Nasir was growing more and more used to hearing that response. Even Maximus had been ahead of him in time.

"I am Syrian." He answered shortly, remembering a time when his response to that question would have been just the opposite. "But I spent most of my life under the heel of Rome."

It was clear from his tone that he held no affection for the place. It had been a long time since he called himself Roman and he found the memory shameful.

"It's a pity that its memory lingers even in the distant future. Though I suppose it is not distant now, for either of us."