The authoritive voice of the man seemed to have echoed throughout the entire Ludus. Although the voice was different than usual, the words were definitely those of a Doctore. Even Alaricus, who was lost in a deep slumber within his gladiatorial cell, could not escape the sound as it penetrated his ears, and ripped his soul from the realm of dreams.<br/><br/>Slowly, the man awoke, his eyelids openning to reveal the pools of hazel-green that rest behind them. A groan could be heard from his throat as he viewed the cieling above, his back laying on what he was told was a bed. The sight was far too familiar at this point, yet he dreaded it the same each time. Alaricus rose to his feet, stretching his muscualar arms upward. Crackling could be heard as his chizzled body tried to loosen up, his muscles having become tight from the relaxed state. Alaricus made his way to the door, hesitating briefly before opening it. He could hear the movement of the other gladiators on the other side as they headed toward the training grounds. Quietly, he cursed the gods for having him go through another day in the Ludus, before finally exitting his chamber.<br/><br/>Within a few moments, Alaricus had joined the others as they stood before the new Doctore. It was Aulus, a man who Alaricus had come across only a few times in his life. Although they had never formally met, Alaricus remembered the face amonst the soldiers back in the military. The two stood on opposite sides, yet at one point they would've actually called one another brother, rather than the company of the barbarians he stood in line with. Still, Alaricus wasn't sure how he felt towards Aulus. Part of him was glad that there was another soldier he might be able to connect to, yet at the same time he despised Aulus, jealous of the fact that he was his superior now, while Alaricus was forced to struggle for his survival daily amongst the filth. Once again, he cursed the gods. They were showing no mercy on him today, but, by now, it had become the norm for the slave.<br/><br/>However, as bad as things were, Alaricus was thankful that he was alive, wiggling his toes within the sand to make sure of it. Being alive meant there was someone still fighting for the freedom of his sister. He could feel her gaze upon himself as she looked down at him from the balcony. A sort 'sibling sense', one might say. Alaricus glance up to return it, noticing the domina next to her. He gave Linara a quick smile, as if telling her to bare with it for another day. Time was their worst enemy at this point. The more time that passed, the more likely that one of them would break. Alaricus wasn't so much worried about himself, so much as his sister. Even though a warrior's heart ran in their family, the domina was as cold-hearted as she was beautiful, and was never to be trusted. Alaricus just hoped that his greatest fears wouldn't become reality.<br/><br/>Still, Alaricus would ultimately need the domina's favor if he ever intended to obtain the rudis for his sister, and a second to buy his own freedom and himself of the name given to him once made a slave, Ajax. Since having become a gladiator, Alaricus' bouts had been rather lack-luster. It wasn't so much him, but rather his level of competition. They were always far below his level, and even when he tried to draw them out longer for the crowd to gain interest, his opponent would always fall before-hand. If only he could get the same recognition as the champion, Patrocles, or even that of the lesser Ammon. Maybe then he could finally get a suitable opponent to show prove his worth to the domina.<br/><br/>Alaricus looked around at the other gladiators. All seemed to have been accounted for except for Patrocles, but the champion always had his own agenda that the domina never seemed to mind. He wondered who he'd be paired up to spar against, hoping that it'd be someone of worth. Most of the others in the line seemed to want to be paired up with the raveness with the voluptuous curves, the gladiatrix recruit. Simple-minded fools, thinking only with their pre-pubescent cocks. His only goal was to advance his position in the Ludus until his sister was free. In order to succeed, he needed to get rid of all of his desires, even the desire of a woman's touch, which was the hardest of them all.<br/><br/>That only left the egyptian, Ammon, or the doctore himself. Either one could be a suitable partner in battle to capture the domina's eye. Hopefully, the fortune of the gods would be swayed in his favor.