The Guardian of Knowledge

Alexus could've done without the blizzard.

He trugged on through the cold winter snow as he walked aimlessly toward the noth-west. His toes were burried in snow and his lips were so cold they were almost turning blue. Standing over the appilachian mountains, Alexus could see what looked like the endless miles of the snow frosted nothern America. He muscled forward trying to navigate his way to the nearest Roman hideout.

After what seemed like days of traveling, Alexus made it to North Dakota. He traveled outside the state's boundaries until he hit the western boundary. Taking a deep breath, he unvailed a cellar leading underground. Walking in he took caution. Glancing across the underground cellar, he noticed everything was more spacious than he'd expected. He noticed the room was roughly a half a mile long and only held planks holding the ceiling up and a door across the venue.

Moving through the venue, Alexus appeared before a small colony of legionaires. Walking out of an old shack, he saw a city of Roman demigods standing foot ready for battle. They weren't paying any attention to him, but Alexus knew that the legion was formidable if he ever dared to fight them. Even a demigod with his age and experience couldn't handle an army of two hundred demigods alongside a Praetor.

In the distance a set of twin girls sporting gold murals and a purple cape glanced at him as they made their way toward him. Their eyes were as dark as night, but their hair was a lovely shade of Autumn brown. When they appeared before him, he grimised out of fear. The worse thing a Roman could ever do.

Alligning his personality with the Romans, he shaped himself up before venturing to speak again. The twins now before him glanced at each other and sighed.

The one to his left smiled. "I'm Ivy, the daughter of Bellona and Praetor of the Third Legion of Rome. State your business demigod. How did you find this place?!" With a quick shuffle, Ivy summoned a dagger and braced herself for an attack.

"I'm Alexus Ermad. The son of Apollo, the god of Knowledge. I've been here before when you had a male Praetor by the name of Michael Fores."

"Michael died last year." The twin to his left replied. "He had an honorable discharge lead a legion tp a foreign site where we were over taken by shades. Eventually he promoted us as a field promotion."

Alexus sighed. "Too bad. I actually thought he could help me, but I guess it can't be help. I'll leave right away. Thank you for your help." Turning the twins grabbed his shoulders.

"What legion are you from?" Ivy asked. "You said you are a child of Apollo, the god of knowledge, so you must be apart of a legion right?"

"No." Alexus replied solemly. "I've been a wondering hero most of my time. I never like staying with a cultivation. I'm a leader not a follower. I don't boad well with others ruling over me."

"Interesting speech." The other twin replied. "I'm Melonie, the eldest daughter of Bellona and the twin to Ivy. Even I have learned to share, so can you. I'll give you two options. Join us or be destroyed."

"Very well then." Alexus turned holding his hands in the air. "I didn't like the idea of fighting you anyways, but if you insist. I'll play hard ball." In a flash of light, the twins were blow away until they landed on the grounds confused and battered.

Their eyes were filled with anger and animosity. Struggling to stand Melonie wondered what happened. "How did you do that? I've never met a child of Apollo who can control and manipulate light."

"I'm also a legacy of Helios, the titan-god of the sun. I've inheritaed various abilities of both Helios and Apollo. I'm the Gaurdian of Knowledge. I am the one child of Apollo with influence over Prophecy. Now I'll say it again, I'll leave right away."

Turning to leave, Alexus caught a spear with his left hand. Enraged he glanced back at Melonie who still hadn't learned her lesson. "Ivy, your sister here is a bit stubborn. I'd advise you not to get in my way and do leave this as a fight between two equals." Pulling the spear around, Alexus threw Melonie before him as he gazed at the praetor with the eyes of a solem and stern man.

"You're not a Roman are you?" Melonie chided. "A true Roman would never back out of a fight. We are born warrior! We live, eat, sleep and breath for battle."

"You're wrong about that, you know." Alexus glanced at her with steady eyes. Nothing shaked or quivered. He was a solid as a rock in a river. "The Romans were coqures, but not aimless brutes. They were wise, creative and inovationist. Even their descendants the Italians would become creative and inovationist. Ever hear of Picaso or Davinci. Geniuses all of them. Not because they were ruthless, but because they were graceful and tamed. I can not speak for Michael in his decision to make you a Praetor, but your personality breeds on insanity if you believe brute force is all you need. For that you should be a child of Ares, the bloodlust might be contagious."

"You mean Mars." Melonie replied confused.

"No, I mean Ares, the Greek god of War, Violence, animal lust, blood lust and carnage. The difference would be that Mars is more civil when it comes to battle. He breeds war as a political confrontation that needs a conclusion. Ares sees it as a frenzy that will never get old. In Greek Mythology Ares is Mars's Greek counter part."

"You've taught me enough, let's fight!" Melonie cried. Taking a stance, Melonie smirked. Her defenses were raised and she did know how to hold a spear accurately, but she still had a small opening on her bottom left torso.

Unsheathing his sword, Alexus readied himself. "When ever you're ready." He called. In a blunt move, Melonie charged forward as her spear slashed and bobbed at Alexus. Dodging wasn't much of a problem, but moving closer was difficult. Alexus knew he could've ended the game if he just summoned his bow and arrow, but what fun would that be. He wouldn't get hurt. He wouldn't show achievement and he'd probably be forced to stay as Praetor if he won that way. Luckily, he could defeat her without pulling out the stops, the last thing he wanted to do was humiliate her just as he did with Hermad.

Taking a step in, he manuvered right and smacked her spear down. Plowing right throw her defenses, he grabbed her wrist and judo flipped her right over. Standing above her, he smiled. "Although you may be a child of Bellona, a war goddess, you still can lose in combat. Pride can overtake judgement. Learn to be modest with your skills before they're gone."

Walking off, Alexus felt a tinge of guilt in his heart, like he had commited a crime against himself. As he returned to the celler, he realized, he had not tought a girl a lesson. He had fought a girl in combat. And if that wasn't enough, he also won . . .

Notes

NOTES.
Third Legion, not one of the best uner rated and many hate the legion becuase of its lack of popularity and resources. The twins were the top centurions of the first cohort within the Third Legion, the same cohort that Michael was apart of.

Michael, former Praetor, deceased son of Apollo.