Chapter 3

This isn’t the first time I’ve just simply laid down to die when an explosion hits near me, the thing is it’s happened to me so many times I just thought it’d end up that way. Lurti knows I get his point so he doesn’t say anything else; instead he unties the blue strap tied to his wrist and smells it. It’s a memento from Aquilia his lady back home in Capua. “They’re saying the war is over, I’m finally going to see her again.” He says. I suddenly burst in laughter at those words, which is a stupid act since it turns out my chest has suffered some bruising from the explosion. But the annoyed look on Lurti’s face is completely worth it. “Lurti, they’ve been saying that before Uncle Servo was first Knighted. What makes you think it’s going to end this time?” Lurti curses and kicks my wounded arm; I curl back from the pain but still keep laughing. A smile curls in Lurti’s mouth as he slowly begins laughing too. He sits down between Varkii and me and stabs his sword to the ground. We watch the rain wash the blood off the grass as the medics pull the dead and wounded out of the battlefield. “Don’t get me wrong Lurti” I say “I wish this war was really about to end.” “So we can go home and just bet on races all day?” “Why not? It’s a lot easier to lose a bet to the gangs than to stab another man in the gut” “You speak the simple truth, brother”

We continue to watch the battlefield as the day passed by; spikes were erected while Gunners and Spearmen took defensive positions as the rest of the Legion tried their best to rest in the cold wet Northland grass. We the wounded were ordered to go to fall back for proper healing, while my two brothers fell in with the rest of the 46^th Cohort. The walk back to camp was excruciating and painful to say the least, but the thought of getting trapped in a battle with a weak arm and a burned leg is just way too terrifying a prospect for any sane soldier. So I kept pushing forward. I try my best to ignore the pain in my leg with thoughts of civilization, fresh seasoned meat off the grill, strong wine, fresh water, clean clothes and a warm blazing fire pit. A pole lantern beside me begins to make noise as the coals inside it shift and bounce inside its metal container. I try to march closer to it and do my best to feel its warmth. The warmth it gave out was the best defence we had against the bitter cold that was slowly eating into our skin. I watch the coals slowly die off as the minutes go by. It’s strange how fire can keep a soldier so warm and safe and at the same time remind them of all the horrors they’ve experienced.

The flames slowly dance reminding me of the insanity and confusion that I experienced so many times over the past few years. The stench of a charred body and the screams of a burning man, I remember my oldest friend Riiger’s death like it was not a few days ago. To this day I wonder the shrapnel that tore through his neck made sure he suffered little from the fire but it was clear to me it wasn’t an easy death. “Damn this war” I tell myself. Suddenly my injured foot hits a rock and I shift back to reality. I look around and realize the rain has stopped and the smell of damp earth becomes stronger. The Sun begins to set as night slowly arrives. Soon enough I see the Red and Gold Crystal leaf banner of the Remanian Legions atop a flagpole. Camp Darian was in sight. I immediately head for my tent and drink a few bottles of pain potions and blueberry rum to the rather perplexed look of my fellow tent mates. As soon as the dizziness of drink rattles my head, the numbness of the pain potions begin to take effect, soon after I am fast asleep on the dirt in the tent.

2

I find myself yelling the Red Wolf’s name along with the crowd. As a child I don’t truly understand the stakes involved in this duel, all I know is that the crowd is screaming his name. I look to my right and see my brothers Lurti and Varkii, screaming the Wolf’s name. Then to my left I see my Uncle Servo, The one who had raised us 3in the docks of Capua for as long as I can remember. I tug at his sleeve and ask him why are they cheering for the Wolf? He leans down and tells me “The Red Wolf fights for the Honor of Capua, that’s why we cheer for him.” His words are as vague to me as mud water on a rainy day. Then I hear a loud horn blowing and the sound of steel clashing and for the hundredth time I realize, I am dreaming...

I wake up with a mind numbing headache and intense pain in my left leg. I notice a strange smell coming from my wound and realize some fool has spilled wine on it. I’m about to stand up and punch the nearest person holding a bottle of wine then Varkii shows up and pours a bottle of blueberry rum down my head. I respond in kind by spitting the rum at his face, he only laughs and pour the rest of the bottle down my head. My anger makes the headache worsen as I force myself up and begin punching Varkii on his shoulder. He just laughs and slaps my face then says “Damn you Molag!!! That’s no way to celebrate the end of the whole damn Long War!!”

I nearly faint at the sound of those words, in fact I stumble but Varkii picks me up and hands me a bottle of wine. This time I drink it then I grab the bottle and begin pouring it on the heads of other sleeping soldiers all while shouting the victory cry of every soldier in this Legion and it was “The Long War is over!!!”

…

“Legionnaires of the Lupus Infernus! Today is a momentous day in Remanian history; ever since we were children we have been told the story of the Long War. We all know the story of how Remas gallantly defended herself against the Persians who dare stood in the way of our growing empire. But we are all too aware on how the Persians proved to be more than just some mysterious barbarian nation. But the 500 years our Empire has spent defending its honor has finally come to bear fruit! The war is over! Home awaits us! But until then we remember the near forgotten ceremonies of Peace and then we celebrate!” The General’s speech causes entire Legion to erupt in celebration. I limp around camp and join in the cheers of fellow Remanians hugging, shoving, even punching and then I see Lurti sitting down in crate holding the Blue strap in his hand. I walk over to him and give him a hug, he begins crying and laughing at the same time as members of his squad also starts hugging Lurti.

Suddenly a horn blows signalling the Peace Ceremony which is something that hasn’t been seen in many years. Lurti and I look for Varkii and find him drunk in the arms of one of our medicae, the field doctors. We wake him up with cold water and prepare ourselves for the Ceremony.