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.

and I don’t want to lose anyone. In fact, pass the order, I want all personnel to be battle ready at

pausing to listen to the Loremaster’s spluttering protestations, Titus turned and strode toward the communications tent. As he walked he managed to loosen his jaw and tamp down his anger. It wasn't Alberton's fault. The mana was rising and the armour

on 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

find Braxis fussing over a

thing cracks and it's six months pay

be a lot easier if you'd stop shouting

"Shut up and work!"

youngster, Donnelan, rolled his eyes as he placed the precious core into its housing. The moment it clicked into place, the entire array hummed to life, accompanied by an inward whoosh of mana as the core

Titus

time, it's ready to roll. Give it a second to charge and I'll engage the Bridge. Shouldn't

the first time he'd used a Bridge Relay. As he waited for the mage to finish his work, the younger

be lied to, something

knew he was reaching through the array

out of his own body. There was a

lay it

greet you,

returned the gesture with a Legionary salute, crashing his right fist into

sends its

addressed, the two men settled on their heels and weighed each other. Titus was familiar with the Golgari, they were a martial people, numerous within the Legion, he

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

difficulty already? Are the insects too difficult and you must request my

hard, at the Golgari. To his credit, Balta appeared unruffled, his demeanour condescending and

not appreciate

got a

you make, commander. By your honour, I

kept his face smooth, even as he allowed a little heat

for a punitive expedition to be dispatched immediately," Titus spoke evenly, "perhaps after we put

"You would dare?!"

be my

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

I don't believe it was the Empire that provided

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