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Through the veil of darkness, I lead my men in pursuit of my niece and her twin sons, cursing myself for not having her killed earlier.
I’ve fought for this throne with my own blood. I emerged victorious when I sliced my sword straight through my nephew’s supple, young skin. I usurped my brother, weak, brittle and old as he was, exiling him thousands of miles away from The Republic.
I believed I had managed all threats. Little did I know that the girl I tried to spare from this war would pose the greatest threat. If only my niece had remained true to her vows…
My guards and I crash through the fortified temple walls, ready to end this now. If she hands over her twins, I would still allow her an escape.
Within the corridors, we find hollow reeds alight on beeswax, revealing nothing but emptiness.
My tracker comes running, holding a thin, wry hand to his chest, using his spare to point toward an opening within the stones.
“The forest,” he gasps. “To the forest,” he says again before bending over against the wall, wheezing to catch his breath. “Rhea has sought refuge with the other vestal virgins. They have guided her to a hidden spot deep within the forest, away from thy wrath."
“To the forest,” I roar, charging forward with my men. The cold night air slaps us in the face, and our steps grow more furious when each one forward leads us to nothing.
My heart burns with raw rage. I will find Rhea and her sons. I will not allow the path I’ve carved for myself to be stripped away from me.
Those boys. Their existence threatens my throne, and I cannot allow it.
The dense forest closes in around us as our footsteps echo through the silent night like war drums. Desperate, we push ourselves to the brink. If Rhea and her twins vanish into obscurity… tendrils of fear creep around my heart as my grip on my throne threatens to slip away from me.
"Your Highness," my soldier urges, his eyes reflecting the moonlight that pierces through the canopy above us. "I beseech thee we must intensify our efforts. Time is not on our side."
"Indeed," I concede. "Spread out, search every inch of this forest. They must not escape."
My men disperse into the shadows in a quadrant search, and I carve my own trail with three soldiers by my side. Hours pass. Rhea and her sons' elusive trail seems to dissolve beneath our very feet. As we press on, the ghostly whispers of the wind taunt our futility.
Exhaustion gnaws at my bones, and just when my resolve begins to waver, we stumble upon the tranquil banks of the Tiber River. The serene waters sparkle beneath the moon's gentle gaze, beckoning me.
"We shall rest here," I command, my voice hoarse from fatigue. "But only for a moment’s respite."
The men nod in agreement, and we settle on the soft earth by the water's edge.
The night sky is awash with stars. As I take in this wondrous sight, I am struck by a sudden, inexplicable sense of foreboding.
It’s probably just my mind's careless wanderings. With the cool breeze from the river caressing my face, I close my eyes, trying to find solace in the tranquility of the night. The sound of the water rushing against the rocks lulls me into a temporary state of peace.
But that peace is washed adrift when I hear the sudden cackling of birds and beasts.
“The animals,” my footman warns. “Sire, they seem disturbed.”
I look at my three men and give them a brief nod. “Go,” I say. “Find the cause of commotion and report back.”
The three jumps to their feet and make way, leaving me alone by the banks.
As I stand there, gazing up at their retreating figures, I feel a sudden gust of wind brushes past me, causing my heart to race. I shiver, sensing an imminent threat. I see nothing and turn back to the river when I gasp at the vision that materializes before me.
One emerges from the shadows, his imposing stature dwarfing even the tallest of trees. His golden armor gleams in the moonlight, and an aura of power radiates from him like the sun's fiery rays.
"By the gods..." I breathe, my heart pounding in my chest as I fall to my knees in reverence and disbelief. It can only be Mars, the god of war, standing sentinel upon the riverbank.
"Amulius," the deity speaks, his voice resonating deep within my soul. "Thy devotion to the gods has not gone unnoticed."
In awe, I bow my head lower, unable to meet his divine gaze. "I am honored, Great Mars," I stammered, struggling to find the words that could explain what this divinity means to me.
"Thy quest is fraught with peril, but I have come to offer thee aid," he continues, extending his mighty hand towards me. In his palm rests a magnificent blue diamond, its heart-shaped form glinting with a brilliance that defies all earthly explanation. I stare at it, losing sight of all nearby, blinded by its brilliance.
“Hold it within thy palms,” the great Mars tells me.
