When Lucius finally left Livia's chambers, the sun was already beginning its descent toward the horizon. The hours had passed quickly, filled with both physical pleasures and conversations that drifted between philosophy and practical planning. Livia had promised not only the materials for training equipment, but also a small private space adjacent to her quarters where he could implement his methods without unwanted observers.
In the corridor, he encountered one of the household's older servants — a man named Marcus who, Lucius had noted during his few days in the palace, seemed to enjoy a relatively privileged position within the domestic hierarchy.
"Dominus Lucius," the man greeted respectfully, inclining his head. The honorific title did not escape Lucius's notice — clearly, the servants had been instructed to treat him with far greater deference than his technical position warranted.
"Marcus," Lucius replied with a brief but cordial nod. "You seem to know this house well."
"I have served the Cassius family for nearly thirty years," the servant confirmed with evident pride. "Since the Senator was only a young military tribune."
"Impressive," Lucius remarked, recognizing a potential source of valuable information. "I imagine you've seen many changes over the years."
"More than I could count, dominus," Marcus said with a carefully neutral smile that nevertheless suggested volumes of untold stories.
"Perhaps we can speak more another time," Lucius suggested. "I've always valued the wisdom that comes from patient observation."
The comment clearly pleased the servant, whose eyes gleamed momentarily with appreciation for the uncommon recognition. "It would be an honor, dominus. If you require anything, do not hesitate to ask."
"In fact," Lucius seized the opening, "I'd appreciate it if a jug of fresh water could be sent to my quarters. And perhaps some fruit."
"Immediately," Marcus assured, bowing again before departing to fulfill the request.
Lucius continued toward his quarters, his mind already working through the exercises he would implement while awaiting the equipment Livia had promised. The limitations of his current environment were significant, but not insurmountable for someone with knowledge of modern physical training techniques.
Upon entering his chambers, he immediately began moving furniture to create adequate space in the center of the room. The bed and side tables were pushed against the walls, clearing a sufficiently large area for complex movements.
First, he needed to assess his current physical condition. Despite the intense training in the provincial ludus, there were specific muscles the Roman regimens simply didn't develop properly — particularly the stabilizers of the core and certain back muscles essential for advanced gymnastic movements.
He began with a series of evaluation drills — push-ups in progressively harder variations, ab work from different angles, and finally, the true test: an attempt at a full planche, one of the most demanding calisthenic exercises even for well-trained modern athletes.
Positioning himself on the floor, Lucius planted his hands firmly, fingers forward. Slowly, he lifted his body, shifting his weight onto his arms as he tried to keep his legs extended parallel to the ground.
The result was immediate and informative — his muscles trembled violently, and he managed to hold the position for only two seconds before his body gave way. It wasn't surprising; a full planche required extraordinary balance and specific strength in the shoulders, chest, and core that ancient training simply didn't provide.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself, sitting back to evaluate the result. His body, though impressively conditioned by Roman standards, had specific deficiencies that would need to be addressed systematically.
He decided to try more basic progressions. The tucked planche — knees drawn to the chest — would be a more realistic starting point. Resuming position, this time with bent knees, he managed to hold steady for nearly twenty seconds before the muscles began to fail.
"Better," he observed, lowering himself with control. "A solid base for progression."
He then moved to another fundamental modern calisthenic exercise — the handstand. Using the wall for initial support, he kicked his legs up into an inverted position, arms locked out.
This position felt far more natural — likely due to gladiator training, which, though not involving inversions, still developed significant shoulder and arm strength.
Gradually moving away from the wall, Lucius tested his free-balance in the inverted stance. After a few attempts and controlled falls, he managed to hold the position for almost thirty seconds — surprisingly good for a first serious try.
"Handstand push-up progressions will come faster," he concluded, lowering himself. "Planche will require more foundational work."
A discreet knock interrupted his analysis. Marcus had returned with a large jug of fresh water and a tray of fruit, as requested.
"Thank you, Marcus," Lucius said, accepting the items. "A question, if I may — how does the water system work in this house?"
The seemingly innocent inquiry was calculated to start a conversation about infrastructure — potentially useful information for future plans.
"It is one of the most sophisticated in Rome, dominus," the servant replied with evident pride. "The Cassius family has a direct connection to the Aqua Claudia aqueduct, with its own reservoir at the upper level of the property. The water flows by gravity through lead pipes to the various fountains and baths in the house."
"Impressive," Lucius said sincerely. "And for hot water?"
"Dedicated furnaces heat specific tanks for the main baths," Marcus explained. "A hypocaust system beneath the floors keeps the rooms warm in winter. Senator Cassius has always valued the finest advancements in domestic comfort."
The information was valuable — it confirmed that the residence already had relatively advanced hydraulic infrastructure for its era, which would make potential adaptations easier.
"Fascinating," Lucius replied. "I've always been interested in practical systems that improve daily life."
Marcus seemed genuinely surprised at the interest. "An uncommon curiosity for a gladiator, if I may observe, dominus."
"I come from… diverse origins," Lucius said with an enigmatic smile.
When the servant finally departed, Lucius turned his attention to the water. Drinking directly from the jug, he reflected on the limitations of Roman hydraulic systems. Impressive for their time — with aqueducts, public baths, and sewer systems unmatched for over a thousand years after the empire's fall — but still primitive by modern standards.
The lack of efficient pumping meant near-total reliance on gravity for water movement. Without proper valve taps, flow control was rudimentary. And the use of lead piping, though ingenious, introduced health problems the Romans barely understood.
"Interesting possibilities," he murmured, considering potential adaptations. A simple manual pumping system could be built with available technology — perhaps using piston principles and one-way valves. More efficient flow controls could be designed in treated wood or glazed ceramic, removing the need for advanced metals.
The real challenge would be justifying such innovations without raising too many questions about the origin of his knowledge. He would need to present them as adaptations of existing technologies from distant lands, not as fundamentally new concepts.
Setting the jug aside, he returned to his exercises. With his baseline now assessed, he began to develop a full routine that could be implemented even without specialized equipment:
Planche progressions beginning with the tucked planche
Handstands and progressions toward handstand push-ups
Advanced push-up variations for targeted muscle isolation
L-sit work for core development
Isometric routines for neglected muscle groups
Over the next hours, Lucius worked methodically through these exercises, adjusting intensity and volume according to his body's responses. The gradual onset of muscle soreness was welcome — a sign of micro-tears that, with proper recovery, would translate into significant growth.
Between sets, he drank water and ate fruit — providing the hydration and simple carbohydrates essential for efficient recovery. The medicinal supplement provided by Servius would be applied later, after the main session.
When night finally fell over Rome, Lucius ended with a series of stretches — another aspect often neglected by ancient training regimens. Proper flexibility not only prevented injuries but also expanded range of motion, crucial for advanced combat techniques.
While holding his final stretch, his mind was already mapping potential adaptations for a personal water system in his quarters. With access to the house's main reservoir, he could potentially create a small but efficient setup offering far greater convenience than the current arrangement of jugs and basins.
A different servant — a young man Lucius didn't recognize — appeared at the door with a hesitant expression.
"Dominus, Doctore Tacitus sends word that tomorrow's initial training will begin before dawn. He requests your presence in the main courtyard at the first sign of daylight."
"Message received," Lucius replied, noting the slight surprise in the youth's eyes as he took in the unusual exercises. "Inform him I will be there promptly."
When the servant left, Lucius finished his session, applying a small amount of the medicinal supplement to the most intensely worked areas. The liquid had the distinct scent of concentrated herbs, absorbing quickly into the skin and producing an almost immediate localized warmth.
As he prepared for rest, his mind organized the day's observations. The ludus was a hostile environment but not insurmountable. Livia provided valuable resources and potentially critical influence. And his personalized training program, once fully implemented, would give him a significant physical edge that few would fully understand.
Tomorrow would bring his first true test in the ludus — a formal evaluation of his abilities under Tacitus's watchful eye and that of the Primi. He would need to calibrate his performance carefully — showing enough skill to establish baseline credibility while keeping his more advanced capabilities in reserve for a strategically chosen moment.
As he finally lay down to rest, his last thought before sleep was curiously not about strategies or manipulations, but about the vivid dreams from the previous night. The intertwined memories of two lives separated by millennia were gradually converging into a unified perspective — modern soldier and Roman gladiator merging into a single identity with a crystal-clear purpose.
Whatever extraordinary circumstances had created his impossible situation, Lucius now embraced the challenge fully. Rome, with all its glories and horrors, was his battlefield now.