How it Ends

The battle begins to clear a bit, I march forward searching for more foes but then an explosion rings out a good distance from me, an incendiary cannonball detonates in front of me releasing its payload of burning, the world goes silent as I immediately block the ordinance with my shield but the force from the blast is still enough to blow me back. I feel a powerful thud on my head as I hit the ground back first. My vision becomes increasingly blurred, I see other Legionnaires around me coated in flames, with their screams being slowly muffled by the effects of my own head slowly dying. Maybe this is my time, I will finally die. Again I am wrong as I feel myself being lifted on top of a shield as the world around me goes dark…“

Both sides face each other at opposite sides of the battlefield from yesterday, the stench of smoke and blood still fill the air to some degree. We hear that the officers simply named the battle, Final Eternity. Although I found the name a bit bland, in all truth I believe it didn’t matter. The ceremony was conducted by the meeting of Generals from both sides. When our own General Vaxides read the official Persian letter and inspected the seal for authenticity while the Persian Leader General Izari did the same with the Remanian letter. When both Generals returned the letters and saluted each other we knew the war was now over. The cheers of both armies are much more deafening than the fiercest battle cries or loudest explosion, the Long War was finally over and yet despite my happiness I find my heart beating really fast, my fingertips

The crowd’s roar becomes stronger when the Red Wolf draws first blood by hitting the Iron Ram’s head, the Ram spits out blood but isn’t down yet so he strikes back at the Red Wolf’s side. The Wolf immediately blocks it and kicks the Iron Ram in the chest and hits his face again with the sword. Killing isn’t allowed in Gladiatorial games anymore, the weapons are blunted and hollow but the attacks still draw blood and blood is all the crowd really cares for. As for me all I care about is the rush of the crowd and the thrill of watching the Champion Of Capua defeat his opponent. But all of my hopes of seeing victory turns dim as the Iron Ram sweeps the Red Wolf’s feet and kicks his face as the Wolf’s body hits the ground. The crowd’s thunderous applause turns into loud cries of fear and worry as the Iron Ram raises his 2 swords to finish off

I had completely forgotten how great beer tasted like, over the past 5 years the only drink we’d ever taste was either 2 week fermented “wine” or on special days blueberry rum. But even blueberry rum begins to taste like stale water after 5 years. So the taste of cold malt beer was one of the few things I had been looking forward to since the treaty. Over the past 30 minutes since Lurti’s knock out, Varkii and I must have tried over five kinds of grain ales. Varkii being the smart drinker was barely drunk yet but as for me, it was the opposite. Like Lurti I always was a weak drinker but I wasn’t looking forward to getting passed out. “I’m going out for some air.” I tell Varkii as I stumble towards the door.

By nightfall I had already woken up and the rest of the camp was already considerably rowdy, the smell of roasting meat and nearly every type of ale in existence was everywhere. Normally on a “peaceful day” we would conduct some combat drills to stay in shape but the war was over. By some crack in the laws of war we were all discharged so there was no point in conducting any more drills. Lurti and Varkii were out there enjoying themselves drinking their own skulls off with the rest of their unit. Normally a soldier like me would just enjoy the party but I wasn’t in the mood to endure the noise of an entire Remanian Legion going drunk, I’ve seen it enough times when veterans try to forget where they are. I just wanted to find some peace and quiet so I could read Riiger’s Journal. So I grab a goat leg and opt instead to go back to Iasi alone so