First Steps and First Impressions
Leo woke to soft morning light filtering through the narrow window that lit up this small chamber Gaius had assigned for him. The night had been just a blur of trying to sort everything out, accepting that he was not getting back to his college dorm anytime soon, and wondering if he ought to start practicing Latin. The Scroll of Knowledge lay on a small table beside his bed, softly glowing to remind him he still had to make sense of everything.
"First things first," Leo muttered, running his hand through his messy hair. There was so much he had to learn, or at the very least, not make himself look like the absolutely fish out of water that he was, 21st century. Gaius had promised to help him but there were a million things Leo needed to learn before he could go out and survive.
"Morning!" a cheerful voice called out from the entrance, breaking Leo's thoughts. He looked up to see Gaius holding a simple robe in one hand and a wooden comb in the other. This student, who never seemed too serious, had a twisted smile on his face at the moment.
"It's time for your first lesson in 'How Not to Get Killed in Rome,'" Gaius said, a small smirk playing at his lips. Leo laughed, though there was a nervous knot working inside his stomach.
"Very funny. Do I at least get to keep my jeans?" Leo quipped, pulling up on the hem of his faded jeans. Gaius raised an eyebrow at him.
"Those? I think they'll be better used to drape the birds. No, you want something that proclaims 'Roman citizen' rather than 'wild forest dweller from the far future.'"
Leo sighed, took the robe and stepped into it, fumbling with the ties. Gaius stepped back, a combination of humor and concern etched across his features.
"Better," Gaius said. "You look like somebody who belonged here. Now, let's teach you the basics. First, you have to understand the politics and who is who in this city."
The room flickered to life from the holographic interface-still, Leo realized belatedly, a part of his reality. It had been there in the corner of the room last night, humming with potential, and he hadn't noticed it.
"Can it really be that easy?" Leo asked, staring at the interface, which displayed a list of names and titles.
"Not at all," Gaius said, reading Leo's expression. "But it's a start. You'll need more than the scroll and your wits if you're going to survive here."
Leo clicked on the list on the interface and started reading names of influential people in Roman society, including: Marcus Junius Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Julius Caesar, and others. Along with every name there was a short description of their political position and influence. Leo read about Caesar's conquests and growing power with eyes wide with wonder.
"Brutus.Caesar.they are real," Leo panted, the weight of history crashing on him. Gaius nodded. "Real and dangerous. And if you get caught in the crossfire, you won't just be a spectator."
Leo looked down at the Scroll of Knowledge again. If he wanted to stay out of trouble—and perhaps make a difference—he'd have to use every ounce of knowledge and skill he could muster.
"Right," Leo said, taking a deep breath. "Let's get this started. First, I need to know how not to trip over my own feet in public," Gaius chuckled. Laughter lifted the gloom out of the room. "That is something every Roman should be taught," he said. It was a day of confusion, new knowledge, and surprisingly a lot of laughter. Gaius taught him how to bow respectfully, how to greet strangers without immediately launching into a monologue about modern pop culture, and, most importantly, how to keep his eyes on the ground when passing the senators. At midday, Leo felt he could almost melt into the crowd. He stood ready to step out from the streets of Rome-not as a scared college student but as someone determined to make his mark-irrespective of how impossible this was. The city vibrated with life and adventure. Leo knew well that the journey that lay before him would be risky, full of challenges; he was ready for it only for the first time since he arrived. And as he stood there, his eyes to the reinforced glass of a vendor's cart, polishing up his reflection, Leo Carter smiled. Perhaps he could not control his fate, but he could play his part in the story.