Secundus
The closer they got to the Colosseum, the more the world seemed to shift. The crowds had multiplied, with people from all walks of life now pressing against the gates, their faces eager.
Remus felt a familiar, tight knot in his stomach. He hated this. The Colosseum was a marvel—an architectural wonder—and it represented everything he despised about Rome: its obsession with spectacle and power, its cruelty hidden beneath layers of grandeur.
The carriage halted in front of the grand stone arches, the weight of the crowd’s collective gaze falling upon them. Their eyes stained with awe and expectation. Remus was sure he would throw up right there and then.
Lily, Peter, and he were part of the imperial family, and the people, for all their poverty and desperation, were forced to look up to them, to cheer and celebrate their mere existence.
Lily wasn’t wrong—this city could drive a person mad with its contradictions.
“Well, here we are,” Remus muttered, stepping out of the carriage. The dust rose with each footstep, sticking to his sandals and catching in the air.
“Look at you,” Peter teased, smirking. “You’re practically glowing with enthusiasm. I thought the arena was supposed to be fun?”
“Oh, it is,” Remus replied dryly, “for those of us who like watching people bleed to death for sport. It’s a true family event.” He gave Lily a pointed look.
Lily rolled her eyes and nudged Peter with her elbow. “Careful, Peter. If Remus gets any more sarcastic, we’ll need to find him a seat next to the Gladiators so he can really get into the spirit of things.”
Peter chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. “Well, if we’re lucky, he might be our official commentator at the next fight.”
They made their way toward the grand entrance, the colossal stone walls towering above them. The roar of the crowd could be heard even from here. Inside, the sand would soon be stained red with the blood of men no different than his cousins and himself. The thought made Remus feel queasy.
The emperor’s party was ushered through the massive gates and into the royal section, a lavish box high above the arena. From here, they had the perfect view of the battle below, a panorama of Abyssus.
The spectators, however, were packed in like sardines, cheered and jeered, eager for the bloodshed to begin.
As they settled into their seats, Remus leaned in slightly to Lily. “I would take a good look at the Gladiators; the way your mother is gushing over them, she might choose one to be your husband.”
Lily snorted, nudging him with her elbow. “Nonsense, she would have to look at their family tree and have them recite poetry first.”
“Good thing, too,” he replied, glancing at Peter, who had his face buried in the crowd, eyes wide with eager curiosity. “Otherwise, I‘d worry she chooses someone who spends his free time gaping at chickens.”
Peter, noticing their conversation, grinned sheepishly. “Come on, it’s the Colosseum. You can’t deny it’s impressive. I mean, look at that crowd. It’s practically a festival.”
Remus gave him a leveled look. The violence that would unfold in front of them was anything but a festival.
“Festival, huh?” he muttered. “I’ve heard Gladiators get their muscles from human flesh. Careful, or you’ll be their next meal.”
Lily shot him a look, her eyes burning. “Don’t be like that. You know that’s not true. The Gladiators… some of them actually choose this.”
“Choose it?” Remus raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, Lily. Seems like a lot of them end up here through less-than-voluntary means.”
Peter gave a dismissive wave. “Whatever, we’re here now. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Don’t go all philosophical on us, Remus.”
“I can’t help it, I just love Aristoteles toomuch,” Remus, answered, voice dripping in irony.
Lily shoved him lightly. “Shut up.”
As they bantered, a figure appeared on the far side of the arena. A familiar figure, one who had become something of a legend in Rome. The crowds began to stir, their excitement growing even louder.
“Sirius,” Lily whispered, leaning forward slightly. “I heard he’s fighting today.”
Remus followed her gaze, and there, striding into the arena with confidence that bordered on arrogance, was Sirius Black.
Sirius had come from wealth, true, but unlike most noblemen, he had thrown it away in favor of a life of violence when he was disowned by his mother. Rumor had it that he bit a person‘s ear off when he was hauled out of the castle and send on a ship to Rome, though no one dared to ask too many questions.
Now, Sirius was one of the most famous Gladiators in Rome. He’d earned his reputation the hard way—through skill, brutality, and an unwillingness to back down.
And beside him, as always, was James Potter. The two had become a famous duo, their teamwork unmatched in the arena. Together, they were legends in the making.
Remus, surprisingly, felt jealous.
Sirius Black was striding across the sand like a man who had never known anything else. But he and Remus had grown up in a similar way, surrounded by safety and peace.
It was… surreal.
“Are they—” Peter began, his voice full of awe. “Are they really going to fight each other today?”
Lily nodded, her eyes still trained on Sirius and James as they prepared for the battle. “It’s been rumored for days. Let’s hope they both make it out alive.”
“If they don’t, at least it will make for a good show,” Remus said with a half-smile.
Peter snickered at that, leaning back in his chair. “You know, I think I’m starting to like this blood sport business.”
“Careful,” Lily warned. “You might end up on the wrong side of it if you keep talking like that.”
“And which side is that?” Peter asked. They fell silent then.
Remus watched as Sirius and James took their positions, each one in their distinctive gear—Sirius with his glistening bronze armor, James wielding his signature spear. The crowd erupted into cheers. The air was thick with anticipation.
Somewhere in that chaos, Remus could sense the humanity, the brutal reality of it all.
A world of blood and death. The games had begun.