The shuffle of feet and the clack of a spear was only heralded by the wet cough of the sick soldier. Leprosy had destroyed not only his body but also his ability to fight off other disease, phlegm filled his throat and mucus filled his sinuses as he slowly died. Bystanders were far too scared to help the man, fear overriding their sense of honor. To them the soldier was a potential threat, someone to be avoided until his body died and even then he would be allowed to rot in the sun. This was not the way a soldier should die.

Anastasius traveled the path to the great Temple of Athena and walked the stairs. It was only until he was met with the statue of his patron did his body fail, falling to a knee as his leg gave out. Looking up to his patron, Anastasius began to prey. At first he wanted answers, why did was he afflicted with this curse? Why wasn't he allowed to die on the field like a warrior? Why must he wither away into nothingness as he chokes on his own vomit? Soon enough however his questions turned to accusations, cursing the name of every gods forsaken leper and Athena herself as he lost himself in his rage. After the rage was burned away, regret filled his heart and began to apologize profusely. In the end he had no words, only tears. They fell from his irritated eyes and through his ruined flesh, every once in awhile a great cough would erupt from his chest. Upon the last cough blood fallowed, a dire sign that his time was coming to a close.

With all his might Anastasius tried to stand upon his feet but the hours and hours he stayed still brought only stiffness and pain to his already broken body. With a snap his spear shattered in two and he was cast upon the floor like a sack of vegetables. This was the last straw, he had nothing left. His military career was stricken from him, his health was fading by the second, he was looked upon with pity and contempt, finally his spear lay in splinters. Dignity was no more and he began to crawl out of the temple, not wanting to defile it any more with his festering body.