The moment finally came when the strikes on my back ceased. I wonder if this is the end, or if the Quartermaster simply needs to catch his breath. I have lost track of time. My thoughts begin to wander freely.
I had forgotten what it is like when minutes stretch into hours. When every breath is a struggle, and the body waits in tension for the pain, not knowing from which direction it will come.
How do the others endure this?
I have never seen how they punish the rest. Actually, I have rotted my entire life either in my cell or on the training sand. My time was always strictly calculated. When it ran out, they took me away punctually—sometimes docilely, more often by force. I really have no right to complain. Others have it worse.
They always shouted that I was broken. That my body was a joke. Ordinary gladiators could close their wounds in the blink of an eye—or at least that is what I was told with every strike of the whip. I never understood how they did it. To me, they were the monsters.
Ultimately, everyone in the arena simply accepted that I had no control over this slow healing. It is just a pity I had to endure all those taunts and insults.
Only when they threw me into the arena with real opponents did I understand one thing. It does not matter how magnificent your regeneration is. When you crush someone's larynx or chop off their head, that fucking magic finally stops working.
A sudden touch on my back snaps me out of these reflections.
So he did take a break after all.
However, it dawns on me that something strange is happening. This touch is... gentle. I flinch instinctively. I do not remember ever experiencing anything like this in my life before.
An alien scent also lingers in the air. Sweet, floral. Completely unfitting for the stench of sand and metallic blood.
"I do not know if you can hear me, but I am Malvira. I came to wash you."
The shock is so profound that I forget about the gag in my mouth. That was not a man's voice.
A woman? How did she even get here?
Suddenly, the leather blindfold slips off my head, and the soaked rag is pulled from my mouth.
It is her!
I am speechless with awe. It is the same woman I saw in the stands. Black hair falls to her shoulders. Green eyes look straight at me.
She is gorgeous, but these must be hallucinations. What would she be doing here?
"Thank you..." I whisper hoarsely. "Do not worry about me."
I am not sure if this is really happening. I must have taken too hard a blow to the head.
"I must wash you."
So this is not really happening.
I have never had such a vivid vision before. I am completely dazed. I allow this strange illusion to continue.
For the first time, I do not want to wake up.
I rest my head against the post and exhale loudly.
I must calm down! My heart is pounding like crazy!
But how am I supposed to calm down?
No woman has ever exchanged even a single word with me.
The wet sponge glides across my back, then suddenly stops. I can feel the trembling of her hands.
What is wrong with her? She is wiping my back, so... Ah! She sees my wounds.
"My wounds have already healed."
"That is impossible! I saw him butcher you! I saw blood spurting everywhere!"
"And now you see only scars."
"That... I... I do not understand..."
Why is she so surprised?
I do not understand her at all. That only reassures me more.
This is a very strange dream I am having.
I must prolong it for as long as possible.
I do not want this dream to end.
"This is just how I am."
I do not know what she is thinking now. She stopped talking.
"It is not my first time."
I want to ask her something, but she returns to work. I have heard that sometimes people dream of their deepest desires. I did not expect this to happen to me. Especially since I have only seen her once in my life. However, that does not change the fact that I am truly savoring this dream. Unfortunately, the end of my joy has come.
She stood up abruptly and gathers her equipment. I hear her walking away, and as much as the chains allow, I turn my head to see her one last time.
She is gorgeous.
She is slender and well-built, but above all, she is fading further and further away.
"Thank you!"
That is all I can manage to force out. I do not know if she heard me, because her figure is vanishing faster and faster.
This is the strangest dream I have ever had.