Titus
The first of the Somnia began to crawl out from the shadows.
Titus thought he was just imagining it at first as he and Livia were walking through the clean streets of Rome, trying to figure out what Ceasar meant about sending these ominous Somnia. He was so jubilant to hear that Maximus had somehow returned from the Underworld that it made it hard to focus. Knowing there was a chance gave him hope that all could be restored. But then, when the shadows began to take humanoid shape, appearing as midnight black marble statues, that hope began to dwindle.
“What is that?” Livia whispered, clinging to Titus as they watched the shadows continuously spawn these ominous statues.
“If I had to guess, these are the Somnia,” Titus whispered, keeping one firm hand over her like a shield. “Act normal. We do not want to draw attention. I have a feeling my fists will do very little to harm them.”
The two of them nonchalantly followed the Somnia as more began to take shape. They were walking away from Caesar’s Palace, all in perfect, creepy unison. The others trapped in the dream world didn’t seem to notice. Everyone around them continued blissfully in ignorance, shopping at the markets, laughing with friends, kids chasing each other with cheer.
All were oblivious.
Their destination further mystified Titus as they reached the Aurelian Walls. The Somnia passed without notice from the crowds through the unguarded gates, continuing in a steady march to the rolling fields outside the walls. At the far edge of the fields loomed a misty forest, the shape of a long ring encircling Rome. The mist didn’t just stop with the dark green trees. It stretched above it too. And within the clouds, Titus could see…
“Floating islands?” he said, squinting his eyes to confirm the strange sight. The longer he looked, the more confident he was in his assessment. The Somnia that had ventured into the forest beyond disappeared in the mist and trees, but he could have sworn he saw dark figures ascending from the forest to the floating islands above.
“That’s not how I remembered Rome,” Livia whispered as she and Titus stopped at one of the gates to observe. For a few tense minutes they kept silent as several Somnia passed by a couple of people away.
“Perhaps that is the entrance to the world?” Titus spoke, keeping his voice below a whisper. “The Ivory Gates?”
If Caesar was sending the Somnia to attack Maximus, perhaps they could return to the world to aid him?
“There’s only one way to find out,” Livia said as dozens more Somnia passed by, almost gliding in their smooth gait.
Titus frowned. “How do you suppose we reach the gates? I don’t see any of the trees reaching close to those islands.”
One of the Somnia stopped several feet from them. She looked like a goddess in her uncovered state, strong and slender. The dream statue slightly turned her obsidian face to them.
Titus pulled Livia close in his arms and kissed her suddenly. Livia was taken by surprise, but seeing the female Somnia made her realize why Titus had embraced her so. Livia played along, threading her fingers into his short hair and kissing him passionately.
The female Somnia made no sound as she resumed her walk with the others.
“We will need to be more discreet,” he said as they finished.
“Are your skills still active?”
Titus checked. Sure enough, his enchanting and blacksmithing skills remained.
“Yes. Why? What are you thinking?”
Livia’s face twisted in thought. “I think I have an idea. Do you remember where your favorite forge is in Rome?”
Titus smiled. “Always.”
“I think that could work,” Titus said as they stopped at one of Rome’s many forges in the city. “Any armor and weapon enchantment will do. If there are no levitation scrolls, be sure to find a strength scroll. Be back quickly.”
“I will,” Livia said, raising up on her toes to kiss him before disappearing into the blissful crowds.
The forge was a rather large building, with an impressive chimney stretching from the tiled roof for the fire blazing inside. The doors were wide open to allow for ventilation and light. Three blacksmith apprentices went about their business, hammering out dents in armor, sharpening a pilum with a whetstone, and wrapping leather around a newly forged gladius.
The master, of all people, took his breath away. He was rather large, much like Titus. His face was clean shaven, his hair cropped short to keep it from catching flame. Steam hissed in his face as he submerged the glowing warhammer he was working on in a cool bucket of water. He muttered something strange, sounding like an ancient rhythm. As he withdrew the cooled weapon, its head began to glow red again, like it had absorbed the fire. He was performing an enchantment.
A master at his craft, both in the old life and in Antiquitus.
“Father?” Titus said, shaking his head in astonishment.
Aulus didn’t look up. Instead, he pointed to a curled scroll sitting on a nearby bench. Titus understood immediately. He retrieved the enchantment scroll, which would give the weapon immense blessings of flame, and held it up for his father to read. Aulus looked up briefly, first to the scroll and then to his son, nodding his thanks before he continued his low, belly-deep song.
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Someone rushed into the forge from the street. “Father, forgive me for the—”
Titus snapped his head around to see another familiar face.
“Servius?” Titus said, clasping his younger brother by the arm. He was smaller in stature than Titus and Aulus, but far more handsome in the face, with several small locks of straight brown hair out of his sharp eyes, his mother’s eyes.
“Titus!” Servius said, pulling back to observe him. “I am so glad to see you in Elysium!”
Elysium, Titus thought, his newfound joy shattering at the painful reminder. So, he was enslaved too.
As much as he wanted to shake him and their father free from Caesar’s spell, it would only risk alerting the Somnia to them. Titus had no knowledge on what they would do, only what they were capable of.
Nightmares.
“What brings you here?” Servius said as their father and the other assistants continued to work.
Titus unwittingly glanced at the glowing, fiery hammer their father continued to perfect.
“I am in need of enchanted gear and weapons. One for myself, and the other for my wife.”
“Your wife?” he said, smiling. “Congratulations brother! Although, I’m perplexed why you would need anything here.”
Their father did not react. Not even in Elysium.
No, Titus thought, refusing the bitterness that swelled. I will not fall to such black thoughts again. That is beneath a man.
“It is to keep Elysium’s unwanted guests at bay,” Titus said, which was not completely false.
“Caesar knows best,” Servius said automatically. “Well, let’s see to it! We should have some legionnaire sets already made. We can just fit them to you and your wife, whenever she arrives.”
“She’ll be here shortly.”
Titus fit in naturally alongside his father and brother as they set to work enhancing and fitting the armor. All three of them were experts in their field, especially Aulus.
It would take only a few hours with the combined three, but those hours would be only minutes for Titus who took great pleasure in the craft. To feel the heat on his skin from the forge, the smell of leather, heated iron, and sweat thick in the air, and the constant, almost rhythmic clanging of hammer on hot metal. For a moment, he forgot all about the end of the world, of Caesar’s eternal conquest and the Somnia as they fortified the armor. Even when Livia arrived with the strength scroll and they began to form her armor to her shape, he still felt like he was swimming with wine as he worked.
Such was the joy of the forge.
And perhaps, the excitement of working with his brother and father. Their father spoke softly as they worked to further fortify the iron plates and enchant the separate armor pieces, though he didn’t need to speak much and neither did the sons. They all knew what was needed and when. He had taught them both, after all.
While they worked, Livia took advantage of the shop’s materials and began crafting a bundle of arrows. She had taken the liberty of permanently borrowing one of the many bows mounted on the forge’s display wall. When she finished, she set about crafting a hook and a very long rope.
There was no sunset here, so it was impossible to tell exactly what the time was. But Titus could feel it had been hours. His heart beat slow and steady as he held up the finished legionnaire armor for both himself and Livia, both glowing with the same enchantments. He was covered in a thick layer of soot and sweat.
Total Armor Rating: 140
“It will be the same defense for you,” Titus said, giving Livia her full set of shiny legionnaire armor. “It is also blessed with these to keep us safe, since our health is abysmally low here.”
The first blessing came from Livia’s scroll, followed by Titus, then Servius and Aulus. The three of them had been blessed with the song to enchant the armor by Vulcan, their patron god.
Titan’s Grip: Doubles the user’s strength and agility stats.
Stonewall Fortification: Doubles physical armor when stationary, without movement penalties.
Might of the Empire: Increases melee and ranged damage by 35% and grants a 15% armor penetration.
Eternal Shield of Rome: Reduces all incoming damage by 35% and reflects 20% back to attackers, gaining additional 10% durability for each ally nearby, to a maximum of three allies.
“The strength will help with throwing the rope high enough,” Titus said, smiling as he strapped on his armor.
“And this will help keep your enemies at bay,” Aulus spoke, his voice a low rumble of strength.
Titus turned, shocked to see his father handing him the flaming warhammer that he had been crafting earlier. He was too astonished to respond appropriately.
“Redeem us, son,” he whispered, looking at Titus for only a moment, his eyes full of trust and a hint of pride, something Titus never thought he would see.
Aulus went back to working on other tasks as Titus, Servius, and Livia stood there dumbfounded.
“Well?” Servius said when his senses finally returned, gesturing to the warhammer.
Titus observed the powerful weapon forged by his father, who apparently was proud of him all along. A raging joy filled his soul, further amplified by the awesome power of his father’s weapon.
Item: Paterna Superbia (Legendary)
* Description: Crafted by Aulus, this warhammer wields a head forged from volcanic iron and streaked with crimson-gold veins, ever-pulsing like embers. Its shaft is bound in fire-tempered leather etched with laurels of victory, and the pommel bears the likeness of a fierce lion, signifying Roman might. When wielded, it radiates an intense heat, capable of overwhelming even the stoutest defenses.
* Damage: 70
* Durability: 600/600
* Weight: 6 kg
* Special Effect: Upon activation, the warhammer’s flames burn with ancestral rage, increasing damage by 25% and adding 15 fire damage per strike for 60 seconds. Each blow struck has a 25% chance to ignite enemies, dealing 10 fire damage over 10 seconds. Cooldown: 8 minutes.
* Worth: 85,000 Denarii
It was so… well, there were really no words to describe it. Both his father's acceptance and this warhammer of tremendous power. Only one of Maximus’s modern descriptions could capture the essence.
“This is awesome,” Titus said, his eyes watering with pride, igniting the flames at will.
“I think we’re ready,” Livia said, finishing her adjustments. She looked at Titus with admiration.
“Come back to see us, brother,” Servius said, clapping Titus on the back. “Strength and honor.”
“Strength and honor,” Titus said, nodding to Livia.
It was time to find and destroy those Ivory Gates.