“… Ouch…”

“… My apologies Princeps, this one is almost done.”

Medical magic was better than modern medicine in most forms, except for anesthetics. It made sense, as in Impera players wouldn’t feel pain, there wasn’t any need to make it so those spells didn’t hurt. Apollo had already attended most of his wounds, so complaining about it had no point. He had to place it near enough to the fireplace, so he could analyze the injured parts. He was covered in patches, the spells not powerful enough to heal a being as strong as him entirely.

The Divine Legionnaires were quiet along the campfire, their eyes looking on his devastated body. Must have been quite a sight to their eyes, seeing a godly being so deplorably ruined. They were likely imagining how weak he was, uncapable of decisively kill a Lupus without getting to the brink of death. Either that or they didn’t wish to interrupt the procedure.

A drop fell from his wound, hitting his foot. Apollo sighed, “… You have missed so much blood… I apologize I don’t have enough Magicka to fully restore you…”

“… It’s fine, not your fault.” Gaius said.

“It will take some time before you recover... Including your eye.”

“… I can wait.” Gaius said, placing a hand over his face “Fortunately… Now we can all afford to wait…”

“… And it’s all thanks to you!” Venus said with a cheerful smile, “All these legionnaires in the camp have their lives to owe you, including me and my siblings of course!”

“… That was already the case.” Said Minerva, “Our lives were already pledged to the Princeps service… Which is why…” She eye’s Gaius, “… It’s so hurtful to have allowed him to befall such a state…”

“Best duel I’ve ever watched, for sure!” Discordia yelled, “I had the best seats, all the way up in the Imperial Walls! Makes me kinda wish he had died after it, so I could revive and force him to do it over and over again! BOOM, boredom killed for good!”

“… I’m sure you must be joking, Lady Discordia…” Julia said with an uneasy smile, “I wouldn’t want Uncle Gaius to be an Undead… Oh, no disrespect intended, Lord Apollo!”

“… None taken.” Apollo chuckled, “But even then… I doubt Discordia would have the Magicka necessary t place an undead Princeps under her control…”

“Eh? You are doubting me?” Discordia asked, getting up from her wooden seat, “I’ll put you back to sleep. Nah! I’ll keep you animated, tear your bones off and throw it to the Lupus kids!”

“… I… I would rather you not…” Apollo quivered, “… It was just a joke, sis…”

“I tell the jokes here!” Discordia exclaimed, “I don’t care if any of you laugh! You all just have shit taste in humor, that’s all!” She shrugged.

“… Discordia, you are being a nuisance.” Minerva pointed out, “Besides, I am still waiting for a formal apology for all those years you spent in Cilia, ignoring my requests to return.”

Discordia rolled her eyes, “… Ahhh… Here’s your apology!”

She threw a minor fireball into Minerva. It clashed against a shield, raised by her in defense, “Such disrespect… If ten years in isolation with Apollo haven’t changed you, a few minutes with me won’t do any good…”

“Careful where you shoot, mad bitch… You might hit my Princeps with that.” Venus crossed her arms, “Don’t make me paralyze you.”

Discordia laughed, “Like you did with elder sis? I wanna see you try! I’ll fry your demon hands before they get anywhere near me! We’ll make a barbecue out of it!”

“… I am immune o fire, you idiot!”

“… Meh, I’ll think of something… Ahh! I know! I’ll…”

As far as Gaius knew, this was the first time in centuries these Divine Legionnaires had talked with one another, even further back considering it was in such good terms. They bickered and bantered over petty things, but at least they weren’t trying to kill each other, Discordia’s little outburst not counting. He was endlessly fascinated by their relationship as siblings, as it wasn’t something Gaius would ever experience by himself again. Remembering it hurt more than anything he endured in the duel.

There were many things to make sense out of those last moments before blacking out. There was some link between the Laurel Wreath and those hallucinations, and possibly something more. He didn’t know what it was, nor what is meant, and probably never would. Some mysteries are never solved, much to his discontent. Best thing to do was interpreting what little was possible, and act on them. On that field, a first few steps had been taken, the last one the most regrettable of them.

Not even his creations seemed to have noticed the spell used in the duel. To win by breaking the rules wasn’t new to him, yet the shame ran deep. There was a side of him which said anything is fair in war, while another who judged him for doing the wrong thing. The latter had exponentially gained ground in his subconscious, each a headache closer to domination. Was he to continue at that rate, Gaius would soon transition into his brother. He smiled as he considered it. It was a pleasant thing to imagine, but he couldn’t do it. Brunus had changed him but didn’t transform him. Gaius was still the same World Conqueror, awarded and cursed with his situation.

“… Princeps?” Minerva looked onto him, together with the others

Gaius broke off from his daydreaming, “… Yes? Could you repeat it?”

Minerva leaned closer, “I was asking if it has come the time… To discuss what to do with the Lupus.”

“… Yes… I believe it has.” Gaius got up, breaking away from Apollo’s spell

“… Careful!” Pleaded Apollo, “If you move too much…”

“I’m fine.” Gaius affirmed, “Thank you for your help.”

“… Sure…”

Gaius walked off from the group, the Divine Legionnaires readying to follow.

“… Stay here.” Gaius commanded, “I wish to go alone.”

“You are too injured to be left unguarded!” Venus said, “If someone was to try something…”

“She’s right.” Minerva said, “Even if you can count on the legion to provide support, we are still…”

“… I’ll go with Julia, then.” Gaius replied, “You’ve trained her yourself, haven’t you Minerva? She’ll be a good bodyguard.”

“Wha… Me!? Asked Julia, “I’m not strong enough to…”

“… Well… If you insist…” Minerva glanced at Julia, “Follow your uncle, and don’t hesitate to use any of the spells I taught you should the need arise.”

Julia nodded nervously “Y-Yes! I will!” she got, getting to Gaius side. Together they left the campfire, leaving the new confusing Discordia was creating for them to resolve.

It was the night of the same day. The legion’s camp was overcrowded by the Lupus allowed entry, some even interacting with Legionnaires. Most were still too apathetic to the other to establish friendships, but the bonds seemed to be on the verge of an establishment. The saluted as he passed, the Lupus bowing their heads and nodding in acknowledgment.

“… Hey, Uncle Gaius… Could I ask you something?”

“… Go ahead.”

“Could you help me learn Obliteration Magic?”

“… Obliteration Magic? Didn’t you say you disliked it?”

“… Yes… I still do… But…”

“… But what?”

“… Since I was imprisoned by the Lupus, I was forced to see you go through such horrors… While I couldn’t do anything to help…” She bit her lips, “… Lady Discordia was the reason they couldn’t sack the city. I wish I had been like her. I wish I had been more useful to the empire, instead of serving as a hostage for the enemy…”

“… Understandable. I might not have the time to train you every instance, so I might have to let Discordia instruct you.”

Julia’s eyes widened, her legs shaking, “… Me… Instructed by her? Well… If that’s what it takes…”

Gaius smiled, “… Just kidding.” He messed with her light brown hairs, “I’ll make you into a fine Obliteration Master one day.”

“Ahh, thank you!” Julia said, “I’ll make sure to always pay attention! I won’t let you down!”

“… That’s good, but for now… I would like if you stayed quiet.” Gaius gestured forward, “We will need to subtlety.”

They walked into a section of the camp increasingly more dominated by Lupus. As they showed their respect to Gaius, they opened the way to let him pass through. The was a great unlit pyre, with Arcail’s corpse laid on it. Codubia stood beside it, still carrying her little pup.

“Greetings…” Gaius said

Codubia’s eyes shifted from her husband’s corpse to the Emperor. It was a frown born of many negative emotions, most of which she likely hid under those narrowed eyelids and shut lips. The little Litchios was scared by Gaius’ arrival, jumping off her embrace and finding refuge behind his mother’s leg.

“… You have some nerve coming here.”

“I hoped to establish better relations as soon as possible.” He replied.

Codubia sighed, “… What do you want?” she asked disdainfully.

Gaius glanced at the pyre, “… I was wondering why you haven’t cremated your husband yet. It is your choice when to do it, but I couldn’t help but notice the delay.”

She looked onto the corpse, “… To set a loved one on fire… Even if he has already passed… Is not something I’ve ever enjoyed about our ways…”

“… Understandable. You should be the one to decide when to do it.”

Codubia stared at him, “… What is the meaning of this?” she asked, “Why are you doing all of this for us?

“… What do you mean?”

Codubia gestured outward, “You let both our peoples gather together for the burial… You granted us permission to hunt in the area as well as eating from local farms…”

“… Isn’t that what a leader does to his people?” Gaius asked.

Codubia was astounded, looking away from him, “… That’s … That is… I suppose.” She glanced back at him, “But why would you…”

“Arcail had a request before we fought… Wishing for the victor to treat the loser’s people fairly. I don’t doubt was he to have won, he wouldn’t do the same.”

“… Right… He’s always been so lenient to his enemies… Be it unruly wolfpacks who denied his leadership… Or the empire who destroyed his own home.”

“… Indeed… Quite the forgiving one.” Gaius said, “This ability to forgive and see from the other’s perspective is an important one… May his son grow up to emulate him like he emulated his brother.” Gaius looked at the young one, still too afraid to face the emperor directly.

Codubia’s confusion was visible in many forms, consolidated by her words, “… To think his words would have been enough to convince you…”

“… You heard it all?” My actions shouldn’t feel so alien to you, then.”

Codubia smiled, grabbing onto a lit torch “… Arcail might have lost the duel, but he seems to have won the tougher challenge…” She placed it at the pyre, setting it ablaze, “… May my love find peace… Knowing he hasn’t failed us.”

The burial ceremony was completed, and all Lupus and Romans present turned their attention to see it. Moments such as these require no grand speeches or fancy celebrations to give it importance. It all relies inside those whose emotions are most affected. Gaius wouldn’t imagine he would be among them. He woke up that morning thinking of all ways to kill Arcail, yet now only regretting not pursuing methods to save him in his last hours. Regret, after all, ended up being the most dominant of feelings in the emperor’s mind since awakening. The regret of treating his brother poorly, of making his Divine Legionnaires faulty, of letting himself be stolen away for a millennium, and now for killing him. As the fires burned, he made the fateful decision.

“… I have an important message… I would like you to translate to the Lupus.”

The silence broken, Codubia eyes him, “… What would that be?”

“… Tell them to disperse their numbers among the cities and villages in the Imperial Peninsula…”

Codubia frowned again, lowering her head, “… Wait… Do you plan to…”

“No, that’s not it.” Gaius pre-emptively retorted, “I don’t plan to separate and destroy your numbers individually, quite the opposite. It’s simply unsustainable to sustain hundreds of thousands of Lupus in a single place. If they are to survive, we must distribute the burden across the area…”

“… We can’t do that.” Codubia shook he head, “Arcail spent his whole life uniting the wolfpacks. For you to simply command its dissolution, even if for a needed cause…”

“The days of the wolfpacks are over.” Gaius affirmed, “You need not concern yourself with these tribal divisions anymore.”

“… How so?”

Gaius saw the pyre’s flames wavering, throwing a fireball to expand its fury, “… We must burn our conflicted pasts, and together carve a new destiny for our peoples… No, our one united people.”

“… What you are implying… Is…”

“From this day forward, the Lupus are Romans and an integral part of the empire’s citizens. Only together we can rebuild what was once lost, and secure a prosperous future for ourselves.”

Codubia gruntled, “… You ask us to join the empire… That is…”

“The only solution.” Gaius said, “If we cannot find in ourselves the well to cooperate, we will succumb back into the chaos of mutual loathing and hatred… I’m aware it is a great change… But it is also a needed one.”

Codubia took a long moment to think, still seemingly unconvinced, “… I don’t think that will work…”

“… Neither did I…” Gaius replied, “… But I’ll tell you who did.” He gestured to Arcail, “Both our brothers shared the rather childish assumption our people could work together, and peacefully assure the other’s lives. It took me longer to accept it… But… After some forceful intervention… I concluded it is what should be done.”

“… Arcail’s brother… The original Litchios… I heard he was a Lupus who served the empire but to simply imagine it was being my will or capability…” She smirked, “ To think it will become the standard now…”

“… Do you accept it, then?” Gaius asked, “Do you accept the Lupus integration within the Empire?”

“… What if we refuse?” she asked, “Much blood has been shed between us… It is not my choice to make. The Lupus will decide for themselves.”

“… Should they decide not to, I will personally lead an expedition to find them land beyond the Peninsula. Here, however, you can either stay as Romans or leave as barbarians.”

Codubia smirked “… I see that side of you still remains… Very well, I shall spread the news to the others.” She walked off, getting Litchios in her grasp, “… Farewell, Emperor Gaius.”

She took his proposal better than expected. For someone to be so collected in front of the man who killed her beloved must take an extraordinary character. He found nothing but respect for Codubia in that moment. Arcail’s body was entirely consumed by the fires. He would never see his face again, but the impression he left couldn’t be burned away as easily. It was an appropriate ending.

“… Uncle Gaius… May I speak now?” asked Julia.

“… Have a question?”

“Yeah… I was wondering… If you plan to really integrate the Lupus…” She looked at Codubia, taking with the others, “… You have some plan in mind, right?”

“No such thing.” Gaius denied, “I fully intend to integrate the Lupus into the empire, where they will be equals to our current citizens. It is, as I discussed with Codubia, the best solution. They will recognize my authority and contribute vast manpower and resources to the empire, in return gaining a permanent home and greater standards of living. It is a mutually beneficial agreement.”

“… But… They killed my father…”

“… Yes, they have… He was my great nephew, too…”

“So, you understand. We can’t just…”

“… But on that matter, how many of their fathers have I killed?” Tens of thousands, if you count my earlier years, and that’s only directly. This union must forget our bloody past if we are to have a better future. It’s a double-edged blade and hurts them as much as it does you and me, but we must endure it. We… Ugh…” Gaius placed a hand over his damaged eye, a soft, yet unexpected pain emerging.

“A-Are you okay?” she asked.

“… Yes… I think… The healing is done…” he removed the snitches, throwing it on the fire, “… Much like my wounds… To heal them we must take in a lot of pain…”

Julia sighed, “… I still don’t know about it… But if you think it is best, then what is our true plan?”

“… We will erase all of my past mistakes, for good.” Gaius said, his recovering eye still hurting, “… We must bring order to this world, and resolve all the aftermaths the fall of the empire has caused… We will reconquer it all, not through ambition and sole military might, but through a wish to bring lasting peace and cooperation between races… That is… What the Empire… Should be…”

“We will reconquer the empire!? Isn’t that… A bit hard?”

“Yes… It will be hard… Impossible perhaps, but what was once achieved through tyranny and oppression, can also be pursued with better intentions and methods… As my Brother would tell you…”

“Okay… Then, what will you do next?”

Gaius removed his hand, opening his eye, “… I will rule.”