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.

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

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

away from Morrelia and back to the 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 before him. Once more focused on his task, Titus took hold of his pen, dipped it

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

it!" Titus crashed his fist down on the table as his thoughts strayed once

the door, his old comrade looked

lose his temper. He 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

she demanded, using his name in

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

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

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

Titus frowned.

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

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

"Hmph," Titus snorted.

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

Titus didn't blink.

did she say?" he

the rest of us

"There it is."

Titus! This is your daughter we're talking

was concerned, but that didn't mean he got to overrule Morrelia's choices. Or

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

is insane! She

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