The roar of the crowd was deafening, their cheers signaling the end of another round of combat. The announcer shouted the name of the victor, much to the crowds delight, as the medics ran out onto the field and recovered the body of the fallen. Takeo rushed out as the stretcher-bearers passed him, a bucket of fresh sand in hand. He dashed over to the puddles of blood near the middle of the arena and covered the viscous, red fluids with handfuls of the gritty material in the bucket before collecting up the fallen weapons and running back through one of the arched doorways that lined the walls of the Colosseum. Takeo dumped the random assortment of weapons into the bin near the gate before heading over to the bin to refill his bucket with sand.
”Good job, boy.” Takeo turned to see the towering form of the Colosseum’s manager; a massive form of muscles and scars that traced his body from the top of his bald head to the bottoms of his bare feet. His skin was dark from years spent in the sun, and he was missing several teeth and fingers from his fights in the Arena.
”Thank you, sir.” He said, bowing low.
”Keep up the good work, and you’ll find yourself gainfully rewarded. Who knows, you might even find yourself fighting for blood and glory in the sands of the arena one day.”
”You really think so?” Takeo had always admired the warriors who fought in the arena, and wondered if he would ever have enough skill to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with such greatness.
”Sure, why not? But you’ll have to train hard every day, and learn from the mistakes from those who fall.” The roar of the crowd gained their attention again. ”No go, clean up the mess the last sorry fool left. Remember, when you tread on that sand, you walk on sacred ground.”
WC: 319
”Good job, boy.” Takeo turned to see the towering form of the Colosseum’s manager; a massive form of muscles and scars that traced his body from the top of his bald head to the bottoms of his bare feet. His skin was dark from years spent in the sun, and he was missing several teeth and fingers from his fights in the Arena.
”Thank you, sir.” He said, bowing low.
”Keep up the good work, and you’ll find yourself gainfully rewarded. Who knows, you might even find yourself fighting for blood and glory in the sands of the arena one day.”
”You really think so?” Takeo had always admired the warriors who fought in the arena, and wondered if he would ever have enough skill to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with such greatness.
”Sure, why not? But you’ll have to train hard every day, and learn from the mistakes from those who fall.” The roar of the crowd gained their attention again. ”No go, clean up the mess the last sorry fool left. Remember, when you tread on that sand, you walk on sacred ground.”
WC: 319