April 9, 2024 (Saturday), Planet Earth, Hungary, Budapest
The night was not as restful as I would have liked, as Astrid was afraid of the dark and was only willing to sleep between us. Of course, during these times, she starts to spread out in bed, and by the time the clock strikes midnight, she is lying crosswise on top of us, kicking me every half an hour. Usually, I would just grab myself and go sleep on the couch, but tonight I had neither the strength nor the energy to get up.
I politely asked her to lie down properly and stop kicking. Then I begged and eventually threatened. After all of this fell on deaf ears as expected, I turned towards the wall and tried to power sleep in a grumpy manner.
At 7 o'clock in the morning, I woke up to a hefty backhand slap as Astrid turned in bed. Due to my elevated blood pressure thereafter, I didn't need any more coffee for the day. I cautiously tried to sneak out of bed so as not to wake the others.
That's when I saw her at the edge of the bed... Astrid’s Paw Patrol dog, Marshall. It sat there and stared at me. I looked around, and when I saw that everyone was still asleep, I gave her a good slap that sent it flying off the bed.
With a grin on my face, I went to the kitchen to start making Krisztina's coffee and breakfast.
Culinary Skills Level 3 (Basic Familiarity) - Achievable maximum level (potential): Level 7 (Weak Professional)
Hahhh... I'm making the city's finest buttered bread, and the system rates it as only Level 3? My culinary masterpieces??? Of course, this would explain why the French toast I'm preparing is smoking.
I sigh loudly... Never mind, the black one … I made it for myself anyway...
By the time everyone woke up, I was ready with the coffee and the 50% burnt French toast. But in accordance with my chef level, I covered it with a slice of ham and garlic cream.
"This is not delicious! Mom, make breakfast, okay? Mom, I want something tasty!" - my dear child pronounced the judgment on my cooking. I wiped a small tear from the corner of my eye. Then, in silence, I served the food and began to eat.
Meanwhile, I felt Krisztina embrace me and plant a kiss on my shoulder.
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"Are you sure?" Krisztina asked from the doorway.
"Absolutely, 100%," I replied as I examined my lorica segmentata armor, searching for traces of rust.
I spent the last half hour bringing all the necessary equipment for tomorrow's presentation into the study and thoroughly inspecting them.
"Dad, can I take a look?" Astrid entered the room and immediately reached for the plates of my armor. I winced as her chocolate-covered fingers left smudges on the beautifully maintained and sensually oiled metal. Gently, I took her little hand and drew it back from the armor.
"Of course, you can look, my dear. But only look, okay?" I told her, but she was already heading towards my gladius, luckily still sheathed.
I sent a pleading look towards my wife, who eventually spared me and carefully ushered Astrid out.
"Ed called a few minutes ago, and he and David will be here in half an hour," my wife informed from the doorway, then continued a moment later. "Just don't overexert yourself, okay? We need you."
Of course, she was right. But as we discussed earlier, this would be the last time I lead the team as a centurion. I still limped slightly on my leg and was covered in wounds, but I wanted to do this one more time.
The door closed, and I found myself alone in the room with my equipment. Slowly and deliberately, I continued the work, as I always did before any presentation. In case of longer breaks, I performed this ritual every other month, as even a small rust spot could quickly become a danger to the armor.
"Ed uncleeee!" Astrid's voice echoed from the kitchen, disrupting my meditative state.
A small smile appeared on my daughter's voice. Slowly, I set aside the steel wool with which I had been trying to remove a rust spot, and headed towards the kitchen.
From the doorway, I already saw the massive figure of Edward, or Uncle Ed, as Astrid called him. A true bear, nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders. His thick, long brown hair, combined with a big brown beard, gave him a wild appearance. However, behind the huge stature, there hid a huge heart. Just arriving, his hearty laughter shook the house as Astrid showed him her toy cars.
"Molly aunty will come with us tomorrow for the presentation, and she'll bring you a gift. Make sure to run to her and give her a good hug," Ed told Astrid, ruffling her hair.
Ed and Molly had been trying for years to have a child, but unfortunately, luck had eluded them. They redirected all that love towards Astrid, making them frequent guests at our home.
When I entered the kitchen, David immediately noticed. He scanned me with his blue eyes.
"Marcus... You look like crap," he said matter-of-factly, then turned back to my wife. "Krisztina, a couple more forest trips, and you might find yourself a new husband..." he teased my wife.
While Ed was in his mid-thirties, David was nearing the end of his twenties. There were stories about him having children and a family somewhere, but he always denied it. As a pianist, he wandered the night and performed in bars and restaurants. Every month he had a new girlfriend, and before anything serious could happen, he'd already flown to another flower. His long, blonde curly hair, well-shaved face, blue eyes, and charming smile opened many doors for him.
He was narrating his latest conquests and romantic adventures to my wife when I walked in.
"Gentlemen," I began, capturing both of their attention. "Welcome to our home! Good to see you both! ...Even you, David!" I chuckled.
Ed embraced me first. While he held me tightly, I felt the pain in my wounds starting to resurface. I tried to break free from the affectionate bear hug, but it was in vain.
"You've lost weight, Marcus. This won't do..." he said, continuing softly, "I hope you're well. Krisztina told us what happened, and Molly and I were worried about you two. If you need anything, just let us know, alright?" After he slowly let go and I caught my breath, David stepped forward and hugged me.
"Sorry I didn't make it to Astrid's birthday last month. Tomorrow, I'll bring her something nice too. And I'll handle the guys. Everyone will behave like angels," he glanced at my left leg. "You won't even need to run. You can command from the sidelines while we do the heavy lifting!" he grinned.
"And then... there will surely be charming ladies who will be mesmerized by my leadership skills, and they will throw themselves into my arms," he said this out loud, earning a pat on the shoulder from Krisztina. It visibly hurt him, and he had to sit down and eat the cream cake on the table.
Ed and David were my two best friends and also my two subordinates who assisted in the presentations. David was the optio, my direct deputy, while Ed was my Aquilifer, the man carrying the legion's eagle. We met when I started attending historical events. Ed was already a member, but just a simple legionary back then, while David was brought along by a then-girlfriend. The girlfriend eventually left, but David stayed with us. I think he liked being part of a steady group, which gave him a sense of security.
After Astrid decided to cook lunch for Uncle Ed and Uncle David, we had to wait until they properly consumed the plastic carrots and plush peas.
"As you know, I talked to Sam about the finances," I started after Astrid ran in to play with her toy cars. I took a deep breath and continued. "And as you probably already know, tomorrow will be the last time I take on the role of a centurion."
I said, glancing at my wife, who quickly averted her gaze and began alphabetically arranging the kitchen spices.
In response to my announcement, both of them grimaced. Of course, they were already aware of the news through Krisztina, but hearing it from me somehow solidified things for them as well.
"Damn, Sam's a jerk," David summed it up briefly.
"And what's the plan?" Ed asked. "Are you staying with the team but not leading? Or are you completely stepping out of the game?"
That's a very good question, I thought. If I resign from the centurion rank and from leading others, will I be able to continue as a simple legionary? What is my goal with this decision? To have more time for weekend work? So I don't have to do extra tasks on my weekends as a centurion, and I can spend more time with my family? I haven't fully thought through this part. What was certain, though, is that I wouldn't be leading the presentations. I invest a lot of extra energy and time for a pat on the back.
"I don't know yet, Ed," I said honestly.
For a while, the three of us stood in silence in the kitchen. Krisztina had already gone in to play with the child, and only the muffled laughter could be heard from the room.
"After tomorrow's event, let's go for a drink! I know a good place not far from the event venue. We'll have a drink, relax a bit, and everything will be fine!" David suggested.
"I don't like to say it..." Ed began. "But I have to agree with our dear friend. A few beers might be just what you need right now."
In the next few hours, we discussed the Sunday show. Then, Ed's wife Molly came up. She was preparing surprise cookies for the whole group and couldn't tear herself away from the kitchen. But Ed told us that she would love to spend some time with Astrid. Then, David complained that today's women are somehow not like they used to be. They come and go easily. There's no passion in them, just momentary sparks that quickly fade after the charm of novelty wears off.
Of course, Ed and I expressed our sincere condolences about David's life filled with women. It was horrible to hear how many women he had already been through this month...
Sometime during our conversation, it occurred to me that I could check their "character sheets." So I quickly took advantage of the opportunity.
Name:
Edward Moore
Sex:
Male
Age:
37
Opinion about you:
75/100
Close Friend
Skills (Top 3)
Driving 10th level
Navigation 7th level
Vehicle Maintenance 6th level
Potential (Top)
Teaching 14th level
Motivation 10th level
Mentoring 10th level
Teaching at level 14? I was surprised. Ed had been involved in transportation since a young age, so driving and related skills didn't surprise me. But finding himself in teaching genuinely caught me off guard.
Name:
David Shield
Sex:
Male
Age:
28
Opinion about you:
69/100
Close Friend
Skills (Top 3)
Piano 9th level
Knitting 6th level
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Flirting 6th level
Potential (Top 3)
Persuasion 13th level
Negotiation 10th level
Manipulation 10th level
Of course, his opinion of me is 69. Who wouldn't?
"David... Do you actually knit?" I asked out of the blue, and he just stared at me for a moment. Then, his pupils dilated, and sheer terror appeared on his face.
"N-n-no-no-no-no. Of course not. Why would I knit?" he stammered, then licked his lips and continued more confidently. "I only knit one thing: my time with a beautiful woman."
Ed and I exchanged glances and nodded.
"Guys, why would I ever knit?"
For the next half hour, we had to listen to how his fingers created magic on the piano and how hundreds of women wove around him.
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David set off before dusk as he had a performance at a nearby bar. Meanwhile, Ed stayed for another half hour to play with Astrid. We invited him to have dinner with us, but he declined. Molly, besides the cookies, had also prepared heavenly Bolognese, so he reserved his stomach for that.
"Don't go, Uncle Ed! You can sleep on the couch! Loooook, I'll bring you a pillow too!" Astrid exclaimed, rushing to get my pillow from the room.
"Hurry up, while he's not here!" I said, already opening the door for her.
She shook her head with a smile. "How could I do that to my dear adopted daughter?"
It took another half hour until Astrid finally let go of Ed. They said a tearful goodbye to each other, but eventually, we managed to send him on his way home.
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"What was that question about knitting?" inquired my wife.
"Hmm? Oh, that... Um... Do you remember the system I told you about? How I can see others' skills and potential?"
"It vaguely rings a bell, yes."
"David's highest skills were in playing the piano, knitting, and flirting."
Krisztina stared at me for a moment, then brought in one of Astrid's knitted hats from outside.
"Astrid got this from David a year ago. Since then, I know he can knit. But I'm sure he wouldn't have told either of you." Her piercing eyes almost penetrated my soul.
"Why don't you tell me again what your system can do, and let's figure out how we could further test it."
For the next two hours, Astrid got to watch cartoons while Krisztina and I discussed the system. Even if just for the sake of novelty, my wife was willing to engage in a serious conversation about it, and we managed to clarify several things. One of them was that, as I suspected earlier, it wasn't a superhero maker. Krisztina pointed out that the system's purpose could be to enhance the potential of a larger group, which, with the help of tokens, could further boost the abilities of an even broader community.
We had two issues. One was how to acquire potential points that could be spent in the store. The other was how to make the proof more credible for my wife and myself, ensuring it wasn't just imagination.
"You mentioned that the 'character sheets' display the person's name, right?" my wife asked suddenly.
I nodded. "What do you think about me pointing at random people tomorrow, and you tell me their names and highest skills? Then we approach them and inquire about it."
"Well," I began, contemplating, "my dear, you're a genius!" I grinned and embraced my wife. "Since you were so clever, maybe you'll have some luck tonight!" I continued mischievously. "I checked! My love-making skill is only at level 6! It could use a level-up!" I winked theatrically.
She just smiled and shrugged.
But she didn't say no!
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April 10, 2024 (Sunday), Planet Earth, Hungary, Budapest
"HOLD THE LINE! HOLD THE LINE!" I bellowed to my legionaries.
"HOLD THE LINE!" I heard, as my optio was already rushing to confront the guilty one.
"Mike, how many times have I told you to hold that damn line?" David reprimanded the guilty legionary.
There was still an hour until the start, and we went through the final warm-up exercises. Due to my injured leg, David volunteered to take on the running/scolding duties today, while I focused on issuing commands and interacting with the audience. That's when I saw Krisztina and Astrid emerging among the tents.
"Gentlemen! Half-hour break! Eat, drink, use the restroom. "In thirty minutes, we will gather up here for the start. Dismissed!" I announced, then made my way towards my family.
By the time I reached them, Astrid had already joined a crafting workshop. They were making various things out of clay, and my daughter was enthusiastically creating one of each. In my mind, I hoped the clay was of good quality, as otherwise, my wife would likely spend the next few minutes cleaning her nails.
"How's everything going?" Krisztina embraced me. "Do the others know yet?"
"I'll tell them afterward," I replied.
"Sam?"
"Haven't run into Sam yet," I shook my head.
Krisztina squeezed my hand sympathetically.
"Alright, let's get into it!" she said, pointing to the crafting workshop instructor.
"Ted Moosby, highest skills in crafting, accounting, and negotiating," I whispered to my wife, who nodded in agreement.
"Ted Moosby? Oh my, is it really you? We met at the accounting firm almost two years ago. What happened to you? How are you?" Ted was genuinely surprised, but soon he smiled and replied, "I'm feeling great. Thank you for asking, ma'am. Unfortunately, I got fired from the firm a year and a half ago, so I've been living off my hobby since then." He smiled broadly. "It's the best thing that ever happened to me! Would any of you like to buy something? I'll give you a 10% discount!"
Eventually, we bought a nicely crafted container from him. Krisztina then pointed to the next person.
"At the hot dog stand, there's a woman standing alone, slowly trying to demolish her lunch."
"Karen Smith, photography, dance, and massage."
In the next moment, Krisztina was already standing next to Karen.
"Karen? I've seen your photos, and they are simply stunning! You're a true talent! Does dancing and massage still work for you?"
Karen almost spat out her hot dog. "Thank you! Of course! Would you like to schedule a massage appointment?"
"Yes! That would be fantastic!" my wife said. "But we have to wait until the end of the event. I promised my husband I wouldn't leave him alone for more than 20 seconds today, just to make sure he doesn't hurt himself again. See him..." Krisztina pointed at me. "Doesn’t he look like someone who might get injured again soon. Oh dear."
They chatted for a while, and then my wife, with a pensive look, sat down on the bench next to me.
"We'll talk about this more at home, but I'm starting to believe you," she said.
"Krisztina! Oh, it's so great to see you! Could you help a bit with the cookies?" Molly, Ed's wife, asked, holding a tray of treats and trying to balance her way through the tents and people.
"Molly! Of course, I'm on my way!" Krisztina said, turning back to me quickly. "By the way, your brother is finally here. I saw his car when we came in."
This was good news. I genuinely felt happy that he could make it, as we had been seeing each other less and less lately. It had been a year since we last crossed paths. I was about to go and look for him, but the drumbeat signaling the end of the half-hour sounded. I said my goodbyes to my wife and dear daughter, who didn't even notice I was there, and limped back to my soldiers.
By the time I got back to the others, David, with Ed's help, had already organized them into formation. I finally saw Sam as well, accompanied by three other men in suits. They were chatting and strolling among my soldiers, laughing and pointing. One of them noticed me, said something to Sam, who then finally turned towards me and, with a smile on his face, walked briskly in my direction, with the others following.
"Marcuuuuus! My favourite centurion!" He wanted to give me a hug, but he must have thought better of it, considering the suit he was wearing. He quickly switched to a handshake and a pat on the shoulder. "Tim Burton, Steve Clinton, let me introduce you to our fearless leader, Marcus Lucius Augustus!" he declared theatrically, gesturing wildly with his hands. The monkey... I thought. "Don't laugh, Steve... that really is his name!" he said, and all three of them burst into laughter.
I clenched my fist around the hilt of my sword as anger began to surge through me. Perhaps Sam noticed, as he quickly raised both of his hands.
"We're just joking, Marcus. Just joking. No need to take it so seriously," he said in a conciliatory tone, but it didn't help the fact that the other two suited lackeys continued to grin maliciously.
"My friends work at the European National Security under my father. I'm just showing them around and introducing them to my little hobby project," Sam explained then pointed at my face. "Marcus, you look so authentic today. I knew you took your role seriously, but this... this is surprising. Impressive."
This genuinely surprised me. I had never heard such sincere words from him. Of course, the subject of money once again remained untouched, and I kept my resignation to myself. This would not be the place to discuss it in front of my soldiers. After his last statement, I might make one last attempt to negotiate a salary.
As the uninvited guests left, I returned to the present. My legionaries, led by David, were waiting for me. They had witnessed my conversation with Sam and his gang. Some had pity in their eyes, some empathy, and some were unaffected. But what was I supposed to do? We couldn't afford conflicts. Not today.
"Gentlemen, to your positions! The crowd is waiting!" I said, trying to push aside the unpleasant encounter.
As we marched towards the arena, the drumbeat started again. The crowd cheered, the tension built up, and for a moment, I forgot about my troubles. The show must go on.
As the gates of the arena swung open, revealing the eager crowd, I took a deep breath. The cheers grew louder. I looked at my legionaries, their armor gleaming in the sunlight, their weapons at the ready. Today, we would put on a show that would be remembered for years to come.
I counted to ten and immersed myself into the role.
The sun hung high in the sky, a beautiful expanse of clear blue overhead. In the distance, crows circled, anticipating the beginning of bloodshed. I whispered my final prayer to Mars, then turned to my legionaries. Slowly, I limped through the ranks—forty men, forty soldiers, forty fathers, brothers, and friends. Forty men that I will lead into battle on this day. Some among us would not return. More vacancies within the centuria, already operating at half strength. The legatus promising reinforcements every spring, but it had been a long while since we received any.
I stopped before a few of my men, exchanging words. Some needed encouragement, others a reprimand. I noted down a couple of names with my optio, earmarking them for latrine duty in the coming week. My aquilifer stood above the rest, the legion's eagle held high in his hands. His armor gleamed flawlessly, and his gaze was resolute. Oh, how I wished for forty more like him. I patted his shoulder with admiration.
"On this day, Rome shall be proud of her sons," I declared to those gathered around.
"Hodie est dies, cum in acie cum hostibus nostris convenimus. Hodie est dies..." I began my speech, but David cleared his throat beside me, causing me to pause and survey the surroundings. Uncertain glances surrounded me.
"Barbari," I muttered under my breath.
The enchantment broke for a moment, but I reached for its last shreds and embraced it once again.
With firm yet deliberate steps, I marched back to the forefront of my men, my loyal optio by my side. His piercing gaze surveyed the ranks of soldiers.
As we waited, more and more plebs gathered around us. They came to witness the glorious battle against the barbarian Germans. Entire families arrived, sitting on benches with their children, enjoying elaborate meals. They chatted loudly, laughter filling the air. In the front rows, I spotted a beautiful dark-haired woman with her daughter. They waved to me, and I nodded in acknowledgment. Glancing at the ring on my left hand, I slowly raised it to my lips and kissed it.
When the plebs' packed, dense rows enclosed us entirely, the hordes of barbarians emerged. Their motley ranks approached with determined steps, their leader, a burly blond man, marching at the forefront. Most of them lacked armor, wearing only thick clothing. In their hands, spears and wooden shields. Helmets were a rare sight. Only their leader and a few elite warriors wore chainmail and carried swords.
As the distance narrowed to barely ten meters, they stopped. Their leader continued alone. I nodded to my optio and advanced toward the German.
"Hello Marcus! Good to see you! Heard your wife is pregnant again! Good work," the barbarian warrior said cheerfully.
"Salve Sigmund," I began loudly enough for the surrounding people to hear. My deep, powerful voice had been honed by years of practice. "Your barbarian horde has come this far and no farther. Turn back in peace, or face the wrath of Rome." I said, then continued softly, "Thank you! Krisztina is already 6 months pregnant and so far, she's doing great. After the battle, I'll introduce you to my daughter as well."
"Sounds great" he replied quietly, then continued in a loud voice, "For years, you've taxed our villages. Took our wheat and our women. Rome brought not peace but tyranny to our home. If we don't fight for our families today, there may be none left tomorrow."
"So be it, German," I responded calmly. "You've chosen death over life. War over peace. Your words will be carried away by the wind, your bones ground to dust by time, and your sword will rust like scrap metal under a tree. While Rome's glory is eternal, its power boundless, you all will perish here today for nothing." I shouted loudly, then theatrically turned back towards my men.
"Rome's sons! Duty calls us today to take up arms and defend our beloved Republic. Duty and discipline set us apart from these uncivilized barbarians. Our Imperator, the beloved Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, finally brought peace after a long age of strife," I glanced at the plebs and shook my head slowly.
"But Rome's peace, the PAX ROMANA, is now in danger, and it is our duty to defend this peace even at the cost of our lives." I practically shouted.
"The gods are with us! The barbarians will feel Rome's wrath today! Today, we fight, and if need be, we die! For the Emperor! For the Republic! FORWARD!" I yelled and pointed my drawn sword toward the barbarians.
As our front lines advanced, the barbarians also formed their battle formation. I cursed the quartermasters for not providing us with pilum, throwing javelins. They would have been greatly useful now.
The two formations halted just a meter apart. No one dared to take the first step. Everyone scrutinized the one standing before them, the one they would either kill or be killed by.
Before I could urge my men to attack, the massive barbarian leader stepped forward, and with his chosen warriors, charged the center of our frontline. The first few legionaries fell before the others could recover from the brutal assault.
The other barbarians threw themselves into the fray as well, and their wedge formation began penetrating our ranks.
"HOLD THE LINE! HOLD THE LINE! PUSH THEM BACK!" I shouted, thrusting my sword into the barbarian standing before me, who collapsed theatrically and tried to roll out from underfoot.
I saw Ed raising the legion's eagle high, trying to rally the men around him, but the barbarians kept pushing forward.
Then realization struck me. These barbarians wanted the legion's standard.
Unearthly rage engulfed me. I could not allow the desecration of our standard, our symbol. Red-faced, screaming, I tried to cut through my men to reach my aquilifer, who was already engaged in combat.
Neither barbarian nor legionary could stop me as I plunged towards the standard. But just a few meters away, Ed fell. I watched as nearby legionaries tried to grab the standard, but the giant barbarian was faster. With a greedy grin, he hoisted the eagle high on its staff and swung it like a trophy. He didn't notice when I reached him and thrust my sword toward his chest.
In the last moment, he reacted to my blade and parried with the staff. A singular purpose consumed me—to retrieve our standard and wash away this shame. Rationality abandoned me as I released my sword and threw myself toward the standard with both hands.
I managed to grab it and pulled. However, the barbarian proved to be a formidable opponent. His bundled muscles tensed, veins pulsated in his neck, and I slowly began losing ground. Fortunately, nearby legionaries had enough presence of mind to rush to my aid. Together, we pulled against the barbarian, who also found reinforcements.
Our colossal struggle in the middle of the battlefield, as two groups of soldiers tried to obtain the standard, reached its climax. One barbarian's foot slipped, pulling another down with him. Amidst the sudden chaos, the barbarian leader lost his grip on the standard. I and my men tumbled to the ground, but we had succeeded. We reclaimed it.
As I rose, holding the standard tightly, I shouted, "ROMA INVICTA! ROMA INVICTA!" Triumphantly, I looked around. Bewildered, incomprehending gazes met mine. The battle subsided. Former enemies stood shoulder to shoulder, all gazing in the same direction. A child began crying in the crowd, and a sudden shadow covered the landscape.
With the standard in my hand, I slowly turned around and looked up. The eagle, for which I had fought so hard, slipped slowly from my grasp and fell into the dust.
Above us, a spaceship glided across the sky.