Chapter 442 Devastation (1/2)
t.i.tus surveyed the broken wreckage of the once prosperous city of Liria. The Legion fort around the Dungeon entrance had been levelled giving him a clear view of the devastation the moment he had stepped back onto the surface. Garralosh and her monsters had done their work thoroughly here. Everywhere he looked he saw wreckage, as if the beasts couldn't stand to leave one stone on top of another. The Legion commander felt the pain in his heart as took in the ruins. He could see the ruins of Baker Dockerty's shop from where he stood. The jolly old man had been full of life, ready with a smile and a glazed bun, t.i.tus' favourite, every time he'd stopped by. So much waste, so much loss. All because of one stupid monster.
He blew a breath, releasing the tension building in his chest. What was the point of raging at a dead beast? The kingdom was gone, Garralosh was gone, the Legions' responsibilities in this backward part of the world were over. Still, t.i.tus felt no sense of satisfaction. They hadn't managed to defeat the giant Croc themselves and he was still filled with regret that he had failed to take her life when they had clashed. His axe had bitten her flesh, taken an arm but she had slithered away like a snake. Perhaps if he'd pursued then, he would never have witnessed this scene now, perhaps his son would have taken the trials elsewhere and survived. Regret boiled in his belly.
Sensing her fathers' emotions, Morrelia stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
”You're an idiot,” she said.
t.i.tus turned his stony face toward her.
”You did more for this country, more for this city than any dozen other people in its history combined. You fought harder and longer than even the Legion asked of you. There was nothing more you could have done, so stop being stupid and feeling guilty about this. None of it is your fault.”
Nearby Legionaries looked quite chagrined to hear their revered commander spoken to in this way but what could they do? It was his daughter! t.i.tus himself didn't seem to mind at all. He only nodded and patted the rough and calloused hand on his shoulder with own, equally worn one.
”You always had a way with words, Morr.”
Morrelia snorted.
”No I don't and you know it. I'm just in a unique position to look at you as human instead of a legend.”
”You don't see me as a legend?”
”My memories are of you teaching me how to lace up a boot, not saving the kingdom for the umpteenth time.” She stepped away from her father to run her eyes over the wreckage again. ”I still can't believe this happened. When Anthony and I first came here, this whole s.p.a.ce was filled with monsters, almost every surface was covered with them. How did we ever kill so many?”