the last spar of the evening.
"roll your shoulder into it this time, @Aquillius," the imperator called.
there was a small audience. he motioned for the boy to focus and come for him across the red sand once more.
Aquillius was getting stronger.
And with his strength growing, his silences grew longer too. He was never a boy destined for many words, and even his shrieking displeasures as a child had silenced as he entered training under his father’s eye.
The boy turned his eyes to Germanicus when he spoke, giving the older man a sharp nod. He wouldn’t fail, not this. He was born to do such a thing, to push and push until he could do no more.
His legs wobbled, but the boy did as asked, pushing across the sand, remembering to put his shoulder into it this time.
He would probably bounce off, as most coltish boys were want to do when going up against a far more muscled opponent, but it was the thought that counted, truly.
aquillius rushed forward.
germanicus tensed his shoulder at the last. his gangly son reverberated against him, but not without bruising force of his own.
"very good."
he wanted the boys as auxillia by the age of six months. each must work hard to that end.
"again."
He bounced off, barely keeping his legs, but staying standing all the same, dropping his head to catch his breath.
Very good. That was what kept him going, this praise from his hallowed father. It put the ghost of a smile on the eaglet’s face, before he was back to serious and stoic.
Again
As Germanicus wished.
Aquillius gathered his strength, and launched.
aquillius came again. germanicus was proud.
he was an eagle.
the boy was becoming a raven.
he whirled and took the blow to his other shoulder. he advanced, shoving the boy back. "keep your footing," came his breathless order.
For a moment, panic blazed high on the face of the child, the boy’s gangly limbs scrambling to dig into the dirt.
But, Aquillius wasn’t one to give up so fast. He was shoved a good few feet before he finally managed to regain his lost footing, shoving back with a short grunt of effort.
Perhaps a dagger meeting a broadsword, but he was going to try before he was shoved to the ground, as he was becoming used to.
He was still a boy, after all.
aquillius kept his balance. germanicus let himself be pushed back. "plant your first foot," he instructed, and then ducked away. if the impetus continued, his son would go down into the dust. if the boy listened and was quick, he would catch himself.
the imperator waited to see which it would be.
Rolled in the tabletop channel to see if Aqui would keep his feet, 1-5 for no, 6-10 for yes, and he rolled a nine so good job buddy
His father backed away, and the boy had to think as fast as he possibly could.
He kept his footing. Just barely, wobbling for a second, before going as still as an old oak, solid in its roots. He turned sharpened amber to his father, lips almost forming into a pout, before he schooled his features.
He was a solider in training, not a tantrum throwing child. Not anymore. He straightened, sides rising and falling faster as he caught his breath, waiting for what he was to do next.
thats my boyyyyy
aquillius did not go down.
the imperator's tail flashed once. the spar was over.
"at attention," he said, demonstrating the stance. he held the boy there a moment. "at ease."
germanicus relaxed. he strode forward to clap his son's shoulder fondly. "you have the makings of a good warrior, aquillius."
The words immediately made Aquillius snap into position, the gangly boy’s form sharpening just as much as his eyes.
He relaxed a moment later, giving his father a tiny smile.
Thank you, father.
He said, though raspy from thirst. He could taste dust on his tongue, and it made his nose scrunch for a moment, smacking his lips. The crunch of dirt particles between his teeth wasn’t pleasant.
germanicus was proud.
how like him aquillius was! even his voice aimed to carry the imperator's stoicism.
he loved his children.
his heart was lifted.
"go and rest now. we will begin tomorrow." a nod dismissed the young soldier.
germanicus himself would wait for a bit longer, content to watch the happenings of mereo.