Chapter 54 Northward (Part 2) Anai!

Along the way, in addition to enduring the heavy dust mixed with the stench of rotting corpses, we also had to avoid the horse manure that appeared at any time under our feet. This was really enough! I watched my comrades gradually shift from the fear of death to the dissatisfaction with the rudeness of the Aetius team in front. Suddenly, I felt that the heavy atmosphere around me was much lighter. I am not talking about the stench that floated up in the heat!

The soldiers dared to be angry but dared not speak. Everyone covered their noses and glared at the team in front. What was different from them was that I was not surprised by this kind of thing. I can't say that. The main reason was that I especially yearned for Aetius who was sitting in the carriage in front. Although there were a lot of dissatisfaction and white eyes behind him, he sat comfortably in the carriage, while those who rolled their eyes at him were walking and had to endure the dust raised by the horse hooves and wheels. Who is looking down on whom? I think the spectators on the roadside can see it clearly at once.

"May God have mercy on you, my children," I heard an old voice on the side of the road as I walked. I looked up and saw an old man in a black robe, strictly speaking, a priest. He held a thick book in his left hand. I think it was the Bible. I don't know if Christianity at that time could guarantee that every priest in Rome could have his own Bible. He wore a golden cross on his chest and held an olive branch in his right hand. He closed his eyes and muttered something in his mouth. I don't know which passage in the Bible he was mumbling. There was a child standing next to him. His tender face looked quite cute. In later words, he was a little fresh meat. However, this little fresh meat was holding a copper plate full of clear water. The old man dipped the olive branch in water and kept sprinkling it on the soldiers who passed by him. Similarly, I was also covered with water drops like raindrops. My face and hands were splashed with those damn water drops.

What do you mean by this march? Sprinkling water on yourself for no reason. The stench in the air is disgusting enough. Who knows that this water is holy water from a well? I complained quietly and reached out to wipe the water off my face. At this moment, Andrew grabbed my hand. It seemed that he was trying to stop me from wiping my face.

"This is the holy water of Rome. If you wipe it off, you will also wipe off the blessing given to you by the priest."

Oh, so this water droplet is a blessing! As a typical, resolute materialist and atheist, if I were to refute Andrew, I would have been eloquent and speechless. But forget it, this uncivilized guy, no matter how much he talks, he can't shake the position of God in his heart. I still obeyed Andrew and put down my hand, but the water droplets on my face were really itchy, and someone like me who is extremely ticklish could only bear it silently.

"I know that my Redeemer lives and will stand on the earth at the end. After my flesh and blood are destroyed, I will see God outside the body." The old priest began to mutter to himself again. He opened the book in his hand and read aloud word by word.

"What is he saying?" I asked Andrew beside me in confusion, but Andrew just shook his head. How could a rough man like him understand the Bible?

"Old Testament. Book of Job." A voice from the other side answered me, and then heard the voice continue: "This is talking about Job's beliefs. No matter how big the blow or how desperate the situation, you must not give up hope or faith." Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a handsome face, right next to me on the other side. I had been walking for a while, but I didn't notice him.

"Olius Luca" I took the initiative to extend my hand. He stared at my hand, hesitated for a moment, and then stretched out his hand to shake mine, and said: "Bosius Formio!"

"Aren't you a noble?" I heard his name, and it lacked a noble surname.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Then how do you know the words in the Bible?" I found it incredible, because in my impression, there was no way ordinary people could come into contact with these so-called quotations from God.

"My family had some money, so I worked as a book copyist for a while." Fermiou lowered his head and answered shyly. It seemed that he was not very good at dealing with people.

"Well, I finally met a cultured young man!" I said jokingly, making Andrew laugh. Andrew was also proactive, and he directly extended his hand to introduce himself to Fermiou. Seeing our enthusiasm, Fermiou smiled awkwardly. At least we could chat about family matters along the way, which would make time pass faster.

"Hey! Luka, look!"

Just as I was about to ask where the library was, Andrew patted my shoulder as if he had encountered something and pointed to a place not far ahead. I looked in the direction of Andrew's fingertips and saw a figure on the side of the road wearing...

"Anai?" I wasn't sure, so I squinted my eyes and took a closer look. Yes, it was Anai. She was still wearing the light blue dress she wore that day, and she was carrying a wooden basket. But the man in front of her looked so much like that bastard Levi! Anai lowered her head and said nothing, as if she had done something wrong. But Levi kept talking, so I couldn't hear what he said clearly. No, that bastard Levi must be up to no good when he's there! He must be feeling uncomfortable and is looking for trouble with Anai again! When I thought of this, I hated this traitor with gnashing teeth.

"Hello!"

Feeling that the situation was not good, I didn't care about the formation and rushed out of the team. The centurion of our phalanx saw that I was so unruly and rushed to stop me, but could this stupid strong man outrun me? I ran to Anais with big and small steps. The centurion who followed closely behind grabbed me, but was forced back by Levi's eyes. He stood aside and waited for orders.

"Anai, did he bully you again?"

I was too lazy to talk nonsense and asked Anai directly. Anai turned around slowly, and the sadness on her face disappeared a lot, replaced by a faint smile. Compared with Levi, this smile became a special expression for me.

"Here, may God keep you safe."

Anai smiled faintly, but her face was still pale. A day had passed and her health did not seem to have improved.

"Ana, you don't have to do this."

I gently pushed away the wooden basket she handed over. I knew it was full of bread, and I knew how much the bread in the basket meant to the mother and daughter. With no worries about food and drink, I couldn't accept her reward anyway. I then said to her, "Go back quickly. This is not a safe place." As I said that, I glanced at Levi. A trace of disappointment flashed across Anais's face, but she quickly raised her head, grabbed my hand, and said in a voice as small as a mosquito: "This is for you."

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I felt my palms getting cold, and I quickly clenched my fists, fearing that the things Anai gave me would fall. Levi looked at me coldly at this time, said nothing, turned around and rode away. I didn't know why he stayed.

Looking at Anais again, she gently stroked a strand of hair and stared straight into my eyes, "Sir Luca, I will keep praying to God for you until you come back!"

The pace may be a bit slow, but it is entirely for the sake of the plot. I hope my readers will understand!

(End of this chapter)