Recruit camp, Cisalpine Gaul — Week 10
The news didn't come with drums. Just a brief order at the start of the day.
"Sextus, gather your things. From now on, you train with the special reinforcement group. South of camp, near the mule pens."
No explanation. No gesture of approval.
His contubernium four tentmates watched in silence as he rolled up his blanket. Marcus raised a hand in a quiet farewell. Titus gave him a slap on the arm. Gaius said just enough:
"Don't die of greatness, eh?"
Sextus didn't reply. He didn't know if he was heading to something better… or just another kind of hell.
The new group had no special tent, no welcome ritual. Just an open clearing, a younger instructor — with fresh scars — and eyes that measured, not greeted.
He was no longer the best. No longer the center of attention. Here, everyone moved with confidence, spoke little, and struck like every drill might decide a life. There were about fifteen of them.
One approached as he arrived. Dark skin from Numidia, sharp eyes, broad build. He smiled — but not kindly.
"You the new one?"
"Sextus," he replied.
"I'm Atticus. You're late for the punishment. Today's just broken arms."
The warning might have been a joke. Or not.
During the first round of drills, Sextus realized for the first time that doing well wasn't enough. Here, everything was harsher. There was no rest. No "well done." Just a constant pressure to keep up. No one stumbled. No one complained. And if anyone did slip, the punishment was double: physical… and pride.
At midday, sitting on a rock with stale bread in hand, Sextus watched the others eat in silence — like wolves who only respected each other because they all knew how to bite.
Atticus came over again. He handed him a piece of dried fig.
"We're not here by luck. Or strength.We're here because someone wants to see how far we go… or when we break."
Sextus met his gaze. Nodded.
"And you?"
"I already broke. Now I'm just trying not to again."
That night, under a cloudless sky, Sextus felt he was no longer a recruit. But not a legionary either.He was in no-man's land.Among the chosen.Or the condemned.