Valeria reaches the Colosseum with her hand freshly wrapped, the sealed school copy held carefully against her side. Marcus accompanies her; Aurelia, Nestor, Castor, and Pollux remain at home.
Decimus Severus receives them in the records room, where dust lies on the ledgers and arena noise trembles through the stone. He takes the document without breaking its seal.
Decimus Severus
The school certifies your training, witnessed recovery, and freedom from exclusive service. More importantly, it denies every private claimant a legal grip on your name.
He compares the copy with the Colosseum rolls, tracing the separate entries for Valeria Asiaticus and Myrina. The seals agree, and his expression loses some of its usual severity.
Decimus Severus
This secures your place on the schedule, but not your readiness. Your hand must be examined again, and the result entered before the promised bout.
Decimus Severus
The purse remains public and unaltered. One bout, no patron, no added demonstration, and payment witnessed at the gate. If anyone offers different terms, bring them to me unopened.
Marcus Flavius
Then we need the examination, the purse witnesses, and the schedule entry in that order. Nothing should depend on memory when Rome is watching.
✓ Quest Accepted
Have the hand’s readiness certified
“"I think the hand is ready for examination."”
SUCCESS (Good Health, rolled +3)
Valeria Asiaticus
I think the hand is ready for examination.
Marcus studies her wrapped hand, then carefully removes the outer linen while Decimus summons the Colosseum examiner. The sealed school copy remains beside the rolls.
Marcus Flavius
Then we examine it now, under witnesses. Grip, extension, retention, and recovery. Nothing concealed, nothing exaggerated.
The examiner, an elderly man with a narrow face and white brows, tests each finger, watches Valeria close her hand around a blunted practice grip, and records firm control without hesitation.
Decimus Severus
The hand passes. No loss of strength, no dangerous stiffness, and no reopening of the scar. I enter the result beside the school certification.
Marcus adds his seal as witness. Decimus then orders the next Colosseum bout placed on the public schedule, with the original purse, no patron, and payment at the gate.
Decimus Severus
One advantage comes with your recovery: the examining clerk will witness the purse as well. No one can later claim your readiness or payment was private.
Quest Complete
Restore fighting readiness through Marcus Flavius's regimen
Skill Upgrade: Athletics Great→Superb
Quest Complete
Have the hand’s readiness certified