A Gladiator's Cry (Part 1)

The prison was a bit noisy that day. The clanging of metals echoed in Karina's ears as she watched the other gladiators prepare for their fight. She glanced across her cell where her sword was currently lying down on. She held the armor that was prepared for her, it was not the same armor that she used to wear back at their kingdom. Her attention was suddenly caught by the loud banging of the steel bars that kept her inside the dusty room.

"Get ready. This will be your only chance to either die in vain or with pride," her lanista said, the person who owns her. He was an old man yet he still moved like a man at his prime. He was also the one who kept her after the fall of her family's empire.

Karina could still vividly remember how their kingdom fell under the invasion lead by Helios, the man whom she thought as her knight-in-shining-armor. Three long years had passed yet the memories seem like yesterday and the pain was still fresh, broken heart and lost dignity.

"You seem to be in deep thoughts, my love," a familiar voice came greeting the quiet gladiator. She gazed at the man and his lean body was still the same as before. His mischievous smirk and good-looking face would make any woman fall for him in no time. And until now, despite trying to hate him and scorn him for betraying her, Karina could still feel her heart beating for him. A foolish woman she was.

"Why are you here?" she simply asked as she grabbed her armor and wore it without any problem. She adjusted it so she could fight at her best at the stage where countless people would be watching.

"I will be presiding the fight," Helios replied with his grin still carved on his lips. His arms were crossed and he was leaning on the prison bars with his eyes glued on Karina who grabbed her sword that screeched against the floor. "And since you're a bit special, there will be a special offer for you. Win the fight, become my woman or die on the sand and be forgotten."

After her talk with Helios, Karina was now walking towards the battleground, she could hear the cheers of inhumane people who find joy in watching gladiators kill each other. She gripped her sword tighter as her determination became stronger, she has to win, she has to free herself from the ties of being a gladiator whose fate was to entertain people through fighting and would eventually die.

"Bring the princess of the fallen Chrysafenios Empire!" the announcer yelled which hyped up the audience. Karina could hear their chants, their screams of joy, their shouts as they bet on who will win that day. It blazed her anger, her sense of vengeance levelled up as her eyes were set on the naive people.

Karina now stepped foot on the battleground, her eyes looked around and the seats were all filled, a lot of people were raising their money, their alcohols as they go wild upon her entrance. The horn was blown which was the signal of the beginning of the fight. Karina gritted her teeth as she came face-to-face with her opponent.

Her heart twitched as she saw her smile bitterly, she was against her most trusted friend. She looked thinner and paler than before, her cheeks became prominent and her lips were cracked. Her friend was not treated right by her lanista, that was for sure.

"The one who dies shall pass away with honor," they both said in chorus and each of them raised their weapons against each other. One of them has to die for if they let their emotions rule over them, they'll be both killed and no one would avenge the death of their kinsmen. As Madeline swung her ax towards her, Karina swooped down and with her foot, she shifted position and tripped her. She stood up immediately and attempted to hit her with the sword but Madeline raised her leg and kicked her on her abdomen.

Karina has not yet recovered but her opponent came lunging at her and with just one swing, she was thrown to the side with her armor broken and left chest bleeding. There is no time to show her pain so she stood up on both feet despite the excruciating pain. She used her sword as a support to keep her balance and when Madeline came attacking again, she swiftly moved to the side, dodging the blood-stained ax. She stepped behind her and kicked the back of Madeline's knees causing her to kneel down.

Karina yelled so loud it echoed throughout the place, it was her cry, her cry of pain and agony and heartbreak. Killing Madeline was the most painful decision she had made, and it shall always haunt her until she finds herself in the grave.

The crowd went wild as Karina raised her sword dripping with her friend's blood, her face kissed by the sun. She just slit her throat and watched Madeline's body fall onto the ground. But to give honor to her, Karina ran her bloodstained thumb across Madeline's forehead, a sign of peaceful depart in their empire.

After doing such, she glanced at Helios' seat and saw him stand to make his declaration on what is next to happen on her.

He raised his hand with a closed fist and the crowd went quiet to wait for the decision. The loud cheers came booming again as Helios gave a thumb up, meaning that Karina is released from being a gladiator. Unknown to the audience, she shall also become the greatest woman who will seat beside their ruler, Helios.

Though it is forbidden for a Roman leader to fall in love with a barbarian like Karina, Helios would step on that so called golden rule just to take Karina back.

"I shall make you suffer in the most painful way," Karina mumbled as she strutted across the ground, taking her exit. Her next journey shall be walking on thin ice with her eyes set on Helios' death by the end of the line. And, of course, deal with the love that has long been forbidden to bloom from the very beginning.

"This shall be the last time you hear a gladiator's cry."