In the first year of my transmigration in the past, I was deemed dull-witted by my tutor. A tutor hired by my father as it is required for a patrician's child to learn at a young age. Without prior knowledge and being illiterate myself in the Latin language made it hard for me to understand the language. Hence, I was taught from scratch, albeit the roman way.
"You imbecile!" A frequent insult from my tutor, Aurucius, a second-born male from a deteriorating Patrician family. The whipping of his cane stung my back, and I was numbed from the innumerable times he had done it by now.
I wasn't able to answer his question, and punishment was enacted by doing so. Harsh it may be, it became a motivation, and I could only grit my teeth in anger. Someday, I swore to avenge myself from this humiliation.
A young boy's body could only take much, and even if I were used to the pain, the toll it took in my body couldn't be set aside. So at the sixteenth caning, I fainted.
The next day, my father heard of what happened and had Aurucius caned doubled the times he had inflicted over me. Still, in respect to his family, Aurucius was kept by my side, the man, however, became meek and less sadistic. Dear me, I pity his wife over his violent tendencies.
The following days, weeks, and months had been dull and repetitive. My father, a quaestor —an official who takes charge over the public treasure, and an accountant by nature, — was rarely home. Therefore, I had time to explore the city of Rome whenever it wasn't a day of study. Of course, I had to be accompanied by guards of my household.
It was Wednesday or dies Mercurii in the Latin language that I had the time to leave the house as the tutor, Aurucius, asked for leave the day prior due to a letter he received from his eldest brother, no precise description was heard by me but I am sure my father knows.
I felt glee as soon as I stepped out of our estate, two guards followed behind me, and they walked upright with their backs unbending. They wore a scaled armor made of bronze called lorica Squamata, and in their hand was a long spear, hasta, they told me when I asked them. An iron sword lay sheathed on their waist, making them very intimidating whilst we walk the straight and solid road of Rome. Tall houses with fairly the same design as ours stood on the sides, an important thing to note was that this district contained the dwellings of the patrician families. Both men and women were rarely seen in this district outside their abodes, they tend to invite their circle in their homes to interact, and women were of high stature were busy tending to their household, financially and politically. Boys, however, were different, the boredom made it hard for them to stay in their houses and this led to a gathering of Patrician kids to play outside, but like me, they could only do so on their day off or holidays.
"Come on, Masonius, don't let that little barbarian beat you up!" At a wide-open ground beside a large roman house gathered a crowd of boys around the same age as mine with ten or so guards. The sound of fists smashing on faces, and angered growls could be heard at the place where the crowd surrounds. Intrigued, I approached them and bulldozed my way through the front. To which I was welcomed by a sight of a roman boy fighting a slave of greek descent I presume. The crowd cheered whenever the roman boy, Masonius' fists connect on the little slave's face, and they jeered otherwise if the other does. "Holy shit, they're fierce." I couldn't help but utter, for all I know, I'd get beaten black and blue if faced against the greek slave.
Soon, I could see the greek slave gasping for breath, his moves have gotten sloppy compared to earlier. It's a given that Masonius could also see that the greek slave was tired and so he roared like the little roman monster he is and lunged forward, tackling the greek slave to the ground. He threw punches after punches, even fiercely slamming his head against the slave, and with it concluded the fight. "Brother!" A melodious shout came and a little girl ran through the crowd. She held a clean cloth in her hand and crouched down to wipe the blood off the slave's face.
"Do not touch the slave, Masonia!" Masonius grabbed his sister, Masonia's hand away but she forcefully freed herself from his grip and continued to wipe the blood. I smirked at the innocence of the little girl. "Phaelistus, do wipe the blood off the slave, let the girl of noble blood not be stained," I ordered the guard on my right, and he nodded in affirmation. My words were loud enough for everyone to hear, garnering all of their attention,
My guard, Phaelistus gently took the cloth from the girl's hand and tended to the greek slave in her stead. "Everyone, I invite all of you to a small gathering prepared by my mother for all of those here." Masonius smiled at me and I reciprocated back.
The house or Domus beside the open ground was owned by Masonius' family, and I followed the crowd inside. While our guards were stationed outside, We entered their house, and what greeted us were intricate marble designs displayed on each corner, paintings that could be said to be comparable to masterpieces in the modern world. After which we were led to the inner courtyard, and a table of food lies await, musicians played on the side, and a woman wearing a stola over a long tunic stood at the center. Her clothes could not hide her supple body and large, protruding breasts. 'A feast to the eyes.' I thought.
"Salvete, I've heard of a gathering led by my child and so I have made the servants prepare a small feast. Do enjoy your time in our estate." Her sweet voice, similar to the little girl earlier, rang into everyone's ears. However, hers held a charm, fatal to the ears of men.
Everyone greeted her one by one, and so did I, but my eyes were glued not on her face but her breasts. It made me wonder the feeling of touching such treasures she beheld. The exchange between me and the woman was quick, but she smiled brightly at me and asked about my family. I presumed she found my answer pleasing, as it caused her to show quite a delighted expression to me. "Ah! The rising Servius, for his child to come here is a great honor. Come play with my children after the party, Augustus." She said, and I politely accepted like how I was taught.
Since I knew no one and was invited coincidentally, I stood alone eating chicken and grapes away from those clumped with their circle of friends. I savored each taste of the chicken and grapes alternately, and it created a unique aftertaste each time I take a bite one after the other.
"Ave, I'm here to thank you for earlier." A sweet familiar voice came from behind me, prompting me to look back. There, Masonia stood with an innocent smile. Looking at her face, she inherited the large-breasted woman's beauty, and she, in turn, might grow as a fine woman like her mother. I glanced at her mother and the woman flashed me a strange smile, perhaps hinting into something. I understood her right away.
"No need for such gratitudes, the slave didn't deserve such treatment, if only I could prevent it to happen." I showed her a sorrowful look, and my words held concern for that slave boy, which I do not. I saw that Masonia seemed to be shocked by my words, it might have been because of how rare it is for high-ranking men, or nobles to show concern for slaves. "Sadly, no one can go against my brother's wishes, many even supports such acts." She said whilst slowly approaching me, shortening the distance between us until we were almost against each other.
"Maybe I can help you stop your brother." I leaned forward and whispered in her ears. The girl, although young sounded quite intellectual and different from the daughters of my father's friends. "I also don't want such injustice to happen to slaves, they are humans too." 'But they are barbarians as well.' I masked such words from my thoughts.
"I'm so happy to hear that!" She exclaimed, taken over by the excitement from hearing my words. It attracted the attention of some and the two of us smiled at them awkwardly, though it was short-lived and they continued their chatter among one another. We both laughed at each other and continued our chatter, "We can talk about how we can do it in my house." I proposed.
She looked distressed when she heard it, and said. "I hope my mother agrees for me to visit another house."
"She will, I'll tell my father to formally invite you," I said assuringly, her complexion brightens from my confidence. The day passed by and I continued to spend time with her and her brother, to my annoyance, after the party. It was hard to act saintly in front of a little girl and subservient to her bastard of a brother.