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.

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 been ready to burst out of his chest. It would seem

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

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

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

Titus crashed his fist down on the table as his

Aurillia burst through the door, his old comrade looked around the room as if expecting to see a

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

name in a

officers of his Legion, she was prepared to face his wrath if the moment demanded it. After a long moment where he took hold of his temper, Titus breathed out his tension once more, his expression softening imperceptibly as

is the matter. I'm just irritated and finding it difficult to concentrate," he admitted as he waved a hand towards the

Dungeon?"

Titus frowned.

doesn't mean I want

young lass? Why would we?" the

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

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 of a normal legionary! You can't be

Titus didn't blink.

did she

was her decision and the rest

"There it is."

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

was concerned, but that didn't mean he got to

he told her, looking her straight in the eye, "you don't know what it takes to succeed at that level.

insane! She could

her decision," Titus stated, his tone hard as steel. "I will support her choices. She understands the risks and is willing to shoulder them. I will hear no