The era of our generation—Admiral Antonius, Julian, Abdullah, myself, and the others—is fading. Our experience, our knowledge, our methods… we struggle to keep pace with the ever-changing tides of warfare and governance.
The future no longer belongs to us, no matter how much we wish to hold on.
It belongs to you. The younger generation.
And now, the time has come.
Prove to us, to Rome, and to history that you are ready. Show us that you can bear the weight we carried for so long. If you do—if you succeed—then, and only then, can we die in peace.
As the last legions departed Constantinople, banners streaming in the wind and weapons gleaming under the sun, the city fell into solemn anticipation. The torches had passed. The new generation had taken its first step onto the battlefield of history.
The fate of Rome was now in their hands.