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 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 to achieve her

thoughts dwelt on what had been lost. It had grown easier to bear over the years, but only

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

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

on the table as his thoughts

Aurillia burst through the door, his old comrade looked around the room

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 long as she had, Aurillia could tell

in a breach of

to face his wrath if the moment demanded it. After a long moment where he

it difficult to concentrate," he admitted as he waved a hand towards the piles of forms and applications in front of

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

Titus frowned.

that doesn't mean I want to hear

who we trained when she was a young

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

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

Titus didn't blink.

she say?" he

rest of us

"There it is."

Titus! This is your daughter we're

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

looking her straight in the eye, "you don't know what it

insane!

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