The midsummer night air was pleasantly cool and sweet, the sky completely clear. The dome of the world resembled a vast expanse of black velvet onto which some celestial being had thrown handful after handful of tiny diamonds. At the center of the sky hung slender crescent moon, its entire circle showing in a ghostly glow of earthly luminescence. Tonight however, no one was looking at the sky; at least, not where Jo sat.
After a successful first couple of weeks at the Academy, Jo had decided to treat himself to a play at the Vespasian Colosseum. It was one of his favorite comedies by his favorite playwright, and he was eager to watch the story unfold. Jo purchased a ticket and entered the coliseum, picking up a bag of popcorn and a large cola on the way into the stands. He stood in the entrance and looked around, noticing that the staff had sectioned off only a small portion of the stadiums possible seating, probably due to there being a smaller crowd than on a fight day. As Jo was known to do, he made his way up to the back of the section, ducking under the velvet rope and climbing several rows higher before stopping and taking a seat.
As per usual, no one seemed to notice the boy. He looked very normal in black leather steel-toed boots, denim blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a tan suede jacket; his chocolate colored hair was combed straight back this evening, leaving no obstruction for his hazel eyes to peer through to view the scene onstage. Setting the snacks on the seat in front of him, Jo slowly removed his jacket, stretching a little as he did to loosen up his sore muscles. He’d been working out furiously ever since he started at the Academy. The heavy exercise coupled with a healthy diet and the onset of puberty had resulted in the little baby fat he had before melting away. He rubbed his right shoulder where stretch marks were starting to appear from the rapid growth of his muscles pulling at his skin. All in all though, he always felt good after a hard workout; and the crippling pain that he used to have afterwards had finally subsided to a dull, satisfying ache.
Jo folded his jacket and sat it on the bleachers behind him, leaning back on it like a pillow and sighing with relief as he rested his elbows on the edge of the seat behind him and waited for the play to start.
After a successful first couple of weeks at the Academy, Jo had decided to treat himself to a play at the Vespasian Colosseum. It was one of his favorite comedies by his favorite playwright, and he was eager to watch the story unfold. Jo purchased a ticket and entered the coliseum, picking up a bag of popcorn and a large cola on the way into the stands. He stood in the entrance and looked around, noticing that the staff had sectioned off only a small portion of the stadiums possible seating, probably due to there being a smaller crowd than on a fight day. As Jo was known to do, he made his way up to the back of the section, ducking under the velvet rope and climbing several rows higher before stopping and taking a seat.
As per usual, no one seemed to notice the boy. He looked very normal in black leather steel-toed boots, denim blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a tan suede jacket; his chocolate colored hair was combed straight back this evening, leaving no obstruction for his hazel eyes to peer through to view the scene onstage. Setting the snacks on the seat in front of him, Jo slowly removed his jacket, stretching a little as he did to loosen up his sore muscles. He’d been working out furiously ever since he started at the Academy. The heavy exercise coupled with a healthy diet and the onset of puberty had resulted in the little baby fat he had before melting away. He rubbed his right shoulder where stretch marks were starting to appear from the rapid growth of his muscles pulling at his skin. All in all though, he always felt good after a hard workout; and the crippling pain that he used to have afterwards had finally subsided to a dull, satisfying ache.
Jo folded his jacket and sat it on the bleachers behind him, leaning back on it like a pillow and sighing with relief as he rested his elbows on the edge of the seat behind him and waited for the play to start.