Chrysalis

The shadow falls like clouds, like rain;

Creeping dread begins to stain;

Shudder the heart, freeze the brain;

Ring out the laughter, again and again;

Call of you lover, daughter, son;

Sinks into your ears, your will undone;

Forward you step, your soul is wrung;

Cannot resist, Gon has come;

Who can defy that fateful call?

Who can escape the shadows pall?

Forward you go, heedless to stall;

Into the depths to meet the fall;

Lament the brave and pity the meek;

None can flee the song of the freak;

• Rinnidan children's rhyme.

appeared as stone faced and duty bound as ever. Ever since Morrelia had been selected for accelerated development his pride had almost been ready to burst out of his chest. It would seem odd to most people, but watching her earnestly work herself to the bone in order

slow release of breath he pushed out the grief that rose within him as his thoughts dwelt on what had been lost. It had grown easier to bear over the years, but only a little. His

would rather charge into a horde of demons without armour on, the commander would do his duty and defeat the enemy that rested on the flat surface

recalled from their postings during the wave was a monumental task. Thousands of soldiers and thousands more auxiliaries needed to be accounted for, equipped, fed, billeted and kept happy. Promotions, training, Skill development, Class upgrades, managing morale, all of it demanded the careful attention of the commander in charge and Titus knew just how important each of these were to the successful running of

down on the table as his

wrong, commander?" Aurillia burst through the door, his old comrade looked around the

just didn't! For him to yell like that, something must be seriously wrong! As she glanced back to the face of her old friend and superior, she froze when she saw the hard lines of his expression. Though he always looked carved from granite, right now the commander appeared as if he was forged from Abyssal Iron! Knowing him for as

in a breach of protocol. "Is something

the moment demanded it. After a long moment where

and finding it difficult to concentrate," he admitted as he waved a hand towards the piles of

in the Dungeon?" she grinned. "I know how proud you

Titus frowned.

I'm proud, but that doesn't mean I

was a young lass? Why would we?" the old

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

she laid out her concerns. "We've seen her stumbling into camp once every few days, covered in ichor and half dead on her feet. She spends so much time in the field they are rotating three squads to accompany her. She's doing three times the work of a normal legionary!

Titus didn't blink.

did she say?"

the rest of us should leave

"There it is."

can't be serious, Titus! This is your daughter we're talking about, don't tell

that didn't mean he got

don't know what it takes to succeed at that level. If she worked any less,

much is insane!

steel. "I will support her choices. She understands the risks and is willing to shoulder them. I will hear no more