The earth trembled from the marching of a million military boots. As the disciplined formations of imperial soldiers finally clashed with the infinite hordes of chaos, the dry wasteland began to soak in the blood of the dead and wounded.
The fierce battle raged on for hours until they managed to break through the stubborn resistance of the chaos warbands. Tens of thousands perished in this ultimate confrontation, but the goal was almost within their grasp. The Chaos Portal, located in the north, was the festering ulcer on this planet, spreading malice and disorder. Finally, after years of struggle, they could destroy the Portal, and a new era could begin in the name of Sigmar.
"Blood for the Blood God!" echoed the battle cry beside Emperor Augustus I, the supreme commander of the imperial legions.
Before he could react, a small chaos spawn struck him in the stomach, knocking him off his noble steed.
The victory was just within arm's reach, he thought to himself as his vision began to blur. However, the chanting in his ears grew louder.
"Chaos, Chaos, Cha-os, Cha-os, Ao-p, Ao-p, Daaad, Dadyyy..."
The last fragment of Marcus’s dream dispersed thanks to his daughter's persistent screaming and jumping on his stomach.
It's 6 AM on Monday.
The week is off to a really great start.
—-------------------------
April 4, 2024, Planet Earth, Hungary, Budapest
I am Marcus Lucius Augustus for almost two years now. I changed my name when the Roman Tradition Preservation Association appointed me as a centurion. Instead of an imperial harem, I have a wife named Krisztina. Instead of princely sons, I have a little princess, Astrid. And instead of a mighty steed, I have a floor-coloured cat.
After shaking off the remnants of the dream, thanks to Astrid’s diligent efforts, I glanced to the left in bed and saw that my beautiful wife, Krisztina, was still enjoying the sweet embrace of sleep. With her long midnight-black hair, tangled in the morning messiness, she presented a truly pleasant sight.
"I'm coming, I'm coming..." I said to my daughter, who was preparing for another assault on my eardrums with a deep breath.
"Good morning, Dad!" said the mischievous two-year-old.
"Pancakes, please!"
I kissed my daughter's forehead and embarked on my daily routine.
By the time pancakes and two steaming cups of coffee were ready in the kitchen, everyone was seated at the table. The freshly combed, black-haired Astrid played with her utensils, while Krisztina, with her round belly, watched carefully not to cause any harm to herself.
"And I'm done! Breakfast is served, my dears," I announced from the kitchen, and the laden plates appeared.
"My love, on your way back, could you bring some watermelon again? The baby craves it..." Krisztina purred as she and Astrid started munching on their breakfast.
Krisztina was six months pregnant, and her belly was getting bigger and bigger. In recent weeks, watermelon had become her new craving, and she repeatedly "requested" it from me.
We rented a two-bedroom apartment with a separate living room, kitchen, and a small garden outside the window. We considered ourselves lucky to live in a green and peaceful neighborhood.
However, prices had skyrocketed lately, and I was fighting an increasingly challenging battle to maintain our quality of life. The stress was becoming overwhelming day by day, but I didn't want to show it to my family. Smile on the face and kisses on the cheeks.
After breakfast, I prepared my own sandwich to eat at work. I gave everyone a farewell kiss, scratched the cat behind the ears, and the week truly began.
—--------------------------------
It was a good half-hour tram ride until I arrived at the office and started my work. The usual infinitely boring workday lay ahead, where the clock hands seemed to move backward.
Hours passed, dragging themselves along. The internet connection was even more unreliable and slower than usual. So, for a significant part of my working hours, I pondered on how I could earn some extra income to make ends meet after paying the bills. As I had contemplated so many times before, I wondered if I should change professions and continue as an auto mechanic, given that I had completed a one-year training and had an additional six months of workshop practice... But that would just be exchanging one hardship for another for slightly more money. Deep breath, and I continued with my work.
Around noon, the phone rang, and I saw it was Sam calling.
"Hey, Peter!..." he began, and I rolled my eyes.
"Marcuuuus!" I interjected, but he continued casually.
"I just wanted to check if you can definitely make it to the Roman Days this Sunday. As a centurion, you'll need to lead the others, entertain the audience, blah blah. Oh, before I forget! The Germans accepted our request! We're going to win the demonstration battle! But don't tell the others!" Sam quickly rattled off.
"Sure, sure. I'll be there. However, Sam, regarding our previous conversation. I love our reenactments, and my greatest desire is to lead the guys in my free time, but a little extra income at home would come in handy. If you could provide some compensation..."
"Oh, Gosh, is it this late already!?. Sorry, Peter, but I have to run. Talk to you later!" And he hung up.
I suspected this would be the outcome. Krisztina had been chewing my ears for a while, saying that I love doing our reenactments, but I'm just being taken advantage of. I bought my own armor, I have to arrange my travel and meals, and on top of that, I lead the show to the audience. Yet, I don't get a single cent for it.
This weekend's event will be my last performance, and then I'll resign from my position. Sam, the head of the entire Association, had no intention of paying me for it.
I quickly sent a Messenger message to my brother, summarising the weekend's program and asking him to come if he could, as this would be my final battle!
As soon as I sent the message, the next email arrived from the IT group, piquing my interest:
"Dear Colleagues!
We would like to inform you that internet access may be intermittent today. According to the provider's announcement, the technical issue will be resolved by tonight.
The problem is not within the Office's systems, so the IT group cannot assist with the issue.
Thank you for your understanding!
IT Group"
I acknowledged the email with a half-smile. The IT group was as useful at times as a Netflix subscription at home.
I chuckled to myself at this joke. Marcus! Sense of humour: 5/5!
Of course, my boss walked in just as I was laughing and gave me a piercing look. Office leaders somehow always sense when you're in a momentary good mood, and they swoop in to suck it out of you. After he left the room, I glanced around flatly and then shook my fist at the door.
The long hours finally came to an end, but I didn't want to head home just yet. At home, the second shift awaited with my family. As much as I loved my wife and daughter, I longed for a bit of time to myself, a little relaxation.
Ten minutes after the end of the workday, the phone rang, and I saw Krisztina calling. The connection was a bit choppy, but I could make out the essence: Watermelon. Take a deep breath, Marcus. A man does what he's gotta do.
So, on my way home, I stopped by the store to buy dinner and, of course, a watermelon. At the checkout, once again, I reluctantly pulled out my phone, and the balance notification arrived after the payment. Take a deep breath, Marcus. Take a deep breath.
Once home, the second shift began. Playing with Astrid. Cooking dinner, then bath time. Some League of Legends with my wife, followed by putting Astrid to sleep. Fortunately, Krisztina handled this part, so the last two hours of the day were mine.
After the child fell asleep, my wife came out and it came to my mind I forgot to tell her about my conversation with Sam. I quickly summarised the essence, and I could see in Krisztina's eyes that she wasn't happy. Lately, she had been criticising Sam a lot, calling him a greedy miser. Of course, now I see that she was right all along, but my joy blinded me. I was thrilled not only to be a member but also a leader of a Roman military group.
But, as Krisztina pointed out, it's good for a person to have a hobby and a friendly group, but this has gone beyond that. I spent serious money over the last two years to buy my gear and its regular maintenance. I paid for our travel and meals at reenactments and practices, and none of it came back to me.
Most members were volunteers who didn't receive payment, but I not only attended every practice and reenactment, but I also led the whole thing.
Krisztina was right, and it was time for me to step out of this. The thought of starting my own group had crossed my mind several times, but, on the one hand, there isn't enough demand for us to support two units. And Sam had an extensive network in the organizing circles. Unfortunately, we wouldn't be the first option...
After Krisztina went back to bed, I watched a few videos on how to be a good military leader and speak confidently in front of a crowd. A little preparation for the weekend. Then, I watched some videos about the Ukrainian war and other military content. This was her little amusement, watching military-themed videos and reading books. Unfortunately, you can't make a living out of it—at least not for me—but at least it was entertaining. In my younger days, I had seriously considered joining the army and trying to build a career there, but in the end, I chose a quieter life.
Turning off the videos, brushing my teeth, and then sleep. Tomorrow is already Tuesday, just a few more days, and it's the weekend again. Yippee.
—----------------------------------
2024, April 5 (Tuesday), Earth, Hungary, Budapest
Tuesday morning started like any other. Breakfast preparation, then getting Astrid ready for daycare. While Krisztina dressed the child, I sneaked into the room and quickly turned on the computer to check the morning news. Nothing special had happened in the last 8 hours, while I slept, except for the worldwide internet issues. The articles wrote about problems caused by a solar flare.
I quickly searched for potential job opportunities, but found nothing that would offer significantly higher pay and less stress. However, it's also true that higher pay definitely reduces stress! I also stumbled upon a couple of military recruitment ads, but the minimum wage and the realization that I wouldn't see my family every day took away the enthusiasm to apply for these.
"Daddy! Daaaaaddy!" - came the voice from the hallway.
"Can we have ice cream today? I want ice cream!"
"Sure, my little one!" I smiled. "After daycare, Mom will take you for ice cream," I said, still smiling, as I made eye contact with my wife.
We stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"After daycare, we'll go for a big ice cream, and we'll bring some for Dad too, okay?" Krisztina said to our daughter.
"Yeaaaa, love you, Mom!" - and Mom got a big hug right away.
I got dressed and headed to work. While contemplating the meaning of life, struggling with depression, I saw a military helicopter flying overhead.
"Strange," I thought, but the tram had already arrived.
In the middle of my workday, I quickly went online to read the latest news, and I was astonished by the headline.
"Russian troops begin withdrawal from entire territory of Ukraine. Previously reserved units are already heading toward Moscow. Has Ukraine won?"
For a moment, I just read the news with my mouth open. What an unexpected turn, I thought to myself. Would Putin have died, and whoever follows him wants to stabilize power in Moscow as soon as possible?
My thoughts raced about the reasons as I watched videos of thousands of people celebrating on the streets of Kiev.
In the afternoon, when I got home, the ice cream was already waiting on the table. While quickly reporting to Krisztina about the conclusion of the Ukrainian war, little Astrid already pounced on my unattended ice cream.
"I'll just taste it, okay?" - she said more than asked, with a full mouth.
In my mind, I had already given up on getting a bite of it when Krisztina whispered to me.
"I put some cookies in the fridge for you. Your favorite, because I know how tough your days have been lately."
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
This made me a bit emotional. The last few months have been extremely difficult, especially due to the deterioration of our financial situation, and these are the moments that make it worth going through tomorrow as well. Moments when you feel that you matter. While getting a cookie may not seem like much, when your head is filled with dark and hopeless thoughts, any care, thoughtfulness, and love break through like sunshine.
—--------------------------
2024, April 6 (Wednesday), Earth, Hungary, Budapest
I read more shocking news at work during the day.
"The United States has initiated the recall of its troops stationed abroad in the past few hours. Military analysts link this move to the Russian withdrawals. They believe that Russia may be preparing for a nuclear weapons deployment, so it withdrew its troops from Ukraine yesterday. The recall of American troops increases pressure on European countries due to the presumed Russian threat."
"Damn," I thought to myself. I immediately took out my phone and called my wife.
"Dear, have you read the news?" I asked.
"Hi! I haven't had time. Did something happen?"
"I just read that the situation in the East is escalating," I said evenly. Then I laughed to myself.
"Okay, joking aside, they're scaring us with nuclear war again. We have bottled water at home, and the car is filled with gas. We can't do more than this now."
"Will you come home on time, or do you have to work overtime?" Krisztina asked.
Unfortunately, lately, I've been staying at least 15-20 minutes longer almost every day. Not because of the work, I just didn't feel like leaving. I love my family, but sometimes I need a little me-time.
"It's a sharp switch, my dear, but of course, I'll leave on time today. Do you want me to get something from the store?" I asked back.
"You could bring bread and cold cuts, and I hope you didn't forget that I'm going out with my friends tonight."
Of course, I forgot.
By the time I got home from work, no rockets had flown, which I definitely considered a good sign. I unpacked the "goods" I brought, hugged everyone, and Krisztina had made bolognese, which I love. Astrid was watching a cartoon in the living room.
"How was your day, dear?" my wife asked.
I stopped for a moment and pondered it. I forgot something. I stood there, looking like I was trying to remember, and suddenly it hit me.
"Today, I didn't worry about finances!" I said, grinning.
"No need to! Everything will be fine!" she replied with a reassuring smile and gave me a big kiss on my cheek and a hug.
"Enough of sentimentality! Let's have dinner!"
And I began to serve myself some delicious food. Meanwhile, Krisztina started guiding the child into the kitchen.
"Daddy! Are you home?"
Yes, the child didn't even notice that I came home. It happens. But she was already smiling and rushed to hug me.
"I want to go to the forest!" she said.
"She watched a forest walking tale today." Krisztina interjected.
"Yes, I want to go to the forest and see animals."
When she started explaining like this, it was always incredibly cute, so Mom and I exchanged a knowing smile.
"Alright, my little one!" I said. "We can go for a walk in the forest this weekend."
"Yuhuuu! We're going to the forest, Mom. Dad said so."
This made me laugh.
—-----------------
2024, April 7 (Thursday), Earth, Hungary, Budapest
On Thursday, two noteworthy events occurred during work. One was that the internet service provider announced a service interruption on Friday due to maintenance work throughout the day, declaring it a public holiday.
The other was that in the next few days, we could expect a meteor shower, so the public might experience intensified atmospheric phenomena. Of course, we were reassured that every meteor, being small, would burn up upon entering the atmosphere.
During most of my working hours, I once again browsed through job opportunities and did some calculations. If everything goes well, we're good for this month, but in the next month, we'll have to save significantly because we're running out of reserves. By the end of my working hours, I was mentally exhausted due to the hopeless situation. I need to earn more money to at least break even for the months, but I can't find anything I can switch to without risk. Although my salary here is average, my position is secure, and they regularly raise my salary. The problem is that due to the surge in inflation and because Krisztina can't work anymore due to the baby on the way, we have significant deficits every month.
I could earn the necessary money with a job as an auto mechanic, but besides completing the training, I've never been able to gain actual practical experience. So, unfortunately, it's questionable how stable my position would be. Becoming a teacher only makes sense if I don't mind getting even less pay for even more work.
Of course, I don't burden Krisztina with these problems on a daily basis. She knows that we're not financially well off, but I don't want her to worry about these things in the months leading up to childbirth.
In the end, I made the decision to apply for a weekend job at an auto repair shop. This could provide me with the routine I need and the extra money by the end of the months. Unfortunately, all of this will take time away from the family and relaxation, but a man must ensure peace of mind for his family.
After making the decision, I felt calmer, and I headed home thinking we would solve the situation. I will have a conversation about this with Krisztina over the weekend, but I don't have many choices regarding our situation.
Putting aside the negative thoughts because I finally arrived home.
With a slightly forced smile, I greeted everyone and then shared the good news that I wouldn't have to go to work tomorrow.
"Then we're going to the forest tomorrow!" declared Astrid, then hugged me.
Krisztina and I looked at each other, and she vigorously nodded.
"Yes, Dad! Tomorrow, let's go for a hike. Astrid, shall we go to the forest tomorrow?"
"Yeeeesss! Tomorrow we're going to the forest," Astrid concluded.
Krisztina came over to me and hugged me.
"You need a little relaxation. We'll go to the mountains for a hike, turn off our phones, and have a family day." she whispered in my ear.
"And then, maybe, if Astrid goes to bed early, you might get lucky in the evening." she winked at me.
I didn't need to hear more. Of course, I had already started planning the route!
—------------------------------
2024, April 8 (Friday), Earth, Hungary, Budapest
The sun gently shone through the window as the aroma of steaming coffee caressed my nose. I heard the birds chirping, and the warmth of the blanket embraced my waist.
However, the chirping of the birds grew louder, and the scent of coffee and the gradually darkening shades turned into something much worse in my dreams. Dark clouds gathered on the clouds of my dreams when the scent of coffee first slowly and then increasingly rapidly began to transform into a much worse smell.
Poop.
Of course, Astrid was currently practicing with a poopy diaper right next to me.
"Astrid, are you poopy?" I asked her in a sleepy voice.
"No," came the short, conclusive answer.
This was followed by a few minutes of chase, where I tried to catch her to change her diaper while Krisztina was preparing breakfast, including snacks for the trip.
We set out after breakfast, an hour later than planned. With a kid, this was considered good time. Fortunately, there were few people on the roads, considering that technically, we were heading towards the mountains during working hours, which is not the most popular destination at this time.
"Look, Astrid! A shooting star!" Krisztina said, pointing out the window.
Unfortunately, it was in my blind spot, so I didn't see what they were looking at, but I heard Astrid's laughter and clapping, which was more than enough for me.
On the remaining part of the journey, they spotted two more shooting stars, one of which I could admire as well.
A large, continuous glow traversed the sky, and a few seconds later, it extinguished with a big flash.
The buildings became sparser, and the road became winding and steeper. Years ago, Krisztina and I found a less-used hiking trail with a parking space. We didn't have to be disappointed; no one was parked there now. Maybe it's been two years since I last saw someone around here.
The beginning of the hiking trail was quite bushy and difficult to walk, but if you got past this short few hundred meters, you could have a really great experience. About half a kilometer from the parking lot, we reached the stream, which we had to follow upstream. Astrid ran around while watching the fish in the stream and observing the birds. Of course, there was the other part when she took 10 steps every 5 minutes, but at times like these, I picked her up and carried her.
In this forest, there were neither bears nor wolves nor lynxes, so we didn't have to worry about anything attacking us. Besides, we were constantly singing loudly, so even wild boars avoided us. Around lunchtime, we reached our first stop, where we had lunch. We ate sandwiches and rested a bit. Fortunately, there was a small playground next to the benches, so Astrid could run around after finishing her snack.
It took about an hour before we could continue since the little miss didn't want to leave the playground. I had to take her off the duck spring toy she had been sitting on for a quarter of an hour. Heading towards our destination, a large forest lookout, I carried the sleeping Astrid on my back in her little backpack while Krisztina carried the bag with everything else. Finally, we could walk a bit, hand in hand, slowly. Enjoying the silence and tranquility.
"Wait, I just remembered something! Come here," Krisztina said, taking my hand and pulling me towards a distant tree.
It was a beautiful big beech tree.
"Where could it be, where could it be..." she muttered as she searched the tree.
"Ahh, here you are!" she suddenly exclaimed.
"Quiet!" I said. "Don't wake up the energy bomb!"
From then on, without saying a word, she dragged me to what she had found. There was a carving on the tree. M+K inside a heart.
I vaguely started to remember something, maybe we were here for the first time about 15 years ago, and in a sudden burst of emotion, I carved this into the tree. Honestly, I didn't even remember doing this.
As if Krisztina could read his thoughts, something she could do quite often after 16 years together.
"You don't remember this! Casanova!" she looked at me with feigned disapproval. "So, you did something sweet for me, and you don't even remember it. I'll check the other trees; maybe there's an M+T or M+S" she continued.
"Well," I said. "You know I only did it for you, my beauty," I pulled her close with a sly grin.
"That's for sure; you would sharpen it. If the little miss falls asleep early tonight, maybe you can give me a back massage."
Now, setting a faster pace, we reached the lookout after an hour's walk. At a higher point among the trees stood the massive, 30-meter-high concrete tower. In height, it was above the trees, but apart from the concrete base, it blended completely into the mass of trees.
Astrid woke up when we reached the base of the lookout and were about to climb. So, I was grateful because it's not such a great experience to go uphill with an extra 14 kilos. Let her carry herself up with her little legs.
Of course, climbing took much longer now. It took about 15 minutes to reach the top, as we had to stop at each level while she ran around a few times. But eventually, we were up there.
The view in front of us was captivating. I always loved different trees and forests. Here, with mountains surrounding us as far as the eye could see, covered with countless maple, ash, beech, and oak trees. My personal favorites were the various types of maple trees. At home, I tried to nurture three different types of Japanese maple trees.
"Shooting star!" Astrid suddenly shouted.
And indeed, in the distance, a shooting star cut through the sky.
"Wow! You're very clever, Astrid! You have such good eyes to notice! Dad didn't even see it!" Krisztina said.
The shooting star moved and moved in the sky, getting brighter and brighter. I was waiting for it to suddenly extinguish, as these things usually do.
"Mom, Dad, I'm scared," Astrid said as the shooting star became bigger and brighter.
"Shouldn't it have gone out by now, Dad?" Krisztina asked as Astrid sought refuge behind her legs.
“Maybe it would be better to go down slowly..." I began, but at that moment, the shooting star suddenly changed direction and sharply descended. Straight towards the lookout tower.
My heart skipped a beat seeing this. The shooting star was moving so fast we had no chance of reaching the base of the tower. While thousands of possibilities were running through my head, my body went into autopilot, lifting Astrid and tightly embracing my wife, pressing ourselves against one of the tower's main support beams.
Moments later, I heard the sound of impact, followed by the shockwave reaching us. The tower's support beams groaned in pain as they clung to the concrete base with everything they had. The tower dangerously swayed, and for a moment, it seemed like we were going to fall. Astrid screamed, and I felt every muscle in Krisztina tense.
But we didn't pass the tipping point. The tower, creaking and groaning, slowly returned to its original position. I admit, in these few moments, my life flashed before my eyes, and my hands clutched the beam with such force that I couldn't release them suddenly.
Astrid was crying loudly, but Krisztina regained her composure first and took her from my hands. She started comforting her, but at the same time, she was already heading down from the tower.
I followed, but before I left, I took a quick look at the support beams, and the sight overwhelmed me. Two out of four were broken in several places, the other was full of cracks, and the one I gripped seemed miraculously intact. I quickly muttered a thank you to the tree that saved our lives and followed Krisztina and Astrid to the ground.
Honestly, I hadn't seen a pregnant mom and her child descend the stairs so quickly. She rushed down so fast; I only saw her fleeting figure, but who could blame her? Our lives had almost come to an end in a matter of seconds.
The descent was fast but not hazard-free. Missing steps, broken railings, and debris were everywhere. Fearing that something essential, like the staircase, could break off at any moment, we tried to descend as quickly as possible.
When we reached the base of the tower with a loud cracking sound, one of the upper-level staircases gave way and collapsed. It crashed onto the level below, and the already weakened structure gave way. Fortunately, the huge and solid pieces of wood landed on the opposite side of the tower from us, making a huge crash, but we had already jumped away from the tower like frightened deer.
When we judged that we had reached a safe distance, we quickly checked each other for injuries. Astrid was still crying, but not out of panic or terror, just restlessness and fear. Krisztina's shoulder suffered a larger bruise when a branch hit her. Meanwhile, my right upper arm was cut open by the same branch. We could have fared much worse.
While Krisztina comforted Astrid, and they sat down to rest on a fallen tree, far from any fallen or damaged trees, I, for the first time, looked around at the devastation surrounding us.
The trees to the northwest of the tower, where the impact occurred, were all toppled or severely damaged. Part of the lookout tower was now in ruins, and it seemed that a larger chunk wouldn't survive the seemingly intact beam. Judging by the extent of the devastation, the crash site couldn't be too far. Perhaps just 200 meters northwest.
"Krisztina," I spoke to my wife. "How are you holding up?"
"Considering we almost died, quite well. The little one is kicking a lot; fortunately, Astrid is unharmed. But adrenaline is running out, and I'm sure everything will hurt soon..."
"My love," I looked into her eyes. "Can you two manage without me for 5 minutes? I want to check the crash site."
Krisztina seemed to be getting upset.
"We almost died in the tower a moment ago!" she began.
"And now you want to go where a tree could fall on you at any moment? Or you might break your leg with a wrong step? No! You're not going anywhere!"
"My dear," I began calmly. "What if a solid gold meteorite crashed, and we could take it with us? There's no one else here but us! No one will know exactly what we took and what happened!"
"Sweetheart," I continued after a short pause. "We need money. If I find something valuable there, I won't have to worry if we'll have enough money for food at the end of the month."
"I have to go there; maybe I'll find something. Who knows, they might be talking about this divine intervention all the time in the temples," I added with a weak joke.
I could see that Krisztina really didn't want to let go, but she knows she can't talk me out of it. I've seen my uncertain look too many times in recent months. She's heard my fears too many times to let this opportunity slip away.
We stared at each other for a minute, then I slowly knelt in front of my family and kissed Krisztina on the forehead.
"Come back in one piece," Krisztina said softly, and I could see tears welling up in her eyes.
"As if anything could stop me now," I replied with a faint smile. "I love you both."
With one last kiss, I slowly started walking northwest.