Chapter 2: Liberti
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3rd POV*
A young man with delicate face slowly opened his eyes from the cheap bed. He looked visibly confused upon seeing a different ceiling than what he was used to, however memories of yesterday's events finally settled on his mind. "…It's real?" he muttered not believing this situation, he experienced many things within his life yet none of them came in comparison to how crazy this thing is.
No, crazy is an understatement for this is literally an illogical situation. The Time Travel theory was already deemed impossible by Stephen Hawkings from that single experiment of his, so in scientific perspective, this circumstances is incongruous. Though before he could contemplate more things, a voice took his attention away.
"You're awake!" the young man turned his head towards that source only to be greeted by a familiar face, to be exact it was the face of the woman that he accidentally saved yesterday. The woman got closer and checked his condition wearing a relieved expression on her face. She is pleased that the mental impact didn't took too much from him.
The young man looked at the woman before finally asked a question, "Uhh… where are we?" he asked staring directly at the woman who got surprised. "It seems like your outfit was not the only thing that was strange, you don't have any idea to where this place is?" the woman asked tilting her head. Once the matter was mentioned, the young man looked at his clothes.
"Huh? Wait, what?! Why am I wearing a different clothes?" he asked disbelief before looking at the woman with accusation. The woman merely chuckled at his reaction, "There is nothing to worry about. My husband was the one who clothed you, it was amusing how depressed he was coming out of the room. He probably discovered something dangerous hehe" she said giggling.
The young man immediately covered his lower body shivering from the gaze of the woman, one of his secrets was just revealed! "Anyway, my name is Anicetus. I am a liberti, and I work as a dancer" the woman finally introduced herself smiling gently at the young man. She was grateful for what he did before, because with her status, it would been a miracle if someone really did save her at that time.
"Oh… I am Luke, just Luke. 16 years old this year and is about to go to school" the young man named Luke also introduced himself. "Luke is it? Where do you live? We might be able to return you to where you belong. This part of the town is quite dangerous you see, situation I have experienced yesterday is normal here" Anicetus informed him understanding that he has no knowledge on this land.
She concluded that he must be a tourist that got lost and reached this filthy place. That is why she is patient on explaining things to him. "I... actually don't know. This place is clearly different to where I was before. Can I ask again? Where is this place?" Luke responded to her question with complicated expression.
"Hm, I see. This is difficult but still, let me inform you. This place is the capital city of Rome!" Anicetus proudly said, although a liberti she is still honored to live in this heaven like place. That information broke something inside the mind of Luke. "Huh? Rome…?" he muttered in bafflement. There should be no Rome country in the modern world. It was replaced by Italy.
Luke's mind processed many things until it finally reached a single conclusion. "No way, did I really time travel?" he murmured still trying to comprehend this situation. It was far too absurd because there is no scientific explanation about it.
While Luke was gathering his thoughts, the door was opened again this time revealing a frail looking man with light brown hair and abundant beard. Unlike the young maiden like features of Anicetus, this person has a haggard expression making his face looked more like an old man. "Hn? I see, he's awake" he said staring at Luke with surprise.
He got closer to them where he was hugged by Anicetus, "Welcome dear. How was work today?" she asked smiling gently at him. This action soothed the man's heart as he responded with a joyous smile himself. "It was booming, soldiers just have returned. Thankfully I managed to advertise myself properly" he said beating his chest.
Luke just stared at their interaction with wonder, though in his mind he already concluded that the two must be couple. He is disappointed that he can't chase after this beautiful woman but thinking about it carefully, it is impossible in the first place as the woman was treating him more like a child than a man. This already placed a line in their relationship.
He is just relieved that she is not alone and has someone to share the burden of this cruel country. Luke is not a history enthusiast so he has no knowledge of many things here, he just know that in this time, the punishment were cruel. You might get captured as a slave just because you caught the attention of someone with higher status.
"I'm sorry for cutting the conversation just like that. Let me introduce him, he is Berillus. He is the same as me a liberti, he works as a barber right now" Anicetus introduced the man she was embracing. Luke nodded his head in acknowledgement at Berillus which was returned to him. "By the way, what is a Liberti?" Luke asked still confused about that.
Berillus looked at Luke in puzzlement wondering how he doesn't know that. Thankfully, Anicetus immediately came to rescue, "He is a foreigner. He doesn't know things here" she patiently explained making Berillus understand the situation. "In that case let me explain it, in simple words Liberti would be slaves who got their freedom back" Berillus said.
Luke got astonished by that explanation, he never expected that there would be a name for freed slaves in this country, it seems like he is too ignorant in things here. "Our freedom would be the result of Lady Domitia Lepida's kindness. If she didn't gave us mercy then we might still be living inside the cells and waiting to be tortured by the Senate" Anicetus said having a relieved expression.
"Do slaves always have it that rough?" Luke asked not liking the unfair treatment. Waiting to be tortured? Isn't that very cruel? "Haha, if you only know how difficult it is. Just living another day is already a miracle to us" Berillus gave a hollow laugh reminiscing about his experience.
"Enough of this talk, you must be hungry already right? You spent a whole day without eating after all, come join us at the dining" he invited Luke shaking his head, he doesn't want to remember those horrifying days anymore.
Luke although a little reserve still accepted his proposal, he was rather hungry at this moment. They went to the table where food was already served, Anicetus was apparently cooking before Luke woke up so the food is already ready. "Oh right, Lady Domitia has informed me that she will be giving us a task soon. It should arrive at this time" Berillus remembered something so he told Anicetus about it.
"No matter what the task is, we must complete it perfectly" Anicetus only answered that way, she will do her best to repay the kindness that was given to her. Luke did not disturb the discussion between the two because he was more focused on the food that was laid on the table, it was exactly what he considered to be medieval food.
Realizing that it would be rude to ask questions, he just partake in the dinner. His expectations did not disappoint him, 'Ugh, unpalatable' Luke thought but his hand still continued to serve food to his mouth, he has no choice. He needs to adapt to this kind of food, and he must admit, it is difficult. Just a few hours without his gadgets already left him with an empty feeling.
They just finished dinner when there was suddenly the sound of knocking coming from the worn out door they have. "It must be Lady Domitia, let's greet her. Also Luke, this might be irresponsible but I hope you assume a respectful stance to her, she still has a rather high standing" Anicetus said smiling wryly.
Luke was happy to see such understanding person, it was different from what he heard of medieval Rome, clearly different from the crazy maniacs from his mind. "Gladly, I will keep my mouth shut" Luke said lowering his head a bit. The two smiled happily before they opened the door, there revealed a middle aged woman having a serious expression on her face.
She is wearing a much more comfortable clothes than what the couple have and also has some jewelries embedded on her body. Though that was not what gathered most of their attention, instead it was the little girl lying on her shoulder sleeping soundly. "Take care of this child" that was the only thing the woman said before leaving.
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