Eastern border woods — Week 14, Day Two
There was no formation. No drill. Just a sentence from Varro at the end of the day:
"Tonight, you'll sleep outside."
Sextus looked up, as did the rest of the elite group.
"A patrol to the southern border. Signs of irregular movement. Foragers, maybe. Smugglers. Or just the desperate.A full decuria. You.And this time, no training sticks.Gladius at your side. Pilum in hand."
No one asked questions.No one pretended to be brave.
They departed at dusk. The group marched in silence. Atticus at the front, Sextus in the center, Veturius guarding the rear. The woods were damp, and the air smelled of snapped sap. The light faded quickly.
It wasn't a campaign. It wasn't war. But it wasn't training anymore.
"Spread formation. No one more than two steps apart.If someone speaks, it's because they saw something. Not to joke," ordered Atticus, without raising his voice.
Leaves crackled under boots. The sky vanished between the trees. Everything was shadow and sound.They moved as one body, but every muscle trembled independently.
When they reached the clearing by the stream, they saw the signs.
Fresh ashes.Food remains.Footprints. At least three sets.
Veturius crouched down.
"Not animals. And not legion. Someone was here less than an hour ago."
Atticus turned to Sextus.
"Take Nerva. Sweep south. If you see anything, don't speak. Come back.If not… we continue to the checkpoint."
Sextus nodded. Gladius drawn, light in his hand.He moved with Nerva through the underbrush, stepping without breaking branches, barely breathing.
A hundred paces in, they saw something.
A figure. Alone. Sitting. Hooded. Still.
Sextus raised a hand. Nerva stopped. They didn't get closer.
The figure looked at them… and slipped into the trees.No running. No words.
When they returned to the group, Atticus was already in a defensive stance.
"They saw us. And they didn't care that we knew."
No one said they had to return to camp.But they all knew immediately.
They marched back quicker. No incident. But hands stayed on hilts the entire way.
As they passed through the wooden gates of the camp, Varro was waiting. He didn't ask what they'd seen.
He only said:
"First patrol. Won't be the last.Welcome to the world of those who don't sleep easy."
Sextus didn't reply.
There was no glory.But he'd crossed the line.And on the other side… was war.