Hoplite came out of the storage tent carrying a basket of bread when suddenly, he was pulled to the side and slammed against the palisade wall.
"Wha—"
*Bam!*
Rainer executed a wall slam, locking him in place and Hoplite couldn't help but squeal.
"Eeep!"
'Eeep? The hell?! That's cute!'
He thought as he drew closer, drooling at the aroma of fresh bread.
"Haah~ You've been running from me, Hops. Did I do something wrong?"
Rainer steamily inquired with a famished, almost predatorial gaze.
Hoplite flinched, eyes widening with panic.
"Wh-wh-why would you think so? Err, Lord?"
Rainer took a deep breath to calm himself before placing a calming hand on Hoplite's shoulder.
"None of that Lord shit. We're friends, Hops. Call me Rainer."
Hoplite nervously glanced up at him with color on his face.
"Y-yes, R-Rainer."
He replied, however, Rainer's attention had shifted, now fully captured by the buns beneath him.
Rainer moved, and in a breathless instant, snatched two large loaves before turning away with a satisfied expression.
Glancing back to see Hoplite get anxious about the bread, he waved noncommittally.
"Don't worry. Just tell the old man that I was hungry, and if he nags come tell me. I'll give him an earful."
Then he waved him along.
"Also, you're coming with me. We need to talk."
Hoplite hesitated, and then released a soft sigh before following with a resigned expression.
–––
Moments later...
They both sat on a boulder outside of camp looking into the trees in the distance.
Rainer finished his meal and dusted his hands, glancing at Hoplite.
"Alright! So what is with the attitude lately? Be honest, okay? Don't worry, I don't bite little boys."
He chuckled and added with a knowing smirk.
"I save that for the girls."
However, Hoplite look up at him in confusion.
"You bite little girls—"
Rainer snappily covered Hoplite's mouth with his hands, looked around in alarm, and when he realized no one was coming, he relaxed.
"For a moment there I thought some men in black might come charging in."
"Men in black?"
Rainer shook his head with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, wrong world. Besides, where did you get that idea, bimbo! I don't bite little—anyone okay?!"
Hoplite gulped, nodding, and Rainer laughed before playfully ruffling his thatch of golden hair.
"Haha! As long as you understand."
Rainer withdrew his hand and settled down.
"Alright, back to base. You've been acting strange around me, why? Don't worry. Speak to your heart's content. I'll listen."
He gently encouraged.
Hoplite smiled in appreciation and looked away, taking in a deep breath.
"I-I had a friend... He was my only support in times of trouble. Even before we were bought from the slave master six years ago, we had been close. At that time, I was so happy the Lord Praefect bought us together..."
He let out a small reminiscent smile at the memory, but his expression soon wrinkled.
"But then things began to change... While I found favor with our master and the officers, he was not so looked kindly on. Yet he never became hateful or envious of me. He remained my friend through the hard times."
Hoplite's eyes slowly grew watery.
"Sometimes when I would break something during cleaning. He would lie and say he did it. And then, despite my claims against it, regardless of my confessions, he always ended up receiving the punishment, and I was let go in the end, spared from harm..."
His hands balled into fists, and he gritted his teeth hatefully—in hatred at the officers, but more so of himself.
"After the beatings, he would smile at me and say, 'Fear not, Hoplite. I will always protect you.' It was always heartbreaking to hear him say that through broken and bloodied lips... But I never reprimanded him, only tended to his wounds in mournful silence... Unfortunately, his decision to protect me soon brought him into a clash with Commius!"
He spat out the name in spite, tears falling freely now as he choked upon his pained outcry.
"He died because of me! Because of me, and even worse—I–I can't seem to remember! I can't remember my friend's name!"
Hoplite gripped his hair in anguish as the hot tears dribbled down.
"I asked the servants but they too would say that they've forgotten. At first, I thought it was a ruse, a wicked ploy against me. Then I became desperate. I glanced through Domini's slave purchase parchments while I cleaned, and do you know what I found at the spot his name should've been?"
Hoplite questioned, looking toward Rainer.
"...Rainer, Rainer Manslayer."
It was Rainer who answered, releasing a wan, tired sigh.
He disliked seeing Hops like this, and it felt worse knowing that it was indirectly his fault.
He rubbed a hand across his face in contemplation for a moment and made a decision.
"Fine. I'll spill the beans."
"What?"
Hoplite asked, wiping his tears and Rainer licked his lips and spoke.
"That's what happens when I take over a body—names shift to mine, even in memories and records. It's a passive effect I—but mostly Era has on the world. So don't blame yourself."
Hoplite appeared confused. Rainer's reply only seemed to birth more questions in his mind—questions Rainer didn't have the will to address, even though he could.
In the end, he simply placed a palm on Hoplite's shoulder and offered comfort.
"Don't trouble that pretty head of yours. Your friend's lucky—he's been granted a rare gift!"
He announced before gesturing out grandly with his other hand.
"He shall witness my glorious demise beneath the High Heavens, and in the end his soul will be full and he shall rest, satisfied... So cheer up, alright?"
He said and drew away, leaving a curious Hoplite behind to fantasize about whatever he believed his words meant.
Rainer caught sight of movement within the trees and soon over a hundred riders rode out, wielding all sorts of unique weapons.
It was the fierce women's group who decimated the rebel raiders on the hill a while ago. They rode in a wide circle about the camp before vanishing around a corner.
Rainer's eyes glinted with intrigue, but then he glimpsed Hoplite through the corner of his eyes.
Realizing he had to conclude this, he shook his head, saying.
"It's a shame really. Your friend promised to protect you and died. But I'm different..."
Hoplite glanced up at him and Rainer flashed him a grin.
"I won't die."
Hoplite's eyes widened at the implication, and for a moment the tears forming in his eyes seemed to hold the sun as he stared up at him with gratitude.
Rainer chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"So treat me like a big brother from now on, okay?"
Hoplite adorably nodded, wiping his face dry.
"Good."
With that, Rainer stood up and walked away.
"See you later! Don't forget to load my dinner with bones, okay? Oh! And don't forget the veggies!"
He yelled, already jogging in a certain direction.
Meanwhile, Hoplite watched as he disappeared back around a corner with a childish smile.
However, unknown to them Commius stood at the camp's gate, watching... His fierce eye hard as it came to rest on Hoplite's back.