As the morning dew was settling, so was the relationship between Hippos and the giant. While the child was still apprehensive about him, he started trusting him. He knew this very well, which is why he too never really left his guard down around the child. Leading by example was his plan, showing him respect and demanding it too. Showing bravery and steadiness in face of any sort of uncertainty. As scarred and scary the giant looked, as gentle and caring he acted around Hippos, except for training. In training was the place where he demanded every bit of kindness, respect and shelter he had given the boy back through excellence. And he delivered, the dynamic worked.

But that morning, there was something unusual, something that made Hippos very anxious and wary. The giant left in a hurry, leaving the boy to himself, a first if anything. This would never happen, under any circumstances, he needed answers, but there were none to find. He didn’t know whether the tutor would come, or whether he should go find the soldiers. Confused and bewildered by this, he simply froze dumbfounded. What can he do all on his own? Should he run? Should he stay? There were so many thoughts that just didn’t make any sense. No matter how he had looked at this situation, he was on his own. After a while, he went outside and did the only thing he knew to do as of late, train. Trying to take his mind off this through exercises the giant and the soldiers had thought him.

A faint sharp pitched snap followed by the sound of an arrow approaching startled Hippos. Turning around the arrow passed before his eyes before plunging itself into the ground. Hippos started running towards a shield, throwing himself after it, picking it, rolling and finally on a bend knee, shield up to protect from another projectile, he sits there for a second. Then carefully peaking over the shield he sees Adpetentia running towards him laughing. His reaction was one of shock, before he got to even snap out of it, she tackled him. With her on top, smiling, she wishes him a happy birthday. A tradition brought by the Romans to Greece, one of the few things the Greeks actually appreciated about the Roman Empire. With many still, of course, thinking that it’s a pagan tradition that defies the gods. Hippos had forgotten about his own birthday, now he was finally six years old. The giant had left to go pick up his cake, and to gift him some more time with his love. Because he knew, something was coming, he knew that disaster was upon Creetus. History was about to be written.

And in Rome

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