Chrysalis

Titus hated dressing up. But the Golgari High Blades were notorious sticklers for protocol and tradition, so his hands were tied. He'd be damned if he'd put on his full dress uniform though, absolutely no chance. The jumped up pile of rocks would have to be satisfied with him giving his armour a solid polish. So it was that in the final hours of the bridge relay being assembled, Titus took off his elaborate Legion Runic Armour, sat in front of the command tent and attended to the buckles, plates and stone whilst directing his Legion.

His hands worked the leather straps, polished the buckles and cleaned the stone almost automatically, not really having to look at what he was doing, his eyes instead roving over the camp. There wasn't a single Legionary with five years of experience who couldn't clean their armour in their sleep, and Titus had far more than that.

When the job was done, he put the suit back on, almost feeling a sense of relief when the final plate snapped into place, sealing him in.

"Feeling more comfortable commander?" Alberton asked from his seat nearby.

Titus shrugged his shoulders, feeling the heavy suit fall into place on his frame.

"It doesn't feel right being in the field without being armoured up," Titus said.

He performed a few rapid checks with hands, pulling on a plate here, shoving with his palms there, testing the joints and straps. The Loremaster frowned.

"Be careful of the mana …" he began.

"I know," Titus cut him off and continued his meticulous checks.

Alberton was silent for a moment before he continued quietly.

"I worry sometimes, old friend. Just be careful."

Titus didn't look up from his inspection and after a long moment Alberton sighed and rose from his seat, checking every strap and seal on the back of the suit.

"Flawless as always commander," he said, slapping him on the pauldron with one wrinkled hand.

"Are you going to suit up?"

The Loremaster snorted.

"What for? My Skills are in research and documents, not swords and sorcery."

Titus turned and looked his friend in the eye.

lose anyone. In fact, pass the order, I want all

his anger. It wasn't Alberton's fault. The mana was rising and the armour drank it in, pouring it into his infused body.

adapted to a certain level of mana, withdrawal became the next concern, wasting away just like a monster would. What the old Legionary worried about was something only

of the stiff canvas tent to find Braxis fussing over a core as

thing cracks and it's six months pay for a louse like

would be a lot easier

"Shut up and work!"

it clicked into place, the entire array hummed to life, accompanied by an inward whoosh of mana

Titus rumbled

Give it a second

was far from the first time he'd used a Bridge Relay. As he waited for the mage to finish his work, the younger Legionary watching attentively over his shoulder, Titus thought about the current campaign.

Abyssi were not to be lied to, something the Empire

but saw nothing. Titus knew he was

himself to be carried out of his own body. There was a feeling of being dragged, and a rush of distance, then he stood before the

cold, the Golgari drew his blade, lay it

I greet you,

his right fist

sends its

familiar with the Golgari, they were a

expression, the High Blade Balta

difficulty

immediately, he just stared, hard, at the Golgari. To his credit, Balta appeared unruffled,

Abyssi does not appreciate when information

a raised

from you? This is a bold claim you make, commander. By your honour, I trust you have proof," his voice

curdled Titus' gut, but he kept his face smooth, even

Empire has misled us, then I will petition the Consul for a punitive expedition to be dispatched immediately," Titus spoke evenly, "perhaps after we put a few cities to the torch your people will remember how to

"You would dare?!"

wouldn't be my first

hands twitching as they longed to grasp weapons that didn't truly exist here in this mind space. After a long, tense moment, Titus crossed

it was the Empire that

his suspicions of the High Blade, Balta would be honour bound to