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.

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 ambitions had filled him with powerful emotions. He had dearly wished his son had survived his initiation, so he could

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 how fleeting joy could be only made his current appreciation for his

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 before him. Once more focused on his

of it demanded the careful attention of the commander in charge and Titus

crashed his fist down on the table as his thoughts strayed once

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

she saw the hard lines

wrong, Titus?" she demanded, using his name in a breach of protocol.

After a long moment where he took hold of his

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

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

Titus frowned.

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

About little Morrelia who we trained when she was a young lass? Why would

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

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

Titus didn't blink.

did she

it was her decision and the rest

"There it is."

This is your daughter we're talking about, don't tell me that

mean he got

told her, looking her straight in the eye, "you don't know what it takes to succeed at that level. If she worked any less, she

insane!

She understands the risks and is willing to shoulder them. I will