ã€ŠImperaã€‹


 Prologue: The Northern Campaign

    Rule of his home had been taken away, to each corner all he saw were the corpses of his people, destroyed buildings and the fires consuming it all. Screams were all that could be heard, together with the storm. The lightning bolts kept raining down. All Arcail could hope for was not to be the next target.

    He fled from his burning home with his half-broken leg, grasping on the trees to keep up. Standing idly was sure death, as had been so cruelly showcased earlier, yet a break to rest seemed more attractive by the minute.

    The smoke burned his nose and lungs, yet the deep breaths kept coming. Running on four legs was impossible with the deplorable state his right arm was in. While not a single scenario popped on his mind where he would survive, the instinct to flee from danger forced his muscles to act. That night Arcail learned there is no better motivator than fear.

    Thunders roaring in the skies were enough to make one of his kind deaf. He recalled to his younger days as a pup where nothing felt as tormenting as the infernal storms. Arcail smirked softly, now knowing what true despair was., but what laid in the skies was something else.

    They didn¡¯t deserve such terrible deaths. His father, mother and so many brothers and sisters, all gone. What is it that his people had done for this to happen to them? It was true they were far from a peaceful race, yet for such atrocities to be committed Arcail could not muster any excuses. It was a genocide of the greatest order.

    The distance to the tribe got far enough. Some time to breath and relax was essential if he planned to keep going indefinitely. He leaned against the oak tree, rubbing his furs and tail against the bushes beside it. Given the moment to think, perhaps there was something, some way he could get himself out alive. The Romans couldn¡¯t possibly hope to eliminate everyone, even if they had no remorse in killing young ones like him. To ask for clemency was being foolish, however ideal.

    The elders had taught him about the principles of war, but there never was an opportunity to participate in a raid or even join the legions as an Auxiliary, as his elder brother had done. But now, the mere idea of fighting beside the Romans was beyond disgusting. It would be heartbreaking to see Litchios among their ranks, to say the least.

    ¡°¡­ What the¡­¡± Arcail whispered to himself, noticing the arrow lodged in his left thigh. The adrenaline in his veins decreased and the pain from the obvious wound was unsuppressed. He tore the arrow out, howling in pain like a puppy. Now not only could he not run, but walking would be a challenge on itself. He should have let the arrow in, but it was too late to regret it.

    He had heard tales from the land of the Romans, where they had water that cured wounds and magic that could do the same. They all sounded like things weak men would rely on, yet they were on the top of the list of things he desired the most now. His wounds burned as much as his home did, and to have at least one of them extinguished would already be a wish fulfilled. Truly, a life of peace and tranquility wouldn¡¯t be so outrageous a concept.

    The rain finally began pouring. The storm had been quickly assembled, but it was only a matter of time. The small amount of water in each drop did their best to extinguish the blazes, to little avail. Poetry was as a foreign custom to his people as it could be, yet some Roman books made their way to them by travelers and traders. Litchios enjoyed telling tales from such books, stories of war and conquest. They sounded much better when his own people weren¡¯t the ones being conquered.

    Arcail recovered some stamina, however little. The pain grew fainter and his hope began to grow back on him.

    ¡°There¡¯s a small one over there.¡±

    His heart pounded his chest. Arcail turned as far as his neck would allow. Three legionnaires were staring at him with their blood-soaked swords. Beside them was a freshly killed Lupus, an adult, and warrior on his prime. It was impossible to make out which race they were under their all-encompassing armor sets. Arcail could not count on exploiting any of the little hunting knowledge he had.

    ¡°He¡¯s injured.¡± The legionnaires to the left said, ¡°He won¡¯t be escaping us.¡±

    The walked towards him, non-concerned yet focused. Arcail got on his feet before they could corner his escape. He wouldn¡¯t have to have learned Latin from his brother to understand what his enemies intended.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think so.¡± The legionnaire said, throwing a fireball right out of his fingertips, setting the escape path on fire. It became evident not only Arcail was outnumbered, but severely outmatched. Not only did he not know any of the magic schools, but he had nothing on how to counter them. A fight would mean sure death. He considered the possibility of jumping into the fire, running away as fast as possible. It was an alternative with a better probability of success to face his current opponents.

    He hesitated. His furs would offer great burning material which he could not put out without jumping into a river, and the nearest one was back in the village, where the main Roman force was. As fate would demand it, Arcail would die with his people, but not at all willingly. Doing a full turn, he stared the roman¡¯s visor, calling for a duel.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a kid, but it still wants a fight¡­¡± the legionnaire stepped away from his companions, ¡°Let¡¯s entertain this barbarian, if only as a courtesy.¡±

    It would seem the one at the center accepted his challenge. Perhaps he could injure the soldier enough to make the others take him back for treatment. It was a desperate hope, but it was something.

    ¡°Halt Lucius, look at his eyes.¡± Said the soldier watching.

    He looked deep into Arcail¡¯s pupils, ¡°They are as red as his people¡¯s blood, but what of it?¡±

    ¡°Black fur, red eyes, and he looks to have withstood quite a lot of damage already.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Are you saying¡­¡±

    The soldier stepped sideways as he glanced at his companion. At his waist, there was a red glass, strapped tightly to his vestments. Could it be the healing potion he had heard of? It would make sense for someone like him to hold one. Arcail took a deep breath, his chances of survival increased tenfold. If he could get a grasp of that drink, he could rush his way out. His objective was clear.

    ¡°It¡¯s an Alpha Lupus.¡± He said, ¡°They are out prime targets in this campaign.¡±

    ¡°What a great find!¡± shouted the lone soldier, ¡°Our centurion will be delighted when we return with the beast¡¯s head.¡±

    ¡°Just kill him already.¡± Said the other legionnaire, who was quiet until now, ¡°If you keep giving him a chance to think about something, he might get away.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s right, just try not to damage the head beyond recognition.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I get it.¡± The duelist said, ¡°Of course, there is someone else we need to try to impress today.¡±

    The way he pointed his gladius at Arcail was a sure indicator he was ready to fight. The young Alpha Lupus stretched his legs, expecting for an attack to defend. Taking the initiative was not an option.

    ¡°If you won¡¯t start it, then I will!¡± the legionnaire charged, swinging his blade and going for a stab. Arcail rolled out of the way, quickly jumping on his enemy¡¯s back and biting his neck.

    ¡°Why you¡­ Get off!¡± he knocked him away with a hit from his elbow, sending him rolling away to another tree.

    Arcail sneered, coffing blood. The armored soldier was far too protected to go down with a strategy made only to hunt down deer. If he could not in anyway hope to seriously damage him, to steal the potion and a runoff was the way to go. His current state, however, made any long and drawn out hit and run tactic impossible. His next charge would be his last before collapsing, that he could clearly feel.

    ¡°Perhaps if you had been a little older, your teeth could have gone through the plates. Growing old, however, is not an opportunity you will have.¡±

    The legionnaire went for another attack, clearly intended in slashing this time. Arcail stood still until the blade was a meter away. He dropped, propelling himself away to the soldier¡¯s back, quickly stealing his potion.

    ¡°Wait¡­ You little thief!¡± shouted the soldier. Those were the only words so far Arcail did not doubt the meaning off.

    ¡°My, he stole your healing potion!¡± said the spectator, ¡°If he heals back up, we might need to intervene.¡±

    ¡°You will do no such thing; this kill is mine.¡± Said the dueling legionnaire with great fury.

    His enemy¡¯s tone had only gotten more threatening as the fight evolved. It would be best not to count him waiting. The Lupus tore the potion¡¯s seal open, and as he was about to drink it, a loud ¡°Die!¡± sounded. Another fireball, bigger than the previous one was launched at him. It came at such speed and intensity there was little to be done. It hit his legs as he jumped away, burning his wounds terribly. Arcail fell, dropping the potion, breaking it. Its red essence dispersed on the grass, a wasted opportunity. The only one the young Lupus had been awarded. His only hope of survival gone, and the pain quickly overtaking any rational thought, Arcail let himself lay on the floor, defeated and broken.

    ¡°What a persistent dog.¡± Said the legionnaire. He put his left hand onto his gladius, reading for a deep thrust, ¡°Do yourself a favor and let your head come off cleanly.¡±

    The blade went for the mortal strike, stopped by an instinctive grasp with his one good arm. Arcail had stopped the attack from going at his neck, at the cost of seriously wounding his left palm. It was pure stubbornness, yet he found that if his body could still allow, he would fight for the right to live a few moments more.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ A really persistent dog¡­¡±

    He forced the gladius down, making slow progress in approaching the blade to the target. One slip up was all it would take. A single moment of weakness in his arm would be the end. As these thoughts filled his mind, the gladius reached his neck. At the pain of contact, the last shreds of strength still left in him made their contribution. He pushed the blade upwards, cutting his skin to his chin, then his mouth, cheek, and the eye. With a howl of torment, he pushed the blade further, forcing it to land on the grass and inches away from his head.

    ¡°I told you not to damage it.¡± The spectator said, ¡°If you cut the other eye out, we won¡¯t be able to prove he is an Alpha Lupus.¡±

    ¡°Right, I got this.¡±

    The legionnaire eyed at the half-dead Lupus, ¡°That was a brave effort, but all it did was prolong your suffering.¡± He picked the blade up, preparing for a second go.

    Arcail¡¯s right hand had been broken from the initial attack, his left arm cut open with a deep wound, his legs burned and face scared. At that split second, death did not seem that bad a thing. Whatever will of survival had pushed him this far, it would not go any longer. Starring at the man who would soon deliver his death, the young Lupus closed his right eye.

    ¡°Good, now¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait, did you hear that?¡± said the legionnaire in the distance, looking into the woods. Something moved at an even closer distance, and he seemed to be the only one to notice.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    The executioner stopped his gladius, ¡°Hear what?¡± he asked, infuriated at the interruption.

    ¡°There was something moving in the¡­¡± he stopped for a brief second, pointing to the legionnaire, ¡°B-Behind you!¡±

    It was too late by then. The Legionnaire was tackled and mauled limb from limb by the dark beast. His victim screamed, prompting Arcail to open the one eye he could. A lupus was gouging at the roman, yet he wore armor extremally like theirs, apart from the helmet. There was only one who could fit that description.

    ¡°L-Litchios?¡± Arcail asked, speaking in their own tongue.

    The Lupus turned away from the corpse he had dismembered, flesh hanging from his teeth and blood flowing on his maw. Their red eyes met to make for a moment of joy amidst such darkness. He neared, taking notice of Arcail¡¯s wounded, yet not mortally so body.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± Litchios said, in his deep voice he couldn¡¯t help but not hide the ferocity of. He spoke as seriously as the situation demanded, not a shred of doubt in his tone. He faced the other Legionnaires, extending his fangs.

    ¡°L-UCIUS!¡± the legionnaire shouted, drawing his gladius and glancing at the killer, ¡°¡­ Fucking dog¡­ I know you. You were part of the 20<sup>th</sup>¡¯s auxiliary force. No wonder a barbarian like you would betray the Empire.¡±

    The two Romans left lit their palms in lightning and ice, ready to cast the strongest Obliteration Spell they could. A bolt of electricity along with a sharp icy spike was thrown at the adult Alpha Lupus. With the clear hit, Litchios easily endured the attacks, spreading away the shock or breaking the spear upon impact on his chest plate. The romans gruntled in disbelief, yet no time was allotted for them to react, much less try again. Litchios grasped their necks after a rush, throwing them down and tearing their throats off. His fangs went deep, carving them apart. Their armors shrieked with metal as their pieces were dispersed, filthy with their user¡¯s blood.

    He stared at their corpses, melancholy and with just the smallest hint of remorse in his narrow eyes and low shoulders. Litchios kneeled, searching upon the supply bag of the soldiers. On them, there was a potion of health, among other items typical of a legionnaire.

    ¡°You are going to be fine.¡±

    He took the young Lupus on his arms, dropping the potion down his mouth. The effects were instant, yet the pain and wounds slowly healed. It was possible once more to stand. Arcail pushed away Litchios with all his force, running off a small distance.

    ¡°Why?¡± he asked angrily, ¡°Why did you join them?¡±

    Arcail recognized Litchios was the reason he was still alive, yet the thoughts which clouded his mind came out all at once at the first opportunity. Litchios had served in the Empire for many years now, which was exactly why it was impossible to simply reconcile him with what had happened.

    ¡°Did you know this would happen? Did you take any part in it? Do you plan to sell me as a prisoner?¡±

    Litchios stared blankly into Arcail, uttering not a word for a long moment.

    ¡°Answer me!¡± shouted Arcail, stepping up with his now recovered leg.

    ¡°It¡¯s a complicated thing¡­¡± Litchios said, ¡°There was little I could do once I heard of the declaration of war.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit.¡± Arcail spat out, ¡°You could have warned us! If you had done so, father, mother, and all of our brothers and sisters would still¡­¡±

    He lowered his head, unable to say out loud what was next. Looking at the ground, trying not to make his feelings more visible than they already were. To have seen such a carnage was not something he would ever forget. There were still howls coming out from the forest, surely more of his people being put to the sword. He managed just enough strength not to lose right then and there, but it wasn¡¯t the same for his brother. A drop of water reached the still unburnt grass, right was Arcail had been staring. Glancing back up, it was clear it wasn¡¯t the rain, but a tear of comprehension. He was hugged by Litchios, his head pressing against his blood-filled armor.

    ¡°I understand if you cannot forgive me.¡± Said Litchios, ¡°But this is not a time to talk. We must get away. Very far away.¡±

    Arcail saw the sorrow in Litchios eyes. It became evident it was not his intention for any of this to have happened. His armor might have been roman, but there was still a Lupus inside it.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry brother, I was just¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Litchis quickly replied, string onto Arcail¡¯s closed left eye, ¡°Your eye should heal soon, but I¡¯m afraid the scar will stay.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind it¡­¡± He said, touching his scar, ¡°Where will we go?¡±

    ¡°We have to inform the other wolf packs.¡± Litchios said, ¡°If the empire had attacked us, they must intend in conquering the entire north.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ We can we do about?¡± Arcail asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the empire was the strongest nation in the world? How can we hope to defeat them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The elder said, ¡°There might be another way to settle this. We will think about it when¡­¡±

    Litchios¡¯ ears lifted. He looked into the deep eerie forest, ¡°¡­ Dammit, we need to go. Now!¡±

    He grabbed Arcail, rushing out in the opposite direction of the identified sound. The three branches hit against him, breaking apart. He unhesitatingly threw themselves where the fires raged.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked Arcail, ¡°This part of the forest is on fire!¡±

    They jumped from tree to tree, propelling themselves away at an accelerating speed only Alpha Lupus of Litchios¡¯ caliber could accomplish.

    ¡°Keep quiet.¡± Litchios tried to whisper nervously, ¡°He will hear you.¡±

    With the utmost seriousness in his tone, the younger brother instinctively abided by his elder¡¯s command. With a faint, almost inaudible volume he asked ¡°Who will? Another legionnaire?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the¡­¡±

    A fireball, a magnitude larger than anything else casted until now hit their path. The fires incinerated the trees and knocked Litchios out of his momentum. He crashed onto another one, falling with Arcail still with him. Both coffing and groaned from the pain of impact. Arcail would have been severely damaged, let alone dead were Litchios not there to take the brunt of it.

    ¡°A-Are you okay?¡± asked Arcail, ¡°What was that fire from just now? Didn¡¯t you say it wasn¡¯t a legionnaire?¡±

    Litchios got back in his feet, shaking his head and regaining conscience, ¡°I¡­ That¡­¡± he starred at the burning hell zone which had been recently added to the forest. His ear flipped upward once more, and his terrified look was ever cleared to Arcail, even underneath the helmet.

    ¡°¡­ Run away, as far as you can.¡± Litchios said, ¡°And don¡¯t you even think of looking back.¡±

    At the unexpected order, Arcail couldn¡¯t help but protest, ¡°Run away? Do you mean without you?¡±

    ¡°Get out of here!¡± he screamed, clearly violating his own request not to raise their voices. Such change in strategy said much about how dire the situation had become.

    ¡°But¡­ Litchios, what are you going to¡­¡±

    Litchios grabbed Arcail by the canine collar, throwing him way back onto some bushes. It wasn¡¯t with enough force to cause any serious damage beyond a few bruises.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ What are you¡­¡±

    As Arcail looked back into his brother, he saw him staring into the flames set by the previous spell. He was not at all bothered with Arcail current situation.

    Now that he was paying closer attention, he did hear something from the flames beyond their consuming blazes. There was something, or something stepping through them. As the imminent threat loomed, Arcail pondered whether to do as he was asked and flee. If his brother feared the challenger, then it would be prudent to do so.

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± he told himself. Litchios was his last family member, the only one of his blood still alive. To abandon him in such a dire moment was unthinkable, no matter what his orders were. He hid on the bush, watching over from a distance and ready to intervene if it was necessary.

    The silhouette of a man came out of the fires. As he stepped out, nothing seemed to make sense. He wore an entirely different armor set than the other Romans, yet he was without a doubt a legionnaire of some kind. His Helmet had the galea like the others. His dark purple armor plates bared the empire¡¯s eagle and every detail of the set hinted at him being a rank above the rest. He did not have his gladius drawn, neither his scutum. The legionnaire did not seem at all conflicted with Litchios¡¯ aggressive stance. At his seemed confidence, a chill was sent through Arcail¡¯s spine, doubtful of who or what this being could be.

    Litchios trembled at the roman¡¯s arrival. Never had Arcail seen his veteran elder brother afraid of anything. He was a battle-hardened Alpha Lupus, an elite among his people and, given their long lifespans, he could become one of the strongest beings in the world. Who was it then that scared him so? His enemy was no dragon, no vampire lord, nor was it any of the other creatures the elders spoke off. He was most likely a human, yet an aura unlike any other surrounded him.

    The roman lifted his arm, flicking his fingers and with that extinguishing the fires instantly. The mood shifted from a hell zone to a dark forest as the lights vanished. Given the storm, the clouds blocked any light from the moon, yet their night visions as Lupus were enough to see clearly. Was it the same for the roman? Why had he extinguished his own flames?

    A ball of light appeared in his hands, which he threw upward. It shined as if a second sun, while none dared to speak. The tension in the air was palpable. It had seemed that nothing would have come out of it until more Romans came out of the forest. An entire century of regular legionnaires surrounded the area. No, not just a century, but an entire legion. Their ranks expanded far into the woods. They extended their shields, setting a perimeter with a tight, organized formation. They left a small passage from where one of them passed.

    A legionnaire clothed in similar armor to the dark purple legionnaire got to his side. After staring at Litchios, he patted his companion¡¯s back, whispering something into his ear. Arcail had easily heard yet could not understand. It was a completely different language from anything he had ever heard. It was certainly not Latin, or anything close to the Lupus¡¯ tongue. Litchios¡¯ red pupil widened as he most likely not only also heard but might have understood some. Whatever exchange the Romans had, it was for naught. The man listening waved off the one who talked in a dismissive manner, approaching Litchios with slow steps. The authority he exerted could only mean he was a leader of the Romans.

    At the unavoidable slash, Litchios bit his lips and charged the roman. His claw was stopped midair and he was punched away. The sheer force of his attack sent Litchios flying to collided against the rocks. He coughed blood on impact, placing his hand over the burst chest-plate. That single attack was enough not only to pierce it, but to grievously wound his abdomen.

    Arcail moved on his bush. The sound was not enough for the roman to hear, yet it was the contrary for a Lupus. Litchios glared at his younger brother who watched the fight, narrowing his eyes in both anger and pity. Getting up, the Alpha Lupus walked back to the Roman. His shrieking muscles and the horrid position was evidence of his utter deplorable physical state. He did not plan to win if only to stand in the way. Arcail now began to understand this last stand was his entire fault. He wanted to jump in like nothing else, but to what purpose? It was sure death to intervene.

    Litchios stood in front of Arcail, a few meters of distance. Taking heavy breaths, he charges the roman once more. A final attack. Arcail¡¯s despair grew ten-fold at what was next.

    The gladius went deep through the opening in Litchios¡¯ chest. What leftover blood he had in the lungs was quickly coffed out as he fell. His body hit the ground, still alive, if only barely. Litchios was on the brink of death and it seemed nothing would stop the roman from finishing the kill. Arcail got out of the bush, furiously with tears on his eyes running on four legs to save his brother.

    At the height of his despair, he was frozen on spot. His muscles stopped obeying his command as the dark purple roman casted some wicked spell. It shone in green as summoned an aura enveloping Arcail¡¯s body.

    ¡°Foolish.¡± Said the roman in Latin. His voice was deep and imperative, somber and distant. The roman , in one moment, destroyed what little faith Arcail still had.

    His brother¡¯s neck was cut open by a second strike, splashing blood on the grass. The greatest warrior of the tribe, as well as Arcail¡¯s only family left, was dead. As he stared onto the corpse, the one that had so recently hugged him, he screamed as loud as he could. A resentful howl of sorrow. A disbelief of what had happened, an unwillingness to accept it. The roman let go of the spell, allowing Arcail to grief. He hugged his brother¡¯s body, without a care in the world his killer was still there. He regretted all his doubts from before, only wishing the last moments he had with him had been more pleasant.

    The roman was little bothered by the incident, acknowledging Arcail¡¯s presence yet unquestioned on how to respond. As the blade went for a fatal strike, Arcail reflected on how all he experienced today was pure suffering, far too much to desire to keep going. As the roman¡¯s arm was held back by his companion.

    Visible confusion on all present, the only one who was sure of what was going on was the other roman, who sternly discussed with Litchios¡¯ killer. Their language was still completely undecipherable. Whoever the second roman was, he must have been close with the leader. The debate went on for a while, resulting in the dark purple legionnaire lowering his arm and sheaving his weapon. Instead of cutting him down, the roman stared onto him. The roman pointed to Arcail, adding onto what was being previously being talked over in their mysterious language. The frightening purple lights emanating from his visor taught the young Lupus of what meant to truly fear someone.

    He was being allowed to live, for watch reason he did not know. And truly did not care. His overwhelming hatred for that man, the evil Roman who killed his brother was all he could muster to think on. His rage was only put in check by his fear weakness and the thought of him dying right then and there would be the last thing Litchios would have wanted.

    His companion lowered his arm once more, pushing him away from the scene. He had been saved, yet for what reason or purpose there was no way to tell. They returned to the way they had come from. The roman who had apparently saved Arcail walked beside the one who took his brother¡¯s life. He could not understand what had been discussed between them, but what truly filled his thoughts was his current loss. Their legionnaires followed them out, leaving the only survivor to his fate. The light ball from the roman¡¯s spell strayed further, leaving Arcail in darkness.

    He was alone. Not a soul in this world to call family, not one goal to achieve or interest to peruse. To have grown up with his kin and eventually follow up in his elder brother¡¯s path was not possible anymore. His only ever interest, taken away.

    The clouds opened a portion of the night sky, allowing some of the lunar light to pass. As Arcail looked up, his damaged left eye slowly opened, reflecting on the moon as they gleamed with a new conviction. If fate was to conspire and steal his life from him, he would forge a new path. He would never again give up on life so easily, now knowing it¡¯s precious value and ease of loss. He now had a purpose only he could fulfill, and failure was not an option. Arcail would have his revenge.

 Chapter 1: Part 1: Ave Gaius

    ¡°Check¡±

    The man advanced his pawn onward, threatening the opponent¡¯s king. By then the game had gone on for a while. The black side had a considerable advantage in numbers, but a comeback was still possible.

    The opponent took his time to process it, ¡°Well, if it keeps going like this it might end soon.¡± Said the opponent, analyzing the board¡¯s current state. He moved his king to the right, rightly avoiding its capture, ¡°Think I¡¯ll be safe for a while.¡±

    ¡°This will end like it always does.¡± said the man, ¡°You have committed too much of the same mistakes.¡±

    ¡°That so?¡± he asked sarcastically, ¡°I might as well do my best until the end.¡±

    The opponent glanced onto the man¡¯s eyes. They were hidden under the helmet he almost never removed, yet the purple from his eyes barely managed to come out. They stared each other as rivals in a friendly game yet convicted to achieve victory. There was always something to learn with every move.

    ¡°Am I to take your confidence as a sign you have finally fixed your weakness?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a weakness.¡± He insisted, ¡°My strategy is simply different than yours, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a bad one at that, given how it never works out for you.¡± He said, ¡°You will never win if you don¡¯t make the right sacrifices.¡±

    The opponent lifted a smirk, clearly seen as he wore no helmet. It wasn¡¯t born of mockery, but sincerely from enjoyment.

    ¡°Did I say something funny?¡±

    ¡°Kind of¡­¡±

    He laughed gently. His slightly curly and light brown hairs waved aside as he scratched them to think on the next move.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take that pawn of yours.¡± He said, knocking the black pawn over. It rolled off, hitting the bottom of the carriage.

    ¡°Ah, my fault¡­ Let me just¡­¡± he leaned off his chair, reaching for the piece.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Lord Brunus. Leave it to your servant.¡±

    Her voice was as cold, to the point and assertive as ever. She let go of her spear, knelt from her standby position. She picked the pawn and delivered it back on the table, quickly returning to her post.

    ¡°Oh, thanks Minerva¡­ I¡¯ll try not knocking it over again¡­¡± Brunus said, in Latin, the common language of the world.

    ¡°If you, or even if Princeps Gaius does, I¡¯ll have no problem in picking it back up.¡± She said, almost like a machine relaying its programming script. In fact, that was exactly what she was. For her to behave in any other way would have been the only thing of note in the affair.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say sorry.¡± Said Gaius in his powerful voice, ¡°They are just AI¡¯s, if I must remember you once more.¡±

    Brunus¡¯ purple eyes squinted at Gaius¡¯ remark. Getting back in his position, he sighed, ¡°And if I must remember you, that is no reason to treat them poorly.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t treat them such, it¡¯s only a matter of not pretending for them to be the same as us.¡± He said, ¡°You need to be careful not to forget this isn¡¯t real.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know, but still...¡± Brunus continued playing as they spoke, moving each piece as best he could, ¡°At the end of the day, I can¡¯t tell them apart from real people.¡±

    His comment brought up some great concern, ¡°If you are ever in such a position of confusion, just try to use any in-game function. It¡¯s the easiest way to find out.¡± He said while moving the black horse forward,¡± If for some reason you still aren¡¯t sure, just talk to any NPC in English like we do and see their reaction.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± He said as he finished his counter move, ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of identifying them, it¡¯s just that we are forced to check at all that concerns me.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± The man said, ¡°I cannot deny Artificial Intelligence has gone a long way.¡± He knocked out the white tower, setting up a complex tactic Brunus seemed not to notice yet. The victory was a few moves away.

    ¡°Are all preparations ready for the triumph?¡± asked Brunus.

    ¡°Of course, I made sure it wouldn¡¯t be all that extravagant. It will only be a ceremonial crossing through the streets to the palace.¡±

    ¡°We should be very near to Rome given we have passed the mountains quite some time ago.¡± Brunus glanced at the soldier who had assisted him beforehand, ¡°Minerva, could you check the road for us?¡±

    ¡°Definitely, Lord Brunus.¡±

    She left her guard post, opening the carriage¡¯s window. The spring¡¯s winds flew inside. The cheers from thousands of civilians growing outside. Minerva swiftly looked at what laid in the path.

    ¡°The Imperial Walls of the Eternal City lay a few paces away, we will arrive soon.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Brunus smiled, ¡°It not just for us, you know? You did a great job yourself!¡¯

    ¡°I do not deserve such praise.¡± She said, ¡°It is my duty to be of service to the Emperor and all of his lineage, now and always.¡±

    Brunus was visibly nervous at her display of pure loyalty, ¡°Err¡­ That¡¯s good! I appreciate it¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± She said, returning to position.

    Switching back to English, Brunus whispered ¡°Geez bro¡­ Did you have to make her so dutiful? It¡¯s a bit weird¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s as she should be.¡± Gaius replied, ¡°You should blame the emperor I based her personality out of.¡±

    Gaius spoke in a joking tone, a rare practice for him these days. He couldn¡¯t help but relax a little when his favorite historical topic came up. Few could ever match his interest in the Roman empire, therefore making any discussion about it a rare occurrence. He had to indulge himself whenever the opportunity was presented.

    ¡°She¡¯s not in anyway the weirdest Divine Legionnaire you can point to.¡±

    ¡°Agreed¡­ And speaking of NPCs¡­¡±

    Brunus talked with a progressively fainter voice. That was one of his habits and a clear sign something was bothering him, even back when they were kids it was so. It was a skill as an elder brother for Gaius to detect these behaviors from him.

    ¡°Let me guess, is it about our enemies?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Brunus said, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it lately, especially after our last campaign¡­¡±

    The topic he referred to was a can of worms that would best be avoided yet given the importance of the day it would be best to deal with it as soon as possible.

    ¡°You mean the war against the Lupus Wolfpacks?¡±

    Brunus¡¯ head lowered, ¡°Yes, about them¡­¡± he rested his white cheek on his palm, ¡°I couldn¡¯t get them out of my head ever since we left the north.¡±

    ¡°I can imagine what is in your mind.¡± Gaius said confidently, ¡°I can assure you the descendants of the survivors will thank us for bringing them into the empire and away from their barbarian lifestyles.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you always give the same excuse¡­¡± Brunus replied, ¡°I can¡¯t deny the benefits they will have once properly integrated, I¡¯m just conflicted about the way we achieved it.¡±

    ¡°I sent the envoys, but their elders denied the ultimatum of annexation.¡± He knocked Brunus¡¯ last horse off, ¡°And as you know, membership in the empire is not, and has never been voluntary.¡±

    Gaius waited for Brunus¡¯ next move. His brother took unusually long this turn, breaking the silence after a moment.

    ¡°¡­ That one Lupus, you know, the last one¡­¡±

    As the topic evolved and the image of Gaius¡¯ last time in the battlefield returned to his mind, the mood officially changed from a friendly game to a serious discussion.

    ¡°What about him?¡±

    ¡°He was wearing Imperial Armor, wasn¡¯t he?¡±

    The question was simple, yet it was important to answer it as delicately as possible. Gaius¡¯ hands met over the table, resting his elbows on it and head on hands. ¡°Indeed, he was most likely an auxiliary to a local legion.¡±

    ¡°An auxiliary¡­¡± Brunus whispered to himself, ¡°Then, he was fighting for the empire before the attack, right?¡±

    ¡°Either that or he stole the armor from a legionnaire, however, that theory is a bit shallow, given how his set seemed specifically made to suit one of his race.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m positive he must for sure have been fighting in the legions before the attack, which makes me think ¡­¡± Brunus finally took his move, resting to finish his thought, ¡°¡­ Couldn¡¯t we have done things more peacefully?¡±

    ¡°We tried that, and it didn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have set on just one ultimatum.¡± Brunus cut in, ¡°We could have tried to bring the issue to the general population, and try to incentivize them with promises of citizenship, food, and such.¡±

    Gaius chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s absurd Brunus. Not only would that be costly and time-consuming, but it would most likely never work. The Lupus are among the least civilized of all races in Impera, every player knows that. They will not bow to any authority unless it is enforced upon them, much like dragons or vampires.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case. We could have made a show of force and it would have been enough to convince them, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Again, you are letting your na?ve side take over. Even if we showed them all our legions, they would still fight for their independence. They are not concerned about their lives as much as their pride and traditions. They would act as illogically as you could expect from barbarians, therefore force is the only effective method.¡±

    Gaius had lost count how many times he had explained this to Brunus in one way or another. It was a classic of his unwillingness to do what was necessary to succeed. It was bothersome his own brother had such a differing worldview than his, but at least it made for a least one person that could honestly debate him. Anyone else would be too scared of his status as emperor, especially NPCs. It was this unfortunate arrangement that made his brother the only one who he could talk freely with, not worried about how their thoughts and words were predisposed to pleasing him. If he had to put up with some repetition, it was well worth it.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°Adding to that, we simply could not allow the Lupus wolfpacks to threaten the Empire anymore. A final punitive expedition to reduce their numbers and subdue the rest was not only needed, but well deserved. Now that all other opposition has been dealt with, they were the last foreign threats we had to defeat.¡±

    ¡°But, there¡¯s still something that doesn¡¯t make sense in your logic.¡± Brunus said, ¡°What about that young Alpha Lupus we spared? He was clearly sad about losing one of his kind.¡±

    ¡°That you spared.¡± Gaius corrected, ¡°I swear, letting a monster of his caliber live will come to hunt us in the future.¡±

    ¡°It was the right thing to do, it was only a puppy completely uninvolved with his elder¡¯s decision.¡±\

    ¡°Puppy¡­¡± Gaius gruntled, ¡°It was an Alpha Lupus, no matter the age.¡±

    ¡°Hadn¡¯t you killed enough of their kin by then?¡± asked Brunus, ¡°When I saw him grieving, I couldn¡¯t allow you to just kill him.¡±

    ¡°Mercy is the key to committing mistakes. No matter if innocent or not, he will grow up to terrorize and kill many citizens before he is finally put down. All your leniency achieved was to get more NPCs killed in the future.¡±

    Brunus lowered his shoulders, ¡°I¡­ I thought that maybe he could end up like his companion, and eventually join the legion if we showed them clemency. The Lupus don¡¯t have to be our enemies.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t and won¡¯t.¡± Gaius looked at the ceiling, ¡°We will force the survivors to adapt, and soon they will be all the merrier for it. With the northern monster tribes also brought under the fold, we can rest easy.¡± He closed his eyes under the helmet, ¡°¡­ Finally, after everything, the world conquest is complete.¡±

    The relief flew in his veins. An extasy only achievable from a monumental burden being lifted off one¡¯s shoulders. All his wars, battles and struggles up until then had not been in vain and knowing that felt too good. Looking back to his brother, he did not find the same satisfaction in his face. Gaius was ready to ask why it was so, but Brunus spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy for you.¡± He said, ¡°Disregarding that matter, I know very well it¡¯s been your ambition since we started playing, and you deserve it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Thank you.¡± Gaius said, smiling behind his helmet, ¡°And by the way, check.¡±

    Brunus¡¯ king piece was cornered, threatened by many enemies. Hs staring base had been taken over and only a few pieces were left to his side. There were still ways to prolong the game, and maybe even turn it around. Brunus, however, said, ¡°I give up.¡±

    His announcement of defeat hit Gaius as preposterous, ¡°It isn''t check-mate.¡± He reminded him, ¡°You can still save your king if you sacrifice that pawn.¡±

    Brunus recognized the pawn Gaius was pointing to with his armored finger, ¡°No, I surrender.¡±

    His insistence was beginning to hit a nerve. It was fine to lose if he did not see a way to win or if he was tired, but to purposely chose not to abide by a saving move made no sense to the emperor, ¡°Just sacrifice the pawn, what¡¯s important is the king.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s wrong,¡± Brunus said. His confidence was surprising, to say the least, ¡°The pawn doesn¡¯t have to die if I give up, consider it a tactical retreat!¡± He blinked jokingly.

    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, there¡¯s no retreat in chess, only victory or defeat.¡± Gaius knocked the white king down, ¡°It¡¯s a game of life or death, you must choose which.¡±

    Brunus looked at his fallen king, picking it up and knocking the black king with it, ¡°There, I win!¡±

    His younger brother remembered Gaius of the very first time they had played chess, and Brunus had pulled the same childish move. Bitter with defeat, he simply knocked his king off and proclaimed himself the winner. It was oddly nostalgic, however just as mildly frustrating. Chess had clear rules that he as a young adult was aware of.

    ¡°Tell me then¡­ How is it your king won?¡± Gaius asked, indulging his brother¡¯s joke.

    Brunus laughed, shrugging and saying ¡°I don¡¯t know, perhaps¡­ They had a duel?¡±

    ¡°A duel? A duel to decide the fate of an important battle?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°And I thought you were already deep in the realm of fantasy¡­¡±

    Brunus took in Gaius¡¯ slight mockery, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a nice way to settle the dispute, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Gaius once more eyed his brother. He had his match of chess, and it proved to be an intriguing enough distraction for the trip. No matter the awkward result, maybe there was something to learn from it, be it for him or Brunus.

    ¡°¡­ Minerva.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Princeps?¡±

    Her tone was even more serious than it was for Brunus. To be directly addressed by her creator and master must be a scary prospect indeed. There was an inner discomfort created whenever his NPCs showed too much devotion to himself. To be respected by such a large margin over others was nice, yet a feeling of not deserving such reverence still resonated. In their eyes, he was a god-emperor. In reality, he was just a Strategy Gamer in his early twenties. Nevertheless, the fa?ade was necessary to maintain his position.

    ¡°How much longer until we reach the gates?

    ¡°We should have arrived by now. If you permit me, I shall take another¡­¡±

    The carriage stopped in the middle of her sentence. The cheers from outside sounded much louder as it did. There were thousands of different voices of men, women and children alike. The horns played, announcing their presence.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived!¡± said Brunus. He ran to the front of the carriage, opening the frontal window. The gates of the Imperial Walls bore the banner of the empire, a proud roman eagle extending its wings on a red background, grasping onto a globe with its sharp claws. It¡¯s meaning not anymore, an ambition, but a reality. The world belonged to the empire and the empire to Gaius. It was time to celebrate.

    As the gates opened, a path through an enormous crowd of hundreds of thousands of spectators formed. They were guarded by many columns of legionnaires aiming to keep the path clean for the emperor. The four Pegasus drove the carriage forward in a splendor of victorious celebration. They were countless diverse races of beings present, ranging from Humans, Taurus, Daemons and many more. The assistance of the event threw flowers, gifts, and ornaments in their path, shouting ¡°Ave Gaius!¡¯

    The legionnaires put their closed fists to their chests and extended their arms forward. As they saluted their emperor, they followed with the civilians, ¡°Ave Gaius!¡± they shouted. The Emperor nodded to their reverence, a simple sign of acknowledgment. He had many victories during his playtime and experienced many triumphs. At that moment, facing his final one, an unwavering accomplishment overflew within him. No one could no question he was the best player in Impera. His power in the battlefield as outmatched as the strength of his legions. His immense wealth and resources as vast as the experience he gained in battle. Power was everything in that game, and Gaius had it the most. He toyed with the idea of changing the weather into something more cheerful, yet the clouded sky seemed to oddly fit with the moment. His road to World Conquest had been anything but pretty after all.

    ¡°Man, our tiny settlement sure has grown, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Brunus got to his brother¡¯s side, waving off to the roaring masses.

    ¡°It has¡­¡± Gaius reflected, ¡°It¡¯s hard to think back when it was merely a village and still say it is the same place¡­¡±

    ¡±Aww, look at you getting all emotional!¡±

    Gaius twisted his head to eye Brunus, ¡°I¡¯m not emotional.¡± He expressed, ¡°I just¡­ We¡¯ve made a lot of progress.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, these days it¡¯s the largest city in the game. New players often start their playthroughs here, and old players often settle here as well, the same for NPCs.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s truly the world capital I had once envisioned¡­ A center of cultural, economic and political power. A single foil to bring an entire world together¡­ This is what Rome should have been like in the real world. Had they succeeded, we could have lived under a worldwide united empire. An all-powerful entity to enforce the peace and secure the common well-being of all, shifting away from any petty rivalries and forcing all to recognize one single authority.¡± He clenched his fist, ¡°From this day onward, we have brought the Pax Romana to Impera.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Right, what you said¡­¡±

    Brunus looked awkwardly at his older brother, no doubt because he had little idea of what he was talking about. Gaius knew Brunus would not exactly understand what and why the world conquest had been such an obsession for him, and even if he tried he would need a lot of historical contexts. To explain the entire rationale behind war and politics would only further alienate him from the subject. It was enough to say Gaius enjoyed the Roman Empire and wished to emulate them in many forms.

    ¡°¡­ Anyway, it¡¯s been a fun journey of war and conquest, but now we have to change from a military focus to an administrative one.¡±

    ¡°That sounds very boring¡­¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be, but if you don¡¯t want to be involved in the direct administration of the state, you can always just go have your own adventures out there.¡± Gaius gestured onto the distance, ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of monsters out there we haven¡¯t killed.¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡± Brunus cut in, ¡°You were very methodical when you set into geocoding specific races¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this about the Dragons again?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°They deserved everything they got, and more.¡±

    Brunus took one tiny step away, ¡°I see you are still obstinate about that¡­ At least you allowed a few to survive.¡±

    ¡°Beyond monster hunting, there are still lots of things you can do yourself.¡±

    ¡°Is there?¡± Brunus asked, ¡°With no international conflicts and frictions there aren¡¯t many grand adventures to embark on anymore. The crazy days of when the game launched are far behind us.¡±

    ¡°Is that supposed to be a bad thing?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°You don¡¯t mean to say you want the chaos of the past to return?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ Well, it¡¯s hard to explain¡­¡± Brunus shook his head, ¡°There was just so much going on back then. The alliances, betrayals, last stands, and heroic plays. The world felt very alive if you know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just as alive as it was, I just put a leash on everyone else.¡±

    Brunus laughed, ¡°You see, that¡¯s the thing! You have done such a great job in conquering the world I can barely see anything exciting ever happening again¡­ Nothing that wasn¡¯t your intention, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Is that really such a bad thing?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°To be completely honest, I¡¯m quite drained from the whole affair.¡±

    ¡°Drained?¡± Brunus asked, widening his eyes, ¡°Wait, you are saying even you had enough of war!?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a war addict, you know¡­¡±

    Gaius stared into Brunus¡¯ eyes. Their purple lights met once more, and Brunus was the first to break contact.

    ¡°¡­ Are you sure of that? Your track record paints quite the different picture¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit unfair.¡± Gaius waved in the air, quickly reducing the sound of the crowds in his in-game settings, ¡°Every war fought had its purpose in defeating an enemy or assisting in accomplishing an objective that would make it easier to do so, be it Dragons, Vampires, Sirens, Taurus, or even damn Succubuses. The Lupus, for example, was just the last piece of the puzzle, the final threat at the edge of the continent. Every time the empire has taken to the field we had some casus belli, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°Huh, I¡¯m impressed!¡± Brunus exclaimed, ¡°And I here thought you would still come out with some excuse to battle someone¡­¡± Brunus tapped Gaius in his shoulder pad, ¡°But then, if we are to have peace, then what shall you, the emperor do if there are no more enemies to conquer?¡±

    ¡°I will rule.¡± Gaius said, ¡°It¡¯s not as if violence will cease. On the contrary, it might even increase in certain circumstances. As conquering the world was merely the first step, and now the true test begins. There will be players who will judge their time of prominence has come and will mount insurrections against my rule. There will be certain races who will feel unrepresented and exploited. There will be those who are close to us and will still look for an opportunity to betray me. We will have to deal with all those problems, and much more. No matter who or what the enemy is, I will defeat it to keep the World Empire intact. That, Brunus, is what I will do.¡±

    Looking at Gaius as if his ambition was manifesting itself into being, Brunus sighed, ¡°Ugh¡­ And I thought you would chill for a moment¡­ Maybe settle back in reality and take a break.¡± He shook his head in mild disbelief, ¡°I feel like I need to be the one to remember this is just a game, no?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, I haven¡¯t forgotten that.¡± He said, his seriousness diminished, ¡°Even still, it is my duty as emperor to ensure the empire we have put so much effort in creating lasts since, as history teaches us, empires tend to fall when mismanaged.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I see that despite your change in focus, your underlying reasoning is still the same,¡± Brunus said with a frown.

    His face, once again, indicated something bothered him. Asking him there, however, was a dropped idea once the carriage reached the end of the triumph, onto the huge steps leading upward into the Imperial Palace. It was the largest building in the city, housing thousands of residents, uncountable halls, rooms and relics befitting the personal property of the emperor. It carried countless imperial banners and pieces of Roman architecture. At its sight, Gaius realized how short his triumph had been and wondered if he should have made the event to last longer. It should have been his crowning achievement, and yet the celebration did not ring as true to the actual conquest. He was victorious, and it was enough.

    ¡°Allow me to escort you inside, Princeps.¡± Said Minerva, who had been silently guarding the brothers. She opened the door outside. Gaius was the first to exit, stepping out with his right foot and progressing calmly up the stairs. Brunus almost tripped and was saved from a faceplant at the last second by Minerva.

    ¡°Ohh¡­ T-Thank you again, Minerva¡­¡± he said, composing himself.

    ¡°Please, do not mention it, Lord Brunus.¡±

    The clumsy younger brother got to his elder¡¯s side, and Minerva followed at a respectable distance. At the top of the stairs, tens of Divine Legionnaires, all wearing similar sets to that of Minerva saluted to their emperor. Gaius made a quick count of those present, reaching the conclusion less than a hundred of his created NPCs had managed to outlive the World Conquest Wars. They were still more than enough to act as a personal bodyguard force, yet their diminished numbers did pose a threat in the future. Was an ambitious player with a high position in the legions take his shot in trying to be the emperor, how many men would he need to overrun them? How much could he rely on them to fulfill their purpose? Most of the battle-hardened veterans, such as Jupiter and Neptune had long since perished in the coalition wars, which is why Minerva had to assume as the Divine Legate. They would not betray him as the historical Praetorian Guard had done. The point of having an elite force of custom made NPC bodyguards was that they would be both competent and loyal. Even so, the seeds of doubt could not be easily removed from his mind.

    Gaius halted his advance, and Minerva quickly stepped forward. She raised her spear up, ¡°Open way for the emperor.¡±

 Chapter 1: Part 2: Ave Gaius

    The Divine Legionnaires saluted once more, and those nearest to the doors opened them with haste. The palace was exactly as Gaius had last seen it before heading to conquer the north. Countless works of art, prizes of war and loyal servants no matter where he looked. The palace was completely off limits to any uninvited player, under suspicion of assassins or spies. It was of course rather foolish to fear being killed given how much more powerful Gaius was compared to the average player, yet there were still those who could challenge him. He was at the top for now, but it all could change very quickly. He would not give the enemy a chance to take a move.

    As Gaius lead the way, aside with Brunus, Minerva still followed while the other legionnaires stood by their posts. Even at his own home, already filled with guards, it was necessary to keep at least one guard nearby. Should they ever need to discuss something privately they needed only to switch to English. Crossing the vast halls, sustained by pillars designed after the classic age.

    ¡°That was kind of anti-climactic¡­¡± Brunus said, ¡°I expected some grand speech about how great the empire is and all.¡±

    ¡°Why would I need to state the obvious?¡± Asked Gaius. He knew how arrogant and condescending it had come out as, but it was still the truth. He gave great speeches in the past, doing so again wasn¡¯t a problem, but there was no need for it. The empire was all-powerful, dominant and glorious, with a speech from him or not.

    ¡°Right then¡­¡± Brunus said, yawning and blinking in succession, ¡°You can have your fun ruling, but I just noticed how tired I am¡­¡± he stretched his arms, ¡°These trips across the continent take far too long, couldn¡¯t we have fast traveled there?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Gaius said, ¡°I had to deploy a legion I could count on to keep the peace in the conquered Lupus territories. After all, not only could a legate take advantage of the disgruntled population to mount an insurrection, but the local legions were growing too friendly with the Lupus, to the point that, as we had confirmed, they were recruiting locals into their efforts. It was best to use men who still viewed the Lupus as enemies.¡±

    ¡°But did we even need a legion to conquer the wolfpacks?¡± He asked, lighting his hand in a flicker of lightning, ¡°You just used that master Obliteration Spell to kill most of them anyway¡­¡±

    ¡°One thing is to defeat them, the other is to subdue them. Had you accompanied me in more of my campaigns you would understand the difference better.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, whatever¡­¡± Brunus waved his brother¡¯s banter off, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m heading off, got to sleep...¡±

    It was possible to use an in-game function to force your real body to sleep while still logged in the game. Most users disliked doing so as it not only broke one of the few barriers they could use to tell the game and reality apart, but it also caused a lot of dizziness. Gaius often used the function to carry out night attacks during important wars, and he could vouch that those were not just rumors. Checking his heartbeat was his only way of knowing which it was, as Impera did not allow the player¡¯s hearts to beat at all to offer yet another too to recognize which reality they were on. He instinctively pressed his palm over the chest, not a beat to feel or hear.

    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Brunus called on his console command, summoning a Menu Screen of Impera. Among the many options, he clicked on log out. Before he pressed the confirm button, he pushed the screen aside, ¡°I almost forgot¡­ ¡° he opened his arms and looked at his elder brother, ¡°A good night hug!¡± he said cheerfully.

    It was an embarrassing sight for Gaius. He shook his head, ¡°Brunus¡­ Don¡¯t you try this again¡­¡±

    ¡°Dammit Gaius, is a hug too much to ask for? Come on, dude!¡±

    It was no secret to anyone who knew him Gaius didn¡¯t like to be over-emotional or show any signs of caring towards others. He had lived a life of few friends and was mostly happy being excluded from friendship circles while he read his books, played strategy games and studied on the histories of the past. His brother Brunus was the only true friends he ever had, and even still a hug was too much, even at that important of a day. He shook his head once more, and Brunus would not need a third rejection to get the message.

    ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m too tired to insist¡­¡± He pushed the screen back to his front, ¡°I¡¯ll actually be taking a break for a while, so I guess I¡¯ll see you in a few days.¡±

    ¡°See you,¡± Gaius said coldly.

    Brunus clicked the confirmation button, and before he let it go, he smiled, ¡°Oh, and try to be a bit nicer! You could use it!¡±

    Gaius scoffed at his remark, turning back and crossing his arms.

    ¡°Love you, bro!¡±

    Brunus let go and was instantly disconnected. His body vanished in a flash of light and without anything else, he was gone and back to the real world. Gaius was now the only player in the palace. His home never felt the same when that was the case.

    ¡°¡­ That guy¡­¡± Gaius whispered. He had always been berated to act more nicely by his brother, who was always keen on trying to be a good person. His brother would never have considered playing such a violent and serious game and Impera was Gaius not doing so himself. Of all realities he could have gone to, he chose to stay by his elder brother¡¯s side, and for it, Gaius loved Brunus, even if he wouldn¡¯t admit it.

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s go, Minerva.¡± He said, walking away.

    Minerva followed with a confident ¡°Yes, Princeps.¡±

    Gaius climbed the next set of stairs, getting to the second level of the palace. While most roman domestic buildings were mostly terrestrial, Gaius would not defy the convenience of a layered house simply for aesthetic reasons. Pragmatism, after all, was one of the Roman virtues he most agreed with.

    ¡°Were there any reports of revolts, disasters or any kind of problems in the provinces?¡±

    ¡°No, I had a quick report given to me by Apollo before we set out to Rome. For now, the empire is at peace.¡±

    ¡°Peace¡­¡±

    It was not a word the emperor heard very often. They were always at any point in time at war with someone, putting down rebellions or doing both at the same time. The emperor had no friends, nor did it look for them. In many ways, Gaius ran the state much like he did his personal life. Everything of value must be taken by force, and there are no true allies but those who see you as a tool for their grandeur. At any time, there is always one could do to further their purpose and empower themselves. It was difficult to believe there truly wasn¡¯t anything, either internal or external the emperor could focus on.

    ¡°Tell me about the remaining Divine Legionnaires.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Have you had any problem recently as their Legate?¡±

    Minerva hesitated for a moment, ¡°Nothing major, beyond some mild inconveniences not worth your time.¡±

    ¡°Inconveniences?¡±

    Were there anything at all Gaius could attend to, even things of minor importance, now was the time to nail them down, ¡°What exactly do you speak of?¡±

    Minerva, who walked behind Gaius bowed slightly with her head, ¡°I apologize if it might come as condescending or in anyway questioning your grand design¡­ But I must say some of the Divine Legionnaires you created are quite¡­ Difficult to work with.¡±

    And with that, Gaius instantly understood what she was on about. Her companions, brother, and sisters of the Divine Legion were uniquely built each by Gaius to serve different purposes, yet their personalities were bound to clash with one another. Various names popped on his head over possible candidates to Minerva¡¯s disapproval, with two standing above all others.

    ¡°Is this about your sisters?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, Princeps¡­¡± she said, as if making a huge bet, ¡°I will not name them for their own sake, but I must say I often find myself at odds, and even outright disagreeing with them during our tasks. They still obey given my post, yet it would seem they don¡¯t yet recognize me as their Legate yet.¡±

    In truth, Gaius never really planned his custom NPCs to end up forming such a high-ranking task force. At the beginning of the game, when he did not take things quite as seriously, he had made some particularly colorful characters simply out of enjoyment, basing them on famous figures of Roman History. It was all in good fun until the World Conquest really got going. AT the height of those wars, it was doubtful any of them would come out alive, but through sheer effort, they still managed to survive, even if just barely a hundred. By that point, the unit should have been renamed to Divine Century if anything. The times of troubles filtered most of them into an early grave, yet there were still survivors of the early days. Minerva was such a one, among others.

    ¡°I know who you speak off.¡± Gaius asserted, ¡°I know those two think and act very distinctly from you, but that is not to say they are at fault for who they are. If anything, I should apologize to you for making them that way and then be ordering you to lead them.¡±

    ¡°Please, do not apologize Princeps.¡± She said, stopping and getting on one knee, ¡°It is an utmost honor to serve in my post, and I will endure anything to see my duties performed as well as my predecessor had.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Gaius said, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t like your job to fall to any of them, would you now?¡±

    ¡°Err¡­ N-No, Princeps, I would not¡­¡±

    I had been long since he had joked with an NPC before. Usually, it would only be commands and requests of reports on topics of administration or warfare. There was a soft spot in his heart when it came to the Divine Legion on the other hand. He would give in to pretending they were real in their case. Was he too stern on it, he would quickly find himself unable to talk with anyone anymore.

    ¡°Beyond them, you mean to say there is nothing at all to attend to?¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± She affirmed, ¡°Everything else regarding the empire¡¯s bureaucracy is on capable hands for the time being.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    After a long way, they reached the Imperial Bedchambers hall. The door laid at the end, encrusted with the Purple Eagle, the personal emblem of the emperor. At the height of wars, it would be guarded 24/7 with troops, but given the Divine Legion¡¯s reduced number and extensive size of the empire, there were better things they could be used for. He only needed the strongest of the Divine Legionnaires to be there for him always, and even then, it was rather overkill. It was the extra pair of eyes which was truly valuable.

    Gaius opened the door, re-entering his own chambers after a very long time in the front lines. He had been subjugating tribe after tribe of monsters for several weeks by then, a minute process which consumed far more of his strength than he had noticed on the field. His muscles were stretched and could use some recovery.

    His bedroom, much like the palace was the same as before. A large banner of the Roman Empire flew above his bed, while many objects of Roman culture decorated the rest of the room. Among his many personal belongings was his bust of Augustus, his favorite Roman Emperor of all time, and who he had named his in-game character out of. His personal goal in Impera was to be seen by the NPCs as greatly as the actual Romans saw Augustus in his prime. Another objective he could proudly say to have accomplished.

    The flags and trophies of many defeated nations were hanged in the walls as reminders of his achievements in the game. There were times players would ask them back after their territories were fully integrated, but Gaius wouldn¡¯t give in. The past was an important thing to remember, and their defeats were part of it.

    ¡°Excuse me, Princeps, but may I ask something?¡± Minerva asked.

    Gaius, who was lost in his own thoughts was remembered of his NPC¡¯s presence. Minerva was standing nearby the door, awaiting a response.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°If it is not too intimate a topic to intrude on¡­¡± He lowered her voice, ¡°¡­ May I see your face?¡±

    A strange request, to say the least. Was it truly out of curiosity, or was there a hidden motive? Gaius never ever took off his helmet, be it in peace or war. All it would take was one arrow, one obliteration spell or a quick sword to end it all. Dying in Impera was extremally humiliating, and the stronger a player was, the bigger was his loss in experience and power. The fact he had remained alive for so long was one of the reasons he was the strongest there was.

    ¡°No.¡± Gaius said, ¡°You know I can¡¯t take any risks.¡±

    Minerva nodded, ¡°Understood, I apologize for suggesting you should risk your personal safety.¡±

    ¡°If you wish to know what I look like, simply imagine Brunus, but with a manlier face.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Minerva gasped, ¡°I suspected that as brothers you would be quite similar.¡± She saluted, ¡°Thank you for indulging my request.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Gaius stretched his neck, cracking a few bones. There were not real, yet the feeling they made was just as good, ¡°I relieve you of your guard duty, for now, you may return to overseeing the Divine Legion.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Princeps?¡± Minerva asked, ¡°You mean to be left unguarded?¡±

    Gaius had seen this coming. Minerva would not give in to an order she saw as foolish, even if uttered by himself.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I want¡± he nodded, ¡°I need some time to reflect on the future of the empire.¡±

    Minerva looked down, reflecting on the topic herself, ¡°I see¡­ It¡¯s only prudent to do so.¡± She stepped up, ¡°However, before I depart, I would like to ask ¡­¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I know well this is none of my business, but if I may know, how long Will Lord Brunus stay in the Unconquered Lands?¡±

    Gaius did not expect her to ask such a thing. The concept of the Unconquered Lands was a core pillar of the faith of Sol Invictus, the unifying religion of the empire. To explain how players could simply vanish out of thin air, it was said that instead of the real world, the players went back to a heavenly place, a different dimension from that of Impera. Of course, every nation had its own way to explain the phenomenon to the NPCs, but now that the Empire was all there was, the Unconquered Lands was by far the most dominant of the sects. In all aspects, players were viewed as gods by the NPCs, and it was easy to understand why. They appeared and disappeared out of thin air at will, they were far more capable of learning new abilities and only accounted for 1% of the world¡¯s population. It¡¯s only sensible Minerva might have felt curious to when one of her own gods would return.

    ¡°He told me he will be back soon, no need to worry.¡±

    Minerva sighed, audible enough for Gaius to listen even with both weary heavy helmets, ¡°I understand¡­ Thank you for answering my question, Princeps¡­ However, if I may ask one more thing¡­¡±

    Her tone lowered, for a moment she did not seem as stern as she was meant to be.

    ¡°Now that the World Conquest has been completed, will you return to the Unconquered Lands and to the side of Sol Invictus?¡±

    It was a related, yet once more completely unexpected question. Since when did Minerva concern herself with their personal lives? It was possible something in her programming had gone wrong, yet it had been a long while since the game had shown any kind of AI errors like such. Either way, it was difficult to answer. Gaius was just as, if not more tired than his brother and planned on taking a nice and long sleep in real life, but now a lingering sense of duty, a willingness to stay came forth from inside. Was he feeling pity for an NPC? Was he caring for what a piece of coding would feel if he left her? As he debated the issue in his mind, the shocking truth was that he was indeed. Recalling his previous talk with Brunus, he was likely influenced by his ways.

    ¡°I might.¡± Was his reply.

    Minerva stood in silence, grasping onto her spear ever tighter, her blond ponytail who always flew elegantly on her back twisted slightly with her head, ¡°¡­ Then, may I ask when you will return?¡±

    Finally getting a better grasp of the intention behind Minerva¡¯s words, Gaius understood that she was fearing to be left without any of her masters around. She had after all been specifically made to only be loyal to Gaius and Brunus, so it would make sense for her to feel like that. It was the first time Gaius had seen this part of their programming manifest in such a negative way in an NPC¡¯s personality. Something was strange in her behavior. Regarding when he would return, it was not easy to respond. In truth, the more he reflected the clearer it became wars and conflicts were not the only things which had become tiresome for the emperor. For all his talk of destroying his enemies, doing so would be very time consuming and would offer little satisfaction beyond maintaining the status quo. It was a good one yet the effort it was going to take would be massive. At times like these Gaius pondered if he should not be playing one of those erotic virtual reality games where the players could simply live a life full of sexual pleasures and simply get all their worries out of their minds. Impera had implemented many of the same mechanics with prostitutes and concubines, yet Gaius had never taken any of those yet, focused on the war effort like he was. Now that he would spend most of his time in Rome anyway, perhaps he could start entertaining that idea better.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps?¡± Minerva pulled Gaius from his inner deviation with a worried call out. Her important question was unanswered, and it visibly put her in a nervous mood.

    ¡°Ahh¡­ It¡¯s¡­ I don¡¯t know how long it would take¡­¡± he said, the words coming out of his mind with little care to how they might be interpreted, ¡°I might take a break from Impera for a while like Brunus is doing¡­¡±

    Minerva took in his words, ¡°I see¡­¡± she said. She would not speak for what increasingly felt like an eternity. Was she thinking of something difficult? Or was there simply an error in her scripts like he first imagined?

    ¡°¡­ If that must be, then I shall await in the palace until your return.¡±

    She walked out of the room, glancing back at Gaius for a second before closing the door behind her. It likely wasn¡¯t the answer she wanted to hear. No matter, he shouldn¡¯t be too worried about what an NPC feels, either way, Divine Legionnaire or not.

    He sat on his bed, casually looking over the mirror on the wall. Looking at it, he couldn¡¯t help but think he looked like an evil emperor in a shitty fiction. The one truly terrible man that does evil every day. The dark lord that must be taken down in the name of justice and all there is good. The malevolent force of darkness that would one day destroy the world. The one who the hero would one day defeat and bring triumph to the forces of good. He laughed softly at the idea. Playing the villain had, after all, always been a far more intriguing prospect for him. In works of fictions, he often found himself rooting for the bad guy. He always looked like the one who wanted to change the world and act on his own views.

    There was no good, or bad to Gaius, only those with power and the ones without it. If you had power, in whatever form it was, you decided what was good or not. That was the reality as he saw it. Even if he did live in such a performance, he still wouldn¡¯t see himself as bad at all. The hero in his story would simply have been one of the countless rebel leaders he had killed in the past, or many enemies he destroyed. If there ever was such a hero, he was long since dead.

    The idea was an interesting prospect. Was he really a villain, what would he do now that he had won? No matter the story, the villain almost never won, and even if they did, the narrative would have been cut short right after he had been triumphant. Furthermore, what did the actual Emperor of the past do once they had achieved greatness? As many examples popped up, the generic answer could be compiled into not much. Everyone had a limited time to work with, and they couldn¡¯t possibly be able, willing and lucky enough to do everything. In their lifetimes, they either died right after their apex or slowly withered away into obscurity as their prime distanced from them.

    Was this what he wanted? To simply be a figurehead of his past self, a shadow that only lingered as a product of circumstance? Given the complexity and reality of Impera, to have achieved such greatness Gaius could be compared to many great generals and politicians of the past. His effort in achieving his goals was, after all, the same one that drove each of them.

    It could be time to leave Impera and try new things. He knew well he couldn¡¯t simply ignore his real life, and it was about time to get it back on track while he was still at the prime of his youth. Who knows, he might ever write a book about his experiencing in leading the World Conquest. So much drama, violence, and characters were into it that it could make for an entertaining read for someone interested, much like reading about Caesar¡¯s campaign in Gaul or Trajan¡¯s Dacian Wars.

    Gaius got up from his bed, walking over to his window. The Eternal City shined in a bright orange as the shades of a dawning sun reflected upon it. Its limits extended as far as the eye could see. The Imperial walls standing mighty and visible from afar. Out of all Virtual Reality games, at the end of the day, Gaius was happy he had chosen Impera. Not only was he able to make a full career out of playing it, but it became his second life. On it, he lived the life of a conquering Roman Emperor, fulfilling his ambition to the absolute maximum. Were this a real world, he would be remembered as a legend. No, something far more than that.

    The civilians walked the streets, calmly living their simulated lives. Some players conversed in some corners, probably discussing new tactics to become either stronger or richer. So many different races littered the streets it truly felt like the capital of the world. The greatest city to have ever been, and ever will be in Impera. It was a sign, a reflection, and model of what the empire stood for. One capital city, one empire, one religion, and one emperor. Brunus had asked himself before, but what exactly was he to do now? All enemies had been vanquished, all powers obtained. All territories and peoples conquered, and all ambitions fulfilled. Was a life of constant struggle to keep it all in place truly worth it? After all, how much longer would he play this game for? There is no fun to be had in the traditional sense, and Gaius had no friends he could count to assist in circumventing that problem. Was this what it be to be alone? To have everything, yet to feel nothing? The more he reflected on it, the more he was convinced he needed to head to a brothel.

    Gaius¡¯ eyelids got heavier. His shoulders lowered, and head inclined. He had been awake for 20 hours straight, and it showed. Whatever would fix his mood, a good night of real life sleep was needed.

    He called onto the menu screen. He couldn¡¯t resist taking one final look at the World Map. Calling on the Map function, a large screen depicting the vast continent of Impera appeared. It was entirely painted in dark red. Every single place, to the smallest of villages, tiniest of islands and most remote of mountains until the great capital itself. When he first launched this, all he saw was a mess of kingdoms, principalities, duchies, and every one of them at war with their neighbors. Back then the population of the game world was far lower, and the citizens lived in far greater poverty. Those days were over, and the empire, the World Empire was now all there was.

    His ego satisfied, Gaius closed the map and clicked on the log out screen, but then, something claimed his attention. The UI had a reflective property to it that displayed what laid behind Gaius in the bedroom. There was something that should not be there.

    He turned back to confirm, and it was true. The bust of Augustus had a strange item laying on top of it. A green accessory made from leaves. As he approached for inspection he understood what it was. A Laurel Wreath, a decorative military, and cultural headdress awarded to Roman¡¯s of great merit and importance in the past, but most importantly, not an item Gaius possessed. He had different versions of the item in earlier years but abandoned its use once he learned that a helmet was far more important to have. This Laurel Wreath in the other hand was quite sleek and elegant, a true work of art which looked as real as anything could.

    Had an assassin put this there to provoke a reaction from him? Was it a present from Minerva or someone else? If it was none of the above, where had an item like that come from? In search of an answer, Gaius dragged his menu screen toward the bust and switched to the function that analyzed in-game items. To further his confusion, the game did not recognize any items there beyond the bust itself.

    ¡°What the¡­¡± he murmured. It was getting very suspicious. Gaius had never heard of any magic that could trick a user¡¯s own item detection mechanic. The magic spells focused on mind illusions, of which he was a master of never had any such spells. Was it an error? And if it was, is it on the game or just the item, or function?

    The suspense was getting out of hand. Gaius grasped onto the item, confirming that it was indeed there. Its green leaves rested upon the stone statue as if it was made to be there. He couldn¡¯t deny it was nicely made. He thought about putting it on, but it would require him to take off the helmet.

    He hesitated, yet a new thought arose. If he equipped the item, it was possible the game would then recognize it, and then he would know exactly what it was and who it belonged to. He got his helmet off, getting the Laurel Wreath out from the bust and putting it on top of his short, dark brown hairs. It was very comfortable and much lighter than he first assumed. They rested on each of his ears, circling around the head as a tiara would. Nothing strange came out of it, it was an item which the game failed to identify, even equipped.

    He looked into his mirror, a few meters to his right. Upon closer reflection, he might need to cut his short beard a little, as it looked less and less roman as it grew. His purple eyes overflew with the patrician aura he had envisioned when creating his avatar. It was basically just a copy of his real body, save the eye color. By then, he had run enough of a risk. He put back his helmet, on top of the Laurel Wreath. As the leaves were light and frail, there was no problem in fitting it back on.

    He dismissed the item mostly. It wasn¡¯t the first time he found items around who players or NPCs might have dropped, or the game spontaneously spawned.

    Gaius blinked heavily, his exhausted state more apparent than ever. His real body must have been hungry and thirsty as well. He called back on the Menu Screen and now clicked the logout button with no interruptions or second thoughts. Awaiting his transition back to reality, he wondered what kind of sandwich he would make, and what beer to drink. Leaning his head up, he took one final look at his room before leaving.

    ¡°¡­ Hmm?¡± Gaius murmured.

    The log out hadn¡¯t worked. He was still in his Imperial Bedchambers, still immersed in Impera¡¯s game world. He clicked the button again. Another time, and one more after that. None of them produced a different outcome. The disappearing light that called him back to his home never came. It was beyond concerning, but Gaius wouldn¡¯t let it get to his head. Was the game malfunctioning, he had only to wait or contact another player who could help him.

    Something else was wrong. The air he breathed was thicker than usual. Polluted and disgusting. He coffed, walking away a few paces. In coincidence, the sound of something burning reached his ears. Was somewhere ablaze, the smokes it produces could have been the source of the foul smell.

    He walked to each corner, confirming the scent was present all around. It did not smell of carbon or burned materials, it was simply a corrupted essence, a shallow air devoid of anything pleasant to it. Although the flames still burned somewhere, he distanced the connection between the two.

    Where were the fires coming from? When he glanced out of the window, the city was exactly as he last saw it. By then the sun had already dawned and most citizens went back to their homes. No players were abusing Obliteration spells nor had a single street torch been knocked over a pile of wheat. There was no fire, yet he still heard it clearly. It came from all directions, as if surrounding him.

    A terrible scream echoed behind Gaius. It wailed in agony as it sent a shiver down his spine. He jumped away from it, turning back with a hand on his hilt.

    ¡°W-Who¡¯s there?¡±

    His room was empty, not a soul beyond him on it., only the dark void of his creation and wish. It sounded as if a child was under attack. He would not doubt his ear as the shout was heard with absolute certainty. Perhaps a small kid had found its way into the palace, but even that was even harder to accept. It would take an extreme effort for the most capable and experienced players to even think of attempting to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. The Divine Legion patrolled it always, and even an entire army of tens of thousands would be repelled with easy by their combined might.

    Had someone taken pity on a street beggar? There were some individuals among his created NPCs that might have possibly allowed it, but they would have asked for his permission first. In the end, It simply did not make sense.

    The scream echoed again, deep within his head. It started a headache, increasing in intensity as time passed. Realizing the sounds were coming from his own mind, he pondered the possibility of having fallen for some Illusion Spell. There were none in the entire archetype that would force a user to hallucinate on a kid¡¯s screams as far as he knew, and Gaius had mastered all the spells of the type. This was something else, and it rocked the emperor to the core.

    Gaius set back on his bed, grasping on his head, wishing for the hallucinations to cease. They would not, and the harder he wished them to be gone, the more they entrenched themselves. His muscles fainted, and in an instant moving an inch of his body became a monumental task.

    ¡°My¡­ Arghh¡­ What is¡­¡±

    His heart pounded within him, the beat sounded with such intensity it clouded the fires and screams for a moment. It accelerated, pumping back and up nonstop. It was impossible, his heart couldn¡¯t possibly be beating at all. He was still in Impera, the one thing Gaius was still sure about.

    Something was terribly wrong. Gaius panicked and called onto the menu screen once more. It did not appear. With that, the last bases of his reasoning were thrown into question as well. At that moment, nothing was certain, and everything was beyond reason.

    He looked in his hand and only saw a blurry image. His eyes squinted, and now he saw as clearly as if underwater in a polluted river. His stomach was empty, lungs shrieking and body decaying. No matter what he did, there was only discomfort, confusion and dread to find.

    He fell on his bed, unable to move, think or feel out of pure volition. It was a strangely familiar stance. Far gone his ability to shout for help or look for it on his own, Gaius waited for what was to come.

    Footsteps ranged from beyond the door. Someone was walking to his chambers, but by then Gaius knew he, she or it wouldn¡¯t arrive in time. He let out a final breath, closing his eyes and letting the pit of the unknowing consume him. That was his last day, and first.

 Chapter 2: Part 1: Barbarians At The Gates

    Darkness, silence and the lonely void. With a heartbeat, his reality changed once more. Blood pumped back on his veins, and he returned to light. Gaius woke up, if only barely.

    His muscles were stiff all around. Stretching them was as painful and uncomfortable as trying to bend a bone. He took a breath, and slowly opened his eyes. There was as much to see with them opened as with them closed. His obscure environment smelled and tasted poorly. If one can feel the essence of the atmosphere, it is rarely a positive thing.

    Gaius shook his head. He was no longer in his bed but on a cold and solid surface. At first, he imagined he had fallen to the floor, but it wasn¡¯t the case. While his Bedrooms was made from polished and fine rocks, the structure he was in had rusty, uncomfortable and uneven.

    ¡°Urgh¡­ Where¡­. What happened¡­?¡±

    He forced himself up, hitting against something. He wailed in pain, even if he didn¡¯t feel any of it. The surprise of the collision was what had gotten him. After inspecting what it was, he lost his breath. Another surface, just as rugged and of the same material as the one below. He stretched his arms to each side, finding the same barriers. He was stuck, captured or imprisoned somewhere.

    ¡°Where¡­ Am I?¡± he asked.

    There were many possibilities to his predicament, and the worst ones were first to reach him. Not one to stay idle, Gaius pushed the surface away. To his surprise, it worked, far too effectively in fact. The stones were broken apart by the force of his push, spreading dust in the air and broken pieces all around. Whatever it was that imprisoned him, it was no more.

    Gaius placed his hands over the leftover structure, propelling him up and getting back on his feet. Looking around, he found himself in darkness once more. He could see it was a large room, yet its identity or location was altogether unknown. Stepping out of his prison, Gaius touched his head. His helmet was still equipped, and with that much, he knew he was still in Impera. He breathed more relaxed, happy he hadn¡¯t been kidnapped or taken hostage in real life. He should have assumed as much after having broken out of the stones, as it was proof on his in-game strength.

    There were still too many questions to entangle. Where was he exactly? Who or what put him there? What was going on?

    Concluding the dark room wasn¡¯t helping with any of his doubts, Gaius casted a small ball of light into existence. That simple Manipulation Spells could offer a great amount of illumination, no matter the case. The pillars were the first to become visible, along with the marble walls and the pieces of rock from his coffin.

    ¡°¡­ Wait, what?¡±

    He looked back to where he had awakened. It was a rectangular box, full of decorations, candles and presents surrounding it. A bust of himself was beside it atop a marble table, and a huge Imperial Banner flew on the wall overlooking it. This was a resting place. His resting place.

    It was ridiculous of course. He was alive, and he knew it better than anyone else. Ridiculous, sure a prank or an elaborate joke.

    ¡°¡­ Oh no, what if¡­¡±

    Gaius pondered the possibility of some assassin have gotten the best of him while he slept. It would have been the height of shame. Not only would he have lost so much power and prestige, but his reputation as unkillable would have been completely tarnished.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± he said, ¡°Who was it?¡¯

    He thought hard on the matter. For some reason, he couldn¡¯t recall at all his last moments before sleeping. He had been escorted by Minerva to his chambers, but after she left everything became blurry. Perhaps he had been so tired he just fainted on his bed. By then he had neglected his need for sleep for too long, and that possibility was quite valid an explanation. But anyway, what was the meaning of his current predicament?

    Looking around, the grandeur of his locations couldn¡¯t mean it was an improvised prank. The coffin stood atop a great stairway, and the ceiling was decorated with carvings in Latin and many honorific symbolisms. Several unlit candle lights surrounded the altar, giving it an almost religious feel to it. A great dome sustained the place, many times larger than many buildings by itself. Gaius did not recognize it from any of the myriads of buildings he commissioned, visited or built himself.

    Despite the extravagant and expensive architecture and decorations, there was none inside to see it beyond Gaius. The place couldn¡¯t easily house thousands inside, but it¡¯s was empty of visitors or regulars. With what he knew so far, Gaius could say he had been placed somewhere under firm Imperial Control. Even then, it didn¡¯t tell him much. Roman Culture had already been spread all over the continent, so to guess which province or city he was on was impossible.

    He stepped down the stairs, taking a long walk until reaching the bottom. The was a large door at the end of the hall, whose path was riddled with roman pillars. They were carved with Latin words and pictures, detailing past events of his career in Impera.

    The first one to his left detailed two men standing beside a small city. The next one showed the same men fighting side by side in battles against many enemies, ranging from Taurus, Centaurs, Elves, Sirens, and at the very end the Dragons. Between them, there were instances where Gaius seems to spontaneously spawn people from thin air. He concluded it must be a depiction of the creation of the Divine Legionnaires. Over all, whoever made these pillars knew well the chronology of events.

    An uneasy chill overtook Gaius. Just how long had he been in that prison? Could it have been more than just a day? Half a week? A full one? It would have taken a long time to build a place as nice as this, and with every more detail, he found the bigger the amount of time he deduced he was away got.

    The final pillars stood beside the door. The one to the left showed a huge storm devastating a Lupus settlement, a clear depiction of his last battle in the northern campaign. This is where the story being told should have stopped, but there was another piece to it. The final columns, the one to his right told another tale. It depicted a man on his chambers, and another person standing by him.

    Gaius had no memory of such an event. If anything, it must have been a mention of the last talk he had with Minerva, but why would someone want to preserve such a meaningless event in the column was unknown. There could be something he had forgotten, but nothing came up. As he stared onto the drawing, a scream reached him. It came from far beyond the doors, yet it was clearly heard. It was strangely familiar. He had heard it before, so perhaps it could be someone he knew. It was just as possible to be a trap or even part of the extremally elaborate and convincing prank being placed on him. Whatever it was, he wasn¡¯t going to learn anything If he ignored it.

    Getting to the door, Gaius couldn¡¯t open it. It was locked. He tried it again with a little more force, but it still didn¡¯t budge. He did not wish to break the door of such a marvelously built place. It would be a great injustice to the ones that had poured so much time and effort into building it.

    The girl screamed again, a little fainter and more desperately than before. Was she being attacked? Was she on the verge of death? Whatever it was, Gaius couldn¡¯t let a door stand in his path. He broke it off with a push. The mighty gates were rocked against the walls with great force. The sound of collision echoed through the halls, both inside and out.

    Gaius walked forward. On the ground were pieces of broken wood and chains. Looking to his side, it¡¯s leftovers still hanging to the doors gave a clear reason to why he couldn¡¯t open it. The doors weren¡¯t locked but barricaded from outside. There could be many reasons for it. It could be someone didn¡¯t want him to get out. Of course, as he had just shown, such an effort was futile. The far more likely case was that they did not want anyone to enter his place, but for what reason was still unclear. Was someone afraid of him, of fearing for his safety?

    Striding through the halls, no sign of life could be heard. He knew there was some girl at peril, but until she screamed again he would not know the direction to go. There was another door at the distance, and that one wasn¡¯t locked. Opening it, however, proved to be far more a source of questions than answers.

    It was a library of sorts, or at least it used to be one. The bookshelves were thrown apart, with piles of books burning to the corners. There was blood on the floor, and marks of footsteps over it. A huge fight had broken up there. Gaius drew his gladius and moved in with caution. He kept his scutum at his back, in case of any backstabs or traps. The Imperial Banner was burning on the wall, and any resemblance of order was overthrown by chaos.

    There was a sword on the floor and beside it a hand. Whoever it belonged to, it was hidden behind one of the few bookshelves still standing. Gaius went to see who it was, finding a dead soldier. He had several bruises and cuts on his armor set, but not at all received from any kind of conventional weapon. His chest plate had five pierced holes in it through which his cold blood flew. Whoever killed him, it wasn¡¯t human.

    Another thing claimed his attention, not particularly related to the incident. The soldier¡¯s set was extremally unusual. The classic heavy armor of his legions wasn¡¯t what the dead soldier was equipped with. It was a far simpler, weaker and cheaper set, even if inspired by what his legions used. In his empire, the soldier¡¯s equipment was paid, offered and given by the state, to the soldiers. There was no reason why one of them should have resorted to wearing such an inferior substitute.

    The weapon, which supposedly belonged to the soldier was different as well. It was longer, more brutish and clearly a two-handed blade. The legion¡¯s weapons should have been a gladius like Gaius¡¯, a simple and short, but effective weapons used in coordination with other troops. Why was it then, this Imperial soldier was using a weapon like such?

    As a matter of fact, the more he paid attention to his surroundings, the less he could identify if they were roman in nature. While his mausoleum was quite like the aesthetic, everything else was strange, almost alien in one way or another. The roman columns were nowhere to be seen. Marble wasn¡¯t at all used to form the walls. Was he really in his empire? Just where was he?

    Someone was walking on the other side. Footsteps approaching Gaius. A black hand grasped onto the bookshelf on the other side, it¡¯s sharp claws tearing off pieces of the furniture. The monsters made itself visible, a Lupus showed up.

    He grinned like a feral beast, typical of his werewolf-like race. While he was an enemy, Gaius was happy to see him. His presence explained a lot. The Lupus were responsible for this attack and Gaius was somewhere near the border with their recently conquered lands. The fact they were in the recently acquired Roman territory was the reason why the soldier was wearing poor equipment and why the general structure of the place was lacking. The Lupus were organizing some revolt against a local roman colony, and that¡¯s the reason for the fight. There was still the matter of why he was placed in such a place, but for now, he knew what he needed.

    The Lupus charged Gaius, who grabbed him by the neck with his left hand. The beast seemed to be taken by surprise as it tried to claw the Emperor¡¯s hands off, kicking and biting but to no avail.

    ¡°Can you speak?¡± asked Gaius. It was rare for monsters recently added to the empire to be knowledgeable in Latin, much fewer randoms like the one with him. On the other hand, it was important to try to peal as much information as he possibly could.

    The monsters did not respond, dedicating his entire attention in trying to escape or harm him. Gaius squeezed his neck tighter, ¡°Can. You. Speak?¡±

    His throat at the verge of breaking, the monsters let go of his movements. It would seem Gaius was being too rough.

    ¡°¡­ Useless.¡±

    He pressed the monster''s neck with such force it decapitated the Lupus and dropping his body. The head fell along with it and know justice had been done for the dead soldier.

    Gaius looked at the monster¡¯s corpse. Given the brown furs and unremarkable eye color, it was simply a common Lupus, which could mean the revolt itself wasn¡¯t that much of a problem. All it would take was for him to contact a local legion and they would be more than able to restore the peace. He pondered how harshly he should punish whichever wolfpack was responsible for the attack. In truth, he was surprised the Lupus were feeling so bold as to openly defy him already, after all, he had done to their people. Perhaps genocide was the only solution, and he would give their lands to more peaceful and already tamed races from the empire.

    His hand was warm from the fresh kill¡¯s blood, flowing throw his fingers. His heart pounded with adrenaline.

    ¡°¡­ What?¡±

    He placed the filthy hand onto his chest. His heart was indeed beating, ¡°This is¡­ My heart¡­ How did I not notice this?¡±

    It was unbelievable. The only answers he could come up with was the game now allowed players to feel their heartbeats. Why would they do that? Gaius was sure games of the type had to offer some mechanisms for the users to know they were no longer in the real world. If that had been removed, then there was only one way to know.

    Gaius called on the game¡¯s menu, but nothing came up. He tried a few more times but the result was the same. He couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling he had tried this before. So many things so far were familiar, and yet he couldn¡¯t understand why. A small headache took over whenever he thought about it too hard. Nevertheless, he forced himself to endure it.

    It started to come back to him. That night, something happened to him. There was something important he was forgetting. Then, he remembered. The Laurel Wreath, and all his hallucinations. The screams, the fires, his weakness. Although he hated to do it, Gaius had to take his helmet off to check.

    It was there. The Laurel Wreath rested on each of his ears, equipped and steady. He tried to take it off, but it would even flinch. He tried again, with both hands, unsuccessful nonetheless. It wasn¡¯t only stuck, but as if bound to his very being. Gaius did not know what to make of it. How was it didn¡¯t get off? Was it the reason for all of this? Unable to call on the menu, or any in-game function, as a result, Gaius was as clueless of things as an NPC would be. Everything he thought he knew was constantly changing, and nothing was certain. He needed help from another player, no, he needed help from Brunus. In a situation like this, he was the only one he could trust to assist him with no ill intentions. Could it be he was in a similar situation to this?

    He recalled to an important fact. Brunus had left the game before Gaius found the Laurel Wreath. He most likely was not in this limbo-like mix of reality and Impera, like him, but back in the real world. Knowing this greatly upset the emperor, deprived of the only person he could count on.

    For a third time, the girl¡¯s scream reached Gaius. They were much closer this time. Given the assumed distance, she would be in the other room. Lost in his own problems as he was, Gaius forgot about the entire reason why he was searching the place. He put his helmet back on and marched to her aid. Passing by both corpses, he found the door that leads to her direction. It was already open, which could mean the Lupus from just now had come from there. It was possible the sound of breaking out he made earlier was what caused him to get here.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    It was an extension of the library, but many times bigger. The numbers of corpses and damaged furniture could only mean this is where the main engagements had taken place. Seeing no roman alive, it was safe to bet the Lupus had won it at heavy costs.

    Three Lupus were attacking a small girl, who was hiding behind what looked like a simple shield from the Manipulation School of magic. She didn¡¯t look capable of forming one entirely, so resorted to pressing against a corner. The monsters were attacking the barrier, trying to break it. While unsuccessful, they were making dents on it, and soon the girl would run out of Magicka either way. Besides playing the hero, it was important to save the girl, who could explain in detail what had happened.

    The monsters turned, most likely have heard him enter. They left the girl be, for now, focusing on Gaius.

    ¡°Can any of you speak Latin?¡± Gaius asked.

    None responded, replying with the same disdain the first one had. They didn¡¯t look intent on answering, even if they could.

    The girl, who had her eyes closed until now opened them. Her military vestments were different from the previous dead soldiers but clearly Roman. Who had let a girl join the legions? Was it possible they were at such a desperate situation they resorted to conscripting children? Why was he not informed of this?

    She looked at Gaius and screamed, ¡°Soldier, please run away!¡± she cried, tears on her face, ¡°We have already lost¡­ Don¡¯t throw your life away too¡­. Please¡­¡±

    She must have gone through a lot. Guessing her age, she should still be younger than 15, still a kid. The carnage she experienced must have been traumatizing, and any hopes of victory left gone. It was understandable to give in after seeing your comrades die, but did she not recognize him? How could she tell him to flee against simple Lupus?

    As he thought about them, the three monsters charged Gaius. The first to arrive bit his neck, the other clawed his chest and the last his legs.

    ¡°No¡­¡± the girl cried.

    It was a coordinated attack, typical of their kind. It was extremally effective as a hunting tactic and even for combat against normal opponents. Gaius, however, was anything but common. The monsters quickly learned their attacks did no damage at all, either to his body or armor.

    There was no point in trying to be nice. The last creature he killed could not talk or be of any use, and his companions looked to be the same. Letting take the initiative was useful to test their overall strength, as well as to test if he had suffered any experience penalties from his death.

    Everything, to his delight, was in order. His resistance to attacks of their level was just as strong as it should be. They had now outlived their usefulness. Gaius stabbed the closest one with his gladius, an instant kill. His companion reacted quickly, jumping for a backstab at Gaius, who turned around and it him with his hilt, breaking the monster¡¯s ribcage.

    With two already either dead or incapacitated, the third one tried to flee, yet was frozen on the spot. Gaius used a paralysis spell of the Illusion school of magic to lock him in place. He wouldn¡¯t bother with running to his distance and settled with shooting a sharp icicle on him. It penetrated the monster, killing it as quickly as the blade would have. The girl watched in awe, closing her eyes whenever any of the monsters died.

    ¡°This is what happens when you defy the empire.¡± Gaius said, ¡°If only you knew our language, I would allow you to live and spread this knowledge.¡± He walked to the incapacitated Lupus, stepping on his broken ribcage and pressing it on the ground. His torso was spread on the floor, organs, blood, and bones flying in all directions. It was a messy kill, but it was important to deliver the right punishment.

    Gaius sighed, ¡°That¡¯s the last of them¡­¡± He glanced at the girl, who still had her shield up, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You are safe now.¡±

    She looked just as terrified as when the beasts were attacking her. At second thought, it was his own fault. He shouldn¡¯t have expected a girl of her age to be fine with the way he killed them. His own armor set was now covered in blood, along with his sword. He did not look as much as an ally as just a stronger monster, ready to kill her too.

    Gaius sheaved his weapon, cleaning the excess blood off the plates he could reach and spoke more gently, ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to witness this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s okay¡­¡± She dropped the shield, but still covered in the corner, ¡°T-Thank y-you¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Gaius said, approaching her on the wall. She had a small cut on her right cheek. A small thing, but it still bled, ¡°Stay still.¡± He said, waving a magical yellow light onto her. It was a medical spell, healing her wound easily. Due to the size, no scars were left. A complete restoration of her being.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± she said, touching her cheek, ¡°Thank you again, mister¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Gaius.¡± He said.

    ¡°Right, Gaius¡­ Err¡­ sir.¡±

    She obviously had no idea who he was. Gaius had lived such a long time with people already knowing of him far before they met he became ill acquainted with it. If she served in the legion, how was it she didn¡¯t know her own emperor¡¯s name? It was excusable for the average plebian not to know, but those who pledged to serve where bound to know at least as much.

    ¡°And what is your name?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ You mean to say you don¡¯t know?¡±

    She asked as if it was his own obligation to know. Discontent at the reversal of expectations, Gaius said bluntly ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Well, in that case¡­¡± she got up, ¡°My name is Julia, pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Tell me then, Julia, what happened here?¡±

    She tilted her head, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The Lupus, of course. Are there any more of them in revolt? Is their leader dead?¡±

    His questions only breed more confusion on her face, ¡°Revolt?¡±

    ¡°Yes, this is a revolt, isn¡¯t it? Some Wolfpack running around, pillaging and destroying everything.¡±

    ¡°No sir, from what Lady Minerva told me, they were looking for me, and not much else¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Minerva? You know her?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± she exclaimed enthusiastically, ¡°She¡¯s my mentor and guardian, the legendary Divine Legionnaire Minerva!¡±

    Gaius did not know what to say. Minerva was nowhere near the type that would give any attention to kids like Julia, no matter if they were soldiers or not. He drew a parallel between the two, however, and asked: ¡°Was Minerva the one that taught you that spell?¡±

    ¡°She was! It took a few days to learn it, but I could cast shields just in time for today.¡±

    ¡°¡­ A few days?¡±

    NPCs were supposed to have a much harder time at learning spells than players. For a common one to learn a spell like the one she used it should have taken months, and yet she mastered in faster than even a few of the people he knew. Could it be she was a player? He eyes were also purple, it could be a sign she was some person¡¯s custom avatar. If he could confirm it, this whole thing¡¯s possibility of being a prank would increase ten-fold.

    ¡°There¡¯s a spider behind you,¡± Gaius said, in English. Julia didn¡¯t move, only tilting her head once more in confusion. Was she a real girl really trying to deceive him, she would have reacted in some way to the alert of a spider. Even a small look to the wall would be enough proof. Despite it, she acted much like the Lupus had when he spoke Latin, that is, not understanding it at all.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry, what was that?¡± Julia asked.

    ¡°¡­ Nothing.¡± Gaius said, switching back to Latin, ¡°Just ignore it.¡±

    His plan had either failed, or it proved she was just an NPC. If it was the latter, how could he explain her proficiency in learning spells? Was she someone else¡¯s custom NPC? Yes, that must have been it. In that case, after he met with Minerva, he could ask for help from that player who was likely in a similar position as him, not being able to use the menu and all.

    ¡°Take me to Minerva. ¡°Gaius ordered, ¡°I must speak with her.¡±

    Julia lost her hers for a second, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry sir, but Lady Minerva rarely receives a soldier¡¯s summons¡­ Besides, she is very busy now.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡±

    Julia did not know who he was, but she seemed to know Minerva well. There was the little point is proclaiming that he was the emperor if meeting her in person and telling his own name wasn¡¯t enough. He had wasted enough time with her, and now that she had said enough, he cut to the chase.

    ¡°Still, tell me where she is. It¡¯s important.¡±

    ¡°In that case, mind if I go with you?¡± she asked, ¡°She told me to hide here, but now that all soldiers are gone¡­ ¡° Her face went teary again, ¡°¡­ Please, I¡¯ll guide the way if you take me to her.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Stay close, but not too much.¡±

    ¡°A-Alright¡­¡± she walked away from her corner, ¡°That way.¡± She said, pointing to another door.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Gaius walked in front, and she followed close behind.

    ¡°I said not too close.¡±

    ¡°S-Sorry!¡±

    Julia stepped away half a meter, her head, and shoulders low. As they passed by the corpses, Julia did her best to avoid looking in any of their faces. Gaius, in the other hand, made an active effort to do so. If he could recognize any of them, he would have a better idea of things.

    They passed by the door and resumed a long walk through the building according to Julia¡¯s directions. Gaius was walking at a slow pace, but his tall stature and large feet made it so each step covered a big distance. Julia often had to do small bursts of speed to catch up, careful not to intrude too closely.

    ¡°Julia.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes?¡±

    ¡°Gaius looked back, ¡°How is it that you know Minerva?¡±

    ¡°How I met her, you mean?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Gaius affirmed.

    ¡°Well, to be truthful, I¡¯ve known her as far as I can remember¡­¡±

    ¡°You mean¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s been taking care of me ever since I was born according to her.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    At yet another instance, Julia managed to say something that completely confused Gaius.

    ¡°Why would she do that?¡± he asked, trying not to imply she wasn¡¯t worth her time.

    She looked up, with a sorrowful face, ¡°¡­ After my father¡¯s death, she was the one in charge of raising me¡­ She¡¯s like my second mother¡­¡± Her face went red, ¡°Oh! Please don¡¯t tell her I said that!¡± she begged, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t like to be called that¡­¡±

    Gaius couldn¡¯t reach the end of it. Every time he learned something new from that girl more questions pooped up that needed answering. If he kept on like this, it would quickly devolve into a full-on interrogation. He resolved to save most of his doubts to Minerva herself, who would provide the best and most reliable information available. He would only address what was important, here and now.

    ¡°Is she in this building?¡± Gaius asked.

    ¡°No sir, I¡¯m leading us to the exit.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Gaius opened yet another door, ¡°You said she was busy, but with what exactly?¡±

    ¡°Well, with the defense of the city, of course.¡± She replied.

    ¡°So, we are in a city¡­¡± Gaius said, more to himself than to her, ¡°Which roman colony is this? Are we inside or merely near the ancestral Lupus territories?¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Colony?¡±

    ¡°Yes, which one?¡±

    ¡°We are in Rome, sir.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Gaius stopped. He turned around, looking directly into Julia, ¡°¡­ Come again?¡±

    The young girl shrieked, shaking her legs, ¡°W-We are¡­ In Rome¡­ sir.¡±

    Of all things, this was the hardest to believe. He could accept the game had changed and allowed to feel heartbeats. He could understand if someone had transported him to a faraway corner of the north. It was even plausible that the Laurel Wreath wouldn¡¯t leave his head thought some power or force he didn¡¯t yet understand. On the other hand, Barbarians at the gates of Rome was out of the question. His capital, his own city, the heart of the empire, at the grasps of Lupus? It was ridiculous, and Gaius made sure to express it.

    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± he said, ¡°Again, where are we?¡±

    Julia received Gaius¡¯ terrifying attention, stepping back as she insisted, ¡°But¡­ We are¡­¡±

    ¡°You are lying.¡± He said, with a hint of anger, ¡°The Lupus couldn¡¯t even hold onto their own lands, much less go all the way to Rome. To even suggest it is, as I said, nonsense. Countless legions, forts and players would have stood in their path far before they even got far from the north.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sorry, but¡­ I swear, I¡¯m telling the truth!¡±

    Gaius stared deep into her eyes. Whatever her words, it didn¡¯t look like she was lying. She had already confirmed to know Minerva, and on second thought, it really didn¡¯t make sense why she would be anywhere away from Rome. In addition, it was more believable for him to have awakened in the same city he was last in. The more he thought on it, the stronger his resolve. He needed to see it by himself.

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s say I believe you.¡± Gaius turned back walking, ¡°I still need to see it for myself.¡±

    ¡°Alright¡­¡± she said, pointing to the large other doors, ¡°We will get to the exit after that one.¡±

    Gaius got to the door she spoke of, opening it with haste. He was nearby a large set of stairs leading upward, large gates to his right. Imperial Banners, although damaged and rugged still flew in the same places. He couldn¡¯t believe for a moment. It was the Imperial Palace. He looked around in disbelief, trying to find anything he could use to defy it. Nothing came up. He was indeed in Rome, and Julia spoke the truth.

    Even with all this proof, his brain still tried to reject it. How could the Lupus have entered the Imperial Palace itself? If this was his virtual home, then where were his Divine Legionnaires? Julia spoke of Minerva fighting, but all others should have been here. In his flurry of looking for any signs of life, Gaius saw a group of soldiers standing by the place. They found him at the same time, rushing to him.

    They wore the same substandard armor set as the dead soldiers from before and seemed glad at their appearance. It was possible that at least they knew who he was.

    ¡°Lady Julia! You are safe!¡± they shouted.

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± Julia replied shyly

    It was a small lot, barely tens or so soldiers. There were two others who looked too wounded to come and greet them. They were almost as covered in blood as Gaius was. Another thing they shared was their confusion once glaring at each other.

    ¡°¡­ Who is this man with you?¡± the soldier asked.

    ¡°This is Gaius!¡± she said, ¡°He saved me from the Lupus in the library!¡±

    ¡°Gaius, eh¡­ ¡°he extended his arm, waiting for a handshake, ¡°My name is Gaius too, seems like our mothers were both quite religious.¡±

    Much like Julia, he didn¡¯t know who he was. The emperor took longer to reply than he should. In Impera, his name was rather unique, even if simple. Players weren¡¯t allowed to change their usernames, and so they were stuck with what they had. When he picked that name when the game launched, the empire didn¡¯t exist yet and there was no reason for people to emulate him. Even at the height of his reign, the civilian NPCs didn¡¯t name their children Gaius. This awkward similarity in names was unnerving, yet he shook the soldier¡¯s hand either way.

    ¡°How did you manage to get out of there alive?¡± the other soldier asked, ¡°Marcus and Lucius were the only survivors we met from that section, and they are just barely scraping by¡­¡±

    ¡°I killed all the remaining Lupus.¡± Was Gaius¡¯ given response. The soldiers eyed him weirdly, before chuckling, ¡°Sure¡­ Nice one. You can tell me later how it was you two got out. What¡¯s important is that Lady Minerva won¡¯t have our heads for losing Lady Julia¡­¡±

    ¡°Speaking of her¡­¡± Gaius interrupted, ¡°Do you know exactly where she is?¡±

    ¡°Why, leading the defense of the city, of course.¡± He said, ¡°She should be on the streets right now, probably¡­¡±

    Someone knocked on the barricaded gates of the Imperial Palace. Everyone¡¯s attention was stolen by the act. They hit them three times, before shouting ¡°Let us in! Quickly!¡±

    While in a normal siege this would be an easy trick, the fact they spoke Latin was an easy way to know they were likely not Lupus. The soldier turned to the entrance, ¡°¡­ Dammit, open the gates, quickly!¡±

    ¡°Sir.¡±

    The soldiers at his command ran to the door. There were many planks of wood, chains and large objects there to avoid it¡¯s opening. It took a while to disarm the improvised barricade. As the gates were opened, several soldiers flooded in. An entire century rushed inside, exhausted and half dead. Several of them were wounded, some even more than the two others on the wall. The gates were closed again, recommencing the long process of putting the barricade up in place.

    ¡°Good job¡­¡± Their centurion said, ¡°Now, we need to prepare...¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked the soldier, ¡°Do you mean to say¡­¡±

    The tension in the air was palpable. The centurion took off his helmet and looked at the soldier, ¡°Minerva ordered us back here. We will defend the Imperial Palace and Lady Julia to our last breath.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sir.¡± The soldier saluted, recognizing the order, ¡°How much time do we have left?¡±

    ¡°None.¡± He affirmed, ¡°Minerva¡¯s last forces are fighting down the street as we speak. She won¡¯t be able to hold out much longer given all the damage she¡¯s already taken, and to top it all off...¡±

    ¡°¡­ What is it sir.?¡±

    ¡°¡­ There¡¯s an Alpha Lupus leading the monsters.¡±

    The already dreadful mood sunk to new lows. All soldiers trembled at his words. They were justified to be afraid, after all, what were they against the Lupus, let alone their elite warriors? Gaius could not see the hope of victory in any of the legionnaires. The only one who had any of it was the centurion, probably out of pure stubbornness.

    ¡°I see she¡¯s already here.¡± The centurion said, looking at Julia, ¡°And who is this one beside her, a bodyguard?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°Strange, you must be some kind of mercenary then?¡± he asked, analyzing Gaius¡¯s set, ¡°I can¡¯t deny it looks very expensive, but that is not important right now. Get into positions and wait for the incoming storm.¡±

    ¡°I will do no such thing.¡± The emperor said.

    He earned the centurion¡¯s wrath but disregarding him, ¡°You insubordinate little¡­ You plan to get out there? Are you mad?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and no.¡± he said, walking away to the gates, ¡°I plan to bring the storm, not wait for it.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± shouted Julia.

    Gaius stopped, asking ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± she asked, ¡°I know you''re strong, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself.¡± He said, while the soldiers reluctantly got the few objects they had placed back away from his path, ¡°This is my city, and I will defend it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Your city?¡± Julia asked.

    ¡°Gaius pointed his hand at the doors, pushing them open with an intense Manipulation Spell. The cries of his citizens being killed, their homes burning and streets littering with corpses struck deep into him. It was true, all of it. Rome was being destroyed at his very eyes. He did not know how, or why, but it didn¡¯t change the fact.

    He would allow it to proceed. Looking down the streets, the final stand was at its death rows. He saw the Lupus down there, looking back at him. There was still a small Roman force left, and a familiar soldier on the ground. It was Minerva. To be on the floor in such a situation, it could only mean the worst-case scenario had happened. Gaius clenched his fists, grinned his teeth and squinted his eyes. With the rage of a thousand suns, he stepped out of the palace. As he proceeded, a black furred, red-eyed Lupus stared directly at him. He was the leader of the Lupus, the responsable for the destruction of his city, the slaughter of his people and desecration of his empire.

    Gaius was focused. Each step fueled by his anger and will of revenge, he would do what had to be done. Gaius would show them the full wrath of the emperor.

 Chapter 2: Part 2: Barbarians At The Gates

    As much as she wanted to deny, her body couldn¡¯t keep going anymore. She fell to one knee, drained and beaten. Every bone was between fractured to outright broken. Her heavy armor set was the only reason she was still alive to feel the pain. Completely dry of magicka, no spell would be of use. Blood flew down her helmet, gauntlets and chest plate. She could not die. She would not allow herself to die. Using her spear as balance, she got back in her feet.

    The few soldiers still left by her side watched on. If they saw their leader fall, there would be no hope left. The Lupus horde counted near ten thousand, but the same was true regarding them and Iraminus. If Minerva could take him down, if only she accomplished as much, there was a chance. She would stand and fight, no matter the cost.

    ¡°I¡­¡± she said, pointing her spear to the Alpha Lupus, ¡°¡­ I will do my duty.¡±

    Iraminus grinned with a spiteful smirk, ¡°Such is the fanatical loyalty of the tyrant¡¯s leftover abominations¡­¡± He looked to the Roman soldiers, ¡°I will send you all back to the demonic dimension of your demon god and will make sure every inch of this blasted city burns for all eternity.¡±

    It was hard to quantify if it was pain or anger the most dominant of Minerva¡¯s feelings then. Reflecting on it, it was a disappointment of herself. Being too weak for defending Rome, one of her sacred tasks, she was a complete failure as a Divine Legionnaire. It could be the Princeps saw this disappointing weakness within her, and that¡¯s why he left. She had waited for all these years, but he never did return. She was responsible for it. She couldn¡¯t do what her position demanded of her. She lowered the spear with her head down.

    ¡°And the girl¡­¡± Iraminus said, ¡°She will get the death her kind deserves.¡±

    Minerva snapped. She would rather die than let a filthy barbarian like that dog say such things. Charging him, she thrust the spear on him. He dodged, jumping up and landing behind her. She bashed her shield against him, but the shock of impact hurt her arm far more than the enemy. Fighting at the required level was impossible.

    Iraminus, who blocked the bash with one arm used the other to punch her away. She slid back, dizzy and almost losing herself. If only she knew there was an Alpha Lupus among them. If only there weren¡¯t some many of the monsters to contend with. If only her brothers and sisters were still around, it wouldn¡¯t have to end like this. As she looked back on what laid to her front, Iraminus had disappeared. His thousands of Lupus barbarians were still watching, but he had vanished.

    Five sharp fangs cut through her back and out her abdomen. The surprise attack caught her completely exposed. The pain itself wasn¡¯t the problem, but they had hit vital organs. She coffed blood, hitting her helmet and dropping off on her neck. As it happened, Iraminus had once again gotten behind her and exploited the weaknesses on her fractured armor. He pulled them off, and Minerva fell. The soldiers shouted for their officers to assist their leader, but they ordered them back. To interfere would only force the battle to restart, and so accelerating all their deaths. They had to buy as much time as possible for reinforcements, even if they would never arrive in time. They had to endure watching one of the last remnants of the Empire¡¯s golden age to die.

    ¡°You¡¯re a resilient one.¡± Iraminus said, ¡°After everything, and even this, you are still not only alive, but you haven¡¯t lost conscience either.¡±

    Minerva did not reply. She could barely hear, feel or see much of anything anymore. Moving a single finger was a monumental task, let alone getting back up. At the edge of death, she couldn¡¯t but imagine if she would see him them. All her siblings, superiors, and of course, the Princeps himself. She smiled slightly, her dreadful failure now sprinkled with a bit of consolation. It was short-lived, as the consequences of her defeat swarmed her mind back again.

    This was the end.  The end of her life, her duty, and her home. The end of the empire, and all that went with it. She wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight against the tides of time, which she cursed herself endlessly for. By then, it was sheer force of will why she was still awake, but soon it wouldn¡¯t be enough. She wanted to give apologies for it all, but the man who deserved to hear them wasn¡¯t there to do so. It was a terrible end, for what was once such a great thing.

    ¡°Romans.¡± Iraminus walked toward them, ¡°Hand over the little bitch, and you will all be spared.¡±

    The soldiers dared not say a word. Those who had stood by to the very end were endlessly loyal to her leader, state and home. At the face of clear death, much like Minerva, they would do their duty.

    ¡°¡­ Very Well.¡± Iraminus smiled, ¡°All Lupus, charge the¡­¡±

    The Imperial Palace¡¯s doors were burst open, cutting onto Iraminus¡¯ orders with the loud sound they made clashing on the walls. Everyone¡¯s attention, even of the front lines Romans was stolen by it.

    A single man walked away from them, descending the steps. In the silence that had formed, each of his footsteps was heard from afar. He stared Iraminus directly in the eye, a thing few people in all his life had ever dared to do.

    ¡°Who in the hell is¡­¡± asked Iraminus.

    *****

    Gaius glanced over his burning city. While the enormous Lupus horde blocked most of the view he could get from the streets, the corpses of civilians, breached doors and slain soldiers were all too evident. At the distance, the Imperial Walls were breached and more of the barbarians came through them by the minute.  It was much like his history books depicted. The sack of Rome and fall of the Empire. It was a tough pill to swallow, but there was no choice not to. At that very moment, even if Gaius could go back to his real world, no matter if this was all just an elaborate scheme to provoke a reaction from him, his resolution was unmovable, unchangeable, unwavering. Augustus had the luxury not to see the city he poured his life into violated to such extent, and he imagined his reaction would be similar. Contrary to him, Gaius was in fact there, and he would act on it.

    While he climbed down the stairs, one of the remaining soldiers shouted, ¡°Get back in you idiot!¡± The other officers followed suit, ¡°Have you forgotten Lady Minerva¡¯s orders!?¡±

    At the mention of her name, it was confirmed she was indeed the fallen one. For an enemy to take her down he would have to be extremally powerful. An experienced Alpha Lupus would fit the role, and that was exactly what laid in front of the hoard. He could not do anything before checking if she was still alive.

    Gaius reached the backline of the improvised roman formation defending the Imperial Palace, ¡°Open way.¡± He commanded. The legionnaires hesitated to obey, but Gaius did not stop. At the sight of this imperative, blood littered armored man, the youngest and most inexperienced faltered. Gaius bore the Imperial Eagle in his chest, a detail he made sure the blood didn¡¯t cover. He had to make himself known as an ally, and it worked.

    The ranks let him pass, getting back in position once get got through. Gaius stood in front of Iraminus, who was beside Minerva¡¯s body.

    ¡°Well, well¡­¡± Iraminus put his foot over Minerva¡¯s back, clenching his fangs on the open wounds. Minerva wailed in pain while Iraminus examined the newcomer, ¡°And who are you supposed to be?¡±

    Gaius did not answer but wondered how long Minerva could withstand her current state. She was still alive but bleeding out and not moving at all. In a sea of doubts, uncertainties and changes, she was the only person he recognized, and even then, she had gone through so much. Whatever happened, she would be the one to inform him. And of course, for someone to damage one of his Divine Legionnaires by such extent was deserving of a very specific form of suffering.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Iraminus barked, ¡°I asked who you are, roman.¡± He pressed onto her body with his foot.

    Gaius glanced back at him, still silent.

    ¡°Are you here to negotiate for your lives?¡± Iraminus asked, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then you must only give us the little bitch, and I will consider if¡­¡±

    Gaius punched Iraminus away with such force he collided against hundreds of his fellow Lupus. After a long journey, his body finally collided with a pillaged house, collapsing it on top of him. The building¡¯s destruction echoed on the streets, and once again all eyes were on Gaius. His fist bloody, and one of Iraminus¡¯ teeth on the ground.

    ¡°Disgusting dog,¡± Gaius said, putting his arm down, "Don''t touch my NPCs."

    Both Lupus Barbarians and Roman Legionnaires were stunned. After a long silence, the Romans cheered as if winning a great victory, while the monsters stepped back in awe.

    Gaius knelt to Minerva, examining her wounds. Had he taken any longer, she would have already been dead. Casting a healing spell, her body recovered, but she did not wake up. She must have become unconscious by then and would need to rest a bit before recovering. He got her in his arms and delivered her to a nearby Roman Officer.

    ¡°She will be fine.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Take hold of her for now, I¡¯ll need some space.¡±

    The officer took her in his hold, ¡°Will she really¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Gaius affirmed.

    ¡°Oh¡­ By Sol Invictus, thank you!¡±

    The sentiment was unanimous among the Roman soldiers. They all gave Gaius their thanks for saving Minerva and tearing the Alpha Lupus a new one.  He claimed their attention with his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate.¡± He said, turning back to the enemies, ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡±

    A furious howl came from afar. The fragments of the house Iraminus landed on were thrown away. He got out of there, rushing back to the frontlines. With astounding speed for most spectators, he reached Gaius and punched his back. Gaius blocked it with his left palm. Iraminus, already filled with rage tried again and was once again blocked. He threw a quick succession of strikes on Gaius all of which failed to reach the target. With it, Gaius now knew exactly how strong and fast the monster was.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    The Lupus cheered Iraminus on, while the Romans did the same for Gaius. What was supposed to be a battle for the fate of Julia became a duel for the life and death of all present.

    After one of such attacks, he did not let Iraminus fist go. He crushed it, breaking his fist along with several fingers. Iraminus cried in pain but kept on the offensive. He kicked Gaius in his legs, likely expecting to knock his base of support. Gaius took the opportunity to break his knee as well, therefore making the monster fall.

    Iraminus got up, standing on one leg. He looked at Gaius¡¯ neck, his eyes fixed on it. Gaius, however, was tired of getting bitten in the same spot. He pulled out his gladius and stabbed Iraminus in the groin once he charged. Taken by surprise with the steed he reacted, Iraminus fell again, not to get up.

    ¡°Dammit¡­ You¡­¡± he said, holding onto his wounds.

    ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Gaius said, stepping on Iraminus¡¯ broken leg, ¡°If you answer it quickly¡­¡±

    Iraminus¡¯ wrathful grin gave way to a bitter smile, ¡°You lie¡­¡± he said, ¡°Romans have no mercy.¡±

    Gaius got his gladius to the Lupus¡¯ neck, ¡°If you answer it quickly, I will spare you from seeing the storm.¡±

    ¡°¡­ The storm?¡± Iraminus asked, ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    Gaius expected a different response. This Alpha Lupus looked quite old, so he should be knowledgeable in things regarding his race. His campaign in the north had only been recently finished. Had they already forgotten what happened, or was he pretending not to know anything? Whatever the case, Gaius decided not to offer any clemency to him. He would, as originally planned, ask Minerva what he needed to know. Sheaving his sword, Gaius let go of Iraminus¡¯ leg, stepping back a few paces.

    Looking around, he saw everyone was confused by his action. They murmured to each other, asking what he meant with the storm. He would give a hint with his following command. He looked at the men behind him, ¡°Soldiers, stand back.¡±

    He gestured, pointing away. They took some time to react, but Gaius, as the one now in effective charge of the city¡¯s defense was taken seriously. They got to the stairs of the palace, a good distance away. It wasn¡¯t at all in an organized fashion as he desired. It would seem a lot of them took it as a threat and ran for their lives to the assigned position. At another instance, Gaius did not recognize his organized legions at all. Thankfully, the one carrying Minerva at least did not drop her.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± asked Iraminus, still very much alive.

    Gaius glanced at him, ¡°This is your punishment.¡± He lifted his arm, pointing his palm to the night sky, ¡°You will know what it is to have your people killed.¡±

    ¡°My people¡­ Killed?¡± he asked with wide pupils.

    A green light emanated from his fingertips. It seemed harmless, having no effect on anything noticeable. Iraminus processed Gaius¡¯ words, and the expression on his face changed.

    ¡°¡­ Ridiculous.¡± He grinned, ¡°You can¡¯t possibly expect to defeat all of us!? Do you?¡±

    Gaius remained obstinate about what he said., the light in his palm increasing in illuminance.

    ¡°What nonsense¡­¡± Iraminus laughed in mockery, his comrades doing the same. Soon the entire horde mocked Gaius for his absurd claim, ¡°Minerva thought she could do it, and even with an entire legion and the Imperial Walls at her side she couldn¡¯t.¡± Iraminus got up, resting on one leg and avoiding his stab wound from bleeding out, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how much stronger than me you are, our numbers are our strength, you cannot¡­¡±

    Iraminus¡¯ eyes went up, looking at the skies. Clouds were gathering at great speeds and thunders began to roar. The weather had been clean until now, but the Moon¡¯s light was being progressively hidden.

    ¡°¡­ What¡¯s happening to the sky?¡± he asked, not to be replied to.

    As Gaius had warned, a storm gathered in the city. Rain began to pour, putting down the fires. Beyond the fact it appeared so quickly there was nothing particularly special about it, nevertheless, those who watched him do it couldn¡¯t believe it.

    ¡°¡­ Is that it?¡± Iraminus asked, ¡°You put out the fires for now, but all it will take are more torches to lit up again, your efforts are¡­¡±

    A lightning strike hit Gaius¡¯ hand. The flash of light and explosion of thunder shut Iraminus on the spot. Electrical currents flew through Gaius¡¯ body and armor. Another one landed, followed by several others. The clouds were charged up, and the size of the storm, already covering all the city got far more intense. There was no way for Iraminus, the Lupus or even the Romans to know, but the lightning bolts were going up from Gaius, rather than down from the clouds. It was taking a lot of Magicka, but the spell was almost ready.

    The members of the Lupus started to become audibly worried. Their race already had a mistrust of storms, who scarred them all when young. This one, who looked to be cast into being by Gaius sent shivers through their collective spines. Those who looted the houses stopped. The ones pouring through the gates began to retreat. Those standing beside Iraminus got as far away as they could. One of them got so desperate he ran away. It kicked a chain reaction of other Lupus also fleeing. They were a minority, but if kept up the entire horde might rout.

    ¡°Get back here!¡± shouted Iraminus, ¡°What are you scared of? Some petty thunders?¡± His taunt was mostly successful, most of the ones fleeing stopping, ¡°We have waited far enough.¡± He said, facing his people, ¡°All Lupus, charge the Imperial Palace, now! Bring me bitches head!¡±

    Gaius never understood a word of what he said whenever he addressed his people. Even when he finally meets a Lupus fluent in Latin, he still must address the others in that northern gibberish. It would have been more interesting to know what their final words were. The Alpha Lupus authority in rallying the morale of troops was admirable, but It played directly into Gaius¡¯ hands. Throwing them out of the city was nowhere near enough. They would get what all those who defy Rome deserve.

    The rain ceased. The city¡¯s fires were already extinguished, so it wasn¡¯t any problem. Gaius lowered his arm and looked at the horde going at him.

    A lightning strike hit their vanguard, killing tens of Lupus. The suddenness of the event looked to be enough to halt their momentum. Another one hit, and then a third, and fourth. A new rain began, but this time one of lightning. The storm had truly begun. Across the city, every Lupus on the streets was hit by a bolt from above. Their deaths were instant, and hope of escape short-lived.  The same carnage repeated itself, killing thousands at every minute. It didn¡¯t matter how many there were, and in fact, their numbers made it easier to hit the targets. Their toasted corpses turned to dust, and Iraminus seemed to be the only one being sparred.

    ¡°This is¡­ Oh no, what have you done¡­¡± he asked Gaius.

    ¡°Hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Seeing your people die at the hands of the enemy.¡±

    ¡°You ¡­¡± Iraminus eyed Gaius with the purest of killer intents, jumping on him. Gaius drew his gladius, cut off his head and sheaved the blade swiftly. It wasn¡¯t a weapon made for slashing, but decapitation felt like the only execution someone with such a dim head deserved. He had given him a taste of his own venom, and the aftermath was all there was left.

    The streets of Rome, a few moments ago overwhelmed by a foreign army were empty. The few survivors were seriously wounded, and those who still could walk did their best to get away from Rome.

    ¡°They are trying to escape!¡± Yelled the roman officer, one of the few not completely overtaken by the spectacle, ¡°Kill the all!¡± he ordered his men. The ran, passing by Gaius and falling onto the Lupus, who were now the ones in a serious numerical disadvantage and leaderless. The city was saved, and the cost of victory was high. The empire would live on, and the message had been given it would not be erased.

    Gaius¡¯ right hand burned and trembled. The lightning bolts he shot to throw it seemed to have affected him quite a lot more than anticipated. Although he already knew Obliterations spells harmed the caster as much as the target, he didn¡¯t expect for it to hurt so much. In fact, it wasn¡¯t supposed to hurt at all. In the game, players were not allowed to feel pain, but here he was doing just that. It didn¡¯t make sense, it was as if the game had changed so much it was barely recognizable anymore. The world was still Impera, and yet so much differed from what he knew. He pondered if the same was true to the other Magical Schools and if this inconsistency with his knowledge and what was true now conflicted that much more. There was yet too much he needs to know.

    The soldiers from the Imperial Palace joined the fray, assisting in cleaning the city of any stragglers. It would still take a while to effectively clean up the place, but there were still enough men to see it done.

    ¡°Gaius! Sir!¡± shouted Julia. She ran down the steps of the Imperial Palace, followed by the Legionnaires he had met inside.

    ¡°Yes?¡± asked Gaius, facing them and trying to keep control of his arm¡¯s convulsions.

    ¡°Where is Lady Minerva?¡± she asked, ¡°Is she okay?¡±

    ¡°She is fine.¡± Said the officer, still carrying her in his arms, laying her against a nearby house¡¯s wall, ¡°She¡¯s unconscious, but still alive.¡±

    ¡°Lady Minerva¡­¡± Julia rushed to her side. Her armor was still severely damaged and filthy of blood. No matter what anyone said, one could not hide that she looked terrible.  Julia took off her helmet, carefully making sure it didn¡¯t tangle with Minerva¡¯s blond ponytail. Her pointy ears and pale skin, typical of elven beings was devoid of any damage, which meant Gaius¡¯ healing had worked fully. He was having some doubts regarding magic, but it seems the medical ones work as intended. Her closed eyes moved. She was waking up, far earlier than Gaius expected.

    ¡°Lady Minerva, can you hear me?¡± asked Julia, ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    Minerva slowly opened her eyes, their green pupils becoming visible. Julia, who was knelt beside her claimed her immediate attention.

    ¡°J-Julia..?¡± she asked faintly, ¡°¡­ Julia? What are you doing here?¡± she grabbed her by the shoulders, ¡°I told you to stay inside!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Julia replied, ¡°But¡­ Everything is fine now! The city is saved!¡±

    ¡°Saved?¡± she asked. Looking around, she saw the decapitated corpse of Iraminus on the ground, the thousands of his dead men and the Romans patrolling the streets. The fires had been put off, and the sky was dark due to the storm.

    ¡°¡­ What happened here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I want you to tell me,¡± Gaius replied.

    Minerva gasped as she heard his voice, ¡°¡­ Who said that?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    She turned to Gaius, who was standing beside her and opposite to Julia, ¡°There¡¯s a lot I wish to ask you.¡±

    Minerva couldn¡¯t muster a response. Her stupefied face stared Gaius, her eyes wide, eyebrows lifted and mouth open. She was greatly surprised, but by what Gaius did not know.

    ¡°¡­ What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps is that¡­ Really you?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± He said, ¡°Who else would I be?¡±

    After his confirmation, Minerva stood up. Out of the blue, she hugged Gaius dearly, ¡°You are back¡­ You really are here¡­¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Yes, I am¡­¡± Gaius said awkwardly.  To add to the list of things he didn¡¯t understand, Minerva¡¯s emotional state was now at the very top three. He had never seen her act like this, and even if he won¡¯t an important victory for the safety of Rome, it was still weird. The personality he wrote should not have allowed her to do this. Had she changed for some reason?

    As she hugged Gaius, she cried many tears, hugging Gaius ever more tightly, ¡°I¡¯ve waited for so long, and you really did come back¡­¡± Despite not liking to do so, he hugged back but did not press it. She was too into it to simply ask her to get back.

    ¡°¡­ What the¡­ Lady Minerva is crying!?¡± asked Julia in disbelief. Her reaction was shared by the surrounding roman legionnaires, who looked just as stunned.

    As Minerva ignored Julia¡¯s remark, her purple eyes changed to Gaius for an answer that he could not give. The moment didn¡¯t look to be ending anytime soon until Minerva let go.

    ¡°¡­ I apologize, Princeps¡­¡± she cleaned her tears, ¡°I have forgotten you do not like to be hugged.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡± He said, ¡°I just wasn¡¯t expecting it.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Where¡¯s my¡­¡± She looked around, her eyes landing on Julia, who carried her helmet. She gave it back, and Minerva re-equipped it, ¡°Now then, I¡¯m ready to serve.¡± She saluted Gaius, straightened her back, ¡°I await your orders, Princeps.¡±

    ¡°Princeps?¡± asked Julia, ¡°Is that his real name?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a name, but his title.¡± Said Minerva, ¡°Also, you must salute him whenever he is present.¡±

    ¡°What? Salute him?¡± she asked, ¡°But isn¡¯t he a soldier of lower rank than you, Lady Minerva?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± she stated, ¡°He is no soldier, but Princeps Gaius, the Founder of the Empire, Strongest Being in History, Eldest Son of Sol Invictus and Conqueror of the World.¡±

    There was a long silence after she said that.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ What?¡±

 Chapter 3: Part 1: What Still Remains

    He had been waiting for a while. As Gaius looked around, surrounded by attentive guards they straightened their backs and made a great effort not to flinch. What is to be done when people fear even looking at you? It was not a new dilemma for him, but at a time of such need of information, it would help that wasn¡¯t so.

    The table he rested on was very large and luxurious, even if only two people used it. Julia sat on the other side and was the only person actively gazing at him. Nevertheless, when he replied with a look her face reddened and began to sweat. She went back to eating her food, and Gaius did the same.

    Mashed potatoes, ground meat, and light spices. Minerva apologized it was the best quality serving they could offer him, but she overestimated how much he disliked it. True, it was a simple dish, but those ingredients were a daily part of his diet in the real world. In the game, he would only eat the rarest and most expensive gourmet offerings from his chefs, but it was simply a part of holding such a high position in the empire. The problem with it was completely different.

    The terrible state his capital was in was evident in many forms. Not only was the city directly threatened and breached by barbarian races, but they would have succeeded was he not there. It couldn¡¯t be a massive migration; their numbers weren¡¯t big enough. How could a small force like that pass through all the obstacles in the way to the empire? In ancient Rome, by the time the capital was being directly threatened like that was far into its decline, long after everything about the state, culture, and military was already rotten, unrecognizable and half dead. An uneasy feeling crossed the emperor¡¯s mind. Had the same thing happened to his empire?

    It couldn¡¯t be the case. Hegemonic nations as the one he forged don¡¯t disappear after a day, week or however long the period he was unconscious in the coffin. This all should be an experiment, a cruel method of the game developers of using the game¡¯s most famous player to playtest new mechanics. Heartbeats, pain reception, and much more. How long had he already been taken captive? Did Brunus know this was happening to him? Did anyone know?

    In the worst-case scenario, Gaius¡¯ body would eventually die of dehydration and lack of nutrients. In a more realistic scenario, involving his capture by the developers, they were maintaining his body alive to keep the experiment going. But even so, what did they want him to do? What was exactly he needed to achieve or prove so they could get him out of there? This situation wasn¡¯t as scary as it would be for most. Gaius had played the game for longer and more seriously than any other in the world. If he had to endure being a prisoner in it, it would be little different than his long marathons in harsh campaigns.

    He was most likely being watched, be it by developers or uninvolved spectators. The path to freedom was unclear, but there was no other choice to do what he could to find. All these uncertainties tired his mind. All he desired was return home, to be in control, to know what he needed to.

    Gaius returned his gaze to Julia, ¡°Girl.¡± He said, loud enough the distance between them wouldn¡¯t interfere.

    ¡°Y-Yes?¡± she said, holding the spoon she used in the air by her mouth.

    ¡°Do you know where Minerva has gone?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± she put the spoon on her plate, ¡°She said the only reliable maps they had were in the Imperial Library, and well¡­¡±

    The Imperial Library was where Gaius had found Julia, also where a battle had taken place. Most bookshelves were either destroyed or burning when he arrived. It¡¯s no wonder Minerva was having a hard time finding what she needed. If Gaius didn¡¯t have a map to work with, it was impossible to know or understand how the Lupus had gotten to the capital. That¡¯s why he had to order Minerva to fetch one before they could speak. All he knew was that something was terribly wrong, and his direct intervention was necessary.

    His eyes were caught by the soldiers behind Julia. They couldn¡¯t tell he was directly looking at due to his visor, but they still acted more nervously than the others. Their behavior added to their poor uniform and poor organization earlier were all hints it was recruits guarding the palace. Where were the Divine Legionnaires? He was at the heart of the Empire, yet Minerva was the only one he found. Had they been taken to posts on the frontiers, or was it what he feared? Had they all been killed during the siege? No, that couldn¡¯t be it. Minerva had managed to hold her ground against an entire wolfpack led by an Alpha Lupus. Had there been two or three more present they could not only have resisted but pushed them back.

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± said Julia, dropping her spoon on the ground. She stretched to reach it, her long brow hairs partially being dirtied on contact with the food. The doors of the dining room were opened. Minerva entered, carrying a large scroll.

    She saluted, ¡°I apologize for taking too long, Princeps.¡± She got beside Julia, taking her spoon from the ground and putting it on the table, handling the girl a clean one.

    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Julia said, to which Minerva did not respond. She walked around the table, arriving at Gaius. She pushed his plate away and laid the map on the table, ¡°It¡¯s only a local Map, but it is the only one still intact I could find.¡±

    Gaius sighed, shaking his head. He dearly wanted a world map, not just a geographic projection of the imperial peninsula. He couldn¡¯t learn much from just the information it could give, but it was hardly a thing of Minerva¡¯s fault, ¡°It¡¯s acceptable for now.¡± He said, ¡°Sit down, we will be here for a while.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Minerva said, pulling the chair back and sitting on it.

    ¡°You too.¡± Minerva said, glancing at Julia, ¡°Get closer to hear the Princeps clearly.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Julia got up, running to the chair to Gaius right.

    Analyzing their relationship so far, Minerva looked to be the one in charge and possessing authority. Given Julia¡¯s ease of learning spells, she was likely an apprentice. It could be the case Minerva was training her to supplement the lack of Divine Legionnaires. By now, Gaius did not have to wait anymore, he could have his answers.

    ¡°Minerva, where is the Divine Legion?¡± he asked. ¡°They should be the ones guarding the palace, not common soldiers.¡±

    She lowered her head, taking off the helmet and putting it on the table. It still had the scars and filth of the battle on it, on top of additional, older looking damages. Her face was anything but cheerful. Granted, she wasn¡¯t supposed to be, but there was an added layer of dread. Gaius built her to look like the goddess of wisdom and strategy, but now she seemed closer to one of sadness, death, and loss.

    ¡°¡­ Is it true?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Are they all¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Not all of them.¡± Minerva said, her green eyes slightly opening, ¡°There are still survivors, not counting me.¡±

    It was a catastrophe for Gaius. Not since the Coalition wars had he dealt with such a huge loss of Divine Legionnaires, and even then, it was spread through a long, drawn-out war. Every one of their sacrifices had a purpose, time and place. Now, out of the blue, he had lost them. Diana, Juventas, Mercury, Bacchus, Vulcan, Mars, and tens of others. They were all uniquely crafted and useful by his past self, and he would be a liar if he said he didn¡¯t care they were gone. Permadeath of custom NPCs was yet another thing setting Impera apart from the competition. It heavily punished mistakes and those who seek war with little knowledge of its consequences. Had he received this news a few years ago, he would be in tears. The awe and wonder of spawning intelligent beings into existence were like a drug he couldn¡¯t get enough of. They were his children, he often thought, but as time passed on the feeling changed and faded. Each he made, the less special the previous one was. After each died, the less impactful his loss was. They were soldiers, and ought to live and die like such. Personally naming, designing and writing their personalities was an unnecessary attachment he couldn¡¯t cut off. Brunus often berated him for calling them just AI¡¯s, but in truth, Gaius was targeting himself. He had to convince his brain they didn¡¯t matter, that they weren¡¯t anything. Now that they were gone, he knew how much of a losing battle he had been fighting.

    Breaking the silence, Gaius asked ¡°Was it the Lupus?¡±

    ¡°Partially. ¡°Minerva pointed to the map, her finger landed in a small patch of grasslands between the Mountains and the sea, ¡°When the previous Emperor tried to halt the Lupus invasion, he was defeated and some of the last Divine Legionnaires were lost, along with several legions.¡±

    ¡°Previous Emperor?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°Who do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Princeps Flavius Gaius. He ruled for many years and was among the first of Arcail¡¯s victims in Roman Soil.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Flavius? Arcail? I don¡¯t know any of them.¡± He said, shaking his head, ¡±I also don¡¯t understand how is it a Lupus horde manage to penetrate this far south, neither can I conceive how several legions could have lost holding such a secure position.¡± He put his hand down, ¡°I¡¯m getting very confused Minerva, what is the meaning of all this?¡±

    As Gaius stared Minerva, he found the same face he was making under his mask on her, ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t know? Haven¡¯t you been watching from the unconquered lands?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    He was reminded of the difference between him and her. His reputation as a divine being made it so she assumed he was near omniscient, which he wasn¡¯t. He would have to explain he was no such thing, and he knew as much as she would tell him. If his reputation had to be diminished, then so be it.

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± he replied, ¡°The last thing I remember was when I returned from the northern campaign and got to my chamber after the triumph of the world conquest.¡±

    ¡°My¡­¡± Minerva gasped, raising her thin white eyebrows and long elven years, ¡°That¡­ I barely remember that night myself¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡±

    She shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, It¡¯s been too long¡­¡±

    ¡°Too long? How long?¡± Gaius¡¯ tone got deeper and louder. Julia trembled at his worsening mood and lack of patience, her eyes on Minerva.

    ¡°It was the year zero of the Imperial Calendar, a millennium ago.¡±

    As her words reach his ears, and from there the information deciphered, Gaius froze. He heard it loud and clear, she did not need to repeat it. Never had he ever heard her tell a lie, much less to himself. His trust in Minerva was almost absolute, and so it made him take her word seriously, ¡°¡­ A millennium¡­¡± he whispered.

    He needed time to think, time to let it sink in. His first thoughts were of complete denial, but they were overshadowed by Minerva¡¯s truthful reputation. He tried to deny it again, but such a time skip would explain a lot. Almost everything, in fact. He was angry. The developers imprisoning him in the simulation were pushing him too far. The rage against what he couldn¡¯t change was monumental, as its consequences were dire. He returned to not accepting it, incapable of making up any excuses to support it, but still trying.

    ¡°¡­ How can this be?¡± he asked, ¡°One thousand years¡­ That¡­ That doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡± Minerva asked, ¡°I might need to check, but I¡¯m sure that¡­¡±

    ¡°One thousand years¡­¡± Gaius interrupted, ¡°¡­ That would¡­ I¡¯m alive, and you¡­. And¡­¡± He looked at his hands, his vision blurring. The feeling was familiar. A sickness poisoned his stomach, a lack of strength in his neck, ¡°I¡­.¡± He took off his helmet, placing it on the table and over the map. It was partially thrown with more force than necessary, colliding with his so-far untouched dinner plate, splashing food around.

    ¡°Princeps! What happened!? Your face ¡­¡±

    Gaius hyperventilated; the helmet was suffocating him, and any reasons to have it on be damned. His vision cleared a little but remained unpleasant. Gaius had both his hands on his head, trying to fight a headache away, ¡°¡­ This thing¡­¡± he said, grasping the Laurel Wreath. Once more, he tried to take it off, as unsuccessful as before. He gave up, frustrated to no end. He looked up, internally cursing the item. He didn¡¯t know how, but it was the reason for his predicament. He had no proof, but his intuition was unshakable. This could very well be the thing that was imprisoning him there, a tool of the Developers. A leash, a trap he had fallen into.

    The world around him vanished as he put all the information back into pieces as if building a puzzle. Everything was normal until he had found this item, after which he had suffered hallucinations, only to wake up in that tomb. Had really died, or was it something else? If he really had been unconscious for all this time, then the conditions of the experiment he was on only got less predictable. What was the purpose of it all? Why were they doing this to him? Gaius was consumed by a great anger. His body was demanding him to punch something. He closed his eyes, took a large breath and let all those negative emotions disappear. A clear mind is a tool necessary to achieve anything, and great obstacles were placed in his path. His headache faded, and he looked back at the table.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I lost myself there¡­ This is a bit¡­ too much to take¡­¡± he pressed his hand to his forehead, both trying to think on important matters and relax simultaneously. He looked at Minerva, ¡°Please, continue the¡­¡± He stopped short, noticing the expression on her face. Her eyes were wide, eyebrows high and mouth open. It was the same astounded look she made when she awoke from her fight, but now with slightly red cheeks. Julia was the same, but her surprise seemed positive rather than shocked.

    ¡°Your eyes¡­¡± Julia said, inclining herself on the table, ¡°They are purple! Like mine!¡±

    Gaius glanced at her, paying heed to her comment. It was true what she said. The girl¡¯s eyes were almost identical in shade and purity, a dark purple like the dye in his armor set. They glimmered, fueled by a child¡¯s astonishment and wonder.

    ¡°Yes, we have the same eyes¡­¡± Gaius said

    ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone like me before!¡±

    It was a minor detail the shared, but Gaius could sense there was something deeper to it. Gaius found himself progressively more curious about Julia, about her origin and nature to be specific.

    ¡°Are you the creation of another being?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°By that I mean, do you have a relationship of creator and created with some like I have with Minerva?¡±

    ¡°Creation?¡± she asked, ¡°I wasn¡¯t created¡­ Unless you count being born as that¡­¡± her eyes squinted, ¡°¡­. Wait, what did you say about Lady Minerva?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m starting to understand¡­¡±

    The important subject of his passage through time had been dropped for the moment. Julia wasn¡¯t a player yet had the same magical talent as one. She wasn¡¯t a created NPC yet had an extremally unnatural eye color for a human. She wore purple robes along with her light armor set, which could only imply she was important. Adding to it, the Alpha Lupus from before most likely referred to her he looked for, and all soldiers treat her as royalty.

    ¡°She¡¯s not just your apprentice, is she?¡± asked Gaius, turning to Minerva, who looked deep in his eyes. Gaius remembered she never did see his face. The surprise in seeing her master and creator¡¯s true appearance must have shocked her, and he completely disregarded it. He wondered what exactly her opinion on his appearance was to deserve such a long glance. As far as his complexion and facial features went, he tried to create the look of a proper Roman Emperor, taking many different historical sources as inspiration. It wasn¡¯t all too different from his real self, apart from eye color. That fact made him quite confident and consequentially gave little thought to looks. All in all, as himself the judge, he looked very nice, or at least good enough to be pleasant to the eye.

    She regained her composure, looking away as her ponytail flew, ¡°¡­ Never mind my lack of response.¡± She said, blinking many times ¡°I was taken off-guard¡­¡± she smiled, ¡°I supposed you do look like your brother, after all, Princeps.¡±

    Gaius returned the positiveness, ¡°Hopefully not too much.¡± He took the helmet off the map, throwing the wasted food away.

    ¡°¡­ About Julia, well¡­ ¡°Minerva blinked heavily, ¡°She¡¯s the only surviving member of the Imperial Family as the first and only daughter born of Flavius.¡±

    ¡°¡­ So, It¡¯s that man¡¯s daughter¡­ Given the large time skip, I assume some usurper Dynasty of emperors took power once I was gone.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t the case.¡± Minerva said, ¡°The Divine Legion managed to secure the integrity of the Gaian line to this day, which I am very grateful to report.¡± She bowed her head slightly.

    ¡°The Gaian line? You mean my line?¡± Gaius asked.

    ¡°Certainly.¡±

    Gaius reflected on what she meant. Had he fathered any bastard children with a concubine? He recalled back to his early days in the game where he indulged greatly in it before the novelty wears off. If any NPC¡¯s did become pregnant, he would have been informed. In fact, he made sure he only ever did it with other races, with whom he, a human couldn¡¯t bear children with. They were mostly succubus, along with some elves and others. He didn¡¯t want any children back then, preferring full control of his creation¡¯s design. If an heir grew into a degenerate, incompetent imbecile, he couldn¡¯t simply get rid of him. All things considered, Gaius left no descendants, and so the existence of a line was impossible.

    ¡°That can¡¯t be.¡± He said, ¡°I left no heirs to establish a Dynasty.¡±

    ¡°You are correct.¡± She nodded, ¡°It was a well-known fact you back then you never did produce any sons or daughters¡­¡±

    ¡°Well then, what is the connection between me and Julia that makes her my descendant?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s your niece.¡± Minerva said, ¡°Your grand-grand-grand¡­ niece, greatly abbreviating it.¡±

    Gaius stood silent. Julia put her hands on the table, shouting ¡°He¡¯s my uncle!?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be rude.¡± Minerva told her, ¡°Act befitting of your blood.¡±

    ¡°¡­ B-But¡­¡± she glared at Gaius, sharing in his disbelieved stare, ¡°¡­ You mean, those stories you told me¡­ Are actually¡­¡±

    ¡°When¡­¡± Gaius said, ¡°¡­ When was it Brunus fathered children? He never spoke of anything of the sort, nor any intent to¡­¡± he stroke his chin, ¡°Was it during the Dragon Wars? Was it when he had remained in Rome at that time?¡±

    ¡°No Princeps, that wasn¡¯t so. It wasn¡¯t a line born of unofficial concubines, but a fully official marriage.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He got married?¡± Gaius asked, not believing it at all, ¡°With who?¡± he asked, followed by ¡°When?¡± and ¡°Where?¡±, and of course, ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I invited?¡±

    For Brunus to have married was completely dubious. His position in the empire, and therefore the entire game was second only to Gaius¡¯ emperorship. The prospect of his marriage would have attracted the attention of hundreds of thousands of players, NPCs and even those who didn¡¯t play the game. For him not to have attended it, but not to have heard of it at all either from Brunus himself or anyone else was ridiculous.

    ¡°It was on the year five of the Imperial Calendar.¡± Minerva said, ¡°His bride¡¯s name escapes me, but she was a Roman born patrician and altogether proper wife to Lord Brunus. They were married in the Imperial Palace, and¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Year five¡­¡± he whispered. According to her, The Imperial Calendar was the time keeping date system which started the day Gaius returned to Rome and found the Laurel Wreath. By then, Brunus was no longer online.

    ¡°Brunus had left to the Unconquered Lands in the year zero, had he not?¡±

    ¡°He had.¡± She nodded, ¡°However, shortly after I escorted you to your room, he graciously returned, and asked to see you.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He came back!?¡± Gaius asked, letting his tension escape to outside. He remembered the footsteps from before he lost consciousness. Had it been truly Brunus? Had he really returned? Another piece fitted the puzzle of mysterious blocking his mind. In his mausoleum, there was that one pillar he couldn¡¯t decipher the meaning off. If the body had been his own, then the man beside it must have been his brother. His eyes opened like a bucket of cold water was thrown in his back. The greatest of realizations infecting his head like a spreading disease.

    ¡°¡­ Where is Brunus.¡± He asked, ¡°Where is my brother?¡±

    Minerva¡¯s eyelids fell. She bit her lips and lowered her eyebrows, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Princeps¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, neither did she need to. Both knew the message had been given. Gaius broke off his stare, his head low and shoulders slumped.

    ¡°¡­ No¡­¡± he protested, unable to keep it inside, ¡°¡­ Brunus¡­¡± he shook his head, clenching his fists and closing his eyes. Tears reached his pupils, reddening them into the shade of old wine. The drops fell on the table, Minerva and Julia just watching. After everything he nearly thought things couldn¡¯t get worse, only to be proven so terribly wrong. Nothing else mattered all had lost meaning. The longest of silences set in, it¡¯s tension unbreakable. All eyes were on him, and his eyes on another world. Another place, another time, another person. Brunus was dead, and with it all, he meant to Gaius. It was like getting part of himself tore away violently and thrown to the beyond. He was empty, broken and purposeless.

    Gaius pulled off the table, getting off his chair. He did so with little energy, failing to muster any of his previous strength, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± He said, putting back his helmet. He walked off, distancing himself from the two. The soldier¡¯s guarding the exit rushed out of the path, opening it quickly. Gaius passed by, and he was gone. None did anything about it but look and despair.

    Once far enough, he got to an empty hall. The fires and leftovers of the siege having worn it out. He leaned on the wall, and broke down, crying. This Gaius could not bear. The tears dropped from his visor and neck. He was alone, and there was nothing that still remained within him.

 Chapter 3: Part 2: What Still Remains

    The streets of Rome had little time to recover from the siege. As Gaius walked them, the soldiers assisted in disposing of the Lupus corpses. They progressed enough so the civilians could feel more comfortable in exiting their homes and start searching for their acquaintances, friends, and family. A father helped in removing a fallen stone pillar from his property¡¯s entrance. Injured soldiers gave rations of wheat and bread to children on their camps., attending to their wounds with low tier medical spells and potions. An elder woman cried over a bloody pound, the arm of a victim visible from Gaius¡¯ angle. He looked away, unwilling to know how young and deformed the victim was.

    The fires raged long and mightily. Through his tour in the capital, he came to the count of one in three buildings being burned beyond repair. What hit him most was they were already abandoned. Decades-old leftover houses of inhabitants long since passed or moved. No rain or thunder came from the skies, only the calm after the storm.

    It was good no one had recognized him so far. Gaius needed to be alone but also wander the capital, finding out what was left. The legionnaires present when he fought the Alpha Lupus were almost all called to the palace to serve as security. The ones on the field were at different sections of the city. As they talked, they discussed how it was Minerva dealt with the invaders. They discussed the storm and its lightning bolts, detailing they never saw her use such a spell. Some condemned her, arguing if she had used it earlier, their relatives wouldn¡¯t have died. Their grief was palpable, a feeling he shared intensively.

    The Imperial Walls were in a similar deplorable state. The stones crumbled, the gates breached. Few to no men stationed in the watchtowers. Were they to be attacked again, Gaius was unsure of what would happen. His spell cost him dearly in magicka and health. It was a combination of the master spells of Manipulation Change Whether and the Obliteration one Wrath of a Thousand Thunders. One of his ultimate and most devastating spell combinations, the fact he was forced into using it was a terrible sign of how corned his situation was, yet something else disturbed him. Would it eventually come to a scenario his magic wouldn¡¯t be enough? If the horde had enough wolfpacks, as the Alpha Lupus threatened, they would endure the casualties and swarm him and Rome with sheer numbers. Minerva mentioned Arcail, and while he didn¡¯t infer any further, he was clearly an enemy of the empire.

    Children laughed and cheered in a not far away section of the city. Gaius crossed the street, curious as to who it was. He reached the Great Roman Forum, the grand marketplace of the Imperial Capital now turned into an emergency housing encampment for the displaced citizens. Playing in a corner with wooden swords some kids played with one another, striking their knees and arms. Others played catch and ran across the tens. Most of them stayed with their families, receiving food and shelter. Gaius¡¯ smiled, for happiness could still be found if he looked for it. Unfortunately, their reluctance to accept or understand their predicament was not shared by their elders or even kids of the same age. Those who were kept along with soldiers were orphaned, and very justifiably sad. It was up to the legions to give them any relief.

    The tents were gathered around a large statue, facing the opposite direction of Gaius and onto the Main city gates. It was on the very center of the forum and looked to be one of the few ones not tumbled, burned or severely damaged by the Lupus. A thousand years could very well have passed, as Gaius never ordered the construction of it. Desperate for reasons that would keep him occupied from his main thoughts, he passed through the people, intended on seeing who the statue was about.

    Gaius¡¯ leg was touched from behind. As he turned, he saw a young girl vested in poor and dirty clothes. Her eyes were heavy with insomnia and sorrow, her parents or responsible guardians nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Excuse me sir¡­¡± she put her hands forward, ¡°Can you give me money for a potion?¡±

    Gaius gave her a second look, concluding her age to be little less than ten. Compared to Julia, she was considerably younger. She must have seen his armor and thought he was rich or in some way wealthy. For a moment he didn¡¯t know what to do. The last time he interacted with a plebian was years ago, and now of all times, he was forced into once more. It was only a kid, he thought. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to reestablish the connection with the common people, however, her request was strange.

    ¡°Don¡¯t the soldiers have what you need?¡± he asked.

    ¡°No, sir¡­ My brother is very sick, and the soldiers said they don¡¯t have anything that could help¡­¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Gaius nodded. While the potions used by soldiers were multi-purpose for many kinds of injuries, it took a very specific kind of brew to combat diseases, especially the stronger ones. The reality the legions couldn¡¯t afford to handle expensive items to poor children appears to have remained. He held no potions or money with him, his collection having been left in the past, and for what seemed likely, already looted, sold or used. Even if he did have one, should he give it? What damage to the empire was a dead plebian kid compared to the diminished security of the emperor? He prepared to tell her to leave, but as the words reached his tongue, they wouldn¡¯t come out.

    A guilt forced him to be shut. He tried to ignore it, from wherever it came from. Something within him was furiously counteracting his rational self. As he silently stared into her dark and innocent eyes, he knelt to better reach her height.

    ¡°Keep your hands open.¡± He said, focusing his own over her palms. A condensed sphere of magical illuminance formed, leaving the girl astonished. She gasped, ¡°W-What is¡­¡±

    ¡°Apply it to your sibling.¡± Gaius said, getting up, ¡°Do it quickly, before the spell dissipates. It will cure his disease, whatever it is.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, okay!¡± she said, running away and fading into the maze of tents. Many eyes had been kept on Gaius as he helped the girl. They nodded in approval and smiled at his mercy. Gaius had performed an act out of pure charity, and the gratitude those who saw it expressed was a new experience for him. His time in Impera was an endless struggle for him to achieve his ambitions, get stronger and never falter to an enemy. These selfless acts were not only unnecessary but often counter-intuitive. He used a strong Medical spell he might need later, but it didn¡¯t feel like a waste. His Magicka was already low before, but now it was almost zero. Opposite to his expectation, he was proud of his action and didn¡¯t regret what he did.

    Perhaps his loss was getting to his head. Brunus would always travel alongside him when spending time in Rome. Had the same girl appeared back then, Brunus would have helped her. That he had no doubt. He was subconsciously thinking about it during the exchange, and now his behavior didn¡¯t look all that unusual to himself. As he desperately wanted to believe his brother was still alive, he began to act on the environment as if he was. Not to assist the girl would be a nail in Brunus¡¯ coffin and a strike directly into Gaius¡¯ heart. He remained still, his vision blurring again. His previous conditions were getting better, but he wasn¡¯t at 100% yet.

    The families around stated giving him a concerned look. No effort he gave in cleaning his armor of all the blood, and even if the surviving soldiers shared in this the woman and children, unaccustomed with the terrors of the battlefield couldn¡¯t help but find it unnerving. He gained a new respect of the girl, for, despite his scary look, she still did what she thought necessary to save her brother.

    One would expect them to not be so surprised, having been in the frontline of a battle merely hours ago. Others looked onto him, but for what seemed a different purpose than fear. The reason why revealing itself as he saw the statue upfront. There were many individuals surrounding him, and their reactions to Gaius¡¯ unique figure ought to be varied.

    Something was wrong. Gaius quickly glanced to a tent behind him. The citizens inhabiting it were nervous yet didn¡¯t pose any justifications to his eerie instinct. Whatever it was that disturbed him, he would leave it be. He resumed his walk to the grand monument, keeping an eye on his back. Circumventing the large stone base, he arrived in front of it.

    At 100 meters tall, a marble statue of Gaius and Brunus stood high, with the Emperor pointing outside the city, and his younger brother looking on with a hand on his shoulder. The years appeared to have worn out the colors, leaving it all white. The armor¡¯s details had been eroded by the wind and rains, sharing little similarities with his set by then. It was, however, undeniably based on the brothers.

    Gaius was speechless, the tears from earlier returning to his eyes. It was the first time he saw Brunus ever since he departed. The depiction of his was identical to his brother, leaving his face open while Gaius still wore his own helmet. There was a tablet inscribed in Latin at the monument¡¯s base. It told of the legendary brothers who founded the city, and the elder¡¯s campaign of world conquest. After many paragraphs talking about himself, little was said of Brunus beyond his obvious familial connections. It was insulting. Who had built this only to purposefully diminish the presence his brother had in the past? Part of him wanted to take it all down for how much it glorified him, yet the other part resisted, resilient to harm the image of Brunus.

    He still wanted to deny it. There was still the possibility none of this was real, and he was stuck in a cruel simulation. His brother hadn¡¯t really died, but only a substitute made by the developers. There was still a chance Brunus had kept to the real world and wasn¡¯t a victim of this reality. There was no solid proof of his conditions on way or the other, but it was the uncertainty which disturbed him. Few things are as damaging to one¡¯s mental health but to be unsure of a loved one¡¯s fate.

    Was he to take it all as true, that is, the shift of realities, the passage of time, his preservation and wakening, and of course Brunus¡¯ death, what was he to do about it all? His empire had fallen, it¡¯s people already deprived of their lives, dignity, and hope. The only person he ever cared for was gone, and his life¡¯s work tarnished.

    There was an additional choice. He considered it before, but only now seriously. Were it all truly a simulation, he was in no way required to play along. Being a puppet of one¡¯s ill intentions was maddening to the proud emperor. If he killed himself, and it was a permanent death, he would be free of his suffering. Whatever experimentation was being run through him, if he was still a master of his own actions and refused to comply, it would be the only thing, the only stab he could take at his imprisoners. Gaius placed his hand on his Gladius¡¯ hilt, and slowly drew it out.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    He glanced at his blade, still covered on old, cold Lupus blood. He cleaned it as much as possible before resting it against his neck, where his armor was weakest. He couldn¡¯t afford to miss it; a single decisive strike was what he needed. There were too many people around, and they were already getting suspicious of what he intended to do. It was a sad end to a sad chain of events, but, as Gaius told himself, at least it was an end.

    ¡°What are you doing!?¡±

    A loud, concerned shout came from behind him. He lowered his blade, turning to face it. Julia rushed to his side, coming out of her hiding place behind a tent with a furious look on her face, ¡°What were you thinking!?¡± she asked.

    Gaius sighed, ¡°I told you not to follow me.¡± He replied, lowering his gladius. The moment had been interrupted, and his motivation wavered, ¡°¡­ I thought there was someone spying on me, and it seems I was right.¡±

    ¡°Screw that!¡± she got closer, ¡°What were you doing with your weapon?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± he said with a cold tone, ¡°You should have followed my order and remained inside.¡±

    ¡°You are crazy¡­ Why would want to¡­¡±

    Her anger quickly shifted to a neutral disbelief, and it looked she was about to cry herself. The reality of his situation was far too complicated for him to give her a full explanation, and even if he tried to condense it all, she was a kid, still inexperienced with the harshness of life.

    ¡°¡­ You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± He said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do this¡­¡± she said the tears finally coming out, ¡°You just arrived here¡­ Please, don¡¯t¡­¡±

    Gaius was puzzled over how strongly she felt over him. They had just met, and yet she treated his life as something very precious. If what Minerva said was true, and they were really related by blood, it wouldn¡¯t change much. They were still mostly strangers to each other, and her behavior was still too over-reactionary. Gaius could understand a girl not wanting someone to commit suicide, but to directly intervene was a step above. She clearly felt there was something special about him. He recalled once more to Minerva¡¯s words. She mentioned her father had died in battle, and she was a single child. Could it be her mother was dead as well? Could it be she had no familiar left in this world? If it was so, Gaius was the last person around she could call family.

    He put the weapon back on his waist, ¡°You can have your way for now.¡± Julia did not comment as Gaius turned back to the statue, and sat down on the floor, ¡°All I wish for is some peace¡­¡± he said, lowering his head.

    Julia sat beside him, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever try to do that again.¡± She said, trying to be scary. Her attempt to intimidate Gaius was pitiful, yet funny, ¡°¡­ Right.¡± He chuckled at her words, remembering the countless true monsters and powerful players he faced in the past. His laugh ceased as he looked up, directly into the statue of Brunus. A long silence was enough to change the mood a little into something more positive. The people around them were getting their hopes up, the tragedy from before looming closer into the past. There were more children playing in the streets, and a more solid sense of hope in the men and women who would rebuild their homes.

    Julia noticed how Gaius was admiring the statue. She copied him, focusing on Gaius¡¯ far more eye-catching and assertive depiction, ¡°¡­ Huh, it really is you¡­¡± she said, ¡°The details are a bit worn, but comparing it to you in person, it really is¡­¡±

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be alive.¡± Gaius interrupted, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be here¡­¡±

    She gave him a concerned look, ¡°¡­ Do you really feel that way? Is that why you¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded, ¡°This is not my time. It might be the place, but not the time¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡± Julia said, encroaching closer to Gaius, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your choice to return?¡±

    Julia was as clueless about Gaius¡¯ true origins as Minerva and anyone else. It was killing Gaius on the inside not to have someone he could discuss his true situation with, being forced to put on with the facade of his in-game character, the Divine World Conqueror Gaius. Never had he felt so alone, isolated and impossible to understand.

    ¡°None of this was my choice.¡± He said, breaking eye contact with the statue.

    ¡°I understand how you feel.¡± Julia said, ¡°My mother died in childbirth, so I never met her. The battle that took my father¡¯s life happened when I was 4, so I don¡¯t remember anything about him¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡±

    ¡°As I am for yours.¡± He replied, ¡°Brunus must have been a great man for you to feel so strongly about him.¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯m proud to be descendant from him!¡±

    ¡°That so¡­¡± Gaius glanced at her, happy at her respect for his brother.

    ¡°What was he like?¡± she asked, ¡°Did he also have purple eyes and brown hair?¡±

    ¡°He did.¡± He said, ¡°Despite me liking to deny it, we were very similar.¡± He found a new peace within him, like a torch being lit in a dark dungeon. Talking of his brother reignited many pleasant memories, both from Impera and real life.

    ¡°So¡­ What about you?¡± Julia inclined her head, ¡°¡­ Are the legends about you true? All of them, or just some?¡±

    ¡°Legends?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± she nodded, ¡°I grew up hearing all about them, from the founding of the city to the empire, and all the wars¡­¡±

    ¡°They are likely exaggerated.¡± He said, ¡°Given enough time, all historical facts are bent into lies that benefit the one who tells them.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Julia distanced herself a little, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so grim about it¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Right¡­. If it tells about a war won through strategy, strength, and sacrifice, then it is probably true. All others who emit any of these factors is probably false.¡±

    Julia¡¯s shoulders slumped, ¡°Awn, does that mean the tale about the Ice Dragon Lord is false?¡±

    ¡°That one was true.¡± He corrected,

    ¡°Really!?¡± her enthusiasm overflowed as she almost jumped, ¡°You really fought one naked?¡±

    ¡°I was younger¡­ And a bit more reckless.¡± He leaned his head up, looking at the sky, ¡°The dragons are a proud race. It was the best method I could conceive of humiliating them enough to accept servitude to the Empire. Looking back, it was a gamble I shouldn¡¯t have taken.¡±

    Julia laughed, ¡°Wow, I¡¯m trying to imagine that¡­¡± she fell on the ground, rolling to each side in pure joy.

    ¡°Brunus didn¡¯t laugh about it when it happened.¡± Gaius said, immediately killing the girl¡¯s mood, ¡°Does the legend mention how I had to strangle it to death, then dismember its body?¡±

    She looked at him, ¡°N-No¡­ Not really¡­¡±

    ¡°He hated me for it, in fact. He was against invading the Dragon Mountains in the first place, knowing how many casualties we would endure.¡±

    Julia got back up, still sitting beside Gaius, ¡°When you put it like that, I guess I wouldn¡¯t be in favor of it either¡­¡± Her eyes squinted, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t like war¡­¡± her closing eyes quickly widened, ¡°¡­ Wai! Don¡¯t tell Minerva I said that! She will punish me!¡±

    ¡°So, you don¡¯t like war¡­¡± Gaius said, ¡°It seems it¡¯s not only eye and hair color you share with my brother.¡±

    ¡°War is terrible¡­¡± Julia spoke with an uncanny sincerity, ¡°Ever since I was born, we have been at war. Always sending men to the front lines, most of which never returned. The few friends I could afford to make were all the sons of legates, and I watched them being orphaned or even die themselves one by one¡­ And my father, too¡­¡±

    Even though she was a child, Julia¡¯s view on wars was completely different from Gaius¡¯. For the conqueror, it was the standard way through which to achieve his objectives. For the most part, he was victorious, but it seemed Julia¡¯s case was the opposite. He had only heard of Roman defeats in her time. She would have been yet another victim of them if he hadn¡¯t awoken. From her point of view, Gaius could see why she felt like that. She never knew true peace, and it showed. It was a shame how sad she looked now given her happiness just a few moments ago.

    ¡°They say war is an unending season, and peace merely a momentary break. That was the reality of when I rule. Even if it was mostly me waging the wars.¡±

    ¡°You talk like you¡¯ve killed a lot of people¡­¡± she said, lowering her voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I have.¡± He said, ¡°Today wasn¡¯t even the bloodiest battle I¡¯ve had.

    ¡°I guess¡­¡± She lowered her head, ¡°If possible, I would like to avoid killing people¡­¡±

    The more she spoke, the more she seemed like Brunus. It was a comparison that by then Gaius couldn¡¯t stop making. Form her appearance to personality there were too many similarities not to notice. Minerva would be undignified the girl who was being raised as the future empress had such a passive mentality in an age war was unavoidable. She was right to fear her reprisals, but even so, she couldn¡¯t be like this. The Empress couldn¡¯t be like this. If Rome was to defeat its enemies, whoever and regardless how many there were, it would need to defeat them in battle.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped¡­¡± he said, ¡°You cannot choose what you feel comfortable about.¡±

    ¡°¡­ So you understand?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I do, I¡¯ve dealt with your kind before.¡±

    Julia giggled, ¡°Hehe¡­ I guess you have¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey look, it¡¯s the man from the statue! It¡¯s Gaius!¡± The proclamation of his presence came right out of the crowd. As tens, to hundreds of eyes went to the emperor, others confirmed the claim, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s him!¡± some said, ¡°It¡¯s the legendary hero of Rome!¡±

    A crowd began to surround both Gaius and Julia. They were already in a public space full of people, but know they focused on him rather than the soldiers offering food and potions. He had been sitting beside his statue for such a long time by then it was folly to assume no one would have seen the similarities. There was also enough time to give the news of his victory to circulate from soldier to soldier, and eventually to civilians, ¡°Were you the one who killed the Lupus?¡± one asked, ¡°Did you call that storm yourself? How?¡± another one asked.

    ¡°Err¡­ Yes, I did.¡± Gaius said, trying to keep some distance without hurting anyone, ¡°You are all too close, give me some space¡­¡±

    ¡°He cured my brother!¡± said the girl from before, carrying a younger child in her arms, ¡°He is a really good man!¡±

    Gaius gruntled as he heard her say that. She didn¡¯t realize the reaction the people would have, but he sure did. Soon after, the huge crowd began to ask for favors from Gaius, asking him to use his medical spells on their kids, themselves or their friends. The situation was soon getting out of control. Julia was getting very scared, getting behind Gaius and letting the statue block her own back. The Emperor sighed, knowing this whole thing was mostly his own fault. People of his rank shouldn¡¯t be moving around in public alone, lest they wanted exactly this to happen.

    ¡°Everyone stand back!¡±

    The words didn¡¯t come from Gaius but from Minerva. Her voice came loud and clear from beyond the mob. As her voice penetrated the mass of civilians they faltered, opening the way for her passage and getting back to their tents. She marched through the now clean center of the forum, accompanied by a few guards. Saluting as always to Gaius, she got on one knee.

    ¡°I apologize for this happening, Princeps.¡± She lifted her head, ¡°Please, allow me to escort you the next time you desire to walk in public.¡±

    ¡°I should be the one apologizing.¡± He said, ¡°You won¡¯t be punished for doing so, but why did you leave the Imperial Palace?¡±

    ¡°I was looking for Julia.¡± She said, ¡°The guards reported losing track of her shortly after your departure. I went to look for her and found the commotion here¡­¡±

    Julia continued to cower behind Gaius. He could feel her shaking in his armor plates.

    ¡°¡­ Although, there is a matter I wanted to discuss with you, Princeps.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°We have received a new wave of refugees from the countryside.¡± She said, getting up, ¡°Five thousand displaces families from small villages and farms have gathered outside the city and await permission to enter.¡±

    ¡°Refugees? Rome had just recently been sacked. If anything, we should consider sending the citizens to other cities, not welcome more into this one. We can¡¯t possibly sustain all of them.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, we have no other cities. All major settlements in the Imperial Peninsula have already been taken under Lupus Occupation, Rome being the only exception¡­¡±

    ¡°Rome is all there is left?¡± Gaius asked, astonished, ¡°Has the empire really fallen this low?¡±

    Minerva put her hand over her heart, ¡°¡­ I sincerely once more apologize¡­ Through all these years, I was incapable of keeping hold of your conquests¡­¡±

    At that moment, Gaius regretted having left their meeting. This was all crucial information that needed to be acted upon as soon as possible. Right then, it didn¡¯t matter if this all was real, a simulation or whatever else. His empire needed him, and after so long, he would finally answer.

    ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s my fault.¡± He said, ¡°We will return to the palace, where you will detail everything I need to know about our current state.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I shall.¡± She nodded, ¡°And what of the refugees?¡±

    ¡°Let them in.¡± he said, ¡°We will find a way to secure the necessary resources to sustain them. What¡¯s important right now is to hold onto what still remains.¡±

 Chapter 4: Between Dragons and Romans

    ¡°Commence.¡±

    The sign given, the black furred Lupus charged it¡¯s enemy. He went for the traditional tactic of circling the target on four legs, causing confusion and isolation before going for a strike. His enemy awaited, although not for long. He wanted to finish it as soon as possible. There were many possible ways to end it without causing excessive pain. It was already bad killing was required, but to be the one to deliver it was even worse. After some considerations, he concluded what should be done.

    Grabbing his neck, he threw the Lupus on the ground, off from his momentum. His head collided with great force, breaking a hole in the grassy ground of the forest. A quick hit to the head dulls one''s senses and makes what would be next less bothering the perform. The spectators cheered and gasped, depending on who they rooted for. Many couldn¡¯t believe the duel would be over so quickly, yet those who knew Arcail were among the least surprised. The Elder Alpha Lupus had to make a point. He unceremoniously slit his throat deep, decapitating him. A quick death, even if gruesome.

    The Lupus howled for their dead leader and recognized their new one. His left eye¡¯s scar was the center of attention whenever someone looked at his face. Arcail howled back, far louder than anyone else. With that, it was done. He was victorious, and only one of his kind had to die. Arcail accepted this singular loss of life, knowing well what a full battle of domination would cost.

    "Hail Arcail, Alpha of the Lupus," they said in unison. He received the cheers, yet retrieved in short fashion. Arcail walked away from the resolved fight, his companions opening way. He passed by the trees and bushes guarded closely by his personal bodyguards. Nearby the crowd, a female Alpha Lupus was laid against a tree, her arms crossed. It was in Codubia¡¯s behavior to act like it.

    ¡°Congratulations, my love,¡± Codubia said with a smile.

    ¡°Is he home?¡± Arcail asked openly.

    ¡°He is safe, don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Arcail sighed, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t leave him out of sight, even at the hands of others¡­¡±

    ¡°I think you are being a bit too overprotective.¡± She rested her arms, getting by his side, ¡°I wanted to see your duel.¡±

    ¡°There wasn¡¯t much to see.¡± He said, looking down, ¡°We fought, I killed him, the end. You¡¯ve seen it all before.¡±

    ¡°I have.¡± She nodded, ¡°Still not a reason to avoid being here with you.¡± She chuckled, ¡°If you are so concerned about him, let¡¯s go together for a visit.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Arcail gestured a wave to his bodyguards, ¡°You are all dismissed.¡± They nodded in comprehension, letting the couple walk alone and reaching deeper into the woods, getting to the center of the settlement. It was a grand community of tens of thousands of Lupus Wolfpacks, all united in a grand force. The improvised houses were built out of makeshift materials, giving everything a rustic and practical look, befitting of their migratory tendencies. There were many items of Roman origin and manufactory, either traded for or outright looted from local cities. They assisted the inhabitants of the horde to adapt better to the new environment.

    ¡°Look at this place¡­¡± said Codubia with a contorted face.

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Arcail asked.

    ¡°We look increasingly more roman each day that passes¡­¡± She gazed at him, ¡°If it continues at this rate¡­¡±

    "It''s rather unavoidable." he said, "We are at the heart of their civilization''s leftovers, after all."

    "We cannot allow our ways to fade into obscurity." she said, "Our traditions must be kept alive."

    "The Lupus must be kept alive." he replied, "Everything else is disposable to achieve that goal. Those Roman items we have collected have helped many of our people, especially the potions. My own life once depended on drinking one once¡­¡±

    ¡°... Don¡¯t do this to yourself.¡± Pleaded Codubia, ¡°Don¡¯t let those memories haunt you.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s fine.¡± He replied, ¡°Those days are long since gone.¡±

    ¡°We will make those monsters pay for what they did.¡± She said with great fury.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t we done enough?¡± asked Arcail, ¡°I won¡¯t let a desire for revenge dictate my actions¡­. Not anymore.¡±

    ¡°You are too forgiving of them.¡± Said Codubia, ¡°While the Empire still lives, justice yet remains to be done. Those monsters will pay with their blood.¡±

    ¡°The Romans have been a bigger threat to themselves than to us for a very long time. Also, it¡¯s not helpful to think of them as monsters.¡± Arcail said, ¡°They thought the same of us, and was the reason they did what they did.¡±

    ¡°Still¡­¡± she wavered.

    ¡°¡­ Is there something else you want to say?¡±

    ¡°¡­ There have been rumors.¡± Her red eyes met his, ¡°Concerning rumors¡­.¡±

    They stopped their walk, ¡°You seem very troubled. What have you heard?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, mostly¡­ Tales and strange reports originating from the south. Do you remember an Alpha Lupus named Iraminus?¡±

    ¡°Clearly.¡± He affirmed, ¡°Strong, cocky, and hates the Romans just as much as you do.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t compare me to him.¡± She said with a frown, ¡°I will never forgive him for refusing to duel you.¡±

    ¡°He wanted to remain in power but must have guessed he couldn¡¯t beat me in a fight. It was the right decision, from his point of view.¡±

    ¡°Well, he won¡¯t be bothering us anymore¡­¡± She said, ¡°Among the rumors I¡¯ve heard, it¡¯s that Iraminus is dead.¡±

    ¡°Dead?¡± Arcail asked with mild shock, ¡°Not of old age or poisoning, I presume, not someone like him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± She nodded, ¡°Instead, from what I heard, his last moments were in trying to take Rome all for himself.¡±

    ¡°What a fool¡­ He must have gambled the lives of all his men trying to take those mighty walls down.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but the details are still a bit in the air.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°The information our scouts have collected from the south are mess¡­ It seems everyone hears a different version of the story, but in all of them Iraminus dies, along with his entire Wolfpack.¡±

    Arcail¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°The entire wolfpack?¡± he asked, ¡°All of them?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry you have to hear it, but it looks to be the case.¡±

    Arcail took a long breath through his nose, ¡°Each day that passes, we are fewer in number¡­¡±

    "We are correcting that." she said, "You can''t be held accountable for the actions of each and every independent Lupus."

    "... I must try If I ought to lead them." He glanced at Codubia, "Tell more of those tales, about the lost wolfpack."

    ¡°There were survivors, although few. As strange and sudden as it all might seem, no one has heard news from any leftovers of Iraminus¡¯ wolfpack for days now. For all we know, they were almost all killed.¡±

    ¡°Complete annihilation¡­ I find it hard to believe Iraminus would keep sending his man into Minerva¡¯s spear if the battle wasn¡¯t going in his favor. He must have drastically lost control of the situation, and the Romans exploited it to their advantage.¡±

    ¡°Even with his defeat, we could try to seize of their weakened state and finish the job.¡±

    ¡°No, we must leave Rome be.¡± Arcail insisted, ¡°The Romans are a greater use to the Lupus alive rather than dead. What matters is to keep them from mustering any large armies we cannot overtake.¡±

    ¡°Have we not already lost control of the situation, then?¡± she asked, ¡°You don¡¯t really think Minerva halted Iraminus¡¯ and his men all by herself, do you?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°No, and that''s indeed what isreally concerning.¡± Arcail nodded, ¡°Unless we can talk with a survivor, we cannot know what happened to them. If the Romans have fielded a new army or mercenary, we must be aware.¡±

    ¡°I took care of that.¡± She smiled proudly, ¡°In fact, I left Litchios at the medical center, at the same place we can interrogate the survivors collected by the scouts.¡±

    Arcail¡¯s face went slightly pale, ¡°Y-You left him in the hospital!? What if he catches a disease there!? He¡¯s still too young¡­¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fine¡­¡± Codubia said, rolling her eyes, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so overprotective. He needs to learn how to take care of himself someday.¡±

    ¡°I suppose¡­¡± he blinked heavily, ¡°The priority now is to learn as much as we can from the survivors of Iraminus¡¯ wolfpack. Whatever killed them could very well be a threat to us as well.¡±

    The couple passed through the settlement, being greeted with honors by each one who could recognize them. They arrived at the medical center of the settlement, being granted full permission to walk around as they saw fit. Near the door, sleeping on the ground was a young Lupus. His fur was just as black as Arcail¡¯s and Codubia¡¯s. As they entered, he rushed to them on four legs. Arcail lifted a great smile, picking him up and holding him in his care.

    ¡°He looks healthy.¡± He said happily, ¡°It won¡¯t be long until he learns how to speak.¡±

    ¡°I told you he was fine!¡± Codubia said, petting little Litchios in the head, ¡°He might be young, but he is still a member of our bloodline. He will overcome any disease that dares get to him¡­¡±

    ¡°I hope so.¡± Said Arcail. He put his son back on the floor, and he returned to his corner. Arcail gave an attentive look around, noticing the tens of Lupus laid unconscious on the ground, being treated by female Lupus using Roman potions and medical supplies.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look good¡­¡± said Arcail, ¡°Have they all arrived recently?¡±

    ¡°They came isolated from each other, arriving in disperse groups.¡± Said Codubia, ¡°It¡¯s a miracle any of them managed to make the trip this far up the peninsula¡­¡±

    Arcail approached one of the injured. He had a cut through his arm and another on his left leg. Unfortunately, his condition looked to be one of the most promising. Each minute passed one of the nurses would abandon a patient, only to return with a blanket, covering their corpse and closing their eyes.

    ¡°Given the nature of their wounds, they must have been a victim of a Roman attack.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, these ones said they were victims of a counter-attack by the Roman garrison.¡±

    ¡°Iraminus¡­ You madman¡­¡± Arcail facepalmed, ¡°I knew you were ambitious, but to try such a bold move¡­¡±

    ¡°However, as I said, some stories contradict each other¡­¡± She walked away from the Lupus on the ground, ¡°Come over here, and see what I mean¡­¡±

    She opened the curtains to an isolated section of the building. A single Lupus laid on a makeshift bed left alone to rest. He had strange markings over his body, his fur burned and disfigured on his chest. Red markings and scars all over, it was nothing like a typical wound inflicted by conventional weapons.

    ¡°¡­ What happened to this one?¡±

    ¡°He must have gone through something terrible¡­¡± Codubia lowered her head, ¡°When the nurses took me to him, he could barely speak right, stuttering and stopping short mid-sentence. When I managed to calm him down, he told me he was there when it happened, when Iraminus was killed.¡±

    ¡°Really? What did he say? Was he killed by Minerva?¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t mention her. Instead, all he would talk about was of a storm. About lightning, and many screams.¡± She put a hand on her chin, ¡°I don¡¯t know if he has gone crazy or was using metaphors, or¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ A storm?¡± asked Arcail, his face pale, ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, I¡¯m sure he said that.¡± She gave Arcail a concerned look, ¡°Can you draw any meaning from it?¡±

    She was replied with a cold silence, her husband looking onto the Lupus. It was highly unusual for storms to take place in the season. The skies over their area showed no signs of any clouds gathering. ¡°¡­ I must be sure. We can¡¯t leave any room for errors.¡± He gently shook the Lupus shoulders, careful not to hit the damaged areas, ¡°Wake up, we must talk.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The survivor opened his eyes in a struggle.

    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± asked Arcail.

    The Lupus moved his head to the right, facing Arcail directly, ¡°Are you¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the Alpha of these wolf packs.¡± He said, ¡°I need to know exactly what happened to Iraminus and his men.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Oh no¡­¡± cried the Lupus, blinking heavily, ¡°The storm¡­¡±

    Arcail trembled at the confirmation of Codubia¡¯s words, yet he persisted, ¡°Were you taking part of Iraminus¡¯ siege of Rome?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, I was there¡­¡± he moved his arm, trying to reach for Arcail, ¡°The storm killed them¡­ It killed them all. Thunders and lightning, rain pouring down¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Who killed Iraminus?¡± he asked nervously, ¡°Quickly, did you see who it was?¡±

    ¡°It was a Roman¡­ ¡°

    ¡°¡­ And?¡±

    ¡°¡­ He used terrible magic on us¡­ When it was over, I was one of the only who¡­¡±

    ¡°Describe him.¡± Arcail said, holding onto the Lupus¡¯ shoulders, ¡°What did he look like!?¡±

    ¡°Purple¡­¡± he coffed, ¡°¡­ A dark purple armor set¡­. Soaked in blood¡­.¡±

    Arcail let him go, dropping him back into the bed. He stared into the wall for a long moment before Codubia approached and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    His face was one of pure dread. His eyes wide, eyebrows high. He was sweating and occasionally shaking parts of his body, ¡°¡­. Iraminus, what have you done¡­¡±

    It was a long, tense atmosphere, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t keep me in the dark like that!¡¯ shouted Codubia, ¡°Tell me, who is this man in purple armor?¡±

    Arcail glanced at her. Her soft anger melted into an eerie discomfort to match the Alpha Lupus¡¯ own, ¡°¡­ A great evil has awoken¡­ An Ancient, and horrifying entity has returned to this world.¡±

    ¡°An Ancient, great evil¡­¡± her head tilted, ¡°Who are you¡­¡±

    ¡°Gaius, the World Conqueror is back.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What?¡± asked Codubia, lost in confusion and disbelief, ¡°Gaius? You told me he was killed back when you were a kid¡­¡±

    ¡°... No, he wasn¡¯t killed.¡± Replied Arcail, ¡°When I received news of his death, I never believed it was true. It was impossible to be. I couldn''t ever imagine someone would best him. Now, I know that I was right, and he still lives¡­¡±

    ¡°A-Are you serious about this!?¡± she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think we need some more solid proof before making such wild conclusions?¡±

    ¡°I was there when it happened.¡± He said, ¡°I saw the World Conqueror¡¯s wrath with my own eyes. I know¡­¡±

    ¡°You told me that story before¡­¡± she placed her hand on his shoulder, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s the same man?¡±

    ¡°His description by this Lupus was perfect, but that isn¡¯t what convinced me most.¡± He placed his hand over his scar, ¡°I saw him conjure the storm spell that destroyed my home and killed my family. It¡¯s the same one that befell Iraminus and his men, I¡¯m sure of it. Never had that vicious magical combination been performed since his departure. It can only be him.¡±

    Codubia, now as visibly freaked as Arcail asked "Then what shall we do? What¡¯s ourstrategy against him?¡±

    Arcail frowned, thinking deeply on many possibilities, ¡°Of all times and place, why now?¡± he asked, ¡°Why return now?¡±

    ¡°You might be overreacting a little. Say, even if the one who killed Iraminus is truly Gaius, is he really that much of a threat? You have become a legend among the Lupus yourself, have you not?¡±

    ¡°Only in strength.¡± He said, ¡°And that accounts to nothing when you face someone who can call lightning bolts to befall on your head. I bet Iraminus learned that the hard way¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not very well versed in the Roman Legends nor that Sol Invictus cult of theirs. What exactly is this man capable of?¡±

    ¡°According to the legends the Romans told themselves, Gaius was invincible, incorruptible and Undeceiving. A master of all five magical schools, possessing unrivaled raw power. He had no weaknesses, and was by far the greatest being to have ever existed¡­ ¡° he sighed, ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know if those sayings are all true or exaggeration, but I remember very well the aura of power he emanated. If we are to fight him, we must seek allies. And be sure of it, conflict is inevitable. The world Conqueror will not stand for our presence in the Imperial Peninsula.¡±

    ¡°What kind of allies?¡± she asked, ¡°Iraminus ruled the only Lupus wolfpack that was not already under our control, and now he¡¯s gone.¡± She bit her lips, ¡°What allies can we count on?¡±

    ¡°We¡­¡± Arcail closed his eyes, ¡°¡­ We might need to bow to the Dragons, and hope for their assistance in return.¡±

    ¡°The Dragons!?¡± shouted Codubia, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! You know what they do to the races they enslave¡­¡±

    ¡°Look at my situation, Codubia!¡± he shouted, ¡°This is no mere Roman Spell Caster we are dealing with. Even if we were to win against Gaius, most of us will be killed in the process. It will be the end of our race!¡±

    ¡°I rather die a free Lupus then submit myself to the dragons.¡± She said, ¡°A day of freedom counts for a thousand lifetimes in chains.¡±

    Arcail could not retort to it. He had made his argument, but now even he began to question it. The Dragons had long since been hunting them down, and a sense of animosity brewed between them. If they were to request vassalage, it was likely they would see themselves in a position of power and demand a substantially greater tribute from them than normal. He was caught at a crossroads. Dragons to the north, and Romans to the south. He had to choose who he wanted as an enemy.

    ¡°¡­ Then, we have no choice.¡± Arcail left the patient¡¯s room.

    ¡°Wait, what are you going to do?¡± Codubia asked, grasping onto his arm.

    ¡°I will contact Discordia and Venus to work an alliance between us.¡±

    ¡°Those two¡­¡± Her eyes squinted, ¡°Are they really our only option?¡±

    ¡°They are¡­¡± he said reluctantly, ¡°They have severed their relations with the empire since the last Emperor¡¯s death. From what I have gathered, they as still hostile towards Minerva.¡±

    ¡°Still, those two are¡­¡±

    ¡°I have read the reports.¡± Arcail nodded, ¡°Even still, our combined forces are the only way we can possibly hope to defy Gaius without massive casualties on our side.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I understand.¡± She let go of Arcail¡¯s arm, ¡°But, do not go there yourself. Use diplomats instead.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t take our proposal seriously if I don¡¯t go personally.¡±

    ¡°If that must be¡­ Then let me go in your place.¡± She looked deep into his eyes, ¡°We cannot lose you¡­ I cannot lose you.¡±

    ¡°I will not allow you to go to those cursed islands Discordia rules. The risk is far too great.¡±

    ¡°I will go to Venus then, she seems the most reasonable out of the two. You can send diplomats to the islands.¡±

    Arcail reflected on the proposal. It was true that if he left the wolfpacks alone there was a big chance they would devolve back into their previous divisions and animosities. He had just recently incorporated new members, and they needed to integrate. It was vital the Lupus stayed together in such dangerous times, therefore he had to stay. Codubia would serve as a high enough rank representative for Venus to take them seriously while sending normal diplomats to Discordia was a low risk but high reward scenario. It was the best outcome, and he hated to agree with it.

    ¡°¡­ Very well, we will have your way.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Codubia hugged Arcail licking him on the cheek, ¡°I¡¯ll be back safely.¡±

    ¡°¡­ These next few days will decide the future of our people.¡± he crossed his hands, "The last time that was so, I was too weak to do anything about it..."

    "You are not weak anymore." she said, "You are our leader, and together, united we will ensure our own future."

    "... I hope we can."

    Barking and running, Litchios was cheerfully receiving them back in their presence. His son ran towards him as they reappeared into the hospital¡¯s entrance area. He lifted him into his arms once again, but this time wouldn¡¯t let go. There were few pleasures to Arcail as spending time with his only son.

    ¡°Litchios¡­¡± he said with great care. It was a frightening sense of deja vu. He hugged his son, placing his head on his shoulder.

    ¡°... This time, I will not fail you.¡±

 Chapter 5: Out of Time

    ¡°¡­ It was then when I heard of the Lupus Wolfpack approaching Rome. I tried my best to prepare the few men we had left to hold the city like so many times before, but it wasn¡¯t enough. They broke through the gates and sacked the city indiscriminately. I sent a century to reinforce the Imperial Palace and protect Julia. My plan was to take the Alpha Lupus down and let the soldiers deal with the rest. It was a risky plan, I know, but it was our only hope¡­ Until you returned.¡±

    Minerva rested her armored arms on the table and looked to await a response from Gaius. Her explanation had taken far longer than he expected, an impressive thing considering she was vastly summarizing events. There are few ways to relay 1000 years¡¯ worth of historical events efficiently. There were many parts where the details were secluded, but it was necessary not to delve too deeply into the whens, hows, whys and wheres.

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡± He said, ¡°One day I will require more details, but for a general overview it is enough for now.¡±

    Gaius reached for the nearest pile of paper. He read several documents regarding the city and empire, flickering through each page. It was a good thing his characters fluency in Latin had remained, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be of any help in administration. As it was when he first started playing Impera, his problems were boundless, enemies never-ending and struggle absurd. It didn¡¯t matter how intelligent and powerful himself and others thought he was, no single man can re-establish an entire empire alone. It was madness even to consider it. He was now in charge to correct the mistakes of past emperors and overcome the obstacles they couldn¡¯t, but it was not a burden he would carry by himself.

    ¡°Minerva, give me a review of the immediate state of Rome.¡± He put the documents back in the pile, ¡°As the last bastion of the empire still standing, we must make sure we set a solid base before starting to intervene further outwards.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± she nodded, ¡°I made sure to collect as much information regarding the city¡¯s infrastructural, commercial, military, cultural and political structure for our meeting. If I may, I shall start.¡±

    Gaius glanced at all the piles of scrolls she had brought to the Imperial Grand Strategy room. He was far too open with his request and ended up making her collect too much. If the people were happy or prosperous was of little concern. What mattered was if they were healthy and protected. Once those factors were secured, then those other scrolls will be useful.

    ¡°Focus on the most relevant issues if you can.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± She grasped onto her main document, the one which held a general analysis of the city, ¡°Since the attack, out population, has diminished from 100,000 to an estimated 50,000 if the body counts are accurate¡­ Our farms are burned and plundered, the rivers polluted and diverted. Most buildings suffered great damage from the attack due to the fire and Lupus domiciliary breaches. The Imperial Walls are in a terrible state of disrepair and the gates have been improvised into functioning for the moment. Every day we receive more refugees from the countryside, as tales of our victory against the Lupus have spread¡­ Accounting to all this, we are in a seriously bad spot, as we lack the food to feed the survivors and lack the resources to repair the buildings.¡±

    ¡°¡­ How long do we have until Rome officially runs out of food?¡±

    ¡°With our estimates¡­ And if the flow of refugees keeps increasing¡­ We would have a week before starvation breaks out.¡±

    Gaius frowned, ¡°¡­ Dammit, this is too bothersome.¡± He placed his hand over his helmet, ¡°If we can¡¯t secure a steady source of supplies, the city¡¯s inhabitants will die of hunger, as they cannot flee anywhere else¡­ Our farmlands cannot be extensively used without Lupus raiders befalling on the citizens¡­ This is not good.¡±

    ¡°There has been a recent disease outbreak as well.¡± She said in a low tone.

    ¡°¡­ I know.¡±

    The sickness was no news to Gaius. That little girls¡¯ brother was a victim of it, and back then it was obvious he wasn¡¯t alone as a victim. It was possible to cure it with a medical spell, but he couldn¡¯t apply it to all those who were sick. It would take weeks of day and night efforts to do so, and by then everyone would already have starved to death. What needed to be done was for trained medics or healers to undertake that task. It would take a lot of money to find and hire them, money that, if he had, he would be already spending it all on food shipments.

    ¡°¡­ The disease must be disregarded for now. We need to find some nation, some trading partner we can access and get a reliable food shipment deal. Do you know any possible candidates?¡±

    ¡°None.¡± She shook her head, ¡°The Sirens took advantage of the islands they seized and have cut off any trade we had with nearby nations. Their hope through the years was to starve us out, and since the Lupus have reduced out ability to grow anything ourselves, it¡¯s been working.¡±

    ¡°Sirens¡­¡±

    As Minerva had explained, the Sirens were part of the myriad of races who took advantage of the Empire¡¯s fall and formed a kingdom for themselves. He should have realized that since they took the islands from the Imperial Sea trade would almost be an impossibility. No help would come from overseas.

    ¡°¡­ If we cannot hope for anything off-shore, then¡­¡± Gaius blinked heavily. For all his might and experience, he couldn¡¯t find a way to save his people from a fate worse than death. Starvation, sickness, and fear of awaited them tomorrow.

    ¡°Excuse me Princeps, but I forgot to mention something Important.¡± She leaned forward, ¡°The Island of Cilia is very fertile. If we could seize it back into imperial Control, then food would no longer be an issue.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Cilia?¡± Gaius asked, although mostly rhetorically. The large island off the shore of Rome was only a few hundreds of kilometers away. Back in Impera, it was a center of wheat and wine production. They wouldn¡¯t make for a full diet, but it would be enough to keep the citizen''s bellies full.

    ¡°Are you sure? How many Sirens are in that island? Do they hold the local population hostage?¡±

    ¡°There are no Sirens and no hostages.¡±

    ¡°¡­ None?¡±

    ¡°There are no living beings in Cilia anymore. It has been turned into an undead realm rule by Discordia.¡±

    ¡°An¡­ Undead Realm?¡± he gasped, ¡°¡­ I see¡­ So that¡¯s where she is¡­¡± he thought on the matter, staring onto the island¡¯s depiction in the local map, ¡°You mentioned Discordia was among the surviving Divine Legionnaires, but you didn¡¯t say why she went to Cilia.¡±

    ¡°It was part of her mission, given by Emperor Flavius.¡± Minerva took an old document from a pile, ¡°The Sirens captured the island and started killing the local population. As the Emperor was busy with the Lupus Invasion, he dispatched Discordia to retake it.¡±

    ¡°Was she successful?¡± asked Gaius.

    ¡°¡­ Partially.¡± Minerva sighed, ¡°She did what she did best and killed everyone she found there, but once her job was done Flavius had been killed in battle, and so she refused my commands to return. She¡¯s been there for 10 years now¡­¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t obey you, then?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t. As she had made obvious in the past, she only takes orders from the emperor. As Julia was too young to assume the office we were left in a limbo where Discordia wouldn¡¯t recognize the authority of anyone. I considered bringer back by force, but beyond doubting my ability to win against her in an open battle, I was too busy trying to keep things afloat after Flavius¡¯ death.¡±

    Gaius facepalmed. An unrelenting guilt flew in his bones. Why did he have to make Discordia like that? Why did she have to be one of the few to survive this long? It was his own fault, even if the consequences of past actions couldn¡¯t be predicted. Divine Legionnaires like Minerva and Discordia were part of the exception. The immortality granted by their respective races ended up meaning they were the only ones around when he woke up. He wondered if it was the same case for the other one. Venus¡¯ immortality wasn¡¯t simply a passive racial ability like that of elves or vampires.

    ¡°¡­ We will deal with Discordia very soon, but before getting our hands dirty we need to plan things further. On the topic of your sisters¡­¡±

    ¡°Shall we discuss Venus?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Gaius passed the map to Minerva¡¯s side of the table, ¡°You mentioned she is also alive and in the area. Where is she exactly?¡±

    Minerva dragged her finger to the center, ¡°She holds the currently largest urban center in the Imperial Peninsula, the city of Tioch. It is a wealthy and well-developed city under her absolute authority.¡±

    ¡°Absolute authority? What the hell¡­¡± Gaius couldn¡¯t hold his true thought back, ¡°Discordia¡¯s behavior I can understand, but what is Venus doing? What¡¯s all this about her ruling by herself?¡±

    Minerva sighed, ¡°Emperor Flavius granted her that rank shortly after he ascended to the throne some fifteen years ago. It gave her dominion of that particular piece of the peninsula. She¡¯s used it to de facto be a queen, and rule as she saw fit. Because of her policies, the city became a center of demonic races and mischievous business.¡±

    ¡°He gave her that authority? For what reason?¡±

    ¡°Contrary to Discordia who had a clear objective, Venus was granted her position for no apparent reason. I¡¯ve had my suspicions, but they are not worthy of your ears.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense.¡± Gaius straightened his back in the chair, ¡°If you know why, then I must know.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Minerva¡¯s long elven ears lowered a little, her pale cheeks slightly blushing, ¡°¡­ Emperor Flavius always seemed to hold a particular fondness of Venus and vice versa. That is to say, they were very close¡­¡±

    A nauseating impulse crawled from inside Gaius¡¯ stomach. As he realized what Minerva meant, it had almost reached his throat. He held his hand over his mouth, but pretend to be stroking his short beard, ¡°¡­ So¡­ Ugh, him and Venus¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, their affairs bore no children due to the racial differences. Nevertheless, I am quite convinced their relationship is the cause of her defiance after his death, and why she doesn¡¯t recognize my authority as Julia¡¯s regent. Furthermore¡­ Hmm, Princeps?¡±

    Gaius had both his hands scratching his helmet. So recently had he thought Discordia was the worst NPC who could have survived until then, but he was proven wrong. Yet another of his joke characters, Venus was now a fully sentient being who lived all these years and was apparently still in her written persona. It was an unmatchable shame. Of all his NPCs, why did he give the immortal races to those ones? To counteract his despair, he luckily had made Minerva an immortal elf. She would be the voice of reason, the living standard who proves Gaius wasn¡¯t a masochist, maniac sadist when it came to his creations.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m still listening.¡±

    ¡°Well, pardon for interrupting your thoughts. You must be considering many things.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ A great many things¡­¡± he rested his arms back on the table, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m trying to understand why those two got together. It might be relevant when we encounter her, be it as an enemy or ally.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean to ask.¡± Minerva tilted her head, ¡°By your own design, Venus was built to be an absolute female beauty, which is why I wager Flavius was so interested in her.¡±

    ¡°I meant on the other end, on Venus¡¯ end¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ That is¡­ Difficult to guess. Whenever I attempt to get into the minds of my sisters I never get anywhere.¡±

    ¡°Understandable.¡± Gaius nodded, ¡°You three are far too different from each other in so many ways.¡¯

    ¡°Indeed¡­ But if I had to guess, it might be her racial affinity to powerful beings.¡±

    With that, Gaius fully understood what had happened. Venus¡¯ specific demonic race, that of Succubus had a passive talent which allowed them to sense the total amount of Health, Stamina, Magicka of a being, among other stats. He made her that way as it was the most fitting build for an NPC focused in assassination and infiltration. Once more, he failed to predict the differences aspects from Impera would have in this new reality. Was everything about a succubus to be true, then it not only made sense of how Venus managed to survive as long as her immortal sisters, but Gaius knew exactly how she did it. He shuddered, closing his eyes in a mix of disgust and shame.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be a piece of work, but once Discordia has been dealt with she will follow along. I¡¯ll make sure of it. They are my responsibility¡­¡±

    A soft smile reached Gaius. He had spoken like a father, and that¡¯s what speaking of the Divine Legionnaires naturally required from him. It was said back in the early days of Rome that to be a good politician one would be indifferentiable from a good father, for the most exalted of all citizens would be the father of the state. It was uncomfortable to think with such a fraternal guise on matters that required precision, cynicism, and lack of morals. It could be a good father was indeed the same thing. If that was so, then power itself might not be an end goal, but the tool for a grander objective, one he yet did not conceptualize.

    ¡°¡­ Regarding Rome and Divine Legionnaires, all of great importance has been said.¡± He pulled the map back to his side, ¡°Let us then focus on our enemies and decide on how to most efficiently eradicate them.¡±

    ¡°Certainly.¡± She nodded, ¡°There are three races of hostile monsters who have grasped partial control of the Imperial Peninsula as the years passed.¡± She pointed to the archipelago of islands off the coast, ¡°On our shores are the Sirens¡­ About whom Discordia has already cleared off of Cilia, yet they still roam the seas and threaten any ship which sails too far...¡± her finger went to the peninsula, ¡°To the northwest are the Lupus. They killed most of our legions in our last set-piece battle, killing Flavius and taking most of the countryside for themselves¡­¡± Finally, her hand went to the mountains, ¡°To the North are the Dragons. Ancient and powerful monsters who have migrated here during one of our last civil wars. They enslaved much of the northern population, demanding tribute and servitude from anyone they get their grasps on. They are hostile to the Lupus and have skirmished before.¡±

    ¡°What a mess¡­¡± Gaius sighed, ¡°To think Rome would be surrounded by so many enemies, and without a single legion on the field¡­ ¡°He looked at the northwestern portion of the map, ¡°Tell me of Arcail, the Alpha Lupus of the wolfpacks.¡±

    That one¡­¡± Minerva¡¯s eyes squinted, ¡°He¡¯s been responsible for so many roman deaths¡­¡±

    ¡°Give me a brief summary of his abilities. Surely, you must have encountered him many times, no?¡±

    ¡°Not quite. Before Flavius'' fatal battle took place he ordered me to stay in Rome and protect Julia. As it happens, he never did mount a direct attack on the city. All attempts were made by independent and smaller wolfpacks. In short, I have never met that particular monster.¡± She reached for another scroll, ¡°According to our intelligence, Arcail is an incredibly powerful Alpha Lupus. Imperial records of him trace back hundreds of years. He is an elder one, and his strength only benefited from so much experience¡­¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then he must have been born shortly after my departure. That gives a long timeframe to develop himself¡­ Regarding physical strength, we might even be equals.¡±

    ¡°Its good Lupus are incompetent with Magicka, then.¡± Said Minerva, ¡°He will share the same fate as the one who dared breach the eternal city.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We must recover ourselves, starting with the army.¡± Gaius changed the subject, ¡°We must stop thinking about individuals and address the larger picture. For that, we need capable soldiers.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be practical to recruit from the local population, much less deploy them for battle. Most available men we have left are already conscripted as Rome¡¯s garrison, leaving only the old, woman and children left.¡±

    ¡°You are correct, but the fact still stands. We cannot hold onto what we gain without the legions. I might be able to win the battles, but who is going to be there to enforce my rule when I¡¯m gone? I can¡¯t be everywhere at once¡­¡±

    Minerva raised her head, ¡°¡­ Technically, we still have a legion we can call upon.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We do?¡± Gaius voice thinned for a small moment, ¡°Which one?¡±

    ¡°As part of her rank, Venus was awarded a personal Legion to guard her and the city of Tioch. From what I gather, it is still intact and under her command.¡±

    Gaius¡¯ eyes widened, ¡°This changes a lot¡­ I was planning on dealing with her after the Lupus, but know she¡¯s a big priority. It¡¯s fundamentally important to take control of her men back into the Empire.¡± Gaius grabbed onto the map, ¡°First we will go to Discordia and put her back on a leash, so to say. The people of Rome need that food as fast as possible, and our armies could very well use a talented Obliteration Master like her. Next, we will go to Tioch and relegate Venus back in her position of Divine Legionnaire, under your authority.¡±

    Minerva nodded, her green pupils widening, ¡°It will be my pleasure.¡±

    ¡°Once our forces are reunited, we will mount a coordinated surprise attack on the main Lupus host. It is monumentally important for them all to die. Beyond the need of justice to be made and permanently nullifying them as a threat, we must let it be known the Empire will no longer tolerate such open defiance and humiliation. They all must die.¡± Gaius said coldly.

    ¡°We will see to it.¡± Minerva replied with passion, yet conformity, ¡°Shall we befall the Dragons then?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± Gaius shook his head, ¡°We will need time to recover, plan and strategize. One thing is killing barbarian Lupus, the other is fighting Elder Dragons¡­ If they have been given the time to develop, they must be much stronger then what they were in my time. It will be a great challenge, one we will need to prepare for.¡±

    ¡°A wise decision.¡± she put her helmet back on, ¡°Shall we be off to Cilia then?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Gaius put his hand on the table, ¡°We will personally tell Discordia there is now an emperor to obey.¡± He got off the table, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Princeps.¡± Minerva went to her side, ¡°However, is it wise to leave Rome unguarded? What if the Lupus take advantage of our absence and attack us again?¡±

    ¡°It is a risk we must take.¡± He, his head low, ¡°The clock is already against us. We cannot stay idly in Rome hoping for our problems to vanish or that someone will solve them for us. Fortune favors the bold, and I plan to compensate for the cowardice of a hundred generations.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understood.¡±

    She looked quite bothered, even depressed about it. Was it due to facing her sister, or was it about leaving Rome? She had been stationed in the city for so many years now it was insane to imagine. She must have grown attached to it by necessity, and now the same force is telling her to leave it. It must be disconcerting for her. At that moment, judging her as an NPC, a scripted AI program was beyond impossible. She looked and acted like a living being, and even if it all was fake, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    ¡°¡­ I wanted to apologize.¡± Gaius stared at Minerva through his visor, ¡°An unbelievable amount of responsibility has been placed on your shoulders by my past mistakes. It was unfair to you¡­¡±

    Minerva looked serious before smiling softly, ¡°¡­ Bearing responsibility and serving the Empire is the reason why I exist. If I had to go through it all again, still unsure you would ever return, I would still do what was asked of me to the best of my abilities.¡±

    Gaius was at a loss for words. Her words and actions so far did nothing but prove her statement. Through such a confusing situation, he could still count on her help. For the secluded Emperor, her devotion was altogether astounding, ¡°¡­. Just take the apology, damn you¡­¡±

    Someone knocked on the door. As the Grand Strategy room was so large and empty of obstructions, the sound echoed loudly. Opening the door, a soldier barged in holding a scroll, ¡°Excuse me, but I have an important report from our scouts in the field! It is said to be urgent!¡±

    Minerva quickly snapped to look at him, ¡°Bring it here.¡± She said. The soldier rushed to her side, delivering the scroll and just as fast leaving the room and closing the door. She opened it, reading with great attentiveness.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps, our scouts have sent word from the Lupus¡¯ recent activity.¡±

    ¡°What of it?¡± he asked, ¡°Are they mounting another attack?¡±

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t seem to be the case. Their main host is still where it was before, however, this report informs of small Lupus wolfpacks diverging into the countryside.¡±

    ¡°Are they scouting us? Or are they just gathering food?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look to be either of those¡­ It is said one of those groups got in a boat and sailed west¡­ That could only mean¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Discordia.¡± Gaius concluded, ¡°They are trying to contact Discordia.¡±

    ¡°That is the only viable explanation¡­ Which means the other groups must be heading to Venus.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Why?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Why are they attempting to do this?¡±

    Minerva closed the scroll, placing on the table, ¡°There is only one reason I can conceive of.¡± She glanced back at Gaius, ¡°It is possible Arcail is trying to ally himself with my sisters, taking advantage of our currently poor relationship to one another.¡±

    Gaius gruntled, ¡°That would be very bad¡­ If a united force of the Lupus and Legions, led by an Alpha Lupus and two Divine Legionnaires attack us, we most likely won¡¯t be able to save the city. No, we couldn¡¯t do it at all¡­¡±

    ¡°This is painful to consider, but¡­¡± Minerva took a moment to speak, ¡°If that truly comes to pass, the Empire will be no more.¡±

    Gaius rested against the wall, lost in deep thinking with his arms crossed. If it came to it, he could see himself defeating Discordia, Venus, and Arcail, but not with a vast army assisting them. Even if they were to interfere, the city would suffer in his place. He would lose, one way or the other.

    ¡±¡­ That will not happen.¡± He said confidently, ¡°We must reach those two before they are given time to be convinced by the Lupus.¡±

    ¡°Who shall we target first, then? Will it still be Discordia?¡±

    ¡°We cannot go together. There¡¯s no time to make two different trips. I will go to Discordia, and you to Venus concurrently.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked, ¡°If Discordia has already betrayed us, I won¡¯t be able to assist you if you befall on her grasp¡­¡±

    ¡°Again, it is a risk we must take.¡± He touched her shoulder pad, ¡°Do your best to try and convince Venus to return to our side. Don¡¯t let your ill feelings get in the way.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understood.¡± She nodded, ¡°I will not fail you.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± He let go of her, ¡°I¡¯m off to Cilia. I¡¯ll take our best and fasted remaining ship and should be back in a few days.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be here with Venus once you get back, in chains if it need be.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Very well.¡± Gaius walked off, towards the door. ¡°You ought to be careful not to fall on her grasp as well.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± She replied.

    Gaius smirked under his helmet, leaving the room. Each time he tried to fight against the clock, it worked just as hard to counter him. Time had been such an enemy of his these past few days it would be odd he didn¡¯t hold a grudge. He closed the door and departed to his mission.

 Chapter 6: Part 1: The Voyage

    The salty maritime breeze rocked against Gaius¡¯ armor plates, cutting the wind with each sharp end. He couldn¡¯t afford to be patient. It had been two full days since he left Rome¡¯s harbor. They should be very close to their destination, were the coordinates to be believed. Was his mission to take any longer the city would already be empty of supplies by the time he returned. It was a cruel thing not being able to fast travel. Had the ability to do so remained, so many problems could have been avoided. If only there was a spell of the sort, it would probably be a Manipulation one. His job as emperor could be done all the easier were such a thing to exist. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t.

    Both sky and ocean were calm, or at least as much as a sailor would like. There were no storms or interventions as they went deeper into the horizon. The mood among the men was more positive than one would presume at such dire times. Many of them, while experts at their practice never did sail this far from the coast. Granted, it wasn¡¯t any grand voyage, but the wonder of adventure was present in their gleaming eyes as they looked to the setting sun and exchanged merry banters.

    None dared approach him, his reputation not allowing anyone to get close. It¡¯s hard to correctly estimate how grandly they thought of him, or how cynical they were if the tales were true. In a world where magic and monsters were a common occurrence, it made a reality believable enough for most.  Gaius would stand alone and all by himself. After all, one¡¯s own outer reality ought to emulate its own inner faults. Such moments of solitude present the perfect opportunity to the worst kind of thoughts. When there was nothing good to fill the void, the worst did so in its place.

    Brunus was dead. He tried to come to terms with it. Tears and sorrow had already corrupted his own character whenever these words reoccurred in his mind. In war and politics, it is a primordial fact for a leader to dissipate himself from any attachments, any weaknesses which could deprive him of power. In his years of reading history too many examples had been made of men sowing the seeds of their own destruction through their unnecessary connections to family members. Be it a kidnapped daughter, a murdered father or betraying son. Those who couldn¡¯t overcome these biologically imposed barriers to one¡¯s own ambition were bound to their failure. Victory was all there was, triumph the only valuable end goal.

    It was a lie. There was something wrong with his old philosophy. Gaius had disconnected from all his worldly contacts. His pure dedication to Impera and study of the management of states and armies granted him the rule of a world-wide empire. How could it be then he was so defeated? What was it about his brother that was so indispensable? True, they were close since birth, but the same could be said for his father and mother, aunts and cousins. No, it wasn¡¯t a matter of being merely blood-related. The only absolute was the dreadful loneliness in his newly beating heart. What could possibly counter this miserableness?

    Gaius¡¯ eye widened greatly as a stroke of inspiration came to answer. He grabbed the edge of the ship tightly with his gauntlets.

    ¡°A counter¡­¡± he muttered silently, ¡°¡­ A counter to¡­ Myself.¡±

    Gaius¡¯ tightened his grip on the wooden bars, breaking them. The sailors who watched the scene stepped away, ending their conversations as their prime passenger looked like he was about to explode.

    He had been such a fool, through all these years. It made so much sense it was painful. His dread was not new to his conscience, be it to any action or outer motive. It had always been there, a self-inflicted wound, cultivated and naturally developed. Brunus had been the counter to it, the one who contained it so deeply within Gaius he never noticed it was there at all. His wish to conquer all and disregard others was the problem. His brother¡¯s constant effort to make his company and direct him to better paths was the force that made for an enlightening truth, one Gaius never accepted. As Brunus was no longer than to do so, the maleficent consequence of his objectives caught up to dominate him. Brunus was the light, and Gaius the darkness. Once extinguished, the shadows spread. He let go of the ship, resting his arms down as he looked at the dawn.

    On yet another front, it mattered little if he had been either transported to a real version of Impera or if he was imprisoned in a simulation of the same. His brother was no longer there, and it tore him apart, corrupting his will to keep going forward as the fruit of his own conception poisoned his mind and body. His suicide attempt was not a desired to return home, as it was a hope to end all this suffering. For a second time, Gaius¡¯ hand grabbed on his sword''s hilt.

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± he told himself, letting it go. Even if his own life didn¡¯t matter to himself anymore, even if became a source of constant pain and regret it wasn¡¯t his choice to make. Too many people, an entire empire counted on him. He needed to keep on going, to take it all in. His absence through the years caused too much destruction, but couldn¡¯t one conclude his existence at all was the problem? Couldn¡¯t one make the argument the creation of the empire was a by-product of his ill-intended desire to conquer above all else? How many people, be it NPCs or real living beings died by his direct or indirect action? How many nations, cultures, and families torn apart by his own hands? If it was the case all this was unjustified by the will to achieve power, then why fight for the Imperial restoration? For the first time in his life, Gaius truly pondered whether he was the villain of his own story, not as a joke, but as the truth.

    What did Brunus think of all this? Did he see his elder brother as an evil person? His last words, after all, had been a keen desire for Gaius to be nicer, but what exactly did he mean by it? How does one constitute niceness? Was it a call for his inner humanity, or for his common sense? Both were greatly rivaled in practical terms, even if similar in concept. If Brunus wanted Gaius to be more like him, then was it in a full picture or just some aspects? Gaius cursed his beloved brother, his words confusing his analytical mind to no end, even after death. Only one main topic remained to ponder. Was he to choose between saving the empire or living by Brunus¡¯ wishes, which one would he abide by? What was, as Brunus would say, the right thing to do? What mattered most in the end, to do good as others wanted him to, or as himself saw fit? In the end, what was the difference over the dilemmas of being good over the ones of being evil? Was there even an answer, free of any bias or distortion who could satisfy him? Nothing did come up, and while he now understood his sorrow, it did little to mitigate it.

    Gaius left the edge of the ship. With none standing around him he walked back to his private chambers with no obstruction. The door opened, and he walked down the steps. The torches were fading in strength. Gaius lit them back up with small shots of fireballs, his fingers burning ever so slightly. Was it possible to use his own healing spells on himself, he would fear using strong Obliteration spells more often. His right arms still hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the use of the Wrath of a Thousand Thunders spell. Everything in Impera had its drawbacks, one of the unfortunate things which perfectly extended to the new world.

    At the end of the narrow corridor down the deck of the ship was the Captain¡¯s Cabin, his bedroom that is. The door opened, shrieking as the nature of old wood and rusty metal. Back in the Empire¡¯s height, such a ship wouldn¡¯t be fit for service even for the most renegade of lowly legions, and yet it served as the best the emperor could use. Gaius walked to his desk, sitting down the chair. He opened the same map used to discuss the empire¡¯s situation with Minerva. One of his oldest hobbies, looking at such maps offered an entertainment all on its own. Where borders were drawn, natural barriers located and geographical elements relevant were of great importance to a fan of history as he was, never mind how stacked against him they were.

    There were four factions in the Imperial Peninsula to contend with, not counting the Empire itself. In accordance with the necessity of supplies, Gaius departed himself to deal with the most unstable and possibly dangerous of them, Discordia and her undead kingdom. There were many possible ways to try to deal with her insanity, yet only one he could be completely sure to work. Even in the extremally unlikely case were it to fail, dragging her by force would prove a costly affair. She was his match in Obliteration Magic, and a duel of that magnitude would scorch what was already left of Cilia¡¯s fertile farms. He would emerge victorious in the end, but the conflict had to be avoided at all costs. How easy then would it be for her to peacefully submit back to his authority? A better question then, how does someone go about ensuring the loyalty of a madwoman? Of all Roman Gods and Emperors, Discordia Caligulana¡¯s combination which bore her built character was by far the most dangerous. No other thought came to Gaius but the wish to punch his past self, unknowing of the burden he was setting up to his future self when creating her. It made for a great joke then, but a great problem now.

    In the case of the Divine Legionnaire¡¯s overall loyalty, what was to be his normal presumption? Minerva Aureliana was nothing but endlessly loyal, since her creation, his slumber and return. That was exactly as she should be; however, she did show a soft side to herself he never saw before, one he never wrote her to ever possess. Sure, she was glad to see her creator after such a long time, but still, it would seem his NPCs were able to evolve, to change their behaviors through time, even if slowly. Venus did so as well. Of course, her nature as a succubus played a part in it, but a previously inexistent ability to love and deviate from the empire emerged. It could be she merely attached to Flavius to feed on his vitality, but if Minerva was capable to see love In Venus¡¯ actions, then it most likely was the case. It remains to be asked, did Discordia change as well? And if so, how exactly? Gaius was hardly bothered it was a bad thing. Any change to the completely chaotic, sadistic and cruel persona he wrote for her would be for the better. The Divine Legion was built to be loyal, but if they were able to alter themselves, then their loyalty, along with pretty much all he knew about them was at question. Gaius sighed, overcome with a desire for things to go smoothly. His plan had to work, there was no time for it not to.

    Gaius got off from his chair. He reached his closet, opening with haste. There were many bottles of wine, grain, and fruits. He dismissed most of them, reaching for a basket in the lower shelf. He pulled it back to his desk, lifting the wraps which covered it. He gasped, staring at its emptiness. The apples were gone, all of them. The basket full of them which he ordered remained untouched since they set sail. Had any of the crewmembers entered his room and stole them? It would be the height of disrespect, let alone foolishness. Gaius made sure the men had access to just as much food as he had, therefore making such theft nonsensical. Gaius¡¯ frowned under the helmet, his main plan completely frustrated. Whoever it was, he clearly didn¡¯t know the danger he put all of them in.

    Gaius walked around his cabin, looking for any more objects that might have also been stolen, as well as clues for who it was. He couldn¡¯t simply start a purge if there was no evidence of who committed the crime. Additionally, the vanishment of some fruits wouldn¡¯t look like a big deal to the sailors, ignorant as they were of their true value in the mission. In his search, there was nothing to be found on the closet, bed, floor or desk. Gaius sneered, facepalming and wondering why he didn¡¯t check earlier. He couldn¡¯t go back to the city to get a new batch, there was no time for it. There weren¡¯t any nearby harbors to trade or buy them for, beyond the island of Cilia. He needed those damn apples, and since they were gone, a new plan in their place. He reflected deeply on it. By then it was night, and the waters of the Imperial Sea ever calmer, the only sounds the steps of sailors from the other end of the ship.

    Something fell behind Gaius. It was the sound of collision against the solid wood of the ships¡¯ base floor. He turned back, finding nothing or anyone out of place. All was as he last left it. No object on the ground or befallen item. What had made that noise, then? It was no footstep, no wave or anything else. Something, in his room, had been the source of it. If rats or any other past had made their way onboard, then it would be crucial to eradicating them before they depleted and infected their supplies. Gaius lifted his hand, activating a rarely useful Manipulation Spell. It permitted him to see living beings through walls and obstacles within a small area. In his current situation, he would find the pest, along with their nests. Gaius applied it to the room, finding nothing as well. Given the short range it had, on top of not wanting to spend too much magicka in forcing it to be wider, he strolled through the cabin, making sure each corner was covered. Eventually, he stumbled on a strong vital signal far beyond his expectations. It was no rat, or cat or dog. By the size of it, it was some creature, a monster in his own bedroom.

    It was large, or at least enough so as not to be disregarded. Its life signal gave a rough shape of its body, shining like an infra-red light. The monster was slender and possessed a great aura of power surrounding it. It could have been an assassin knowledgeable in magicka, or a monster naturally gifted on it. He was hidden on a large chest at the corner beside the door. Gaius left it empty, along with most of the other ones. They would serve to carry back a relief amount of food back to Rome once the mission succeeded, and so he left them empty.

    It would be prudent to strike through it with his gladius., providing an instant kill while the monster or assassin was unaware he had been spotted. Surely, for one to believe he could challenge Gaius he needed either be strong, intelligent or a fool. While the first possibility cautioned to take the initiative, the other two cases were not so necessary of an immediate action. It would be useful to interrogate him, to understand who it was, along with how and why it had gotten in there. Gaius would take the risk, as he was already used to doing by then. He casted an Illusion spell targeted at the assailant, silencing his movements to his ears. Gaius walked to the chest. Its lock was breached, signaling the monster was likely not capable of lockpicking. Nevertheless, it made his job easier. Gaius opened the chest, his gladius in hand and pointing to meet the target. It was no monster, no assassin or animal. In its place, the unlikeliest of people was the one he found inside,

    ¡°¡­ Julia?¡± he asked.

    ¡°¡­ Err¡­ Hey¡­¡±

    Julia was compacted inside the chest, her legs barely fitting inside. She wore her usual Imperial purple tunic and red garments. She blushed to no end with what looked to be surprise and fear. Gaius sheaved his gladius, staring at Julia for a long, silent moment, much to her apparent despair.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, pulling her out of the chest and into the air as if a small puppy.

    ¡°I¡­ Umm¡­¡± she held her hands together, flickering her eyes to all directions and avoiding Gaius¡¯ terrifying purple eyes.

    ¡°Have you any idea of the danger you have put yourself in?¡± Gaius neared hear, still carrying her entire body with his right hand.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± she repeated, ¡°But still, I wanted to¡­¡±

    ¡°And the apples, you ate them, didn¡¯t you? You got to them while I was away, hiding back in your chest when you heard me coming back¡­¡±

    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ I was hungry¡­¡±

    Gaius gave her a long look, letting her know how he truly felt about what she did. He sighed, letting her back on her feet, ¡°I needed those apples¡­¡± he turned away, ¡°Unknowingly, you did greater harm by coming here than you could imagine¡­¡±

    ¡°Did I?¡± she asked nervously, lowering her head, ¡°All I wanted to do was to follow you on your travels¡­ I have never been this far away from home before¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Of all reasons¡­¡± Gaius shook his head, while Julia kept hers low.

    The emperor let his frustrations flow out of his system. Her desire for adventure was little different than the one which motivated the sailors which volunteered to serve Gaius in the mission. He tried to put himself in her place, being an empress born in a dying empire. There was an entire world out there, while previously explored to Gaius in his old days was entirely unknown to her. It was a child¡¯s wish for fun acting up. She was, after all barely 11. It was an age to try new things, and such was her nature to do that. Gaius would be a liar if he told himself he wasn¡¯t like her in that age.

    ¡°¡­ Now that you are here, know we can¡¯t return until we see our objective accomplished.¡±

    ¡°I get it, Minerva told me it was extremally important¡­ Which is also why I wanted to come! If I am ever to be an empress, I need to help my people when they need me most!¡±

    Gaius turned back to her. Her face reminded him of Minerva, full of conviction and determination. She even tied her long, smooth brown hair in a ponytail, no doubt to emulate her teacher and guardian. Gaius was stuck with her for the duration of the voyage, with no solution but to see it through with her.

    Gaius smirked, more to his own expense than anything, ¡°You would have done greater good to them had you stayed in the capital.¡± He pointed to the basket, ¡°Those apples were crucial to my plan, you know¡­¡±

    ¡°Were they really?¡± she tilted her head, ¡°I thought they were just¡­ Well, apples¡­ I tried to interfere as little as I could, so I¡­¡±

    ¡°I get it.¡± Gaius interrupted, ¡°Nevertheless, the fact still stands. I need to think on something else¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± said Julia, running to her chest, ¡°There¡¯s still¡­¡± she pulled out an apple from it, a bite already taken on it.

    ¡°There¡¯s still an apple?¡± asked Gaius, approaching her.

    ¡°Yes! I was trying to eat it silently, but then I dropped it¡­ Will this be enough?¡±

    Gaius took the apple from her hands. He cleared it of any saliva with his hand, ¡°¡­ It might.¡± He put it on the basket, covering it with the blanket, ¡°We are near enough Cilia, so it doesn¡¯t rot too much before arrival, so it can still¡­¡±

    An enchanting song sounded from beyond the cabin. It was the soft voice of a talented young singer, that of a woman experienced in the practice. Gaius¡¯ and Julia¡¯s attention were stolen by its beauty, both in tone and pitch.

    ¡°Who¡¯s¡¯ singing?¡± asked Julia, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t let woman aboard these ships.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We don¡¯t.¡± Gaius answered, ¡°They would be the target of constant sexual abuse by the sailors, deprived of sexual contact for weeks, sometimes even months¡­¡±

    ¡°Eww¡­¡± Julia¡¯s face contorted, ¡°That¡¯s disgusting¡­¡±

    ¡°Another reason you shouldn¡¯t have come here.¡± He replied.

    Her eyes squinted in annoyance, ¡°Well then, who is it that¡¯s singing?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It could be someone brought a whore without my consent, getting her drunk¡­¡±

    ¡°That sounds fun! Are you going to do something about it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no big issue, really, as long as they aren¡¯t mistreating her.¡± Gaius got back to his desk, ¡°I have far greater issues to deal with¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Fine, I¡¯ll go upstairs and¡­¡±

    A loud splash of water sounded, the waves hitting back into the ship as the song ceased to play.

    ¡°¡­ Did someone fall!?¡± asked Julia, ¡°I think someone did¡­. We need to help them!¡±

    ¡°If someone did fall, the others will help him back up.¡± He replied, ¡°They probably got too drunk with¡­¡±

    Another splash of water, followed by several others sounded,

    ¡°¡­ Did more people fall!?¡± Julia looked around, as the sounds of waves hitting the ship increased, ¡°It¡¯s coming from all sides¡­¡±

    Gaius got off from his desk, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong¡­¡± he walked to the door, ¡°Angelic songs, men falling off the ship by the dozens¡­ Dammit.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What happened?¡±

    ¡°Stay here.¡± Said Gaius, ¡°And try to obey me this time.¡±

    ¡°Tell me what¡¯s happening!¡± she shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a kid!¡±

    ¡°You are a kid.¡± He said, ¡°Even worse, you are a girl. Sirens hate females from other races.¡±

    ¡°¡­ S-Sirens!? They are here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± He said, opening the door.

    ¡°I am going with you!¡± She insisted, ¡°We need to save the sailors!¡±

    Gaius stopped, thinking on the issue. Was Julia to be attacked on the cabin while he was away, she would be easy prey to the Sirens. However dangerous, the best choice was to keep her close at hand under his constant protection.

    ¡°¡­ Have it your way.¡± He dragged her to his side, ¡°Stay close, and don¡¯t let what you are about to see get to your head.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I-I¡¯ll try.¡± She nodded.

    Gaius led the way upstairs, Julia attached behind him. There was an uneasy silence where the sailors were before so cheerful. As he opened the door to the deck, they confirmed their worst fears. The ship was completely empty, save for a single presence near the edge and to Gaius¡¯ right. It was a typical Siren, possessing the lower half that of a fish and the top one of a gorgeous naked woman. She was ready to jump off, looking back at them as she stopped.

    ¡°¡­ My¡­ There¡¯s another one¡­¡± she smiled, ¡°Are there any more gentlemen down there as well?¡± she asked gently.

    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡± Was Gaius¡¯ cold reply.

    ¡°Such rudeness¡­¡± she glanced Gaius, looking him up and down with her keen blue eyes, ¡°You are quite the man, must have been their captain¡­¡±

    Gaius gave her a glance as well. While her upper half gave the illusion of a harmless woman, the details said the contrary. There were marks of blood near her mouth. She licked them off sadistically after Gaius took notice. He looked at the waters, large pounds of the same blood spreading far and wide. As always, there were no bodies to be found. Sirens never wasted a prey¡¯s corpse.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, Roman Captain¡­¡± she rested against the ship¡¯s edge, ¡°In exchange for your life, you will give Minerva a reminder of what happens when you sail too far from Rome.¡±

    Another violent day in need of a violent solution it would seem. The last time Gaius caved on to kill all those who opposed him and the empire a great slaughter ensued, one he did not desire to bring upon as viciously as he once did. The prospect of killing so many stopped being such a lifeless topic, and once more affected him on a personal level. If Brunus was here, what would he have done? Would he be an advocate of justice to be done in the name of the sailors, or would he desire for mercy to overcome anything? The Sirens had just killed his entire crew and threatened him personally. Was it even fair to consider mercifulness? They must have had families in the capital, now deprived of their fathers and husbands. The same was the case for the Lupus who entered Rome, although in a much larger scale. Gaius had not questioned his decision to eradicate them all, but now it was not an example of daily conduct, but one of the harsh extreme.

    ¡°¡­ Had you not attacked my crew, then perhaps some discourse might have been possible. You have, however, killed Romans, threatened their leaders and show an inexcusable amount of disrespect.¡± Gaius drew his gladius, ¡°I¡¯m short on time, and patience. Leave this ship immediately. Tell your people never again to harm another one of our people, lest they want total war.¡±

    The Sirens seemed at a loss for words, befalling on a chuckle, ¡°My¡­ Romans are as arrogant as ever¡­¡± She saw through Gaius¡¯ visor, ¡°It pains me to let such a beautiful man go to waste, but if need be¡­ ¡°She licked her lips, cleansing the leftover blood.

    She sang once more, the same melody as before. It didn¡¯t take long for her to realize it wasn¡¯t working. Gaius was too strong for him to be entranced by a single siren¡¯s song. Julia was a girl, and therefore automatically immune to it. The Siren¡¯s face, one of recent confidence transitioned to cautioned nervousness. She stopped singing, crawling a little further back.

    ¡°¡­ I see, you are not like the other ones¡­¡± She slammed her Caudal Fin on the ground mightily, shaking the deck, ¡°I¡¯ll need some help then¡­¡±

    Several other Sirens jumped out of the ocean, landing on board one after the other, some still chewing on parts of the sailor¡¯s bodies, be it arms or legs. They were very similar to each other, only hair and eye colors different. They covered the entirety of the ships¡¯ edges, counting easily around twenty or so.

    ¡°Now then, my sisters, commence!¡± shouted the siren.

    Gaius looked around, surrounded and outnumbered. Their race proposed a problem far different from that the Lupus did, and in Gaius¡¯ case, far more dangerous. Realizing what would happen if they all were to sing at once, Gaius tried to cast a protective Medical spell as soon as possible. Was he to succumb to their temptation, it would be the end.

    It was too late. The tens of Sirens combined their voices in a great song, the grandest of all melodies, exponentially more powerful than what one alone could perform. Gaius¡¯ quickly lost concentration as their voices penetrate his ears and mind, unable to cast spells any longer. He took too long to adapt to the new threat and was taken by their greatest weapon. Eventually, any resistance would fade, and he would become their collective puppet.

    Gaius gruntled, shaking his head furiously and trying to cover his ears, ¡°¡­ Julia, get back in the cabin!¡± Gaius said, his vision blurring and losing strength on his legs, ¡°They are getting to me¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with this song? What are they doing to you?¡± she asked, still holding firm to his leg. Gaius pushed her off, back to the deck¡¯s downward door, ¡°¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t resist much longer¡­ ¡°

    The siren¡¯s beautiful voices sounded increasingly more glamorous. Her alluring bodies and perfect features called for Gaius¡¯ most primal instincts. An unwavering desire to jump into the ocean claimed his mind. The song was working, and there was little he could do to counter it. He strode towards the edge of the ship, resisting each step, but failing nonetheless. Julia followed him, shaking his arm.

    ¡°Snap out of it!¡± she shouted repeatedly, ¡°You are going to fall too!¡±

    ¡°Err¡­¡± Gaius forced himself to stop. While the song was far and beyond what any single human could resist, he was still a far cut above the rest. Even if he was human, and therefore the most vulnerable to a siren¡¯s voice, a greater effort from their part would be needed.

    ¡°Damn bitch¡­¡± sneered the Siren, ¡°Kill her.¡± He ordered, looking at a nearby siren. She crawled out of her corner, charging Julia with sharp nails and teeth.

    Julia noticed her advance, jumping back and casting a Manipulation Shield Spell, the same one which saved her from the Lupus. It halted the monsters in its tracks, colliding with the magical wall. Unfortunately, as she was still new to casting it she didn¡¯t master the spell fully, causing only a portion of the shield to appear. The Siren leaned forward, jumping over it and striking Julia¡¯s arm. It didn¡¯t make full contact, yet it still cut her. She screamed with pain, lowering the barrier and trying to keep from losing too much blood. The siren attacked once more, but her leather chest plate took the brunt of it. Falling back from the impact, Julia tried to cast the spell again, but to do it with a single arm was impossible with her current ability. With no hope left, she screamed for help.

    ¡°Gaius!¡±

    While Julia fought for her life, Gaius did so for his own sanity. The song stole him of much of his sense, leaving only the ears to use. His niece¡¯s plea for his name, therefore, entered his conscience loud and clear. He could deduce as well where the siren which attacked her was. With great fury, Gaius slashed the sea monster, unable to precisely perform a stab. It was greatly effective, enough power still within him to execute it. The siren¡¯s upper human half was cut off from it¡¯s fish one as it fell dead.

    Gaius took a heavy breath, his headache and blurry vision diminishing slightly. As it took the siren to stop singing when she attacked Julia, the overall potency of the song lowered as well, even if by a small margin. There was also the fact he was getting used to how the music worked and tried to avoid its temptations by using Julia as a reference to reality. If she remained with him, he could still struggle to keep himself from losing it.

    Because of their sister¡¯s death, many sirens stopped singing, looking at her corpse with dreadful gazes. With the song now vastly weaker, Gaius was able to cast spells again. Not a second more to spare, he quickly casted a Medical Resistance Spell, rendering him almost immune to any Illusions. Their greatest weapon rendered useless, the Sirens befell on their leader with worried eyes, ¡°¡­ What now?¡± some asked.

    ¡°¡­ This Roman¡­ He¡¯s something else¡­.¡± Concluded the leading Siren, ¡°We shall all attack at once, he won¡¯t¡­¡±

    Gaius¡¯ casted a huge blaze on his hand, interrupting the siren¡¯s orders. The fires burned as high as possible without reaching the sails. It formed into a raging fireball, many times greater than Gaius himself. He did not shoot it, hoping only to catch the enemy¡¯s attention. His objective accomplished, Gaius said ¡°Get out of our ship. Get out of our waters. The next time any of you dare do this again I will bring death and destruction to your people.¡±

    What needed to be said delivered, the monster''s reaction was the most understandable one. Deprived of any viable tactic and proved to be in a league far beyond their own, the Sirens jumped back into the waters, swimming deep below.  At first, it was only the cowards, but it generated a domino effect. Soon all the sea monsters were gone, except their leader. She stared onto Gaius¡¯ purple light with illuminated his visor from inside.

    ¡°¡­ We will meet again.¡± She said, jumping out of the ship.

    The battle over, Gaius extinguished his flames, falling back and sitting on the ground, his sword dropped. By the skin of his teeth, he was able to avoid falling victim to such a simple trap. He would from now on pre-emptively cast the resistance spell before charting in unfriendly waters. In the end, was the right or wrong thing not to have killed them all? Even if they did take his threat seriously, they would still be free to attack anyone while he wasn¡¯t watching. More roman sailors would die because of his decision. On the other hand, if news of a reborn Roman strength spread, then his reputation would be enough to prevent further raids. It could, on the big picture, save more lives than it would cost. The, was it the right thing only to kill most of them? It was a troublesome thing to calculate, as goodness and evilness don¡¯t work with absolute values. He sighed, ¡°¡­ What a waste of time¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± asked Julia, rushing to his side.

    ¡°I¡¯m free of the song, with no injuries to speak of, just a headache¡­¡± He looked at her. She was still holding onto her right arm, bleeding as it was.

    ¡°¡­ Let me tend to it.¡± Gaius casted a medical spell, curing her.

    ¡°¡­ Thank you, you saved me again¡­¡±

    ¡°You were the one who saved me.¡± He retorted, ¡°I needed to use your voice and presence as a way to keep myself firm and away from the Illusion¡¯s full effect.¡± Gaius chuckled, ¡°After all, you did help in the mission¡­¡±

    ¡°Really!?¡± Julia asked energetically, ¡°You aren¡¯t mad that I sneaked in here then?¡±

    ¡°You still shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± Gaius got up in his feet, ¡°In case I die, you are the last remnant of the Imperial Line. You should have remained in Rome.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I guess you are right¡­¡±

    Gaius patted her head, messing her hair a little, ¡°Now that you are here though, watch and learn as much as you can.¡±

    ¡°I will!¡±

    Gaius crossed his arms. The ship was completely empty. Their casualties were total apart from himself and Julia. The ship couldn¡¯t go long without a crew to operate it, much less make an entire trip back to Rome. The sirens stroke a great blow to him, besides almost killing him themselves.

    ¡°That¡¯s terrible¡­¡± said Julia. At first, Gaius thought she meant the sailors deaths, but as he turned back she was staring the Siren¡¯s corpse, cut in half and still bleeding over.

    ¡°Death comes to us all.¡± Said Gaius, ¡°For some races, it takes much longer than others, but everyone will one day die, be it violently or not.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Why so much death¡­¡± Julia asked with a whisper, ¡°¡­ Why does everyone want to kill each other¡­¡±

    ¡°Power is a zero-sum game.¡± Gaius replied, catching both halves of the dead monster and throwing them on the ocean, ¡°No matter for what ultimate end goal, the peruse of said power demands one to defeat others, and so kill them. It was like that in my time, and so it is in yours.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Do you think one day it won¡¯t be like that?¡± asked Julia, ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a way to make a world where people don¡¯t have to kill each other?¡± The little girl stared onto the emperor, her purple eyes meeting his,.

    ¡°¡­ No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    Julia lowered her head, her eyes almost closing.

    ¡°¡­ But I knew someone that did.¡±

    His words revitalized Julia¡¯s apparent mood. Both knew who they meant.

    Gaius turned back, ¡°¡­ Forget about it. We need to focus on the matter at hand.¡± Gaius gestured to the emptiness of the ship, ¡°We can¡¯t sail like this, so what can we¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Hey, look!¡± Julia pointed towards the horizon, ¡°I see some land over there!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Land?¡± Gaius got to the edge she pointed towards. The coast was visible from the distance. It wasn¡¯t at all far away, quite reachable for their undermanned ship. After the long journey, they had finally arrived. The Island of Cilia laid a few kilometers away. There they would confront Discordia and save Rome from its supply shortage.

    ¡°¡­ Good, we can still do this.¡± Gaius walked off, towards the deck, ¡°Prepare yourself for landing. The true mission starts now.¡±

 Chapter 6: Part 2: The Voyage

    The scorching sun heated the thin air, turning Gaius¡¯ armor plates from a protective set to a torment for wear. They landed the ship far enough from the beach they had to partially swim their way to land. Julia remained free of salty water on her clothes. Hopefully, no one saw the Emperor letting her piggyback him to the shore. Was it not for the frost spell he casted upon himself then continuing the march through the sands would be unbearable.

    ¡°¡­ Hey,¡± Julia pushed onto Gaius¡¯ arm. She removed her garments to the bare minimum, her luxurious tunics, and leather armors too much to bear in the roaring sun. Gaius was against her purposeful vulnerability. Were they to be attacked from range, there was little he could do.

    ¡°¡­ What?¡± he replied, glancing at her tired purple eyes, ¡°Want me to spray the frost spell again?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡­ It¡¯s not it¡­¡± She put a hand over her belly, ¡°I¡¯m really hungry¡­¡±

    Gaius sighed, ¡°You could have said so before we left the ship. There is still plenty of food there.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t feel hungry then¡­¡± she looked at the basket Gaius carried, ¡°Do we really need that apple for the mission? Can¡¯t I just eat it?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t. We need it.¡±

    ¡°Awn¡­¡± Julia rolled her eyes, ¡°Can we look go back to the ship then? I promise I will be quick¡­¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to help the Empire?¡± Gaius asked, still walking.

    ¡°Yes, of course!¡±

    ¡°Then think of all the children, most of which younger than you who are currently suffering of an even worse hunger. Each minute we waste here, their suffering only grows.¡±

    Julia¡¯s head lowered, ¡°I¡­ Sorry, I was being selfish¡­¡± her stomach roared, ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s keep going.¡±

    Gaius gestured his hand over her face, casting the frost spell as if a makeshift cool fan in a hot day, ¡°Stay focused, and you might find some fruits in one of these trees. If they aren¡¯t apples, you can have them.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± Julia nodded, ¡°How long until we reach Dis¡­ Err, Lady Discordia?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Gaius shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s possible she isn¡¯t even here anymore. 10 years of isolation is too long to be sure of anything.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Almost as old as me¡­¡± Julia scratched her head, ¡°What does Lady Discordia look like? Is she like Minerva?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all.¡± Gaius affirmed strongly, ¡°Apart from being both immortal women, they are the antithesis of each other. Venus is the same case as well.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ But, you didn¡¯t really answer my question¡­¡±

    Gaius considered her request but couldn¡¯t in anyway approve to do so. She would be scared to no end, and only serve to make her anxious, ¡°It¡¯s better not to be too specific on details. She¡¯s a Vampire, and that¡¯s what you need to know.¡±

    ¡°A Vampire¡­ I only know of them from the few books that survived the ages. I thought they were monsters of pure evil¡­¡±

    ¡°No such thing as pure evil, only beings whose actions are not approved of by others.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know about that¡­¡± Julia looked at Gaius, ¡°You speak like there¡¯s no difference between good and evil¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe there is. They are completely subjective views, changing from each individual¡¯s perspective.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No, that can¡¯t be right¡­ If that¡¯s true, then what does it make of Lady Discordia?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a case apart. You will understand¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Okay. In the meantime, I¡¯ll try to find something to eat.¡± Julia looked around the shore. They were reaching the forested inwards of the Island. The trees looked devoid of any edible produce. As her eyes scouted the horizon, something caught her attention.

    ¡°¡­ Look, there¡¯s something over there!¡±

    Gaius stopped his march, glancing at where she gestured. There was indeed something at the beach, landed against the waves. It was a boat, partially damaged and worn. Footsteps originated from it, several of them. They weren¡¯t human but canine-like.

    ¡°¡­ Lupus.¡± Gaius whispered, ¡°¡­ No surprise they arrived before we did.¡±

    ¡°That ship belongs to them!?¡± she asked, ¡°Have they gotten to Lady Discordia already?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s quite possible.¡± He sighed, ¡°In case she is no longer loyal¡­ It would be troublesome.¡±

    ¡°Is she in danger? What if those Lupus¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He patted her head, ¡°Discordia can well take care of herself.¡±

    ¡°¡­ If you say so.¡±

    ¡°Before worrying too much, let¡¯s confirm she¡¯s even around first.¡± He lifted his hand from her head.

    Gaius led the path inward to the forest. The trees were tall, bushes large and everywhere there were insects and small animals abound. Impera¡¯s biome and fauna apart from mythological races were quite like the real one. Was Gaius to believe he was in a new reality, then what was him to make of the big metaphysical questions? Did evolution still apply? What was the origin of all this life? Who or what was responsible for all creation? Could it be his invented religion of Sol Invictus was manifested into existence? As the laws of physics were easily violated with the use of magic, his previous understanding of basic knowledge was shallow at best.

    The trees began to change in shape and form the deeper they went. Taller, and older. To his left, there was a banana tree. Gaius used a Manipulation Telekinesis spell, taking the branch to his grasp. The fruits were still rather green, but in good form to be eaten.

    ¡°Here, catch.¡± Gaius threw the bananas in the air. Julia caught them using the same spell as Gaius.

    ¡°I got it!¡± she lowered it, tearing one off and eating with haste, ¡°¡­ Eww¡­¡± She spit the piece out, ¡°¡­It tastes horrible¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s either that or an empty stomach.¡± Gaius reminded her, ¡°We might find something better, or we might not. If I were you, I would take what we can get.¡± Gaius said, eating a green banana on his own. His face contorted. The taste was god awful, but if he complained too it would be the height of hypocrisy. He finished it, trying to set an example, ¡°¡­ See?¡± Not that bad.¡± Julia watched him attentively. With determination, she finished eating with great visible disgust. Gaius shared in her untasteful experience, hiding how much he agreed with her.

    The trip to the island went on for longer. It had been an hour since they left the ship. With no signs of life around, Julia raised a tired voice, ¡°¡­. Gaius, where exactly are we going?¡±

    ¡°To the center of the island, or at least the closest we can get to it.¡±

    ¡°Why the center?¡± she asked, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the major cities be on the coast?¡±

    ¡°Normally they would, but this island is largely abandoned.¡± He raised his hand, invoking a dark essence, ¡°We should have penetrated far enough in for the spell to be effective.¡±

    ¡°What spell?¡±

    ¡°The same one I used to rattle you out.¡± Gaius glanced back at her, her face blushing, ¡°¡­ However, it won¡¯t be Life Detection, But Death Detection. It will take a lot of magicka and only leave a faint signal to work with, but if Discordia is here, we will find her.¡±

    Concentrating a large amount of magicka, Gaius exponentially expanded the radius of the spell, several kilometers outward. The nature of the magic suppressed any dead microorganisms, trees, and far too small animals to be detected. Only major beings were targeted by it. At his immediate front, nothing was revealed.

    ¡°See anything?¡± Julia asked.

    ¡°No¡­ Nothing in that direction.¡± He looked to his right, ¡°¡­ Nothing there¡­¡± then his left, ¡°¡­ Neither there¡­ Or¡­ Wait, I do see something¡­¡±

    He was forcing the spell far beyond it¡¯s intended limits. What should have been a clear light signal was a blurred image. Never-minding it¡¯s faded looks, it was still a strong one. There was a very powerful undead being over there. Much closer than he would have guessed.

    ¡°That must be her.¡± Gaius said, ¡°I¡¯m getting a lot of smaller signs of dead beings near her too. It must be her servants.¡±

    ¡°Nice! We are almost there!¡± Julia said with a smile.

    ¡°It should only be a few minutes walk from here.¡± Gaius faced her, ¡°We were lucky to ¡­¡±

    As the spell was still in used, Gaius saw there was something moving through the nearby trees behind Julia. It opened the bushed which separated them, stepping closer. It was a man, an undead one. His face was rotten, old open wounds spread across its body. He wore the uniform of an Imperial Sailor and its eyes glowed darkly.

    Julia heard its zombie-like screeches, turning to face it. She screamed, jumping away and into Gaius¡¯ side. It tried to grasp for her arm, but she lifted the shield in time to block it. Gaius acted quickly, grabbing the undead by its neck and forcing it against a tree. Due to being so heavily armored, he had little to fear from its attempts to break out and escape.

    ¡°¡­ I got it under control.¡± Said Gaius, pressing it immobile.

    Julia caught back her breath, ¡°¡­ This thing¡­ It almost got me¡­¡±

    ¡°That is why you should wear armor at all times, regardless of how uncomfortable it is.¡± He reprehended her.

    ¡°¡­ I get it, I¡¯ll never take it off during a mission again¡­¡±

    Gaius focused his attention o the monsters he caught, ¡°Now then, killing you would be a waste.¡± Gaius dropped the basket he still carried, a dark essence like the previous one manifesting in his free hand. He cast it on the undead. Slowly, it stopped moving its arms and legs so violently.

    ¡°¡­ Good, it worked.¡± Gaius let go of its neck. He unmade the Undead Detection spell shortly after.

    ¡°He¡¯s stopped trying to attack you¡­¡± Julia pointed out.

    ¡°He¡¯s under my control now.¡± Gaius stepped away from it, ¡°It¡¯s a simple spell which transits the ownership of an undead servant. Very useful in our case.¡±

    ¡°Useful? How so?¡±

    ¡°With this other spell.¡± Gaius once again cast Necromancy magic. With is also applied, the undead moved away from the tree and into the forest, ¡°He will now guide us to his previous master. With us at his side, the other undead will refrain from seeing us as hostiles.¡±

    ¡°Ahh¡­ A nice plan!¡±

    ¡°Thank me after it works. There¡¯s still a chance the powerful creature isn¡¯t Discordia, or even worse, that it is indeed her but in a bad mood. Watch yourself.¡±

    Gaius took back the basket and followed his minion, and Julia, after a sigh did the same. The nature of the environment changed once more. The trees were getting sparser. Dirt roads appeared along with abandoned shacks. Walking around was more of the undead. According to his prediction, they did not attack Gaius and Julia on sight. For the favorable situation to remain they got close to the dead sailor. While Gaius was used to dead beings from previous encounters in Impera, Julia was not. The emperor noticed her nervousness, giving a stern look not to let her fear blow their cover.

    They entered an abandoned city, it¡¯s inhabitants all gone or dead. Many of the houses resembled the ones in Rome, not only in their style but with their deplorable destroyed states. Old blood on the walls and floor painted the grim settlement even darker. Gaius bit his lips. How many more destroyed roman cities could he bear seeing? How many hundreds of thousands, if not tens of millions of people shared in the same deaths as all the citizens here? The previous lands of the empire must have been subject to similar raids.

    The undead servant didn¡¯t stop at any of the houses but kept walking forward. Towards a tall fort he moved. It¡¯s high towers and mighty walls could only mean it used to be the bastion of the city. Its gates were torn apart and stone structures demolished. It was a wonder the whole place still stood at all. No guards properly patrolled it, only the occasional zombie crawling around.

    ¡°.. It¡¯s here, then?¡± asked Julia.

    ¡°Sure looks like it,¡± Gaius replied.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    They entered the castle proper. Its vast hall was in shambles, yet still operative. Markings of fire and holes through wooden walls were plentiful. The undead began to look stronger, more well equipped. They went from zombies to fully armored skeletal knights. They must have been officers of some sort in the city. Thankfully, Gaius¡¯ spell still triumphed. The passed through the doors they guarded and entered a grand hall where many more of them were present.

    A loud laughter echoed from deep inside. It came from a large dinner table at the rooms very center. Turned back to Gaius was her. Discordia Caligulana was seated at the most luxurious of chairs, almost like a throne on itself. She didn¡¯t seem to notice Gaius and Julia¡¯s arrival yet, still lost in her laughter. The other attendants were all skeletons, yet none of them were undead, but simply leftovers of previous lives.

    ¡°¡­ And then, I asked him what kind of torture he wanted! He said he didn¡¯t know, and just wanted to die in peace¡­ He asked to be strangled. The fool! That was exactly what I wanted him to ask for!¡± Then, you know how it goes, I ripped out his entrails, rolled them across his ever-louder mouth and threw him from the cliff! HA! Of all deaths, that¡¯s what he asks for? Civil Wars are such crazy times, I tell you¡­ I love them!¡±

    Her voice was a mix of exoteric screams, full of pauses in tone and sudden increases of volume. She talked moving her body around, her glass full of wine dropping across the table. She continued her babble as Julia¡¯s eyes squinted and Gaius facepalmed.

    ¡°¡­ Is¡­ Is that her?¡± asked Julia in a whisper.

    ¡°¡­ Yes, no doubt about it.¡± He whispered back, freeing his face, ¡°¡­ She hasn¡¯t changed at all¡­¡±

    "... You weren''t kidding..."

    ¡°Eh? Who¡¯s there? Who dares enter the Great Hall of The Princes of Chaos uninvited!? You better have good food or good blood!¡±

    As Discordia got off from her table, Julia got behind Gaius. He couldn¡¯t blame her for being fearful of the vampire. She looked like a normal woman but in all details a monster. Her hair was pitch black, contrasting greatly with her dead, pale skin. With yellow, glowing eyes she had a more threating gaze than a Lupus or Dragon itself. Her sadistic smile and unpredictable nature were, by far, the most disconcerting of her qualities. She was an absolute disaster of a creation, but, depending on how you looked at it, a true masterpiece, or even very beautiful depending on one''s tastes. Each of his Divine Legionnaires was created based on a Roman God in appearance and a Roman Emperor for personality. Discordia Caligulana¡¯s combination was by far the most unstable one of them.

    Her smile transitioned from malicious to a genuine one, ¡°Dad! You came back!¡± she shouted, running to Gaius and throwing herself into his arms. Gaius gold hold of her, such an action not beyond his expectations.

    ¡°Are you here for good, or just visiting? How are the Unconquered Lands? Did you see Uncle Brunus there? Does Sol Invictus have a good sense of humor? Who¡¯s this little girl with you? Ahh, forget all that! You got to hear my stories from the Third Civil War! It¡¯s the best one, I swear!¡±

    While Julia flinched at being mentioned, the Emperor tried to keep his cool, ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure how to answer most of those questions. I¡¯m here now and need your help on¡­¡±

    ¡°Ahh, where are my manners!¡± she jumped out of Gaius¡¯ arms, landing with a flip, ¡°Join us in dinner, we have so much to talk about!¡±

    Sounding friendly enough, it would be counter to his mission to not accept her invitation. Truly, by what he could see, his Divine Legionnaire was still the same as he last saw her, an alleged millennium ago.

    ¡°¡­ Alright.¡± Gaius nodded, ordering his controlled servant away, ¡°Hold it.¡± He said, giving the basket to Julia. He walked to the table, but all chairs were already taken by inanimate skeletons, standing silently for a short moment, ¡°Where shall we seat?¡±

    ¡°Take the place of Marius and Paulinus, they are both cunts anyway!¡± She shot a lightning strike on the two skeletons, turning them into dust.

    Gaius sat down, clearing the particles of electrified bones off with Julia hesitantly copying him. The table¡¯s contents were all bananas. Every single plate had them, most of which rotten with flies over them. Julia looked to almost vomit.

    "Hope ya''ll didn''t find getting here too hard. Did my servants attack you? They probably did. I set them to attack all invaders on sight. Can''t have those Sirens trying anything funny, can we now?

    "It wasn''t too problematic." said Gaius, "Am I to conclude the entire population of Cilia is indeed gone?"

    "Yup! Those sea whores didn''t hold back at all here. It was a mess when I arrived, had to revive thousands on corpses in a single day! Hunting the sirens down was the best fun I had in years!"

    It was as Minerva reported, and as Gaius feared. Without a population to farm the land there was much less food they could count on. However, due to the reduced size of the city it could be enough for a few months, sufficient time to permanently settle the Lupus issue for good. They won''t have to rely on the island, but until then it was all Gaius could expect.

    ¡°¡­ Well then, we must discuss serious matters, so I would appreciate if¡­¡±

    Discordia yawned, ¡°Serious¡­ What now? I¡¯ll tell you what¡¯s serious, the fact the only thing we can eat around here are fucking bananas! Every day, in and out it¡¯s all my servants collect. I don¡¯t care I haven¡¯t got to eat, but I don¡¯t want to lose my sense of taste. It¡¯s working since these dammed green devils always taste like shit!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Disregarding that, we must discuss¡­¡±

    ¡°It was those sea bitches, those sirens that did this¡­ Once I got here they had already destroyed much of the vegetation. We couldn¡¯t grow anything but this! It¡¯s enough to drive a Divine Legionnaire quite¡­ mad¡­.¡±

    She continued, on and on about this or that irrelevant minor issue. Gaius¡¯ patience was already cut short by outside factors, but now it was scrapping the bottom of the barrel. He shut his fists and looked directly into her yellow eyes.

    ¡°Discordia Caligulana!¡± Shouted Gaius, ¡°Lives are at stake! Pay attention!¡± he hit the table, shaking it. Julia gasped at his anger, a side she never saw in him. In truth, Gaius was far angrier at himself than Discordia. His past self was at fault, but there was little he could change about what was already done. Using Discordia¡¯s silence, Gaius sighed deeply, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m glad to see you again. I wish we could chat, but there¡¯s no time.¡± He removed his fist from the table, ¡°Rome is in dire need of food. Even if it¡¯s just banana¡¯s, we need to secure a shipment of them to the capital.¡±

    Discordia stared Gaius, her eyes wide, ¡°¡­ Huh, why didn¡¯t you say so sooner? Let¡¯s get to it!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Thank you.¡± Gaius spoke sincerely, resting his back.

    ¡°If we are going to talk about all that boring stuff, then we need the most boring man in the world with us! It¡¯s only fitting!¡± Discordia leaned over the table, hitting the head of the skeleton in front of her, ¡°Wake up Apollo! The Princeps needs ya!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Apollo?¡±

    The skeleton in front of Discordia was fully armored in a rusty set. When he first looked at it Gaius assumed it was just one of many. As it caught his eyes for longer he learned who it belonged to.

    ¡°¡­ Is that really Apollo?¡± asked Gaius.

    ¡°Yeah!¡± shouted Discordia, ¡°He¡¯s such a lazy one¡­ He never wakes up until I force him to.¡± Her hand was consumed by a dark essence. She was about to cast a strong necromancy spell, ¡°WAKE UP!¡± She screamed, hitting his helmet even harder.

    The armored skeleton¡¯s body began to move. It¡¯s eyes filled with a yellow light, equal to his summoner¡¯s. It twisted it¡¯s neck, moving the arms about, ¡°¡­ Ugh¡­ Sister, you called me?¡± he asked, scratching his head.

    ¡°Look over there, ya dunce! Dad¡¯s visiting!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Dad?¡± he asked, ¡°Do you mean¡­¡±

    Glancing at Gaius, Apollo gasped, throwing himself into the floor and bowing deeply, ¡°D-Dad¡­ No, I-I mean most esteemed Princeps! You honor us with your return¡­¡±

    Discordia laughed at Apollo, ¡°Geez¡­ Why the formalities? Trying to copy Minerva, are you?¡±

    ¡°You are the one being too informal¡­ You should bow too¡­ I think¡­¡±

    Gaius starred at Apollo, astonished it was really him. He already had come to terms most of his Divine Legionnaires were dead, but an exception beyond the three sisters presented itself. Apollo Claudius, Minerva¡¯s assistant in the old days was beside him. It was an overflow of emotions for the emperor, somewhere between finding out his son didn''t die, and finding an old twenty dollar note in his pocket, although with each passing day it leaned towards the former. As a way back to the real world couldn''t be found, settling for this one was a necessity. NPCs were people, by all practical terms. It was heartbreaking then to see one of them in such a deplorable form.

    ¡°¡­ Apollo, what happened to you?¡± Asked Gaius.

    ¡°W-What do you mean? Is there something wrong with my conduct?¡±

    ¡°You are an undead¡­¡± Gaius said reluctantly.

    ¡°Oh¡­ That¡­¡± He got back up and returned to his chair, ¡°I¡¯ve been like this for a while¡­ Got used to it...¡±

    ¡°Minerva told me you were gone, a casualty of the Civil Wars... Along with most of your siblings.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡± He nodded, ¡°I died on this island many years ago. A meaningless battle that ended up costing so much...¡±

    His regret was palpable to the emperor. No conflict is worse than a Civil War, and brother fights against brother. Where all involved lose some way or the other. Gaius did not wish to ask for details on all of the conflicts involving his dynasty, but one day it would be a necessity to do so. One can only run from the past for so long.

    ¡°Since when are you like this?¡± Gaius asked.

    Discordia leaned on the table once more, ¡°Oh! It¡¯s a great story!¡± she said, ¡°After I got here and killed those sea whores, I found this old tomb in the city. I thought sure, I¡¯ll open it, maybe there¡¯s still blood in the cadaver. Turns out it was Apollo! He was buried there by some legionnaires, I don¡¯t know I didn¡¯t bother reading all those scriptures. Thing is, using my strongest Necromancy spell I can revive him with all his strength and mind! It¡¯s great stuff, ain¡¯t it? Sure, there wasn¡¯t any blood in that skeleton of his, but what you gonna do?¡± she shrugged.

    ¡°¡­ I understand. As I remember, you are a master of both Obliteration and Necromancy.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for making me like that by the way! You are the best dad ever!¡±

    Gaius didn¡¯t know what to say. He didn¡¯t make Discordia that powerful at no cost. When creating NPCs one must distribute a similar number of stats between each. In her case, he took a lot of stats from intelligence and mental fortitude towards magical power. The result was her chaotic madness, which deserved the name derived from Caligula. Was Gaius to be made like that, he would be extremally angry to be a sick joke, but it wasn¡¯t the case for her. Being by ignorance or happiness, she liked being herself. He cracked up a smile, overtaken by recalling to the task at hand.

    ¡°When we arrived here, Julia helped me locate a leftover boat who looked to belong to the Lupus. Have you received them in here?¡±

    ¡°So, her name is Julia? THE Julia!?¡± Discordia glanced at the little girl, ¡°Wow, last time we met you were about this size!¡± she gestured with her hands, dropping even more blood from her glass, They grow up so quickly¡­ Wish I had a childhood¡­ Err, no, not really.¡±

    Julia remained quiet, unsure of what to say. Growing the will to involve herself in the flow of the conversation, she asked: "You knew my father?"

    "Of course I did!" she exclaimed, "He killed the fun of the last Civil War, but all parties end eventually I guess. He was the one who sent me here, ya know!"

    ¡°¡­ Lupus?¡± asked Apollo to Gaius, ¡°There are Lupus on the island?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you missed it!¡± said Discordia, ¡°They came barging into the castle wanting to see me. They were talking some nonsense about an alliance against the empire. An Alliance! Can you believe it? It would be really nice to prank Minerva, but I am in charge of pissing her off! No one interferes with it, especially not some dogs walking on two legs!¡±

    ¡°You declined them, then?¡± asked Gaius.

    ¡°Even better!¡± Discordia clapped her hands, ¡°Come on, ya filthy beasts, I haven¡¯t got an eternity¡­ Oh, wait¡­¡±

    The was dark, so he didn¡¯t see it until then. As they approached the table and the few candles providing illuminance Gaius could make sense of her words. Five undead Lupus revealed themselves, the same necromancy magic in them as in Apollo and all other servants of Discordia.

    ¡°I see. You killed them.¡±

    ¡°Serves them right!¡± shouted Discordia.

    ¡°You are too cruel, sister¡­¡± Apollo remarked, ¡°Why not let them return to inform their leaders? It would be in your best interest, as they would refrain from sending another party here.¡±

    ¡°If you are gonna ask me something, bring an offering first! If you don¡¯t, your blood and body will have to do!¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done this.¡± Said Gaius, ¡°One thing is killing soldiers in the battlefield, another one is murdering diplomats. This will strengthen the Lupus resolve against the empire and might mean even worse news for us.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Discordia waved her hand in a dismissive fashion, ¡°They will never pose a direct threat to Rome!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s wrong.¡± Corrected Gaius, ¡°They have already partially sacked Rome, and was I not there when it happened the city would be completely gone.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Really now?¡± asked Apollo, ¡°This is news to me¡­ Discordia, did you know of this?¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­ Who would have thought? I guess Minerva really does need me over there, after all¡­ It¡¯s up to the little sis to save the elder! Can''t have even a decade of vacation...¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Affirmed Gaius, ¡°Without any further delay, we must begin shipping supplies to the capital immediately. The bananas will do for now until we can reestablish full agricultural production in the island.¡±

    ¡°There are also some leftover grain stockpiles around we could use.¡± Said Apollo, ¡°The problem, however, lies with getting them to the city. The sirens attack any ship that dares sail in these waters¡­¡±

    ¡°Not anymore. I made sure to deliver a strong warning to the sirens. They won¡¯t attack any of our sailors, till they risk the destruction of their kingdom.¡±

    ¡°HA! You threatened them, didn¡¯t ya?¡± asked Discordia, ¡°What was it that made them shit the bed? A Fireball? Frostbite waves? OH! I KNOW! It was the Wrath of a Thousand Thunders, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Regardless of how I did it, you can rest assured establishing a secure trading link to Rome won¡¯t be too problematic.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Princeps.¡± Apollo saluted, ¡°We shall use what is left of the Imperial Fleet to transport it all.¡±

    ¡°Another thing.¡± Gaius eyed Apollo, ¡°You are still capable of Medical Spells, are you not?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± He nodded, ¡°There are also many of Discordia¡¯s servants capable of healing as well.¡±

    ¡°That is very good to hear. Rome is suffering from a plague as well. I¡¯ll have you in charge of leading the effort in curing the citizens.¡±

    ¡°It will be an honor, Princeps. We will see to your wishes immediately.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not all.¡± Gaius put his hand on the table, ¡°Discordia, you will formally return to the jurisdiction of the empire, along with the island of Cilia.¡±

    ¡°EH!?¡± shouted Discordia, ¡°You mean I have to go back to following sis Minerva¡¯s boring orders!?¡±

    ¡°That is part of it, yes.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No! I don¡¯t want to!¡± she crossed her arms, ¡°I can¡¯t stand Minerva! She kept sending me letters to go back before the sea whores blocked contact. It''s aways direct orders and commands, i can''t bare anymore of it!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Really?¡± Gaius sighed, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let your sibling rivalries get in the way of your duties.¡±

    Discordia looked the other way, "... I don''t want to."

    "... That''s a bit strange. Minerva told me you didn''t recognize her authority since she wasn''t the emperor. Now that I''m here, shouldn''t you fall back in line?"

    She didn''t answer, crossing her arms ever tighter. It was crucial to try any methods he could before resorting to his main plan, or even worse, to open violence. The right words said at the right time make all the difference, but Gaius couldn''t which to use. He might have designed her mind, but it didn''t mean he understood it completely. How can one fully predict the inner machinations of a madwoman?

    ¡°He¡¯s right, sister.¡± Apollo added, ¡°It¡¯s not very polite to¡­¡±

    Discordia knocked his helmet for the third time, ¡°Shut it Apollo! Don¡¯t make me send you to sleep again!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Apollo held onto his head. It would seem not even death can save you from pain. With a second sigh, Gaius glanced at Julia, ¡°It¡¯s time. Hand it to her.¡±

    Julia nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± She grasped under the vail of the basket, pulling the apple out. Discordia smelled it immediately, her attention shifting to Julia.

    ¡°You¡­ That¡¯s¡­ An apple! It''s been so many years!¡±

    She snatched it away from her grasp. Befalling on the fruit mercilessly, she ate it all in a matter of seconds. As Gaius watched the spectacle of what looked like a man deprived of food for weeks eating a turkey, he knew his plan had worked. An advantage of being their designer was to know such peculiarities.

    "So good..." she repeated, chewing on the red fruit.

    ¡°Is that enough of an offering?¡± Gaius asked sarcasticly.

    ¡°Yeah!¡± she replied, her mouth full, ¡°You know how much I love apples! Thank you so much for bringing it here!¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡± He said, resting his head on a hand, ¡°Will you then¡­¡±

    Discordia finished her apple, throwing the rest away. She got up from her chair, saluting. Her minions followed suit, all honoring the emperor.

    ¡°I hereby re-proclaim my allegiance to the rightful emperor of the world, Princeps Gaius! The island of Cilia and all those who dwell in it are at your service!¡±

    It was easier than Gaius imagined. She didn''t look bothered it was only a single apple, nor that it was bitten already. Was he stuck eating bananas for a decade he would not be picky when an alternative showed itself either.

    "I will inform our undead troops outside," said Apollo, getting off the table.

    "We did it!" shouted Julia, "My first mission for the empire!"

    Gaius got up, ¡°Finally¡­ This issue is resolved...¡± With the island back under his control and the food shortage to be addressed, the Empire¡¯s position would go from the edge of a precipice to a stable stagnation. Far from ideal, but better than before. The first step of his plan was accomplished, and he returned to see things in the big picture. A heavy consideration flew into his mind.

    "What''s the problem?" asked Julia, paying attention to his aura of doubt.

    "It''s nothing..." Gaius looked up, "I''m just wondering how Minerva is doing with Venus¡­¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 1: Illusive

    Minerva never thought she could afford to go so far away from Rome again. Tioch wasn¡¯t quite on the other side of the world, but the distance was enough so returning in case of any emergencies would take time. Filled with such concerns, the Divine Legionnaire walked the busy streets of the great city, no soldiers to afford to keep guards. A decade passed since her sister came to rule the place, and it showed. The most despicable and detested of races composed the current population. Crime ran rampant as thugs stole from weaker ones, and none did nothing but laugh or plot to take the goods for their own. Minerva¡¯s frown wasn¡¯t near enough to express her disgust. One of the reasons the empire was built was so law and civilization would reach all corners of the world, and here her sister was, over watching the exact opposite.

    Getting inside Tioch wasn¡¯t troublesome. It would seem the guards are only careful about the refugees fleeing the Lupus, no doubt unwilling to help the poor souls. Well dressed soldiers like her were constantly assumed as mercenaries, most people ignorant of her identity. Was she to ask, it was probably most people wouldn¡¯t know who or what a Divine Legionnaire was, identifying only to their own city, ignorant of it¡¯s past under imperial command. The ones she expected it wasn¡¯t so extended only to soldiers, the one legion Venus commanded, and the last one at Rome¡¯s disposal.

    As she entered the forum, more distrustful eyes met her. Their gazes transitioned from her spear, to shield and overall set. Minerva proudly wore the armor and weapons crafted and given to her by the Princeps. No jealous stares would change that fact. Demons, Centaurs, Taurus or any other race, none could intimidate her, no matter how much they tried. The center of Tioch was overcrowded to no end. One of the busiest buildings was a brothel, guarded by legionnaires. With such a dead giveaway, her search for Venus was over.

    She skipped getting in line, walking towards the doors. The periodically opened to let customers in, and few came out. Her eyebrows lowered. Did Venus really need to set her base of operations in this disgraceful place? Was she even involved in the administration of the city? A personal meeting was the best source of answers, a thing Minerva was unsure whether to look forward to or not.

    ¡°Oy! Get in line!¡± shouted an angry Centaur. As Minerva ignored him, his frustration was joined by others.

    ¡°Stop cutting the line!¡± another shouted, ¡°Someone stop him!¡±

    She had no patience to deal with these lowly creatures. Her mission personally tasked by the Princeps was paramount. As he so stressed, time was against them, and none could be wasted. Let the complaints and insults come, she endured far worse in her long life.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± asked a Taurus. He was strong enough to halt the momentum by grabbing her shoulder pad, ¡°I¡¯ve waited all day here, if you can¡¯t wait, then go to another whore house.¡±

    Minerva glanced back. The Taurus stood five heads taller than her, his strong build typical of his kind. One of his horns was cut off, probably a sign he wasn¡¯t new to battles. The threat given the tiniest amount of consideration, nothing was to be feared. She freed herself from him and continued.

    The Taurus¡¯ noses fumed like a volcano, ¡°You little¡­ ¡°He got off from the line, going for a punch. It made full contact, and his hand was crushed. His finger bones cracked on impact with the helmet, not making a dent on it. Minerva¡¯s ponytail was the only part of her sent flying. He sneered in pain but refrained from complaining too much. Since it came to this, Minerva turned back, now an aggressive enemy to address.

    ¡°The short temper of your race is nothing but disgusting.¡± She commented, ¡°Refrain from doing this again, and your hand will be your only casualty.¡±

    Her cold, provocative and direct assessment only angered the Taurus further, together with the spectators. She was surrounded by them. Predicting the only possible outcome, Minerva sighed, her warning dismissed.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a woman?¡± the Taurus face contorted, opening a smirk, ¡°What do you think you are doing wearing your husband''s armor?¡± he joked.

    ¡°Teach this tourist what happens when you cross someone in Tioch!¡± a Centaur shouted, cleaning his hoofs in the stone floor.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take her armor!¡± said a human, ¡°Dibs on the weapons!¡± another said.

    ¡°¡­ And I¡¯ll take her.¡± Said the Taurus, ¡°If I can¡¯t have my day at the brothel, you will make up for it.¡± He said maliciously.

    ¡°¡­ I have no time for this.¡± She said, blinking heavily. Freeing her shield-bearing hand, Minerva called upon a spell, charging upon her palm, shining in green illuminance.

    ¡°Get her!¡± shouted the Taurus, charging her simultaneously with the others.

    Minerva casted her magic. An unrelenting force pushed them all away instantly. Their bodies flew several meters away, landing on other buildings and streets. The Centaur broke a few of his legs on collision, and the Taurus looked to have broken his other hand. Quickly evaluating their conditions, none died. It wasn¡¯t in her interest to break the law in what was supposed to be Roman lands, so she settled with it. As the line dispersed and the ones outside the blast radios fled, the Roman Soldiers guarding the establishment fell into a hostile defensive posture.

    ¡°Stand back, woman!¡± the soldier said, pointing his gladius, ¡°Surrender your weapons immediately!¡±

    ¡°I will do nothing of the sort¡± she replied, ¡°Let me in.¡±

    ¡°... Let you in? Who do you think you¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ What¡¯s all this commotion?¡± asked another legionnaire, exiting the building through the door. His helmet, unlike the others, possessed a galea. He was a Roman officer, likely in charge of the sentries.

    ¡°Sir¡­¡± The soldier¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°This woman¡­ She¡¯s casted powerful magic against the customers. What shall we do?¡±

    ¡°Powerful magic?¡± he asked, his attention going to her, ¡°Oh¡­¡± After a pause, he fell to his knees.

    ¡°¡­ L-Lady Minerva!¡± he said, lifting his head, ¡°We weren¡¯t expecting your presence¡­You must be here to visit Lady Venus¡­ Yes?¡±

    ¡°¡­ This¡­ This is Lady Venus¡¯ Divine Sister!?¡± asked the soldier, falling to his knees as well, ¡°A thousand apologies! I was too ignorant!¡±

    The officer must have recognized her from the days his legion was stationed in Rome. The soldier must not have recognized her by being recruited from the city¡¯s population. It was a forgivable conduct.

    ¡°Is she actually in there?¡± Minerva asked, approaching them.

    ¡°Indeed.¡± The officer nodded, ¡°This is her chosen base of operations¡­¡± the soldier affirmed with a hint of shame. Clearly, it wasn¡¯t his choice to have his command centered there. Nevertheless, he obeyed his superior, something Minerva could deeply respect.

    ¡°Of all places¡­ ¡°she sighed, ¡°¡­Very well.¡± She pushed her way in, entering the brothel proper, ¡°Let none other get in here before I say so. Be watchful of spies on any infiltrators.¡±

    ¡°¡­. Understood.¡± Both soldiers saluted.

    She closed the door and was taken aback by the interior. It was far bigger then it looked from outside. There were hundreds of men from all kinds of races being attended by succubuses. They were demonic creatures who feasted on the life essence of other beings to maintain their youth and lifespans. Since the days of Princeps Gaius, they were allowed citizenship, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t prey on the population in exchange to being granted positions at brothels. Back then, and even today the agreement was mutually beneficial, yet even so Minerva despised such a filthy race. Their nature made almost all of them selfish monsters driven only by lust. There was no way for any nobler or dutiful character to develop.

    The only good thing about it all was the music. The man playing the harp was very skillful, enough to let Minerva have a little comfort in the ambiance. Some customers got more attention than others. The stronger an individual was the stronger his life essence as well. Consequentially, they were the prime target of the demons.

    The establishment bore the Roman banners in its walls as if a sick joke. Soldiers guarded the brothel as much as they indulged in it themselves. Was the place to be attacked, they couldn¡¯t hold it for naught. Venus was never the military strategist, but that¡¯s not to say she was incapable of rational thought. Her abilities lied elsewhere, much to the bane of Minerva.

    The was a secluded door, sentries guarding it as religiously as the entrance. It could only be her office, or whatever location she took as her personal space. Minerva rushed there, pushing through the masses. She didn¡¯t notice until then when it was too late to prepare. Focused on her destination, Minerva dismissed the growing number of succubuses giving wide-eyed glares. As it became obvious she was being the target of attention again, she slowed down her movements.

    ¡°Are you looking for an escort, sir?¡± a nearby of the demons asked, ¡°If so, you found one!¡± she proclaimed loudly, grabbing onto her arm.

    ¡°No!¡± another shouted, ¡°Pick me instead!¡±

    ¡°No, pick me!¡±

    ¡°Not them, me!¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Minerva was again surrounded. Not by angry thugs, but by horny demons. Her confusion gave way to an insightful recalling as a reason for it appeared. Their kind can sense power, of which Minerva had a uniquely massive amount of. In addition, judging by how the men outside thought she was a man due to the armor, they must think the same. She had to correct this before it got out of control.

    ¡°This is a mistake, I¡¯m not a man.¡± She said, but none seemed to listen. What were a few succubuses became a dozen, and then tens. They pushed against one another, trying to get closer, all shouting ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room!¡± and ¡°Take me too! I won¡¯t charge for it!¡±

    Minerva had a considerably deep voice for a woman, but it was still clearly feminine. It was easily overruled by their thin and high pitch voices. Her armor set wasn¡¯t made to point out any of her body¡¯s features, as it was made for protective measures. In actuality, it differed little from theirs, but the heavy plates gave the silhouette of a manly warrior. If they couldn¡¯t hear her, nor could they see their mistake, then she was left with little recourse.

    ¡°Stand back.¡± She said, louder this time, ¡°Or I will have to¡­¡±

    ¡°Sister!¡± The playful voice reached them, ¡°How nice of you to visit!¡±

    The cheerful requests amounting on Minerva ceased. A half-naked succubus entered the fray. Her skin was the same tone of pink as the others, the same color for her eyes. Even considering their time and place, Venus¡¯ dressings were as unsightful as ever. A beauty outside, but Minerva knew the horror inside. While Discordia made the favor to not hide secrets, Venus made it all so complicated. Her arrival, as always, sparked confusion among those present.

    ¡°¡­ Was that Lady Venus?¡± one asked, ¡°She said... Sister? Who does she mean?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Me.¡± Minerva said, freeing her arm and taking advantage of the silence, ¡°Let me pass.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Eww¡­ It''s a woman!¡± The succubus said, getting away. The sentiment was shared by her companions, ¡°What a disappointment¡­¡± some said, lowering their heads, ¡°What kind of woman wears armor like that¡­ ¡°

    ¡°Return to your clients.¡± Said Venus with a grand smile, ¡°Don¡¯t leave them waiting any longer!¡±

    The succubuses bowed their heads, ¡°As you say, Lady Venus.¡± They gave Minerva room to move again, returning to their previous and not at all jealous clients.

    Minerva took a heavy breath, ¡°¡­ I appreciate the assistance.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mention it.¡± Venus dismissed her with a wave of the hand, ¡°You could have gotten out of it yourself, you just feared to hurt them, right?¡±

    Minerva faced her, ¡°Never mind these incidents. We have a lot to discuss.¡±

    ¡°So quick to dive on business¡­. We haven¡¯t even received you yet!¡± Venus held her hand, pushing her to the room, ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, let¡¯s catch up!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Be brief¡­¡± Minerva asserted, letting herself be dragged. The Roman soldiers guarding her chambers let them go., saluting accordingly. Not surprisingly, Venus¡¯ personal chambers were full of succubus and Incubus. Her bed was a mess from previous activities Minerva tried her best to dismiss.

    ¡°It¡¯s been fun, everyone!¡± Venus said, ¡°I¡¯ll need some time to talk with my sis. Need the privacy, you know¡­¡±

    The sexual partners disengaged from the orgy, exiting the room after each saying their affectionate goodbyes. Minerva looked the other way, as they did. As they were left by themselves in the room, the soldiers outside closed and locked the door. The song playing was unhearable by then, a source of slight depression for Minerva. Venus fell on her bed, her barely hanging tunic covering her parts.

    ¡°What a full day I¡¯ve had¡­ You wouldn¡¯t believe it¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I can imagine.¡± Minerva neared the bed.

    Venus took a glass of wine from a nearby desk, drinking it a bit, ¡°Want some?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No alcohol.¡± Minerva took the glass form Venus¡¯ hands, ¡°You¡¯ve had enough of it.¡± She put the cup back on the desk.

    ¡°¡­ As fun as ever¡­¡± Venus sighed, ¡°Well then, what makes me worthy of your presence after over a decade? I thought you would spend the rest of your days inside the Imperial Walls.¡±

    ¡°I almost did.¡± Minerva remarked, sitting on a chair, ¡°The Lupus sieged the capital last week. We took many casualties.¡±

    ¡°Really now?¡± asked Venus, tilting her head on the pillow, ¡°I never thought that Arcail would do it.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t him, but one of his underling dogs. An alpha Lupus equal of me in strength.¡±

    ¡°My¡­ Equal of you?¡± asked Venus, ¡°Have you been slacking too much, or was this one a special case?¡±

    ¡°He was strong, but the real problem was with his wolf pack. I spent most of my resources on them, opening a lot of weaknesses for him to exploit.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a bad time¡­ I now regret not reading my scouts reports¡­ Umm, not really. I was kind of busy¡­¡± she giggled, ¡°Anyway, I supposed you won in the end, given you were able to come here and interrupt my business.¡±

    ¡°Your business?¡± Minerva asked, ¡°What exactly do you think you are doing in this city?¡±

    ¡°A better job than you.¡± Venus retorted, ¡°When the wolfpacks came here I could defend my people with no casualties to speak off. Can you say the same?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that.¡± Minerva pointed an angry finger, ¡°Paying the barbarians off is only a temporary solution. Eventually, they will use it to get better weapons and men, becoming an even worse threat. Will you keep paying them off until they become a legion on themselves?¡±

    ¡°And what is your solution?¡¯ Venus got up from her pillow.

    ¡°All problems must be taken off from the root cause.¡± She clenched her fist, ¡°Our only choice is to annihilate the Lupus for good.¡±

    ¡°Far easier said than done.¡± Venus rolled her eyes, ¡°Even if we were to reunite all of our remaining men, to face off the entire Lupus contingent is so mad even Discordia would do it. Flavius tried with a far larger army and look where that got him.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a coward.¡± Minerva scorned, ¡°It is a Divine Legionnaire¡¯s duty to do all they can to protect the empire, even if the odds are against them.¡±

    ¡°Duty¡­ Again, with this nonsense¡­ Why are you even here? Just to scold me for doing what I can?¡±

    ¡°¡­ We need you back.¡± She said reluctantly, ¡°We need Tioch, it¡¯s legion and yourself to fully return to the Empire.¡±

    Venus¡¯ slight displeasure was made into a smirk, ¡°I see¡­ You came here to beg!¡± she chuckled, ¡°After everything, you still can¡¯t survive without me, can you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not begging.¡± Minerva asserted with a shaking head, ¡°It¡¯s an order.¡±

    ¡°Pff¡­¡± Venus scoffed at her, ¡°I don¡¯t take orders from you, how many times do I have to¡­¡±

    ¡°The order is not from me.¡± She interrupted, ¡°Princeps Gaius has returned, and wishes to restore the empire.¡±

    Venus¡¯ witty and cheerful smirk vanished. Her pupils enlarged like a cat on extasy. Her already naturally pink cheeks blushed, and her mouth slightly opened, ¡°¡­ G-Gaius?¡± she asked.

    Minerva couldn¡¯t help but lift a small smile at her reaction. She might like to pretend to be this hypersexual free-living spirit with no strings attached, but as her elder sisters, she knew some of Venus¡¯ true feelings. The exact way their minds operated differed greatly, yet some things she could conclude, especially with reactions such as these.

    ¡°Indeed.¡± She nodded, ¡°The World Conqueror, our creator is back.¡±

    Venus¡¯ head lowered, ¡°T-That¡­ It can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± Minerva insisted, ¡°He was the one who saved the city, including myself. He is the one who ordered me here and is currently dealing with Discordia in Cilia.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Gaius¡­¡± Venus whispered, her eyes almost closed and looking down. Minerva gave her the time to process the information. In her case, she doubted at first, even at his presence. For someone like her sister, to accept it so quickly would be difficult.

    ¡°¡­ So, he wants me to return? What are his grand plans exactly?¡±

    Minerva relaxed a little. Venus accepted this news far better than she imagined., ¡°He is currently focused on relieving Rome of food and disease. His main objective is to retake control of the Imperial Peninsula.¡±

    ¡°He seeks war with the Lupus, then¡­¡±

    ¡°We are already at war. He seeks only to finish what they started, cleansing roman soil from the barbarian parasites.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡± She lifted her head, ¡°You would take my legions and, with all the legionnaires combined, mount a full-on attack on their united wolfpacks?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it.¡± Minerva got up, ¡°Gaius should be returning from Cilia with provisions and Discordia by now. If we hurry, we can meet him there on arrival.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Meeting Gaius¡­¡± Venus gazed on the floor once again. She got off the bed, standing beside her elder sister, ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear¡­¡± Minerva sighed. She was able to convince Venus without any major problems. The way back to the capital could present more challenges but nothing too big to worry about. Rome now had an army at its disposal and one of its Divine Legionnaires back.

    ¡°Hey¡­¡± Venus asked for Minerva¡¯s attention, extending her arm forward, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for all these years of neglect. I know we have our differences, but we ought to put them aside for now.¡± She lifted the same cheerful smile from before.

    ¡°¡­ Agreed.¡± Minerva answered with a handshake. She looked deep into her little sister''s pink eyes. Perhaps their animosity could be overcome. They could return to their days as companion Divine Legionnaires, fighting for the everlasting glory and legacy of the empire.

    Venus giggled, evolving into a laughter.

    ¡°¡­ What is it?¡± asked Minerva.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Sis¡­ You are still so easy to fool!¡±

    ¡°¡­ What?¡±

    Minerva tried to pull her hand away from the handshake but couldn¡¯t. Her arm was frozen, as was, in fact, her entire body. Not beyond able to even blink, all he could do was curse herself endlessly. She fell for it. Venus let go of her. The paralysis spell was a success.

    ¡°You can come out now.¡± Venus snapped her fingers. While Minerva couldn¡¯t move her eyes, she could see straight ahead. Lupus began to appear from thin air. With her peripheric vision, she saw more walking around. Venus had been casting invisibility on all of them with Minerva realizing. She was now at the complete mercy of the Lupus, her mission a disaster. An everlasting anger flew through her veins. With all her might, she began to shake.

    ¡°Now, now, calm yourself!¡± Venus poked her forehead, tightening the grip of the magic, ¡°Be a nice statue!¡±

    Her trembles ceased, as her body returned to complete stasis. Venus wasn¡¯t a master of Illusion Spell in name only. Only someone of her ability or that of Gaius could ever perform a Paralysis Spell on her. It was the height of humiliation, for once caught in one, she was at the mercy of the caster.

    Venus continued laughing, ¡°Now, I know what you are thinking¡­¡± she got the glass of wine from the desk, ¡°How could you do this, Venus? How can you betray the empire so blatantly?¡±

    Those were exactly the thought in her head. To think Venus, of all people, would betray Gaius was inconceivable, and for the Lupus no less. She now worked with the same filth who killed so many Romans, citizens, soldiers and Divine Legionnaires like themselves.

    Venus rested against one of the Lupus, ¡®I¡¯ll tell you why¡­¡± she drank from her cup, wine overflowing on her throat, ¡°¡­ They got here first, and their deal was¡­ Oh¡­ Their deal was so much more attractive!¡±

    ¡°Will you or shall we do it?¡± asked a Lupus.

    ¡°Eh? Do what?¡± asked Venus, the alcohol finally getting a little to her head.

    ¡°Kill her, obviously. We won¡¯t ever get another chance like this.¡±

    Venus took his words into consideration, looking back at her sister, ¡°¡­ I agree, a chance like this¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s settled then.¡± He said, ¡°Take off her helmet and slit her¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait! I didn¡¯t finish!¡± Venus interrupted, ¡°Yea, it¡¯s a good chance, but she is worth far more alive than dead. Think of the concessions we will get from Gaius with her to bargain with.¡±

    The Lupus sighed, ¡°Very well, that makes sense. You have already done your part for now, so might as well grant you as much.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Venus drank the last remnants of her cup, dropping it on the floor. It broke in several pieces, bothering both the sensitive ears of the Lupus and the Elven Minerva.

    ¡°I wish to see Codubia personally.¡± Venus said, putting on some more clothes, ¡°Surely, that won¡¯t be a problem. She¡¯s already near Tioch, no?¡±

    ¡°She is.¡± Nodded the Lupus, ¡°She awaits news from us, as well as an estimation to when we can expect your legion to join us.¡±

    ¡°Just a few days.¡± She said dismissively, ¡°I insist we meet personally before the marching on Rome. There are some details that must be addressed.¡±

    Venus gave the Lupus and incongruous glance, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sure that won¡¯t be a problem. Your loyalty has been proven, Lady Venus.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± She smiled, ¡°You will address me by my new and rightful title.¡± She sat on Minerva¡¯s chair. The Lupus all around shared glances but agreed to oblige.

    ¡°Understood, Empress Venus.¡±

    ¡°She opened a sadistic smile, ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to hear¡­¡± She rested her legs over the frozen Minerva, ¡°The day I have waited for so long is finally at hand¡­¡±

 Chapter 7: Part 2: Illusive

    ¡°We have arrived!¡±

    Julia¡¯s excited words came as if from Gaius own mouth. After so many days at sea, Rome really did feel like it, and not at all undeservingly so. He spent countless hours in his empire¡¯s capital when playing Impera, as his position demanded. It was his home in all but name far before he woke up in this world. As his niece got off the ship and into the harbor, Gaius followed, ¡°It¡¯s good to be back.¡± He said.

    Gaius¡¯ thankfulness was headed to the undead sailors who managed to keep the mission alive. The operated the positions left idle by his casualties on the account of the Sirens. Had Discordia not already had such a large contingent of servants at her disposal, then supplying Rome with a maritime shipment delivery link would be impossible. Such creatures weren¡¯t useful for too complicated tasks, but they could row and help in menial labor. Expanding in their potential, Gaius could place them as the farmers who would get Cilia¡¯s farming back in shape. It was an interesting prospect, but one that could only be pondered on for the moment. They were needed to get what little surplus food there was to the capital, and that was enough.

    The skeletons and zombies carried the cargo off, the strength of past lives still hanging in their bony arms. The boxes were mostly filled with those disgusting bananas. Hopefully, the citizens would forgive Gaius for not finding a better alternative, but he was semi-sure they would. A bad taste in the mouth is preferable to an empty one in the stomach. While he couldn¡¯t indulge them with exotic fruits, expensive sweets and high-quality bread like in the triumphs of old, his celebratory gift would be based on keeping their lives going.

    Many of the citizens had gathered to receive his arrival. They watched from afar as the few guards Rome could spare formed a perimeter. Their faces were hopeful. Mothers hugged their children, sons laughing with their fathers, friends bantered over who would get to eat first. Gaius had returned with enough provisions to keep Rome alive for a good while, and such news was as pleasing to their ears as a thousand foreign conquests. Rome was no longer at the brink of death. It got back on its knees, and Gaius¡¯ next step was to get it on its feet.

    ¡°Apollo, over here,¡± Gaius commanded.

    ¡°Y-Yes, Princeps!¡± Said the Undead Divine Legionnaire, clumsily running out from the deck and into the harbor, ¡°What is your command?¡±

    Gaius gestured towards the people, ¡°Lead the effort in distributing the supplies fairly. Start with the worst-off children, and go up from there based on age, sex, and health. Maximize the people you can keep fed, avoiding unnecessary suffering due to mismanaged allocations.¡±

    ¡°Very wise of you.¡± Apollo nodded, ¡°I appreciate being trusted with such an important task.¡±

    ¡°You may start immediately.¡± Gaius said, lowering his arm, ¡°Try to get them used with the bananas¡­¡± he remarked with a sour taste.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Apollo saluted. He faced the servants behind him, ¡°With me.¡±

    They followed him out of the harbor, hundreds of containers to open and make use off. Whether or not it was ethical to use the bodies of deceased men to perform these things was a hard one to address. The very problem involving if they were conscient of their state was deeply disturbing. The undead did not interact or show any signs of personality, except for Apollo, whom Discordia dedicated to bringing out fully from the afterlife. Using them served a good cause, yet how much was too much? If he knew they indeed were aware and suffered greatly from being tools, would he keep it up? Necromancy was a morally ambiguous magic to use for most players in Impera, but it had never bothered the emperor before. It was only right to make use out of bodies when possible. They were, after all, just AI he would tell himself, but are they still? Was Apollo and AI? Or Minerva? Or Julia? It was too wrong to accept. As his brother once said, he couldn¡¯t tell them apart. This situation only grew truer with his isolation. Was he to believe all around him weren¡¯t real people would be the edge to insanity. The ever-growing wish to return home all he cared for, and everything else be damned. It would be not only self-destructive but deeply harmful to all around him. When men of absolute power stop caring for their friends, family, and compatriots, they drag their surroundings down their own ruin. If such a thing was to happen, and this world was to be real, Gaius could not forgive himself, not again.

    A whole week passed since his awakening. If his body was leftover in his flat, he would already be dead. If his real self-was taken hostage to playtest this new version of Impera, then what was the point of keeping him going? If this was an inexplicable new world, then what was he to make of it? These were all questions which haunted the emperor¡¯s mind, yet never came close to a satisfying answer. A torturous fate it is, for one who knows nothing of his reality. Gaius slowly breathed, crossing his arms and looking over the sea¡¯s dawning horizon. Of all the possibilities, which one was the most preferable? Was it to acknowledge his simulated imprisonment and hope to be free, or to accept the new world, and bring forth a new life? In the case of the latter, what was that new life to be? He was the World Conqueror, a legendary figure even by his days. Was another go at wars, conquests, and endless death what he wanted? Would it be what Brunus would want?

    Gaius chuckled. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t. Brunus would give up the position immediately, settling for a quiet life in a peaceful corner of the world. He lacked his elder¡¯s ambition, and so his curse as well. His little brother was happy with who he was. To project his will and influence on others was unthinkable. Be it on campaigns, administration and social interactions, Brunus never cared for power.

    It was a lie. His brother, much to Gaius¡¯ surprise did, in fact, assume the position as emperor, and according to Minerva, he ruled a wise and involved state, looking to further the Empire''s objectives. It wasn¡¯t the person he was, but the one he pretended to be. Brunus sacrificed himself in favor of Rome, in favor of Gaius¡¯ legacy.

    But why? He was so selfless about everything, unquestioning of burdens others placed on him. Why was he like that? How could Gaius become more like that? Should he even try to? How does one reach true happiness not through any achievements of triumphs, but by letting life dictate your fate? How did he bear it, consumed by no goals other than doing good? Brunus always preached about not being cruel or evil, but what constituted those things for him? What was it that defined who he was?

    Gaius sighed, shaking his head. Had he cared for asking such things before, it wouldn¡¯t be such an issue. Was he not so single-minded on his worldview, then perhaps he could understand his brother¡¯s own. Beyond saving the empire, what was Gaius¡¯ core motivation? Was it to save his people and creations, or his legacy and property? A mixed bag of answers poured on his neurons. It was a bit of both, but none of them as well. Gaius wanted to be happy, but the way to do it wasn¡¯t any more set in stone. First, he wanted to conquer the world, then to restore his empire, but now what?

    In his last mission, he put a proposal to test. When the Sirens attacked and killed his men, Gaius¡¯ intended outcome was to kill all of them. He still thought it was the right thing, but the test held him back. By letting the sirens go, was he being good? Is it being good that which drove Brunus¡¯ happiness? The act only made Gaius question himself, and nothing more. Mercilessly letting the sirens go didn¡¯t sound right then, nor did it now.

    Something was lacking. It could be more tests were required, more experiments to be ran. Gaius couldn¡¯t keep going without actively seeking it.

    It was decided. The only way he could truly understand his brother and himself was to think as he did, to apply his considerations when possible and emulate his actions. Were they able to grant Gaius¡¯ his happiness, then once again he would be owning his brother greatly. Not only the source of his smiles from outside but inside as well. Gaius would need to die, and a new one to be reborn. As Brunus¡¯ carried on his legacy, he would return the favor, or at least give a chance to try.

    The sun finally set, bringing forth the ever-colder night. His job had been done, and new objectives assigned. A good sleep was necessary for the future campaigns yet to happen. While Rome had been saved, it was still under threat. Be it Lupus, Dragons or Sirens, they would all need to be dealt with eventually. An emperor¡¯s work is never done, but his energy and patience sure are.

    ¡°You are so quiet over here¡­¡± said Julia, standing beside Gaius.

    ¡°¡­ I was thinking.¡± He replied.

    ¡°About what?¡± asked the ever more curious child.

    ¡°Important things.¡± He concluded.

    Julia gave him a mildly annoyed look, ¡°Right¡­¡± she sat down on the harbor, playing with the sea water with her feet, ¡°So, where are we going next?¡¯

    Gaius looked at her, ¡°¡­ Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Our next adventure! When will we go? Where will we go?

    ¡°We aren¡¯t going anywhere for now.¡± He affirmed strongly, ¡°Minerva apparently still hasn¡¯t returned, we must wait for her.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but after that I mean. Will we go to Tioch? I heard it¡¯s a great city!¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t going anywhere. More precisely, you won¡¯t¡± Gaius affirmed, uncrossing his arms, ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to go with me to Cilia in the first place.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Didn¡¯t I help?¡± Julia asked with great concern, ¡°I thought I made myself useful¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ You did. I¡¯m thankful, but it doesn¡¯t change the truth.¡± Gaius gestured to the horizon, ¡°This broken world is no place for a child to wander. You need to stay in Rome where you are safe.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Safe¡­¡± Julia whispered, ¡°People have been telling me to be safe all my life. I listened to them, and even then, just last week not even Rome was safe anymore!¡± she got up, her feet still wet, ¡°I want to participate in things! I want to help people, not be shut in a dark palace, being told to look after myself!¡±

    Gaius couldn¡¯t retort her. She might have inherited Brunus¡¯ kindness, but her passion to be involved in the world an actively resolve problems resembled none other than himself. Gaius smiled, knowing Minerva raised his great-niece well.

    ¡°¡­ You will become a great Empress one day.¡± Gaius remarked, looking back to the vast ocean, ¡°¡­ One day, but not today.¡±

    Julia was visible englamoured by the compliment at first, but his addition sharpened the resolved in her words, ¡°Why not today?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Think about it. Had the sirens brought enough of their own to overtake me, what would have happened then?¡±

    ¡°¡­ You¡­¡± Julia¡¯s eyes fell to the wooden dock, glancing at the footsteps of water she was leaving.

    ¡°I would be dead.¡± He finished for her, ¡°You would be dead too. What then do you think would happen to the empire?¡±

    She twisted her neck and eyes away, unwilling to face Gaius when he said ¡°It would fall, and everyone in it would die, be enslaved or exploited by foreign invaders. Our line has stood for a millennium and now stands at a knife''s edge. We are the true rulers of the empire, and without us no legitimate authority can be agreed on. Minerva herself has problems putting her own sisters under control, so what do you think an unlawful usurper would cause?¡±

    Julia didn¡¯t respond, taking in the emperor¡¯s lecture. It was an important one, so Gaius didn¡¯t stop, ¡°We can¡¯t afford to risk your life while I¡¯m already at risk in missions. It is simply a chance we cannot take.¡±

    Julia nodded slowly, her head still low, ¡°¡­ I understand.¡±

    ¡°You are still so young¡­ You have much to learn and practice before embarking on such tasks. Focus your time and energy on improving yourself. It is the best way to fight that dreadful sense of unproductive idleness.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Improve myself?¡± she asked, eyeing Gaius¡¯ visor, ¡°Minerva taught me everything I know. I can¡¯t learn anything while she is gone¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s incorrect.¡± Gaius put his arm up, ¡°You can learn from me.¡± He said, casting a fireball in his hand. It was the same one he used to scare off the Sirens but on a far smaller size.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s an Obliteration Spell¡­¡± Julia took a step back, ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn those¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Gaius asked, extinguishing the flames, ¡°What is it that you know, then?¡±

    ¡°Manipulation Spells only. Shields, telekinesis and other minor magic.¡±

    ¡°I see, It seems that training under a Manipulation Magic Master did influence you a lot.¡± Gaius cast a simple shield in his hand, ¡°These spells are quite useful, but they won¡¯t solve your problems.¡± He brought his other hand up, casting the previous fireball on it, ¡°I made Minerva be the best defensive magic caster in the Divine Legion, so it only made sense to make her specialize on it¡­However¡­¡± Gaius threw the small fireball against the shield. It dispersed, forming cracks in the surface, ¡°¡­ They say the attack is the best defense, and I¡¯m inclined to agree. See how even though my left hand is doing it¡¯s best to defend itself, my right hand is the one better of right now. It will continue shooting until the other one breaks.¡± Gaius dissipated both spells, lowering his arms, ¡°I understand you might not like hurting others, but they won¡¯t feel like you do. Your enemies will do whatever they can to bring you down, and so you need to prepare to fight fire with fire.¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes squinted, following her lowering eyebrows and shoulders. Julia was paying attention to his demonstration, but whether she understood and accepted his message was another matter. Gaius tried to replicate an example that remembered her of her situation against the Lupus. It could have been a mistake in his part. While his intention was to teach her, it might have triggered some unhappy memories. If Gaius was to emulate his brother, he needed to stop doing things like this.

    ¡°¡­ Anyway, what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡±

    A child¡¯s scream sounded from the city¡¯s interior. Gaius gazed at the source, along with his startled niece.

    ¡°What happened!?¡± she asked.

    ¡°¡­ It came from the crowd.¡± Gaius looked around. There was some commotion over where he sent Apollo. The families who were supposed to receive the food were getting away from him and the undead servants. The children of the families cried and often screamed in horror as the skeletons tried to hand them food.

    ¡°¡­ Dammit, I should have considered this¡­¡± Gaius walked away from the dock.

    ¡°Wait!¡¯ Julia followed him to the problem.

    It was the same for the thousands present. None would take the food except for the most desperate, and even them did so reluctantly, snapping the items from their hands.

    ¡°¡­ Please, everyone, calm down!¡± pleaded Apollo, trying to calm some nerves.

    ¡°Why are they so scared?¡± asked Julia.

    ¡°¡­ Well¡­ If I had to guess¡­¡± Apollo scratched his helmet.

    ¡°They are afraid of the undead.¡± Gaius stepped to Apollo¡¯s side.

    ¡°Yes¡­ I believe that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Apollo tried to sigh, but due to having no lungs was unable to do so, ¡°We can¡¯t near the hungry children with them or their parents freaking out. Not counting the lone men courageous enough to approach us when they do eat the bananas they mostly spit them off, unable to take their foul taste¡­¡±

    Gaius facepalmed, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not predicting this¡­ Also, I hoped they could endure the fruits¡­¡±

    ¡°You should talk to them.¡± Julia said, calling for his attention, ¡°Explain to them these undead are our allies. They will believe you!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Will they?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°I know there have been legends about me, but these are illiterate plebs. They don¡¯t know me... Beyond my current title as emperor, that is. I had only a week to consolidate my position, never mind I did so mostly away from the city. I can force them to listen, but I doubt they will truly¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ You should still try.¡± She insisted, ¡°You are the only person they will believe in!¡±

    Julia spoke with a lot of conviction. It was his time to be lectured, it seemed. Sharing a quick glance, Gaius nodded, ¡°Very well.¡±

    Gaius walked away from the two, closing the distance to the people. He passed by the zombies, getting to a point the crowd began to recognize him from his past stroll in the city. He raised his hand in the air, casting a medium sized fireball. He needed to act fast, lest they fought it was intended to them. He shot it far upwards. It exploded in the night sky, roaring like the fireworks from his world of origin. The spectacle claimed the wondered eyes of all the easily impressed masses.

    ¡°¡­ Citizens of Rome.¡± Gaius spoke out loudly, his deep voice needing an extra push to be heard from afar. He lowered his arm, ¡°¡­ I am Emperor Gaius. I ask for your ears.¡±

    The undead followed a command given by Apollo, distancing themselves from both Gaius and the people. They could easily see him, and more importantly, listen to him. He pointed to the servants, ¡°These undead beings are our allies. They assisted me in bringing food to Rome. I ask of you, do not fear to take their offerings. They seek only to help you.¡±

    Gaius gave them a moment of silence. They whispered in each other¡¯s ears, likely afraid to attract the emperor''s direct gaze. While it is better to be feared than loved, the saying sure didn¡¯t mean from the perspective of sociability.

    ¡°¡­ Is he telling the truth?¡± a woman asked, ¡°He looks so scary¡­¡± a child commented, ¡°He can¡¯t expect us to trust these monsters¡­¡± a man said with a grunt.

    ¡°Those bananas are terrible!¡± a man shouted to Gaius. He followed on his courage to address him, ¡°They must be either spoiled or poisoned¡­ We can¡¯t eat them!¡±

    Gaius shook his head, ¡°They aren¡¯t.¡± He cast a telekinesis spell, getting a batch of the fruits from one of the open boxes, ¡°I¡¯ll prove their safety for consumption.¡±

    He took off his helmet, hanging it on his waist. His eyes glowed ever stronger in the darkness surrounding the harbor at such hours. His gaze was more illuminating than the nearby torches for some.

    ¡°¡­ His eyes¡­¡± many of those present said in unison, ¡°Is that purple?¡± the ones further back asked, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± some young woman remarked.

    Gaius peeled off the banana. His face contorted a little, knowing what awaited him. He suppressed his disgust, eating with apparent enjoyment, ¡°¡­ They might not be pleasant to eat, but they will save you from starving.¡± He said after finishing.

    His example set, some of the younger kids emulated him. They ate the fruits, and while some still spat it out, especially the girls, they did so far less than before. The kids from further back, hungry and now willing to eat asked their parents for it. The sentiment spread, and soon the crowd became far more accepting of the undead. They were still distrustful, committing to grabbing the items as fast as possible, but it progressed. The citizens re-engaged with the servants, the supplies spreading throughout.

    ¡°See? I knew you would do it!¡± Julia said from a distance, rushing to him.

    ¡°Indeed, most impressive!¡± Apollo followed in an orderly manner, ¡°You have made my job far easier, Princeps.¡±

    Gaius turned back from the crowd, and spat out the pieces still in his mouth, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t mention it¡­.¡± He said, trying to hide the remains from a broader view. Putting back his helmet, he looked at Apollo, ¡°Once they are done, collect all undead capable of performing the Disease Cure Spell. The worst cases are still contained in the hospital. It should start from there.¡±

    ¡°I shall do as you say,¡± Apollo affirmed.

    ¡°If there are any major problems, you can find me in the Imperial Palace. I¡¯m rather tired, so I would appreciate if you didn¡¯t bother me with trivial things.¡±

    Apollo nodded, saluting and then leaving to undertake his assigned tasks.

    ¡°You are going to sleep?¡± asked Julia, ¡°Won¡¯t you wait until Minerva returns?¡±

    ¡°She might only get here at midnight, I can¡¯t stay up until then¡­¡± Gaius yawned, ¡°¡­ Roads have a way to deviate one¡¯s path. She should be here by tomorrow morning at best.¡±

    ¡°Ok¡­ I think I¡¯ll wait for her in the¡­¡±

    ¡°Princeps Gaius!¡±

    A loud shout echoed through the harbor. The man ran through the dock as fast as he could.

    Gaius turned to it¡¯s source, ¡°¡­. What now?¡± he asked.

    A legionnaire charged their position. He came not from the crowd but from the city¡¯s interior. Judging by his armor set he was part of the wall sentries. Rome could barely afford to keep it¡¯s men well equipped, so it fell to the first line of defense to get whatever they could spare. Gaius didn¡¯t doubt he was one of its members. Had he anything to say, it would be related to external affairs. He stretched his legs and arms, his chance to relax gone.

    ¡°He looks very nervous¡­¡± Julia pointed out, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s really important?¡±

    ¡°It must be.¡± Gaius said, trying not to sound too tired, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t come directly to me at such a time if it wasn¡¯t¡­¡±

    The legionnaire de-accelerated a little, ¡°I have a report from¡­¡±

    An explosion filled the gap between them. The flames spread far and wide through the dock. The legionnaire fell on its pace as Gaius and company were left befuddled as more events conspired to steal their attention.

    ¡°How rude!¡±

    Discordia was pointing a fuming open palm towards the legionnaire. She got off from the ship, finally awoken from her trip¡¯s slumber, ¡°To near the presence of the Princeps so inelegantly¡­ Who do you think you are? Apollo?¡± she walked down the ramp connecting the ship. Standing between Gaius and the soldier, Discordia electrified her fingers, ¡°What ya got there? Better be some antidote to hangover¡­ My mind is DAMN fucked right now¡­.¡±

    Watching this unfold, Gaius fell on an interesting tangential thought. Not only could undead feel pain, such as in the case of Apollo, but they could also suffer from alcohol poisoning. The laws of this world seemed less predictable the more he learned from it. He would never think of giving drinks to his Divine Legionnaires back then, therefore knowing whether this phenomenon was a new thing or a consistency from the game was unknown. He dismissed his considerations, an important issue to attend at hand.

    ¡°Let him be, Discordia.¡± Gaius walked to her, His intrusion is permitted, granted the message is important.¡±

    ¡°Oh! What if it isn¡¯t!?¡± she asked, opening the same sadistic smile he saw on her in Cilia, ¡°Will we torture him? Hah! That would drive my headache away! Nothing cures a hangover like the painful screams of a man getting his eyes plucked off¡­¡±

    The soldier, still on the floor shook underneath his armor set. Gaius couldn¡¯t blame him for showing such fear, even considering he was a soldier. Discordia had all the features which provoked the wrong feeling in one¡¯s mind. It sure didn¡¯t help she was saying such nonsense.

    ¡°No one is getting tortured.¡± Gaius reprehended her, ¡°Go put down the fires you started.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Daaad¡­¡± she tilted her head.

    ¡°Do it before it gets out of control.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Fiiiine¡­¡± She sighed, walking off and casting blizzard spells to calm the blazes.

    Gaius was getting used to it. Reprehending the Divine Legionnaires, especially Discordia was no different from what he expected it was to be a father. Minerva was perfect and dutiful, and Discordia the messy and disobedient one. For now, the dynamic worked, and due to it¡¯s implied truth Gaius wouldn¡¯t complain about her calling him so affectionately.

    Gaius extended his hand to the legionnaire, ¡°Get up.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes¡­ Sir.¡± He took his hand, getting back in his feet, ¡°Thank you for saving from your¡­ Daughter?¡±

    ¡°That was no issue.¡± Gaius gestured to the scroll he carried, ¡°What news do you bring?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ Yes¡­¡± he pulled the scroll from his leather bag, ¡°A mysterious messenger got to our gates. He wore imperial armor, but wasn¡¯t like the ones we used¡­ He meant for you to read this.¡±

    ¡°It was a Roman soldier, then?¡±

    ¡°Most likely, sir.¡±

    Gaius took the scroll, ¡°You are dismissed, soldier.¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°Yes sir.¡± He saluted, running away as fast as he got there.

    As he tore off the seals, he considered the situation. For a Roman soldier to deliver this he would have to be part of Venus¡¯ legion. Could it be a message from Minerva? He opened the report and read it attentively. His grip on the paper tightened as each line finished. Discordia cleared the remaining flames from the harbor, allowing Julia to get closer.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ It almost burned me¡­¡± she carefully tried not to step where small flames still persisted. Finding her great Uncle reading the document she took a peak on the scroll.

    ¡°What¡¯s the report about?¡± she asked, ¡°Is it from Lady Minerva?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No¡­¡± Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not from her¡­ But about her.¡±

    Julia¡¯s merry mood vanished as Gaius¡¯ almost dead voice rocked against it, ¡°How so? What happened?¡±

    ¡°Venus has betrayed us¡­.¡± Gaius closed the scroll, ¡°She has allied herself with the Lupus and taken Minerva hostage.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What!? Julia shouted, ¡°Minerva is a hostage!?¡±

    ¡°I know it might not sound right for someone so strong to be taken captive, but in this context it makes sense. Venus Elagabalus is a master at Illusion Magic. It¡¯s not hard to conceive the ways she could have fooled Minerva¡­ Invisibility and Paralysis spell being my guess¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s horrible¡­ What can we do to her back?¡±

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s the part that concerns me. In this report, they state the time and place they will meet with the Lupus contingent¡­ ¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ Why would they do that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a trap, albeit an obvious one¡­ Too obvious¡­¡±

    Julia¡¯s eyes shifted directions as fast as she blinked. She was likely even more nervous than Gaius himself, ¡°¡­ A trap¡­ Then¡­ What can we do?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Fall for it, I¡¯m considering.¡± Gaius said without a hint of sarcasm.

    ¡°Fall for it!?¡± she asked, expressive her outrageous reaction, ¡°Are you going suicidal again?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Perhaps, but I don¡¯t have a better choice. Venus wouldn¡¯t have given us these coordinates if she didn¡¯t mean us to use them. If I decline it¡­ Minerva¡¯s fate will be certain¡­.¡±

    Julia¡¯s eyes began to form tears, ¡°¡­ No¡­ I can¡¯t lose her¡­ Not another mother¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Agreed.¡± Gaius nodded, putting the scroll strapped on his armor, ¡°I will go and face Venus.¡± He began to walk off.

    Julia grabbed Gaius¡¯ arm, not letting him go further, ¡°I¡¯m going with you!¡±

    Gaius got her grip off him, ¡°No, you are not. We already discussed this¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± she screamed, ¡°I need to go help Minerva! I need to¡­¡±

    Gaius patted her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Julia, but it¡¯s not happening¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you¡­ Eh?¡± Julia looked down, a green illuminance claiming her legs. She tried getting it off but her muscles wouldn¡¯t obey. She was paralyzed on her feet.

    ¡°I will dissipate the spell after I¡¯ve left.¡± Gaius released her head, ¡°In case I don¡¯t return, you are the Empress. Do not be afraid to act in any way necessary to serve the empire¡¯s best interest, even at the cost of my and Minerva¡¯s lives.¡±

    Julia¡¯s singular tears gave way to a fully dedicated and sorrowful cry, ¡°¡­G-Gaius¡­ Don¡¯t say things¡­ Like that¡­¡± she cleaned her face, her upper body still free for movement.

    ¡°Goodbye¡­¡± Gaius turned around, trying to go for good. Once again, Julia halted him. This time not with a grab, but a hug. She held dearly to his chest plate, leaning in his armor to cry, ¡°I-I don¡¯t want to lose you too¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Julia¡­¡± Gaius looked back on her.

    She met his visor, ¡°Tell me you are going to come back! Promise me!¡±

    Her eyes were the saddest thing Gaius ever saw in his life, be it in the real world or Impera. He could never be sure he would die or not, but to say so to her at that time and place was beyond his powers as the legendary World Conqueror.

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ I promise¡­.¡±

    Julia¡¯s wet and reddened eyes widened as her typical smile reappeared. Gaius used the pretext to break off the hug, and finally get going.

    ¡°Discordia!¡± Gaius shouted.

    ¡°¡­ Yeah?¡± Discordia replied, getting off from putting down the fires.

    ¡°Take care of Julia while I¡¯m gone. Protect the city as well as best you can.¡±

    ¡°Alright! It will be fun!¡± she jumped, hugging Julia, ¡°We are gonna have the best time of our lives, little Julia! We will go to the best bars, destroy anyone who¡­ Why are you crying?¡± she asked, distancing from her.

    ¡°Apollo will oversee the general administration while I¡¯m gone. Inform him I¡¯m off the city.¡±

    ¡°No problem, dad! We¡¯ll wait for ya to come back anytime!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Well then, I¡¯m off.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Good luck!¡± Julia said, ¡°Do your best!¡±

    ¡°¡­ I will.¡± He replied, getting away from their portion of the harbor. They were left, as he went down his way. Gaius¡¯ problems kept mounting, and for every time he solved one another took its place. At one point or another, some people or person depended on him. The world had conspired to steal his life and brother away, but he wouldn¡¯t let them take anything more. Gaius would rescue Minerva, no matter what it took.

 Chapter 8: Part 1: Betrayal

    ¡°You always have to make things so difficult¡­¡±

    Venus sat atop a luxurious chair, leaning against it as if a bed. The desks nearby were filled with fruits, sweets and many bottles of wine. With a soft smile, she looked down onto Minerva, knelt and chained to the ground as she was. The paralysis effect was supposed to be enough, but she kept struggling against it. An extra layer of security was needed to maintain her like that. While the magic prevented her from using her amazing strength, it wasn¡¯t quite enough to stop all actions. Minerva¡¯s arms still flickered, trembling with the commands her limbs wouldn¡¯t execute. The metal chains bounced onto themselves as she attempted to break out.

    Venus sighed lightly, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you to give up since I know you won¡¯t listen¡­¡± She glanced at one of her Succubus maids, ¡°More wine.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Lady Venus.¡± The energetic maid poured more of the drink on her master¡¯s cup.

    Drinking it elegantly, Venus finished it in a matter of seconds, ¡°¡­ Good¡­ This one is of very good quality! Well done in selecting this bottle.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, my lady.¡± The maid bowed her head.

    ¡°Keep this up, and I might add you to my private chambers¡­¡± Venus winked at her, her smile widening.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I¡­ I am not worthy¡­¡± the maid bowed even further, her voice cracking.

    There was always more room in her collection of concubines, and this one looked like a proper potential increment to its numbers. Venus was already getting bored with the ones she currently had. One more could spice things up or make what she already had even more exciting. There was no other way of finding out than to try her. In the worst-case scenario, she could always try another one. If her thirst demanded it, she could capture a strong being and let him be her source of satisfaction. The stronger they are, the sexier they become. Such is the way a Succubus viewed others. Venus was quite self-aware of her views, which only consolidated them. In a world where might makes right, it is only natural for such individuals to be sought after.

    It wasn¡¯t the only motivation, of course. Indulging with her succubus servants was fun, but she needed to engage with other races to steal their life essence. Her last time had been too long ago. She would need to find a strong being fast before her hunger got too much to bear. With a single finger, Venus lifted the maid¡¯s head from her forehead.

    ¡°¡­ Y-Yes?¡± asked the maid.

    Venus withdrew her hand, laying it back in the chair, ¡°Do we have any powerful prisoners left?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± the maid pulled out a scroll from her leather bag. As a virtue of being her assistant, Venus permitted her to wear useful items, even if they covered her body. It wasn¡¯t possible to have things her way all the time. Often it was necessary for people to wear clothes. A bothersome, yet inescapable reality of which she herself was a victim. Her wraps and flimsy transparent tunics was the most she bared wearing

    ¡°¡­ According to our Legion¡¯s data, we haven¡¯t brought any prisoners before leaving Tioch.¡±

    ¡°Darn¡­¡± Venus blinked heavily, putting her cup away, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much longer I can wait¡­¡±

    ¡°If it is my lady¡¯s wish, I shall contact our garrison in Tioch to¡­¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be needed.¡± Venus said, ¡°Maybe we will find something out here I can make some use out of¡­¡± She looked outside of her tent, ¡°I have a feeling this night will be interesting¡­¡±

    Minerva struggled further, this time more intensively. She got her arms off the ground, forcing them into the air. Venus went out of her daydreaming, eyeing her elder sister, ¡°¡­ My¡­ Won¡¯t you give me a second to look away?¡± She put her drink on the desk, reinforcing the spell¡¯s strength by recasting it on Minerva. It froze her movements. The chains forced her arms back down.

    ¡°Relax a bit. Try it once in your life, you might find it as good as I do.¡±

    Minerva slowly twisted her neck a few degrees to her right. Now able to, she stared onto Venus¡¯ pink eyes with an unmitigable sternness. Venus smile vanished as they eyed each other, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± She turned her head away. Venus did her best to ignore it, be even though she didn¡¯t see it, she could feel Minerva¡¯s judgment. She reestablished eye contact.

    Those were the same eyes. The same green, spiteful and never-wavering eyes of her elder sister. She always looked at her like this when either angry, disappointed and distrustful. Right then it must have been a combination of the three. It was the purest form of mocking and disrespect. She could not abide by it.

    ¡°Yes yes¡­ Even though you can¡¯t speak, I know what you would be hammering on about right now¡­.¡± Venus gestured in the air, ¡°¡­ The Empire this¡­ Duty that¡­. Disappointment here¡­ Betrayal there¡­ I¡¯ve heard it all before and do so again just by looking at you.¡±

    Minerva, obviously, did not reply. Venus had to settle with enduring her gaze, screaming with disapproval and an entire ocean of negative vibes. They still had to wait, and things couldn¡¯t go on like this. It was beyond uncomfortable, as her sister had a keen way to spark the worst feelings in Venus. She waved her hand, once more interfering with the spell.

    ¡°I¡¯ve un-paralyzed your mouth.¡± Said Venus, getting her cup from the desk, ¡°Try saying something nice about this glorious tent you have the privilege of being in! It¡¯ will soon be the Imperial Tent, you know¡­¡±

    Minerva, to Venus astonishment, did not reply to her provocations. The Succubus demons raised a thin eyebrow, ¡°¡­ What¡¯s wrong? Lupus caught your tongue?¡±

    She remained silent, continuing to relentlessly stare. Venus once more tried not to be affected by it but couldn¡¯t. Not to say a word even when directly addressed was insulting. She needed to stay at a reasonably close range to maintain the spell, so leaving her alone wasn¡¯t quite an option. In the same manner, Minerva was Venus¡¯ captive, the reverse sounded true as well. Her succubus hunger increased by the minute due to the deprivation she was in, and her patience drained by the second as Minerva scorned her. This combination made wonders to reduce Venus¡¯ patience to the single digits.

    ¡°¡­ Fine then.¡± Venus said with a hint of dissatisfaction, ¡°I¡¯ll make my case before you drive me madder than Discordia¡­.¡± She pointed her empty cup to the maid, who happily filled it again. Venus got up, gently walking around Minerva. Her demonic tail waggled about and her horns barely didn¡¯t scrap the surface of the low tent.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t betrayed you¡­ Well, not exactly.¡± She took another dip, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m planning on saving the empire.¡±

    ¡°.. Save it for yourself.¡± Minerva gruntled.

    Finally ending the one-sided conversation, Venus expanded on it, ¡°You could say it like that, but in practical terms, it¡¯s quite beyond only my interests¡­ We cannot keep viewing the Lupus as our enemies, not with we want to succeed.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense.¡± Minerva snapped, ¡°The Lupus have been raiding the empire for years now. They killed countless romans and are nothing but a plague on our lands.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it. Another one is by their own perspective, that is, of a fleeing migrant tribe who were denied entry, and so fought for it.¡±

    ¡°You pity them, is that it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Venus reached for a few grapes, eating as she talked, ¡°I don¡¯t sympathize with the barbarians, but you would be a fool to say they act out of pure savagery. And a fool, Minerva, you aren¡¯t, despite the ease it is to trick you¡­¡± She chuckled.

    ¡°Savagery is all they have committed since invading, be it in Rome or any of its cities.¡± Her eyes narrowed, ¡°Even if they were to change their way, to truly repent only a punitive campaign would suffice.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Sis¡­ Always thinking in absolutes¡­¡± Venus shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not saying the Lupus haven¡¯t committed crimes, but that they are far more logical and understandable then you give credit for.¡±

    ¡°That changes nothing.¡±

    Venus smirked, ¡°You see, this is the kind of behavior why they are so anti-Roman. You led empire with such an extremist and unbending resolve you made enemies out of all of them. It¡¯s no wonder you attacked their wrath eventually.¡±

    ¡°To fight them is our duty. To protect the empire of invasion is our reason to exist as Divine Legionnaires, or do I need to remember you once again?¡±

    ¡°That is what I¡¯m doing.¡± Venus affirmed strongly, ¡°All the Lupus desire are some lands and to be recognized as equals. Once granted, the empire can breathe easier and face its other problems. Since you couldn¡¯t swallow your pride to realize this, then I simply had to step in and take control.¡±

    Minerva tilted her head, ¡°¡­ And what do you know of taking control? Besides giving away ancestral imperial lands, this is not a sustainable agreement, much less a favorable one. One day you give them a farm, the next they demand a village, a city, and soon Rome itself! They do not wish for co-existence, and even if they did, to grant it is pure treason.¡±

    Venus couldn¡¯t help but smirk, ¡°¡­ Ahh, how the years failed to change your ways, elder sister¡­¡± Venus sat back in her chair, ¡°You will just have to see it for yourself, then¡­¡± She drank a third cup, a little slower this time. Despite the high alcohol tolerance she built up over the years, its effects were beginning to hit in. She couldn¡¯t afford to be drunk, not yet. She put down the cup.

    ¡°¡­ More wine?¡± asked the timid succubus, watching the sisters debate quietly.

    ¡°It¡¯s enough for now.¡± She blinked, ¡°I wish for some privacy with my sister if it wouldn¡¯t be too rude to ask.¡±

    She nodded, ¡°Very well¡­ I will stand outside if you need anything.¡±

    ¡°Good girl¡­¡± Venus tapped her on the shoulder, controlling herself not to make a tight grip on it. The maid left the tent, letting the cold nightly breeze in. Venus shivered a little. The disadvantage of wearing almost nothing was the vulnerability to these sudden changes in temperature. She extended her toga around her body, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a bit chilly¡­ It¡¯s not the appropriate season for marching in the fields¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ What would Flavius think of you now?¡± Minerva asked.

    Venus¡¯ eyebrows lowered, but her eyes didn¡¯t meet Minerva¡¯s, ¡°¡­ Nothing positive, I would wager¡­¡±

    ¡°You were close for so many years, only for you to betray his empire by rallying to the very people who killed him¡­ I thought he meant more to you.¡±

    Venus¡¯ mood took a sharp dive. Her elder sister proved again capable to hit the right nerves, ¡°¡­ He was a good man. I¡¯ll make sure his daughter is treated well in my regime.

    ¡°¡­ Is that you have to say about him?¡±

    Venus wouldn¡¯t fall for the kind of guilt trip she tried to pull off. In truth, it was all she could say about Flavius. Due to the nature of his blood, Flavius possessed a potential matched by few others. He could learn and adapt to spells and techniques faster than anyone else, much like all the emperors before him. Such power was obviously attractive to Venus. He was the first emperor she dared to have a direct relationship with. Beyond saying she like it, there wasn¡¯t anything left. His death and demise meant little in her demonic heart.

    ¡°¡­ Flavius death doesn¡¯t change what needs to be done.¡± Venus said, leaning more relaxed in the chair, ¡°I¡¯ll make the favor of ending the war he couldn¡¯t.¡±

    Minerva¡¯s face contorted, ¡°Don¡¯t you try to fool me again. You may want to hide behind this whole farce, but we both know the real reason you are doing all of this.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°¡­ Do we now?¡± Venus asked with a mocking smile, ¡°Well then, please enlighten me, all-knowing and ever-wise sister!¡±

    Minerva¡¯s eyelids lowered as she took a deep breath, ¡°¡­ This is about Gaius, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    A long silence emerged between and within the sisters. They maintained their mutual stares as Venus¡¯ cheerful face faded and Minerva¡¯s convicted gaze sharpened. To say Venus was speechless would be an understatement. No word came to her mind which didn¡¯t either validate the claim or make her sound bad.

    ¡°¡­ Gaius¡­¡± The power of Venus¡¯ spell diminished as her mind was overtaken by a wave of emotions. Unable to fully concentrate on it, Minerva could move a little more, ¡°¡­ What about him?¡±

    ¡°You did believe when I said he had returned, didn¡¯t you?¡± Minerva moved her shoulders,¡±¡­ This treason isn¡¯t about the Lupus, but about¡­. "

    Venus stopped avoiding her sister, eyeing her directly. She raised her voice, ¡°Shut it.¡± She demanded, casting the full might of her paralysis spell. Minerva was back where she started, unable to even flinch, ¡°¡­ Letting you speak was a mistake.¡±

    Minerva now deprived of her words resorted back to her eyes. Venus, however, would not let it distract her again, ¡°Let us both be patient, it shouldn¡¯t be long until¡­¡±

    The tent¡¯s curtains were dispersed. The succubus maid re-entered, ¡°Lady Venus, they are here.¡± She said.

    Venus sighed, ¡°Finally¡­ How big is the delegation sent?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite large, my lady¡­ Around 100 Lupus have come to bodyguard their leader.¡±

    Venus smirked, ¡°Well¡­ I supposed tensions are too high not to be cautious.¡± She walked to the exit, ¡°Are they waiting outside?¡± She leaned out. Among the many other tents and fortifications built in her legion¡¯s camp, a large force of Lupus attracted the attention of many of her legionnaires. They were led by a female Lupus, heading towards the tent.

    ¡°¡­ So that¡¯s Codubia¡­¡± Venus whispered, glancing at her maid, ¡°I¡¯ll meet with her. Make sure my dear sister doesn¡¯t try anything funny.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes, my lady¡­¡±

    Putting her normal smile on, Venus exited her tent. The cold breeze needed to be ignored of she ought to make a good impression. They shortened the distance between each other, stopping mere meters from where she left. At a closer inspection, the female Lupus was indeed of the Alpha bloodline, her red eyes, and black fur a proof of it. Without a doubt the wife of Arcail, Venus knew this was no impostor. Her nearby legionnaires stood beside her, not allowing for their legate to be left so outnumbered facing a foreigner.

    Venus gently bowed her head, ¡°Let me be the first to welcome you to the camp, Lady Codubia.¡±

    She was greeted with the usual treatment, an overload of stares on her body. The Lupus men, although of a very different race still eyed her chest and exposed parts. To be so attractive even monsters as different as they would desire you was a great compliment. She didn¡¯t recall the last time she did it with a Lupus, if ever. Perhaps that night she could find a strong volunteer among them.

    Her presentation, however, wasn¡¯t as universally well received as she hoped. The female Lupus grinned at the educated reception, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m no lady.¡± She said, approaching her, ¡°Codubia is my real and only name.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡± Venus lifted her head, ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t find getting here troublesome.¡±

    ¡°There were no complications, but never mind that.¡± Codubia eyed Venus, ¡°Take me to Minerva.¡±

    While Venus was attempting to be a good host, that dog¡¯s rudeness couldn¡¯t be so easily dismissed. Here she was, ignoring how well she¡¯s been received and getting to business. They always want to focus on Minerva. She¡¯s always the center of attention and where all matters. Even if her younger self would protest her behavior, Venus obliged, ¡°Well then, just follow me.¡±

    Venus turned around, leading the way. Codubia glanced at one of her bodyguards, ¡°Surround the tent. If anything happens, you know what to do.¡±

    Her men nodded in mutual understanding. Venus, of course, heard her making no secret of the order. Until that moment they sounded more like enemies than allies. She entered inside, finding Minerva still doing her darned best to escape while the maid helplessly watched.

    ¡°Try not making a scene,¡± Venus told Minerva.

    Codubia entered shortly after, her red eyes looking at all corners and directions. If such a perilous expression, Venus couldn¡¯t tell if it was born out of mistrust of her reception or wonder of her property. Codubia sniffed the air, ¡°¡­ What is this smell?¡± she asked.

    At first, Venus wasn¡¯t sure what she meant, but then it became clear, ¡°Oh¡­ You mean the incense? It¡¯s an aromatic air, you should like it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ And this¡­ Is Minerva?¡± she asked, staring onto the prisoner.

    ¡°The Legate of the Divine Legion herself, and so proclaimed regent of Rome.¡± Venus leaned on her chair, ¡°You have nothing to fear from her. She won¡¯t lift a finger against you, quite literally¡­¡± she smirked.

    ¡°¡­ Such a foul spell¡­¡± Codubia said, examining Minerva, ¡°Roman magic has no sense of honor, to deprive one of the least bit of self-defense and respect.¡±

    ¡°That hurts¡­¡± Venus said, pouring her own wine, ¡°I went through so much trouble to keep her like that. It¡¯s taking all the magicka I can muster to even sustain it, you know¡­¡±

    Codubia stepped further, getting side by side with her. Glaring at her green eyes full of hatred, she turned to Venus, ¡°Why is still alive?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a valuable hostage.¡± Venus commented, ¡°We have much more to gain by trading her life than by wasting it.¡±

    ¡°Wrong.¡± Codubia affirmed, her foul mood never changing since arrival, ¡°She needs to die.¡±

    Venus¡¯ lovely expression contorted, ¡°My¡­ You are as suborned as she is¡­¡± she put the glass down, ¡°Against what we are facing, we ought to make use of all resources we can. Minerva¡¯s life is worth far more than you imagine.¡±

    ¡°This is not about trading hostages, but pure realities of war.¡± Codubia neared Venus¡¯ chair, forcing the Succubus to look further up, ¡°She¡¯s been the one responsible for singlehandedly keeping the empire alive since the last emperor¡¯s death. She is one of the last of her kind, and are among the few who can threaten us. She needs to be dealt with while we still can.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ You won¡¯t change your mind, will you? I didn¡¯t summon you here just, so you could personally execute her.¡±

    ¡°I imagine why¡­¡± Codubia took a step back, ¡°Perhaps your loyalty to your sister is still too strong to hide.¡±

    Venus¡¯ eyes squinted at the accusation. In the subverted ways Codubia had accused her of not being loyal to their alliance, to say it so abruptly was the last drop. She got up from her chair, ¡°¡­ Well then, let¡¯s kill her.¡±

    Minerva¡¯s eyes widened, quickly narrowing with anger. She made her greatest attempt to break out of the spell yet, but couldn¡¯t do it.

    ¡°¡­ I see you still have some common sense in you.¡± Codubia said, opening the way for Venus to pass, ¡°You should be the one to do it.¡±

    Venus didn¡¯t reply, calmly drawing on one of her daggers. She stood beside her sister. She put the blade on her exposed neck, having removed her helmet far earlier. Minerva struggled away a few centimeters, put Venus put her head back in position with her free hand.

    ¡°.. Stay still.¡± She said, tightening her grip on the dagger. She sliced it, her arm going far wide. Codubia was visibly astonished, while Venus looked down with an unchanging expression. The edge made full contact, yet not a cut was made. The dagger, however, was considerably damaged, it¡¯s metal parts partially broken. Minerva¡¯s neck was intact, and she remained alive.

    ¡°¡­ What happened?¡± asked Codubia.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You see the problem?¡± asked Venus, sheaving her weapon, ¡°Minerva has incredible defensive strength, far beyond either mine or your reach.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No, that¡¯s a lie¡­ I¡¯ve talked with survivors from Iraminus¡¯ wolfpack. They talked of how she almost died in the battle.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ That.¡± Venus walked way, ¡°One thing is tanking and entire horde lead by an alpha Lupus, the other is resisting a cut. The number of inner resources each drain are incomparable. By the time this Iraminus must have gotten to her she must have already been extremally weakened.¡±

    ¡°¡­ That so¡­¡± Codubia whispered, exposing her sharpened fangs out. She clawed Minerva, only to meet the same fate as Venus¡¯ dagger. Her claws broke slightly at the edges, no serious or noticeable damage dealt.

    ¡°¡­ You Divine Legionnaires¡­. Such abominations of power¡­¡±

    ¡°You are being rude again.¡± Venus said, playing with the damaged weapon, ¡°You see now that keeping her alive isn¡¯t only our best, but the only option.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Codubia said, putting away her claws, ¡°My husband Arcail is far stronger than that hot head Iraminus was. He will execute this Minerva without an issue.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we are off to meet him, then!¡± Venus chuckled, ¡°Since the topic has come, how many Lupus can I count on meeting up?¡±

    Codubia looked at her broken claws, glancing at Venus, ¡°¡­ Putting all united wolfpacks into count¡­ 100,000 Lupus, not counting woman and children.¡±

    ¡°100,000!?¡± asked Venus, ¡°My¡­ I see the rumors were exaggerated¡­ With such a host, Rome will fall almost without a fight.¡±

    ¡°Arcail plans to put the numbers to use, but in the most unhelpful of manners.¡± She shook her head, ¡°He seeks to try to scare the garrison to give up, trying to avoid a siege if possible instead of breaching the city in one go.¡±

    ¡°So merciful¡­¡± Venus smirked, ¡°He sounds quite sensible. I look forward to meeting him.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Right¡­¡± Codubia eyed her pink eyes, ¡°¡­ About him, he is currently in charge of the wolfpacks, devising a strategy to defeat the World Conqueror in battle.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Really¡­¡± Venus¡¯ tone lowered, ¡°¡­ What kind of strategy?¡±

    Codubia shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m not there, so I don¡¯t what he is coming up with. All I know is that he means to use our numbers to our best advantage.¡±

    ¡°¡­ A sound warfare policy¡­ However,¡± Venus took a small moment to think, ¡°¡­ Have you any proof the World Conqueror has indeed returned?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Proof?¡± she asked, ¡°¡­ No, not really¡­ All we have are reports of a powerful being capable of using powerful lightning spells, but that¡¯s it. For Arcail it is enough to be sure it¡¯s him.¡±

    The weight in Venus¡¯ heart softened a little, ¡°¡­ A bit flimsy of an assumption, don¡¯t you think?¡± She laughed, ¡°My¡­. With such little information it might as well be my younger sister the one you fear!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Discordia, you mean? Aye, it might be. We sent diplomats to her island. In case it isn¡¯t her, she will hopefully join our alliance of mutual interest.¡±

    Venus rolled her eyes, ¡°You might find convincing her¡­ Quite a task¡­¡±

    Codubia sighed, ¡°Indeed¡­ But in any case, we should discuss what will come after it all.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Venus tilted her head, ¡°I thought the specifics were already agreed upon. I will assume as Empress and in exchange for your support I will recognize your right to the lands in the northwest.¡± She put her glass down, ¡°With the tensions resolved, we can look forward to more prosperous days.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± Codubia looked at her with great concern, ¡°I meant what we will face after it¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Hmm? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°The Dragons, of course.¡± Codubia crossed her arms, ¡°They have been sending their slave soldiers to attack our settled lands for years now. You¡¯ll see, soon they will extend their grasp to Rome itself.¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Dragons¡­¡± Venus looked the other way, ¡°I heard these days they prefer to be called the Draconic Confederation¡­¡±

    ¡°A pretentious name for pretentious monsters. If we keep united when facing them, we can find a way to expel them away from our mountains.¡±

    ¡®¡­ Hopefully, although it wouldn¡¯t end there. There is still the sirens to contend with, and that¡¯s only on the imperial Peninsula¡­¡±

    ¡°Agreed¡­ ¡°Codubia nodded, ¡°There are still many battles to come.¡±

    Venus rested against a wardrobe, ¡°We will persevere through it¡­¡± Venus closed her eyes, a little rest deserving of all her hours awoke until then. It allowed her to concentrate even further. She intended to increase the potency of her spell, yet something else clouded her mind.

    There was an increasing tension in the air, and it wasn¡¯t the incense. It was a great pressure, approaching her by every second. She began to breathe through her mouth, a fuzzy feeling taking over. She touched her forehead. It wasn¡¯t hot, so it wasn¡¯t a fever or anything of the sort. Codubia and Minerva looked unaffected, while she got increasingly disturbed. Such a familiar feeling, but from where?

    ¡°¡­ Codubia¡­ Are you feeling this?¡±

    ¡°Feeling what?¡±. She asked, ¡°You mean the incense? Far too much so¡­¡±

    ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s not what I¡­¡±

    Venus¡¯ heartbeat began to accelerate, her cheeks blushing a little, ¡°¡­ I¡­ This feeling¡­¡± she whispered.

    ¡°¡­ Lady Venus!¡± The maid re-entered the tent, ¡°A-Are¡­ Are you feeling this too?¡± she asked, her hand also on her chest. Venus put her brain to work while she could. It was their succubus senses speaking, which could only mean one thing.

    ¡°¡­ Send scouts outside!¡± Venus ordered the maid, ¡°Find what¡­ Or who is the source of this¡­¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes¡­¡± the maid looked troubled, likely lost in appreciation for what neared them all. Venus had experienced this countless time before. By then, the thrill had dulled, or so she assumed. If the sensation kept growing, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hold herself still. It was extremally intense, much like her first time. She felt a millennium younger, like a young demon in love.

    ¡°¡­ Oh¡­¡±

    Her eyes widened like never before, putting a hand over her mouth and resting the other in her heart.

    ¡°¡­ Venus?¡± asked Codubia, ¡°What are you sending scouts out for?¡±

    While Venus was resting on the wardrobe for comfort, now it was to barely keep standing up. Minerva¡¯s paralysis spell almost dissipated, letting her do as much as standing up.

    ¡°¡­ Venus, you are letting her get away!¡± Codubia shouted, sharpening the unbroken fangs in her left hand.

    ¡°¡­ Dammit.¡± Venus shook her head, putting Minerva under control again. ¡±.. I apologize¡­ My mind is just¡­¡±

    Codubia put her claws away, staring at Venus, ¡°What is happening here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s him.¡± She said, controlling herself, ¡°¡­ It really is¡­¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± asked the bothered Lupus, ¡°Tell me already!¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s¡­ Gaius¡­¡± she said, resting her arm against the tent.

    ¡°¡­ The World Conqueror?¡± Codubia¡¯s red pupils grew as she shouted, ¡°He¡¯s here!?¡±

    Minerva had a similar expression. On her face, trying to peak outside.

    ¡°¡­ It can only be¡­ This life essence, it¡¯s unmistakable¡­¡± Venus said, still breathing through her mouth, ¡°He¡¯s near¡­ Very near¡­¡± she lifted a small smile, which Codubia took notice off.

    ¡°¡­ Damn you, is this a trap?¡± she asked.

    ¡°¡­ What? That¡¯s ridiculous¡­ I had no idea he would¡­¡±

    ¡°How did he find us then?¡± she asked, ¡°This operation was supposed to be a secret!¡±

    Venus sighed, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± She bit her lips, forcing what little resistance to her instincts as was possible, ¡°¡­ Perhaps we have been betrayed¡­ A soldier, or an officer perhaps¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t expect me to buy that, do you?¡± Codubia asked, ¡°This is all far too suspicious¡­¡±

    Venus, even though the feeling intensified was capable to get a little used with it. She composed herself, ¡°¡­ What you think is irrelevant right now¡­¡± she glanced at Codubia, ¡°We now have to face him¡­. Together.¡±

    ¡°Face him?¡± she asked with a stupefied face, ¡°Are you insane? Have you forgotten who we are speaking about? If it truly is him, then we can¡¯t possibly hope to¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ We don¡¯t have to fight him.¡± Venus got away from the wardrobe, now able to move around, ¡°As long as we have Minerva under custody, he won¡¯t resort to violence.¡±

    Codubia stood silent for a moment, ¡°¡­ That¡­ That may work, but still¡­¡±

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t attacked yet and has allowed himself to be detected. He wouldn¡¯t do that if violence was his primary intention...¡±

    Codubia sighed, ¡°A retreat is out of the question¡­ We must meet with him.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It sure seems that way¡­¡± Venus said, lowering her head.

    ¡°We are going together.¡± She affirmed, grabbing onto Venus¡¯ arm, ¡°If you aren¡¯t still on their side, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Agreed.¡± Venus nodded, ¡°I can¡¯t go too far away, so we will have to receive him inside the camp¡­¡±

    ¡°A dangerous, yet seemingly unavoidable prospect¡­¡± Codubia let her arm go, ¡°We will rely on my Lupus bodyguards for protection. If the worst comes to pass, they won¡¯t hesitate to buy time for our escape.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Well then, so that¡¯s our Plan B?¡± asked Venus.

    ¡°Plan B? You say like to have already developed a Plan A¡­¡±

    Venus smirked, ¡°That¡¯s because I have.¡± She led the way out of the tent, ¡°It will work wonders¡­¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 2: Betrayal

    The interior of the Imperial carriage had not been something Gaius saw for over a thousand years. It¡¯s rugged and old wooden doors, combined with what was supposed to be luxurious items invoked the deepest of nostalgia in the emperor. He sat at the same spot he used to, the table of chess still between the two seats. When he found out the previous emperors had preserved his ancient chosen vehicle of travel, he couldn¡¯t resist but put it to use again. It was in a rough shape, but Gaius never put importance in looks, except for cases where the image of Imperial authority and divine dignity had to be preserved. It was good enough for travel, and that was that.

    There was another factor which influenced his willingness to use it. Two, in pure honesty. Gaius couldn¡¯t afford to sleep while riding a horse, a problem the carriage half-fixed. He couldn¡¯t quite take the full 8-hour slumber he desired, but a few short naps, interrupted by road bumps and outside noises to awake him. The other factor, of course, were all the nostalgic memories. At the very last day he spent with his brother, they used this to get from the north to the Imperial Peninsula. More importantly, it was where they would play their chess matches. The board and pieces had been lost to time, but the place it was once held upon still stood. Gaius would often come up with ghost matches in his head, trying to simulate the pieces individual locations, along with what his own and his brother¡¯s moves would be. In all cases, he won, much like it used to be. By then Gaius imagined Brunus simply wasn¡¯t on par with him at the game, but then again, was he even trying to win the damn thing?

    Gaius yawned, facepalming his helmet. If his estimates were correct, and the location is given in the mysterious scroll trustful, he should be arriving at his destination anytime soon. The report detailed Venus¡¯ Legion planned on congregating with a detachment of Lupus, later to join the main united wolfpacks led by Arcail. The mere thought of it happening gave a cold shill in his stomach. A gigantic barbarian horde, led by incredibly talented and capable individuals who could count on the specialty, organization, and knowledge of a Roman Legion? It would be a disastrously dangerous enemy for the empire to face. It didn¡¯t matter how powerful Gaius was compared to such numbers. What¡¯s the point of killing tens of thousands when your opponent¡¯s count in the hundreds of thousands? Gaius would give them a very bloody nose but couldn¡¯t win single-handedly. As it happened, not even a God Emperor could rule all by himself. This only became more evident with the capture of Minerva.

    Gaius bit his lips, his eyes squinting. Just when he manages to recall some Divine Legionnaires, he lost others. Minerva was a particularly hurtful loss, as she had the knowledge, power and conviction to serve as his right hand faithfully. Apollo would have to step in her shoes for the time being, and hopefully not forever. Venus had betrayed the empire, that much he could piece together, but not the reason why she did so. NPCs were supposed to be loyal to their creator. It was a core reality of the game Impera. Players wouldn¡¯t make such powerful beings if there was the possibility for them to revolt against them.

    Perhaps this was the proof he needed. Venus wasn¡¯t the only case showing contradictions to the manner NPCs should behave. Combined with all the other inconsistencies he noticed one by one, and the probability it was all a simulation using Impera as a base diminished. It wasn¡¯t impossible, but less likely. Instead, the most outlandish alternative took it¡¯s conceded place. That being a new reality, filled with living beings and a real world. Gaius chuckled, for no matter how many times he pondered it, it was still too ridiculous. He needed to focus on his assigned task. To rescue Minerva could prove to be very difficult, knowing full well the type of person Venus was. She would try all kinds of metal tricks, illusion spells, deceiving speeches and convincing lies to get her way. She was made to excel in such fields, much to Gaius current torment. If he couldn¡¯t outsmart her, then violence was the only option. They shouldn¡¯t be able to outright kill Minerva at full strength, which could give just enough time to locate and save her. Imagining such a thing happened, what was to be done with Venus?

    During his days as the Emperor, treason had only one punishment available. If it was on the part of a Player, he would be executed, expelled from the empire and his property and items seized. If it was an NPC, it would be tortured and crucified publicly, it¡¯s property also seized. A shiver went down Gaius¡¯ spine. Would he need to do such a terrible thing to one of his own Divine Legionnaires? Could he? Imagining one of his creating screaming in pain and its body was mutilated made him almost vomit.

    For better or worse, Gaius wasn¡¯t quite the same man he used to be. Those harsh laws were personally introduced by himself at the earliest days of the empire. He even performed those punishments by his own hand when deemed necessary. The state''s authority was supreme, and he did everything he could, so it was respected. It proved to be a solid base for his political power back when his in-game character wasn¡¯t as capable as it would end up being. Gaius was greatly feared by everyone he ruled. Such a thing wasn¡¯t disputable in any form. What was disputable, on the other hand, was if he was loved at all.

    Gaius¡¯ shook his head in mild embarrassment. Never had he so sincerely desired to have people around who valued him not as an all-powerful leader, but as a friend, or a family member. Brunus had been the only person who provided it for him, but since his departure, there wasn¡¯t anyone left. It, of course, didn¡¯t help how he didn¡¯t even value the one source of happiness he had. Gaius had girlfriends and childhood friends, but nothing he ever gave such a primal importance to. Gaius was alone in a world which didn¡¯t, and overall couldn¡¯t understand him.

    Gaius clenched his fist. His anger sprang forth from forgetting such a mistake he was making. He wasn¡¯t all that alone, no matter how much pity he desired to give himself. There was an entire empire of people who counted on him, who knew who he was and laid their confidence on. Their lives were dependent on him, and like it had been showcased more than once, they valued Gaius for it. It wasn¡¯t based out of fear, but from a hope he could lead them to a brighter future. While his duty as emperor was the primary force driving his will to keep going, he forgot to consider the heartwarming appreciation all those people he served retributed him with. And in such a front, they weren¡¯t alone. Brunus¡¯ direct descendent, his great-niece Julia held a special place. While not in all ways, she deeply resembled his own brother, as if his spirit still lived through her. More than once she expressed how much she cared for him, and who could blame the child. He was her last living family member, much like she was to him. One day Gaius would truly be gone, and so Julia would have to assume his position. In the limited time, there was left, Gaius would do as much as possible to get the empire back in shape.

    And then there was the matter of the Divine Legionnaires. They were his children, that much Gaius wouldn¡¯t deny anymore. He already lost so many, the proof of his neglect showing through Minerva¡¯s reaction when he came back, or Apollo¡¯s undead form, and most likely Venus¡¯ treason. No longer simply created soldiers, they were his family, sentient beings who felt, thought and acted on their own volition. They needed him, as much as he needed them. Gaius couldn¡¯t ever again say he was alone. In his current conflict, he had to strive in finding a way not to lose those few people he shared a bond with, for if he did, he would truly be isolated of any meaning.

    The carriage stopped, it¡¯s flimsy wheels and horses halting on the grassy field. The soldiers outside stopped marching as well. Gaius couldn¡¯t open the windows for security concerns, but it was safe to assume they had reached the camp. A loud horn played, likely a military instrument to signify the arrival of guests in a military base. It was nice to learn some traditions from his days still lived on. The sound of cranky wood screeched from outside. If it wasn¡¯t the gates opening, one of their walls must have fallen. Judging by how they resumed their ride forwards, it must have been the former.

    Gaius was now officially within enemy territory. For this mission, he made sure only the barest of crewmembers were taken with him. A few men to drive him there, with a few others to guard against any obvious incidents in the trip. Were it all to end disastrously, beside his own life, it wouldn¡¯t bee to large a hit to the empire¡¯s manpower.

    The lively ambiance of a Roman camp was a lovely thing. Legionnaires exchanging conversations, workers building up and repairing sectors, men preparing and eating badly cooked food. All in all, Gaius spent a longer time in such camps than in Rome itself. The life of a conqueror demanded his presence in far too many different places, too far away from home. Even in a hostile environment, nothing was too unusual. Gaius was prepared for the worst and aimed for the best.

    ¡°Halt the carriage.¡± Said an anonymous voice from outside, ¡°Tell your leader to exit it.¡±

    It must have been one of the legion¡¯s officers. Obviously, they couldn¡¯t keep progressing inside this thing forever. Someone knocked on the door, saying ¡°Sir, they desire to see you.¡±

    Until that moment, all was going fine. They weren¡¯t openly hostile to his arrival and seemed interested in talking. Whether they knew it was him inside or not wasn¡¯t very evident. Whoever they thought he was, they must have deemed too important to neglect, and too suspicious to let go. Gaius got up, re-equipping his gladius and scutum. There was the danger of them finding him too threatening, but he couldn¡¯t run the risk of being ill-prepared for a fight. The soldier opened the door, and he stepped out calmly.

    There was a column of soldiers standing in front of him, and another one on the other side. They had their weapons drawn and had their eyes fixed on him. Not the friendliest of welcomes, not that Gaius was expecting one. He turned to his men, telling them ¡°Get into the carriage, and wait outside the camp.¡±

    The soldier leading the expedition lowered his head, ¡°¡­ Sir¡­ You would have us leave you all by yourself?¡±

    ¡°If things go badly, you must report back to Rome. Stand outside and be prepared to leave at a moment¡¯s notice. It¡¯s an order.¡± Gaius said, stressing the last part. The soldiers saluted, getting into the carriage and turning it around. The gates opened to allow their passage. If the worst was indeed to happen, his men would be killed before even being alerted. It was still worth to give a chance for them to flee.

    ¡°Follow me.¡± Said the officer, ¡°The Legate is waiting for you.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Very well.¡± Gaius said, following the soldier deeper into the camp. He was companied by several other legionnaires, keeping an eye on his back. They passed through many tents, makeshift fortifications and soldiers, eventually getting to a large forum in its center. There were the remaining of the legion, all staring over his arrival in a large square formation. Inside it was a fireplace, surrounded by many benches and people on them. Among those present were succubus and Lupus, the latter of which was the most numerous. Gaius already knew of their deal, but to see Lupus and Romans standing by each other looked unreal.

    While Lupus occasionally glanced at him, the succubus present wouldn¡¯t stop staring. It was already unusual to have so many of them there, all the much more so focused on him. In his own legions, he always allowed the men to bring prostitutes of that race in campaigns, but on a more limited amount. They were parasitic Demons after all, and if let have their way would steal all the life essence a person could give, leading to their death. There were incidents like those in some of his wars, the emperor even losing legates to such creatures. Evidently, due to the nature and cause of death, the soldiers never complained to the superiors soon enough to save them. Like all things, succubus should be taken in moderation.

    ¡°Over there.¡± Said the officer, cutting deeper into the crowd. As Gaius followed, the men escorting him dispersed, now exchanged by Lupus barbarians. It had been the closest he ever got to one of their race without attempting to kill it. Passing through the benches, some of the demons would open their mouths, extending their hands forward as if trying to call for his attention, and to say something. They did go through it, shutting themselves before a word was spoken, yet they continued to stare. The last time Gaius engaged with one of their race, he was far weaker and only starting to get the empire going. Since then, he never quite even saw one of their type, apart from noticing them with soldiers. If they were attracted by his power, it was far more of a dangerous proposition than a compliment. If they managed to immobilize him, be it through magic or physical means, to steal his life essence away would be one of the most efficient methods to kill him with. If men, especially humans spent too long at a succubus¡¯ grasp, they would eventually lose all will to resist. Gaius wasn¡¯t as arrogant as to assume he was immune to it. The Sirens¡¯ song proved as much. If they tried, they could get to him.

    ¡°.. Sit over there.¡± The officer pointed forward, towards the fireplace. There was an empty bench beside it, and at it¡¯s opposing side was a female Lupus. Her red eyes and black fur a giveaway of her Alpha Lupus blood. Beside it was yet another succubus but clothed even more scandalously than the others. As he got nearer, there wasn¡¯t any doubt about it. It was Venus, the Illusive Divine Legionnaire.

    There was no sign of Minerva anywhere. She wasn¡¯t present at the benches, or in any place, he could visit in the camp. She was the primary objective, therefore Gaius had to do what he could to locate her. He casted a spell, trying not to call attention to it. The Life Detection spell would be very crowded, but the radius wouldn¡¯t need to be as extensive as the last time he used it. The magic¡¯s effect in place, Gaius looked around, trying to detect any abnormally high presences. There was Venus and the female Lupus, both standing out significantly, but nothing beyond them. Everyone else fluctuated from the expected level of a legionnaire, Succubus or a Lupus. There were two possible reasons for it. Either Minerva wasn¡¯t there, or she had been killed. Gaius tried to control his feelings. Had Venus really done it, he would have little compulsions to execute her for such a heinous crime.

    He took a deep breath under his helmet, considering a third possibility. Knowing Venus was his equal in Illusion magic, it was quite possible, probable even she hid Minerva¡¯s presence from detection. He could start ravaging the camp in search for her, but it would be an inference solution. There wasn¡¯t any way to know for sure unless getting Venus to admit it. In the end, Gaius obeyed the officer''s command and went for the empty bench.

    Venus didn¡¯t look as intrusively, yet her eyes didn¡¯t leave his visor. All NPCs were friendly towards him, but this time the atmosphere hinted at another outcome. As Gaius sat in the assigned bench, he said ¡°¡­ It¡¯s been a long time, Venus.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Indeed.¡± She replied, resting her arms on her crossed legs, ¡°¡­ You remain the same as the last time I saw you.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure¡­.¡± While she freely looked at Gaius from bottom up, he controlled himself not to return the favor. In words, however, he could afford to do so, ¡°¡­ Unfortunately, I can¡¯t say the same about you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± asked Venus, inclining her head mildly, ¡°I¡¯ve made such an effort to preserve my youth¡­ It¡¯s a little hurtful to hear you say that¡­¡±

    The game had begun. Venus would say something, and Gaius would strive to decipher any hidden or true meanings beneath the words. The best way to counter what he assumed was her strategy to deceive him, Gaius grounded himself on solid and factual speech.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t what I meant. I speak of your dressings¡­¡±

    Venus smirked, ¡°¡­ Don''t you like it? It is the finest silks one can find¡­¡± She held onto her tunic, gently tossing it over her shoulder.

    ¡°What happened to your armor set?¡± he asked, ¡°Your sisters still held onto theirs, so why not you?¡±

    She chuckled, ¡°My¡­ You mean that ancient thing? I haven¡¯t put it on for so many years¡­¡± She took a glass of wine from a placeholder, sipping on it, ¡°¡­ It was such a bothersome thing to wear¡­ I couldn¡¯t stand it.¡±

    Was Gaius to take it as the truth, it meant Venus had indeed changed. An aversion to clothing was not among the personality traits he wrote for her to have. It seems she had gradually evolved such a peculiarity. It had been a millennium since his departure, after all. People change if she was indeed a person. He needed to learn how extensive the alterations in her character ran if he was ever to understand why she acted like that.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough chat.¡± Said the female Lupus, ¡°You are getting along a little too nicely for my taste.¡±

    Gaius glanced at the monster, ¡°¡­ And who would you be?¡±

    ¡°Codubia is my name, and as much you deserve knowing.¡± She sneered, expressing a lot of hostility. It was understandable if an Alpha Lupus hated him, but not why it would hold identity secrets. Either way, one of her blood must have a high position among their people. Coupled with sitting beside Venus, she must be the leader of the Lupus present.

    Venus¡¯ eyelids fell, ¡°You are no fun¡­ We were just getting into an entertaining subject, but now it¡¯s business¡­¡±

    Gaius straightened his back, ¡°If we are to address the subject matter, I aim to be direct.¡± He starred down Venus, ¡°¡­ Where is Minerva?¡±

    Venus smiled, ¡°Awn¡­ And I thought you here to visit me¡­ I was even expecting some sort of present¡­¡± She blinked at Gaius.Stolen story; please report.

    She was acting overly lustful. Even from his memories of her in Impera, she wouldn¡¯t ever to be so direct in her subverted intentions. Gaius wouldn¡¯t play it on, as that was neither the time or place to address it. It¡¯s likely she¡¯s only acting like that to distract him, and it was working. Gaius looked away, ¡°I sent her to you in the hope you would join us, but it seems I was being a little foolish.¡±

    ¡°Oh, not at all!¡± Venus leaned forward, ¡°She made her point in the conversation we had, but in the end, it simply didn¡¯t hold onto what the Lupus were offering.¡±

    ¡°¡­ And what would that be?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°What is so irresistible you betrayed me, your siblings and the empire for?¡±

    Venus¡¯ pink eyes widened, and she became speechless. There was the sound of something beating. Codubia¡¯s eyes went to her, much like most of those near enough to listen. She broke the silence with a laugh, ¡°Such words¡­ They cut deep, my Princeps¡­¡± she blinked, glancing back at Gaius, ¡°I can assure you, I have the Empire¡¯s best interests in mind.¡±

    ¡°Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ The Empire¡¯s best interests, you say ¡­ I wouldn¡¯t mind if you were a little more specific¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course! But where should I start¡­¡± Venus put a finger in her narrow chin. ¡°¡­ I suppose Minerva has already given you a rundown of what happened since you were gone, right?¡±

    ¡°She has.¡± Gaius nodded, ¡°We didn¡¯t have enough time to go over the details, but I know the basics.¡±

    ¡°Such an unpleasant chain of events to recall¡­¡± she drank her cup dry, ¡°¡­ It was a long and drastic fall¡­ We lost all of our lands beyond the Imperial Peninsula, and even our own backyard we could barely hold on to¡­¡±

    ¡°And what is your solution to that problem?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°What justifies your actions, in your view?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked!¡± she chuckled, ¡°You see¡­ The empire is no longer what it used to be. The tactics of the past have become unviable¡­¡± she gestured her cup towards Codubia, ¡°An alliance with the Lupus is the only way the Empire can survive.¡±

    ¡°¡­ An alliance?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°That doesn¡¯t hold up in its own.¡±

    ¡°How attentive you are¡­ Clearly, it is an alliance born out of mutual assistance. The Lupus will help in and support my ascent as Empress, and I will validate their claims to the northwest, providing goods and materials to enhance their livelihoods. It will bring peace to both our peoples!¡±

    ¡°¡­ You wish to become the Empress?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°I see an unrelenting ambition is among the new traits you¡¯ve acquired¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ That is not the only reason.¡± Codubia said, ¡°The Dragons threaten both of our peoples. If we are to resist their supremacy, only together we can hope to resist.¡±

    Gaius returned to her, ¡°You aim to fight the Dragons with the forces you have? That¡¯s quite foolish.¡±

    ¡°What did you call me!?¡± asked the angered Lupus, ¡°Watch your tongue. I¡¯ll remind you it¡¯s your tyranny we will deal with first.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ At least you have your list of suicidal acts in order¡±

    ¡°Why you¡­¡± Codubia sharpened her fangs.

    ¡°Now¡­ Now... Calm yourself.¡± Said Venus, ¡°Facing the Dragons won¡¯t be an easy task at all. It¡¯s only right to call it suicidal for now, considering our chances¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ What is this about my tyranny, then?¡± Gaius glanced at Venus, ¡°You plan on killing me?¡±

    Venus¡¯ eyelids fell, a darker expression taking over her, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s all so complicated¡­¡± She threw her long hair over her shoulder, exposing the horns in her head, ¡°¡­ My allies wish for your death, and my enemies are deeply dependent on you¡­ It narrows my choices to a very small number.¡±

    ¡°Your enemies? You mean your sisters, or my great niece?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°Of all enemies you could have, for them to be your family and rightful rulers¡­ I didn¡¯t create you to end up like this ¡­¡±

    Venus, for the first time since he arrived avoided eye contact with Gaius. She sipped on her cup, looking over the burning fireplace. Codubia gladly gave the emperor all the mean looks she could afford, but the mood had sharply fallen. With Venus¡¯ intentions at least partially understood, along with their long-term goals, then little more could be discussed.

    ¡°¡­ I need Minerva back.¡± Gaius affirmed, ¡°I won¡¯t leave without her.¡±

    Venus lifted her head, her gaze meeting Gaius¡¯s, ¡°¡­ What would you be willing to do to get her back?¡± she leaned closer to the fire, her cup still at hand, ¡°How much would you be willing to sacrifice to secure her life?¡±

    The question was superfluous of meaning. She wasn¡¯t asking for a ransom or a bribe, or any kind of prize to trade Minerva for. Venus was pressing a button Gaius himself feared to acknowledge. Did she desire a truthful answer, or merely to see how he would react to it?

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t like what you are implying.¡± Gaius said, putting a hand nearer to his gladius.

    ¡°Would you have her die, then?¡± she asked.

    ¡°¡­ I¡­¡± Gaius couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. If he was to agree, he would lose one of his own children, never mind at the hands of another one. If he was to deny it, he would agree to his life being exchanged for hers. At the big picture, it simply didn¡¯t make sense to do so. The empire needed Gaius more than it needed Minerva. It was too cruel a choice to make. The Empire, or his daughter in all but name. Venus shouldn¡¯t have the means to damage her elder sister, but she spoke like she did. Was that to be the case, and Gaius couldn¡¯t get to Minerva¡¯s location, he was at the mercy of Venus unless he was to kill her himself. It seemed the only way to get out of his dilemma was to make it even more complicated.

    ¡°Well then, what will it be?¡± Venus asked, drops of wine falling from her recently refilled the glass, ¡°Make your choice!¡¯

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t make me choose...¡± Gaius pleaded, looking down, ¡°I can¡¯t accept if saving her requires sacrificing the people of the empire... Or you¡­¡±

    Venus sadistic face cleared, a faint blush appearing in her, ¡°¡­ Say that again.¡±

    Gaius straightened his back, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve lost far too much in too little a time¡­ What I still have are my Divine Legionnaires and the Empire that remains¡­ To ask me to decide between them is beyond my capability. Even considering your treason, I can¡¯t bring myself to put you down¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Really?¡± Venus asked, putting her cup away, ¡°You value the life of your Divine Legionnaires more than your own? As much as the empire?¡±

    Gaius nodded, ¡°I do.¡± He reclined on his bench, looking at the nightly sky full of stars, ¡°You are both my reason for living. If I were to lose both, nothing else would matter.¡±

    Having been cornered to such an extent, Gaius¡¯ truest feelings rose forth. While in the past he sacrificed his NPCs in exchange for territory or loot, they grew to become the only thing of value, the last remnants of his past self still hanging in this new reality. In the end, Venus was able to play with his emotion quite masterfully, requiring little of her succubus nature to do so. She played the right cards, and all was left for Gaius was conceding.

    Venus smirked, ¡°¡­ It seems you have really changed¡­ The Princeps I knew would never do this¡­¡±

    Gaius sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve had the change of a thousand years funned into me in under a week¡­ One could say this was predictable¡­¡±

    ¡°So, you won¡¯t do it, then?¡± asked Venus, ¡°No self-sacrifice, for the sake of the Empire, and no saving Minerva, for my own sake?¡±

    Gaius frowned, ¡°¡­ I still don¡¯t plan to let you hurt Minerva.¡±

    Venus chuckled, ¡°Oh¡­ I get it¡­ My, this re-encounter has been much more fun than I thought it would be!¡± She looked at Codubia, ¡°It sounds like an agreement cannot be reached, and the Princeps has made his choice¡­ Give them the orders.¡±

    Codubia nodded, getting up, ¡°Finally¡­ This playact is over.¡± She faced her Lupus companions, ¡°Inform Arcail he can kill Minerva.¡± The Lupus affirmed the order, saying a quick ¡°Understood.¡± Before running away on four legs from the fireplace.

    ¡°¡­ What!? Gaius got up from his bench, ¡°Arcail is with Minerva?¡± he drew his gladius, preparing to catch up to the Lupus. The ones who remained blocked his path. For a second he forgot just how surrounded and outnumbered he was.

    ¡°Get out of my way, Lupus!¡± he told them, but none moved. It would seem the time to be violent had come once more. Gaius electrified his other hand, preparing to go all out if need be.

    ¡°He is,¡± Venus said, still calm and collected. He ever sweet voice contrasted with his wrathful mood, bringing it down from high pressure, ¡°His camp isn¡¯t that far away from our own, you know?¡± she said smiling.

    ¡°¡­. How can that be¡­¡± Gaius stared Venus, ¡°I assumed you had used a paralysis spell to get her¡­ How can you keep someone so strong under control at a distance?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes, I needed to at first.¡± Venus smiled, remaining on her seat, ¡°It took a lot of Magicka, but I managed to cast a Sleep Illusion Spell strong enough to affect her. When I could feel your arrival approached, we sent her to Arcail¡¯s Wolfpacks. Her fate was uncertain until you made your decision.¡±

    ¡°¡­ A Sleep Spell?¡± Gaius asked, staring at Venus. He was about to ask her further but was interrupted by a loud ¡°Yes! That very spell! It¡¯s one of my favorites¡­¡± she blinked at Gaius. It took a moment for him to realize it¡¯s meaning, everything starting to make far more sense then. He nodded, saying ¡°¡­ I see¡­.¡± He withdrew his blade.

    ¡°It is the end she deserves.¡± Codubia said, ¡°She has the blood of countless Lupus in her hands. Only through her death can justice be done.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, elder sis¡­ How easily you attract others to hate you¡­¡± Venus stretched her arms, yawning ¡°¡­ It¡¯s gotten so late¡­ We need to settle things around here¡­¡±

    ¡°What is to be done about him?¡± Codubia gestured towards Gaius, ¡°He seems to have given up. If we can¡¯t physically damage Minerva ourselves, I doubt we can do it to this one.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Him¡­¡± Venus got up, smiling at Gaius, ¡°It¡¯s all going accordingly¡­¡±

    ¡°You never did fully explain the end phase of your plan. What is to be done now?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Venus crossed through the fireplace, her demonic skin invulnerable to the flames, ¡°There is still one last part needing to be done¡­¡± She tapped onto Codubia¡¯s furry shoulder.

    ¡°¡­ What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to say thank you¡­¡± she tightened her grip, ¡°¡­ Without you, none of this would have been possible! Everything went as I wanted, and the best-case scenario luckily came out!¡±

    ¡°Best case scenario?¡± Codubia asked, ¡°Gaius is still alive, so I hardly think¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± shouted Venus, ¡°It warms my heart I didn¡¯t need to go as far as to actually hurt my Princeps¡­ Sure, I couldn¡¯t even if I tried, but still!¡±

    Codubia¡¯s face contorted, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Get your hand off¡­ Ugh¡­¡±

    Venus¡¯ smile stretched from each edge, a mocking laughter coming out, ¡°Oh, they never learn not to let me get too close¡­¡± She pulled her hand off, the spell already cast. Codubia didn¡¯t move a muscle. Venus turned to Gaius, ¡°Your turn!¡±

    Gaius nodded, ¡°¡­ Got it.¡± He lifted both of his hands, overflowing in magic. He called on a great spell, stretching far and wide for several meters. The Lupus and succubus weren¡¯t given time to react. They were all paralyzed much like Codubia. The magic didn¡¯t reach as far as the legionnaires, which befell the Lupus, and started to kill them.

    ¡°¡­ No!¡± Gaius shouted, halting the soldiers¡¯ progress, ¡°Take them as prisoners.¡± While his voice and silhouette were the very personification of authority, the legion turned to Venus for guidance. As always, she replied with a smile, ¡°Let it be! If my Princeps is feeling merciful, we ought to follow his lead.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understood.¡± The soldiers saluted, refraining from killing and pushing the living statues off from the area.

    Codubia¡¯s body was the only one among them showing any signs of life, twitching her fingers and moving her red eyes. Venus faced her, ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t resist!¡± she waved another instance of the spell, allowing the Lupus to speak and move her head.

    ¡°¡­Ugh¡­ You¡­ Fucking Roman traitor, I knew you would eventually¡­¡±

    Venus sighed, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve heard it all before¡­ I want you to ask how things went the way they did so I can explain my true master plan!¡±

    Codubia gruntled, her feral teeth trying to reach Venus face for a bite. As she couldn¡¯t move her neck, it was a futile affair, ¡°Awn¡­ Won¡¯t you ask it? C¡¯mon¡­¡±

    Codubia¡¯s anger only increased at the provocations thrown at her. She calmed for a second, letting out a great howl, many times louder than the horn played when Gaius arrived. Venus and Gaius put their hands over their ears, along with many of the legionnaires.

    ¡°Ouch¡­ Stop that!¡± Venus fully paralyzed her once more, shutting her obnoxious animal screech, ¡°Damn Lupus¡­ And here I was thinking about working with you¡­¡±

    ¡°I feel like you owe me a full explanation if you can¡¯t give it to Codubia.¡± Gaius said, walking towards her, ¡°This has all been an elaborate scheme formulated by you, hasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Venus faced Gaius, walking to him to an uncomfortably close distance, ¡°How would you rate my plan? Did you like my performance?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It was effective, I would say¡­ It fooled me right until the end.¡±

    Venus giggled, ¡°It¡¯s good to hear I haven¡¯t gone rusty¡­¡±

    ¡°Using a spell that doesn¡¯t exist as a way to inform me of the whole thing was quite creative. Given how the Lupus have little understanding of magic, they couldn¡¯t check if it was real or not.¡±

    Venus rolled her eyes, ¡°Oh¡­ Believe me, this Lupus tried a lot to be sure it was a thing. I had to go as far as casting a doppelganger spell in one of my troops to pretend it was Minerva. After then she was convinced it really was her which they sent to Arcail¡­.¡±

    ¡°But did you?¡± asked Gaius.

    ¡°Oh no, don¡¯t worry about it. I had a scouting party who dealt with the two Lupus carrying the fake Minerva. Arcail won¡¯t be hearing of what happened here until it¡¯s too late!¡±

    Gaius glanced at Codubia, ¡°¡­ I see one of your intentions was to capture her as a valuable hostage¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s why I wanted to see her personally. It would have been far easier if she had just visited me personally in Tioch, but, well¡­ I guess I really am not very trustworthy¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ You were the one responsible for the message too, right? You made it really ambiguous on whether or not it was a trap¡­¡±

    ¡°I wrote it myself! I hope you liked my handwriting¡­ It¡¯s a little rusty, I know¡­ Haven¡¯t done much paper work recently¡­¡±

    Gaius crossed his arms, ¡°¡­ There are some things I don¡¯t understand about it, though¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Like what?¡± Venus tilted her head.

    ¡°If the intention was to capture Codubia, why didn¡¯t you inform me of your plan in the scroll? Why bother leaving me out of the loop until the last second? What was the whole deal and drama you generated, if it didn¡¯t serve any purpose?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ That¡­¡± Venus narrowed her vision. She put a hand over Gaius¡¯ chest plate, where the Imperial Eagle was displayed, ¡°¡­ I wanted to check a few things¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Like what?¡± he asked, a bit nervously.

    ¡°Well¡­ When I first heard of your return, from Minerva no less, I wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of it. It had been so long since you left us to the Unconquered Lands, I thought you didn¡¯t hold any attachments to use anymore¡­¡± her voice lowered, almost like a whisper, ¡°¡­ I thought you didn¡¯t care about us¡­.¡±

    Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s starting to make sense¡­¡± he facepalmed, ¡°This whole thing, involving Minerva¡¯s capture and the questioning. It wasn¡¯t all about deceiving Codubia you were loyal to the alliance, but about drawing me here and test how I truly felt about my creations¡­¡±

    Venus slowly nodded, ¡°¡­ Yes, that¡¯s it¡­¡± she slid her hand over the plates, reaching his neck. With her other arm she made a firm grip on the emperor, ¡°You have no idea how happy I was to learn you cherish us so much¡­¡±

    Gaius by that point was getting uncomfortable. The last time a girl got this close to him had been her girlfriend, an experience he didn¡¯t have ever since he started to play Impera, that is t say, several years ago. There were the prostitutes from the game, but he didn¡¯t count them. As far as real living beings went, this was part of his life he neglected in favor of his career as the Emperor online. Things weren¡¯t made better by the fact Venus looked so into him. Since when had she such an obsession? Was it only her succubus race playing the part, or were there real emotions beside passion beneath it all? In the heat of the moment, Venus looked to be going for a kiss. As saying no was too rude, and saying yes not what he wanted, Gaius let the moment go. The feeling of something hard pressed against his leg¡¯s plates was the last straw.

    ¡°Venus, this is¡­¡±

    Gaius¡¯ words were cut short by a nearby tent¡¯s curtains being torn open. The would-be-couple''s heads faced the source of the noise.

    ¡°¡­ What was that?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Are there still Lupus resisting?¡±

    Venus sighed, letting go of Gaius, ¡°¡­No¡­ That tent is¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Is that Minerva!?¡±

    She was moving very fast, but it was indeed her. In rush to their location, she had her spear trusting the air into their direction.

    ¡°¡­ Minerva! Wait!¡± Gaius shouted, waving his arm in the air. It prompted her to stop her momentum, carving large holes in the ground in the abrupt landing.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps? Are you alright?¡± Minerva asked, ¡°I heard you were heading here, but only now I managed to break off from¡­. Venus¡¯ spell¡­¡± She glanced at her little sister, ¡°¡­ I see you have already her at your custody. What shall be her punishment?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Punishment? Well¡­ Things haven¡¯t gone exactly that way¡­ It¡¯s a little complicated.¡±

    ¡°It means you should apologize!¡± Venus told Minerva, ¡°You just wrecked my favorite tent! You better prepare to start fixing it¡­ Or else you want to be paralyzed again?¡±

    ¡°You insubordinate little¡­ I don¡¯t what happened for Gaius not to have taken your head off already, but it sure isn¡¯t enough for me to forgive you.¡± She rested her spear on the ground, placing the shield on her back. She glanced at Gaius, ¡°¡­ So then, Princeps, have you been informed of Venus¡¯ aspirations to the Imperial Throne?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I have.¡± He nodded, eyeing Venus, ¡°¡­ And I¡¯m still to hear an explanation as to what that was all about.¡±

    Both Gaius and Minerva stared down Venus, whose face began to blush, ¡°¡­ I¡­ I was just having fun, that¡¯s all! It was part of the disguise to fool Codubia¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m not quite sure if I buy it.¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°I am,¡± Minerva added.

    ¡°¡­ Anyway¡­ Even if I am not to be the empress by force, there is another way to get that title¡­¡± she smirked at Gaius, licking her lips. His face went red under the helmet, wanting to take a step back.

    Minerva chuckled, ¡°¡­ It seems I was right after all¡­ This was all about Gaius, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Shut it!¡± Venus demanded, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know the details¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that. I¡¯m still very lacking in information¡­¡±

    Gaius overcame his shame and awkwardness, mustering the ability to speak, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll give the details later¡­ For now all you need to know is that Venus is loyal to our side, and Codubia has become our prisoner.¡±

    Minerva¡¯s elven years lifted, ¡°That is¡­ Very good for us. It seems a lot of progress was made while I was away¡­¡±

    ¡°For sure¡­ A lot of things happened¡­¡± Gaius looked at Venus, which Minerva followed on a glance.

    ¡°¡­ Are you sure we can trust her?¡± Minerva asked, ¡°She has betrayed two different and sides in a single night¡­ What is preventing her from doing it again?¡±

    Minerva raised a good point, Gaius thought deeply on it, but overall couldn¡¯t come up with anything solid.

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± he said, eyeing Venus.

    ¡°¡­ Ok, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll show both of you¡­¡±

    Venus walked off, standing atop her bench at the fireplace.

    ¡°All legionnaires, eyes on me!¡±

    The soldier, busy with dragging the Lupus into their cells and Succubus maids in a safe place until the spell wore off were called upon. They let go of their tasks and focused on their legate.

    Venus pointed to Gaius, ¡°This man is Princeps Gaius, the rightful emperor, and conqueror of the world! He has returned once more to our realm, seeking to bring forth a new age!¡± She saluted him, ¡°I, Venus Elagabalus once again pledge my loyalty to my creator and master!¡± she took a deep breath, ¡°¡­ Ave Gaius!¡±

    The soldiers were indifferent at first, but one after the other raised arms, saluting and joining in the ¡°Ave Gaius!¡± proclamations. Soon, the entire legion was chanting it, raising their gladius out along with their arms and voices. Thousands of men pledged their arms in his name.

    Venus jumped off the bench, ¡°¡­ The 20<sup>th</sup> Legion vows to serve you. You can count on their unwavering support, as well as mine, my Princeps¡­¡± she smiled, her tail waving in the air.

    ¡°¡­ Thank you for your support.¡± Gaius said, ¡°With a fully dedicated Legion back in our command, the Empire can breathe much easier¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s about time we recovered these man to the central state¡¯s power¡­¡± Minerva said, ¡°But now it remains to be decided on what we will we do next. With the Lupus horde so close we could attempt to formulate a surprise attack, opening with a strong Obliteration Spell.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, we are jumping right into the fun!¡± Venus laughed, ¡°I could try to personally infiltrate their ranks to assassinate some of their leaders. A wolf can¡¯t bite with its head torn off the body¡­¡±

    Gaius thought on the matter. It would be wise to use their advantage in information as wisely as possible.

    ¡°¡­ We won¡¯t attack Arcail¡¯s forces, not yet¡­ We must replenish the capital with these legion¡¯s men and supplies. Once we have a strong and fortified capital to work from, we can start planning a way to defeat the barbarians. Negotiating behind strong walls and armies is always an advantage, especially so with a valuable captive in the mix.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Minerva said.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Venus affirmed.

    Gaius walked away from both, facing the men of the legion. He cleared his throat, raising his voice with a rarely seen vigor, ¡°¡­ Soldiers! Pack up, for we are going home!¡±

 Chapter 8: Part 3: Betrayal

    It was a very calm night for such turbulent times. Soldiers chatted over daily matters, sharing jokes and happily taking on their duties. Couples spent themselves on dates, their young pups played on the grass over bones of hunted prey. Leaning on a tree, Arcail saw the fruits of his unification efforts. It had taken what seemed an eternity, but at last, the Lupus Wolfpacks were all united. Gone were the days petty packs would slaughter each other for food or land. No more had they to fear being picked apart one by one at the hands of a greater nation. Through diplomacy and warfare, Arcail brought his race to act, think and see themselves as one. This harmony between them wasn¡¯t a sight he often imagined would be possible. Some might say the struggles of the past are forgotten once the objective is achieved, but it wouldn¡¯t be the case for him. He would never forget what it took to get everything to that point.

    They left their previous settled lands. The migration south was partially because of their plan, but indeed due to a lack of resources as well.  To feed hundreds of thousands of Lupus was a difficult assignment. They couldn¡¯t, and mostly did live off the land, relying on their hunting capabilities. Was the population to continue growing, such practices wouldn¡¯t be enough. Arcail had already ordered the population to get accustomed to consuming bread, wine, and other roman products. They would need to adapt to the local environment were they to make a permanent place for themselves. Supplies taken from villages, and traded from merchants were enough for now, but one day they had learned agriculture. It was unavoidable. The Lupus couldn¡¯t continue being nomadic tribes anymore but change into the Roman way of sedentary civilizations. It was a massive transformation to overtake, needing planning and time to adapt well, but it had to be done. Their numbers would increase, quality of life heighten and respect from their neighbors solidify. If his people were well off, the means to achieve it mattered little.

    One of the kids were thrown away from the group playing. It rolled away, getting a few light bruises. It was the work of his own son, Litchios. He was using too much force against his friends. As a pure-blooded member of their bloodline, he had a natural advantage in physical strength of the normal pups, so a disparity couldn¡¯t be avoided. Were there any other young ones of his type around Arcail would focus on getting them to play in a separate corner, but alas, there wasn¡¯t any. His son would need to learn to control himself, an important part of becoming an adult, and one day, a proper Alpha Lupus.

    Between the kids playing and the soldiers talking some bushed were pushed off, someone trying to get through. It was a member of his personal guard, an unremarkable, yet competent Lupus. He gestured to him, ¡°¡­ Are they all there?¡± Arcail asked.

    ¡°They are.¡± The guard nodded, ¡°They now only wait for your arrival to begin.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Arcail uncrossed his arms, getting his back off the tree. Some leaves were caught on his furs. He cleaned them away while nearing the guard. Giving a quick glance to his son, he was getting the kid knocked over back in his pawns.  They returned to playing, Arcail smiling as he passed through the forest.

    Their location was as forested as their previous one. The thick woods abundant in insects and small animals, most hiding as the two monsters passed by. They got to another open area, the main center of their chosen location. Tens of thousands of Lupus were congregating with their families, using both roman products in their daily activities as well as traditional minimalistic Lupus items. Manned by the rest of his guard, the largest tent was where they headed.

    Arcail remembered well when this one had been acquired. When they first got to the peninsula and were refused asylum, the previous emperor trying to mount an attack to expel them. The first time their people fought as one they were decisively victorious. The emperor died, along with his legions. His personal belongings and property of the legions helped wonders in assisting the wolfpacks in adapting to the region.  His own tent was now used by them as a congregation for important issues. Presumably, his daughter is still the legitimate Empress, a mere child of 11. Arcail never quite acknowledged her, knowing well it was Minerva who directed the Empire. With the return of Gaius, however, it was doubtful it would remain so.

    The guards opened the way, letting them enter. Inside was a large square table, it¡¯s chairs and corners manned by all the previous leaders of the independent wolfpacks. Arcail had granted them all a position in his ranks once conquered, a consolation prize not to generate too much spite towards his reign.

    ¡°Alpha Lupus Arcail, we welcome you in this meeting.¡± Said one of the generals, He put a scroll on the table, opening it. It was a map of the Imperial Peninsula, detailing the region¡¯s cities and geographical landmarks.

    ¡°Very well...¡± Arcail said, getting on his chair, ¡°¡­ Before we begin, is there anything I should be aware off?¡±

    The generals looked at each other, most of them shaking their heads.

    ¡°¡­ Nothing? Then I shall start¡­¡± he laid a finger over the map, landing on a depiction of Tioch, ¡°I have received reports saying Codubia¡¯s diplomatic mission has been a success. An alliance was formed between us.¡±

    ¡°¡­ She was sent there to negotiate with Venus Elagabalus, correct?¡± asked a general.

    Arcail nodded, ¡°She insisted in going personally, allowing me to remain in my position here¡­ It¡¯s good to know she has succeeded, even more so considering who she had to persuade¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ That succubus is a snake is all but form.¡± Said a general, ¡°It¡¯s folly to take her word at face value, no matter what kind of agreement was reached!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree¡­¡± Arcail sighed, ¡°Codubia warned me of her behavior, saying she didn¡¯t trust her. An insidious and subversive demon, in her own words. For now, however, she seems to be on our side. Only time can tell if it will remain so¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­. You seem to have a bit of trust in the roman. What makes you believe in her pledge of alliance?¡±

    ¡°Believe in her? Hardly.¡± Arcail chuckled, ¡°My belief lies not in her words, but her actions. She has given us a very valuable hostage as proof of her intentions.¡±

    ¡°¡­ A hostage?¡± asked a faraway officer, ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Minerva Aureliana.¡± Arcail said with a clear tone. The Lupus turned their heads away, whispering at each other. Some continued to look at him, while other¡¯s faces contorted in doubt.

    ¡°¡­ Minerva? THE Minerva?¡± asked more than a few, ¡°You speak of the elf who acts as regent for the kid emperor?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡± Arcail affirmed, ¡°The intended to convince her sister to return to the empire, but our deal seemed to prevail in the end. She was taken prisoner through the use of strong magic and is currently in chains.¡±

    His reply finished, the generals returned to whisper, but louder and with greater conviction. Of course, as an Alpha Lupus his hearing ability was exceptional. They knew it but continued to gossip. Aware of the general sentiment, the next question wasn¡¯t surprising.

    ¡°¡­ If Minerva is our prisoner, then that changes everything.¡± Said one of Arcail most trusted generals, ¡°If Rome has been deprived of it¡¯s last competent and skillful Divine Legionnaire, then taking it should be our immediate priority!¡±

    ¡°Agreed!¡± shouted a more aggressive-minded officer, ¡°That cunt Minerva was the sole reason the empire could even keep breathing! Now it is only protected by weak, ill-equipped city guards led by a little girl¡­ And we don¡¯t do anything about it!?¡±

    ¡°¡­ He might be brash, but he¡¯s right. Now¡¯s the opportunity we have waited for. To destroy Rome once and for all. We don¡¯t need an alliance with Venus. We should march on it at once with the many men we already have.¡±

    The many generals present would compliment on each other¡¯s assessment until reaching a conclusion to face Arcail with. He let them debate a little further, finally interrupting, ¡°¡­ The last time a Lupus tried to forcefully take Rome wasn¡¯t too long ago¡­. Barely more than a week, in fact.¡± Arcail stared at each of the most talkative generals, ¡°¡­ Would you care to explain to me what happened then?¡±

    ¡°¡­ You speak of Iraminus?¡± asked one of the bravest among them, ¡°I heard he tried to siege and sack Rome but got his entire wolfpack was annihilated in the attempt¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I also heard about it, including how there were almost no survivors¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s good they left their families behind, otherwise, they might have met the same fate¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t be such cowards!¡± A general hit the table, shaking it, ¡°Minerva is no longer there to defend the city. We have nothing to fear from meeting that same fate as Iraminus!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    ¡°¡­ You are wrong.¡± Arcail said, glancing at him, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Minerva the one responsible for the defense. She¡¯s very strong, likely having killed thousands by her own, but she couldn¡¯t stop such a large-scale attack with so few soldiers on her side, not against an experienced Alpha Lupus¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ It wasn¡¯t her?¡± the general asked, ¡°Who was it another Divine Legionnaire?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± Arcail sighed, ¡°¡­ Since we have reached this topic, there¡¯s no longer any point in keeping secrets¡­ There is an additional reason I called on this meeting...¡± The previous semi-friendly mood died. All eyes were on Arcail, a silence waiting for him to break, ¡°¡­ I fear that Gaius, The World Conqueror has returned to this world.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Gaius?¡± the Lupus generals asked, seemingly ignorant of the weight the name carried, ¡°¡­ Who is this Gaius?¡± they asked, some remaining quiet.

    ¡°¡­ As the title suggests, this is a man who once conquered the world. An incredibly talented and powerful individual, borderline legendary, and if the tales are true, a divine being. He is an ancient spirit, a wrathful and merciless tyrant¡­ And the man responsible for my scar¡­¡± He touched his old wounds, the memories of long ago returning vividly.

    The confusion in his generals¡¯ faces was understandable. Arcail remained the only survivor of that dreadful night. When the emperor focused on destroying a tribe, he left no stone unturned. Only later he would learn Gaius had exterminated the Alpha Lupus peoples. He was the only exception, for a reason still unknown to him. It wasn¡¯t out kindness, that much was certain.

    He still had nightmares about him. His purple eyes the gateway to a bottomless hell he brought to his victims. The aura of unrelenting ruthless with an ambition to devour the world. For Arcail to imagine he would face him again sent straight shivers to his spine and tail. Part of him wanted to flee, like his brother Litchios ordered him too back then. For such a long time he was driven by revenge, only to learn Gaius was gone. Without a purpose or family, Arcail spent the last millennium remaking both. Focusing his time in uniting the Lupus and reforming the Alpha population was heading to a promising prospect, but now it all could come crashing down. Gaius once again threated his people and family, and Arcail would not lose them again.

    ¡°¡­ This Gaius¡­ How can you be so sure he is back?¡±

    The general¡¯s question brought Arcail away from his thoughts, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve talked with the few survivors of Iraminus¡¯ wolfpack. The descriptions of his magical prowess and appearance as exactly as I remember¡­. One of the disadvantages of living such a long life are the ghosts from past hunting your future¡­ ¡°

    ¡°¡­ You sound very concerned about him¡­ Just how strong is he?¡±

    ¡°¡­ How strong? Hard to tell¡­ The roman legends would have you believe he is invincible and all-powerful, but I don¡¯t believe it goes as far as that. All men have their limitations and weaknesses. He is, however, absolutely not to be underestimated. I don¡¯t know how, I don¡¯t know why, but Gaius is back, and demands our full attention and effort if the Lupus are to survive his return.¡±

    ¡°¡­ So we can¡¯t take Rome, is that what you are saying? Just because of this Gaius?¡± asked the aggressive general.

    ¡°¡­ Not yet.¡± He pointed to an open grass field between Rome and Tioch, ¡°Once we meet with Codubia and Venus, we will integrate their legion as a special task force. We will task them to take the city while our main forces, led by myself are focusing on Gaius. If we don¡¯t have the quality, we must make do with quantity. It is our only viable strategy.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I see, so that¡¯s why you were so concerned about securing an alliance with Venus.¡±

    ¡°¡­Our plan bottles down to overwhelming a single man with our entire army? And you are implying it might not be enough? How preposterous¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ How can we even be sure we can get to this Gaius? She surely must be aware not to be swarmed by the enemy. He will most likely remain behind those old walls¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where Minerva come around.¡± Arcail said, ¡°We might be able to set up a trap or distraction involving her, forcing Gaius to abandon the city and allow our men to attack.¡± He sighed, ¡°¡­ Of course, whether he would risk his city for a strong soldier¡¯s life is questionable. I am counting on his arrogance to play a part, as he won¡¯t either allow his highly valuable servant to be killed or turn down the challenge of combat.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a risky plan, but at least we have one¡­¡± a general said, glancing at Arcail, ¡°¡­ Assuming we are victorious, what shall be done with Rome?¡±

    ¡°¡­ We will sack it, of course!¡± shouted a general, ¡°We must avenge Iraminus, and finish what he couldn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t be such a fool. Rome is a rich city. We must occupy and fully integrate it in the name of our people¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ The city must be destroyed. Only with a total destruction of the capital can we finally end the days of the empire¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We are doing none of that.¡± Arcail affirmed, ¡°We are not sacking, occupying, nor are we destroying the imperial capital. Our goal is not to dismantle the empire.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What?¡± many of the men asked, ¡°What will we do to the Romans?¡±

    ¡°We will ally them.¡± Arcail raised his head, ¡°If we are to cast away our image as lawless barbarians, we must think in the long term. A friendly empire is far more beneficial to use than a smoldering ruin. The Romans know many useful things our people don¡¯t. Their agriculture, culture, technology and magical knowledge far surpass our own. We must learn these things and adapt to the future we are carving not only for ourselves, but for our children, and their children.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Ally them? How can we?¡±

    Arcail rolled his eyes to the general, ¡°¡­ How do you think we managed to secure Venus¡¯ support? We will recognize her as Empress of the Romans, and she will retribute by recognizing our authority over many lands, agreeing to settle a trade and diplomatic ties between us.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Let me see if I understand this straight¡­.¡± The general sat opposite to Arcail inclined forward, ¡°¡­ We are to join with Venus, a demon known for her misconducts.  Then we will take our forces to fight a legendary roman divine entity, and to then, if we win, give the empire to the hands of that same man¡¯s creation?¡± he sighed, ¡°¡­ And this is the best we can do?¡±

    The generals lowered their heads, twiddling their thumbs. They talked about how mad Arcail must have been going, some considering fleeing with their former wolfpacks if things went wrong.  The base keeping the Lupus together was still fragile, and to throw them into a difficult problem was going to test that base quite stressfully. Arcail, familiar with Gaius, knew there was no choice. They would run into these tests of unity eventually, so it might as well be now.

    Arcail crossed his arms, ¡°¡­ Sure, you can make anything sound ridiculous with the right amount of effort, but I get your point. We are walking a fine line, and the slightest of deviations can cause disaster to erupt¡­.¡± Arcail smirked, ¡°¡­ But as long as keep our heads high, we can push through anything. I¡¯m quite confident once Gaius¡¯ magicka runs out, I could take him on. Even against him weakened state it would be hard but can manage. We must manage.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the best of his motivational speeches, but it worked fine enough. The general¡¯s foul mood faded away, their burdens placed on Arcail consciously on his part. It was true he could rival Gaius in raw strength, but to put it to use would prove challenging. A worrying thought came to him. Just how many storm spells could Gaius cast? Even worse was to ask if that was not his strongest magic. Nerve minding the problem, Arcail had to overcome it. It was his duty as an Alpha Lupus, and a father. Not to lose another Litchios in his family was to be his driving will.

    The generals nodded, seeing the fire hi his red eyes, ¡°¡­ I will stand by your side, no matter the odds.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You can count on me too!¡±

    ¡°¡­. And me as well...¡±

    His men declared their allegiance, ready to follow Arcail in the battles to come. Few satisfactions felt quite like knowing your men stood with you willingly and confidently. They would need this resolve against Gaius, and to the future battles yet to come. He smiled, looking down at the map.

    His ears lifted sharply upwards, a high-pitched howl echoing from afar. It was faint, but still within a range he could not only hear but identify. It was Codubia¡¯s howl, and most pressingly, a sign she was in danger.

    ¡°¡­ Did you hear that!?¡± asked Arcail, getting up from his desk and facing the open exit of the tent.

    ¡°¡­ I think I heard someone¡¯s howl¡­¡± a general replied, ¡°What of it?¡±

    ¡°It was Codubia¡¯s¡­ If she has resorted to it, then¡­ Shit¡­¡± Arcail grinned, clenching his fists, ¡°¡­. Something went wrong¡­¡±

    The generals got off from the table, their ears searching for the sound their leader spoke off, ¡°¡­ Is Codubia in trouble?¡±

    ¡°¡­. She must have been taken, prisoner¡­ Dammit¡­¡± Arcail cursed, ¡°¡­ That Venus, to betray us so soon¡­ Why?¡± he walked in circles, ¡°Why would she betray us so soon? Was the empire not a prize big enough? Did she grow uninterested in it?¡± he sighed, ¡°¡­ This is horrible¡­. My dear Codubia¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sir, please calm yourself!¡± pleaded a general, ¡°We have no idea what happened. It doesn¡¯t help jumping to conclusions¡­¡±

    Arcail bit his lips, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sure this is her voice. For her to howl, and for her to be able to howl can only mean was taken alive. She¡¯s only a few tens of kilometers away¡­ We must rescue her!¡± he walked to the exit, his generals following.

    ¡°¡­ Wait, sir, hold on! Will we attack Venus¡¯ Legion?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded, ¡°IF we can¡¯t have them as allies, we need to destroy them before they join with our enemies. We will give Venus an excuse to explain herself, but until then we will arrive in full force.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡± The generals said, ¡°We will prepare our men to¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sir! Sir Arcail!¡±

    A lupus scout ran from the forest, stepping through many passing by soldiers. He barged them out of the way, desperate not to waste time. Arcail was caught by the effort he made, asking ¡°¡­ What is it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sir¡­ Arcail¡­¡± he knelt, arriving to his presence, ¡°¡­ I have¡­ A report¡­ From the scouts¡­¡± he said, taking heavy breaths.¡±

    Arcail let him breathe for a moment, putting his hand on his shoulder, ¡°¡­ What is it, lad?¡±

    ¡°A carriage¡­ A carriage was seen¡­ Coming out of Rome¡­ And¡­ And entering the Roman Camp Codubia was in¡­¡±

    Arcail raised an eyebrow, ¡°¡­ A carriage?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes¡­ A carriage, guarded by Romans and bearing the Imperial Banners¡­ ¡° he looked into his red eyes, ¡°¡­ You heard the howl too, didn¡¯t you? It sounded not long after the carriage entered the camp¡­¡±

    Arcail let go of his shoulder, staring into the void forming in his mind,¡±¡­ Gaius¡­¡± he whispered, ¡°¡­ Gaius is there¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Gaius is in the camp with Codubia and Venus?¡± asked a general, ¡°¡­ Are¡­ Are we to still attack?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± Arcail shook his head, kneeling to the scout, ¡°¡­ You did good lad. You deserve some rest.¡± Arcail turned to some soldiers, ¡°Take him to the hospital to relax.¡±

    ¡°Sir.¡± The soldier helped the scout up, lifting him away with them.

    Arcail was surrounded by his generals, ¡°¡­ What will we do now?¡± his main general asked, ¡°Our plan is in ruins¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­. Not entirely.¡± Arcail said, ¡°¡­ Our chances have greatly diminished, but it only forces us to give our best even more.¡± He eyed all of the men looking at him, ¡°¡­ We will need to make some great alterations to our plan, needing to make even bolder moves than before¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ What do you mean?¡± an officer asked.

    Arcail looked up in the sky, the winds of the cold and dark night sweeping his furs on and off. The light of the stars gleaming in his red pupils. He took a long, and deep breath, ¡°¡­ Ready the men.¡± He turned back, ¡°¡­ We are marching on Rome.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 1: Check

    The Imperial tent wasn¡¯t in the best shape for an emperor to use. Due to Minerva¡¯s captivity and violent break throughout, some of the furniture was damaged and the curtains cut down. They were snitched back into place the night before, at least to an acceptable state. As Gaius slept on his bed, he took increasingly louder breaths. Rolling around and opening his eyes, he woke. It was his habit to sleep naked, the only way it was comfortable enough to do so. The silks were of high enough quality it wasn¡¯t bothersome to the skin. Stretching his arms and legs, he lifted his torso, sitting on his bed with an inclined spine. Yawning and cleaning his eyes, he was preparing for yet another day.

    His stomach aching for food, he pressed a hand against it.  One day the feeling of having such a well defined six pack wouldn¡¯t be so alien to Gaius. His entire physic was in prime form, from well-defined muscles, attractive features, cleanness of diseases and a healthy mental state. While the latter could be disputed, the former three couldn¡¯t. He stretched his head, preparing to get up.

    The Laurel Wreath remained there, it¡¯s leaves attached to his head like uncuttable hairs. It¡¯s origin, purpose, and meaning still a mystery, Gaius knew not a single morning would go by without him wondering for answers. He found consolation by considering, of all items to have permanently attached to him a traditional symbol of victory and triumph wasn¡¯t the worst. For all there was to it, the item could be the key to return home, was there even one to return to anymore. The longer he remained in this world, the lest he remembered about his previous life.

    The sheets were thrown off, and the Emperor¡¯s full glory was exposed. Fortunately, no one was there to see it. Privacy was an important thing to keep. Gaius walked to his wardrobe, seeking his armor set.  The doors were open, and each piece laid on a shelf. A mannequin would have been more appropriate to hold it, but no such thing was available after Minerva¡¯s outburst. Gaius was well aquatinted on how to single-handedly equip his set by himself. Years of campaigning in Impera bred many such practices on the emperor. First came the chest plate, then tasset, gauntlets, sabatons and so it went. Almost like putting on casual clothes, the Emperor was fully armored and protected in a matter of minutes.

    He put on the helmet and was relived to seeing the world the way he preferred. That is, through a highly protective purple visor. His gladius and shield were retrieved from the desk and assigned to his waist and back. As prepared as he could be, Gaius checked for any abnormalities before heading out. There weren¡¯t any visible damages, beyond some scratches, dents and bruises sustained years ago against tougher foes. Such wounds were as natural as old scars. His blade still held the blood of Lupus in its edge, no time or drive to clean it properly arising until then. He sheaved it further, getting a good look. His eyes narrowed as the possibility of staining it much more soon arose.

    When discussing his grand strategy to Minerva, Gaius emphasized the need to completely purge the Lupus barbarians from the land. Genocide, as was in Impera and History in general, was the most efficient way to deal with a particularly problematic group of people. His position as emperor demanded these acts to be committed, were the best interests of the empire to be sought. He did it before many times, millions of lives lost at his command. The more he did it, the less disturbing it became. All feelings acclimate to a certain point, the same thing went to the dread of mass killing. When sitting atop a throne, ordering the countless executions of people he never met or cared for wasn¡¯t problematic, especially when they were the cause of an issue.

    The Lupus were an issue, no inner disagreements in that front. The current situation couldn¡¯t remain, and soon one of the two groups would need to claim sovereignty of the Imperial Peninsula. Power is a zero-sum game, and a victorious would claim the vacuum left by the defeated. It can only be decided through war, no doubt about it. Why was it then Gaius was so uneasy with it?

    A hundred thousand Lupus would have to die, not counting their families which inflate the number to the hundreds of thousands.  It would take a lot of his personal making to reach the casualty number needed. It would be a lot of burning, electrifying, freezing, cutting, slashing and stabbing he would need to do. His legions and Divine Legionnaires had to assume their part, but the brunt was his own to assume. Was Gaius to triumph, he had to let the tyrant dormant in his heart to flourish again.

    There had to be another way. He tried mightily to think what Brunus would have done in this situation, but no examples arose. His younger brother rarely visited him when similar scenarios played out, and every time he did he either wanted no part in it or was an advocate of mercy. Gaius grinned, for where was mercy to be found? If the Lupus had their way, the Empire would fall. Was Gaius to have his way, Brunus¡¯ legacy would be tarnished.

    There was also the problem of how exactly to tackle such a vast horde of enemies. The Lupus Wolfpacks, all united and well led could easily overrun Gaius. He didn¡¯t have enough Magicka to kill all of them, not even half or a quarter. Discordia would be a great help, but not a deciding assistance. Additionally, if this Alpha Lupus Arcail was experienced enough, he was a threat all by himself. They knew no magic, but in raw strength he was problematic. That Iraminus was powerful enough to hurt Minerva, even considering she was weakened. Safe to assume the great leader of the monsters was above him, Arcail was a problem needing isolation. Even if his men were defeated in battle, as long as him and others survived their cause would remain alive. That wasn¡¯t acceptable. The Lupus problem was to be settled. The method through which it would be, however, was still to be decided. Gaius sheaved the blade, sighing deeply.

    A weird sound came from a corner behind. A vase was shaking un a nearby table. Gaius was alarmed, for someone was the cause of it.  With a hand on his weapons¡¯ hilt, he asked: ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

    No reply came from the seemingly empty tent.  If there was someone, he was using an invisibility spell. Considering the number of people he knew capable of casting such magic, Gaius let go of the blade.

    ¡°¡­ Come out, Venus¡­ I know it¡¯s you.¡±

    After a moment of silence, her body slowly reviled itself. ¡°¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have hit that table¡­¡± she said, facepalming.

    Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ I won¡¯t ask why you are here, as I can imagine the reason.¡±

    Venus blushed, ¡°¡­ Hey, that¡¯s not fair!¡± she shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m not entirely that kind of person, you know?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Very well, explain yourself.¡± Gaius said, nearing her. She seemed to lose some composure, looking away ¡°¡­ Maybe I was a little concerned, letting you sleep alone and all that¡­¡±

    ¡°I have guards outside.¡± Gaius quickly replied.

    ¡°Venus chuckled, ¡°Pff¡­ Guards? How are they going to be useful were an assassin to infiltrate here?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Like you have?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yeah, like I have.¡±

    Gaius pointed to her, ¡°If he is as poorly equipped as you, it wouldn¡¯t be hard killing him.¡± He chuckled, ¡°¡­ Is that what a bodyguard wears when protecting the emperor?¡±

    Venus crossed arms over her chest, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t say it like that¡­  My ancient armor set is all the way back in Tioch¡­¡±

    Gaius turned away, ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t have to hide your intentions. It¡¯s good to see my creations still remain similar to what they were originally made to be¡­ You have my permission to satisfy your thirst from some of the Lupus prisoners we have.¡±

    Venus¡¯ face contorted, ¡°Eww¡­ Their life essences are too weak for my taste. I would need to do it with several of them¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Would that be an issue?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No¡­ Not really¡­ But¡­¡± she looked at his visor, ¡°¡­ It is not them whom I desire¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Hmm¡­ Is that so¡­¡± Gaius met her pink gaze. Her demonic tail was bouncing like a merry dog¡¯s, ¡°¡­ You know that would kill me, right?¡±

    She gasped, her face changing from a lustful to a worried expression, ¡°¡­ K-Kill you!?¡±

    ¡°¡­. I¡¯m sorry Venus, but we both know it.  A Succubus can¡¯t hold back their parasitic tendencies against people of my level¡­ And that includes you.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ I would never go as far as to¡­¡±

    ¡±¡­ You are saying you can control yourself?¡¯ Gaius asked with a serious tone, ¡°That would require an amazing self-restraint¡­ I know I couldn¡¯t do it.¡±

    Venus'' cheeks reddened, her pupils widening, and she gasped, ¡°¡­ You couldn¡¯t? ¡­ A-Are you saying¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± He nodded, ¡°Deep down this armor and all the power, I¡¯m as vulnerable as any other human male. Were we to start, given both of our racial conditions, I doubt we wouldn¡¯t end up going the full way, and so leading to my death. We would lose ourselves in the act, unable to stop.¡± He touched her slim shoulder, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s for that reason you need to settle with others, least you would like to see me gone again¡­¡±

    Her head lowered, ¡°¡­ No¡­ I don¡¯t want that¡­¡±

    He retrieved his hand, ¡°¡­ Neither do I. At least not anymore. If it ever comes the day where I think we can risk it, I¡¯ll let you know¡­ In case you continue to be interested in then, of course.¡±

    She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll always be interested!¡± she grabbed onto Gaius¡¯ arm, rubbing her head and demonic horn over his chest plate, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted this more than ever¡­ What is a little longer compared to the millennium I have already waited? It¡¯s already great to know you understand me so well!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Right¡­ ¡°Gaius said a little nervously, ¡°¡­ Anyway, I should head out soon. I need to see if the legion is ready to resume the march.¡±

    ¡°Awn¡­ So soon?¡± she asked, ¡°You¡¯ve just woken up¡­ Can¡¯t we wait a little longer?¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°No.¡± Gaius shook his head, ¡°We need to return to the capital as soon as possible. Sleep can only serve for rest.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I see.¡± Venus released his arm, ¡°¡­ Thank you for not reprehending me too much for peaking on you¡­¡±

    Gaius laughed lightly, ¡°That¡¯s no problem. It¡¯s simply who you are, I can¡¯t be mad at that.¡± He turned, facing the exit, ¡°¡­ Next time, though, try not hitting the table¡­.¡± The emperor prepared to finally leave, only to be tackled from behind with a hug

    ¡°¡­ I will!¡± yelled Venus, kissing his helmet, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll see you later¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Same for you¡­¡± Gaius replied as she got on the ground. He passed through the decadent curtain, the strong light of a rising sun reaching his eyes.

    Such a delicate matter. Rarely had he to choose his words as carefully as in that talk.  He had to decline her advances, while simultaneously not implying it¡¯s because he didn¡¯t find her attractive. To be scorned by your passionate interest was an experience Gaius wanted to avoid inflicting on one of his creations. Whether it would come the day he was to see Venus in the same way she did him was questionable, but it remained important to pretend it could be. If he managed to capture Arcail alive, he might be enough to fulfill her hunger for a long time.

    Would Brunus approve of enemies being taken as sexual slaves for Venus? Most likely not. He wasn¡¯t much of a fan the way Gaius had designed her. A particular prank involving both the most probable culprit of it. There was, however, no way to keep Venus¡¯ from doing what she needed to stay alive. Considering how long it¡¯s been since they last saw each other in Impera, she must have been with countless victims. What was another one to add to the corpse pile? Gaius couldn¡¯t avoid approving such acts when the lives of his children were at stake.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps Gaius.¡± The soldiers saluted the emperor as he exited.

    ¡°¡­ At ease.¡± He said.

    The Legion¡¯s men were mostly still sleeping, the sentries of the previous night still lingering about. They took few breaks in their march, but they had to count. No more would be had until they reached the city.

    One of the legionnaires approached, saluting and awaiting permission to speak.

    ¡°¡­ Have something to say?¡± asked Gaius.

    ¡°Yes sir.¡± He nodded, ¡°Lady Minerva has been waiting for you to wake up. She says it¡¯s urgent.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Urgent?¡± he asked, ¡°¡­I wonder what it may be¡­¡± he looked around, ¡°¡­ Where is she?¡±

    The soldier gestured to his left, ¡°¡­ Over there, sir.¡±

    Minerva was conversing with a few soldiers, herself mounted on a horse. They were all centurions, a hint of the serious matter she was involved in. She noticed Gaius, quickly breaking off the talk and riding to him.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps! You are awake, at last.¡± She said, her mount resuming the rush, ¡°I have something important to report.¡±

    ¡°¡­So I¡¯ve heard.¡± He neared her, ¡°What¡¯s the problem you wanted to discuss?¡± Gaius asked.

    She gestured her spear out to the woods, ¡°¡­ During my nightly scout hunts, I¡¯ve been encountering far more enemies than usual. I took the initiative in expanding our men active in the operation, but the threat still looms. I believe it deserves your personal attention in the fields.¡±

    ¡°¡­it¡¯s about the Lupus¡­¡± Gaius glanced to a nearby untaken horse, mounting on it, ¡°¡­ Take me to the frontlines.¡±

    She nodded, ¡°Yes, Princeps.¡± She rode away, ¡°¡­. Follow me.¡±

    Gaius commanded his ride forward, catching up to her. Soon they were away from the camp, entering the forest. Some other soldiers provisioned for food and participated in the garrison outside, but their numbers diminished the further Gaius and Minerva strode away.

    Near a tree was a Lupus¡¯ corpse, to which Minerva gestured, ¡°¡­ These lone wolves have been trying to near our camp all night. Some were organized in groups, trying to avoid combat when spotted.¡±

    ¡°¡­ There are collecting information, it seems.¡± Gaius concluded, ¡°Venus¡¯ had mentioned Arcail¡¯s camp wasn¡¯t far from our original position. Could it be he learned of our movements and is shadowing the legion?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It could be.¡± Minerva said, ¡°What worries me is that we are finding these Lupus coming from our front, not the rear¡­ The closer we get to Rome, the more of them appear.¡±

    Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ That could be problematic. Arcail could have sent a large detachment of his men to outrun us to the capital, seeking to envelop us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very worrisome.¡± Affirmed Minerva, ¡°What if they learn you aren¡¯t in Rome to protect it?¡±

    ¡°Let them learn. Those Lupus will find a nice surprise when they try to attack the city.¡± He smirked.

    ¡°¡­ A surprise?¡± she asked.

    ¡°If the Lupus detachment, let it be of a few thousand men tries to take what they assume is a defenseless Rome, they will be quickly disposed of. Discordia and Apollo will see to it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ A-Apollo!?¡± Minerva gasped, ¡°¡­ Apollo lives? He¡¯s in Rome with Discordia?¡±

    ¡°I forgot to mention it.¡± Gaius steered his hose to face her, ¡°In my voyage to Cilia, I found Discordia had reanimated Apollo¡¯s corpse in her stay in the island. He¡¯s an undead, although a fully conscious and capable one.¡±

    ¡°¡­ An undead¡­¡± she whispered, ¡°¡­ Apollo is back as an undead¡­ How dares Discordia desecrate his body to this extent. When I return to Rome, I will¡­¡±

    ¡°Calm down.¡± Gaius pleaded, ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it seems. Even though he is a skeleton, I much prefer having Apollo back with us than letting him keep rotting in an old tomb. He has already done wonders in the short time he¡¯s been with us, personally conducting the food shipments and disease treatment of the population.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, that does sound like him¡­¡± Minerva¡¯s angry tone vanished, ¡°¡­ Yet, to think the next time I would see him would be as a puppet of little sister¡­¡±

    ¡°You should try to find some forgiveness for her behavior. If anything happens, she oversees the protection of the capital.¡±

    Minerva nodded, ¡°¡­ Very well. If you deem her trustworthy and faultless in this act, I should do so too.¡± She rode to the corpse, ¡°Our priority should be to clean the path until we get there, then.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Gaius said, looking around the forest. The woods got denser and less visible the further he looked. The strong daylight not enough to cleanse it of a visual doubt.

    ¡°¡­ How have you been tracking the Lupus?¡± asked Gaius, ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe you would risk sending men alone to spot them in these conditions¡­¡±

    ¡®You are correct.¡± She affirmed, ¡°Instead of risking lives in the effort, I relied on using the Detect Life spell.¡±

    ¡°That spell?¡± Gaius raised an eyebrow, ¡®You know how draining it is to use it for long range, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware. In fact, it¡¯s because of it I wanted your help.¡± He lifted her hand, a faint and almost imperceptible magical light emitting from its pam, ¡°I¡¯ve run out of Magicka from using the spell too much. I hoped you could take my place in casting it.¡±

    ¡°I see, so that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± Gaius raised his own palm, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be lenient in how much it will cost me, either. It will cover a wide range, enough to see all the way to the capital.¡±

    Gaius casted the spell, once more his eyes capable of perceiving living beings as light signals. Minerva shined brighter than a sun, while the Lupus¡¯ corpse was dark. The forest was home to many animals, all coexisting together. He ignored them, seeking more powerful presences.

    ¡°¡­ I can sense several individual Lupus scouts¡­¡± he said, doing a full 360-degree rotation on his horse, ¡°Many of them are in groups, and near our camp¡­¡±

    ¡°Where is the nearest one?¡± asked Minerva, ¡°I will organize and lead an expedition to hunt them each down.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Hold it. There¡¯s something else¡­¡± Gaius said, looking, through the trees. A cloudy, yet strong presence laid at the edge of his range, ¡°.. I need to expand the reach of the magic¡­ I think the large Lupus detachment we predicted might be close.¡±

    Gaius reinforced the magic, enhancing the reach of his perception.

    ¡°¡­ This¡­ This is¡­¡±

    Gaius¡¯ heartbeat accelerated, a freezing chill flowing in his bones.

    ¡°¡­ What have you found?¡± asked Minerva, ¡°Is it the Lupus scouting force?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No¡­¡± Gaius whispered, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not a scouting group¡­ Or a detachment¡­ Or anything of the sort.¡± He glanced at her, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s all of the Lupus Wolfpacks¡­. Hundreds of thousands of them¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s their entire host?!¡± she asked, closing the distance between them, ¡°You mean to say¡­ They are in Rome!?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Gaius nodded, ¡°I can sense the presence of Discordia and Apollo very clearly inside the city, surrounded by the civilians, who are in turn surrounded by Lupus¡­ And among them, the strongest Lupus if ever detected.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Arcail¡­¡± Minerva whispered, ¡°He¡¯s there¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ So that¡¯s him. He¡¯s stronger than I assumed¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ This is an emergency of the greatest caliber. We must inform the men and march to meet the enemy immediately!¡±

    ¡±¡­ Agreed¡­ But¡­¡± Gaius looked at the trees to his left, ¡°¡­ Before we get there, we¡¯ll have to deal with some company¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Company?¡± she asked, looking where the emperor did.

    The trees and bushes were shaking as something moved through. Soon it was obvious who it was. The Lupus emerged from their hidden positions, encircling Gaius and Minerva.

    She sneered, taking her spear out, ¡°¡­ Disgusting dogs¡­¡±

    Gaius lowered her weapon, ¡°¡­ I believe they mean to speak.¡± He said, ¡°¡­ Given what we already know, It would be wise to let them talk first.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understood.¡± She retrieved her spear, resting it upward.

    ¡°¡­ You¡­  The man in dark purple armor.¡± A Lupus capable of speaking Latin said, ¡°¡­ Are you the roman leader called Gaius?¡±

    The emperor nodded, ¡°¡­ Yes, I am.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Good.¡± The Lupus approached, ¡°Our forces have been trying to contact you, but all attempts were met with hostility on your part¡­¡± the Lupus eyed Minerva.

    ¡°¡­ Our people are at war.¡± Gaius affirmed, ¡°I cannot blame my soldiers by doing what they feel necessary to favor our cause.¡±

    ¡°The war is over.¡± The Lupus proclaimed, ¡°Alpha Lupus Arcail seeks to discuss surrendering terms with you.¡±

    Gaius¡¯ was taken by surprise, so seemed to be Minerva¡¯s case, ¡°¡­ Surrendering terms?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to hear that¡­¡± He stared the Lupus, seeing his seriousness, ¡®¡­ Very well, what are the terms for his surrender?¡±

    The Lupus looked confused, a grin appearing on his face and the others, ¡°¡­ His surrender? No¡­ This is about your surrender, Gaius.¡±

    He gave a mocking smile to the emperor as if he knew no harm would come to him.

    ¡°¡­ Watch your tone.¡± Minerva adverted.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s fine.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Considering the position of their forces, it¡¯s only natural they would think to be in  a superior position.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Think? We don¡¯t think we are, we know we are.¡± He gestured in the direction of the capital, ¡°Your city¡¯s fate is at our people¡¯s hands¡­ It¡¯s your choice what happens to it.¡±

    Gaius sighed, considering what to do. Dismissing the possibility his spell was getting things wrong, he really as in a dire place. Rome couldn¡¯t withstand a siege of such magnitude. Discordia and Apollo weren¡¯t anywhere near enough to hold them all back. Even if they killed these Lupus and headed straight for the city, by the time they arrived, it would all be lost.

    ¡°¡­ I understand.¡± He affirmed, ¡°What are Arcail¡¯s terms for a truce?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s ordered you to come and see him personally. He will discuss the terms with you there.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You must be joking.¡± Minerva interrupted, ¡°There¡¯s no way this isn¡¯t a trap.¡±

    The Lupus looked at her, ¡°He expected you would have this reaction, and so allowed you to bring your Divine Legionnaires as bodyguards to the meeting.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Even then¡­¡± Minerva said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he know we hold his wife hostage?¡±

    ¡°He knows¡­¡± The Lupus nodded, ¡°Which is why one of the conditions for the meeting is that you bring her to him.¡±

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s acceptable.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Tell Arcail that, as long as he doesn¡¯t attack the city, I will accept to meet with him.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± The Lupus said, ¡°¡­ He will be waiting for you.¡±

    The Lupus jumped away from the two Romans, back into the forest at a quick speed. They were soo left alone in the mist of the forest, still weary of the presence beyond.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps¡­¡± Minerva said faintly, ¡°¡­ Are you really going to risk this?¡±

    ¡°He sighed, ¡°¡­ We have little choice. Their numbers are far too great to take out in a surprise attack. It would just alarm them to start attacking Rome and pursue a policy of no mercy to the population¡­. I don¡¯t plan on surrendering, but I must meet with Arcail if the capital is to be spared¡­¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Discordia and Apollo would defend it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Against raiders and small parties, but not the entire Lupus force. Their presence there must be the reason why they have hesitated to attack yet. Discordia would cause enough casualties to make any general nervous about provoking her¡­. But Arcail must be aware she¡¯s not a fatal threat. If he wants to, he can sustain catastrophic casualties, and still emerge victorious at the end of the day¡­ And of course, should they breach the city, Julia will die¡­.¡±

    Minerva looked down, ¡°¡­ If it must be that way¡­ I will stand by your side should you need me. Venus will as well.¡±

    Gaius smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll count on both of you¡­ The fate of the empire will be in our hands.¡±

    ¡°I will tell our men to keep on the march. We ought to arrive with our own army, showing those barbarians they aren¡¯t the only ones at arms.¡±

    ¡°A show of force is in our interests, indeed¡­.¡± Gaius clenched his fist, ¡°¡­ I wonder what else will be.¡±

 Chapter 9: Part 2: Check

    It was the image of nightmares. At one of the hills, Gaius oversaw the united Lupus Wolfpacks surrounding the Imperial Walls of Rome. Their numbers several times bigger than what his legion composed, the memories of his early days in the World Conquest refreshed. Worse odds have been overcome, but new stakes were at play. This would be the deciding event to determine if Gaius could save his empire, his people, and himself.

    Sections of the grasslands were burned. Lupus corpses littered the field still set ablaze. It would seem leaving Discordia in charge of the city¡¯s defense proved to be a wise one. Was it of caution or fear, Arcail hadn¡¯t taken the opportunity to sack the capital while Gaius was away. It was a confusing state of affairs. His enemy¡¯s intentions weren¡¯t yet clear, but with their meeting, these were soon to be.

    ¡°¡­ The legion is in position.¡± Said Minerva, standing beside the emperor.

    ¡°Have you explained to the centurions what they need to do?¡±

    She nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve made sure they understood the orders. They will be ready to strike if the negotiations fail.¡±

    ¡°¡­ When the negotiations fail.¡± Venus said on the other side of Gaius, ¡°This can only go two ways. Either Arcail¡¯s demands will be too outrageous we will need to reject them, or they will be so incomprehensibly lenient we won¡¯t trust their intentions.¡±

    ¡±I agree¡­¡± Minerva glanced at Gaius, ¡°We won¡¯t achieve anything from this, beyond buying time for the city. I¡¯m sure you are aware of it, but what are we to do with this extra time?¡±

    ¡°¡­ The situation is very delicate.¡± Gaius said, ¡°If I were Arcail, I would have taken Rome by now¡­ The fact he hasn¡¯t done so yet is confusing me to no end¡­ I can barely focus on other things.¡±

    Minerva looked down, over the Lupus approaching, ¡°¡­ They are ready to receive us. We¡¯ll hear from his own barbaric jaws what Arcail¡¯s plan is.¡±

    He looked back, ¡°¡­ Is Codubia under control?¡±

    The Lupus was kept in chains and on her knees. While she didn¡¯t seem ready to escape, to ask if all was in order was required.

    ¡°Paralyzed on all dangerous parts!¡± said Venus, ¡°I let her walk on her own though¡­ I¡¯m not carrying this ball of fur all the way there¡­¡±

    Codubia¡¯s eyes narrowed as Venus talked, yet she didn¡¯t look to run away. We were to take her to her husband, so there wasn¡¯t a real reason to risk getting killed for escaping yet. Gaius wouldn¡¯t resort immediately to lethal force, given how pissing off Arcail while he threatens Rome wasn¡¯t very sound. On the other hand, when hostilities broke out, Codubia would be one of his primary targets.

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s go.¡± Gaius said, jumping off the hill. He fell down the great distance.

    ¡°Understood!¡± Minerva said and jumped down, but not before grasping Codubia to go with her.

    ¡°¡­ Wait! Don¡¯t leave without me!¡± Venus shouted, jumping behind them, but screening by the cliff rather than falling through the air.

    They landed one after the other, Gaius and Minerva falling with great force on the ground, while Venus relied on support on the hill to decline. Their bodies were stained with dirt, but only Venus cared enough to clean it.

    Gaius stood up, letting the Lupus stare, ¡°¡­ I suppose you are here to escort us.¡±

    The Lupus stood in awe at their display of power, except their leading representative. He stepped up, his eyes on the emperor, ¡°¡­ Follow me, Romans.¡± He said, ¡°You will meet with the Alpha Lupus in his tent.¡±

    ¡°Take the lead,¡± Gaius said.

    The Lupus turned, walking away with his guards. For him to be comfortable with having his back to Gaius was either a sign of his confidence or trust. Knowing the unprovability of the latter, Gaius assumed it was the former. It could be born out of ignorance of his power, or knowledge of Arcail¡¯s.

    The Lupus formed a perimeter around them. No matter how many times it happened, to be surrounded by these monsters was never getting old on how uneasy it felt. Emperors don¡¯t tend to end well when cornered by hostiles handling sharp objects. It wasn¡¯t outright fear, as Gaius could resist any of their physical attacks, but the principle stood.

    They moved to the capital, the vast horde suffocating it their destination. At first, all Gaius could see were more brute Lupus looking at him with great anger, but the deeper they went it began to change. Some temporary settlements likely made out of improvised materials and roman leftover equipment appeared. On them weren¡¯t tall, bulky wolfmen, but small, fangless pups running around the crowded fields. Some more females, alike to Codubia appeared. None of them were Alpha, but simple Lupus taking care of their young and assisting in menial tasks. The deeper the Emperor went the wolfpacks, the less they looked like barbarians, and more like a people seeking a place to call home.

    He shook his head, damming his brain for showing pity at the wrong place and time. These monsters couldn¡¯t be allowed to settle Roman lands. The empire needed them to feed its people and extract basic resources. Gaius had his own set of families to think about, the survivors of a bygone age only he could bring forth once more.

    His consideration, much to his displeasure, did alter. It wasn¡¯t quite possible to deem them a barbaric foe when none barbaric acts could be spoken off at the heart of their civilization. The Lupus were very different from his time in Impera. They used to scorn any manufacture goods and diplomatic actions with other races. They were a greater enemy to themselves than others, organizing in small groups dubbed woolpacks which often skirmished with each other. What Gaius faced then was almost the complete opposite. They were a united, almost civilized people. As far as their internal affairs went, they seemed peaceful.

    ¡°¡­ We are here.¡± Said the Lupus conducting them. He stopped by a large Roman camp, similar to the one used by himself earlier, ¡°He¡¯s waiting inside.¡±

    Gaius took a while examining the place, looking for any abnormalities. No excess number of troops seemed to be inside, nor any traps or ambushes set up from what he could see. Gaius secretly casted a life detection spell, looking inside on a short range. An unsurmountable presence did lay in it. A Lupus stronger than any he ever met before.

    ¡°¡­ This is the place.¡± Gaius said, ¡°Let¡¯s get it over with¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­¡± said Venus, blocking his path with her arm, ¡°¡­ I know this tent¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, I know it too¡­¡± Minerva added, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s Princeps Flavius tent... The one belonging to him when he went off to face the Lupus invasion.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It''s his?¡± asked Gaius, examining it further. The tent didn¡¯t hold any imperial banners on it, however, the design was clearly Roman. It likely was the case they removed it when appropriating the looted camps. Knowing where he was about to enter used to belong to his dead great nephew was unnerving. It reminded Gaius it didn¡¯t matter how great of an impression the Lupus might make, they are still his enemies and responsible for the deaths of his people, and more, of his family. Whatever positive aspects flowed in his mind, they all but vanished.

    ¡°¡­ Let us then do what Flavius couldn¡¯t,¡± he said, walking inside. It opened like any other tent in his legion, the entrance being easy to the intruder. He glanced at what awaited his attention.

    There were several Lupus, most wearing scrap clothing and items, guarding the one sitting on the table. It was Arcail, the Alpha Lupus leading them all into a united force. He had a large scar on his face, going up from his chin to the left eye. He wasn¡¯t blinded by it, his red pupils still gleaming in his stare which didn¡¯t cease.

    Venus and Minerva entered, the captive Codubia among them. His gaze broke off, going to her

    ¡°¡­ Codubia¡­ Are you alright?¡± he asked his hands on the table. She didn¡¯t, unable to talk with the spell still in effect.

    ¡°Venus¡­¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°¡­ Alright, I can guess¡­¡±

    She released the hold on the muscles which prevented the captive from speaking, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry Arcail, this cunt got me¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Cunt!?¡± asked Venus, outraged.

    ¡°You will regret this¡­¡± said Codubia, sneering, ¡°¡­Traitorous one...¡±

    ¡°Watch your tongue, or I will¡­¡±

    ¡°Calm yourselves!¡± Minerva commanded, raising her voice and hitting both their heads, ¡°¡­ This meeting isn¡¯t about your squabble, so stay quiet.¡±

    Venus and Codubia gave her an annoyed glare, looking away soon after. Gaius and Arcail returned their attention to each other, the mistrust and disdain in the atmosphere too dense to ignore.

    ¡°¡­ Unfortunately, the hopes I was wrong were dashed¡­ You have indeed returned from death¡­¡± Arcail rested his arms, ¡°Sit down, we have much to discuss¡­¡±

    Gaius was stricken by doubt but nevertheless obliged, taking the seat opposite to him. Minerva and Venus remained standing up, guarding his back.

    ¡°¡­ You know me?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°You are the first one to recognize me, beside my Divine Legionnaires.¡±

    ¡°I remember you quite vividly, but I suppose it¡¯s not the same for you about me¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ About you? Should I remember you?¡±

    Arcail smirked, ¡°¡­ No, perhaps not¡­¡± he blinked, ¡°Given how many like me you killed that knight, my image must have blurred among them¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Blurred?¡±

    He was insinuating a lot to the emperor. Was he some Lupus who lead an enemy wolfpack in the northern campaign? Gaius recalled having them all executed, no ground given to enemy leadership to mount rebellions. In his conducted genocide of Alpha Lupus, Gaius never directly interacted with any of them whom he didn¡¯t have killed. None of them should have survived for him to stand in front of him. For all this time Gaius assumed Arcail was among the survivors he didn¡¯t get to, but if his words were true, and they did meet once, that wasn¡¯t the case. He thought hard on it, remembering what he could.

    His stare rested on the old wound inflicted on Arcail¡¯s face. It didn¡¯t look like one gained through combat with members of his race, as no other markings were present. A blade was the author of the carving, likely of roman making. He must have faced with his legions before, but whether it was a few years or an entire millennium ago was difficult to know. He could have attained it against Flavius, for all he knew.

    Gaius couldn¡¯t look away, an ominous sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu taking hold. He did see this scar before, but at what time and place didn¡¯t reach him. Had they fought, Arcail shouldn¡¯t have lived. Was it gained by one of his men, Gaius and Arcail shouldn¡¯t have met. The contradictions collided within him, no side gaining ground.

    ¡°¡­ Foolish.¡±

    Arcail¡¯s mocking words cleared the emperor¡¯s mind from everything. The time, place back to him, Gaius gasped with widened purple lights from his visorThis narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°¡­ That night¡­ You were¡­ From that night¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ You remember?¡±

    Arcail was that young Lupus, the last survivor of his kind after the last battle of the campaign. The one Brunus made him spare. He survived being left in the woods and rose through the years to become extremally powerful and lead his people. Gaius sighed, for it went exactly as he imagined it would. Granting mercy to the innocent pup only made him a future threat to the empire, and now there he was threatening not a local northern legion, or a regional city, but Rome itself. His brother¡¯s mercy had gotten him into this mess, so then, was it truly worth to pursue it? If being good and merciful, like his brother preached meant to allow problems like these to freely develop, then how could Gaius emulate it in good conscience? Gaius was bothered, for not only his own, but his brother¡¯s actions kept coming back from the past to hunt him. Had he stuck with killing the Lupus kid, how many roman kids would still be alive? It wasn¡¯t worth to emulate Brunus. He was wrong, and his mistake costed the empire dearly.

    ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Gaius affirmed, ¡°You are a past mistake needing correction.¡±

    Arcail smirked, ¡°I see¡­ Your ways remain the same¡­ Why is it then you have sparred my wife? ¡° he asked, eyeing Codubia.

    ¡°She held more value alive than dead. Whether it will remain so after this meeting is doubtful.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Speaking of which, we should get it started¡­ But before we do¡­ Bring her to my side.¡±

    The Lupus guards approached Codubia, looking to pull her away from captivity.

    ¡°¡­ Back off!¡¯ yelled Minerva, pointing her spear to them.

    ¡°¡­ Her personality lives on to the reports¡­¡± Arcail sighed, ¡°Tell your soldiers to allow her release, lest you want the negotiations to end here.¡±

    The emperor didn¡¯t say a word, tilting his head to the left, ¡°¡­ Minerva, let them have her.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Princeps? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°¡­ If the negotiations fail, we won¡¯t need hostages. It doesn¡¯t make sense to hold onto them, much less fear of losing them.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Very well¡­¡± Minerva let the Lupus take Codubia away.

    ¡°¡­ Enjoy your freedom while it lasts!¡¯

    Venus removed her spell, letting her move freely again. She jumped over the table, getting beside Arcail. The Lupus looked passionately at themselves but left it at that. They weren¡¯t as disrespectful as to forget who was present with them.

    ¡°¡­ I have released my hostage, so you may do so as well.¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°We may? What hostage?¡± Arcail asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb.¡± Gaius put his fist on the table, ¡°You hold my entire city hostage.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Ah, I see what you mean. Onto the main subject¡­.¡± The lupus guards went back to position, ¡°I¡¯ll let you begin. Proclaim what you most desire.¡±

    ¡°I want you all out and far away from it.¡± Gaius exclaimed, ¡°I want every single Lupus out of my city, and the Imperial peninsula altogether. If you don¡¯t heed my words, I will force them into practice.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Will you, now? You seem to give a lot of value to your capital and lands, a bit more than I expected, to be honest. It was my belief you wouldn¡¯t have heeded my call, and casted that storm spell once again.¡±

    ¡°.. I founded this city. I created this empire. I¡¯m its emperor and protector. Everyone inside counts on me to defend it from barbarians like yourself. Of course, I care.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I suppose¡­¡± Arcail drank a cup of water, ¡°Pardon me for not understanding you¡­ The minds of tyrants are a mystery to me, especially when they proclaim to desire the best for their people...¡±

    ¡°Oh! Look who¡¯s talking!¡± Venus interrupted, ¡°You have a lot of balls to call my Princeps a tyrant, being one yourself!¡± she gestured to the other Lupus, ¡°¡­ Are you gonna say you run things by committee around here?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Replied Arcail.

    Venus¡¯ face went a little pale, as her voice lowered, ¡°¡­ You do?¡±

    ¡°While it¡¯s true I have great authority, my rule isn¡¯t absolute. Every decision I make is taken into consideration by my generals and ex-chieftains.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s an oligarchy, then.¡± Minerva said, ¡°Also, judging by the way you mentioned the ex-chieftains, it brings to light the way you brought this Lupus Union into place. Your ways of achieving power involve conquering and defeating your enemies, like any other.¡±

    ¡°¡­ They aren¡¯t my enemies.¡± Arcail said, ¡°I brought the Lupus together because I knew who the enemies truly were.¡±

    Gaius assumed the meaning in his words. Aware the topic was getting out of hand, he pulled the trajectory of the conversation, ¡°¡­ You haven¡¯t taken Rome yet, I couldn¡¯t help but notice when I arrived.¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Arcail confirmed, ¡°To take it wasn¡¯t in my interests¡­¡±

    ¡°Discordia¡¯s too much of a thorn to endure, I imagine¡­.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Almost, but not all the truth.¡± Arcail pulled a map for the other side of the table, ¡°She was openly hostile to our arrive since we got here, even though we didn¡¯t directly attempt to breach¡­ It¡¯s been a problem, true, but she¡¯s not the reason why I didn¡¯t do it.¡±

    Gaius tried to guess himself, but had to ask, ¡°¡­ What was the reason, then?¡±

    Arcail pointed to the city, ¡°¡­ Were I to let my men attack the city, I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them from doing whatever they wanted with it. They would sack, plunder and kill indiscriminately, with little I could do to stop them. The city would be completely destroyed were I to give the order to attack.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Well, wouldn¡¯t that be good for you?¡± asked Venus, ¡°You are sounding too compassionate for a man at the head of a horde.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not compassion only for your people, but mine as well. I am fully aware of the destructive power you Romans possess¡­ And even if it isn¡¯t enough to kill most of us, the damage and carnage you would inflict is not something I desire to endure.¡±

    The emperor nodded, understanding what he said was founded. If he really was that little Lupus pup from long ago, he saw what Gaius could do when desiring to kill. He didn¡¯t underestimate him like Iraminus did, but instead somewhat overvalued his prowess. Even if Gaius was to coordinate with Discordia for maximum effect, they couldn¡¯t achieve a decisive or even mild victory. It would all get much more complicated when the Lupus did breach, and they mixed with the population. By that point, Gaius couldn¡¯t use massive destruction spells. As they would kill as many Romans as Lupus.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You seek a diplomatic solution.¡± Gaius concluded

    ¡°¡­ I do.¡± Arcail nodded, ¡°Violence is to be avoided. Both our people slaughtered, nothing else would be worth fighting for anymore.¡±

    ¡°Agreed, but If I recall your scout¡¯s words, you aren¡¯t seeking a resolution, but my surrender.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He was right. The conditions for our withdraw from the siege are threefold.¡± He cleared his throat, granting everyone time to pay attention, ¡°¡­ First, your legion will be disbanded and it¡¯s veterans scattered to different parts of the peninsula. Second, the Imperial Walls will be demolished. And third¡­ Emperor Gaius and her descendant Julia will be executed¡­¡± He glanced at Gaius, ¡°¡­ These are the conditions, and I will not concede on them.¡±

    Minerva was the first to snap, followed almost instantly by Venus. Their faces expressing all kinds of anger and surprise leaned forward.

    ¡°¡­ You dare propose such ridiculous terms¡­This is beyond unacceptable.¡±

    ¡°You have lost your mind, Arcail. My Princeps and his niece¡¯s lives are far above your reach, so you resort to this? It better be a poorly thought out and timed prank on your part.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I stand by my words.¡± Arcail affirmed, ¡°I gave the Romans many chances to be trusted, but you wasted them each time. First I resorted to leaving Rome alone, but Minerva kept provoking us to the point I couldn¡¯t hold one of my chieftains and wolfpacks from attacking. Then I tried to seek an alliance with them, but all I got in return were my diplomats dead and wife captured. You have proved yourselves unworthy of good will, and if you desire to reach a settlement, only terms as harsh as these will be enough.¡±

    ¡°¡­ That still doesn¡¯t justify it.¡± Minerva asserted, ¡°You ask for the permanent death of the Gaian Imperial Family. It is unforgivable. I would have your head just for suggesting it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ The Imperial line must go.¡± Arcail said, ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with many emperors in the past, one worst than the other. Flavius wouldn¡¯t even give our people the dignity to make our case before attacking us. Julia is a child, but one day will grow to be as powerful as her father, if not more. She was controlled by Minerva, and now Gaius¡­ And of course, him¡­¡± Arcail seemed to struggle to contain his emotions, ¡°¡­ No man since Gaius has brought greater death and suffering on this world, let alone to the Lupus in particular. I cannot trust that, once our grip on Rome is relieved that he will honor his words. Only his death can bring any solace and hope for peace¡±

    Minerva frowned, ¡°¡­ Damn you¡­Were the circumstances different¡­ I would¡­.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Things will change around here¡­¡± Venus smirked, ¡°The negotiations have failed, and now there¡¯s only one thing left to do¡­¡±

    The Lupus were put on edge by her threat, Arcail himself reacting with a stare, ¡°¡­ If it¡¯s violence you wish, I shall give it to you. Be aware, the costs will be as severe to me as they will to you.¡±

    With this final ultimatum, and time for words to triumph over swords went short, Gaius had to reach a decision. All his choices were crap, leading either to Rome¡¯s destruction or his and Julia¡¯s death. Was he really put into a corner, and only his life on the line, to trade it for his people¡¯s and family wasn¡¯t a hard choice, but alas, Arcail was after Julia as well. Judging by he wasn¡¯t after the Divine Legionnaires spoke for how he didn¡¯t fear them as he did him. His decision would be taken as final, and a fight would break out once said.

    Gaius resorted to his most primitive thoughts and thought about everything if he was still playing Impera, or better yet, like a game of chess. If the king was Rome itself, then it should be protected at all costs. Julia and the others would be other pieces, ready to be sacrificed if need be. The right move was, in that logic, to agree with the terms. A spike of anger and denial overtook him. To let Julia die was not only unfortunate, but something too painful to accept, or even consider. She was a pawn in the grand strategy, but he couldn¡¯t treat her like one.

    For the second time during the meeting, another sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu emerged. It was all too similar to the chess match he had with his brother. As Gaius had forced Brunus into making a comprise, so had Arcail with Gaius. In his own words, pawns are worthless if not used to defend the king. Brunus refused to do it, and so lost the game.

    But did he? While by the rules Gaius had won the match, Brunus did protest in his own childish way, knocking his king off and proclaiming victory. A duel, he justified. A duel to decide the entire match. He didn¡¯t want to face the choices he was given, so resorted to another way. Could Gaius learn something from it? As Brunus had gotten him into this mess, could he be the one to resolve it?

    ¡°¡­ Arcail, I¡¯ve made my decision.¡±

    The bickering ended as he announced it, Minerva and Venus more surprised than anyone else.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps, you mean to take their terms seriously¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s nothing to be said.¡± Venus added, ¡°We should return to our legion, and ¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not accepting his terms, but neither am I conceding the negotiations. Rather, I¡¯m interested in a third option.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Are you? And what would that be?¡± asked Arcail.

    ¡°A propose a duel¡­ For everything.¡± He pointed to Arcail, ¡°I challenge you for a duel to decide the fate of Rome and the Lupus Wolfpacks. The winner takes all.¡±

    The tent became as quiet as a lonely night in the forest. The Lupus began whispering to each other, Arcail among them frowning.

    ¡°¡­ You are mad!¡± said Codubia, ¡°Dueling you is pure madness, and you know it. We cannot and will not accept such an outrageous proposition!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Wait, Codubia, we cannot dismiss this¡­¡± Said Arcail, his eyes closed ¡°¡­ As has been the tradition of the Lupus, the strongest rules over the others, his authority only challenged by someone stronger. I¡¯ve been trying to change some of our ways, but on this front, I couldn¡¯t do anything about, for it is the means I brought my people together¡­¡±

    ¡®No¡­ Arcail, you can¡¯t be considering taking him on!¡± Codubia said nervously, ¡°This man killed Arcail and all his man with a single spell! You told me as much yourself!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Do not fear for me, my love, for there is a way to make it fair. As I intend to honor this challenge on my part, so must him.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What are you implying?¡± asked Venus, ¡°I¡¯m sensing you are about to say something important.¡±

    ¡°Let us hear it.¡± Said Minerva.¡±

    ¡°¡­ This will be a traditional Lupus duel. As Gaius is not a member of our race, he must compensate for it.¡± He pointed to the emperor, ¡°¡­ No Magic, Armor, and weapons allowed. We will duel as any Lupus would, with their own inner strength, determination, and stamina.¡±

    ¡°.. You would have Gaius fight naked?!¡± asked Venus, her face blushing, ¡°¡­ That¡¯s¡­ Ugh¡­ We couldn¡¯t possibly¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s one ridiculous demand after the other.¡± Said Minerva, ¡°You Lupus have claws and fangs you can rely on. It is not a fair compromise to deprive the Princeps of any weapons.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He shall be given permission to use a single sword, then.¡± Arcail looked at Venus, ¡°¡­ And if it really must be said, no, it¡¯s not necessary for him to be deprived of all clothing. Only his armor.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Oh¡­ Darn¡­ I-I mean¡­ I get it¡­¡± she calmed, glancing at the emperor.

    Gaius wasn¡¯t bothered by the lack of armor and most weapons, but to be forbidden to use magic was a serious handicap. Relying on his physical power to carry the day wouldn¡¯t be a problem, was it not an extremally old and experienced Alpha Lupus he had to face. It wasn¡¯t certain who would win in such a fight, devolved and limited as it was. To be forbidden from using his main abilities was bothersome and opened the opportunity for lethal threats to hit close.

    ¡°¡­ I accept the terms.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Very well. But before we settle it for good, I must make one further demand.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Name it.¡±

    Arcail quickly looked at Venus and Minerva, ¡°¡­ As experience dictates, I must expect you Romans to somehow break this agreement, be it by using spells or intervening in the fight when I¡¯m weakened. It is, therefore, my right to demand Julia to exit the protection of Discordia and become our prisoner.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You want my niece¡­¡± Gaius asked, withholding his emotions.

    Arcail sighed, ¡°¡­ You do seem to care for her, which is why I am forced to do this. Know that, if anything goes wrong, it will be at the cost of her life. Consider it the price for me agreeing to the duel.¡±

    ¡°You monster¡­ To threaten the life of such a young girl¡­¡± Minerva gruntled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it either, but as I said, there¡¯s no other choice. No harm will come to her, lest it being your doing. She¡¯ll be released once the victor is decided, and her fate decided afterward.¡±

    ¡°¡­ No.¡± Gaius said, ¡°If I do lose, you must swear not to harm Julia. I can take her deposition from her titles, but not death. It is my price for agreeing.¡±

    Arcail smirked, ¡°¡­ Your price? You should be the one trying to convince me to accept, but I can¡¯t blame for acting like that¡­¡± he sighed, ¡°¡­ I suppose that, in the event of your death, she won¡¯t be as much of a threat. Exiling her would be enough and lift a heavy burden from my future self.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It is agreed, then.¡± Gaius said.

    Arcail nodded, ¡°The duel will take place tomorrow. I shall distance my men from the city as a sign of good faith.¡± He pulled a scroll from the table, ¡°I will need you to send a letter, explaining why Julia must be sent to our captivity.¡±

    Gaius took the scroll, ¡°I will see it done.¡±

    ¡°Arcail got off from this table, ¡°I didn¡¯t imagine we would reach such a relatively bloodless solution. The critic within me keeps saying this is a trap, but I ever so much want it to be true¡­¡± He rested his arm on Codubia, ¡°¡­ Whoever wins tomorrow, we must agree that our respective people should abide by the victor¡¯s whims.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Indeed,¡± Gaius said, getting up, ¡°The Lupus will recognize me as their leader, as much as Rome will acknowledge you as theirs.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Good¡­¡± he extended an arm to Gaius, ¡°¡­ May the strongest win.¡±

    Gaius retributed, shaking his hand, ¡°¡­ May it be so.¡±

 Chapter 10: Check Mate

    The stage of a great battle formed, but there wasn¡¯t any to come. The Roman Legion faced the endless Lupus Wolfpacks, holding onto a tight formation while the enemies crowded the open fields outside Rome. Between them was a gap, a no-man¡¯s-land devoid of any life beyond the grasses covering it.  It was there the fate of everyone present would be decided.

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t see her,¡± said Gaius, standing in front of his men and flanked by his Divine Legionnaires. He looked onto the vast Lupus contingents, ¡°She should be there¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­. Those dogs.¡± Minerva said, ¡°Would they dare hurt her with us present?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, probable even.¡± Venus said, ¡°They must have realized they stand no chance in winning the duel, so have resorted to killing who they can¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such things so casually!¡± Minerva raised her voice, ¡°You are talking about the Princeps great-niece!¡±

    Venus shrugged, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m just saying how it is. Desperate people do desperate things. None of us can sense Julia¡¯s relatively unremarkable life essence among them, so we can¡¯t know for sure.¡±

    ¡°¡­ They must be waiting until it starts.¡± Gaius concluded, ¡°Arcail must have assumed we would jump to the opportunity to save Julia and turn on them immediately after.¡±

    Venus smirked, ¡°Well¡­ It sounds like a fine strategy if you ask me. If we can pull it off, it puts some pressure out from our hands, and makes the option to annihilate the dogs more appealing¡­¡±

    ¡°Julia is not the only reason we are defending Rome.¡± Minerva said, ¡°The Princeps is doing this as much for the people as for his heir and family.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I never doubted such. It is part of his title¡¯s obligations to defend the empire¡¯s citizens, I¡¯m aware.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It goes beyond obligation.¡± Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ They are counting on me.¡±

    ¡°Princeps¡­ Please, don¡¯t be so somber¡­¡± Minerva approached him, ¡°We ought to plan for what we shall do after your victory.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yeah, there¡¯s a lot to deal with¡­¡± Venus crossed her arms behind her head, ¡°I doubt those balls of fur will recognize my Princeps as their leader¡­ It will devolve into a battle either way, but I guess taking out their leader is good.¡±

    ¡°The Lupus are barbarians, but that is not to mean they are completely uncivilized.¡± Minerva said, reluctantly so, ¡°They recognize the rule of the strongest, and once Gaius¡¯ true power is showcased for all to see, they will succumb to their primal traditional ways.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Ya think?¡± Venus faced her, ¡°Well, that kind of complicates things¡­ It¡¯s strange to think the Lupus will be annihilated by the one they have to acknowledge as a leader¡­¡± She giggled.

    ¡°It posses an important topic¡­ We could take advantage of Gaius¡¯ position and force them to separate into smaller groups, then destroy them individually. It ought to be a long and bloody process, but with the Princeps, Divine Legionnaires and men at it, we can assuredly do so by the end of the day.¡±

    Venus rolled her eyes, ¡°So brutish you are¡­¡± she took a sip from her glass of wine, ¡°¡­ We don¡¯t have to get our hands dirty one bit. The way we should use Gaius title as the Lupus¡¯ leader is by ordering them on a suicidal attack to the land of the dragons. Let barbarians deal with barbarians.¡±

    Minerva¡¯s frowned, ¡°Such a lazy solution¡­ I should have expected something like this coming out from you.¡± She carved her spear firmly on the ground, ¡°The Lupus are our enemy, our responsibility, and our duty to defeat. It would be a disgrace to the empire¡¯s honor to for it not to be the executioner of its own revenge, especially when we are perfectly capable of carrying it out.¡±

    Venus showed her tongue to Minerva, ¡°I¡¯m not getting my dress dirty with filthy canine blood just to appease your zealous sense of justice, sis!¡±

    Minerva sighed, and glanced at Gaius, ¡°¡­ Princeps, you should be the one to decide. What do you think is the best way to deal with the Lupus?¡±

    ¡°¡­ You are asking the wrong questions.¡± He said, ¡°As far as getting rid of the Lupus is concerned, I agree we can either kill them ourselves or let someone do it, but it shouldn¡¯t be where your attention is.¡± He gestured to the Wolfpacks, ¡°They are still our enemy, here and now. Don¡¯t speak like they are a defeated foe, for they aren¡¯t¡­ Not yet.¡±

    Venus¡¯ made away with her smile, ¡°I don¡¯t really like the way you are talking¡­ It sounds like you plan to lose¡­¡±

    Gaius shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t. My focus is firmly set on victory¡­ But it doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not considering the possibility of a loss.¡± Gaius turned, facing the sisters, ¡°Should it happen, you two ought to be prepared.¡±

    They were both at a loss of words. Their vision so set on victory it made considering failure too shocking. Gaius was ready to face the odds, yet they didn¡¯t look so inclined. He couldn¡¯t scold them for it, for their naivety was likely born more out of a refusal to accept he isn¡¯t invincible, like two young daughters, unable to understand their father¡¯s mortality. They were millennium old beings, yet there are things even a lot of time can¡¯t wash away entirely.

    Gaius¡¯ attention was taken from them as the movement came from the enemy. It was Arcail, finally coming out of his tent and showing himself. He was accompanied by Codubia, who carried a young pup in her arm. It looked exactly like Arcail did when they met in Impera. Arcail hugged them both and cheered for men, who all howled and sent their cheers. It sparkled a grand moral boost, spreading through their people. The sound of hundreds of thousands of Lupus howling made for a unique experience, and uneasy chill nearing fear claiming him. It was made clear the numerical disadvantage the empire was in, and the determination of the Lupus remained strong.

    ¡°There he is¡­¡± Gaius said, ¡°He looks prepared to start.¡±

    Minerva was the first to raise her head, ¡°¡­ Princeps¡­ May I ask something of you?¡±

    Gaius faced her, ¡°¡­ What is it?¡±

    Minerva glanced at Arcail¡¯s far away advance, looking deeply into Gaius¡¯ eyes, ¡°¡­In the unlikely case of your defeat, please grant me permission not to abide by Arcail¡¯s rule.¡± Her eyes narrowed, ¡°¡­ I couldn¡¯t bare following the one responsible for your death.¡±

    Gaius wasn¡¯t surprised by her request. The agreement he made would grant Arcail all the legitimate authority over the empire, and therefore the Divine Legionnaires, if he lost, yet asking his creations to simply accept his death, was beyond his authority. It was the realm of emotions too powerful to intervene.

    ¡°¡­ Should the worst happen, I will not bind your fates and destiny to an unwanted cause? If you wish to continue resisting, as you have through all these years, you free to do so, Minerva¡­ I only ask you to secure both Julia and Rome before engaging in open hostility.¡±

    She nodded, ¡°I understand, Princeps. Thank you.¡±

    Gaius returned his eyes to the field and Arcail. He had stopped by then, standing on the middle between the armies. As stipulated by the rules, he wore no protective gear or weapons, which with the exception his gladius and some imperial garments was the same case for Gaius. Venus might have joked about it before, but to fight without his armor set might as well be the same as fighting naked for all Gaius considered. He was to be exposed like never before, a few odd examples from the past coming up as comparable examples.

    A fireball exploded in the air, far away from his position. It came for atop the Imperial walls. Discordia was waving her arm to him, Apollo more appropriately watching over by her side. He couldn¡¯t hear exactly what she was shouting but judging by Arcail¡¯s disturbed reaction he had an idea. He could see many of the palace¡¯s guards on the walls as well, and if the civilians could they would watch too. Everyone had gathered to what the fates of their own, their children, and their children¡¯s children be written.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m off.¡± Gaius said, marching to meet his adversary.

    ¡°¡­ Wait!¡± Venus shouted, running to Gaius, grabbing onto his hand.

    ¡°¡­ Venus?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t leave us again¡­¡± she said, ¡°Promise you won¡¯t die¡­¡±

    She was very emotional over it. Venus frequently broke promises and her word, but there she was so truthfully asking Gaius to provide it. Whether he said he would win or not didn¡¯t matter in a practical sense, but to say it out loud wasn¡¯t in his interest. This was about calming her fears, but it created an unwanted likelihood. TO Gaius it was preferable not to break his word than to ignore her plea for assurance. He didn¡¯t know what, but something was wrong within him. It was the uneasy feeling of weakness digging deeper into his mind, and it began to ache.  He calmly released from her grip, tapping on her shoulder and smiling. It was all he could afford doing, and fortunately, it proved successful. Venus calmed herself, and Gaius could go. Venus returned to Minerva¡¯s side, and Gaius walked off.

    It was a chilly morning, the sun barely coming out from the horizon. As he met Arcail, he drew his gladius, resting its tip on the dirt with a firm grip on the hilt. None moved for the longest time, an uneasy silence forming as Gaius expected Arcail to talk, but nothing coming out. He wasn¡¯t the only one to use the mutually given time to analyze the opponent. Arcail stood a head taller than him, yet their physics were similarly built, the Lupus being considerably bulkier by nature of his race. Without spells to count on, he had to face him up close with no defensive equipment to speak off.

    ¡°¡­ Where¡¯s Julia.¡± Asked Gaius, pointing the gladius to him

    ¡°¡­ The Roman kid, you mean?¡± Arcail gestured behind him, ¡°¡­ Look for yourself.¡±

    Gaius¡¯ eyes squinted as he tried to find a small child on a sea of wolfmen. He eventually found, locked in a cage and guarded beside Codubia. For his relief, she looked healthy and free of any injuries born of mistreatment and punishment. She was grasping onto the bars of the cell, looking at them as all others were.

    ¡°¡­ To imprison a kid like that¡­ Have you no shame?¡±

    ¡°I do¡­¡± Arcail admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t like resorting to hostages, but the situation demanded it.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to put her on a cage. She is not some out of control animal, but an innocent girl who wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly.¡±

    Arcail frowned, ¡°Oh, please¡­ You expect me to believe someone raised by the likes of Minerva, Venus, Discordia and yourself is harmless? She might look so, but I have let myself be deceived by you Romans for far too long. I cannot keep running the same risk.¡±

    ¡°¡­ SO that¡¯s your excuse¡­ Very well, I ¡®ll break her out of it myself when this is over. ¡°

    ¡°Confident to start, I see¡­ I wished to have further time to do so, but It seems we both have our troubles dismissing our families.¡± Arcail said, closing most the leftover distance.

    Gaius nodded, ¡°One of us will prove their worries justified by the end of the day.¡±

    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Arcail stared onto Gaius

    ¡°¡­ Something in my teeth?¡±

    ¡°¡­ No¡­ I¡¯m just surprised I can¡¯t see any horns, fangs, or any racial features on you. You are human, after all¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been a human, that was never a secret.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Perhaps not for you¡­ But this is the first time looking at the man under the armor.¡± Arcail walked sideways, his arms crossed to his back, ¡°Legends tend to lose their humanity as time passes¡­ And I must say¡­ Even if you look less intimidating, I can still see the same soulless, infernal presence before me as I did as a child.¡±

    Gaius smirked, ¡°¡­ How flattering. You are not the first, nor shall be the last to call me scary. I¡¯m sure you sympathize¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ No, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t.¡± He stopped, facing frontally with Gaius, ¡°I might look monstrous to humans, and most humanoid races¡­ But we both know who the real monster among us is¡­¡±

    Gaius sighed, ¡°¡­ I take your meaning¡­ The Northern Campaign wasn¡¯t the best show of my clemency¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ The Northern Campaign¡­ So that¡¯s what you Romans at the time called it¡­¡± He looked at the rising sun, ¡°¡­ Just another campaign, in a sea of conquests¡­ Mattering little who, or where you fought, as long as you won.¡±

    Gaius stepped up, ¡°¡­ Such were the times we lived in. The world Conquest wasn¡¯t going to bring self to fruition through diplomatic means alone, and I¡¯ll remind you our people were at war far before I attacked.¡±

    ¡°¡­ My wolfpack wasn¡¯t.¡± Arcail said, ¡°If anything, our wolfpack was considering joining you¡­ Like my brother did.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Your brother?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°You mean that auxiliary?¡±

    ¡°.. You remember him, then? I didn¡¯t expect such courtesy¡­. His roman armor must have stood out among the countless Lupus you killed that day¡­¡±

    ¡°You were siblings¡­ I didn¡¯t know¡­¡±

    A small headache caught the emperor. It wouldn¡¯t have been at all alarming, had it not appeared at a time where his concentration was needed. Also, it was eerily like that one time. He grasped onto the Laurel Wreath, trying to force the pain to diminish.

    ¡°¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± Asked Arcail, ¡°Something with that thing on your head?¡±

    ¡°¡­ N-No. Ignore it.¡± Gaius let go of the item, pretending as if he had recovered.

    Arcail eyes the item on Gaius¡¯ head, ¡°¡­ As long as it¡¯s not a magical item, I don¡¯t mind. In fact, I look forward to learning if you can live to your name without any armor or fancy magic¡­¡± Arcail frowned, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll give some rest to my brother¡¯s spirit.¡±

    Gaius¡¯ lowered his eyebrows, ¡°¡­ Your brother¡­ Why did he join the empire? Did he ever say?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Regret killing him? That¡¯s good but hardly repentive¡­¡± He sighed, ¡°¡­ Litchios believed in cooperation between our peoples, and saw imperial integration as the way forward¡­¡± He smirked, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s tragic, you killed the most loyal Lupus you could.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He sounded quite different from most of his race. Most Lupus wouldn¡¯t even know what the empire was, much less value it to their own freedom¡­¡± He smiled, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s eerie how familiar we are in that aspect, having brothers so unlike ourselves¡­ ¡°

    ¡°¡­ Are you implying¡­ That man, beside you that day¡­¡±

    ¡°Gaius nodded, ¡°¡­ He¡¯s the reason you are alive today¡­ Something I wager he would deeply regret doing were he still with us.¡±

    Arcail¡¯s expression of doubt waivered, ¡°¡­ No, I doubt that.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You doubt it?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you feel guilty for being responsible for the existence of an enemy who threatens your home and people?¡±

    ¡°¡­ You tell me.¡± Arcail retorted.

    Gaius¡¯ eyes narrowed, ¡°Are you saying it is my fault? Aye¡­ I should have ignored him and killed you without hesitation back then.¡±

    ¡°No, you got it wrong.¡± Arcail said, ¡°It is your fault for attacking us in the first place¡­ And I¡¯ll make sure you regret it deeply.¡±

    ¡°¡­ This is about your revenge, more than anything. I now get why you were so eager to accept a duel when holding an advantage in the negotiations¡­¡±

    Arcail sighed, ¡°¡­ Revenge tends to lead to one¡¯s own self-destruction. It¡¯s a lie to say I haven¡¯t desired for it all these years, but I had important matters to attend, and my enemy had already been killed¡­ Or so I thought. When I learned of your return, that blaze was re-kindled inside of me, and now burns with the rage of a thousand suns.¡±

    Gaius smirked, ¡°¡­ How poetic¡­ For a Lupus, at that¡­ You are quite open about your intentions. You should be careful, for if you keep talking you might let your entire strategy in this fight to leak as well.¡±

    Arcail chuckled, ¡°I might have gotten carried away, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. The moment I confirmed your humanity, my guard fell.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Aye¡­¡± he nodded, ¡°¡­ It made you look far easier to kill.¡±

    Arcail starred Gaius, the strongest hint of a looming attack given. The emperor assumed a defensive stance, his feet firmly set and blade ready to intercept.

    ¡°¡­ Before we begin, I must ask you one final thing.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°¡­ Go ahead, but the next thing you say after it will be a painful screech.¡±

    Arcail chuckled, ¡°Threat taken¡­¡± He glanced onto his family cheering for him, and then to the Divine Legionnaires doing so for his opponent, ¡°¡­ Both our brothers dreamed of peace between our peoples. Let us agree, whoever wins today, may he treat our enemy¡¯s people fairly. No genocides, punishments, slavery or forceful expulsion.¡±

    Gaius shook his head, ¡°¡­ I can¡¯t promise that. My job as the emperor is to rid your barbarian filth off my lands¡­ You have committed too many crimes to hope being acquitted¡­ I will not let my brother¡¯s sensibility carelessly guide my actions. There is only one way this can end.¡±

    Arcail sighed, ¡°¡­ I see¡­ What a shame¡­ We will both disappoint our siblings, either way¡­¡± he sharpened his claws, assuming an offensive posture, ¡°¡­ At least, with this choice, you have given me even more determination¡­ to win!¡±

    Arcail charged Gaius, clashing against the emperor. It sent shockwaves through the wins as his attack was blocked with one hand. Gaius grasped firmly onto his wrist, pushing his body against the blade. Arcail dodged it, breaking away. He propelled himself from the ground and clashed again. Arcail tried to reach for Gaius¡¯ neck, but all attempts were either met with a counter he avoided or a block he couldn¡¯t break through. Arcail quickly, pushing himself over Gaius¡¯ shoulders and landing on his back. He scratched his neck in the process and threatened to do so again as Gaius was taken from the rear. Gaius ducked, slashing Arcail¡¯s right leg in a twist Gaius gripped his cut leg and threw him on the dirt with great force. It created a crater, followed by a small local earthquake. The legions celebrated it, while the Lupus were silent. As the dust rested, their eyes met again. Arcail wasn¡¯t anywhere as damaged as he hoped and was able to escape from his reach. They took their distance and analyzed their wounds.

    The duel had recently begun, yet Gaius could already infer a lot of information from it. While he was stronger, Arcail was faster. They were both resilient to strikes and targeted vital spots. If the information inferred was genuine, then a defensive posture was to be maintained. He would let the barbarian attack and counter him, as so far it seemed to have worked. For now, he held the advantage.

    Arcail did not remain idle and began to run behind Gaius. He was soon back to his front, and a circular motion initiated. Gaius dealt with Lupus before, and this was their preferred tactic when facing lone prey. The Lupus seemed to disorient him, exploiting and weaknesses and exposed vital spots. Gaius stood still, keeping up with his movements with a calm head. Arcail jumped on him, Gaius turning around and slashing his chest. It did little more than cutting a few furs. He clawed Gaius¡¯ exposed arm as he thrust the weapon, He was met with a reactive strong kick to the ribs, sending him off. The injuries inflicted, both further confirmed the mortality of the other. If Arcail could score more attacks, he would flay Gaius alive. Could Gaius land more direct hits, Arcail¡¯s bones would be crushed.

    The further he used the tactic, the less effective it became. While Arcail could score scratches on Gaius, he was adapting to his pattern, landing increasingly stronger counter attacks.  It was hard to his direction with the blade, but the Lupus had trouble avoiding punches and kicks while focusing in avoiding the blade. After many attempts, Arcail jumped for Gaius¡¯ neck again. He was about to collide but predicted where Gaius would punch, and threw him off his stance. As he tried to get back in his feet, Arcail clawed his back in a direct hit, carving his skin from the shoulders to the hips. It did not come without a cost, as Gaius turned his gladius direction, and stabbed onto Arcail with a backward jump. It cut into his groin, but not deep enough to be fatal. He dislodged from the emperor, who didn¡¯t pursue.

    The first few minutes came at a great cost for them. They spent a great amount of stamina and inflicted considerable damage. As Gaius was riddled with cuts, Arcail had many fractured bones, and an open stab wound on his belly, barely having missed any organs. He held onto it, avoiding too much blood to be lost. Gaius couldn¡¯t afford to do the same, as his wounds were too far spread and wide to be covered. His back was bleeding greatly, tainting his purple robs with a red, forming a dark mixed shade which spread on his clothing. His body burned with a pain he never felt before, and all he wanted was to take some rest.

    ¡°¡­ Your wounds¡­¡± Arcail said, breathing heavily, ¡°¡­ They hurt, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Make a guess.¡± He replied.

    ¡°¡­So you can feel pain¡­ Good, it will give you some taste of what you have inflicted on others.¡±

    Gaius grinned, cleaning the excess blood flowing down his body.  He let Arcail speak, it only served to give himself time to recover. It was true the same thing was to his enemy¡¯s service, yet Gaius needed to time to think on what had gone wrong. At the beginning, he had started well, but once Arcail began using Lupus tactics he was exposed to attack. He was taking advantage of his speed while negating Gaius¡¯ strength. The tactic seemed to be dealing small, but quantitative small wounds, and let the blood loss do the heavy work. It was an ingenious way to take on a stronger foe, much like using guerrilla tactics against a better invading army.

    Had Gaius his scutum to work with, and formed a proper Roman Defensive stance, then he would have blocked all his attempts. Alas, he didn¡¯t, and it threw his strategy off the window. As Arcail was in his natural element, he could rely on fighting the way he did best, as Gaius was forced to adapt. A simple, counter attack focused plan wouldn¡¯t work anymore, and the offensive had to be taken. Until then, his wounds would need a bit of peace before re-engaging the enemy. He had to buy time and could use it to clear a few doubts.

    ¡°¡­ Answer me¡­ Arcail¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ An incoming question? I assumed I wouldn¡¯t be hearing any from you anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve been thinking about, but why didn¡¯t you raze Rome while I was way? Surely Discordia alone couldn¡¯t stop you entirely¡­ Did you fear my retaliation?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Partially, but it wasn¡¯t why I chose not to do it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ You act concerned for your people, so was it the casualties you wanted to avoid?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Again, partially, but no¡­¡±

    Gaius frowned, ¡°¡­ What was the reason?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It wouldn¡¯t be right to sack an almost defenseless city full of innocents. It wasn¡¯t what I aimed for, so I didn¡¯t do it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It wouldn¡¯t be right¡­ Of all the reasons¡­ ¡± Gaius chuckled, ¡°¡­ You are committing the same mistake I did when I let you live. You have given up the chance to destroy your enemy, and for what? Petty morals?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, for that.¡± Those petty morals are what makes us who we are. Without them, the world would be filled with evil people like you, and nothing of value would be left.¡±

    ¡°Evil¡­ Don¡¯t give me that.¡± Gaius said, anger flowing in his voice, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t apply your standards to others without taking a good look to yourself first.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Look at myself?¡±

    Gaius gestured to the capital, ¡°You might have sparred them of a sack, but what you left them with is even worse. As you said, the people inside are innocent civilians, but what you forgot to add is that you are the one occupying their lands and responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. You threaten the existence and sovereignty of the empire, a direct insult to my Divine Legionnaires. You imprison an 11-year-old girl, whose father you killed because you cannot trust she is harmless¡­¡± Gaius raised his sword, ¡°¡­ For them, you are the one who¡¯s evil.¡±

    Arcail sighed, crossing his arms, ¡°¡­ I must disagree. I have been very lenient to you all, and the actions I¡¯ve taken are well justified. Just as you must do what you can to protect your citizens, I must do the same for my companions.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Gaius nodded, ¡°Through the years, I¡¯ve grown very used to be the center of everyone¡¯s hatred, but these days, especially when all I¡¯m doing is defending my empire, I cannot stand people like you who label me a not only a mortal, but a moral enemy.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Is that so?¡± Arcail asked, ¡°¡­ So you are saying you do care about morals.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s nonsense. I¡¯ merely stating how tired I am of how you can diminish someone¡¯s struggles, ambitions, and motivations to a simplistic good vs evil narrative. It¡¯s a lie. If anything, we are both evil, as is everyone else who seeks their own objectives at the cost of others.¡±

    ¡°You are such a lost cause¡­ Denying the existence of the few shreds of humanity still left in you¡­ It is incomprehensible to me how you could have a good-willed brother who cared for you.¡±

    The conversation was getting out of hand. Gaius got the little time he needed to recover and made buying time only disadvantageous as his veins lost pressure. He shut himself and prepared for an opening in the enemy.

    ¡°.. Done talking again, I see.¡± Arcail restored his offensive posture, ¡°We ought not to waste further time¡­ But if I could end it with a question¡­ Why did you do it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Did what?¡±

    ¡°Why did you spare me? You act like it was the greatest mistake of your life, so what reasoning could you have had to appeal to your little existing good will?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Why did I?¡± Gaius whispered, the headache returning. It was stronger than before, his brain sent ablaze inside his head. He closed his eyes, and gruntled in plain discomfort, ¡°¡­ My head¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Is that a headache> quite the inopportune time¡­I don¡¯t take pride in exploiting it, but¡­¡± Arcail charged Gaius, cutting his chest deep, ¡°¡­ I must win at all costs!¡±

    ¡°¡­ You damn¡­ Get off!¡± Gaius, furious at the combination of inward and outward pain, slashed Arcail. It missed entirely, his rage obscuring his aim. Arcail landed his claws on his hands, as Gaius failed to predict his movements, and relied on his arms to block him.  Gaius let himself get carried away, and the little recovering time the talk awarded was soon thrown to waste. He was stricken at the knee and the strength on his legs began fading. Many opportunities to fatally retaliate showed, yet the disorientation of his senses worsened with his mind¡¯s deterioration and the lack of oxygen reaching his organs. Arcail tackled him down, and went for a bite at the neck again, this time closer to success than ever.

    Gaius couldn¡¯t react in time for a counter attack, holding against him not to approach one inch further. Arcail¡¯s open jaw neared him like a hungry wolf¡¯s. The strength in his arms failed him, the wounds they endured sapping them of resilience. Arcail broke out of it and was free to advance. The second before he could shred Gaius¡¯ neck, he met the gladius shoved between his jaws. Gaius was aiming for his head, but this result would do for now. It saved him from Arcail¡¯s fangs, and another stalemate ensued. The Lupus cheered for Arcail, as the Legion shouted insults against them.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps, do you need assistance!?¡±

    ¡°Do you need help!?¡±

    The worried shouts came from his side of the field. Minerva and Venus looked prepared to intervene in his favor. So dire was his position the confident Divine Legionnaires had accepted he could lose. Were they to take part in it, the duel would be rendered void and a battle ensue. Gaius wouldn¡¯t have time to heal, and they would be in an even worse position than before. He wouldn¡¯t allow it. He went too far to fail. Gaius found a battle cry filling his lungs. As he shouted, he forced the gladius deeper on Arcail¡¯s teeth and punched him away. He was sent rolling, many meters away.

    It wasn¡¯t without a casualty. As Arcail was pushed away, he made use of his opportunity and clawed Gaius¡¯ exposed face as he countered him. It hit his left side, opening his skin in four vertical lines, one of which passed by his eye. He was blinded by it, the greatest pain yet fitting all in a single point. Gaius covered his damaged face, his world rocked mentally and physically.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s fine¡­ Don¡¯t interfere¡­¡± Gaius said with heavy breaths. He continued laying down, ¡°¡­ Whatever happens, don¡¯t interrupt the duel¡­.¡±

    Minerva and Venus stopped shouting, yet their worried expressions remained. As both Gaius and Arcail laid down, Gaius was given more time to think about what to do. Without one of his eyes, his ability o reach attacks was crippled. He couldn¡¯t heal it without blatantly breaking the rules with all to see. He had to endure it, and not let it become a second headache. He still had an eye and was he needed. As he devised a strategy, he almost fainted. He was losing himself and couldn¡¯t waste a single second not focused on the fight.

    Arcail¡¯s claws were a problem, a serious one. He couldn¡¯t land the same strong strikes Gaius could, but his sharp fangs did injure him severely. His blood loss alone was already having a terrible effect on his fighting capability, but attacks like these which hindered his senses were even worse. As was hinted at before, to rely on the traditional roman tactic to let the opponents tire out and then countering wouldn¡¯t work. Arcail could still rely on a solid amount of stamina, while he was drained of it.

    The headaches were to blame for it all. They rendered him vulnerable and stole his attention when needed most. The cursed Laurel Wreath seemed intended on killing him, but if it was so, why did the headaches come out and disappear so randomly? Were they the product of talking, during which they appeared, then it was easy to fix. All Gaius had to do was to keep himself shut for the duration of the fight. With them gone, the fight would come back in his favor, despite his shortcomings. Arcail couldn¡¯t be much better off.

    He proved Gaius right, as the Lupus showed troubles getting in his feet. He held his jaw, likely broken from the last punch. He wasn¡¯t disfigured by it, the knowledge of the wound only reaching Gaius through a guess. He heard the cracks in his bones, glad it wasn¡¯t his own. Arcail¡¯s jaws were overflowing with his own blood, his inner mouth cut by the gladius.

    There was someone standing beside Arcail, a ghostly presence whose image was undecipherable with a single tired eye. It slowly disappeared as his vision focused on the enemy¡¯s words.

    ¡°¡­ Hurts, doesn¡¯t it? Arcail said, clearly still able to speak, ¡°¡­ Although¡­ Yours¡­ Won¡¯t heal¡­ So easily.¡±

    Gaius transitioned to breathing through his nose, getting up on his knees. To stand up wasn¡¯t easily done, his ankles ravaged by previous attacks. To place weight on them would only make things worse. He used the weapons to balance himself, serving as a resting object.

    Arcail approached Gaius, one step after the other. Gaius let him get nearer, not a protest being made. As he tried to tackle the Emperor, Gaius rolled sideways. Arcail went for him to score another cut and was exactly what he waited for. Both hands strongly gripping the gladius, Gaius severed Arcail¡¯s hand. It flew off with the momentum, a stream of Lupus blood flowing out. Arcail gruntled in pain, holding to where his hand used to be.

    It was his biggest success yet. The plan wasn¡¯t still complete, but it was a great start. Arcail could doge all he wanted, but he couldn¡¯t attack without getting close. Without his right hand, his ability to scratch and cut Gaius was severely reduced. There were still three other limbs to contend with, not counting the sharp teeth riddled jaws, but the prospects of a victory increased. The problem was, now his intentions were revealed, would another opportunity to carry them out appear?

    Arcail had trouble containing his blood loss, putting him at a closer level with Gaius as far as a time restraint went. Their attacks would weaken equally, and the rhythm of the fight slower, to Gaius¡¯ favor. He would win a war of attrition, once the ability of the enemy to carry out attacks was taken out.

    His fresh wound still claimed him. Off all the things he endured thus far, this was the worst. He forgot about his wounded body, all pain focused on a single point. He wanted to scream but held against it not to demoralize his men. It took too long to cut the hand off, Arcail¡¯s muscles and bones too sturdy to sever swiftly. The casualty of his delay would promise his doom. With only one eye to work with, predicting Arcail¡¯s movements was impossible.

    Gaius fell, the shock of the moment getting to him. He struggled upwards but standing on his knees was becoming too much to endure. Only now he noticed, but the grasses around him were covered in his blood. He lost too much. It was impossible to keep fighting.  Unknowingly, what was supposed to be only one of four attacks ended up being his last.

    ¡°¡­ Dammit!¡±

    Gaius struck the field, a small crater forming. He was almost out of stamina, and without it fighting was impossible. Only a single time he landed a critical strike with his blade, and it wasn¡¯t fatal.  He was sitting duck, unable to run or attack. What he could hope for was for Arcail¡¯s wound to lose him enough blood. Were they to reach the same condition, Gaius could think of something.

    ¡°¡­ You¡­ Will pay¡­ For that.¡±

    Gaius¡¯s heart almost stopped as he heard Arcail¡¯s voice. He looked back, seeing him not only recovered but on his feet.

    ¡°¡­ Was that¡­ Your last move?¡± Arcail asked, holding his bleeding stump against his chest, ¡°¡­ I¡¯m at my limit too¡­. So as I said¡­ Let¡¯s finish this¡­¡± He moved to Gaius, slowly and painfully.

    Gaius forced himself up. His legs failed to accomplish his commands, and he fell. His skin was going paler by the second, a dizziness and blurred vision all he grew to see. He was on the verge of death, be it through his wounds or Arcail¡¯s next strike. His body demanded him to rest, only his will keeping him awake. Arcail stopped in front of Gaius, his vision only able to clearly see by that short distance.

    ¡°¡­ You didn¡¯t torture my brother when you killed him¡­ So I may as well retribute the favor¡­¡± He raised his arm, ¡°¡­ Goodbye.¡±

    Gaius saw his upcoming execution taking place. The was still some power resting inside him, and now was the time to use it.  He struck first, stabbing Arcail. It was his last bet, draining all remaining strength in his body. It landed in the same place as the first stab, disappointingly also cutting as deep. Arcail halted the blade¡¯ thrust with his only hand, slashing his palm.

    ¡°¡­ Ugh¡­ So¡­. You still had something left¡­¡±

    Gaius lowered his head, his wounds burning, body decaying, and metal will fading. He lost the duel and would die shortly. Many thoughts passed through the defeated emperor. He was a failure to his people, himself, and all future generations who would have to live under Lupus rule. He failed to live up to the expectations of his Divine Legionnaires. His plan to save his people only netting getting him losing his own. Where he was supposed to be unparalleled, he was bested by a barbarian. He wasn¡¯t worthy of his name and might as well return into obscurity.

    Arcail forced the gladius out of his groin, but Gaius¡¯ kept it in.

    ¡°¡­ What are you doing? You have no stamina left. Get this blade out of my¡­¡± he tried forcing it out again but couldn¡¯t. Gaius¡¯ was unconsciously breaking his limits to stay on it, but it wouldn¡¯t be sufficient. Arcail was almost as weakened as him but had still blood flowing in his veins.

    ¡°¡­ Well then¡­ I¡¯ll just have too¡­ Ughh¡­¡±

    As Arcail forced Gaius into a corner, the last cards were played on the table. The electrical currents flew through the gladius and spread inside Arcail. His inner body was damaged on all parts, muscles tore apart, and organs shut down. The Obliteration Spell wasn¡¯t supposed to be used this form but served its purpose. Arcail fell, his back lading on one of the small pools of Gaius¡¯ blood, which soon was overtaken bis his own.

    Gaius used the following moment to breathe, calming himself and think straight. The time given to collect himself, he recovered the faintest amount of stamina to get on his feet. The moment too pressing to feel shame, he continued. It hurt like hell, but he was too close to finishing it all to desist. Arcail was still alive, the last breaths and movements coming from him. It that couldn¡¯t remain so. His eyes were opened, and body barely moving, but still alive.

    The gladius was lodged onto him, the hilt as bloody as the edge. He retrieved the blade from him, the electrical currents still flowing through it. None from the Lupus wolfpacks had raised a protest yet, so it was likely none of them noticed him using the spell. Of all the possibilities he considered for winning, to do so in this manner was among the lowest in dignity or desirability. Gaius raised his sword, ready for the last strike of the duel.

    It was hard to say if it was the lack of blood, the immense headache returning, or the low amount of stamina left, but Gaius couldn¡¯t pull it off. He forced his arm down, but it was stuck in the air.  Gaius began to hallucinate again. The morning sky faded into darker colors. The grasslands covered in obfuscating bright lights. Arcail¡¯s Wolfpacks had vanished, as had the legion and Divine Legionnaires. He wasn¡¯t in the outskirts of Rome anymore but in that northern forest. He had his armor back, the force stopping his attack shifting from the unrecognizable light from before to someone¡¯s arm. His brother¡¯s arm.

    Gaius was out of his mind, and he knew it. Back in the northern campaign, he was once again ready to kill Arcail, but Brunus intervening. His head was on the verge of exploding, and his body, already at its limits from the inflicted wounds had seemed to lose control.

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t do it.¡±

    Brunus¡¯ voice sounded as clear as if he was really there. It was more than a lucid dream, like an extension of reality. It was all in his head, yet nothing looked like it was so. His mouth moved without his consent, spouting the same reply he gave him then.

    ¡°This is an Alpha Lupus. He has to die, or he will cause us trouble in the future.¡±

    Brunus kept the grip on his arm, ¡°We don¡¯t have to do things like this, you know?¡± I know, deep down, that¡¯s not what you want to do.¡±

    It was a re-occurrence of that night. Gaius¡¯ memories made manifest vividly. Now was the time Gaius relieved from his killing intent and conceded to Brunus¡¯ will in sparring the little wolf. It was then the memories turned into a living nightmare. Gaius, still unable to control his actions, spoke out: ¡°¡­ No, he will die.¡± Gaius stabbed his memory of Arcail as a child, killing him beside his dead brother.

    His headache reached new highs of torment. As the makeshift recalls of those moments faded, and the hallucinations blurred further, the projection of Brunus shook his head and walked off into the woods. His brother giving his back to him, much like Gaius gave to his legacy.  The emotions were too intense to contain. Gaius forcefully regained control of his body, forcing the gladius out of Arcail and clenching his fists, filled with the blood he did not wish the spill.

    Gaius threw the weapon away, and ran to his brother, into the woods. He was engulfed by the fires, and no sign of Brunus was found. He was gone again. Once more, they departed in such foul terms.  This time, not even a single request he gave him. The unmeasurable self-hatred, shame, and regret broke the Emperor¡¯s will to keep pursuing through the flames. He fell, and the fires consumed him. All was lost, and what was left went dark.

    Shaking his head violently, Gaius slowly returned to reality. His armor set was gone, his left eye blinded, and gladius still at hand. He fell to his knees and tried to breathe. A glance at Arcail¡¯s adult body was enough to break any remaining will. His dead eyes looked to the clouded morning sky. There were any new stab wounds on him, the effects of the obliteration spell responsible for his death. As the hallucinations predicted, unwillingly, he had killed him. He failed his brother and went back to where he was.

    The following silence was the fruit of many emotions. Surprise, fear, happiness, relief, and dread depending only on whose hearts it filled.  It wasn¡¯t the way Gaius envisioned, even if the ending was the same.  The voices of many souls reached him, almost deaf as he was by then. Whether it was cheers of victory or the cries of a battle he didn¡¯t know. Seeing anything beyond a short distance was impossible.

    Gaius¡¯ arms collapsed, dropping him beside Arcail and the pools of his blood. He stopped breathing, and heart slowed. His eyes closed, and the last breath came out.

 Epilogue

    ¡°¡­ Ouch¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ My apologies Princeps, this one is almost done.¡±

    Medical magic was better than modern medicine in most forms, except for anesthetics. It made sense, as in Impera players wouldn¡¯t feel pain, there wasn¡¯t any need to make it so those spells didn¡¯t hurt. Apollo had already attended most of his wounds, so complaining about it had no point. He had to place it near enough to the fireplace, so he could analyze the injured parts. He was covered in patches, the spells not powerful enough to heal a being as strong as him entirely.

    The Divine Legionnaires were quiet along the campfire, their eyes looking on his devastated body. Must have been quite a sight to their eyes, seeing a godly being so deplorably ruined. They were likely imagining how weak he was, uncapable of decisively kill a Lupus without getting to the brink of death. Either that or they didn¡¯t wish to interrupt the procedure.

    A drop fell from his wound, hitting his foot. Apollo sighed, ¡°¡­ You have missed so much blood¡­ I apologize I don¡¯t have enough Magicka to fully restore you¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s fine, not your fault.¡± Gaius said.

    ¡°It will take some time before you recover... Including your eye.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I can wait.¡± Gaius said, placing a hand over his face ¡°Fortunately¡­ Now we can all afford to wait¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ And it¡¯s all thanks to you!¡± Venus said with a cheerful smile, ¡°All these legionnaires in the camp have their lives to owe you, including me and my siblings of course!¡±

    ¡°¡­ That was already the case.¡± Said Minerva, ¡°Our lives were already pledged to the Princeps service¡­ Which is why¡­¡± She eye¡¯s Gaius, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s so hurtful to have allowed him to befall such a state¡­¡±

    ¡°Best duel I¡¯ve ever watched, for sure!¡± Discordia yelled, ¡°I had the best seats, all the way up in the Imperial Walls! Makes me kinda wish he had died after it, so I could revive and force him to do it over and over again! BOOM, boredom killed for good!¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sure you must be joking, Lady Discordia¡­¡± Julia said with an uneasy smile, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want Uncle Gaius to be an Undead¡­ Oh, no disrespect intended, Lord Apollo!¡±

    ¡°¡­ None taken.¡± Apollo chuckled, ¡°But even then¡­ I doubt Discordia would have the Magicka necessary t place an undead Princeps under her control¡­¡±

    ¡°Eh? You are doubting me?¡± Discordia asked, getting up from her wooden seat, ¡°I¡¯ll put you back to sleep. Nah! I¡¯ll keep you animated, tear your bones off and throw it to the Lupus kids!¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ I would rather you not¡­¡± Apollo quivered, ¡°¡­ It was just a joke, sis¡­¡±

    ¡°I tell the jokes here!¡± Discordia exclaimed, ¡°I don¡¯t care if any of you laugh! You all just have shit taste in humor, that¡¯s all!¡± She shrugged.

    ¡°¡­ Discordia, you are being a nuisance.¡± Minerva pointed out, ¡°Besides, I am still waiting for a formal apology for all those years you spent in Cilia, ignoring my requests to return.¡±

    Discordia rolled her eyes, ¡°¡­ Ahhh¡­ Here¡¯s your apology!¡±

    She threw a minor fireball into Minerva. It clashed against a shield, raised by her in defense, ¡°Such disrespect¡­ If ten years in isolation with Apollo haven¡¯t changed you, a few minutes with me won¡¯t do any good¡­¡±

    ¡°Careful where you shoot, mad bitch¡­ You might hit my Princeps with that.¡± Venus crossed her arms, ¡°Don¡¯t make me paralyze you.¡±

    Discordia laughed, ¡°Like you did with elder sis? I wanna see you try! I¡¯ll fry your demon hands before they get anywhere near me! We¡¯ll make a barbecue out of it!¡±

    ¡°¡­ I am immune o fire, you idiot!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Meh, I¡¯ll think of something¡­ Ahh! I know! I¡¯ll¡­¡±

    As far as Gaius knew, this was the first time in centuries these Divine Legionnaires had talked with one another, even further back considering it was in such good terms. They bickered and bantered over petty things, but at least they weren¡¯t trying to kill each other, Discordia¡¯s little outburst not counting. He was endlessly fascinated by their relationship as siblings, as it wasn¡¯t something Gaius would ever experience by himself again. Remembering it hurt more than anything he endured in the duel.

    There were many things to make sense out of those last moments before blacking out. There was some link between the Laurel Wreath and those hallucinations, and possibly something more. He didn¡¯t know what it was, nor what is meant, and probably never would. Some mysteries are never solved, much to his discontent. Best thing to do was interpreting what little was possible, and act on them. On that field, a first few steps had been taken, the last one the most regrettable of them.

    Not even his creations seemed to have noticed the spell used in the duel. To win by breaking the rules wasn¡¯t new to him, yet the shame ran deep.  There was a side of him which said anything is fair in war, while another who judged him for doing the wrong thing. The latter had exponentially gained ground in his subconscious, each a headache closer to domination. Was he to continue at that rate, Gaius would soon transition into his brother. He smiled as he considered it. It was a pleasant thing to imagine, but he couldn¡¯t do it. Brunus had changed him but didn¡¯t transform him.  Gaius was still the same World Conqueror, awarded and cursed with his situation.

    ¡°¡­ Princeps?¡± Minerva looked onto him, together with the others

    Gaius broke off from his daydreaming, ¡°¡­ Yes? Could you repeat it?¡±

    Minerva leaned closer, ¡°I was asking if it has come the time¡­ To discuss what to do with the Lupus.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes¡­ I believe it has.¡± Gaius got up, breaking away from Apollo¡¯s spell

    ¡°¡­ Careful!¡± Pleaded Apollo, ¡°If you move too much¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Gaius affirmed, ¡°Thank you for your help.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Sure¡­¡±

    Gaius walked off from the group, the Divine Legionnaires readying to follow.

    ¡°¡­ Stay here.¡± Gaius commanded, ¡°I wish to go alone.¡±

    ¡°You are too injured to be left unguarded!¡± Venus said, ¡°If someone was to try something¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Minerva said, ¡°Even if you can count on the legion to provide support, we are still¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll go with Julia, then.¡± Gaius replied, ¡°You¡¯ve trained her yourself, haven¡¯t you Minerva? She¡¯ll be a good bodyguard.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡­ Me!? Asked Julia, ¡°I¡¯m not strong enough to¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Well¡­ If you insist¡­¡± Minerva glanced at Julia, ¡°Follow your uncle, and don¡¯t hesitate to use any of the spells I taught you should the need arise.¡±

    Julia nodded nervously ¡°Y-Yes! I will!¡± she got, getting to Gaius side. Together they left the campfire, leaving the new confusing Discordia was creating for them to resolve.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    It was the night of the same day. The legion¡¯s camp was overcrowded by the Lupus allowed entry, some even interacting with Legionnaires. Most were still too apathetic to the other to establish friendships, but the bonds seemed to be on the verge of an establishment. The saluted as he passed, the Lupus bowing their heads and nodding in acknowledgment.

    ¡°¡­ Hey, Uncle Gaius¡­ Could I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Could you help me learn Obliteration Magic?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Obliteration Magic? Didn¡¯t you say you disliked it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes¡­ I still do¡­ But¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ But what?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Since I was imprisoned by the Lupus, I was forced to see you go through such horrors¡­ While I couldn¡¯t do anything to help¡­¡± She bit her lips, ¡°¡­ Lady Discordia was the reason they couldn¡¯t sack the city. I wish I had been like her. I wish I had been more useful to the empire, instead of serving as a hostage for the enemy¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understandable. I might not have the time to train you every instance, so I might have to let Discordia instruct you.¡±

    Julia¡¯s eyes widened, her legs shaking, ¡°¡­ Me¡­ Instructed by her? Well¡­ If that¡¯s what it takes¡­¡±

    Gaius smiled, ¡°¡­ Just kidding.¡± He messed with her light brown hairs, ¡°I¡¯ll make you into a fine Obliteration Master one day.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, thank you!¡± Julia said, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to always pay attention! I won¡¯t let you down!¡±

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s good, but for now¡­ I would like if you stayed quiet.¡± Gaius gestured forward, ¡°We will need to subtlety.¡±

    They walked into a section of the camp increasingly more dominated by Lupus. As they showed their respect to Gaius, they opened the way to let him pass through. The was a great unlit pyre, with Arcail¡¯s corpse laid on it. Codubia stood beside it, still carrying her little pup.

    ¡°Greetings¡­¡± Gaius said

    Codubia¡¯s eyes shifted from her husband¡¯s corpse to the Emperor. It was a frown born of many negative emotions, most of which she likely hid under those narrowed eyelids and shut lips. The little Litchios was scared by Gaius¡¯ arrival, jumping off her embrace and finding refuge behind his mother¡¯s leg.

    ¡°¡­ You have some nerve coming here.¡±

    ¡°I hoped to establish better relations as soon as possible.¡± He replied.

    Codubia sighed, ¡°¡­ What do you want?¡± she asked disdainfully.

    Gaius glanced at the pyre, ¡°¡­ I was wondering why you haven¡¯t cremated your husband yet. It is your choice when to do it, but I couldn¡¯t help but notice the delay.¡±

    She looked onto the corpse, ¡°¡­ To set a loved one on fire¡­ Even if he has already passed¡­ Is not something I¡¯ve ever enjoyed about our ways¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Understandable. You should be the one to decide when to do it.¡±

    Codubia stared at him, ¡°¡­ What is the meaning of this?¡± she asked, ¡°Why are you doing all of this for us?

    ¡°¡­ What do you mean?¡±

    Codubia gestured outward, ¡°You let both our peoples gather together for the burial¡­ You granted us permission to hunt in the area as well as eating from local farms¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Isn¡¯t that what a leader does to his people?¡±  Gaius asked.

    Codubia was astounded, looking away from him, ¡°¡­ That¡¯s ¡­ That is¡­ I suppose.¡± She glanced back at him, ¡°But why would you¡­¡±

    ¡°Arcail had a request before we fought¡­ Wishing for the victor to treat the loser¡¯s people fairly. I don¡¯t doubt was he to have won, he wouldn¡¯t do the same.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Right¡­ He¡¯s always been so lenient to his enemies¡­ Be it unruly wolfpacks who denied his leadership¡­ Or the empire who destroyed his own home.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Indeed¡­ Quite the forgiving one.¡± Gaius said, ¡°This ability to forgive and see from the other¡¯s perspective is an important one¡­ May his son grow up to emulate him like he emulated his brother.¡± Gaius looked at the young one, still too afraid to face the emperor directly.

    Codubia¡¯s confusion was visible in many forms, consolidated by her words, ¡°¡­ To think his words would have been enough to convince you¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ You heard it all?¡± My actions shouldn¡¯t feel so alien to you, then.¡±

    Codubia smiled, grabbing onto a lit torch ¡°¡­ Arcail might have lost the duel, but he seems to have won the tougher challenge¡­¡± She placed it at the pyre, setting it ablaze, ¡°¡­ May my love find peace¡­ Knowing he hasn¡¯t failed us.¡±

    The burial ceremony was completed, and all Lupus and Romans present turned their attention to see it. Moments such as these require no grand speeches or fancy celebrations to give it importance. It all relies inside those whose emotions are most affected. Gaius wouldn¡¯t imagine he would be among them. He woke up that morning thinking of all ways to kill Arcail, yet now only regretting not pursuing methods to save him in his last hours. Regret, after all, ended up being the most dominant of feelings in the emperor¡¯s mind since awakening. The regret of treating his brother poorly, of making his Divine Legionnaires faulty, of letting himself be stolen away for a millennium, and now for killing him. As the fires burned, he made the fateful decision.

    ¡°¡­ I have an important message¡­ I would like you to translate to the Lupus.¡±

    The silence broken, Codubia eyes him, ¡°¡­ What would that be?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Tell them to disperse their numbers among the cities and villages in the Imperial Peninsula¡­¡±

    Codubia frowned again, lowering her head, ¡°¡­ Wait¡­ Do you plan to¡­¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± Gaius pre-emptively retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t plan to separate and destroy your numbers individually, quite the opposite. It¡¯s simply unsustainable to sustain hundreds of thousands of Lupus in a single place. If they are to survive, we must distribute the burden across the area¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ We can¡¯t do that.¡± Codubia shook he head, ¡°Arcail spent his whole life uniting the wolfpacks. For you to simply command its dissolution, even if for a needed cause¡­¡±

    ¡°The days of the wolfpacks are over.¡± Gaius affirmed, ¡°You need not concern yourself with these tribal divisions anymore.¡±

    ¡°¡­ How so?¡±

    Gaius saw the pyre¡¯s flames wavering, throwing a fireball to expand its fury, ¡°¡­ We must burn our conflicted pasts, and together carve a new destiny for our peoples¡­ No, our one united people.¡±

    ¡°¡­ What you are implying¡­ Is¡­¡±

    ¡°From this day forward, the Lupus are Romans and an integral part of the empire¡¯s citizens. Only together we can rebuild what was once lost, and secure a prosperous future for ourselves.¡±

    Codubia gruntled, ¡°¡­ You ask us to join the empire¡­ That is¡­¡±

    ¡°The only solution.¡± Gaius said, ¡°If we cannot find in ourselves the well to cooperate, we will succumb back into the chaos of mutual loathing and hatred¡­ I¡¯m aware it is a great change¡­ But it is also a needed one.¡±

    Codubia took a long moment to think, still seemingly unconvinced, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t think that will work¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Neither did I¡­¡± Gaius replied, ¡°¡­ But I¡¯ll tell you who did.¡± He gestured to Arcail, ¡°Both our brothers shared the rather childish assumption our people could work together, and peacefully assure the other¡¯s lives. It took me longer to accept it¡­ But¡­ After some forceful intervention¡­ I concluded it is what should be done.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Arcail¡¯s brother¡­ The original Litchios¡­ I heard he was a Lupus who served the empire but to simply imagine it was being my will or capability¡­¡± She smirked, ¡° To think it will become the standard now¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Do you accept it, then?¡± Gaius asked, ¡°Do you accept the Lupus integration within the Empire?¡±

    ¡°¡­ What if we refuse?¡± she asked, ¡°Much blood has been shed between us¡­ It is not my choice to make. The Lupus will decide for themselves.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Should they decide not to, I will personally lead an expedition to find them land beyond the Peninsula. Here, however, you can either stay as Romans or leave as barbarians.¡±

    Codubia smirked ¡°¡­  I see that side of you still remains¡­ Very well, I shall spread the news to the others.¡± She walked off, getting Litchios in her grasp, ¡°¡­ Farewell, Emperor Gaius.¡±

    She took his proposal better than expected. For someone to be so collected in front of the man who killed her beloved must take an extraordinary character. He found nothing but respect for Codubia in that moment. Arcail¡¯s body was entirely consumed by the fires. He would never see his face again, but the impression he left couldn¡¯t be burned away as easily. It was an appropriate ending.

    ¡°¡­ Uncle Gaius¡­ May I speak now?¡± asked Julia.

    ¡°¡­ Have a question?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I was wondering¡­ If you plan to really integrate the Lupus¡­¡± She looked at Codubia, taking with the others, ¡°¡­ You have some plan in mind, right?¡±

    ¡°No such thing.¡± Gaius denied, ¡°I fully intend to integrate the Lupus into the empire, where they will be equals to our current citizens. It is, as I discussed with Codubia, the best solution. They will recognize my authority and contribute vast manpower and resources to the empire, in return gaining a permanent home and greater standards of living. It is a mutually beneficial agreement.¡±

    ¡°¡­ But¡­ They killed my father¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes, they have¡­ He was my great nephew, too¡­¡±

    ¡°So, you understand. We can¡¯t just¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ But on that matter, how many of their fathers have I killed?¡± Tens of thousands, if you count my earlier years, and that¡¯s only directly. This union must forget our bloody past if we are to have a better future. It¡¯s a double-edged blade and hurts them as much as it does you and me, but we must endure it. We¡­ Ugh¡­¡± Gaius placed a hand over his damaged eye, a soft, yet unexpected pain emerging.

    ¡°A-Are you okay?¡± she asked.

    ¡°¡­ Yes¡­ I think¡­ The healing is done¡­¡± he removed the snitches, throwing it on the fire, ¡°¡­ Much like my wounds¡­ To heal them we must take in a lot of pain¡­¡±

    Julia sighed, ¡°¡­ I still don¡¯t know about it¡­ But if you think it is best, then what is our true plan?¡±

    ¡°¡­ We will erase all of my past mistakes, for good.¡± Gaius said, his recovering eye still hurting, ¡°¡­ We must bring order to this world, and resolve all the aftermaths the fall of the empire has caused¡­ We will reconquer it all, not through ambition and sole military might, but through a wish to bring lasting peace and cooperation between races¡­ That is¡­ What the Empire¡­ Should be¡­¡±

    ¡°We will reconquer the empire!? Isn¡¯t that¡­ A bit hard?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ It will be hard¡­ Impossible perhaps, but what was once achieved through tyranny and oppression, can also be pursued with better intentions and methods¡­ As my Brother would tell you¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­ Then, what will you do next?¡±

    Gaius removed his hand, opening his eye, ¡°¡­ I will rule.¡±

 Authors Notes

    Finally did it, didn''t I?

    After many rewrites and even more unpublished drafts, I finished a book''s worth of a novel... And it was... Hard... I hope the readers who stood this long around will be satisfied with this conclusion, and we can get to discussing the mentality behind it all. Stick around if you want to get a better grasp of what all of this was about... In case my low-tier writing wasn''t enough to explain it.

    If you are wondering what was the reasoning and inspiration for this, it''s simple really. There just isn''t enough fantasy novels with a Roman setting, and I was tired of searching for them, damn it. I decided to give a try in writing one, both as a time killer and an experiment to see what it was like to write a novel. The goal was producing some that was both above average for the standards of RoyalRoad and satisfied my low expectations of my author """talents"""If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    It took me 2-3 months to come up with the concept and finish it, so I suppose it wasn''t all that time consuming. I enjoyed coming up with some of the most colorful characters and introducing a story where the reader was at least able to somewhat sympathize with the characters, understand their motivations, and have some suspension of disbelief. You know, all the things that make reading something worth it.

    Whether I have succeeded or not is hard to say, as it isn''t for me to decide. You, as the reader,is fully empowered to dictate if I have. I would greatly appreciate if you, who have read all chapters, could post a comment saying your impressions, or better yet leave a written review. It is uncertain if I will continue the story or not, and I wish to have some feedback before making this choice.

    Thanks for reading!