《The Marble Emperor and a New Rome》


 Chapter 1: The New World and The First Blood.

    I had died at the gates of Constantinople. The Muslim horde has broken in. The Eastern Roman Empire had fallen. The last of the Romans, once rulers of the world, had fallen. My name is Constantine XI of the Palaiologos dynasty. Without a doubt the last emperor of Rome. But it appears God has other plans for me.


    I found myself laying down surrounded by a grass field. A beautiful sight that left me breathless as I gazed upon it. The field can go as far as the eye can see. I look behind only to find a stark contrast to the green fields. What now stood before me was an endless expanse of desert. I had never seen the desert but what I saw was a wasteland in which no vegetation could be spotted. I had stared into the land for what felt like hours but only 2 minutes had passed. I had done what any regular person would have done and went towards the grassy landscape.


    Hours had passed as I walked down a dirt road I had found. My armour, a lamellar breastplate with Italianate plate arms and leg harnesses and my Roman Phrygian helmet, started to become burdensome. Under the scorching sun, I began to burn under the hot armour. many times I had thought about discarding my armour. But many times I thought against it. This armour was the last thing I had with me in this world. My protection, my shield. After many hours of marching through the sun I found, before me, a town of modest size. A town that could house 5,000 people at most.


    The town sits serenely amidst the endless expanse of the grass fields. I walk towards the town, finding it bustling with people. Her markets weren¡¯t packed but had a lively feel. I walked towards the square where I felt many eyes looking unto me. These stares weren''t the stares I was used to, the gazes of people that believed in me, these gazes were ones of distrust and curiosity. I stood there at the square as people looked at me as if I was an exotic animal on display.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Suddenly the sounds of the bell began to ring and the shouts of a language foreign to me began to fill the air as people began to run into their homes. Men clad in leather armor armed with a rectangle shield and spear. I follow them running on the main road where I see the chief in charge barking orders for the men to form on the street and block it up. Over the horizon I see many lightly armoured horsemen, some waving a banner of two horses on an orange background. I then turn my gaze to the unorganized rabble of militiamen. I then draw my sword and equip my round shield and stand at the center of the road. My actions draw their attention and I yell ¡°¦²¦Ö¦Ç¦Ì¦Á¦Ó?¦Ò¦Ó¦Å ?¦Í¦Á¦Í ¦Ó¦Ï?¦Ö¦Ï ¦Á¦Ò¦Ð?¦Ä¦Á?!¡±


    This had drawn the attention of many of them and I presented my shield in front of me toward the threat. This action is joined by others as they present their shields and spears beside me. ¡°¦°¦É¦Ï ¦Ò¦Õ¦É¦Ö¦Ó?! ¦µ?¦Ë¦Á¦Ã¦Ã¦Á!¡± I yell and pull the two beside me closer and the person behind me to press their shield against my back. I look forward towards the supposed enemy and I see them begin to gallop towards us. I roar to my new comrades to hold but this barely does anything. I can feel their fear fill the air. I roar to them to pull themselves together but it barely does anything. ¡°¦¥?¦Ò¦Ó¦Å ¦Å¦Ä? ¦Ã¦É¦Á ¦Í¦Á ¦Ð¦Ñ¦Ï¦Ò¦Ó¦Á¦Ó?¦×¦Å¦Ó¦Å ¦Á¦Ô¦Ó¦Ï?? ¦Ð¦Ï¦Ô ¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ò¦Ê¦Ï¦Í¦Ó¦Á¦É ¦Ð?¦Ò¦Ø ¦Ò¦Á?! ¦°?¦Ë¦Ç!¡± I yell. This finally garners the attention of those surrounding me. I raise my sword to motivate them. With this action most have stopped quivering in fear with only the select few that they try and motivate. 100 pous, 70 pous, 50 pous and counting. ¡°¦²¦Ó?¦Ñ¦É¦Ã¦Ì¦Á ¦Ã¦É¦Á ¦Ê¦Ñ¦Ï?¦Ò¦Ç!¡± I say as I hide behind my shield maintaining the shield wall.


    The strength of their lighthorse crashes into our phalanx, they are ultimately repulsed as they couldn¡¯t break through. I head to stab one of them, cutting his leg. He screams in pain as he tries to run away only for a volley of arrows to befall on them. I hesitate to look back and see an old man wearing brigandine armor. From just how he stands it¡¯s evident that he is well trained. I look back to the enemy to see that they are coming for a round two. They charge into our wall of spears.

 Chapter 2: The Subjugation

    2 years had passed and my body had grown to the body of a 12 year old boy. When I first arrived in this world I was 48 but throughout the battle I seem to grow younger. In the 5 years I lived here I had successfully learnt the language and in the process became a blacksmith. This peaceful life I now live is far different from the political and militaristic life I lived in the past. Using the knowledge in my past life I had become a favorite amongst the people. I had helped Uncle Vincent, the war veteran that I had fought beside, drill the militia teaching a few things from my previous life.


    ¡°Constantine!¡± I heard a shout calling my name. A woman''s voice, that was, filled the air. I turned around to see a woman, named Evelyn, with brunette hair and hazel eyes running towards me. ¡°Constantine! Where have you been?¡± That honeyed voice of hers is a pleasure to hear. I answer with ¡°I¡¯ve been with Uncle Vincent¡±. And she shoots ¡°Drilling again? Why do I feel like you want to be a soldier when you grow up?¡± Her honeyed smile blinds me, which prompts me to smile back. ¡°Yes I was, how is your brother?¡± I ask her. ¡°He¡¯s alright just bruised from the blunt arrow during the drill.¡± She says anxiously.


    During one of the drills, Chris, her brother, bruised himself after going one on one with a local bully. I accompany her to their house, entering right after her. I¡¯m immediately greeted with a struggling Chris and a mad mother. ¡°Good Evening Auntie Isabella¡± I say garnering both of their attentions, in which I¡¯m immediately hugged by their mother. ¡°Constantine! What brings you over today?¡± She says as she wraps her arms around me tightly. ¡°I was here to check up on Chris and see what he was up to.¡± I reply and kinda get squeezed to death. She lets go and puts a hand on her cheek ¡°That reckless brat was trying to go and drill again.¡± She places her hand on her forehead ¡°What am I supposed to do with him.¡± I turn towards him. ¡°It¡¯s normal for kids his age to be adventurous.¡± I replied. ¡°Constantine, you sound like an old man!¡± Evelyn shouts and I quickly realize what she means. ¡°Yeah you do!¡± Chris adds in. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you two mean.¡± I say feigning ignorance.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    I spent two hours hanging out at their home. After hanging out I head out to my home outside the town''s walls. I take a 20 minute trek just to get to my small cabin. I enter my home and go to sleep, nothing special.


    Three days later I found myself in the drill yard training the militia along with Uncle Vincent. The formations I had taught them a formation unique to the Roman army. This formation consisted of 8 ranks deep with the 2 ranks at the centre being archers. This formation was used extensively by Basil the Bulgar Slayer. Seeing a column being trained by me gave me pride as a General. Only 250 men, it was a modest start in this world. Not only training them, I also had them armed in the Roman formation. The spearman armed with a Lamellar cuirass and either a Phrygian helmet or a Roman Kettle helmet. With them armed in the Roman fashion I feel at home. With them improving by the day I feel that we are ready to take on the long awaited plans.


    ¡°Uncle Vincent¡­ It¡¯s time we put them to the grave¡± I say with confidence, clad in the armour I came here with. ¡°Is it truly time? How many do we have? 200 here and combined with the other towns 3,000 at most?¡± He says in a tired and hoarse voice. I nod at him but tell him ¡°You guys have been raided for how long? 2 centuries? Uncle Vincent, it¡¯s time we put them down. Or at least show that we are willing to fight!¡± I rant ¡°Ever since the Valyrian Freehold fell we have been at the hands of the Dothraki and your people have been raided countless times! It¡¯s time for you to put an end to it.¡± I say brimming with confidence. ¡°Are you confident in winning?¡± He asked me and I was quick to reply ¡°We will win.¡±


    After a long moment of silence he hands me command of the militia and the militias of the towns around us. After this I quickly gave the order to assemble the army. The very next day all of the volunteers formed up in front of the town. ¡°Gentleman, today is the beginning of an era of peace in your lands!¡± I yell mounted on my horse. I then give a quick speech on how our names will be in the annals of history as the conquerors of the Dothraki Sea.