The Time Stone Crystal

Chapter 36 - Maria, a slave

Maria Laucius

Maria is a twenty-five-year-old slave from Baccus premises and an innocent woman working for his father's sake that has sick. From the far side of Carthage, one part of the Roman Empire city where Maria Laucius lived. She works in the morning in Baccus' big house and comes home at night. Their place was not far from Brutus' large house.

“Father, I will go to my work. Franco will take care of you, and when I come back, I will just buy medicine,” she said to her father, who was already lying in his bed. She kissed him on the cheek then she turned away.

"Be careful," he replied.

She just smiled and finally left their tiny home. She was an only child, and her mother already died. She died giving birth to her, and she was the only one to support him since her father fell ill.

As Mary walked, her dreams never left her mind. She also dreamed that they would step up and have her store. She saw vendors around as she passes them, but she needs to focus.

When she arrived at Baccus' large and spacious house, she immediately moved as not to be reprimanded. She is one of those who prepare the meals of Baccus’s warriors, provides its necessities, and helps in the kitchen. But it never occurred to her to be the comforter of these men according to their usual liberal work.

"Mary!" an elderly woman calls her.

“What is that, Mrs. Martha? ” she asked the obese woman.

"Give this medicine to Romanov," she ordered.

"Okay." She picked up the medicine that was on the table.

"Hurry up, and when you come back, we will prepare lunch."

She just nodded in response to Mrs. Martha, then she quickly moved and went to Romanov's room. Why else would order to bring this medicine to that man? That one is still rude! She couldn't help but comment in her mind because of all Baccus's warriors, which were the most ruthless.

She made three knocks before she entered Romanov's room. They were allowed to enter the warriors' room because that was necessary.

"Mister Romanov, the medicine is here that Mrs. Martha prepared.” She placed it on the small table. "I'll just leave it here."

She heard no answer, so she just left it there and walked out of his room, but someone suddenly grabbed her arm, and she was surprised.

"Hey!"

"Huh?!" she was shocked. She turned to the one who had done that to her.

"Where are you going?"

"Mr. Romanov?!"

"Stay here, young lady." It gripped her hand tightly.

“Huh? But⸻ ”

"You put the medicine in my wounds."

He let go of her hand, then walked over to the bed and sat on its side. "What are you waiting for?"

“Y-Yes! I will! ” She hurried over to it and picked up the medicine she had laid on the small table.

"You're too slow," he complained.

She slowly seated aside with the medicine, but she also placed it on a wooden stool. The medication came with a clean cloth, so she used it to treat the young man's wound. She couldn't even look into his eyes because she didn't want to see his frightening looks.

The man kept quiet as she did it softly, and she also didn’t want to be scolded. She accustoms to treating the wounds of any warrior depending on the state of his injuries. When it is terrible, Baccus has an alternative doctor.

"You are Maria," he said.

She just remained bent over to focus on its wound, and she had no intention of responding. It must have been the doctor who treated him and not me. If it does something terrible, I can’t ask for help, especially, and he is the strongest of all Baccus warriors.

"Look at me." He grabbed her jaw then lifted it. “I asked if are you, Maria. Are you deaf?”

She then stared into Romanov's eyes and secretly swallowed. "M-My name has known throughout the place, and I am Maria."

He released her jaw. “Good. I just want to see your beautiful eyes. Do you have a boyfriend, Maria?” he asked directly.

She bent down her head again, put away the medicine, and stood up. “I have finished healing your wounds, Mr. Romanov. ” She quickly walked out of his room before he could do something she wouldn’t like.

"You will fall into my hands too, Maria!" he screamed.

She was about to leave when she heard that and hurried away from his room. She felt so nervous because she knew his voice was grave. She is not willing to give up her femininity to the man she does not love. She wants to remain a virgin while she still did not find her true love. My God! Please keep me away from these men!

“Oh, Mary! Why are you pale?” Mrs. Martha asked her.

“The medicine is here, and I have finished treating Mr. Romanov's wound,” she replied.

"Did something happen, and you seem upset?"

“N-Nothing, Mrs. Martha. What am I going to do next?”

“Is that so? Okay, you may peel the vegetables, and I will start cooking.”

"Okay."

Mrs. Martha has no longer stared at her, and she just focused on peeling and washing the vegetables to be used in cooking. She also lost her nervousness in her chest and forgot about it, but she should not be complacent. I have to be careful.

SHE was on her way home in the evening and had just bought medicine for her father when suddenly five men grabbed her with half-mask on their faces. They are topless, and she could saw the muscular bodies as she carried away from that place.

"Who are you? Let me go!” She struggles. She also released the medicine for her father. "Why are you taking me?!"

A man covered her mouth as she carried her to an uninhabited place. People also did not notice her a*******n because it was already dark where she was walking; no one right there to save her.

A man dropped him on the dry straw, and she could not escape because they surrounded her. Terrified, she was crammed into the corner of a wall as the surroundings looked like an abandoned and dilapidated house. Some parts of the stone there as its wall have also quarried.

"What do you need from me?" she shouted.

“It's easy, Maria. We will not hurt you, but we will make you feel the taste that you have never tasted in your whole life,” said the man with a smile. Only its eyes are covered.

She wonders why they know her. Simultaneously, the man violently approached her and tore her clothes while the four men laughed at what their companion was doing.

“Please don’t! Have mercy on me!" She burst into tears as she struggled to resist the intense tearing off her clothes.

"I'll be ahead of you, Maria, and not anyone, especially Romanov!"

“Don’t !! Please!!”

It had raised her skirt, and the man's whole body had run over her as she lay on the dry straw. The other man approached to take her hand and hold it.

“I think this scene is better. Hurry up, and we'll be next!”

"My God! Have mercy on me!” she shouted.

Later on, someone attacked the men that she did not know, and their actions were quick.

"What?!" the man was shocked.

She moved quickly to break free from the men and adjusted her clothes. In contrast, these two men, in turn, were not afraid to face the force of the five men who tried to r***d her.

"You have no respect for women!" Hander shouted.

"You must be hanged and killed!" Kristoff shouted.

“Blasphemous!” the man shouted, who grabbed and attempted to r**e the woman.

Sword against sword is the base in the battle. Their swords were barely audible to each other, and no one was going to lose.

"Haaah!" A Kristoff waved his sword at the man's leg.

"Uggghh!" It got on its knees.

Its blood splattered on Kristoff's face when he hit him deep in the knee and then cut the man's neck. If Kristoff didn't do that, they would die first.

"Uggghhh!"

On the other hand, Hander was also quick in his actions, knocking down two men and leaving only one. When the man saw that his companions were lying on the ground, he suddenly laid down his weapon and ran away.

“What? Huh? You would not fight against us?” Kristoff shouted.

"That's enough." Hander said to Kristoff. "The woman needs our help."

On Maria’s side, she was nervous when the two men approached her direction. “Please don’t! Please don't hurt me! I am begging!”

"We won't hurt you." Kristoff took off his cape and then wrapped it around the woman's body. "Don't be afraid, Miss."

She did not object anymore, but she went with them when they invited her to leave the place. She knows she shouldn't trust them, but she also has no choice, and maybe the men who tried to r**e her will just come back to end her life.

AT Brutus' house, they all look at Hander and Kristoff with a woman who seems terrified. She estimated that it was young and one of the things that made her surprise. She couldn’t be wrong, and the woman in front of them resembled the face of her sister Jessa.

"Who is she, gentlemen?" Brutus asked Hander and Kristoff.

“The gladiator men almost r***d her when we looked around. Fortunately, Kristoff and I caught up with her,” Hander replied.

“It seems that I remember her. She is one of Baccus' slaves,” Aurora said.

"What a shame to do that to her." Brutus turned to his wife, Aurora. “My dear, help this young lady to give her proper rest and protection. It doesn't look like she had a good treatment.”

Aurora nodded, but before she could get close, she preceded her.

"Jessa!" At the same time, she hugged the woman. She could not believe she would saw her sister there.

"I-I'm not Jessa," the woman said softly.

She immediately pulled away from her embrace with her and looked the woman in the eyes.

"Weng, she's not your sister."

She turns a glimpse of Kairo, who was already there beside them. "But ..."

“Your sister is reincarnation in the person of this woman. She needs to rest because she is so confused by what happened to her.” It turned to the woman. “Maria, we will take care of your father. I know you are worried about him, and we will bring him here.”

"How did you know my name?" Mary asked.

"That's not important. Alright, and you need to take your rest.”

“Come on, Maria. Don't be afraid, and you are in a good place,” she invited her.

After a few hours, Kairo talked intensively with Brutus and his men to find out what had just happened.

“Four men have killed, and one escaped. Baccus will take an act of revenge after you,” said Kairo.

“We were ready for anything to happen, and we just did the right thing. What they did to an innocent girl and a normal citizen is disrespectful,” Hander replied.

“Hander is right, Master Kairo. We are ready at any time,” Kristoff added.

“Hmm. Baccus was subtle, and it would not allow that to happen to his staff. He will find the killer among his men, and when they find out that Maria is here, they know immediately that the killers are here too. Don't worry, and I'm right behind you. Baccus cannot enter my territory, and if he wants a war, I will give it to him. I also cannot allow his warriors to insult innocent women like Maria,” said Brutus.

“Get ready, and from this day on, a bloody battle will take place. A gladiator game of death!” Kairo said.