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.

that the untimely death of his son had robbed him of both his children. Now that he'd been reunited with Morrelia and she had integrated into the Legionem Abyssi a part of him that had long been dead was once again full of life. Not that anyone could tell looking at his face, of course, to the world at large he appeared as stone faced and duty bound as ever. Ever since Morrelia had been selected for accelerated development his pride had almost

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 acute awareness of

numerous papers scattered across his desk. Administrative work was the backbone of the Legion, and though he 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

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

it!" Titus crashed his fist down on

looked around the room as if

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

demanded, using his name in a breach

wrath if the moment demanded it. After a long moment where he took hold of

he admitted as he waved a hand towards the piles of forms and applications in front of

out working hard in the Dungeon?" she grinned. "I know how proud

Titus frowned.

doesn't mean I want to hear gossiping

who we trained when she was a young lass? Why would we?" the old tribune innocently spread her

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

are concerned about the pace she is setting. Overwork is a real issue and she is clearly pushing up against the boundary," Aurillia grew serious as 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

Titus didn't blink.

she

her decision and the rest of us should leave off,"

"There it is."

your daughter we're talking about, don't tell me that you aren't

he

"you don't know what it takes to succeed at that level. If

insane! She could

her choices. She understands the risks and