Cataphracts, surviving in a world full of mods

The three of them chatted and laughed freely, only emerging from the water when their skin turned pale. During this process, an implicit agreement was naturally reached. The three exchanged knowing smiles, said their goodbyes, and then went their separate ways.

After scrubbing off almost a layer of his skin, Teresus felt his steps become much lighter. He dressed in the room outside the bath, his previously damp hair now almost dry. After tidying himself up a bit, he went out.

His legion was also granted permission to bathe. To prevent the spread of the plague, the entire bathhouse was thoroughly cleaned. The soldiers were divided into two groups: one half remained on duty, while the other half cleaned the baths, and they took turns cleaning them.

The Imperial soldiers in the army cheered with joy. They had been suffering from not being able to bathe for a long time, so they immediately rushed into the bathhouse.

But the slaves and the mountain people had never seen such a scene before... Dozens or even thousands of people washing their bodies in the same place amidst the sweltering heat, exposing themselves to each other completely naked... Although men and women were still separated, it was still an eye-opening experience.

Not everyone can accept this kind of culture, at least not in the short term. Talina only took one look inside before being frightened out by the women's white, fleshy bodies. Even though she was a girl, her cheeks still flushed, and she refused to go back in.

But the easygoing Colin didn't stand on ceremony at all and was eager to go in and see for himself. He even insisted on bringing Tarina in with him, which scared the girl so much that she waved her hands and refused. The two of them were arguing and pulling at each other at the entrance of the public bathhouse.

Just before the two of them were about to attract more attention, Thessalius emerged from the baths, captivated by the intriguing scene:

"Why don't you two go in and take a shower? You know, you won't have such a good opportunity again. Don't worry too much, this place has been cleaned thoroughly."

“That’s exactly what I was planning, sir…” The mountain girl grinned mischievously, tugging hard at Talina’s arm. “But our doctor doesn’t seem too keen on going, so I’m helping her overcome the difficulties!”

"It's alright, sir!" Talina's face flushed red, her cheeks puffed out from the effort. "I'll just wash up in my tent and won't go anywhere else..."

"Come with me, don't be shy! Let's broaden our horizons together, and maybe we'll see something interesting!"

"What exactly is this 'interesting thing' you're talking about?! I don't want to know at all!"

The two were still struggling and pulling at each other. Colin seemed very interested, but Tersolius still noticed that she was not very strong. The mountain girl, who had never seen such a place before, was obviously afraid to go in, so she wanted to pull someone she knew to go in with her to bolster her courage.

But while she dared not go in, she was also very curious, which is why she turned around and tormented Tarina.

"If you two are too scared to go in, you can find a separate small bathroom."

………………

The air suddenly became quiet, and the two people froze like statues.

"Is there a separate bathroom?"

"Of course there are. Nobles never share a pool with commoners; they all have their own private baths."

"........."

"The water should have been changed by now. If you go now, you'll be able to catch it in time."

"OK…………"

————————————————————————————

The warm spring water, steaming, can penetrate one's bones and lungs, completely eliminating physical fatigue and giving one a feeling of relaxation as if floating on clouds.

Tarina poked her head above the water, her neck and below completely submerged in the hot water. Her pale blue hair spread out in the water, floating like seaweed.

Taking a bath in a public bath for the first time is a very novel experience, but once you get used to it, you can appreciate its benefits.

As my body relaxed, even my mood improved, a blush appeared on my cheeks, and I felt like I was floating.

Colin, who was shorter than her, squatted down next to her, curled up in a ball floating on the water with his eyes tightly closed, as if he were drowning.

Tarina was initially concerned, but now she was used to it. The mountain girl was an unexpectedly good swimmer, and besides, even if someone was a terrible swimmer, it was impossible for them to drown in waist-deep water; only a fool would do that.

"You are truly a beauty, sir."

"!! Cough cough cough! Cough!"

Tarina slipped, causing her head to go underwater, and in her panic, she choked on a mouthful of water...

"What are you talking about...?"

Tarina blushed and stammered, quite startled by her companion's earth-shattering words.

Didn't you notice?

"What did you notice?..."

Colin wore a strange smile.

"The man looked like he had just taken a bath and was much kinder than usual. I just realized that he is actually quite good-looking! I usually don't dare to look at his face for too long."

Talina silently rolled her eyes and lay back down—she had already carefully examined the wound while stitching it up for Tersolius, and knew much earlier than he did!

A strange sense of pride suddenly welled up in Tarina's heart, causing the corners of her eyes to curve downwards, making her eyebrows and eyes even more gentle.

The mountain girl was a little confused, wondering why the other person suddenly stopped responding to her. So, feeling bored, she buried her head in the water again and started blowing bubbles.

————————————————————————————

Tersolius looked at the thing in front of him with a hint of surprise—the huge white lion skin had been processed by a skilled leatherworker and was now soft and dry.

Luxurious black silk was sewn onto the inside of the leather. The enormous pelt was divided into several sections, one of which was made into a magnificent cape. The lion's mane was trimmed and used to decorate the collar and sides.

The head and tail, completely ripped off, hung down on either side of his shoulders, like a lion lying on his shoulders with its eyes closed, ready to leap up and devour its prey at any moment.

The cloak was presented to him as a gift, crafted by the city's finest leatherworkers and tailors, who embroidered the following words in gold thread on the inside:

Dedicated to General Thesolius, the slayer of the white lions, the savior of Pontra, the one who ended the chaos of the lions, may he be invincible, unstoppable, and may all his enemies be destroyed like lions!

Thesolius smiled and extended both hands to accept the gift, taking it with great solemnity. The city's inhabitants erupted in a deafening roar of cheers, shaking the very rooftops.

Amid cheers from the city's inhabitants, the army broke camp and set off again, while Tersolius draped the white lion's cloak over his armor and left the city amidst a dazzling flash.

………………

The lion's skin cloak was very stylish, but the temperature was not suitable for wearing it, so after leaving the city, Teresolus took it off and put it in his saddlebag.

The other half of the hide was also made into all sorts of things. This lion was so huge that the fur, as big as a bull's hide, would keep the best tailors busy for several days.

He gave a crossbody bag to Talina, a pair of fur boots to Colin, and two smaller cloaks to Natamus and Alka.

Even so, there were still a few items left... but he couldn't rashly distribute them to others, otherwise it would inevitably bring him some trouble.

After all, the saying "It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality" has been proven true throughout history... Given the current shortage, it's better to send them out when there's a more suitable opportunity later.

Many of the other cavalrymen and mountain people also made cloaks from the lion skins they obtained. Even though the weather was already quite hot, some people still wore them and marched proudly in the ranks.

They left behind the envious and jealous glances of others; the fur left by the dangerous beasts on their bodies had now turned golden, displaying the preciousness of their glory.

Next, their destination will be the capital of the empire, the obsidian city standing atop Eagle Peak—Loristia!

————————————————……——……——……

"That's what that guy Arius did, teacher."

Rostoia bowed his head respectfully. The man he called his teacher was an old man with thick hair and beard, but his hair and beard were completely white.

"Just as you expected, Rostoia..."

The old man sighed slightly. His expression wasn't exactly surprised, but it carried a hint of helplessness. Deep wrinkles formed between his brows, and his sharp eyes gleamed beneath his thick eyebrows.

"That's nothing, teacher. It's just that this guy is stupid enough, which makes his actions more predictable. With just a little provocation, he'll charge straight ahead like a stupid pig until he crashes and bleeds."

Even when praised by his teacher, the man's face remained calm and indifferent, as if he had done something very easy and therefore not worth being happy about.

"He's lost his mind now, completely controlled by hatred, and he's bound to make foolish decisions. All we need to do now is wait; he'll draw all the attention and hatred to himself... and then..."

"Alright, let's stop here, Rostoia... I've entrusted this matter to you, just do it... There's no need to tell me everything."

"Thank you for your trust. I will definitely live up to your expectations!"

A look of joy finally appeared on the man's face, as if he had received tremendous affirmation; even his fingers were trembling slightly.

The old man stood up from his ornate high-backed chair, which was covered in leather. Although he looked quite old, his hands and feet were still nimble and strong. He slowly walked to the window. The golden buildings in the distance were shining brightly in the sun, making it hard to look away. It was as if several small suns had appeared.

"Emperor... Emperor! Emperor."

He let out a long sigh, a look of weariness and determination in his eyes.

He suddenly turned his head and looked at the students who were still waiting:

"If you have any questions, just tell me."

The man hesitated for a moment before slowly saying:

“Teacher, I don’t understand. Why are we targeting General Tersolius? He is a glorious and upright imperial man, and a man of great talent, far more valuable than that good-for-nothing Balia…”

The old man nodded slowly:

“You’re right, those two brothers are the most honorable citizens of the Empire…and they love this country. They are far more valuable than many others…”

"Then why..."

"Because they are variables."

A sense of helplessness almost welled up in the old man's eyes:

"They are dangerous variables..."

Chapter 95 Variables (2)

"I don't understand... teacher."

Rostoia's face was filled with doubt. His teacher's words had a mysterious and enigmatic quality, making them difficult to understand and leaving him full of questions.

"Rostoia, do you still remember Igulus?"

The old man lowered his eyelids slightly and placed his hand on the wooden window frame.

"Are you referring to Emperor Igulus?... Of course I remember. The disasters his madness unleashed throughout the empire have yet to subside, and he is still known as the Mad Emperor in the empire..."

“Igulus, he is also my student…”

Rostoia was stunned. Extreme shock and panic made his eyes tremble. A terrible secret was suddenly placed in front of him, and he was completely unprepared.

"Everyone who knew about this except me has turned to dust... and now there's one more like you."

"And you will learn more secrets next... Listen carefully, Rostoia, I am very old... Listen carefully."

The man swallowed hard, feeling his throat so dry it was about to crack, and he could barely breathe.

“He was once my best student, and also one of my gentlest and kindest… I imparted all my knowledge and experience to him, almost treating him like my son… I thought he could be different…”

..............................

In this warm, dry, and spacious study, Rostoia heard a secret he would never have known in his life. Although the sun was shining brightly outside the window, he felt cold all over and his hair stood on end.

For a fleeting moment, he had an urge to kick open the door and run away without a care in the world, but in the end, he forced himself to stay, absorbing those terrible secrets...

A yellow-beaked sparrow hopped and skipped on a treetop, catching small insects with weak wings that couldn't fly very far.