Chapter 434: 434
Commander Titus was a stoic man with a reputation for an Iron will and an unbreakable sense of duty . And it was true, he'd lived a hard life and had made hard choices without hesitation . Where others would shirk their responsibilities, Titus shouldered his burden with pride . For this, he was both loved and respected . The commander knew his reputation and did his best to live up to it . Square shoulders and a stern countenance were synonymous with Titus, as if his face and body had been carved from granite .
But if there was one thing that could push him to the edge of cracking, it was the person he saw coming toward him now .
The Legion had marched hard back to Railleh as the wave had waned and the shocking news of Garralosh's demise spread . The Legionaries had been in dire need of rest, but not all were able to receive it . As the technical crews, smiths and enchanters laboured long to repair worn weapons and armour, scouting parties had been dispatched to ascertain the environment within the Bulwark . Messages were sent to every outpost, ritual spells of communication were enacted to reach out to the wider Legion network and now they awaited word from their superiors .
With the wreckage of their homes weighing on their minds, Titus and his troops had been unable to rest . After the centurions had found the third party attempting to escape the barracks and venture to the surface, Titus had considered relenting and allowing a team to establish an outpost on the surface . When the fourth escape party had contained a good number of centurions, Titus finally gave the order that he himself would lead a full column to the surface . All advanced gear was left behind, only leathers and basic weaponry allowed . The soldiers were eager to be away .
Despite their victory in the lines, the soldiers' mood was grim . They knew roughly what awaited them above . A ruined city, a destroyed nation . How many of their loved ones had survived the slaughter? They pushed hard and Titus marched at their head, as relentless and unyielding as a stone . The Legionaries stuck to the main paths, as direct as they could be . What monsters they found were ruthlessly crushed .
On the fourth day, as they were climbing up the main tunnel, they'd heard footsteps coming down . Titus raised a fist, then pointed to his left and right . Immediately archers had moved to covered positions along the walls of the tunnel as shield bearing legionaries formed up beside him . There they had waited as the sounds of approach grew louder . Humans, by the sound of things, a small group, ten or less .
Titus' ears were far from normal . At his level, with his skills and class benefits, he was barely the same species as those who dwelt on the surface . He could clearly hear the footfalls of those approaching, though they were still two hundred metres away . He could make out the tone of their voices, almost the words as well . Then he heard a woman speak, harsh, cutting, and the other voices grew quiet, their steps more careful .
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