Hippos wouldn’t let go, he insisted on staying, fighting with him, promising that he won’t stand in their way. The giant couldn’t stand this anymore. It was dragging on and there were more important things at the moment than some child’s feelings. Listen here, boy. You’re going or you’re on your own. I’m not going to stand here to negotiate with your moody tantrum. And if you ever want to see her again, you’re going to go. She looked at the boy nodding, confirming everything he was telling the boy. Tear started rolling down his face, he simply couldn’t hold it all in anymore. The frustration, anger, the feeling of powerlessness and the fact that now, he had to leave behind another thing he had loved. But, he had given into The giant’s orders, that only made the girl happy.
The giant too, was content with the situation now, because he could focus on defending the city against the empire. But he wasn’t about to ruin the departure of the little boy he cared for in these past months. Hippos had always reminded him of a younger self, before he had to grow up and become what he became. But most of all, Hippos reminded him of another boy he had met, before he had come to Creetus. In a way, that child sparked the wish to become a father in him, and so did Hippos. But, throughout his travels, he had never met someone as his first love, back home. He remembered all this with fondness, wishing that the boy the woman had was his, and that he had found someone to love him, the way he felt he deserved to be loved. Yet now, he is losing this child too, but he knows that he’ll be safe, or at least safer than being in Creetus.
You will need some thicker clothing, you’re going north. There, isn’t as warm as it is here. And you shouldn’t be sad, mad nor angry. You’re going to see the world, a part of the world, I didn’t even get to see. And there is a friend waiting for you up there. A boy about your age, Scorilo is his name. A friend of mine went up there and befriended him and a lot of powerful people there. You’ll be safe there. The boy’s face turned sad, pouting and teary eyed as he looked at The giant. Don’t worry, I will come for you once we’re done here. I can promise you that. Hippos had a spark in his eyes again. But in all this, he saw in the Giant’s eyes that there was nothing behind them, only darkness and sadness. The boy wasn’t a fool, but he accepted that there was nothing he could do. So he vowed to himself to protect the love of his life, rather than die here with her far away.
And in Rome…
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