Chapter 8 Titus (1/2)

t.i.tus sat heavily behind his desk. The desk was similar to the man in many respects, unadorned, rough even, and solid. Thick boards of stonewood he'd harvested himself in the second strata, made up the surface on which he worked. The desk had to be joined together since he couldn't find a nail that would go through the stuff. The wood was stubborn, unyielding, that's why he liked it.

Gripped in his thick, ungraceful fingers was a folded piece of paper, a letter, covered in angry and insulting scrawl. Another letter of complaint from the Mercenary Union, Tiria chapter.

t.i.tus reached inside his Legionary coat pocket with his free hand, withdrawing a smooth metal box attached to his belt by a chain. Placing down the letter he used both hands to place his fingers just so, frowning when he needed four tries to position his thick fingers correctly, before the box opened with a snap.

From within the case a blue glow spilled onto the desk and briefly illuminated t.i.tus' face as he opened the case and stared hard at the contents, then snapped it shut, placing the case back into his inner pocket.

He opened a draw, removed a fresh piece of paper, collected his pen and began to compose a reply.

”Corrin,

as stated in the initial announcement five days ago, ambient mana levels within the dungeon are climbing and continue to do so, it is the opinion of the Legion that a wave is likely to occur within a week, but AS YOU KNOW, these predictions can be inaccurate and a wave can break with very short notice.

In the interest of keeping YOUR MEMBERS ALIVE we have exercised our right to control Dungeon access in the city of Liria and will be undertaking aggressive action to ensure the safety of the citizens.

If some of your parties are unable to conduct their activities in the dungeon during this time, I regret to inform you that I DON'T GIVE A d.a.m.n.

After the wave is finished or when ambient mana levels return to normal your members will once again be granted access to the Dungeon, not before.

Get stuffed,

t.i.tus.

Commander, Legionem Abyssi, Liria”

Perhaps not his most diplomatic missive, t.i.tus mused, but he was never very good at playing nice with idiots. One of the main reasons why he hadn't wanted this job.

Almost against his will, his eyes slid to the corner of his office where, tucked behind a cabinet gathering dust, was an enormous battle-axe leaning against the wall. Almost six feet long from head to haft, the thick metal didn't look as if it had been polished in years.

Sighing, t.i.tus once more turned to his letter, folded it, sealed it with wax and placed it in his mail tray for one of the auxiliaries to deliver later in the day.

As he reached for the next letter of complaint, this one from the Minister of the Path, he heard the sound of feet pounding on stone, growing louder as several figures approached his office.

t.i.tus could feel the blood stirring in his veins. Perhaps he could avoid his paperwork today.

Ten minutes later he'd arrived at the forward garrison, blasting open the ma.s.sive doors with a single hand, he advanced into the building like a storm. The soldiers on duty, Legionaries all, saluted respectfully as he pa.s.sed by, fists cras.h.i.+ng into armored chests and heads lowered wherever he went.

Without speaking the Centurions on duty fell into step behind him as he marched through the stone plaza towards the breach in the earth that was the Dungeon entrance in Liria city.

The opening was four metres wide and similarly tall, wide enough for supply carts and large groups to pa.s.s through on extended expeditions. The s.p.a.ce around the entrance was flat stone floor for thirty metres in every direction then a circular wall three metres high surrounded it, manned by archers and mages at all times, creating an open killing floor for any monsters who surged out of the tunnel.

t.i.tus stared at the rent in the ground for several long seconds before he stepped down, submerging himself in the darkness. He prevented himself from inhaling as deeply as he wanted to, bringing the Dungeon air and its rich mana into his lungs. Instead he trailed his hand across the stone, his thick skin sc.r.a.ping on the rock as he walked.

Down the steps he could see the first of several guard stations, each usually manned by two legionaries, was now fully complemented with a team of five. They turned to salute him as he pa.s.sed but were disciplined enough to use the silent solute here beneath the earth, bringing their right fist into the open palm of their left in front of their heart.

Their commander gave them a nod before he moved forward pa.s.sed the next three posts until he reached the first. Ten legionaries occupied the wall here, two mages took turns to maintain the flame that illuminated the tunnel.

As he approached, with two centurions still in lock step behind him he found the woman he was looking for inside the guard post, pouring over maps on the table with some of her soldiers.