"Aaarrrggghhh! Let me go! Emery, Klea, let me go!"
The wooden cart shook as the man screamed. He was laying inside the cart, his entire body covered with Emery's healing paste and multiple thick ropes binding both his arms, legs and part of his midsection for good measure. Thanks to the grueling battle, he was weakened and the thick reinforced rope was effective enough to hold him down.
Merely several hours ago, the man was pierced by multiple weapons all over his body and it took the combination of Emery's [Spatial Gate] and Klea's [Enchantment] spells to finally make the Romans think the man had fallen in the battlefield.
"let! Me! Go!"
Ever since he regained consciousness, he had been screaming for them to release him, even threatening his two friends. But they kept on moving while ignoring him.
A few hours passed just like that, until they heard the sounds of another galloping horse coming closer. They stopped right under a tree and waited.
"How was it? Did you encounter any problems?"
"No, all the rebels had safely gone their separate ways to Gaul. They really hate Romans as well, so they should be fine."
The person who just came was Julian.
They stopped there and helped each other set up a simple camp from materials they could get all around. Ever the gentleman, Emery ventured the furthest to get some firewood. Thanks to him, they managed to light a fire just as the sun set.
Thrax was still tied up, but he was lying on a makeshift bed made of leaves this time. Though he didn't say anything, it was abundantly clear that each word report of the battlefield from Julian only stoked his anger.
Spartacus, the legendary rebel leader, along with his band of trusted rebels, were no more.
"Aaarrrggghh! Screw that, I am pretty much alive! Let me go and I will continue to ram my spear up-"
Klea sighed, stood up and slapped the Thracian.
"Calm down first, will you?! At least, fight with a cool head and heal yourself first!"
Realizing she was right, Thrax took deep breaths and tried to calm his raging emotions. But everyone could see his heart was aching. His mind could only focus on how all his men, the people he considered friends, had died in the battle.
"Klea's right, you know, you can always come back later." Emery offered his advice. "I am sure the Romans won't be going anywhere, besides…"
"Emery! I told you to just leave me there! Why can't you just let me fight to the end with them! What kind of leader am I, leaving them like this…"
Emery give a long sigh and answered.
"Aren't we here also your friends? We definitely cannot let you die! You still have many things to achieve in front of you... and don't forget, we need you in the Academy, too."
Hearing such words, Thrax fell silent, although his heart was still aching and his anger burned inside, he accepted Emery's words to be true, hence he calmed himself down.
At this moment, Emery decided to ask both Julian and Thrax to come to follow them on their journey. Some time away from Romans might help cool his temper down and the quest Emery was supposed to finish could also help his spirit core problem. There was a chance Thrax might find his solution there, as well."
Before Thrax was able to give a definite answer, Klea said.
"Yes! Let's all journey together! I will contact Chumo, so we can find a place to meet-up. This is going to be fun!"
Thrax could only stare at the enthusiastic girl without commenting. They were right, he had nowhere to go for the moment. As for Julian, after a few thoughts, he decided to refuse.
"Hah! The Roman will be busy claiming his reward, I am sure!" Thrax huffed.
Julian did not bother humoring the obvious jab with an answer. Knowing Thrax's condition, another huge argument was the last thing either of them needed.
They took turned for night watch duty. The next morning, all four of them rode to the east, towards the place where Klea's boat was anchored. Emery could just use the [Spatial Gate], but Thrax insisted he had to see what was left of the battlefield.
The other three were skeptical, knowing what happened was still fresh in the Thracian's heart, but he was strangely cooperative and even agreed to wear a cape.
The four rode together and passed the outskirts of Rome. As they had expected, once more the disturbing sight greeted their vision.
At first, they merely noticed the stench, a sharp, unforgettable smell of iron that would make any ordinary people's stomach turn in disgust. Then, it was followed by the shrill noises from crows.
On the road passing through Rome's capital city, only corpses of rebels could be seen, each crucified and left to die hanging on the road. They did not pass the road directly, but there must be hundreds, even thousands of corpses.
This was what the Romans did to the 8000 captured rebels. It was a haunting demonstration of what cruelty they were capable of and the lengths they would go to defend their perceived authority.
As they looked at the faces of those strapped to the cross, everyone took the time to glance at Thrax every few seconds.
The corpses looked mutilated and desecrated, some had their faces bashed so hard they were unrecognizable. It appeared none of them were able to last a day, be it they died due to their wounds, or they died due to exposure to the elements. Black birds had circled the area around them; they seemed to have pecked some parts off the dead rebels.
Emery saw Thrax's eyes become red with tears, while blood seeped out from his bone-white knuckles. He was trying to hold his rage in and he would have exploded, if not for Klea using her enchantment to calm him down.
On that day, under the empty eyes of his former comrades, Thrax swore an oath to come back and bring down Rome by his own hand.
Julian stayed silent. Though the oath burdened him, there was nothing he could do.
The four friends continued their journey until they arrived at an empty, but well-maintained port where their boat was located.
Right as the three were about to go their separate ways from Julian, their roman friend unexpectedly decided to go on board with them.
It appeared the sight of the tortured corpses really did bother him as well and currently, he could use some time away from Rome. He wrote a quick note to be given to his family and superiors about how he needed to go on a journey for a few months.
With Julian joining them, all 4 friends now headed together to the east.
"Are we going to pick up Chumo along the way?"
"Don't you know how far he is?"