Chrysalis

When the bellow of pure rage shook the stone around the Legion camp, Aurillia was one of the few who didn't start wildly staring around themselves, trying to understand what had happened. She'd soldiered with the commander for a long time, and it wasn't the first time she heard him get angry. She was surprised, to be sure, that roar had shaken everyone, such was the sheer volume and depth of anger contained within it. She just wasn't confused, she knew what had happened.

"What was that?!"

Aurillia turned to see Titus' daughter, the young Morrelia, approach her. The berserker’s eyes were wide, as if she wasn't quite believing what she was hearing.

Aurillia raised a brow.

"You've never heard your father get angry before?"

She shook her head.

"No, never."

The tribune was initially surprised at this, but then, considering her parents, it was most likely the mother who'd displayed the most temper. Only in the field did Titus experience these sorts of eruptions. The man himself then appeared, storming out of the communications tent, the rage rolling off him in waves. So powerful was his aura that even experienced Legionaries were forced to draw back.

Morrelia watched, wide eyed, as her usually unflappable father stormed across the camp, his face a mask of black rage. When he reached the stone wall of the tunnel, he pulled back one fist and slammed it into the rock so quickly she couldn't see his hand move.

BOOM!

The stone exploded, sending chips flying throughout the camp and leaving the enraged commander with his arm buried up to the shoulder. With inhuman strength, he yanked it out in one solid pull and shook it, clearly irritated by the dust now coating the armour which had only moments ago been pristine. Aurillia decided to seize the moment whilst Titus was distracted to approach.

Expression carefully neutral, she marched in front of the commander and offered a crisp salute.

"Commander Titus, tribune Aurillia reporting."

"Stop it," he grunted.

She maintained her parade ground perfect form, feet flat, shoulders down, the exact angle on the saluting arm.

don't know what you

you march over, as formal as possible in

"But effective."

"That's why it's irritating."

muscles and pounding heart, out of his racing blood and into his lungs. From his lungs, he imagined forcing the emotion into the air contained therein, which he then breathed out. It only took a moment, but he was noticeably more calm. The almost physical pressure he'd exerted had eased, if not completely, at least enough that it was more comfortable standing close to

hide it, Aurillia breathed out a sigh of relief as the waves of anger stopped battering against her consciousness. Whatever had set him off this time, it must have

with our valued

twisted once more, but only for an instant before he was able to smooth it back to its normal state of smooth

"I have."

ensuring he had mastered himself before he

endeavour, it would appear that the House communicating with us

tribune, a worried expression on her face. She tentatively

"Fathe -"

bad is it?"

this Colony of

"Quite a coincidence."

it would be bad enough. I'd have brought a second Legion on this

Aurillia

information from the Legion simply wasn't done. What sort of colossal moron had decided

abomination has modified the core of at least one Queen and turned the

silence as the

"WHAT?!" She bellowed.

what I said," Titus

at Aurillia's outburst, but mustered her courage

"Comman -,"

far more fours and possibly some fives mixed in. On top of that, there are magic capable

The tribune was aghast.

is a disaster! The potential damage from such a swarm is.. is…