Snippet #105

While slaves toiled under the sun on the reconstruction and upgrade of the Arena for the games many of the fighters were only a shout away eating what might be some of their last meals. Looking on Eric sneered as he watched the poor eat far too much, the nervous eat too little and the afraid eat nothing. He himself had already eaten a meal, savouring what really was the only decent meal he'd escaped slavery yet again.

While watching the others go about their ways Eric unconsciously thought of the past, and remembered Illochen, the mountains and its coliseum. It was nestled in the foothills of the mountains. Stands encircling a large pit held over 600 thousand people; walls 30 feet high surrounding the pit were topped by spikes pointing downwards in the pit. Those were placed to prevent the larger creatures from attacking the crowds as much as it trapped the gladiators. Inside the pit are 6 large gates that each lead to a teams den. Eric himself belonged to the black team, the lowest of the low, but he loved those homes. The straw that was infested with rats and the gods knew what else were so common to the gladiator that the mats he was provided with now were too much a luxury for him to enjoy.

His thoughts returned to the arena itself, and even though Eric could see the slaves working now, he couldn't help but wonder if it would match the arena he fought in. He wondered what creatures they had prepared for people like him, what other fighters came boasting about a premature skill developed without the fear of death a their throat every day of their lives. Running a finger memorably over the porcelain mask laying on his lap Eric sighed quietly and left the mess hall.

The day was dwindling down to nothing, or it soon would be, and he had little time left to sleep before it was night. Returning to his mat of luxury and a small confined cell with the lack of comfort Eric was accustomed to he threw the mat against the wall and laid down on the bare floor. The ceiling was a blank wall and with no other interesting sights Eric laid the porcelain mask atop his face and began to prepare mentally for what may be his death tomorrow.