Editing Maximus Decimus Meridius (section)

===Legacy===
Sixteen years after Maximus’s death, his vision of freedom for Rome remains unfulfilled. The empire is now ruled by the twin emperors Caracalla and Geta, and the Senate remains corrupt. Rome continues its relentless expansion through conquest, while many of its people suffer from poverty and starvation.

To protect her son Lucius Verus—secretly Maximus’s child—Lucilla sent him to Numidia. However, he was captured when her husband, General Marcus Acacius, led an invasion of the region. Known by the alias "Hanno," Lucius was taken back to Rome and forced into gladiatorial servitude.

When Lucilla recognized her son in the arena, she approached him to apologize for abandoning him as a child. Lucius, embittered by the loss of his wife, Arishat, and the devastation of Numidia, rejected her, shouting for her to leave. Even as she revealed that Maximus was his father, Lucius refused to forgive her.

While in captivity, Lucius befriended the doctor Ravi, who revealed his admiration for Maximus and showed him a shrine dedicated to the legendary gladiator. The shrine contained Maximus's armor and sword, reminding Lucius of the enduring legacy of his father and the freedom he fought to achieve.