In the sprawling house of Rhesus, Alcides, formerly known as Maximus, was raised in the care of Rhesus' wife, Artemis. She had a gentle heart and had longed for a child for many years, but fate had been unkind. When Alcides arrived, she embraced him as her own, and it was Artemis who named him Alcides, meaning "the gods have brought me strength."
As a young boy, Alcides quickly became a favorite among the servants, especially Melissa, a kind and nurturing maid who had been in the household for many years. Melissa took on the role of a surrogate mother for Alcides, nurturing and guiding him through his early years.
The grandeur of the House of Rhesus was impressive, but it was the training ground for gladiators that truly fascinated young Alcides. From a hidden vantage point, he would sec
