Chrysalis

Titus was worried.

It was hard to see, the weathered lines of his face were cut deep over years of campaigning, an extra furrow in his brow, a little more tension in his stare, were signs almost impossible to notice.

Tribune Aurillia had noticed. After so many years serving in the Legion she was able to detect the subtle changes in her commander. The tightening of his shoulders, the way he constantly thumbed the blade of his famed axe, testing an edge that he had kept razor sharp for the better part of thirty years.

It wasn’t often Titus was worried.

"... suspicious activity on the part of the mercenary union and merchants guild, as well as a shift in the rhetoric of the Church of the Path have been reported over the last two weeks. Our strategists suggest that the possibility of a coup in Liria is rising by the day" Aurillia reported.

...

Titus nodded absently, his iron gaze never leaving the forest expanse that spread out before them from their vantage point on the camp walls. The forest was dark now. Very dark. Even the monsters seemed to sense that something was coming. The din of combat, constant over the last week had faded away to nothing.

There was a tension in the air, as if every living thing in the Dungeon was waiting, ready to spring into violent battle at a moment’s notice.

"Do you have any instructions to relay to the surface? Commander?" Aurillia queried.

Her commander didn’t respond, instead continuing to gaze pensively at the expanse, his ice blue eyes reflecting the dying light from the trees.

"What do you think the Dungeon was like before the Rending, Tribune?" he asked suddenly.

Aurillia was taken aback by this seemingly unrelated question. After a pausing to consider her response she answered.

"Nobody knows the condition of the Dungeon before the cataclysm commander. No-one even knew it existed".

Titus shook his head. "Of course I know that. I asked what you think it was like, use your imagination Aurillia".

mana level on the surface

think the Rending was a wave" mused Titus, "I

no wave had ever come remotely close to replicating the world shattering effects of the cataclysm that had

reports from our neighbouring Legionary outposts?"

"I have" Aurillia nodded.

mana levels have been rising all around us, not just locally. The change has been even, no variation at all. Readings in Banron are the same as ours. I wonder just how far this wave is reaching? It may be covering the entire

aren’t suggesting this is the beginning of

but the cataclysm? The civilisations on the surface, humanity included, had almost been wiped out

of silence descended as Titus stroked his grizzled chin with one hand, contemplating

not sure. Something is different about this one.

side by side the two

Aurillia felt compelled

any instructions regarding the

Titus slowly nodded.

member of the Legion above ground to make immediate preparations to depart for our position within two hours. Not a single trainee or auxiliary is to remain behind. I don’t care if they

the Queen?

and the Queen will

"Then why?"

it be to

decades. You’re talking about Alberton’s aunt!" Aurillia protested. She couldn’t believe that Titus would be

visibly clenching and a spark of anger

monsters are these fortifications" he emphasised his words by slamming his fist down on the compacted earthen walls, "and the Legionaries who followed our orders to come here. The Queen has left herself vulnerable and I can’t do a damned thing about that. I will protect my people no matter

burning rage in Titus’ ice blue eyes Aurillia

done

nodded and turned away from the wall to face the camp itself. Temporary buildings erected by

in this camp, nobody