Cleonis looked towards the north, with a gloating expression. The humiliation of being defeated by Maximus's forces was always etched in his heart.
........................
"Brothers, we're setting off tomorrow morning. Are you all ready?" Stags walked into the tent.
"We're ready!" the soldiers in the tent responded in unison.
Stags looked at Casaridaoa, who shouted the loudest, and said half-jokingly, half-seriously, "Eh, why are you still here, kid?! Didn't some soldiers from Italy leave our ranks already?"
"They are them, and I am me; I am quite comfortable here, why should I leave?" Casaridaoa replied impatiently. He had been asked similar questions by several comrades before: "Not only did I stay, but the few brothers who joined our ranks with me also stayed!"
