You get a double update because I haven't uploaded in a while so yay
Enjoy
I guess

Fiona fainted.

That was that.

At least no one else noticed.

Hallez didn't know how to handle the information. She kept her emotionless mask on, but inside—well, she could come to the terms for the test easier than Fiona, but then again, she hadn't seen the fort yet, nor even their past forts.

And from Fiona's reaction, they must've been impressive.

Unfortunately, Hallez could understand Martin's way of thinking. This would be similar to what they would be doing on the mission. They had to prove that they at least had a fighting chance to retrieve the Ancile.

Tim hesitated, before announcing, "This is a...reasonable test. And if the daughter of Letum and her contubernium passes, we will provide them with some necessities, and a way of transportation to get to Livermore. Any objections?"

There were none.

"This meeting is now officially over."

Everyone stood, and started to file out of the Senate House, shuffling past one another. Other than the footsteps, it was completely silent. After a few moments of the deafening, awkward silence, it was seriously starting to get to Hallez. She sighed inwardly, her brain hurting. Then she finally stood up.

Getting Fiona out was a bit of a hassle, she'll say that.

Hal had to get some assistance from Mark, who threw the daughter of Fortuna over his shoulder, and led them out of the Senate House.

Once outside, on the walk through Rome Ultima, he remarked, "That was interesting."

Hallez crossed her arms. Interesting was an understatement. "I would say it was befuddling."

Mark snorted in laughter. "I suppose. Who's on your contubernium, anyway?"

"Fiona, Travis, Lavi."

"Ah, the lovebirds. Do you like them?"

Hal shrugged. "Sure."

Mark waited for more elaboration. When there was none, he raised an eyebrow. "Alright then. Anyways, I'll help you carry Fiona back, then I'll need to announce the changes to the MFSDO. More details about this definitely very reasonable test will be given to you by Ian, who we'll send when we work out the details. Then I'll leave you to break the news to your contubernium."

Hallez froze. "Me?"

Mark looked apologetic, and a bit guilty. "Yeah. I need to be there to work through the details about the test and the mission with June and the consuls. Sorry."

She nodded, reluctantly. She sighed inwardly. "I'll tell them."

They had reached the checkpoint. As Hallez retrieved her pocketknife, she started to worry. She didn't want to be the one to break the news. Despite what Travis had said the day before, about how he didn't care that she was a daughter of Letum, she was worried—and scared.

What would they think about this absurdly impossible test?

Doing the MFSDO with just four people sounded dangerous, and impossible, and it wasn't their fault they had to do it. It was her's. They were just unlucky enough that she had joined their contubernium, and that she was in the prophecy thingy from the gods, who had never even cared about her existence until now. If they left her on her own to do this task, she wouldn't blame them. Better yet, she didn't tell them, and just did it on her own anyway, and most likely, most definitely fail.

Actually, failing would probably be for the best. This mission wasn't made for her anyway. It was better that someone else, someone with more knowledge about the world, and more experience than her, who actually have a chance at succeeding. Because she had no experience leading a group on a dangerous, and possibly deadly mission to retrieve something—something she lost.

That thought brought along another jolt of doubt. There was no way she could lead this mission. If she lost the thing that Rome Ultima depended on for survival once...who's to say she wouldn't lose it again.

But what about Rome Ultima? Didn't she just tell herself she didn't want the innocent people in Rome Ultima to experience something horrible?

And...Cade...

What about him? He had stuck with her for most of her life—that's what it felt like—she couldn't leave him...

Speaking of Cade, there was another thing. It wasn't likely she would pass the test, but if she did (that was a big if), why would the Mania capture him? And why take the Ancile, but not destroy it, if her goal was to cause chaos? Why did she send Hallez a postcard telling her that she's waiting for her? Something didn't add up.

Before she could beat herself into a tornado of doubts, (actually she already was) They arrived at the Tenth Cohort barracks.

Hallez and Mark entered without a word. Hallez's eyes stayed fixed on the ground in front of her, ignoring all the stares burning holes into her. Apparently, they already knew about the test—probably because of the centurions. Their stares were more curious now, with smugness and envy mixed in.

She didn't understand the envy part.

They finally made it past all the people in maniple 10A, through the door, and past the people of 10C. Mark set Fiona gently on Travis' bed—since climbing up a ladder to Fiona's while carrying Fiona was a bit of a dangerous task—then gave Hallez a friendly smile.

He looked awkward for a second, then said, "I'm not usually good at encouraging others, but I'm sure you'll pass."

Hallez nodded. "Thanks."

As he hurriedly escaped the building, Travis and Lavi appeared. Travis quickly crouched down next to Fiona.

"Woah... Sis, what...?" The confusion was evident in his voice, as he looked to Hallez. "Hallez, how did the Senate meeting go? Why is Fiona..."

Hallez shook her head. She felt the great urge to fiddle with something, to work off this nervousness. "She's fine. She fainted because..." Hallez tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "She fainted because this contubernium was given a 'mission'"—cue the air quotes—"to retrieve the Ancile, the divine shield. But before we can do that, we have to pass a test, which is to infiltrate the fort for MFSDO and retrieve something inside, all by ourselves."

There was silence in the room.

"And now I'm going to leave and die in a hole somewhere before the embarrassment kills me."

And hope I get out before you throw me out anyway.

She turned to walk away.

Lavi grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Woah there. You're not going to die in a hole anywhere. So...what? What exactly happened at the meeting?"

Before Hallez could say anything, Fiona groaned, and woke up.

Travis grabbed his sister's hand. "Fiona? Are you alright? Halle's told us you passed out in the Senate meeting..."

Fiona sat up, then sighed. "I was hoping that was just a dream..."

"Unfortunately not. So how did the meeting go? Hallez seems reluctant to say anything."

With some grumbling, Fiona managed to recount the whole meeting, with Hallez filling in the small blank spot at the end, after Fiona had fainted.

At the end, Travis looked about to faint as well.

"The ENTIRE FORT by OURSELVES?" Travis' voice was higher than usual.

Fiona nodded. "Unfortunately, yep."

Travis threw his hands up. "What was Martin thinking?"

"He probably wasn't," the other brunette muttered bitterly.

Lavi was rubbing her temples. "Hey, it's fine. Look on the bright side: We're not entirely hopeless. We know their strengths. That also means we know their weaknesses."

"And what weaknesses would that be?" Travis asked, his arms crossed, an eyebrow raised.

"Um...we just have to turn their strengths into their weaknesses. We'll figure it out as we go," she added at Travis and Fiona's skeptical expressions.

The rest of the maniple had  started to go about their usual day halfway during their conversation, which Hallez was thankful for. She wasn't sure what she would've done if they had continued staring for a moment longer. However, just then, someone said something in a loud voice, near the door, and everyone started to pour out of the room.

"Guys," Hallez said to the others, bringing the sudden change to their attention.

"Now what's that all about?" Lavi mused. Hallez was pretty sure she knew, and her suspicions were confirmed when Ian suddenly pushed through the crowd, and picked his way here through the mini-maze.

Ian made it to their side and held up a clipboard, which had a piece of paper with writing on it. "Right, so, Mark sent me to tell you the details: As you already know, you will be infiltrating the fort built by the odd Cohorts to retrieve something inside. You and your contubernium are the only ones on offense. The fort will be defended by the First, Third, and Fifth Cohorts. The item you are retrieving will be a non-divine copy of the Ancile one of the twelve taken from the Temple of Mars, which will be inside the fort for you to find. There will be a medic tent on the western edge of the field, which you are allowed to retreat to when you need medical assistance.

"You are allowed to use any item from outside the battlefield as long as it is not AI run. No living animals or beings from outside the battlefield will be allowed to help you. Nothing with a mind of its own in general, unless they are already inside the battlefield. Magical items and powers are, of course, allowed.

"You would officially have passed the test if all four of you make it inside the fort, and at least one of you grabs the Ancile copy, and all of you retreat outside of the fort to the medical tent. You would officially have failed if all four of you retreat to the medical tent without the Ancile at the same time. The test begins as soon as you make a move to attack the fort. Is that clear? Any questions?"

Fiona raised a hand. "Who will be judging the test?"

"Your centurions, the consuls and the praetors."

There were no more questions, though Fiona looked like she was ready to kick a certain centurion in the shin.

Ian scanned his clipboard. "And, of course, no maiming, no aiming to kill. This goes for both the offenders and the defenders. Oh, and Tim told me to tell Hallez, as an exception"—he tried an impression of Tim's voice—"'None of the fancy Letum stuff.' And...that should be all. And don't feel pressured by all the people who will be looking in from afar. You'll be just fine."

"Wait," Hallez said, just as he turned to leave. An idea was forming in her mind. Ian turned back. "One more question: When you say that we are allowed to use any item, may we leave the field to grab an item after the test starts? Without failing it?"

Curiosity flashed in his eyes. He scanned through the paper on the clipboard again. "Well...it certainly isn't against the rules. As long as you don't all go to the medical tent, at the same time. I doubt they'll deliberately fail you for it though, as long as you come back. They're curious to see what you'll do."

And with that, Ian turned away, and walked off, leaving the four of them alone in the room.

Fiona stood up, her eyebrows raised at Hallez. "Hallez, what's your plan?"

Hal was a bit startled that Fiona could see right through her. "There's no way you could see through me when we met just under twenty-four hours ago."

Fiona grinned for the first time since the Senate meeting. "Well, I guess I was lucky. But I am curious."

Travis snorted. "Although, now that she mentioned it, what is your plan? I'm curious as well."

"Wow, did you two just agree on something?"

"LAVI, SHUSH!" Both siblings exclaimed.

Lavi chuckled. Hallez felt the same warmth from last night. She was wrong. So wrong. Her contubernium—though they met barely twenty-four hours ago—wouldn't blame her, wouldn't shun her. She didn't have to worry about not being accepted. At least, for now.

"Do you know where the Temple of Mars is?"

They all nodded.

"It's on the hill, just east of the battlefield, where all the other temples are," Lavi answered. "It's called the Forum, which is a huge misconception."

Hallez nodded, satisfied. "The heaviest shovel will be useless against the small brush if used correctly. My parents used to tell me that."

"And...I assume the shovel is the fort?"

"Yes. No matter how well defended it is, it cannot defend itself if we play the right cards... Alright, here's the plan, while we're alone."

---

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE KINDA AN ACTION-ADVENTURE BOOK
NOT SO MUCH RIGHT NOW
I PROMISE THERE WILL BE MORE ACTION SOON
-Lunya

P.S. If there' any mistakes at all, tell me—