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Chapter 20
“Pup! Wake up! Get up you stupid turd! We have only a moment to gear up until the Captain arrives!” I wake up to the sight of Varkii’s mouth spewing saliva at my face. A headache pierces through my head as I pick myself up off the moist dirt. The rain was still pouring but the camp was in full alert, a dozen Centurion whistles could be heard along with the shouts of their owners to accompany them. I could hear Trosdig’s rough voice in the background, ordering the 46th Cohort to gear up. I pick up my shield, tighten my sword belt and wrap my rain cloak around me. Varkii tosses me my helmet and I catch it. A piece of shrapnel that was still stuck to it pricks my hand, ma
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How it Ends Chapter 21
“Reform lines! There’s another one!” Trosdig screams while trying his best to balance himself on a pilum, while aiming his carbine at a single large barbarian. The man charging at us was covered in a large brown cloak and he seemed to be nearly twice the height of a normal man and he was covered in burning bolts from the cluster shells. The barbarian wasn’t carrying any weapons at all and he ran in a limping manner. I join the others and fire at him, but nothing seems to faze him. The gunners also begin firing at him, but he just kept lumbering on. One soldier throws his pilum at the barbarian hitting him on the left shoulder, it barely seemed to hurt him. “Throw pilums!” Trosdig screams again. A few more pilums hit the barbarian, but he continued to move. A cluster shell detonates above the barbarian, coating him in more burning metal bolts and yet he still lumbered on.
How it Ends Chapter 22
I wake up inside a horse drawn wagon beside other wounded. I pick myself up and stagger out of the wagon, the smell of factory smoke and urine and feces fill the air, city smells we called them. I guess we had returned to Iasi then. “Molag!” it was Lurti calling. “You’re finally awake” He says while handing me his water bottle. “I was out?” “Nearly a whole day, you’ve been asleep since we left Gravlin Valley.” “What happened?” “We had to fall back, the Company lost a hundred men.” “What? They were just damned scavengers?” “I know but those strange weapons, the ones that charged at us. We were not prepared for that.” “Providence’s name, what were those things anyway?” “I don’t know brother, let’s get you to the tent, we need you rested.” Lurti brought me back to the squad tent where we first stayed during the end of the Long War. It was as messy and unkempt as when we left
How it Ends Chapter 23
Trosdig then blows a whistle and in comes a number of wagons filled with barrels and crates filled with drink. “Courtesy of the taverns of Iasi, You’ve earned it!” The men cheer in unison as our benefactors split open the barrels and crates revealing ale and various bottles of liquor. Like the rest of the company I join the revelry as we are thrown bottles of rum, wine and pints of ale. But I see something strange in the corner of my eye, a man was shaking hands with Trosdig, it wasn’t the Captain nor was it any of the other Centurions. It was a man who was sporting a bright red sash over something that resembled Praetorian armor. But then I realize his face is familiar, it looked like the man the Captain was riding with back in Gravlin Valley. It was somehow unnerving, but then the curiosity disappeared as both my brothers throw me a bottle of my favorite liquor, Blueber
How it Ends Chapter 24
“From our lord and Emperor Caesar Randall Tiberius, Supreme Leader of Remas and Recipient of the People’s Senate. ‘I hereby Declare a State of the War in the Remanian Empire. Our War with Persiais over, but we face another foe. A massive rebel force that seeks to raise anarchy, death and to ensure Destruction of all that we have fought for. They have assaulted the cities of Londana, Stantum, Barcelos, New Capua, Rendra and the Capital herself. They have slaughtered many good Remanian citizens and are robbing us of our hard earned peace. Let us remind these fools of the Might of Remas. Glory to the Legions, Strength and Honor and Roma Eterna’ “ After finishing Captain Gilderscrowns ordered us to be ready to mobilize in two hours. Just like that, we were officially bac
How it Ends Chapter 25
After forming up, a group of officers led us to a set of habitation tents near the perimeter of the Southern walls of the fort, from which we were split up and assigned to the tents by squad. “Get some rest, you’re moving out before dawn and meeting up with the rest of the legion at the main fortress.” Says one of the Officers, we salute in response and begin unpacking. Trosdig had again released me as scribe after remembering my bad arm and took in Frederick this time. Once we settled by the tents, Cub passes by and I strike up a conversation with me “I thought there was a meeting?” I ask him “
How it Ends Chapter 26
“Death Death Death to all” Sung Frederick as we threw a body into the pile “I honestly don’t know if this is better, or worse” Said Quintus as he wiped off some barbarian blood on his sleeve. “A lot better than fighting I guess” I say, hopefully slightly raising the spirits of my squad mates. I continue to look for more bodies until one suddenly rises up and tries to attack us. He begins by screaming and swinging his spear wildly. An arrow stuck out from both his knee and belly while his left shoulder had a large bleeding bullet hole, and his skin was as pale as snow. This man was on his last drop of blood. “Stay back! TRUTH!” he screams then he stumbles and tries to balance himself with his spear. “You’re done now, drop your weapon.” I tell him as I keep my distance
How it Ends Chapter 27
I had faced disrespect in the past, disrespect from my brothers, and disrespect from strangers, from officers, prisoners, enemies and so forth. The irritation that follows is something I have never outgrown so what followed next was a flurry of fists, curses and more spit as I wrestled the tattooed legionnaire to the ground. My opponent fought back as hard as any Remanian soldier was expected to and so did I. He struck back by punching at my ribs as I tried to land an elbow strike to his face, I clinch through the pain and go through with the attack as I feel his nose crack under my elbow. But despite that attack he is able to flip me over and then begins to deliver strike down on my face with a series of quick punches. I block with arms and catch one arm and use it
How it Ends Chapter 28
I pick up some mud from the ground and let it run through my fingers, allowing the descending mud to calm me down. “Gravlin Valley was not a simple stride. You think it was easy? I lost friends there too, people like you and I. Soldiers” I tell him “We faced the metal men and the hordes, I know what it feels like when the creaking of their gears echo across the field. And don’t forget we all fought in the Long War before all this? I mean for love of Providence, we all fought here against the Persians in the Long War didn’t we? Even if Captain Gilderscrowns did betray the principles, are we not all still part of the 17th Legion” I stare him in the eye hoping to bring my
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