Chpt. 2 - The Spearman
[Greece// Hoperri village, village head's house// 181 BCE, 2nd Century BC]
Maximus, the philosophical spearman, he was famous for his adventures alongside Hercules and his amazing prowess with the spear, He's a man with a good figure for war, aged with dark hair that's mixed with white strands, and has a noticeable burn mark on his left cheek.
He was young, free, and most of all happy but that was then, now he has retired from his freedom, he's now in the shackles of politics as he fight wars just to benefit from land, which he did not care at all if he gets any, with titles as such being one of the best captains of a battalion in Rome, he got married and had a kid just because he thought that as an old man, he should focus on his Legacy and that he did care for, which in turn made him more willing of doing his deeds.
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"So yesterday, young David shook the boulder you were on top of, you fell down, scraped your knee, came running to me, and now you're telling me to destroy my own father's farm?
just because the boy that my father, Erisotle, has took in hurt you?" Maximus asked for clarity from his son Maxicrus, "..." to which the boy only responded with a nod.
"I sometimes can't believe that you're my son, you're quite ungrateful aren't you, thus why you lied to me?" He massaged the bridge of his nose as he sighed,
"But father! I do not speak such nonsense? It's the truth" the boy, Maxicrus, retorted with a strong tone which in return got him a glaring look from his father.
"You expect me to believe that David could do that? How many times do I have to tell you that children like you, especially David whose as thin as a withered branch, can't move boulders, pin down cows, and run faster than a horse!
Though I don't believe you, I do believe that you're keeping some words from me...." Maximus pointed it out for him, To that the boy stood still silently.
"Though you're my son, I best hope for you to not be so ignorant when it comes to either making allies or enemies...
I may be busy with either both the sudden existence and appearances of many beasts of [Chaos] to reclaim land or just fighting other empires and kingdoms for wealth...
But don't take me as a blind fool of your antics, boy" The man said, as the last sentence he spoke through his gritted teeth.
"I-I--.... I apologize father but how can someone of weak status and no background hurt our position?... " Maxicrus thinks that his father sees him as an incapable individual,
"and if we let it off then people will question your authority on the land, we won't be superior, we'll be seen as foolish--" He wasn't able to finish his words as the child was hurdled across the floor by a punch.
"Did you not hear your words? 'tis not clearly for us, you selfish and insolent child, it's for yourself! I can see right through your intentions,
now off to the training grounds, I'll be adding more work into your body until you realise power isn't that all joyful. I didn't build my legacy only for you to destroy it" Maximus looked displeased with his son's perspective to life.
Maxicrus coughed out some air as he nodded to his father's order before running to the training grounds, which overlooked both the massive village and the view of the sea, he sighed before sitting down on one of the stone benches.
"Get a spear, Maxicrus, I'll be teaching you a lot of lessons today as per the captains order" a grumpy voice said as it's figure walked past Maxicrus from behind, "Ah!... Oh, it's you mister Cranstious" the boy replied to the man; who's in his 30's, has Wavy chin length golden hair, he has muscles but also seems to have a fat belly, and his body nearly covered in scars especially a scar that seems to be a scratch mark on his right eye.
"Please, for the nth time, call me Crans" The burly man with said as he takes a bite of a smoked turkey leg
"And don't worry, there's a good turn you got out of this. Your father is on his way to Eriso's farm" the boy had a smile of triumph only for it to dissipate when Crans took out his wooden club "Now hurry up, we have until sunset of before we finish your lessons"
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[Outskirts of Hoperri village]
Maximus rode his noble steed, in slow speed, he is accompanied by four of his men towards the apple farm
'Father must've took a long time to fill these empty hill with apple trees' he thought as they enter the forest of neatly arranged apple trees that was planted and grew into rows.
In the middle of the forest of trees was a clearing with a house. The house was nothing like what it was a few years back, it was unstable and could be shook by a storm but now it has support beams, there was more brick walls to hold it up, more than that, there was also a shack and a storage pen connected to the house.
An elderly man could be seen sitting on the house's front step, with squinted eyes eyes he seems to be watching a boy with a scrawny figure who's cutting wood with a [Hatchet]. "Ah, son, you're here...." the old man, Eriso, turned his head towards Maximus' direction.
"I believe you already know why and whom I'm here for, old man, Erisotle" Maximus, with a stoic face got off his horse before walking in front of the elder, with a spear in his hand he look at the old man straight in the eye.
"Would it be a sin to call me father?" Eriso raised a brow,
"No, but I do believe you don't deserve such call from me" Maximus retorted, and silent follows after between the two, though the silence was quickly broken by the sound of splitting wood,
David was still chopping woods for fire. "Can you not see the old men speak? You ignorant fool" one of the men Maximus brought with him spoke up,
"I do not care for that, but what I do care is for you to interrupt me working, and with all due respect to sir Maximus
You should still respect or show some proper response to your father even if he doesn't deserve it" the boy, David said in a weak voice but was still audible though it sounded like the boy worked a whole day without drinking water.
"You disrespectful imbecile! I will chop both your head and your old man's--" The man couldn't continue as he saw a spear thrown into the direction of the child,
But it didn't hit David, it only destroyed the hatchet that was thrown to the man's head by David, then the spear lodge itself on an apple tree
"Control your temper young David, I do not like wasting my time killing the young" Maximus told the boy with a loud tone, then turned "You too Clius, I did not bring you here to quarrel with a Child! Do your job properly, or you'd be better off dead..."
Erisotle took the opportunity to speak "Tell me, Max, my child--", "Do not" Maximus growled
"Tell me... Maximus, what do you want? Another apology from David, though if I'm correct, which I am, your bastard son started it first again, for the nth time" the old man said as he looked at Maximus
"No, I'm here to punish him...--" Maximus spoke, Erostle was lowered his brows. "--Don't be concerned, I won't harm him in any way. I will only give him extra work for a few days" Maximus finished his sentence.
"What kind of work?" Erostle asked, as he stood up from his sitting position.
"Some labor of sorts" Maximus answered as he walked towards his spear. "Tomorrow, go to the arena...--" He picks it up then got back up on top of his horse back, "-- Let us return, Axle follow me with your men" then went off.
"This is going to be quite tiring, now that I have extra work" David said to himself but he received a light hit on his head from Erisotle
"He was speaking of truth you know, about your temper when it comes to threats on my life--", David nodded to the man's claim "--Now make haste with chopping, I'll be cooking some sweet mashed potatoes for dinner" The old man chuckles as he walked back to the door step to sit down on.
========(Descriptions)========
(Hatchet - an axe that is commonly used single-handedly, but was infamously used as weapons by barbarians as both melee and ranged)
(Chaos - beings born from this "are" to balance the normality of the world, a destroyer of sorts, led by thy fallen. A legion that is nearly uncontrollably)