Fallout:Blood and the Bull

honest reviews would be greatly appreciated

Any opinion and comments are welcome

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Two months passed quickly, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. The gears of my domain turned with precision, and each day we solidified our control further. The emperor had fulfilled his promise generously, sending two hundred thousand gold coins as a reward. It was more gold than I had ever seen in my life, a sum that could drive any man mad. But for the wealthiest houses of the empire, I knew this amount was significant yet not extraordinary.

What truly made the difference, what was absolutely unprecedented, was the treasure my legionnaires had brought back from the dungeons: fifteen tons of Manacite, the mana-infused crystal. We had quintupled the imperial market's supply of the mineral. According to the frumentarii reports, my cohort had faced a tribe of arm-bearing serpents guarding the crystals. Their skins, as tough as the thickest leather, had been harvested and used as decorations or improvised armor by my men. The dungeon's spoils weren't just the crystals but also the skins of these creatures, now treated and displayed as symbols of their victory.

It was an amount of Manacite never before discovered in a single location. It had been a stroke of luck, no doubt, but also a demonstration of my legionnaires' discipline and sacrifice. The news of such a find remained a secret, but I knew it couldn't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, another noble or adventurer would seek their own Manacite vein, hoping to replicate our success.

The true impact of the crystal was felt in the advancement of my legionnaire mages. Alyssia, initially reluctant, was now focusing her efforts on turning the gifted mages in my legion into a formidable weapon. With a virtually unlimited supply of Manacite at their disposal, they could train and practice without restrictions.

Alyssia frowned when she heard my response, her disdain palpable. "Telekinesis," she muttered, as if the word itself were an insult. "It's a waste of talent. They could be perfecting evocation, the queen of magical arts, instead of moving stones like common laborers."

I looked at her, letting my silence weigh on her. Finally, I spoke. "They're already learning. I know because I ordered it. Your inability to appreciate the utility of telekinesis speaks to your perspective, not its value. Right now, I don't need fireballs. I need roads, canals, and walls. If these men can use their magic to accomplish that faster and with fewer resources, they are fulfilling their purpose."

Alyssia raised her chin, clearly offended. "It's magic, not a construction tool. They're using a skill that could devastate armies to lay bricks. Don't you see how absurd this is?"

"The only absurdity," I replied calmly, "is failing to use every tool available to strengthen the legion and the territory. I don't care how much power they can amass if there's no infrastructure to support it. The mages under my command serve a purpose greater than their pride, and that purpose is to build a future where no enemy can challenge us."

She remained silent, her eyes blazing with contained frustration, but she said nothing more. She knew arguing with me was pointless.

"Continue training them," I added. "I don't care if you consider it beneath you. Every stone they lift, every canal they complete, brings this region closer to the total dominion of the legion. Their power will grow over time, but right now, what we need are solid foundations."

I had made many enemies among the capital's mages. That came as no surprise; monopolizing the Manacite and refusing to sell it at low prices or give it away, as they likely expected, had wounded their pride. But what truly enraged them was what they considered my greatest transgression: relegating magic to "filthy slaves."

They were not "filthy slaves." They were my valuable tools, and they were already bearing fruit. With nearly a hundred legionnaire mages reaching proficiency in telekinesis, construction projects were advancing at a speed I could never have imagined. Straight, sturdy roads stretched across the hills, connecting the eastern territories quickly and efficiently. The first quarries in the nearby mountains were already in full operation under the sun, worked by enslaved hands extracting stone and the prized treasure of limestone, essential for cement.

The sawmills, meanwhile, were beginning to clear the vast forests surrounding the region. The river, now freed by the fortress of Castra Caesarea, stretched slowly across the eastern lands, reclaiming its natural course. Where there had once been wild overgrowth, there were now plowed fields and fertile lands poised to become the heart of an agricultural renaissance.

My legionnaire mages, using telekinesis, moved massive stone blocks, manipulated freshly cut logs, and erected the first permanent structures of this new era. The results were undeniable: the rising infrastructure consolidated my dominion over the east and ensured that no army or rival could advance without facing my walls, roads, and fortifications.

What I enjoyed most was watching the thousands of slaves I had acquired with a clear purpose: to be the future generation of legionnaires. The ones serving me now, though efficient and loyal, were limited in number. But I knew that in time, and with proper training, I would have a force so vast that no enemy could challenge me. They were being molded, not only to wield weapons but to be the backbone of my empire.

As I watched them work and train, I couldn't help but think of my first legionnaires, the originals, the nine hundred who followed me when I was little more than a young man escaping the chains of my family. Now, only three hundred remained. Each of them, the survivors, had been promoted to officers, occupying leadership positions that reflected their sacrifice and loyalty.

Despite the losses suffered throughout our campaigns, the families of my first legionnaires remained under my care. Even the widows and children of those who had fallen in battle stayed with me, protected under the mantle of my authority. Their sacrifices had not been in vain, and their names were etched into the history we were writing in the east.

I allowed myself a moment of reflection. Without those first men, willing to follow me when no one else would have, I wouldn't be here. I would likely still be trapped under the shadow of my family, serving as little more than a shield-bearer for my cousins, never Caesar. The thought filled me with a mix of bitterness and determination. My escape from those chains had not only changed my destiny but also that of the east. What would have happened here if we hadn't been there to stop the tide of beastmen? Who would have led and protected these lands?

I walked through the camp, observing the faces of my men, the battle-hardened veterans and the young slaves who would one day join their ranks.

I cannot bring back the life of the loyal legionnaire who fell fulfilling my wishes, but I can ensure that his sacrifice is not forgotten, that those left behind do not suffer the consequences of his loyalty. For the widows and children of the fallen, I granted what was due as part of their missio honesta: a reward to ensure their loss was not in vain.

I gathered the families of the fallen, those who had followed the Legion even through its darkest hours. They, more than anyone, deserved recognition for what their men had given. To each widow, I presented a generous sum of gold and silver coins, enough to ensure their children would not grow up in poverty. Additionally, I granted them a plot of fertile land in the plantation region, along with ten slaves to work it, ensuring the land would prosper.

The moment was solemn, laden with restrained emotions. Some women wept silently, others bowed in gratitude, and the children, who barely understood the magnitude of what their fathers had done, looked on with curiosity and hope. I knew this reward could not fill the void left by their loved ones, but at the very least, it provided a foundation on which they could rebuild their lives.

When the time comes to retire the remaining three hundred original men, they will likely be the last free men to serve in my Legion. The system of recruiting slaves and molding them for war has proven far more efficient. Hiring free men, paying them wages, and dealing with their egos, divided loyalties, and family concerns was an outdated, costly, and problematic model.

With slaves, everything is different. No one mourns the death of a slave, except for their contubernium brothers. There are no families to maintain or widows to console. They are easier to train because they have no choice. The Legion is all they know, and their indoctrination is not only effective but absolute. They do not need great victories or epic speeches to revere me as a legendary leader. They only need to obey.

What impresses me most about them is the fanaticism they show toward my cause, a fanaticism that borders on madness. They do not fight for glory, wealth, or even their own freedom. They fight because they believe in me, because they have been molded to believe that my will is absolute and that dying for my cause is the greatest honor they can achieve. For them, my word is law, and every action I take is an unquestionable command.

This system not only ensures their loyalty but also simplifies the structure of the Legion. Every slave who enters is a blank canvas, without ambitions to distract them from their purpose. From the moment they are recruited, they are taught that their life has no other meaning than to serve the will of Caesar. Every training session, every doctrine, every step of their formation molds them into something more than soldiers: they become perfect tools for the expansion of my domain.

The free men who still serve are relics of another era, a time when loyalties were built on promises and camaraderie. Now, the east doesn't need heroes seeking personal glory; it needs discipline, order, and results. And my slave Legion provides all of that without the inconveniences of the past. A well-trained slave is the manifestation of the ideal citizen for these lands: honorable, loyal, diligent, brave, and austere.

Their training is not limited to weapons. From the first day, they are taught that austerity and sacrifice are virtues. They learn to value efficiency, to despise waste, and to act as a collective rather than as individuals. Each one understands that their existence has a purpose: to strengthen the Legion and serve Caesar. That understanding frees them from doubt and hesitation.

But my system does not merely demand from them; it also promises them something other lords would never consider: a future. When these slave legionaries have completed twenty years of military service, they will be rewarded for their loyalty and sacrifice. They will retire as free men, with land to cultivate and resources to build their lives. This cycle not only ensures their absolute dedication during their service but also transforms veterans into a solid base of loyal settlers, expanding and strengthening the east even outside the ranks of the Legion.

Yet there is much to do, especially since it seems that many people are migrating to the east to escape the constant feuds of nobles or battles for influence. Who would have thought that peace would attract people? Now, with only one possible route of invasion through the east, which is heavily defended, we enjoyed the same stability as the southern frontier. Unlike them, however, we do not have the centaurs or the massive wall stretching across the plain that prevents their passage due to their equine physique. Even so, the east is the safest place, for here there will be no internal struggles or monster invasions—not as long as my Pax rules over this land.

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honest reviews would be greatly appreciated

Any opinion and comments are welcome