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POV Change

Somewhere in the Imperium...

"Are you certain of this, Senior Damianus?" questioned an elderly voice. The idea put forth by Damianus seemed senseless at best and could lead to treason charges at worst. But Damianus didn't think the Senior would face death, God bless the Empereur-Auguste. However, the essence of the suggested idea remained unchanged, and its potential consequences were worrisome. Damianus's unwavering demeanor didn't seem affected by the fear in the elderly man's voice. He was torn between admiring Damianus's bravery and being horrified by his recklessness, though he chose the former, at least for now.

"Do not worry, old man," Damianus responded in his usual monotone. "There's nothing to fret about, and only one unit will be affected. If all goes according to plan, we'll have an exceptionally formidable and, most importantly, unique unit. If not, we'll have only wasted a small fraction of resources compared to the extravagant spending of the courtiers, who would love an excuse to get rid of me." Damianus peered intensely at the elderly man, whose fidgeting revealed his attempt to maintain composure. Damianus's cold, gray eyes felt like a merciless storm, chilling the old man to the bone.

With a sigh, Damianus released his piercing stare and turned to his documents, allowing the old man to relax. The old man tried to gather his thoughts and speak again, but the words failed him. "Senior Damianus... I... Are you sure about this? The circumstances at the imperial court are precarious, and it's not just a matter of resources. Empereur-Auguste Theophilus cannot—will not—protect you if this fails. The Imperium is already struggling to hold itself together!" The old man spoke with solemnity, regretting the outburst of emotion. Though not everything he said was endorsed by the Empereur-Auguste, much of it held truth.

Damianus, as if reading the old man's mind, replied sharply without glancing at him. "The perfect time for an experiment is 𝐧𝐨𝐰. I don't do this for pleasure; it's a necessity. And do not presume to speak on behalf of the Empereur-Auguste," Damianus raised his eyes to emphasize the gravity of his words. He paused to let his statement sink in. "I value your perspective, but I won't take your advice. You may leave, Magister Daedalus." Damianus's tone became formal, signaling the end of the conversation. Damianus seemed to be well aware that the real flaw in the proposal was the inclusion of a barbarian offspring with higher lineage serving in the Imperial Army—a preposterous idea. Yet, the old man lacked the will to challenge Damianus's decision.

As the old man left the room, he was consumed by a mix of feelings, including indignation. But he shook them off, taking a final futile glance at Damianus. This brat would be his undoing.

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The sun beat down mercilessly on the courtyard as a figure strode up onto a hastily assembled stage. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression on his face and most likely a no-nonsense attitude that left no room for excuses or weakness. Your group of youths watched him with a mix of fear and awe, unsure of what to expect. "Listen up, you maggots," the instructor growled, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. "In our glorious Imperium, only the strongest survive. We have conquered countless lands and defeated countless enemies, and we did so by being strong, disciplined, and united. And let me tell you, our history and present is filled with examples of great leaders who embody these traits. Take, for example, Principe-Auguste Theodorian IV di Antaryon. He is a young man, not unlike you lot, who stood tall and held a mountain pass despite the odds being stacked against him!"

You can feel the passion oozing from the man's voice. "His troops were outnumbered and outmatched, but he refused to give up. He refused to back down. And in the end, he emerged victorious", the man slammed his fist against his chest, "That is the kind of strength, discipline, and determination that you must strive for. You must be like Principe-Auguste Theodorian IV di Antaryon, standing firm in the face of adversity, refusing to give up, refusing to back down."

He paused, looking out at the assembled youths. "And that's what you're here to learn. You're here to become strong, to become disciplined, and to become united in your pursuit of knowledge and power. You will be tested, you will be pushed to your limits, and you will either rise to the challenge or crumble under the weight of your own weakness. But I have some news for you. You're not just any squad. You have the backing of an important person. Someone who believes in you. Someone who has put their faith in you to achieve greatness. And let me tell you, if you fail to live up to their expectations, if you dare to shame them with your weakness, you will have hell to pay", that man wasn't one to mince words. He continued, his voice growing louder and more forceful with each passing moment. "In the Academiae, individuality will barely be tolerated. You are not here to stand out or be unique. You are here to blend in, to follow orders, and to do what is necessary to become stronger."

"And to do that, you must learn from the examples of those who came before you, those who embodied the traits of strength, discipline, and determination. There will be no room for ego, for selfishness, or for weakness. Only the strongest will survive", his words filled with passion, evoked a sense of purpose and determination within the assemblage. The instructor's direct, rough approach to his speech exuded a peculiar charisma. It was as though his lack of eloquence and his abrasive personality lent him authenticity, making him appear more genuine. The man was clearly not well-versed in his choice of words, and he could easily offend just about anyone he encountered. Yet, this same lack of polish in his rhetoric lent it a poetic quality, each word striking like a sword against an adversary.

In an instant, a glimmer of unyielding determination illuminated his gaze, signaling the onset of impassioned words. "Listen up once more, maggots!" he bellowed, his voice ringing across the courtyard and you instinctively stand straighter, "You think you're here to learn about philosophy or art? No! You're here to become soldiers, warriors of the Imperium! And let me tell you, the path to becoming a warrior is not an easy one. It necessitates fortitude, self-control, and self-sacrifice. It requires the shedding of the vestiges of your former selves and evolving into something mightier, more resilient, and more menacing."

"Your mettle will be tested, and you will be pushed to the brink. Yet, hear me clearly! If you persevere, if you prevail, you will emerge stronger, more astute, and more impressive. You will become leaders of valor, honing your skills as soldiers, and the Imperium will thrive in your wake."

His intonation softened somewhat as he added, "But make no mistake, this will not be an easy journey. You will have to face your fears, your weaknesses, your doubts. And there will be times when you will want to give up. But that is where discipline comes in. You must push through the pain, through the doubt, through the fear. You must become a warrior in both body and mind. And if you can do that, if you can emerge victorious, you will have the strength and the courage to face anything the world can throw at you." You couldn't help but stand in rapt attention, each word of the instructor's speech ringing in your ears. You knew that he was not the most eloquent of speakers, nor the most diplomatic from his speech alone. But you also realised that his words were true, and that his passion and his strength were undeniable.

He paused, drawing his speech to a close. "The hour of the first trial is imminent. A test of your mettle, of your discipline, of your capacity for solidarity. Some will triumph, some will fail. Nevertheless, the Imperium shall prosper. Thus, gird your loins, my young warriors, and prepare for what awaits you. Your survival depends on it."*page_break Back in the encampement.

The sun beat down mercilessly on the courtyard as a figure strode up onto a hastily assembled stage. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression on his face and most likely a no-nonsense attitude that left no room for excuses or weakness. Your group of youths watched him with a mix of fear and awe, unsure of what to expect. "Listen up, you maggots," the instructor growled, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. "In our glorious Imperium, only the strongest survive. We have conquered countless lands and defeated countless enemies, and we did so by being strong, disciplined, and united. And let me tell you, our history and present is filled with examples of great leaders who embody these traits. Take, for example, Principe-Auguste Theodorian IV di Antaryon. He is a young man, not unlike you lot, who stood tall and held a mountain pass despite the odds being stacked against him!"

You can feel the passion oozing from the man's voice. "His troops were outnumbered and outmatched, but he refused to give up. He refused to back down. And in the end, he emerged victorious", the man slammed his fist against his chest, "That is the kind of strength, discipline, and determination that you must strive for. You must be like Principe-Auguste Theodorian IV di Antaryon, standing firm in the face of adversity, refusing to give up, refusing to back down."

He paused, looking out at the assembled youths. "And that's what you're here to learn. You're here to become strong, to become disciplined, and to become united in your pursuit of knowledge and power. You will be tested, you will be pushed to your limits, and you will either rise to the challenge or crumble under the weight of your own weakness. But I have some news for you. You're not just any squad. You have the backing of an important person. Someone who believes in you. Someone who has put their faith in you to achieve greatness. And let me tell you, if you fail to live up to their expectations, if you dare to shame them with your weakness, you will have hell to pay", that man wasn't one to mince words. He continued, his voice growing louder and more forceful with each passing moment. "In the Academiae, individuality will barely be tolerated. You are not here to stand out or be unique. You are here to blend in, to follow orders, and to do what is necessary to become stronger."

"And to do that, you must learn from the examples of those who came before you, those who embodied the traits of strength, discipline, and determination. There will be no room for ego, for selfishness, or for weakness. Only the strongest will survive", his words filled with passion, evoked a sense of purpose and determination within the assemblage. The instructor's direct, rough approach to his speech exuded a peculiar charisma. It was as though his lack of eloquence and his abrasive personality lent him authenticity, making him appear more genuine. The man was clearly not well-versed in his choice of words, and he could easily offend just about anyone he encountered. Yet, this same lack of polish in his rhetoric lent it a poetic quality, each word striking like a sword against an adversary.

In an instant, a glimmer of unyielding determination illuminated his gaze, signaling the onset of impassioned words. "Listen up once more, maggots!" he bellowed, his voice ringing across the courtyard and you instinctively stand straighter, "You think you're here to learn about philosophy or art? No! You're here to become soldiers, warriors of the Imperium! And let me tell you, the path to becoming a warrior is not an easy one. It necessitates fortitude, self-control, and self-sacrifice. It requires the shedding of the vestiges of your former selves and evolving into something mightier, more resilient, and more menacing."

"Your mettle will be tested, and you will be pushed to the brink. Yet, hear me clearly! If you persevere, if you prevail, you will emerge stronger, more astute, and more impressive. You will become leaders of valor, honing your skills as soldiers, and the Imperium will thrive in your wake."

His intonation softened somewhat as he added, "But make no mistake, this will not be an easy journey. You will have to face your fears, your weaknesses, your doubts. And there will be times when you will want to give up. But that is where discipline comes in. You must push through the pain, through the doubt, through the fear. You must become a warrior in both body and mind. And if you can do that, if you can emerge victorious, you will have the strength and the courage to face anything the world can throw at you." You couldn't help but stand in rapt attention, each word of the instructor's speech ringing in your ears. You knew that he was not the most eloquent of speakers, nor the most diplomatic from his speech alone. But you also realised that his words were true, and that his passion and his strength were undeniable.

He paused, drawing his speech to a close. "The hour of the first trial is imminent. A test of your mettle, of your discipline, of your capacity for solidarity. Some will triumph, some will fail. Nevertheless, the Imperium shall prosper. Thus, gird your loins, my young warriors, and prepare for what awaits you. Your survival depends on it."

The instructor waves his hand

CLATTER. CLATTER.

The iron cage was a formidable sight, attached to a massive cart with thick chains and heavy bolts. Its rusted bars were twisted and gnarled, as if they had borne witness to countless battles and struggles. The cart rolled slowly into the open space, its iron wheels clanging against the hard ground. The sound echoed through the air, a warning to all those who dared to approach. As the cart came to a halt, a group of men stepped forward, their faces set with grim determination. They heaved and strained, pulling at the chains and levers that held the cage in place. With a loud creaking and groaning, the cage began to rise, lifted by the sheer force of their strength.

The air around the cage seemed to shimmer with a menacing atmosphere as it slowly opened, revealing its dark and forbidding interior. A stench of decay and rot emanated from within, a reminder of the horrors that lay hidden behind the twisted bars. The men stepped back, their eyes fixed on the cage, as if afraid to approach. For a moment, the space was silent, and then a low growl echoed from within the cage. It was a sound of pure menace, a warning to all who dared to approach.

The growl grew louder, more insistent, as if something inside the cage was straining against its confines. And then, with a sudden burst of energy, the creature within burst forward, its eyes blazing with a fierce fire.

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