Sigonella Naval Hospital, 7:03 AM, 17th of November, 1639

Tommaso gently brought the pastry up to his lips as he took a bite somewhat weakly. He sat in the hospital bed of his room as his cup of coffee was only half-finished. The young man hesitated closing his eyes as the air stung at his pupils from him trying to keep his eyelids open. He had been sleeping for... who knows how long, and he had no intentions of sleeping again.

Tommaso rubbed his eyes tiredly as he sighed and set down the pastry in his hand onto the tray. He looked to the side to see the bouquet of flowers Dante left him— 'Rest up while I kick ass!' the note read. Yeah right, Tommaso thought. As he decided to not finish his breakfast today, he instead tried to drink as much of the coffee as possible before a bit of nausea hit him as he shuddered. That's enough for now...

He sighed as he leaned against the hospital bed which was propped up for his comfort. Tommaso eyed the TV on the wall as the morning news played on. Mostly interviews and footage of the Lourian War.

He had been awake for... two days now. If waking up at 11:47 PM last night counted as an extra day. And with his first meal in a while, Tommaso couldn't help but think how strange it was to feel both hungry and full at the same time.

A knock then came from the door and Tommaso expected it was the nurse who brought breakfast. But then he realised it was a middle aged man in a military uniform with the tag Caruso. Realising who it was, Tommaso went wide eyed and sat up as he tried to salute only for Giuseppe to raise his hand, "At ease soldier. You need all the rest you can get."

"Y-yes sir..." Tommaso said as he leaned back against the bed while he held his blanket. Why was he here? Oh god, he was gonna be dishonourably discharged wasn't he? For being hit by a damn boulder while in a helicopter! How incompetent could he be!?

Giuseppe realised there was now worry on Tommaso's face and with an almost fatherly smiled, he spoke, "You're not in trouble, Rosa. We're just here to check on you."

We? Tommaso then perched his head to the side a bit to see two other men with Giuseppe. One had his phone and another looked like he was recording Tommaso. With a more skeptical look, the young man looked to his superior, "Check on me about what exactly, sir?"

Guiseppe looked to his men before he eventually pulled up a seat as he sat beside the bed. He took a moment to find his words before he spoke, "You see, son... Italy might be getting into another war soon. But this time it is very important that we make sure to do this right. You are aware of the War God Emissaries, right?"

"... yes sir," Tommaso said as he furrowed his eyebrows. "Roman soldiers summoned from Britannia to fight Nosgorath and his soldiers."

"Indeed... wait, Britannia? Britain? How... do you know that, son?" Giuseppe said with surprise.

Tommaso sighed, "The whole time I was asleep I've been dreaming about one of the legionaries. It... sounds unbelievable, I know."

"Rosa, Italy is in a world of wizards and elves. You dreaming of a past life being a Roman soldier isn't the most ridiculous thing I've heard."

"That isn't my past life, sir. At least I don't think so... I don't want to think so. I'm my own man," Tommaso said with a little huff as he closed his eyes.

"Alright, Rosa... let's get back on track now shall we?" Giuseppe said before he looked back to the two men as he nodded, "Now then, tell me... what can you remember from your dreams?"

"Well..." Tommaso huffed, "The first thing I remember is his name. His... name was..."

...

"Never surrender Timutheus! Stand up and claim victory with us!" A blond man yelled down to the black haired soldier beneath him as he offered his hand to his fallen comrade.

Timutheus looked up to his fellow soldier as he grabbed his hand and was pulled up. He winced as he held his shoulder which had a crude arrow stuck into it. He looked to his comrade as he spoke, "Darius my arm! I cannot swing my sword with this in it!"

Darius eyed the arrow before he nodded. As he tore off a part of his cape, he spoke, "Prepare yourself!" With a harsh tug, Timutheus yelled out in pain before Darius tied the fabric around the wound in him as he spoke with a more determined grin. "Come on now, Timutheus! Are you such a weakling due to an arrow!?"

Timutheus growled in annoyance, "Quiet!" He said before he eyed the scene. It had been a few days since a grandeur mission was placed upon the Romans of Britannia. The dull clouds of the island was replaced with bright sunshine and yet the scene beyond them was nothing more than a massacre.

Timutheus looked around as Darius helped another comrade. Unknown barbarians that turned into their allies fought equally daunting warriors of ugly appearance. Demons, as they were called. He eyed one sharp-eared warrior. Timutheus remembered their abilities before he yelled, "You there, I need aid!"

The elf looked to the side before he rushed over to Timutheus as he removed the fabric to reveal the wound. With a huff, the elf quickly poured out a mysterious glistening water as the wound was now being healed almost instantly. They must be demigods, surely; Timutheus thought.

As he felt his shoulder now feel better, Timutheus grabbed his sword as he looked to Darius, "This is how you heal a wound, friend! Not act like some barbarian with a stick!"

"Oh be grateful, comrade! Now onward!!" Darius yelled with his sword raised as Timutheus followed behind.

...

The seawater laid not glistening shimmers under the moonlight, but crude blood and gore within the waves. Timutheus and his fellow soldiers ate meat and vegetables prepared by the strange sharp-eared demigods as they quickly dug into their food. Like many, Timutheus couldn't quite exactly put to words why the food of these people seemed extra delicious and he certainly wasn't complaining.

Timutheus then eyed Darius as he too was digging into his meat quickly. It had been a long day of battling and their legion was just about ready to pass out for the night. He sighed softly as he ate his food before Darius nudged at him, "Is something plaguing you?" He asked to Timutheus.

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Likewise Timutheus shook his head, "No none at all... why do you ask that?"

"Well... There is with me. I know we were in the heat of the battle but I'd like to apologise for simply pulling that arrow out your shoulder," Darius said with a little sigh as he was a bit embarrassed having to apologise like this.

Timutheus blinked before he snickered, "Oh the great Darius apologising? Or have I been poisoned and hallucinating?"

"Ha ha, you ought to appreciate me apologising. It's a decade frequent gift for you," Darius said with a little grin.

"Oh alright, apology accepted," Timutheus said before he showed off his shoulder. "No need to worry, I'm just about healed up thanks to the demigod."

Darius eyed Timutheus's shoulder before he poked it gently, "It's still such a wonder the Gods have chosen us for their battle... an honour, truly."

"That I agree with, friend."

...

Another battle had ended and the legionaries were exhausted. The clouds above nearly reminded Timutheus of Britannia. How deeply he missed their world. Despite the smell of iron in the air, he went and sat down on a dragon carcass as he sighed.

Darius was just as bloodied up, both due to being wounded and killing. He held a flask of the special water the elves use as he poured a bit onto his arm, "One of the demigods have died... I would have let her keep this but, it seems we should not waste it."

Timutheus looked up, his head bloodied by a beast scratches. He removed his helmet and lifted his hair to reveal deep gashes as he spoke weakly, "Give me some of that..."

Darius went wide eyed and rushed to Timutheus. He gently grabbed his head and angled it to have him look up before he poured the water onto his wounds. As it glistened, the gashes closed up as Darius spoke, "You ought to be more careful next time, Timutheus. I... we can't lose such a valuable warrior such as yourself."

"Oh please, you simply say that to lift my spirits," Timutheus said as he rolled his eyes. He looked to Darius as he watched him pour the water. It was a rare sight, to see Darius look so gentle and concerned. Not often he'd see that on him. He looked away as he muttered. "Thank you, regardless..."

Darius smiled, "No problem, comrade..." He said before he handed the flask to Timutheus. "You ought to keep this. I trust my life with you more than with me, so I can surely trust you with this water."

With that, Timutheus took the flask in his hand as he laughed, "You're becoming smarter by the day, Darius," he said as he latched it onto his belt.

...

The ground shook underneath Timutheus's feet as another set of flaming rock struck at the massive hordes of demons on the fields. Amidst the chaos, Timutheus slashed the neck of a goblin as blood sprayed onto his armour. He looked at the scene beyond him; hundreds of men battled wretched barbarians as his fellow legionaries slaughtered them. And yet beyond the fields he could see hundreds more as if an endless sea of them approached wave after wave.

Timutheus looked back as he raised his shield and blocked an incoming arrow before he yelled, "There's too many of them! We can't hold them off!" He called out as he slashed the head off a demon.

"Nonsense, Timutheus! We can take them!" Darius said with a more determined look but behind those eyes, Timutheus could see that even he was starting to become nervous with the ongoing battle. There was no substance or organisation due to how the enemies were fighting. No formation or true leader, only one command; to kill.

The ground shook once more as another set of flaming rock hit the sea of demons. Timutheus stepped back before he went wide eyed as he could see oncoming large wyverns, "Flying demons incoming!!"

His fellow men looked back to see demonic wyverns as they watched the beasts let out their flames and swoop into the Romans with no regard for their own warriors as they knocked back some of the legionaries. But then Timutheus looked back as he saw Darius within the path of one of the wyverns as he held off two goblins.

"Darius, watch out!" Timutheus said in fear as he ran to the man and pushed him out of the way. But then suddenly he yelled in pain as the wyvern latched onto him, its claws pierced into Timutheus as it flew away.

Realising what just happened, Darius's heart dropped to his stomach as he started to run after the wyvern, "Timutheus, no!!"

Timutheus watched the soldiers beneath get smaller as he struggled in the hold of the wyvern. Worse yet, he could feel a deep gash in his chest as he hastily pulled out the flask of the special water and poured some onto his wound. But suddenly he could hear a sizzle as the demonic wyvern roared in pain. Timutheus was nearly dropped as he yelped and latched onto the wyvern's leg. The water burnt it? Realising a way out for himself and also glory, Timutheus growled more in determination as he started to crawl towards the wyvern's head.

As it realised what was happening, the wyvern started to fly around erratically as Timutheus pierced his sword into its flesh to stabilise himself, "Oh Gods, save me!!" He said. With a huff he then quickly rushed to the beast's neck as he yelled and stabbed his sword into its flesh. As it roared, it tried to reach for Timutheus who opened up the wound further. These things have been tough to kill, even with a stab into the neck. Maybe, just maybe; Timutheus quickly poured the special water into the wyvern's flesh as it roared more in pain. He watched the flesh within sizzle as the water dug deeper into the wyvern. The wyvern's flapping then got weaker before it started falling.

"Shit!" Timutheus held onto the wyvern as he yelled in fear before they eventually crashed. He flew off the wyvern as he hit a tree at an unlucky angle. A branch pierced into his flesh as he yelled in pain once he landed.

Timutheus took a moment to pant as he looked around. He was in some sort of forest in who knows where. He held his stomach tightly as he raised his tunic to see the deep gash with the branch stuck inside. Timutheus quickly grabbed the flask as he poured onto it only to see mere droplets.

"... oh Gods," Timutheus said nervously as he forced himself to stand up. He looked around and eyed the sun. He just needs to follow it. Eventually he'll come back out.

...

Timutheus had been stumbling about for hours now and each step he took, the weaker he felt as he had to use a left behind vexillum for support. He stumbled through the forest as dawn turned to dusk and eventually, twilight. He couldn't possibly go on, and yet he must. He needed to see his countrymen, his home... and Darius. And yet even so, Timutheus nearly tripped as he stabbed his sword into a stone while he panted quickly.

He sighed softly as he dropped the vexillum and eventually he sat against the rock. Timutheus eyed the scene before him. Endless yet serene forest, glowing little flying specks, and a sky which slowly revealed the stars beyond it.

The only thing he could say about it was that it was beautiful. As he felt himself get more delirious, Timutheus shuddered at the cooling air around him as he relaxed his head against the stone.

He just needs to sleep for a moment. Just a little nap... and tomorrow, surely Timutheus will wake up, and meet with Darius. He can already imagine it, being teased for getting lost from the group like a dog. The name Timutheus Atticus Paullus will surely become of humour and not honour.

Timutheus scoffed out as he smiled weakly. And as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep slumber.

...

Tommaso stared at the hospital blankets as he gripped the fabric. There was only silence within the hospital room save for the continuous beats of the heart monitor as his hands slowly tightened and loosened on his blanket. Giuseppe looked to his men before he nodded. Tommaso has had enough and the only decent thing to do is to let him rest some more. It was only right.

With that the general looked back, "Thank you, Rosa. We'll come by when you get back in tip-top shape, alright?" Giuseppe said with a fatherly smile before he stood up. With that he and his men walked out as he shut the door behind him.

Tommaso didn't look up for a fair moment. If he was being honest, Tommaso was deeply troubled. The more he dreamt of his past life, the more these memories became vivid. And the more he felt a hole in his heart that wasn't there at all.

Tommaso then slowly looked to the bouquet of flowers on the table. He gently grabbed the note on it and reread Dante's messy handwriting. As he narrowed his eyes, Tommaso's hand flinched a bit when something dripped onto the paper. He went wide eyed a bit as more droplets came down, and slowly he raised his fingers to his eyes. Was... he crying? Why was he crying?

He didn't know. He didn't know why he was suddenly crying. Tommaso decided to just let the tears fall as he wiped his eyes. And as he did, he started to wonder now, if he was Tommaso Rosa, or truly Timutheus Atticus Paullus.