Sol rose and extended his right hand to Lucius who took it in his. The two shook, adding another seal to the covenant Lucius had made with Mithras earlier.
The sun god gave Lucius a neutral smile. “To you, soldier of Roma, I give you the intensity of the sun—the speed of its light, the strength of its fury, and the clarity of its purpose.”
Lucius felt his body refresh as the god’s hand left his, his muscles feeling light and strong after working them past exhaustion. He felt vital and powerful, more so than he’d ever felt in his life. Lucius wasn’t paying attention as Sol returned to his seat, too focused on the changes in his body. However, when Mithras stood, he brought his attention fully onto the god. Lucius took the offered hand and shook it.
“My gifts to you will protect your body and extend your life. The steel that encases you shall be your sanctuary.” Mithras snapped his fingers.
Lucius rocked away from the god as his armor suddenly glowed brightly, forcing him to squint as sparks flew from the steel of his segmented lorica and the manica covering his right arm. When the glow receded, he opened his eyes, grateful Selene still held his hand. He wanted to look at what the god had done to his armor, but he’d have to save that for later when they weren’t watching and waiting for him.
“Your sword, Centurio,” Mithras demanded.
Lucius pulled the gladius from its scabbard on his left hip and laid it flat across Mithras’s outstretched palms. As soon as Lucius removed his hand, Mithras’s palms flared with light; Lucius closed his eyes. Once the light faded, Lucius opened his eyes to see what the god had done to his weapon and took back the offered sword.
The wood of the hilt guard and pommel ball remained the same dark shade while the bone handle glowed white. The blade, however, had been renewed, much like Lucius. The nicks were gone, and the metal gleamed as if it were newly polished, or more likely, newly forged. He flipped it over to look at the blank side, except it wasn’t blank anymore. A beautiful sun grew from the hilt, sending its rays up the blade with one culminating at the tip. The sun continued on the wood of the hilt guard. Flipping it over, he admired the stylistic flourishes he’d added to the moon and stars Selene had placed on the blade back in Antiochia. He didn’t want to take his eyes off the beautiful weapon but put it away reluctantly.
“Lucius Silvanius Ferrata, do you know the story of a rudis?” Mithras asked, turning away from Lucius and facing Sol and Selene.
“Aye, Father of Fathers. They are given to a gladiator to free them from their slavery.”
When Mithras turned around, he held a wooden sword on his upturned palms. “And so shall this one free you from servitude.”
Look took the stunning tan and dark brown striped wooden blade with its sharp, metal cutting edge and what looked like silver filigree winding down the blade to the tip. “Free me from servitude to what?”
“Death.” Mithras’s word echoed through Lucius’s mind.
His eyes going wide, Lucius felt lightheaded at the revelation.
“Its use shall extend your life and give you the power of your enemies so you may use it against them,” Mithras explained.
The sword shook in his trembling hands, his mouth suddenly dry. “How?”
Lucius had to restrain himself from flinching away from the god when he leaned into whisper into Lucius’s ear.
“Place it into the heart of the monster you have defeated, then lay your head upon the pommel and whisper the incantation. It will transfer the creature’s ill-gotten gains to you, giving you speed, strength, and life beyond what even Sol and Selene have granted you.” Mithras stood straight.
The incantation appeared in Lucius’s mind and etched itself on his heart. He felt strong and powerful, healthy, but his friend wasn’t. If he now had the attention of gods, he had to use it to help Mylitos.
Steeling himself, he took a deep breath and straightened his spine and bowed his head in respect. “Father of Fathers, I thank you and Sol Invictus and Selene for these gifts, but I’d ask a boon of you.”
“What else would you have of us, my brave soldier?” Selene asked, the welcoming smile she always wore spreading across her face.
Lucius made eye contact with Selene. “My friend won’t live long once we leave this cavern. Can you heal his injuries?”
The moon goddess bowed her neck. “It is done.”
A raven’s croak drew everyone’s attention toward the wall to Lucius’s left. The spectral raven flew through the stone of the temple wall and landed on Selene’s shoulder. Her eyes lost focus as the raven clicked its beak near her ear. When the bird had its say, the smile disappeared from the goddess’s beautiful face, replaced by a look of annoyance.
She turned to address Mithras and Sol, “Our enemies await our soldier outside, a great horde.”
The cavern and temple trembled, but when Lucius looked toward the braziers, they didn’t so much as quiver. The tremors must have been psychically created by Mithras’s anger at having his mountain sanctuary surrounded by the di inferi he’d asked Lucius to hunt down.
Sol stood up and extended his hand. “Your gladius for a moment, Centurio.”
Lucius pulled the gladius from its scabbard and handed it to the sun god. Sol wrapped a hand around the hilt and covered the pommel ball with the other. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Finished, he handed the sword back to Lucius while Mithras strode toward the wall the raven had flown through. Tracing his fingers down the wall, a seam appeared, slicing a line of light down the wall until an opening appeared. A blast of cold air infiltrated the still sanctuary.
“Gather your friends and leave through this exit,” Mithras instructed.
Sol held his hand up to stall Lucius for a moment. “Run, but when you have no choice but to fight, put your gladius through the heart of the first creature you can.”
Lucius bowed deeply. “It shall be as you say. I’ll carry out your will and fulfill my pledge.”
Lucius jogged out of the rough cavern entrance he’d entered from. This time, it was only a few dozen well-lit steps until he was back in the closed-off cavern where Mylitos and Tigran were.
“Centurio, I feared you’d gotten lost,” Mylitos said as soon as he saw his leader run back into the cavern.
“How are you doing, Mylitos?”
“I’m healed. I don’t know what happened, but a few moments ago, my wounds stopped bleeding and sealed. I have scars everywhere, but I’m not dying. Do…do you know what… Your armor, what’s going on?” The blood drained from the young man’s face.
Tigran, his eyes wide and fearful, stood behind Mylitos.
“There’s no time to explain. We need to go. The monsters who’ve been hunting us have returned; they’re outside the temple. Follow me,” Lucius waved them toward the opening he’d just popped out of. “There’s another exit here. We’re going to have to run when we get out. We only fight as a last resort. Understood?”
Mylitos saluted. “Yes, sir.”
They ran back down the cave emerging into the temple. The three deities waited at the far end, but neither Mylitos or Tigran looked toward them or at any of the other splendors of the Mithraeum. Lucius nodded respectfully at them.
To the right when you exit, Selene said in his mind. My blessing be upon you.
