Centurion

Cyclops story: http://pastebin.com/kqN2N2mF
Across the pond: http://pastebin.com/cpqwwKKM
Away from Chaos: http://pastebin.com/wsz6N0VB
Gnome is where the heart is: http://pastebin.com/T012TSin
Max and Emilia: http://pastebin.com/DwBVZrLb
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In times of strife, it is a good strategy to distance yourself as far as possible from your enemy. The armies of the Rurga empire did just this. Once their enemies numbered in the countless, and they constantly haunted Rurga's borders. Unwilling to subject his people to any more hardships, the Emperor created the Imperial legions, forsaking the days of old when only sons of noblemen could fight. Any man who was strong, fit, and able to wield a sword was recruited into the legions, trained to exhaustive measures to ensure, strength, loyalty, and obedience.

Like wildfire, the Imperial legions marched across the continent, bringing cold steel and endless lines of shields with them. Many nations have sworn their vassalage to the Empire, few dare face the steel legions, neither man nor monster. Finally, the exhaustive campaigns of these brave men leads them to their final struggle, far from their homes and deep in the mainlands, they march once more.

“Did you know him?” The Legate asked me. I was crouched down, knee deep in the dead.
Our enemies had plenty to throw at us, men in the thousands willing to die a pointless death in some spiteful form of patriotism. I turned the body over and examined his face. A young man, no older than eighteen, a pity that some die so young.

“Yes, Legate.” I responded, looking back at him. “He was one of mine.”

“You have my condolences, Agrippa.” The Legate tried to consul me, but to little avail. I was far too young to be a Centurion in the Emperors army, though through chance and a few lucky strokes, I had found myself in a leading role. It was either learn to lead or watch the men I fight beside die in droves.

I am Agrippa Camilius, Centurion of the VIII Cohort, II legion “Rurgalia”.  I joined the army when I was seventeen to see the world. This passion later turned to determination when the struggle to survive alongside my comrades brought many of us to see these wars to an end. And so here I am, age of twenty five, and there is only one enemy left to fight, at least that is what I tell myself.

I recognized the boy, he had joined my cohort just weeks ago. He never seemed green or eager though, like he knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he arrived, like a old man prepared to die. I respected him, Argus, the younger legionaries always seemed to have an air of confidence around them, like they could arm wrestle an ogre and come out victorious.
Not Argus, though. He was quiet, though he would sing from time to time to lighten the moods. The voice of a bard, if he wasn't in the legions he would probably be swamped by many beautiful women, human and monster alike.

I sighed a dreadful sigh, bringing my thumbs to his face and closing his eye lids, shielding myself from those cold, lifeless eyes that once housed the soul of a man.
“You did good, friend.” I told his body, though I am sure that Argus has long since joined his comrades in the after life.

“Would you please excuse me, Legate.” I tried to dismiss myself. “My unit was separated once formations broke, I would like to find as many survivors of my cohort as possible.”.

“Of course.” The Legate willingly dismissed me. Typhus Morn, a Rurganite pure blood and noble man. He always seemed to understand war down to a key, able to overcome any enemy without sacrificing his men pointlessly. He never saw himself above his men, nor did he become an officer simply to increase his own fame back home. Once this bloody business is done, I suspect he will return to his family estate to herd cows and grow crops.

I did my best to step over the bodies of the dead, many of the wounded were already being pulled out of the dead, though I suspect many of them will not make it home. My eyes locked with a Legionary, I recognized him from my Cohort, though his name always escaped me, much to my guilt. He simply nodded and went back to pulling men out of the piles, no salute or greetings. Though I didn't mind, it is hard to remain professional after the bloody business.

Soldiering, its a good life. Three hot meals and a warm bed whenever you are in garrison. You are paid for your duties well and the training and loyalty you obtain stay with you for life. Though you pay for it in blood and sweat and death. In between the battles, you sometimes forget the sounds and smells of battle. The pushing and bashing of shields and the sound of metal tearing into flesh. Though once the horns are rung and the formations are made, it all returns to you.

The corpses were strewn in all direction for miles, luckily for us there were many more of theirs and there were of ours. The smell was almost unbearable, that sickeningly sweet stench given off from a body would be unbearable for most.

I continued my march, seeing many faces that I recognized. The knowledge that many of my cohort survived the slaughter lifted my heart, though only a smidgen. We all went about our business, looking for something or someone in the carnage of it all. I just wanted to get away, at least for the time being. I had killed many men that day, just as I've killed many men the battle before, and the battle before. Gods know that my men and I deserved some form of peace, at least only for a moment.

I continued to walk until both the bodies and the able became fewer and fewer until I once again could walk without tripping over a body or slipping on blood or shit or gods know what else. There was a risk of stragglers skulking in the woods, woods they were familiar with. Though I was willing to take the risk, though I would hope that what survivors managed to flee the legions advance would keep running until they were miles away.  Nevertheless, I was prepared to defend myself.

The sounds of falling leafs and chirping of birds was serene, almost pulled me away from the war that was very much real behind me. I couldn't help but smile, closing my eyes and breathing in air that was not thick with the scent of blood.

Finally, I opened my eyes, sighing contently and looking through trees washed by the gleam of the dusk's sun. Then, I spotted it, a small hill with a door dug into the side. From this distance I could tell the door was wooden, with a small window in the centre for one to look out from. I narrowed my eyes at the strange sight, my vision locking with a familiar object resting beside the doorway.


It was...my shield? But how? I had it torn from my arms during the battle and tossed away, how did it end up here? Who, or what, took it?

I approached the hovel, staring at both the doorway and my shield before picking it from the ground. The cuts and splinters made it almost useless, the mark of the second Legion was almost unrecognizable against the dents and weapon marks brought upon it. Though it was still my shield, and once again it had found its rightful place upon my arm.

Instinct had told me to leave, but curiosity was, as they say, a “Bitch”.  I approached the door, examining it closely, a brass door knob rested securely against the door. I began to circle the little hovel, too small for any man to live, only the smallest creature could make its home here. The hill itself was barely taller than I, with two small windows on either side. Finally, I had built the courage to return to the door, staring it down like a man prepared for a duel to the death. Carefully, I reached forward, taking the knob in my hand and twisting it until the hinge released and the door opened. I pushed forward and stepped inside, greeted only by what looked like an entrance way to any other house and stairs leading down into the earth.

Almost by instinct I kicked my sandals off and pushed them to the side of what I believed to be the place for foot wear. I had no fear in my heart, yet I was uneasy, wary, was this some sort of strange cultural building? Am I walking into an enemy trap? I threw the thoughts into the back of my mind, I was no coward, and even if this was foolish, I would press on.

“Hello?” I called out into the darkness, pressing my hand against the wall as I made my way down the stairs. “Imperial official. I mean you no harm.”

The stairs ran deep, deeper than any house should, I could feel the air become colder around me the further down I dared to tread. I could tell that I was deep underground, my steps careful as to not slip and tumble down them in the darkness. Finally, my journey had reached its end, at the end of the pitch black, I spotted two lights like dots in the distance.

I approached them, the lanterns illuminating a rather posh doorway, something you would see in front of a noble mans house in one of the northern kingdoms. Hesitantly, I twisted the knob, surprised that it was unlocked. I pushed the frame open slowly peeking my head in expecting to find some sort of enemy command post or a spy network.

I found neither, instead I found a home. A very prim and proper living area, with decorated sofa's and wooden flooring with a wall of books in the far corner. The house seemed to be built into a larger cave, with another door leading out of this “house” and into a tunnel that stretched into the dark.

“H...Hello?” I stepped inside, looking from right to left in the well lit room. There was a sense of uneasiness in the air, like I was not alone.

“I see you finally made it.”
I twisted my body to the sound of the voice, placing my hand against the grip of my short sword.
“Show yourself!” I ordered, keeping my blade in its scabbard, at least for the time being.

A woman came from around the corner, almost naked save for the very revealing lingerie that covered her nipples and woman hood. Save for that, there wasn't much left to the imagination from her voluptuous form to her rather large breasts. I was caught off guard with her attire that it took my brain a moment to adjust to the rest of her features.

She looked at me with red eyes that I could swear were glowing. Two, furry, black ears rested atop her blood orange hair with a long braid stretching from the back of her head, and both her legs and arms had large paws who's black fur stretched to the end of the forearms. Behind her were two, dark red demon like wings as well as a strange tail that resembled a mixture of a mace and a scorpions tail.

“A Manticore...” I said allowed, taking a step backwards.
“So You've heard of my kind, then?” She asked me, holding her position.

“The men of cloth from the north say you're kind eat human flesh.” I explained to her.
“Oh, do they now?” The Manticore mused, taking a step into the living room. “I suppose I enjoy...Certain parts of man flesh. But do you believe them?”

I raised a brow at her words. Was this some kind of trick question? I thought that it was best to play it safe and to seem as non-hostile as possible.
I released my grip on my sword and stood straight. “I am not from the north.”

“Very well, then.” The Manticore presented her sofa's with a smile. “Please, have a seat.”.

I stared for a moment before looking across the room. I did not want to come off as rude or offend the monster so I complied. I pulled my helmet off my head and gently placed it on the table in the centre of the room before sitting down. The cushions of the sofa did wonders for my back letting out a sigh of relief as the pressures of constant marches and the weight of my equipment were suddenly lifted from my feet.

The Manticore sat down across from me, crossing her legs and resting her paws against her knee. The same smile never left her face, almost as though she had plans for me.
“It is good to finally speak with you, Agrippa.” She said to me. My heart skipped a beat, I never remembered giving her my name.

“How do you know my name?” I asked her, the uneasiness returning to my mind.
“I've known you for awhile, the first foreigner to catch my attention when you and your friends entered the country. I heard your men speak of you, rather fondly if I might add, like they trusted you.”

Her words, although unsettling, at least brought some form of peace to my heart. I had never truly connected with the soldiers under my command, and in turn never really understood how they felt of my jurisdiction and choices.

“You have been...Watching me?” I asked, obviously uncomfortable with her story.

“Oh yes, for quite some time. When I saw your shield ripped from your arm, I thought I would...Hold on to it for you.”

“You planned for me to come here?” I continued my questioning.
“Not really, I just had a...Hunch, if you will, that you would find your way here.”

The room filled with an eerie silence as I sat uncomfortably in front of this strange monster that may or may not eat humans. The entire time, that smile, that damn smile, never left her face.

“So tell me, Agrippa.” She finally cut through the hush. “I know you, but nothing about you. Tell me about yourself.”

I shrugged, my eyes trailing off. “Like what?”

“Do you have any family at home? A girlfriend perhaps?”

“No.” I answered with a sigh. “I never knew my family, I grew up an orphan. Working for scraps until I was old enough to enlist in the legions.”
“I see. That must have been very hard.”

“Not as hard as it was for some.” I added. “I'm luckily still alive.”

“Oh, where are my manners!?” The Manticore suddenly spoke up, standing from her seat. “Would you like a drink?”
“Uh.” I was caught off guard by the sudden question. The prior battle and the sudden change in mood when I discovered this place made me forget just how parched my throat really was.
“Water...please.”

“Of course.” The Manticore complied, getting up from her seat and leaving the room, her tail swishing around the corner.

I took the time to get up and look around, peaking through one of the windows that led in the opposite direction of the stairs I had entered through. There was some sort of light source outside, the lanterns shining against the stone. Other than that, it was too dark to even begin to imagine how deep these tunnels go. I continued to peer through the window, my curiosity getting the better of me, until I felt the pressure of my armour loosen around me.

I spun around to see the Manticore standing behind me, still with that same smile.
“W-what are you doing?” I stuttered, pressing my back against the window.
“That armour just looked so heavy on you.” She said with a hum. “And it was so grimy, it couldn't have been comfortable.”
My segmented plates sank from my chest, I had to catch it before it smashed into the ground. It was amazing how she managed to loosen my fastens without me even noticing, let alone hearing her enter the room. I gave in and unbuckled my shoulder plates, pulling my armour from my body and placing it on the ground, the sudden freedom to my torso came at a relief, though I held on to my scabbard.

The Manticore handed me a glass of water, which I took with a nod and a thank you. I drank it down, relieving the scratches in my throat with it. I was lead back to the sitting areas, the two of us sitting down once more. Only this time the monster sat down beside me, curling her legs on to the couch and throwing her arm over the back of the Sofa. I peaked over at her grinning face, the glass still tipped against my mouth.

“So, Agrippa.” The Manticore broke the silence. “Do you enjoy your service in the army?”

That was a heavy question, somehow I felt honour bound to answer the truthfully.
“Most of us joined with guts and bravado.” I began to explain, putting the glass on the table.
“But after my first battle, I felt like an abomination. I sank my blade into someones flesh and watched him die just like my comrades did. But then you see things differently. You understand where the glory hounding comes from, some legionaries love every second of it. They love to wave their blades in the air, they love to accept challenges from their enemies, they love the fact that you can die at any moment. You at least die on your own terms with a sword in hand.
“But after so long, it drags on you. When you think the killing is over, some fool challenges the mightiest war machine on the continent and you're pulled back into it all. Many of us aren't afraid to die any more, we just want to go home, we've earned our peace.”

“Oooh~” The Manticore cooed, pressing her paw against my chest and rubbing my pectorals firmly. “It must be difficult. To fight for so long when all you want to do is relax.”
I gulped, my cheeks suddenly turning red. I had avoided the looser women in the past, mostly out of obligation and personal pride. Though I do admit, its hard to relieve stress in a life like this.

The Manticore leaned in, her lips practically touching my ear as she softly whispered. “I can make you feel good, you know?”

I coughed and tried to slide away, trying to maybe talk reason into her. But before I could react, she pressed her paw harder against my chest, pressing my back against the sofa. She twisted and slid until she straddled me, both paws now against each of my shoulders.

My hands gripped against the sofa, truth be told I had no actual experience with a woman, let alone a monster.
“Whats the matter?” She cooed again, now grinding against me. “Afraid I might eat you?”

She began to giggle, rubbing her paws up and down my chest, the motion of her hips was making it difficult for me to keep focus.
“Though, you do look tasty.” She was hopefully joking. The Manticore leaned in, slowly licking the side of my neck.
I shivered, unsure of how to react. When my sword hand even twitched she swiped my blade from my grip and tossed it across the room. I did not like my odds against the creature, but with the sudden shock of sensations flowing through my body, I wasn't sure I wanted to fight.

Her rubbing against my chest was like a soft massage, pressing away the aches and pains in my muscles. I let out a little grunt with her next lick, causing her to giggle.
“Don't get too comfortable.” She said as she licked her lips, pushing herself up with her legs and standing up from the sofa. I suddenly missed the rubbing against my chest as the pain slowly returned. The manticore reached behind herself, untying the knot that had held her top together and tossed it aside, revealing her rather large breasts to me in their fullest. I almost let out a gasp as she squeezed them together, rubbing them back and forth against each other sensually, that smile never once leaving her face.

“Do you like them?” She asked me, not waiting for an answer. “They're not even my best feature~.”

She suddenly bent over, curling my tunic upwards to reveal my rising erection. With a giggle, she lightly pressed her claw against the tip, not enough to hurt it, but enough to send a shiver through my entire body.

“I've never had a soldier before.” She told me, her tail now swishing back and forth behind her. “I bet your energy is nice and strong.”

Her scorpion like tail suddenly made its way to her front, waving back and forth in my face like a hypnotized cobra.
“Are you ready?” She asked me with a long drawn out snicker.

The tail suddenly froze, I only now noticed its maw like appearance in the front. I froze as it began to open up like a blooming flower, a strange drool like substance dripping from its edges as it revealed its pink innards. Thousands of little ridges pulsating and folded in my face, was this what she used to devour men?

Slowly, it began to lower towards my erection, one that I cursing but the sight of her naked form somehow overcame my fear of death. It was strange that even with the horrible maw that was attached to the end of her spine, she still maintained that beautiful, yet exotic, allure to her.

The lump at the end of the tail brushed itself against my prick. It felt like a tongue drenched in drool, rubbing itself along my shaft until it finally engulfed it entirely. At first my heart stopped, preparing myself for unbearable pain as my sex was removed violently. Though, the pain never came, and I could still feel it attached to my body. I looked down at the fleshy contraption in confusion until suddenly I felt it tighten against my cock, with a sudden sucking against it.

I pushed myself up by my palms, my legs suddenly becoming weak. I let out a panicked groan as sensations coursed through my veins and my body became weaker.

The Manticore giggled, doing a slow dance with her hips as she pushed her paws up her own neck and through her hair.
“It feels good, doesn't it?” She asked me, taking a seat beside me as her tail continued to suck my cock.
I bit down on my lower lip, my muscles tensing. I nodded at her quickly, looking to my right at her face, the same smile she had when I first met her had never once left her face.

She rubbed the pads of her paws under my chin, giving me a soft kiss on the cheek while she continued her business.
“Just let me work my magic.” She whispered into my ear, biting it lobe of it gently before pulling away.

I had trouble thinking clearly, my teeth gritted as this monsters tail violated me. It continued to suck and suck until I finally gave in, my cock erupting in a shower of white. The tail swallowed it greedily as the Manticore moaned out, rubbing her own paws across her body and shivering.

“Already done?” She asked with disappointment, pulling her tail away from my prick. She inspected it, her eyes narrowing before he tail came back. Without warning, a spike fired from its carapace, jabbing into my thigh. I cried out at the sudden jolt of pain, a small trickle of blood running down the inside of my leg. The Manticore giggle, pricking the boney thorn from my flesh and throwing it aside.
“How do you feel now?” She asked.

I coughed, my skin becoming hot and my loins began to pulse with a vicious tingle. My chest felt like it was on fire, and my heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest. The Manticore did nothing but giggle, watching me in some perverse sense of glee as I writhed in place.

Her tail opened up once more, greedily gulping down my prick again sending a wave of unbearable pleasure through my body. I found myself groaning like some sort of ghoul as each tug of her tail drank my ejaculate from me.

It continued to pour out of me like a fountain, the Manticore was leaning back against the couch, giggling to herself and running her paws through my hair over and over while she milked me mercilessly.

What was happening to me was inhuman, no way it just kept pouring out and pouring out, whatever she injected me with was forcing my prick to carry on.

I never once felt any pain, only the sensation of her tails many folds lovingly hugging my cock.
She finally let out a sigh of relief, having apparently had her fill, or so I thought. She let me sit for awhile, my prick twitching in the cold air until the fire in my chest seemed to die down and my breath calmed.

“Finally let the venom run its course?” She asked me, taking my cock in her paws and stroking it gently. “Oh, but look how hard you still are!~”

She dropped to her knees, pulling her paw away from my cock and pressing it between her breasts. She began to move them up and down against me, periodically licking the head in between her never ending string of soft giggles.

I threw my head back on the sofa, my arms now resting on the back. I no longer cared of what my fate would be, I was too lost in it all. If I am to die I will at least die content with my situation.
The Manticore continued grind her body against my pelvis, pulling her tongue away to give me another smile. I managed to pull my head back forwards, reaching down and moving one of her bangs away from her beautiful face with my fingers.

The faster she went the harder it became to contain myself, if I had any feeling in my legs they would probably be kicking right now. Wrapped her mouth around the head again, licking the shaft as she used her breasts to pleasure me. It all became too much and like so many time before, I released myself.

The Manticore swallowed my seed greedily, gulping it down like she was dying of thirst. She pulled her mouth away with a content sigh, licking the tip to clean off whatever she might have missed.

“Delicious...” She moaned, hoisting herself to her feet and standing straight.

“Are you ready for the main course?” She asked, walking her claws up my chest before dragging them across my chin. At this point, I no longer cared for self control, and simply nodded at her. She smiled and clipped the decorated metal that held her undergarments in place, letting them fall to the ground to reveal her womanhood to me.

She didn't waste time, straddling my crotch and lowering herself down on top of me until I was inside her. She gasped, though that damn smile never left her face, and began to slam her hips down against me.

I cringed as a new set of walls hugged down on my member, squeezing it tightly between her thighs. She placed her paws on my shoulders, balancing herself against me as she lost herself in pleasure. I could see on her face that it was all leading up to this moment, the glint in her eyes, that smile finally widening and changing shape, the way she would grind and move her hips against me.

I complied in her joy, pulling my arms from the back of the sofa and pressing them against her hips, thrusting upwards against her folds with whatever strength I had left.

I lost myself in her sensations, the feelings, the aroma and softness of her skin, it  was like a drug to me. If this was part of some sort of monsters curse I did not give a damn.

I brushed my hands across her sides and against her back, holding her closer until her breasts pressed against my chest. Her eyes widened and locked with mine, caught off guard by my sudden bravery.
I continued to thrust into her, kissing her neck gently as she threw her head back. Her arms wrapped around me tight, resting her head against my shoulder. Her gasps turned into moans and wails, it seems everyone has their weak point.

What was left of the “venom” was finally burning away in my body, and I felt more human than I ever did before. The pain returned to my bones and my cock suddenly felt like a volcano ready to erupt.
I found my hands gripped against her bat like wings, my teeth gritted as I once again came inside her, her walls tightening and her wails becoming almost unbearably loud.

She held her hug around me, breathing against my shoulder as I did in hers. When we finally found the power to pull away, our cheeks brushed against one another.  I was now inches away from her lips, my mind screaming at me to lunge in and kiss her, to hold her close and make her mine...Until.

“Legionaries!” A voice screamed as the front door was kicked down. I recognized the men from my cohort, charging in with blade brandished and shield bared.
“Rescue your centurion!” I knew that voice, Augustus Tiber, you could say he's my second in command. His voice was always louder, and he shouted in the thick of it so my orders would reach even the back of my formations.

The Manticore yelped and pulled away, gaining distance between herself and the legionaries. They advanced upon her, giving her no choice but to crash through the door leading into the cave and fleeing.

“Give pursuit!” Tiber barked.
“Belay that order!” I commanded, finding the sudden strength to rise to my feet and cover myself from my men.

“Sir?” Tiber asked with a raised brow.

“These caves stretch on for miles, if we enter we may never find our ways out...”

The legionaries stood at attention, one of them jogging over to me to hand me my armour.

“How did you find me?” I asked.

“One of the men from Thirteenth Cohort saw you enter this hovel, sir. When you didn't come back, we gathered a task force to retrieve you.”

I nodded, looking back at Tiber and the rest of the men. “You did good...But we can't stay here. We're going back to command. Move it!”.

“Yes, Centurion!” They all barked at once, heading up the stairs in a single file fashion. I followed soon after, giving the strange house one last look before closing the door behind me.

-

It had been months since I had seen that Manticore, though she went about her day like usual she seemed to avoid other men. It made her feel sick, alone, like a million daggers were driven into her spine.
She sighed, dusting off her table, lost in thought, she almost didn't hear the door creak open behind her...Almost.

Her eyes darted to the side, spinning around to defend herself from the sudden intruder, only for a pair of very human fingers to lock in between her paw.

“A-Agrippa!?” She gasped, looking up at my smiling face. I pulled her in closer, my grip around her paw tightening as I leaned in for a deep kiss. Her eyes widened and her face turned red, unprepared for the sudden act of affection.

“I had hoped I would find you here.” I said with a chuckled, pulling my right arm from her back and brushing it against her face.

“Oh really?” She asked coyly. “And why is that?”

“The wars over.” I informed her. “I was relieved of duty and discharged honourably with full pay. Enough to buy a plot of land and a home.”

“And?” She asked, raising a brow.
“And it gets very lonely in that house, all alone by myself.” My smile widened, almost to resemble the one I remembered from months ago.

“So I came back to make you my wife.”

“Y-your wife!?” She almost yelled, her face flushing a bright red.

She gulped, a small, single tear appearing only for a moment before she wiped it away.
“Are you sure you can handle living with a monster like me?” She asked me, her usual smile returning.

“I'll find a way.” I chuckled as I tightened my embrace around her, locking my lips with hers in a gentle, tender kiss.

I had earned my happiness.