"Legion."
Legion turned his head sharply, scanning the area. They had resumed their long trek to the Frozen Sea when he suddenly heard a voice calling his name.
"Legion, can you hear me?"
His eyes widened in realization, it was the Empress.
He immediately activated his Marionette ability, and through the eyes of one of his armored knights stationed at the palace, he saw her standing in front of it, arms crossed, a thoughtful frown on her face.
"Does his Marionette ability not work if he's too far away, Ori?" he heard her murmur, though she seemed to be speaking to no one in particular.
"Your Highness," Legion called out, though he wasn't sure if she could hear him.
"Of course. This is just armor. How could it talk?" the Empress muttered, tilting her head slightly. Then, as if struck by an idea, she spoke more clearly. "Legion, if you can hear me, make this armor nod."
Without hesitation, Legion willed the armor to nod.
The Empress's golden eyes widened in amusement, as if she hadn't expected it to actually respond, despite the fact that she was the one who had gifted him this ability.
"I hope everything is well," she said, her tone lighter. "If you can spare some time, come back to the palace before dinner."
Again, Legion made the armor nod.
A small smile curved her lips. "Good. That's all. Stay safe."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Legion staring after her through the eyes of his Marionette.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. Thanks to this ability, even if he was far away, he could still watch over her.
The day dragged on.
They continued marching through the snow, and Legion remained near the rear of the group, observing the people forced to endure this journey. The expedition was led by Duke Aurelian, the future Emperor and the Empress's eldest stepson, though he was a full decade older than her. The kingdom's Holy Knights, noble knights, and Magicians from the Magic Tower were also present.
Yet despite the presence of the kingdom's strongest warriors, they did not slow down for the weaker members of the expedition.
Commoners, some as young as ten, and elderly men barely able to walk, stumbled through the ice and snow, desperately trying to keep up. But once they fell, they were left behind. Some managed to stand back up and continue, while others simply… didn't.
They were left to freeze.
It was not uncommon for people to die before even reaching the Frozen Sea.
And even among the living, there was little kindness. The expedition was a battle for survival, and everyone prioritized their own safety over helping another.
When night fell and the expedition set up camp, Legion slipped away into the nearby forest. He ensured no one had followed him before teleporting directly to the Empress's palace, appearing right in front of her chamber door.
He knocked three times.
No response.
"Your Highness?"
"Legion," a familiar voice called, but it came from below. "Good, you're here. Come."
Legion turned his head to see the Empress walking toward the palace kitchens. Without hesitation, he followed.
The warm scent of roasted Moondusk beans filled the air.
"Have you and the others eaten yet?" she asked as she reached the kitchen table.
"Not yet, Your Highness," Legion answered. "We've just set up camp. They're preparing the food now." He hesitated briefly before adding, "I found Mara."
The Empress stopped mid-step and turned to him with a furrowed brow.
"Mara?"
Legion nodded. "Yes. The mother of those children."
Recognition dawned on her face. "How is she?"
Legion exhaled slowly, knowing he couldn't lie to her.
"Not well. Like the others who aren't fighters, she's struggling. Most of them… their bodies are already breaking under the cold, hunger, and exhaustion."
For a fleeting moment, sadness crossed the Empress's face before she masked it with a small smile.
They both knew it was impossible to save everyone.
But they could still try.
"Then do this for me."
She gestured toward the table where several sacks were neatly packed. Legion stepped closer and examined them, one contained barley, another was filled with spices, a smaller sack held salt, and the last one carried finely ground roasted Moondusk beans.
"These are for the expedition," she said. "Share them with the people. Prioritize the children, the elderly, and the women who aren't fighters. And make sure to use the spices and salt when you cook. As for the coffee, you can boil it multiple times before it loses its flavor."
Legion froze. His eyes flickered from the sacks back to the Empress, a realization forming in his mind.
He turned to Delphine.
"Did she… use her ability for this?" he asked, his voice quieter.
Delphine shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the Empress before nodding.
Legion clenched his jaw.
The Empress, his Empress, had used up her life force again.
"Your Highness... "
"I'm fine." The Empress cut him off before he could even finish. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I can still handle the discomfort. This is the least I can do for the people, especially for those who had no choice but to join the expedition. This will help them, even if only a little."
"But what about you?" Legion stepped closer, concern etched deeply into his face. Before he could stop himself, he cupped her cheek, his thumb grazing her soft skin. "Do you need me to stay for a while?"
The Empress smirked, arching a delicate brow. "I said I can still handle it… Besides, I can always call you through your armors if needed. Now, go back to your camp before someone starts looking for you. And return here after three nights."
Legion exhaled heavily. He didn't like leaving her, not when he knew she was exhausting herself like this.
"Call on me anytime, Your Highness," he said softly, reluctant but obedient.
"Keep safe."
With a small nod, Legion teleported back to the forest, carrying the sacks prepared by the Empress and Delphine.
It didn't take long for him to reach their camp. Thanks to his Herculean Strength, carrying the heavy load was effortless. However, just as he approached their team's tent, loud voices rang through the cold night air.
"Legion is not a deserter!" Dorian's furious voice echoed from inside. "He would never do that, knowing that deserters from the expedition are executed!"
"So you're saying I'm lying?" another voice sneered. A noble's voice, arrogant, full of condescension. "I saw that man enter the forest. And when I followed him, he was gone. If that's not desertion, then what is?"
Legion's brow furrowed as he stepped inside.
Inside the tent, Mara was silently crying in the corner, while his teammates were holding Dorian back. Across from them stood a noble knight, his sharp features instantly recognizable.
Cecilion Blackwater.
The youngest son of Baron Blackwater. Younger brother of Celion Blackwater, the High Court Magician of Aquilonis. And, more importantly, brother of Celestria Blackwater, the fiancée of Duke Aurelian.
Legion's grip tightened.
"Legion!"
Mara was the first to see him. She rushed forward, relief flooding her tear-streaked face.
The commotion inside the tent halted as all eyes turned to him.
Cecilion's lips twisted into a sneer. "So you came back, deserter."
Legion met his gaze coldly. "Would I be standing here if I were a deserter?"
Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward and set down the sacks in the center of the tent with a loud thud.
Hugo, who had remained silent throughout the argument, finally spoke up. "Where have you been, Legion? Why did you suddenly disappear?"
"I had to retrieve these," Legion answered simply, brushing the frost from his cloak. "They're from the Empress."
The reaction was immediate.
The men inside the tent exchanged wary glances, eyes flickering between the sacks and Legion.
"You stole from the food supply carts!" Cecilion bellowed.
Legion's patience snapped.
"Are you deaf?" his voice rose, irritation evident. "I said these came from the Empress!"
Cecilion scoffed. "And how, exactly, would these have gotten here? We are two days away from the city walls!"
Legion crossed his arms, his brown eyes gleaming with challenge. "I don't need to explain myself to you. If you doubt me, then go count the supply carts and see if anything is missing. While you're at it, check what's inside these sacks. I guarantee you won't recognize most of them, because only the Empress has them."
Cecilion's face darkened. "Are you challenging me?"
He snapped his fingers at one of the three knights standing behind him. "Go. Count the supplies. If anything is missing, we'll see if your head stays on your shoulders, Legion."
Legion didn't flinch. He merely stood his ground as the knight rushed off.