Nero was stunned. To be honest, he wasn't sure what to expect going to the lieutenant. He just knew that he respected the man, and there was clearly something powerful driving. One does not simply just continue to work after the loss of a son, yet despite the pain he was surely feeling, he had not let it show.
So he had gone, hoping for some answer, or maybe even a hint that could help him clear his confusion. What he heard, though, was already so much more than that. The lieutenant's words rang in Nero's ears like a bell, clearing his mind of distractions, and replacing them with a few powerful concepts.
He felt like he was on the verge of an epiphany, as if something very significant was just outside of reach, so he replayed the words in his head again and again.
Power without responsibility…
The ideals of great men, manifest…
Greatness and mediocrity…
Duty and honour…
Degeneration of the soul…
