Alpinus’ labored march to Rubica did not go unnoticed, as his aura pulsed with vigor. He began channeling magical energy into his hand to cauterize his melted arm with scorch magic, but the explosive nature of it combined with his lack of knowledge of regular magic and his inability to control his aura only furthered the damage.
“Meretricis filius!” he screamed, as the sinew holding his joints together struggled to carry the weight of his lower arm. The general keeled over, tears welling up in his eyes. “Maybe…” he mumbled, his voice quivering, “I’ll get to wield my axe again…?” His mask of optimism crumbled as he felt the weakening tendons in his liquefied arm begin to melt, drops of seawater still on his arm slowly dripping onto them. “To Hades with it…” he said, before grabbing his arm. A magic circle appeared on the back side of his hand, as he blew his arm off at the bicep.
The general winced in pain, as his entire left arm was vaporized in a blast of scorch magic, shining a light visible from Shell Island.
Lord Ulricus, looking up at Rubica from the town’s harbor, saw this flash of emerald on Mount Caesar, and chose to investigate.
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen a light like that, he thought, and the aura of Alpinus, too. I suppose I’ve packed all this for nothing, then. He sighed, glancing at the cargo he had tied down to his brig. Ah, well, I’ll get some ensigns to unload the ship, I shouldn’t be lifting stuff that heavy in my old age, anyway. Ulricus slowly waltzed into the town square of Rubica, before leaping over the Castello and landing atop it, then continuing his journey to the summit of Mount Caesar. Hope the kid hasn’t died yet, he thought to himself, chuckling. This’ll be quite the reunion. As he approached the peak of the mountain, he heard a voice, seemingly yelling at Alpinus.
“You’re fucking stupid, Asher. You’re stupid! What in Hades were you thinking?” the voice shouted. “At least get a basic understanding of it before you go and attack a ship… Creation, you’re dull!” Before Ulricus could reach the summit, the voice ceased its tirade. “Who’s there?” it asked, almost fearfully. “You’re familiar, yet I can’t recognize you. Who in the name of Caesar are you?”
“I could say the same to you,” said Ulricus, “that’s quite the unique aura you’ve gotten yourself, General Alpinus.”
“I know that voice, that crusty, old, decrepit voice…” whispered Asher. “The Bronze Mutt—er, Hound—is it?”
Ulricus sighed, reaching the summit, “Yes, my worst student.”
“Had you been a better mentor—”
“Oh, you shut the Hades up. I raised you from the day your father left for Cassia, show some respect at the very least.”
“Like I’d respect the one who abandoned his student and sent him to the most brutal—”
“Argos,” interjected Ulricus.
“Second most brutal mentor a legionnaire could’ve had.”
“I trained you to use weapons without the use of aura, he trained you to use aura. For fucks’ sake, ensigns can use aura with ease now, the only thing that sets you apart from one is your mastery in it. The mastery you got from training with Valerii. Your strength is that of a centurion, your skill of a general, and your brain of a praetorian. Without mine and Valerii’s recommendations to the Legion for you to become a general, you would simply be a centurion. Sir Alpinus, doesn’t that sound stupid?”
“Silence, cretin…” mumbled Asher, his pride wounded by his former mentor’s cruel words. “I care not for your insults, no matter how painful they might be. My arm is gone, dammit!”
“I see that. And what am I to do about it? I’m no nurse.”
“Thorne is on the horizon, as well, Ulricus.” The Bronze Hound stood for a moment, astonished, before pulling out his spyglass and scanning the sea.
“It’s too damned foggy tonight to see past the shore… I’ll take your word for it.” He took a moment to think, before beginning a descent down the mountain.
“Wait a moment, aren’t you going to help me, here?”
“I figured you value Ravenna over your own life.” replied Lord Ulricus, chuckling.
“Bastard.”
Ulricus turned around, helping the general onto his feet, guiding him down the steep cliffs of Mount Caesar, onto the roof of the Ravenna Castello, and through one of the entrances, leading him to the medical ward. Ulricus entered General Julian’s quarters, admiring the complexity and beauty of the room for a moment.
“General,” he said, declaring the respect he had for the man with his tone, “Thorne is to be invading Ravenna within the day, possibly within the hour.”
Julian looked up at the Hound, shock on his face, “Say again?”
“Thorne is on the horizon.”
“What in Hades do you mean? Our spies didn’t report anything.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it, as well. General Alpinus—”
“Alpinus has returned?”
“He’s not in the best of condition, and—”
“What ever happened to the man? He had the realm worried.”
“He’s missing an arm, and apparently saw Thorne ships.” said Ulricus, trying his best to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Thank you for your time, General.” He quickly left the room before Julian could interrupt him again.
