As the Imperial legion crossed the gate that was at Alnus hill, the soldiers could do nothing but wonder what awaits them on the other side of the gate, perhaps a vast land full of fertile soil and riches that would expand the empires borders? Or they would find a mighty opponent that they would bring to its knees on the battlefield?.

The only thing that they found was the beginning of the end of humankind.

The first thing that came to meet Marius vision were ruins, giant towers of stone that scrapped the skies on another era, now crumbring at they own weight and covered on various kinds of flora,they explored the ruins in search of life they were almost giving up when they saw in the distance of the main road figures moving, at first they were walking but at the moment they noted the men in the horses started to run away, Marius decided to take some risk and charged towards the figures, with his guards with him, as he got closer he could see more details about them, they were humans wearing almost nothing other than loincloth, Marius drew his sword and charged at the one closer to him, it was a woman but it dint matter as he sliced her killing her on the spot, the rest of the men follow his example and pierced with they spears and swords at them leaving some of them on the ground, Flavius, Marius right hand got off his horse and started to walk towards one of them that was on the ground, he raised his sword to finish him.

-stop Flavius, we still need to have to collect information-

Flavius nodded and grabbed the man before him

-youre right Marius, although he looks like a savage he may have useful information for us-

Marius got off his horse too and kicked the man

-where is the rest of your people?-

Marius already knew that the man wouldn't be able to answer as they must speak different languages, but still, he could make sings or a movement that would help,

But it didn't, it wasn't that he refused but instead that he simply couldn't do it, he moved his mouth but no word nor sound come out of it, he appeared afraid but it wasn't the kind of fear that a men would show it was something that an animal that could comprehend the situation would do.

-I don't think that this savage is able to speak Flavius-

Flavius was looking his surrounding thinking about the men that they killed

-they didn't even run properly or scream, they are dumb as any farm animal they ran on instinct, not because of fear-

Marius agreed with Flavius

-if all the races here are as smart as him we are going to rule this place on a month-

-what are we going to do know Marius?-

-For now, we are going to make an outpost at the outskirts of this ruins, then I need to send letters to the capital so we can start making a colony here-.

Marius and Flavius got on their horse and rode back to the army.

Three months have passed since they arrived, Marius has been given the title of Governor-General in charge of the new colony on the other side of the gate, he was at his desk writing on his diary.

"The first wave of colonist have arrived and started to settle on the land, with the development that we are having we are expected to start collecting taxes in the next year, the savages living here are the perfect slaves, they are coming to us in great numbers and are accepting everything that we put them to do, but since a month ago the mutual feeling of the people of the colony is the same...

He stopped for a moment thinking the correct words.

We are feeling that something is watching us. We build the colony away from the gate at the outskirts of the ruins because we couldn't plant anything nor build in the fear that something might fall apart but the outside of the ruins is even worse, a big forest spwans as far as the eye can see, it appears that the savages are coming from the forest but the expeditions that we have made had been pointless,we could find the origin of thesavages and every time the scouts return thet are afraid saying that the wood must be alive, that they feel that they are being watched by something also it began to appear this problem with the emblems, signs carved on some woods and walls all around the colony, perhaps are the savages the ones making them, but as the days passed we found some of them in the barracks and other areas were we don't let them enter, I would like to resolve this matters, but I have been reguested to report the pogress at the capital, I hope at the moment of my return I can resolve all of this matters"

Marius stopped writing in his diary and dresses before going out.

-"good day, Marius"-

Flavius was waiting for him outside the building

-"good day Flavius, how are the men today?"-

Flavius smile turned into a serious face and after a moment of silence spoke

-is not good Marius, the morale is dropping. I've been hearing whispers in the barrack, the soldiers are wondering why the savages are coming to us in the first place, also they have been reports of stolen and lost items all around the colony and is been already a day since the scouting party of Aleianus step in into the forest-

Marius looked around him and Flavius and made a sign so Flavius lowered his voice

- I know we are having problems but we must remain calm if this leak to the people panic is going to spread across the colony, can't let that happen, today Im going to the capital to report to the emperor and the Senate, when I come back we will resolve all this problems, for the moment I will grant you the title of regent, I need that you sen more scouts parties to the woods so we can find Aleianus and his men's-

Flavius although uncomfortable and not convinced enough nodded at Marius orders, Marius knew how Flavius felt since they have been together since almost thirty years becoming close friends, but for the plans that they have on this new world he must leave.

As they were walking towards the gate Marius overheard the conversation of two woodcutters.

-I telling you I saw something moving in the woods the other day-

- Avilius you must be tried there is nothing more here apart from bears and this savages-

-Julius what I saw was no bear nor one of the savages, it was something that could be a combination of them, at first it looked like a bear cub but when it saw me it raised on his two feets and ran away, you feel the same as I on this last days, the woods feels alive and every time I go out to chop wood I feel that it is whispering me, something is really wrong with this place-

Marius ignored them and continued walking, he part away midway to the gate and ride his horse looking the ruins, what would be the reason of the ruins and why the only race in here were imbecile humans? He started to cross the gate when at the distance he could almost hear some kind of roar