Kaedin Varus knew he was a bad person. He didn’t like it but he knew it. Hundreds of thousands had died directly because of his actions, and millions more by his command. But he tried not to think about them and focus more on what he could do now that he was in power. The old regimes of the South had been cruel, corrupt, and wasteful. Like in the rest of the Empire, the land was owned entirely by nobles and landlords who would take ninety percent of their harvest in taxes and rent. Leaving the farmers to starve if the seasons weren't good. The worst part had been that the nobles wouldn’t even eat most of the crops. They would sell most of the yields and dump what they couldn't sell into the rivers to keep the prices high. Protection had been scarce, villagers banded together to fight off demons and bandits. In the four hundred years since the south had last been united, the common man spent most of it starving and scared.

Now, the standing armies and two-year conscription policies meant that every man of good health knew how to defend themselves and their families. They paid less in taxes than they once had as they now owned the land they worked and gained more in benefits. He took satisfaction in the knowledge that though millions had died by his hand, millions more lived better lives and more hopeful and prosperous futures.

With that being said, he didn’t think twice about sending men to their deaths. “With 3rd Century back with the main army, we will need to send a new one out.”

Iroh sighed, “Why must we send so many young men to die so needlessly? Do we save enough time to justify the deaths?”

“As much as I hate it myself, we do.” Cahl sighed, “this campaign has spent nigh on three million marks. By the time we’re done, we’ll have spent another five at least. Every day we spend not moving is money that could have gone to improving the livelihoods of the citizens.”

General Stone nodded in agreement, “however, why don’t we send out a century of legionaries instead of gunners? They are better armed and equipped for fighting are they not?”

Kaedin shook his head, “There are several reasons. One, they are much slower than the lightly armed gunners, and two, they are far more valuable. To train a single legionnaire costs fifteen marks. To equip one is another five. A musket man, on the other hand, cost a single mark to train and another one to arm.”

“But still-” Iroh was cut off by a messenger boy. The sweat-covered youth panted, caught his breath, and said.

“My lord,” he bowed, “Generals, scouts have reported massive movements of orcs coming from the southeast. Numbering between forty and fifty thousand strong.”

The stunned silence was telling enough, “Can you confirm those numbers?”

The messenger shook his head, “no my lord, only one of the scouts has made it back.”

Iroh frowned, “what of her partners?”

“They were caught in an ambush and stayed behind so that she could get away.”

“Bring her to us, we must talk to her.”

“We can’t, she’s already dead.”

“Fine, wait for the other scouting parties to report in. In the meantime, increase the guard tenfold. I want all three legions battle-ready at a moment's notice.” he turned to his generals, “Is that understood.”

They bowed, “yes my lord.”

Oliver stumbled out of his tent, still half-naked and bleary-eyed. Men ran around in similar levels of undress and confusion. Sergeant Irons glared at him, “Oliver, the fuck are you doing? Get your ass in uniform and ready in three minutes or so help me god!”

“Yes sergeant!” he snapped and quickly dressed. Washington turned to him.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know but it can’t be good.”

Simmons ran over, “we’ve got reports of a massive ork Warband approaching. Varus wants everyone battle-ready and reporting outside the wall in under an hour.”

He swore, “right when we got back.”

“Just our luck.”

An hour later, the entirety of the Second Legion, under the command of General Iroh stood at parade rest. Perfect lines of soldiers in gleaming silver armor with blue shields held weapons at the ready. To its right, the men of the First Legion hefted their red shields up. And to its left, Third Legion stood proud with their green shields.

At the head of the army, Kaedin Varus. Known by a hundred different names throughout the empire. The Red Dragon, the World Conqueror, the Blood Knight to name a few. Clad in red plate armor with a winged great helm atop his head, he cut an imposing figure.

“Men!” He said, his voice carried by magic so that all could hear, “In less than a day's time, we will likely be engaged in the single largest battle since the end of the Reclamation wars. An army, fifty thousand strong marches towards us. At their head is an Orc warlord as big as a troll and twice as ugly. ”

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Any other army would have broken out into murmurs and fearful whispering but the steel legions were not just any other army. They were the undefeated, the pride of Varus.

“But there is nothing to fear, have faith in my abilities as a general as I have faith in your abilities as soldiers. Twenty-five years ago, at the battle of the Red Cliffs. Two exhausted and understrength legions fought against numbers ten times their size and came out victorious. The blood of those men runs through your veins. “We will meet them at this fort and immortalize its name. People will sing songs about our exploits here and drink to our victory for the next ten thousand years! It shall be our first major battle of a new age, but it certainly will not be our last. For after we crush these savages, we will move on to the Blackstone fortress and show them who the true rulers of these lands are!”

The silence that followed was deafening, even the wind had died down. Kaedin scanned the ranks of men, noting the veterans' steel-eyed determination and the brave faces that the fresh-faced recruits put on.

Finally, a centurion, the markings on his shield said he’d been one of the few living men to have fought under the Varus flag since the start. Stepped forwards and drew his sword, belting out the cry, “Varus Invictus!”

Thirty-five thousand voices echoed him, “Varus Invictus!”

/-/

The feast was to be held the day after we arrived. This meant that since I was barred from entering the Rose Castle before then, I was stuck eating dinner with the Hightowers. It was one of the more... awkward experiences in my life. That was saying something considering how my parents wouldn’t even talk to me. My siblings were slightly nicer but well,

“So, Ryze was it?” Lord Hightower said, his greenish-grey eyes boring into my soul, “what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?”

I almost spat out the wine I was drinking, “what?”

Delaney hastened to cover for me, “err, father. There is nothing between us, we are merely acquaintances.”

Her brother Kevin raised an eyebrow, “that’s not what it looked like to me.”

Together we glared at him.

“Now while I do not disapprove of relations between the two of you. I would like to learn a little bit more about you before I make my judgment.”

I opened my mouth to tell him the truth, that there was absolutely nothing going on between us and that I was eighty-five percent sure that Delaney hated my guts. Then I remembered a little something she had said to me when we first entered the estate.

“Say what that they’ll want to hear.” her voice echoed in my head. I grinned at the man and asked, “what would you like to know?”

“EEIIIIIIIIIIIII!” her mother squealed with joy, “when?”

“When what?” we all turned to ask her.

“When’s the marriage?” she asked, barely controlling her excitement. She looked like a child during the Fall Festival waiting for a piece of candied hawberry. The stunned silence that followed trailed dead air for almost five seconds.

“M-mother, there will not be a marriage.”

She gasped, “skipping straight to the babies?!” my brain tried to figure out how she’d connected those dots before I decided that was too much effort and returned to the conversation at hand.

“NO, there will not be any babies!” I scratched the back of my head, Lord Hightower turned to look at me.

"I hear from my wife that you are on a mission."

I nodded, "That's right. Something's been munching on the guards of a town called Pitzer. Is there anything you can tell me about the situation going on over there?"

He rubbed his chin, "No, I do apologize. The lands outside of the main cities are not of much interest to me. What I can tell you is that Pitzer is a relatively large town. Roughly twelve thousand inhabitants if I remember correctly. For a town of that size to have trouble with demons..." he trailed off.

"Means it's not going to be easy." I finished.

"I am sorry that I can not be of assistance. But if you want to see the direct reports, you'll need to go to the Trader's Guild Headquarters. They handle most of the messaging with the towns to small to have magicians. I would take you there myself but I have business to attend to."

"I see," I sighed, "thank you anyways."

"Of course."

"I could take him," I looked at the older woman, "It is not that far away and I need to have some messages sent as well."

"Natalia, you don't need to." Lord Hightower said.

"Nonsense husband. You can not keep me locked up in this house like a prized cow."

He flushed, "I'm not locking you up anywhere!"

"Of course not." she reasured, "You're just jealous of the way they look at me."

"I am-" he stammered, "they shouldn't-"

“So, how are you taking to life at Leviathan?” Natalia interrupted him, unsubtly changing the conversation.

"Well, it’s different from what I’m used to. Much more structured and slightly more stressful. I’m doing quite well in most of my classes and I don’t have much trouble with my teammates or roommates.”

“Roommates?” Delaney asked curiously.

“Yeah, we live in one of the old watchtowers surrounding the Academy. I heard it's pretty common for teams to live in them. It makes for a more casual environment away from the teachers, that’s for sure.”

“I see…” she tapped her hand to her chin, “who are they? Your roommates that is.”

I frowned, that was a weird question, “why do you care?”

“Just trying to make conversation.” that she was trying to avoid her mother’s strange and perverted questions went unsaid.

“Well, there’s an elf. Her name is Illia, she’s insane. There’s Arya Arcturus from the north. She’s pretty chill, not the brightest person I’ve met though. Vivian Valentine, I’m not exactly sure what to think of her. She doesn’t talk much. And finally, there’s the royal princess. She’s incredible.” I sighed. “A heart of gems and a hair of gold. Talented at fighting, well-spoken, and quick-witted. Well, she can be a bit haughty sometimes but you can’t have everything I guess.”

“She sounds… impressive,” Delaney grunted.

“She is.” I sighed, “wonder how she’s doing right now.”

/-/

Alex stabbed the table with one of his knives, causing the people around him to jump back in surprise.

“What the hell Alex!” Sam swore, “what was that about.”

“I’m pretty sure Ryze just said something stupid.”

Noah snorted, “big surprise, now sit back down and eat your food like a civilized human being.