The castle seemed to breathe with tense silence. In the corridors, old tapestries swayed softly, as if they already sensed something great was about to happen.

  Lukas crossed the antechamber and pushed open the door to the captains’ office. Inside, Catarina was kneeling before a chest, sorting through scrolls. Her dark hair fell loosely, hiding part of her tired face.

  She looked up, surprised.

  — Lukas…? What are you doing here at this hour?

  He closed the door behind him.

  — I came because we need to talk. And because we can’t waste time.

  — Shouldn’t you be out there at the festival? — she asked.

  — I should. — Lukas rolled out a scroll across the table. — But we don’t have the luxury.

  On the map, Sorriso was divided into colored sectors, and the Empire into two main lines of defense: the South and the northern borders of Bragan?a. Lukas began to explain, his finger tracing lines and circles like someone who had already done this a thousand times:

  — Defense begins before the first drumbeat. We’ll position shock-lances disguised as decorative posts along the main streets, block side entrances with wagons full of fake barrels, and spread mobile units between the festival tents. Every step during the festival will be part of tactical repositioning.

  Catarina stared, surprised at the precision.

  — When the portals open — he continued — the corridors will already be controlled and the troops will have pre-set retreat lines. No improvised battles. Everything calculated to the last detail. No civilian casualties.

  It was the mind of a future general.

  In Lukas’s mind, César’s voice rumbled with something close to pride:

  — Boy… could you be my descendant?

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  — Huh? — Lukas blinked.

  — You think like the centurions of my Equestres… my legendary Tenth Legion.

  Lukas couldn’t help it:

  — But… aren’t you already in a Tenth now?

  — Not the same thing. — César said, proud. — Those men were living walls. You could’ve commanded an entire cohort.

  Before Lukas could answer, Morgana chimed in, dripping with mischief:

  — And what I really want is to see you commanding… in my bedroom, chocolatinho. Maybe even in Latin… ad noctem tuam sum domina.

  — Depraved! — César roared. — How dare you profane our sacred tongue!

  Their argument filled Lukas’s head while he tried to keep a straight face.

  Catarina stood, forcing herself to look firm.

  — So… are you going to laugh at me like the others? Call me paranoid?

  — No. — Lukas stepped closer to the table. — I believe you. And I’ll prove it.

  He pointed to the center of the map, where the Imperial Capital was marked.

  — For Sorriso, we already have plans. But the capital… if it falls, the Empire falls. We’ll use the Stones of Alcairim to create a layered evacuation network:

  First layer: outer districts straight to safe fortresses inland.

  Second layer: evacuation routes to the southern islands, harder for armies to reach.

  Third layer: one hidden stone in the Imperial Palace itself, leading to an underground fortress in Roraima.

  — That… — Catarina blinked, stunned. — That’s never been done.

  — Then we’ll do it now. — Lukas said. — And we’ll keep rested troops in the reception fortresses, to reorganize the civilians and stop chaos from destroying the inner defense.

  César sighed in admiration inside Lukas’s mind:

  — I’m so moved I wish you’d been born in Rome, in my time, raised under my shadow. Boy… I’d want you in my Equestres.

  — Equestres again… what was that, anyway? — Lukas asked mentally.

  — My Tenth Legion. The men who turned impossible battles. You think like them.

  Before he could respond, Morgana laughed softly:

  — And what I want… is to hear you whisper Latin in silk sheets, chocolatinho… in nocte tua sum domina.

  — Depraved! — César barked. — You dare again! Tell him, Lukas!

  Lukas, dry:

  — The only reason I even know Latin is because of you, César.

  Morgana, sweetly:

  — And because of me… you’ll use it for much more pleasurable things.

  César snarled.

  — On second thought… where’s the Invicta?

  — Still in the Tower. — Lukas answered without hesitation. — We’ll improvise. The people of Sorriso always find a way.

  — Peculiar… — César grumbled. — But strong.

  Back in the present, Lukas looked at Catarina.

  — So… will you do this with me?

  She hesitated, then nodded.

  — We’ll set it up during the festival. No one will notice… but we’ll be turning the celebration into the greatest war-preparation Sorriso has ever seen.

  Catarina gave a faint smile.

  — You talk like a general.

  — I’m not. I just… don’t want anyone dying for nothing.

  — Your brothers also asked me to join their houses. — Catarina crossed her arms. — But you’re the only one who brought me a plan, not empty promises.

  — That’s how it will be in my squad. — Lukas said. — If you accept.

  She looked at him for a long moment, then sighed.

  — I’ll think about it. But the fact that you believed me when no one else did… that already means something.

  Morgana whispered in his mind, teasing:

  — She’ll say yes, chocolatinho… and then you can thank me.

  — You have nothing to do with this, demon! — César barked.

  Lukas closed the door behind him and exhaled.

  I’m doomed.

  The weight of a shifting timeline pressed heavier on his shoulders. And the constant bickering of César and Morgana was driving him insane.

  End of Chapter 5