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Boy Gladiators of Capua, Book 1	By : Jake Category: S through Z > Spartacus: Blood and Sand Views: 289 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and make no money from writing stories based on it.

Chapter List
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2. Risk and Reward
A few days later, the three boys were handed an ideal chance to test their newfound soildarity when they were ordered to fight together against an experienced adult gladiator from another ludus, Crixus, whom the people had dubbed Champion of Capua thanks to his recent successes.
The crowd's roar echoed through the arena, a relentless wave of sound that pounded in the ears of Kaelus, Tarin and Lykos as they stood side by side. Dust swirled around their feet, and the harsh sun beat down on their skin.
Kaelus stood in the centre, his muscular frame glistening with sweat, his chest rising and falling steadily. Despite the danger of the fight ahead, he wore no armour above his waist as usual. Kaelus not only valued this as his signature look, he also preferred the freedom of movement and the self-confidence that his hardened physique gave him.
Tarin, on Kaelus's left, was smaller and less imposing, but his sharp eyes were full of focus. He moved with the agility of a fox, light on his feet, ready to dart in and out of danger. Lykos stood on Kaelus's right. His posture was steady, his eyes calm and calculating.
Crixus circled them with obvious confidence. He wore more armour than any of the three boys, and his face was hidden behind a helmet, making him seem even more imposing. His weapon – a heavy, iron-spiked mace – swung menacingly in his hand.
'Remember,' Kaelus whispered to the others, his voice steady despite the tension, 'we fight as one.'
Tarin nodded, his mind already working through the strategy they had devised. He darted forward, launching a flurry of feints and strikes that Crixus easily blocked, but not without being forced to turn and reposition. Crixus swung his mace at Tarin, but Tarin was too fast, slipping just out of reach. Each missed strike drew Crixus further away from the centre of the arena, and away from solid footing.
As Tarin kept Crixus occupied, Lykos moved in from the side, his approach silent and measured. He aimed low, striking at Crixus's legs with quick jabs of his gladius, forcing the older gladiator to shift his stance repeatedly. Lykos was not yet as strong as Kaelus, but his strikes were precise, meant to weaken rather than overpower.
Crixus growled in frustration, his movements becoming more aggressive, but also more erratic. He swung his mace in a wide arc, forcing both Tarin and Lykos to leap back to avoid the deadly blow. This was the moment Kaelus had been waiting for. He charged at Crixus, his focus entirely on the opening that Lykos and Tarin had created.
Crixus barely had time to register the sudden attack before Kaelus was upon him, using his full strength to drive his gladius towards Crixus's exposed side. The impact was brutal; the force of Kaelus's strike pushed Crixus back. Kaelus did not hesitate, pressing the attack with bestial ferocity. He was relentless, his muscular arms a blur as he struck again and again, overwhelming the older gladiator with sheer tenacity.
Tarin and Lykos moved to flank Crixus, ready to intervene if needed, but Kaelus had found his rhythm. Crixus tried to bring his mace down on Kaelus's head, but the boy was too fast, dodging the blow and thrusting his gladius towards Crixus's side once more. The crowd's roar became deafening as Crixus staggered, his weapon slipping from his grasp. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Kaelus stood over the fallen gladiator, his chest heaving with the effort, the gladius still gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes were hard, his expression triumphant. Tarin and Lykos approached, both breathing heavily as well, their eyes locked on their friend. Kaelus looked at them, the tension easing slightly from his shoulders. He knew that without Tarin's speed and Lykos's precision, the outcome might have been different.
Kaelus placed the point of his gladius against Crixus's throat and shot him a questioning look. Angrily and with bad grace, Crixus raised two fingers in a gesture of surrender. In unison, the three boys stepped back and lowered their weapons. The crowd cheered enthusiastically.
Crixus pulled himself to his feet, removed his helmet and glared at the three boys, but his expression changed to one of surprise and relief when the crowd cheered for him as well. Despite his defeat – against three opponents whom he had vastly underestimated – his status as Champion of Capua was still safe for the moment.
As Kaelus was preparing to begin his day's training the next morning, the doctore of the ludus took him aside and told him that as a reward for his leading role in defeating Crixus, he had been granted the favour of receiving a visitor that day. Kaelus was confused and a little suspicious, but he accepted the announcement with a curt nod.
It was almost noon when the doctore informed Kaelus that two guards were in the process of escorting his visitor to the ludus. Kaelus stood in a corner of the training area, his body glistening with sweat, his eyes searching the vicinity for any sign of the guards and their mystery charge.
Kaelus's gaze softened as he caught sight of his brother Aulus, now ten years old, stepping into the harsh environment of the ludus. Flanked by the two guards, the small boy's eyes were wide with apprehension as he took in the brutal surroundings. His simple, worn clothes seemed strikingly out of place in the world of gladiatorial combat.
When Aulus's eyes met Kaelus's, time seemed to stand still for both boys. For a moment, Kaelus's breath caught in his throat, and his hardened exterior faltered.
'Aulus...' Kaelus's voice cracked, filled with more emotion than he usually allowed himself to feel.
'Kaelus!' Aulus's face crumpled, tears spilling down his cheeks as he ran to his brother. But despite his obvious elation, the young boy hung back a little – the sight of Kaelus's chiselled physique with its array of battle scars was overwhelming.
'It's all right,' said Kaelus. 'It really is me.'
'You look... different,' Aulus said, his voice trembling. 'I almost didn't recognise you.'
Kaelus's heart ached at the sight of Aulus's shock and sadness. He fought to maintain a composed exterior, offering a reassuring smile despite the storm of emotions within him.
'I've changed a lot,' Kaelus said softly. 'But seeing you here... it's like a dream. I've missed you so much, Aulus.'
Aulus stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Kaelus's scars and muscles. Tentatively, he reached out and touched Kaelus's arm, as if to confirm that it was real.
'I can't believe you've been through all this,' Aulus whispered. 'I've thought about you every day, Kaelus.'
Kaelus knelt to Aulus's level, his hands cupping his brother's face gently. His own eyes were filled with unshed tears.
'It's been hard,' Kaelus admitted quietly. 'But through everything, I've fought for us. I want you to know that all of this... it's for you, Aulus.'
Aulus nodded, tears still streaking his face as he looked around, clearly overwhelmed by the brutal environment.
'It's not what I imagined,' he said, his voice still a whisper. 'I thought you were just training. I didn't know it was... like this.'
Kaelus pulled Aulus into a protective embrace, his strong arms enveloping his younger brother tenderly.
'I'm sorry you had to see me this way,' said Kaelus. 'But I promise you, someday we'll be together again, and things will be different.'
'Maybe someday soon,' one of the guards whispered to the other, causing both of them to smirk, but Kaelus did not notice.
Aulus clung to Kaelus, trembling as he held on to his brother. The two stayed locked in the embrace, the sounds of the ludus fading into the background as they shared this moment of grief and hope.
'I believe you, Kaelus,' Aulus said, his voice filled with a newfound determination. 'But I... I don't want you to go through this alone.'
Kaelus pulled back slightly and looked into Aulus's eyes.
'As long as I know you're safe, I can never be alone,' Kaelus said. 'You're with me, Aulus, and you'll still be with me even after they've taken you away from this place.'
'That's enough,' said the guard who had spoken before. 'Back to your training now, gladiator boy.'
Kaelus watched as Aulus was led away, his heart heavy yet hopeful. The sight of his brother had rekindled his resolve, fuelling his determination to fight through the trials he had yet to face. Kaelus returned to his training, his mind set with a renewed sense of purpose. The struggle ahead was daunting, but the hope of a future with Aulus kept him moving forward.
Kaelus stood alone in the dim light of the practice arena, his powerful frame silhouetted against the flickering torches. The reunion with Aulus had left him both elated and distraught. In the moments after his brother's departure, Kaelus had tried to push his feelings aside, focusing instead on his training and the unyielding grind of his daily life. But in the end, he had been unable to prevent the emotional weight of the encounter from settling heavily on his heart.
Kaelus walked slowly to a secluded corner. The adrenaline and focus that had driven him through his training now seemed distant, replaced by a raw vulnerability he had long suppressed. He sank to his knees on the sand, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For the first time in three years, the façade he had meticulously maintained began to crumble.
Kaelus's shoulders shook as he finally allowed himself to feel the full weight of his grief, frustration and longing. Tears streamed down his cheeks, mingling with the sweat and grime of the day. He buried his face in his hands, the sounds of his sobs echoing softly in the empty space. The pain of his separation from Aulus, the weight of the sacrifices he had made, and the relentless struggle of his life in the ludus all surged forth in a torrent of emotion.
Kaelus wept not only for himself, but also for the future he so desperately wanted to build – a future where he and Aulus could be free and reunited, far from the brutality of the arena. Kaelus took deep, shuddering breaths, trying to regain his composure. He stood up slowly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
With a final, lingering glance at the place where he had broken down, Kaelus turned and made his way towards the living quarters. Just outside the entrance, the doctore came up behind him and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on his shoulder.
'I had a brother,' he said, his voice softer and more wistful than Kaelus had ever heard it before. 'Once. Now,' he continued, suddenly all business again, 'as you may be aware, Kaelus, the praetor and his party will be arriving for their visit at any moment. I've been ordered to inform you that your services will be required in the banqueting hall shortly thereafter.'
Kaelus digested this news in resigned silence, again replying merely with a curt nod.
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Boy Gladiators of Capua, Book 1