You walked for a week, taking breaks when you needed, eating wherever you felt it, and sleeping wherever was cheep or at minimum comfortable. The warmer days were becoming infrequent, meaning that cheaply sleeping under the stars was less than ideal. As the sun set one night, fearing the cold, you begged and offered a local barkeep your labor in return for a room. Your muteness cursed you once again and you found yourself broke and exposed to the elements. The clothing you wore, a simple woolen toga, was not fit for this weather. At least you weren't living in 'snow,' a kind of frozen water, as you understood it.
As the nights continued to grow frigid, and your pockets more empty, your new life away from your Old Mentor seemed less and less appealing. You longed for home, your bed of straw and the company of your fellow class-peers. You sighed, as you curled underneath a tree far from the nearest town. The sun-god Helios upon his chariot the sun and it's warmth was fading from the world, and you bit your tong at your bitterness of this situation. Your muteness was firstly seen as a feature, for what was more intimidating than a stoic gladiator who did not need words to show what he means. However as you developed into a young man with years of training at his side, you found for form lacking in featured you desired.
Yes you were cunning, quick and fast. This was why your Commander made you a 'retiarius.' ( "net-man" in when translated to the lesser English) With your trusty fishing net, you could win a fight by outlasting even the largest opponent through eager tenacity and a well-thought plan. Perhaps your muteness was a symptom of a greater issue in your body, as you saw it. You were shorter than most boys your age, with a bare chin and slender frame. Your shoulders had a hint of broadness, but both your forearms and legs lacked any strength or size. Still, your Commander trusted in you and took to you like a son. You won fights, and were a proven example of how something deemed debilitating could be transformed into a weapon.
Still, would being normal ever be better?
You shivered again, having little fat to keep you slightly warm. You looked towards the horizon and noticed a cave. The walk would take time, but it might be worth it. You reached it within the hour, stopping at the mouth of the cave in awe. Beside the entrance were two statues; tall men carved from muscle with tick bull heads - They were Minotaur! You heard legends of such beasts who were honored and feared for their brutish strength.
At first you were unsure if this was a temple, and if it was impolite to sleep in such a place, but a cool chill convinced you it was worth the risk. You sat yourself inside the cavern, already warmer, at managed to relax and lay yourself down. You were young, you told yourself, and still had much time left to change and learn...