Kingdoms History/Leaving for war
Julius POV
Ten minutes later, I walked into the grand library of Romanium, which was reserved for royalty and their close confidants. Upon entering, I was once again taken aback by the sheer magnitude of it, even though I had seen it hundreds of times. Surrounding me were bookshelves reaching all the way to the ceiling, four stories above where I was standing, the ceiling being held up by huge white marble pillars every ten steps.
Looking around, I noticed a few librarian assistants up ladders attending books, cleaning or sorting them, and finding the right one if someone had requested one.
In front of me sat the old librarian surrounded by books, looking on the brink of death as usual, his unkept beard falling onto the floor. Waspum was an old man who had been the kingdom's royal librarian for donkey's years. He had long, flowing silver hair that went down to his lower back, and sharp brown eyes complimented his face. He always wore a silver robe that completely covered his body other than his hands and face. No one knows where he came from or if he is a mage or a knight, but he had been the librarian for over 200 years, seeing nine different kings, never getting involved in kingdom politics, just tending to his library.
Upon noticing me, he stood up and gestured for me to sit opposite him. Contrary to his looks, he smelled quite nice, like strawberries.
"Young Julius, today we shall review the history of our kingdom again and learn its more recent history," said Waspum.
"Can't we learn something more interesting, like war? Or first, tell me if you're a mage or a knight?" I replied in the hope of an answer.
"Just because you are a prince, Julius doesn't mean I won't throw you into a marble pillar. Now listen, as you know, the kingdom's founding is a mystery to us as there are no records, but we do know that 504 years ago, in the year 500 BE, there was a king called Presodios Valeium from the previous royal family before your parents and the citizens overthrew them.
As you already know, BE stands for Beverlioda, which was an ancient empire that collapsed long ago and whose calendar we still use today. AD comes after BE counts down to 0, and the current year is 4 AD.
This king loved writing and literature, so we have vast records of what happened during and after his prosperous reign. He was a beloved king who cared about his people and expanded the kingdom outward, incorporating many new villages and small towns; he started many economic projects, such as the Palatine Palace, and built roads to aid trade, much like your parents are currently doing. Unfortunately, after his reign, the Valeium family slowly started to decline and took the kingdom with them roads, ports, and cities, all falling into disrepair, forcing slavery and many other dastardly actions on their own people just to fill their own coffers." Waspum said before getting interrupted.
"Librarian Waspum, why didn't you do something about this and help the people instead of staying in your library and not doing much?" I questioned.
"Young Julius, you must understand that I have a history, and I can't do certain actions. I came to this small kingdom in 200 BE and found a place of refuge to escape persecution from where I am from." Waspum said in melancholy.
"Where are you from, librarian Waspum?" I asked curiously.
"Not now. The time isn't right. Maybe one day I will tell you, young Prince. Anyway, back to the lesson." Answered Waspum.
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One week later, outside the grand circular walls of the capital, Romus stood a wall of legionaries, including the recently arrived 8th legion and the assembled 5000 Royal Guardians and 300 Royal Mages. All 25,300 legionaries looked an intimidating sight in their red, black, and gold armor, ready to bleed and go to war for the good of the kingdom.
A raised wooden platform had been built in front of these soldiers; the King was standing in the middle of this platform with his family to his left and his court to his right. Junius was dressed in full battle armor similar to his Royal Guardians, wearing a polished Lorica Segmentata covering his vital organs, offering excellent protection. On his head sat a Cassis helmet with his golden laurel reef crown wrapped around the top of it, allowing his soldiers to identify him on the battlefield. Behind him stood Head Royal Guardian Oracio holding his scutum shield and his short gladius Junius preferred sword.
"Legionaries of the 8th and my Mages and Guardians, you have all been chosen for a mission pivotal to the progress of our kingdom. Up north, our brothers and sisters in arms are in a brutal war with the barbarians to bring back what was stolen from us. We are marching north as reinforcements to our legions, helping rescue our citizens and supplies who were kidnapped and stolen from our kingdom. Our heroic legions up north have already captured three cities from the vicious barbarians liberating them from the cruel tribal ways of the barbarians.
Together, we will join the heavily wounded 2nd Legion and the fresh 5th Legion from the eastern border at Averom and then proceed toward their capital of Galea. Many hurdles lay in our way, including a dense forest and a few cities that by now would have received reinforcements from their High Chieftain.
A long and bloody conflict awaits us, but I have no doubt that we will emerge victorious from this struggle.
ROMA INVICTA," Shouted the king at the end of his short speech.
The legionaries quickly replied while hitting their right arm on their chest with, "Long live the king" and "Roma Invicta."
"Alright, in marching formation, get ready to move out," ordered the king before turning to his family and saying his goodbyes for the next couple of months. Immediately after speaking to his family, the Head Royal Guardians gave him his sword and scutum before he proceeded to the front of the now-formed 8th legion in marching formation, with the Royal Guardians and Mages at the front surrounding him, offering impenetrable protection.
"Move Out!" Ordered the King as he started walking forward with his legions in tow.