Leisurely walking toward the camp's gate, Kotys felt the watchful eyes of patrolling guards on him. He had his oval shield strapped on his back, a small sack in one hand, and his spear in the other.
His gladius was securely sheathed at his waist.
As Kotys approached the servants tents, he came upon Hoplite. He sat folded before the tent, hugging his knees.
Multiples thoughts raced across Kotys' mind as to the cause behind this but he simply stopped before him and nudged him gently with the sack.
Startled, Hoplite's eyes opened abruptly and on reflex raised his arms to sheild a blow. But none came, and he peeked up to find Kotys standing over him.
"Assist me in taking this to—your god."
He commanded, nudging him again with the sack.
....
Some moments later...
They soon came upon the camp's gate, brightened by several torches blazing in the soft wind.
Kotys glanced at the red print on Hoplite's face but never questioned it, at least not outwardly.
He had originally planned to watch Rainer himself tonight. However, since he encountered Hoplite he thought it would be better to take him along for two reasons; one, he could reduce the weight he carried and two, Rainer seemed to like him. He himself had little interactions with the slave.
They stopped under the gate as the blazing torches reflected upon Kotys' worn armor, his shadow dancing to the song of the night.
He let out a weary sigh and looked ahead, but what he saw made his face wrinkle slightly in confusion.
Rainer moved about strangely, quickly leaping from side to side.
"What is he doing?"
Kotys muttered and the gate guard standing on the right answered.
"Perhaps a ritual to summon more of its kin."
Then the one on the left added.
"He has been gathering large stones toward an area for a while now. I thought nothing of it until he began dancing. I—just hope it is a form of worship to his father." He whispered the end in a nervous tone.
The gate guard on the right sneered.
"I don't believe him! He can't be the son of the god of war!" He opined, his suspicious callous eyes locking onto Rainer.
But then he smirked with mirth in his eyes.
"Well, so long as the ground doesn't crack open and start spewing out foul creatures—he presents an entertaining sight to liven our watch."
Kotys frowned and looked between the one on the right and left.
"Pay attention! Arminius! Sinatus! You guard the western gate. Do not get distracted!"
"Aye!"
"Hm!"
Both grunted lightly in reply.
Arminus and Sinatus were both soldiers he were friendly with, soldiers he shared a tent with. It seemed much of his tent mate's were on guard duty that night.
Kotys seemed like he was about to say something more but changed his mind. He looked toward Rainer, hesitated, and began approaching.
"A brave youth you are..." Sinatus, the lean soldier on the left intoned.
"Keep your gladius close, Kotys! I can't save you in time if he suddenly decides to rip your throat out!" Arminius, the stocky soldier on the right advised in a jesting tone.
They both laughed and Kotys shook his head with a tired sigh.
"Idiots." He mumbled under his breath, looking toward Rainer with apprehension.
'...But perhaps, I'm the bigger idiot here.'
He thought, eye tensing as he remembered what happened to the deceased Chief centurion during their noon assault...
-
–
—
*Bam!*
The sound of meat and bones breaking against the ground was clear even in the chaotic din of battle.
"Centurio Vibius has fallen off the wall!"
A soldier yelled out. However, before anyone could react, he stood back up with eyes as black as tar, and gnarly dark veins had begun spreading all over his face from them.
A soldier ran up to him to assist; however, the centurion's hand blurred, and the soldier's head soon went flying.
"Oh no!! The Chief Centurion died and was possessed by a daemon!!!"
"Gods! Why now!? I thought this was rare!"
"It's the third time this month! And now it happened to the Chief centurion?!"
"It's a bad omen from the province of the gods, I say!!"
The daemon opened its mouth, glistening dark with blood and snarled in a loud, monstrous voice.
"Maidenless vermins! A curse on you! Go not into Hell's acursed gate! Bring nought your filth! Bring nought your champion! Or Abyssal Lord Shadarth—"
Its loud raving was soon halted with a javelin to the chest.
A beat—
And it grabbed it, slowly pulling it out with a vengeful scowl.
"My patience comest to an end! You shall all pay in blood!! Your blood for Abyssal Lord Shadarth!!!"
It growled and charged into a column of soldiers, its sheer impact breaking bones and cracking shields, pushing soldiers to the ground.
"Arrgh!"
"Surround it!"
"Shields up! Surround the daemon! Thrust with your spears!"
The centurions and optiones commanded, desperately trying to organize an offensive circle within the scattered formation.
*Swick!* *Splurt!* *Twack!*
"Ugh!"
"Sir! The rebels are raining arrows down on us!"
"Then take it down fast– Ugh!"
"Optio!!"
"Archers! Return fire! Suppress those sons of whores!"
*Bang!*
The daemon shoved a soldier away, sending him flying across soldier's heads like a doll.
"Mortals! Your hubris ensnarls you! A manaless race!? Beings of flesh and blood, daring to partake in the feast of Blaia?! Ha!!"
The daemon's dying ravings reverberated loudly as it fought back with ridiculous strength. However, it was riddled with javelins.
"Whom shall stand as thine champion?! What ill-starred fool would dare heed Hell's call?! They shall endure horrors of execrable variet– guh!"
"Its been beheaded! The daemon's dead!"
"Great! Continue the assault on the walls—"
*PuuOo!*
"A retreat has been signalled!"
"Kotys! Put your shield up and steadily back away with the formation!"
An officer yelled. However, Kotys stood with a grim expression, gazing down at Vibius' mangled form which lay ruined at the wake of the retreat.
His eyes clouded.
'What has the world become, that even the dead knows not peace...?'
"Kotys! Retreat!!"
Shield up and slowly backing away, Kotys bit his lips as his eyes watered.
"Farewell, teacher." He muttered.
"Kotys!"
—
–
-
"Kotys."
"Kootys!"
"KOTYS!"
He suddenly halted, snapping out of his trance to find Rainer in his face.
Rainer blinked and drew back, smiling curiously at him.
"Obol for your thoughts?"