"Damn it! Damn it!"
Upon hearing the news of the full-scale rebellion in the province of Judea, the aged Emperor Claudius's eyes turned icy cold. His expression was so deathly still, it practically felt tangible. He immediately convened a council, and discussions began in the Senate chamber on how to deal with the matter.
"Please take care of your health, Your Majesty. Your well-being is the Empire's foremost priority."
Novia supported the old emperor as they walked to the center of the chamber, then stepped aside, silently observing the room now descending into chaotic shouting.
He had always been looking for a good excuse to carry out a purge of the Judean province, and now, conveniently, a rebellion had presented itself — perfectly reasonable grounds.
What Novia truly hadn't expected was the title these Jews had bestowed upon their rebel leader. "King of Israel" and "Son of the Star" — fine, he could live with that. But "Messiah on Earth"? What the hell was that about?
Novia mused bitterly: you people refuse to believe in the true Holy Son, Jesus, yet you're so quick to crown some extremist lunatic with a title that lofty.
"Silence."
The frail voice of Claudius, amplified by magic, reverberated throughout every corner of the chamber.
"After the Judean province's rebellion, their leader, Doros, led his forces to annihilate the Roman Twelfth Legion stationed in Syria. Their legionary standard… was also seized."
At those words, the entire chamber erupted into shocked uproar. Fury filled the eyes of every person present.
In the Roman Empire, a legion's standard was its very soul — the pride and honor of every Roman soldier.
In the days of Caesar's conquest of Gaul, defeated chieftains had been made to kneel and kiss the standard of the Thirteenth Legion as a symbol of their submission to Rome.
Moreover, Roman military law dictated that if a legion lost its standard in battle, the legion would be disbanded, its number erased from the army rolls, never to be rebuilt.
In 9 CE, during the fateful Battle of the Teutoburg Forest that reshaped the destiny of the Germanic peoples, three Roman legions under Varus were utterly annihilated — their standards lost.
Six years later, under imperial orders, Germanicus led eight legions back into Germania, searching for survivors of those lost legions and their stolen eagle standards. Two of the three were eventually recovered and brought back to Rome, yet despite this, those legions were never reconstituted. Their names were forever erased from the Roman military ranks.
Thus, hearing now that the subjugated Jews dared to commit such a mad act — not only slapping Rome across the face but kicking it viciously while down — filled the senators and ministers with outrage.
"So, Your Majesty, how should we deal with these Judean traitors?"
The senators turned to the emperor at the center of the hall, awaiting his decree.
"What do you think, young Novia?"
After a moment's thought, Claudius shifted his gaze to the silver-haired youth standing silently nearby.
Seeing this, those senators who had been planning to use the association between Judaism and Christianity to stir up trouble for Novia suddenly shelved that idea. Clearly, the emperor still held tremendous trust in this young man.
This surprised Novia somewhat. Though he had been careful to promote a version of Christianity that distanced itself from Judaism, the historical link was undeniable. He had expected the Senate to seize on that, forcing him or his allies — like Seneca — to argue the case, after which he would boldly volunteer to lead the legions in suppressing and purging all heretics in Judea.
But now, the old emperor was handing him the initiative directly.
"Your Majesty, I believe the Judean province requires… a grand procession to display the Empire's — and the Lord's — might."
Novia wasted no time, voicing his suggestion.
"My God once told me: 'The Jews fancy themselves apostles, yet they long ago betrayed the covenant and are now heretics.' In that case, for these pitiful worms, what option do we, the people of the mighty Roman Empire, have but to crush them all beneath our merciful feet?"
The senators held absolute faith in the Empire's strength. They firmly believed this rebellion would be swiftly crushed.
Yet, what Novia spoke of… was something else entirely.
They could hear it — not a trace of falsehood or diplomacy in his voice, only pure, unadulterated literal intent:
To trample every Jew in the province of Judea into dust.
Some senators felt this was excessively harsh, but recalling the reports from the region — things the emperor had yet to disclose — they bit their tongues.
After all, following the Zealot leader's rebellion, they had slaughtered countless fellow Jews who refused to join the uprising, butchered the Pharisees, seized control of the cities, and then massacred the Greeks and Romans alike. The eastern Mediterranean was, in the most literal sense, awash with blood.
These zealots knew only violence — slaughter, slaughter, slaughter. No governance, no efforts to pacify the people. Nothing but chaotic, aimless raids. Nothing but a pack of lunatics.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to personally deal with these heretics on behalf of the Empire. I humbly request your permission."
"But… young Novia, you've never led troops before…"
Claudius looked at him with uncertainty.
"Your Majesty, before I earned your favor, I traveled far and wide — Egypt, Gaul, the Mediterranean, even Britannia. I've crossed paths with many people, seen many things, given to many along the way. The world God created is but one. A world where joy comes from a delicious meal, from laughter among friends, from the playful shouts of innocent children. A world meant to be cherished, full of radiant things."
"And precisely because of that—"
For the first time, Claudius saw the silver-haired youth's eyes grow cold, colder than ice.
"As a devout believer, I cannot forgive a world where hellish things are allowed to happen. The sound of bodies being pierced. The sound of flesh being torn apart. Gunfire, explosions, howls of rage. Hatred. Jealousy. The only difference between Judea now and hell itself—"
"Is that the beasts slaughtering innocents… are still human."
"Thus, I swear by my God — I shall bring victory to the Empire!"
It was this raw, unhidden loathing that finally swayed the old emperor. At first, he had worried another Teutoburg Forest disaster might befall them.
But if Novia dared to swear upon his God… perhaps, as with the Britannia campaign years ago, that same God would once again grant Rome victory.
And so, Claudius agreed.
"I grant you five fully equipped legions, fifteen auxiliary cohorts, and two legion's worth of battle mages. You will handle all matters concerning the Judean province, young Novia."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Might I trouble you for one more decree?"
"Oh? What is it? Speak freely."
"From this moment onward, no legion stationed near the province of Judea is permitted to let a single mad beast escape that land."