Wake up. The words of a woman echoed through his dreams, lingering there for a few moments before the gladiator's eyes shot open. Aelius had drifted into another slumber after his last attempt of getting up, still recovering from the battle even though it felt like an eternity had already passed since the two gladiators had crossed blades. When his eyes searched the room for the source of the voice, he found the Domina standing next to his bed. A small smile crept across his face, despite the fact that is was inappropriate for him to do. He was thankful for what she had done, for he realized he would have been treated a lot worse if he had been a regular gladiator under the rule of the Lanista.<br/><br/>Aelius listened quietly and carefully to the things the Domina had to say to him - to her plan she talked so passionate about. He saw the fire burning in her green orbs, knowing he would be wise to go along with her quite ambitious plans, regardless of what he thought or wanted. It was clear that nothing could stop her from getting what she wanted, and that everyone who stood in her way would suffer for it. "Thank you." He said softly, looking directly into those fiery orbs. "I will not disappoint you."<br/><br/>Shortly after the Domina's visit one of her slaves entered the small room, taking him to his bath and meal. Although she still had to help him get up and take the first steps, Aelius was surprised by how much he had recovered - he didn't feel anywhere near as weak as before. The next hour went by with him getting thoroughly scrubbed and bathed until all the filth and blood had been washed off, before he slipped into the new tunic left behind by one of the slaves. After the bath he felt even better, as if he had been given a renewed life source. The only thing that was missing was food, which he soon realized after sitting down for the meal he had been granted. He hadn't eaten much for a couple of days and his stomach was growling as he stuffed the food into his mouth. Although the food was not amazing, merely the food slaves got to eat, it was much better than anything he had been given in the ludus and he was happy he got something to eat. But his enjoyment didn't last very long when he got told to go back to the ludus - to the coarse sand, the fighting, the harsh training.