walls of the Ludus and shocking the first years into attention. Some were stopped mid swing, some were rudely awakened from meditation while the rest darted from their rooms or from the canteen; food still hanging from their mouth. It was clear that Sigmar’s voice had long already instilled it’s authority into most, while the select few like Caius and Ryke spent too much time outside of the Ludus to know why.
“As many of you learned from your friends in other years, the Ludus does not give all things for free. From now on there will be an initiative to provide extra resources to those at the top of the year. I’m sure many have learned the exact rules from your companions, so I won’t repeat it. Ask around if you don’t know.”
The man took a look at all the first years in front of him from atop the altar, his eyes low and unfeeling. He saw the many who had been wasting their time and the few who spent it diligently. Those who ruined their body for progress and those who took one step at a time. He saw each and every single one of them and their progress. His expression turned cold fast.
“Let the Gladiator Rankings begin!”