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 personnel

jaw and tamp down his anger. It wasn't Alberton's fault. The mana was rising and the

the human body had many implications. Mana sickness was just the most common of these. Once adapted to a certain level of mana, withdrawal became the next concern, wasting away just like a monster would. What the old Legionary

canvas tent to find Braxis fussing over

That thing cracks and it's six

easier if you'd

"Shut up and work!"

place, the entire array hummed to life, accompanied by an inward whoosh of mana as the

ready?" Titus rumbled from

Give it a second to charge and I'll engage the Bridge. Shouldn't take

he'd used a Bridge Relay. As he waited for the mage to finish his work, the younger Legionary watching attentively over

Legion? The Legionem Abyssi were not to be lied to, something the Empire of Stone appeared to

saw nothing. Titus knew he was reaching through the array with his

Braxis turned his blank eyes onto his commander and Titus felt his mind reach out to his own. Relaxing his will, he allowed 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 High Blade Balta, surrounded by

the Golgari drew his blade, lay it across

living stone I greet you, Titus of the

salute, crashing his right fist into

its greetings, High

familiar with the Golgari, they were a martial people, numerous within the

of contempt from his opposite's expression, the High Blade

run into difficulty already? Are the

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

Abyssi does not

got a raised

you make,

of this snake curdled Titus' gut, but he kept his face smooth, even as he allowed a

expedition to be dispatched immediately," Titus spoke evenly, "perhaps after we put a few cities to the torch your people will remember

"You would dare?!"

be my first

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

the Empire that provided

he spoke aloud his suspicions of the High Blade, Balta would be honour bound to defend himself. Better to let those words