Alexios nodded slowly in quiet understanding.
"Then you would better hope, for your sake, that you bring good fortune. For tomorrow you lead us in a siege."
Rainer's eyes slowly widened, becoming alarmed. And then he suddenly lurched forward, arms straining against the ropes.
"Le-lead a what now?!" He sputtered in astonishment.
The Prefect let out an imperceptible, dismal sigh.
"Rebels, mostly Thracian skirmishers have overwhelmed a local garrison fort in this area. We were immediately sent to take it back. We've attacked twice now; once this morning and a disastrous assault at noon. We were repelled both times.
"Tomorrow at the crack of dawn we will try again. It must be taken as soon as possible, even if I must expend everything within my means."
His tone hardened at the end, a certain severity weighing on his brows.
Rainer reflexively opened his mouth to argue but no words came out. His face wrinkled slightly before morphing into an ugly frown.
While it seemed like a bad situation, in truth this was one of the best situations he could face. He had lived for countless of human years, and martial conflict wasn't something he was unused to—putting it lightly.
However, knowing how to fight was different from having that reliable combat muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, and the battle-trained physique which only came from practice.
They were traits this body didn't have, given its prior status as a labour slave.
He felt that if he had a week, or even three days, he could train himself to death and build up a bit of assurance. By then, things would definitely be different. However, for all he knew, there were only a few hours left.
Alexios keenly observed his changing difficult expressions and inquired.
"Is there a problem?"
Rainer gritted his teeth and shook his head.
"No."
The prefect nodded.
"Good, for there can be no objections. An esteemed patrician passes through here tomorrow evening. I would not have him meet this garrison fort still contested. Thus, I will therefore count on your good fortune."
With that said, he drew himself up to his feet and solemnly surveyed the crowd.
"That is my judgment." He declared with finality.
Seeing that no one dared go against his decision, Alexios turned to Rainer.
"The only way I'll accept your atrocious claim as the son of Mars is if you are first on those walls tomorrow." He stated, idly resting a hand on his gladius. "And by the end, when we have taken the garrison fort I shall free you from your slavery—if you still draw breath, that is."
With that, Alexios turned around to his tent but stopped at the tent's flaps to glance back at Rainer.
"Tonight, I shall send someone to brief you on the situation. For now, given my men's unease at your presence, you will be sleeping outside the camp whilst under watch... That is all." He turned and went into his tent.
Meanwhile, Rainer had been listening with a gloomy expression.
When he glanced at Commius, he saw him watching Alexios' tent darkly.
*Guuurl!*
Rainer's stomach suddenly growled loudly and this startled Commius. Then he turned to Rainer with a cautious frown.
He suddenly spat on the ground toward him and turned to dismiss the soldiers.
"Return to your tents! Milites on watch duty get to your positions—"
The words were barked out, but they soon faded, muffling into echoes as Rainer's eyes gradually shut, and he lost consciousness.
–––
When he opened his eyes again it was not to a line-up of hardened killers but a vast starry sky.
Rainer lay at a spot on the cold, hard ground. Head propped up on a particularly nicely shaped rock. He felt the winds blow softly, gently caressing his skin and he subconsciously observed his appearance.
On his body was a simple coarse tunic and worn, calf-length trousers; his feet were bare, and his brown hair was short and rough.
He thoughtlessly ran a hand through his hair before glancing sideways at the camp.
The torch-lit gate and pallisade walls stood still and imposing as armored guards watched him silently from beneath the burning torches.
He looked the opposite way, into the dark and saw faint torches moving far within: There were night patrols in the distance.
He let out a sigh and lay back down to look at his hands. Rough, lean light-brown hands, firm and resilient, adapted to the rigors of a hard life in a backward civilization.
He then raised them up to the sky with a small smile settling on his lips, eyes gleaming with ambition.
'With these hands...' He slowly clenched them. 'I shall make the Roman Empire into an empire like none other, or ever will.'
*Crunch!* *Cronch!*
He suddenly heard the sounds of footfalls approaching. However, he didn't drop his hands.
"I had my suspicions they would send you, Kotys." He smirked, and peered up at the looming figure garbed in his lorica hamata, gripping comfortably onto his spear and reinforced oval shield.
Kotys stared down at him with tired, lidded eyes.
"I have been sent to make sure you do not run away." He dryly stated.
Rainer sat up with a smile.
"That's fine. Come, sit! I'm not going anywhere. I know there are patrols further outside, anyway."
Kotys' surprise rang from the slight shake of his armor in his jolt.
Rainer ignored his surprised expression and patted the space beside him with a light chuckle.
"Come now, sit. There's a lot I wish to know about this universe's version of Rome."
Kotys glanced back at the two guards standing at the gate and let out an unwilling sigh. But he went down regardless and sat as Rainer had requested.
Rainer watched him with a curious light in his eyes.
"Now then, shall we begin?"
Kotys kept his spear and shield aside and crossed his legs together. He looked around, silent for a moment before turning to him.
"What do you wish to know? Or rather what don't you know? The gods know everything, right?"
"Hmm."
Rainer hummed in thought for a moment.
"—No."
Kotys raised a brow, expression slightly pinched with doubtful.
"The gods are not all-knowing?"
Rainer cleared his throat and pinched his nose before glancing at him.
"Look, Kotys, you helped me back there. For that I'm grateful. So I'll tell you this... I am not a god."
Kotys' brows immediately furrowed, and his mouth twisted in disgust.
"Y-you are a daemon, then!?"
Rainer rolled his eyes.
"Ugh! What's with you guys and demons? I'm a Qegon!"
Kotys tilted his head, perplexed.
"Egon? What is that?"
"Qe-gons!" Rainer enunciated.
"Ergon?"
Rainer gave up.
"Haah~ Forget it! You only need to know that I am a cosmic entity not from this world. The gods you know and serve do not see me; they do not know me. But at the moment, I am no different from you. I live and die as every mortal does."
Kotys gazed at him with a tense stare, trying hard to process what Rainer had made known to him.
With a resigned sigh, Rainer shook his head and lay back down
After a moment, Kotys looked away and said.
"You will die tomorrow...whatever you are."
Rainer huffed imperceptibly through his nose, letting out a darkly amused smirk.
"Possibly." He conceded. "But that's not for you to worry about. Instead, tell me everything you can about your world."
Kotys looked away, silently organizing his thoughts.
"I believe you seek to know information regarding Rome specifically. Regardless of your claims to be apart from the gods, you seemed to know about the god of war, Mars—even before you were told. So Rome is where I will begin..."