*Bang!* *Crash!*
The soldier was suddenly tackled to the ground by another soldier, and Rainer gulped hard, heaving breaths of relief.
'Damn! That would have hurt!'
He glanced down and saw that the soldier who saved him was Kotys. Seeing him drag the soldier away, Rainer smiled and nodded his thanks.
Kotys subtly nodded before pulling the frenzied soldier back behind the crowd.
"Then?"
The officer who had questioned him earlier, drew Rainer's attention back to him.
"What are you, If you are not the slave we knew?" He questioned with a tense but curious furrow to his brow.
Rainer looked at him with alarm steadily ebbing from his eyes, and then he looked away in thought.
'He wants to know me?'
Rainer scoffed inaudibly at that.
'How can an island know the expanse of the seas? How does a man comprehend what he has never seen? How do I begin when words fail to begin describing the complexity of my existence.'
Rainer contemplated, biting his lips with a serious expression.
Although, Rainer knew he could easily throw them off with a lie and live. After all, this was a relatively ancient civilization, composed of a highly superstitious lot.
However, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if they heard the truth...
If they could stomach hearing what it meant to be Qegon.
"He is a god." A familiar voice emanated.
The soft words, spoken under the breath seemed to be carried mischievously by the night into everyone's hearing.
They snapped Rainer out of his thoughts, and he looked toward the source.
Standing behind the officers, a little to the left against the tent was Hoplite. He appeared appalled and dismayed under everyone's gaze, trembling under the collective looks of shock, scorn, and disdain.
At this, Rainer scoffed out loud and shook his head with an amused smile, chuckling. A chuckling that soon developed into a boisterous laugh, drawing back the attention.
'This boy just gave me a genius idea! I guess I'll give them a half-truth then.'
Having that thought, he looked at them with a wild grin, an excited gleam shimmering in his eyes.
"Close enough!" He barked out loud. "But nay! For I am Mars' wayward son! Here to bless or curse your blades!"
He grandly announced before glancing at Hoplite with gratitude in his eyes.
'Thank you, Hops. They could never understand the true me anyway.'
At once, there was an uproar, and Rainer felt a wave of nervous energy roll across the noisy crowd, becoming chaotic and frenzied as the raging bonfire behind him.
"The son of the god of war?!"
"Since when do gods possess the dead!?"
"Lies! The daemon deceives us!"
"But he said he was wayward! Maybe he escaped the divine realm through possession!"
Suddenly, a loud laugh broke out amidst the din, hard and dangerous; and the soldiers all gradually went silent as the laughter echoed.
It was Commius, hunched over and trembling with his hands on his knees.
The soldier's expressions varied between shock, unease, and worry. It was as if they witnessed a rare event: this Optio never laughed, many thought.
"The Son of Mars?!" He cried out mockingly and turned to look at the Prefect.
"Great Praefect Alexios! Your slave was always as dull as unpolished stone! How did he get this humorous?!" He laughed as he addressed the Prefect.
Alexios, on the other hand, was unamused, side-eying him with a stony demeanor.
"How would you know that, Commius? You were only gleefully with him during the times I had you punish him; times my slave couldn't dare express his comedic talents." He stated dryly, casting him a corrosive stare.
Seeing this, Commius' mirth faded and he straightened.
He turned to Rainer with a frown, knuckle whitening on his clenched, sheathed gladius.
Commius then took several ured steps toward him, glancing around at the battle-hardened, torched-lit faces now filled with uncertainty; at the soldiers, specialists and officers in tense silence.
Then he came to an abrupt stop and pointed at Rainer.
"Look at this! Is it not obvious that this is a daemon masquerading as a god!?! Now it mock's Rome by claiming to be one of its Patrons?!" His expression turned ugly and he yelled. "For this sin! There is only one recourse!!"
"Hoh!"
"Yah!"
Many soldiers hollered in agreement, making a ruckus to encourage the others.
The officer who questioned Rainer earlier frowned at this, and hesitated. But then he motioned for silence, and soon the place quietened.
He glanced at Commius and shot a look Rainer's way before making his appeal to all.
"We should not be hasty."
Commius' eyes tensed and his face contorted with disbelief.
"Do not tell me you of all people, believe what this evil spirit spouts, Second Centurion Vellocatus."
Commius glanced at Rainer before inquiring.
"Tell me, Centurio Vellocatus. Have you ever heard of gods possessing corpses?"
Vellocatus frowned slightly at the thought, but then he looked around and pressed on.
"We are men, now under the service of Rome. We came from different lands; thus, our beliefs vary, and while I must confess that I am not tethered in faith to a particular god—I believe in the oath to which I have sworn upon the Roman standard! I believe in the trial of steel and blood! If he is truly the son of Mars, let him prove it! So that Rome may not be made to slay another god, unjustly."
He concluded his passionate speech with his gaze resting on Alexios; a quiet intensity blazing within his golden-flecked, hazel eyes.
Alexios' callous gaze locked with his for a moment before drifting toward Commius, and finally, landing on Rainer.
Then he took a deep breath and announced.
"Vellocatus is right. Regardless of his claim, it shall be verified tomorrow."
Commius' face twisted with unease as he realized what the Prefect meant.
"Prefect, I do not think—"
Alexios stopped him with a stern gaze and looked toward Rainer.
"But first... You say you have come to bless or curse our blades. What did you mean by this?" Alexios inquired in a measured tone.
Rainer scoffed and looked at him with mysterious smile.
"I bring ruin—or good fortune wherever I go; it's always one or the other, no in-betweens."