Just wanted to give a quick thank you for all the support despite how short the story currently is. I plan to attempt to do my best to get out a chapter a week but apologize in advance if this schedule gets skipped at times.
anon44575173: That may be a line Naris will say at some point. Just have to find the best time!
Anyways onwards to the story!
Upon opening the door Naris only felt a great deal of confusion. A wide library was arrayed before him and while he would not turn down knowledge surely there was some mistake. His eyes turned to the one figure in the room, a small blonde haired girl who had just looked up at him.
"And why would you be here at this late I suppose?" She asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"I was informed this was the room I would be staying in. I do believe there must have been some confusion however." The marine replied before he inclined his head slightly. "I am Naris, might I inquire as to your name?"
"I am Betty, this is my multipurpose room which serves as a library and bedroom I suppose." She said in an annoyed tone and almost seemed to be looking down on the giant despite the height difference.
"Interesting, I must admit I have had troubles with the local written language. Would you care to assist me in this matter?" Naris asked in a polite tone, deciding to appeal to what he guessed was someone born into nobility and used to such respect. At his words however the girl's eyes narrowed.
"You came here to the Forbidden Library only to not ask for any knowledge here but to become literate, truly your idiocy knows no bounds I suppose." She said with a huff and turned her eyes back to the book.
The marine tilted his head to the side slightly before he began to take a few steps forward as he spoke. "There is no need to be so rude now. I assure you I will catch on quickly and not waste your time."
With a frown the girl raised her hand to him. "That is enough from you tonight. Begone until you are at the very least literate I suppose." She said coldly.
Before the Alpha Legionnaire had a chance to respond he heard the door behind him fly open as a massive force hit him like a rhino. He flew out the door and smashed into the wall, leaving a Marine sized hole as he stood up.
"Of course the people of this world leave Psykers in charge of such things. I wonder if this land truly has so many of them or if I am just very unfortunate." Naris muttered under his breath. Steeling himself for another assault he opened the door again only to be met with… a normal bedroom, for a nobles manor at least. Giving a few wary glances around the Legionnaire stepped into the room. Warp sorcery was the only answer to whatever trick this was and he had better things to do than dwell on such.
Naris eyed the bed with an annoyed look as it was in fact big enough to fit him but would undoubtedly break under his armour's weight. With the recent experience in mind the marine took a seat in front of the bed on the floor and allowed himself to enter the first sleep he had obtained in the past few days.
Before dawn had risen the Alpha Legionnaire was already awake and moving. Using the grand windows he had been given to add onto his mental map for the mansion he had seen this far as he also collected his thoughts.
The raw number of psykers he had run into was startling, what was worse is they all had an uncomfortable level of control over their power with not a single failed attempt in sight. Sadly he lacked the means of checking the Warps stability in the region was unfathomable.
The marine still had his goal in mind however. Winning the trust of the Abhuman over her sponsor and then ensuring she won this election. The aftermath would be long and tedious as it required building up a primitive civilization but he may very well live to see the fruits of his labor.
Naris turned to the door as a knock interrupted his thoughts. "You may enter." He said in a calm voice, no need to startle staff here after all.
Ram opened the door with a frown on her face and narrowed eyes "Ram would like to know what caused the damage to her Lord's mansion." She said in an icy tone.
"I apparently entered a place known as the Forbidden Library where I was swiftly kicked out by someone who called herself Betty." Naris said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"What could you have done to anger Lady Beatrice?" Ram asked, still seemingly a bit on edge from the damage.
"I simply requested if she would teach me the written language here. I am unfamiliar with it as my tribe usually had no need for it." Naris said. The excuse for his illiteracy was weak but he had little ways around that issue now.
The maids' eyes furrowed slightly before she sighed. "Your uselessness in that area aside, I will have it fixed soon. If you are already awake I will send you to the baths now so you do not disturb my work further."
Giving a slightly disgruntled nod, Naris followed the maids instructions to the baths. It was hardly his fault the psyker seemed so careless of the damage she did with her powers.
Upon entering he calmly began to take off some limited portions of his armor. It would be a struggle to get it all off without assistance so he settled with taking a cloth to wipe away the grime that had built up from such a long time in the field as well as cleaning the armor itself.
As the Legionnaire became satisfied with the new level of maintenance to his power armor he began the slow process of putting it back on only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.
"What is it?" He called out in slight annoyance as he worked to reseal his boots.
"Lord Raswaal sent Rem to make sure you would be ready for breakfast." He heard the blue haired maid reply.
"I will be ready as soon as my armor is back on." He called out as he heard the claps of the second boot finish sealing itself shut.
Without another word the door opened and Rem stepped into the room, narrowing her eyes at how strange the giant looked without the armor. A strange black mesh covering his torso with metal looking like it went into his skin.
"Allow Rem to assist you." She said as she walked over and looked between the remaining pieces of armor.
"There is no need, I doubt you are familiar with this armor nor strong enough t-" Naris raised his eyebrows in slight surprise as the maid effortlessly lifted his chest piece and looked up at him.
"Rem does not intend to make Lord Raswaal wait. Now if you insist to go in this armor tell Rem how to put it on for you." She said with narrowed eyes.
Begrudgingly the marine began to tell her how to attach each piece of his armor which the maid followed diligently. The girls strength was completely bizarre for her size and once again Naris was further puzzled by this world.
Once he was once again fully armored and sealed his helmet in place he offered a small nod to the maid.
"You have my thanks, now we should not delay if Lord Raswaal is waiting." He said with a slightly more respectful tone. If nothing else she was no mere servant in his mind any longer.
Following Rem he was brought before a rather small hall for a noble in his previous experience and saw the others already seated. Lord Raswaal himself sat at the head of the table as expected with Emilia being seated on his left with only an empty chair between them. As he glanced to the Lords right Naris felt his blood run cold as he spotted the Psyker who had threw him around like some child sitting there with a much larger if slightly of a poorer quality chair being placed next to her.
Internally Naris only hoped he broke the damn chair rather than be forced into such a dangerous position.
"Good morning Lord Raswaal, Lady Emilia." He said with a small nod to them both before looking at the psyker. "Lady Betty." He said in a flat tone before moving to take his seat.
"Why do you have to be so rude I suppose!" She cried out in anger.
"You threw me through a door and into a wall for making a request. If you wish to be treated with manners, offer it to others." The marine grumbled as he found his chair held up surprisingly well.
The psyker pouted in response as Puck chuckled openly in amusement and Emilia tried stifling a giggle at the exchange.
"Now now Beatrice pleeeease treat my gueeeests a bit better in the fuuuture. But do tellllll me how you found the Forbiiiiiden Library Naris?" Lord Raswaal spoke up curiously as the twin maids began to place platters of food on the table.
"I found myself there upon opening the door to my room. I presume there is some trickery at work as it was not there after I was thrown out." The marine asked calmly as he lifted his helmet off his head.
"The Forbidden Library caaaaan appear in any dooooor of the mansion. Only Beatrice has any controoool over where." The nobleman replied. "Now let ussss talk about another matter, aaas you rescued Lady Emilias place in the royaaaal election do you have a boooon in mind?"
The marine gave a nod as he carefully picked up the competitively tiny utensils given to him. "I am currently weighing options at the moment. To be honest I have considered offering my services as a Knight to Lady Emilia, I simply wished to confirm everything I believed after meeting her. The rumors do not do you any justice Lady Emilia but I do not take giving oaths lightly if you prove to be different from my initial experience with you.."
Emilia's face lit up with a small blush at that as Puck looked over at the marine.
"Hey are you trying to say my daughter is not good enough for you?" He said with a light hearted tone. Naris shivered slightly as he could practically feel the Daemons' malice hidden behind the words.
"Not at all, in fact I would say serving her would be an honor but that does not remove all the terrible rumors surrounding Lady Emilia. I am happy to say my belief is that they are unfounded but I am not one who offers loyalty so easily." The Legionnaire said with a small nod.
"Hmm, well I can tell that is for sure the truth so I guess I can let that one slide." Puck said as he turned his attention to whispering to Emilia.
"Nooow that we are juuust about done Rem can you goooo get the special item for our guessst?" Lord Raswaal asked with a slight smirk.
Naris gazed upon the noble with a small degree of suspicion. "What is it you believe I will hold such an interest in."
The noble merely smiled as Rem stepped back into the room holding a display case that held a combat knife adorned in Alpha Legion colors, and upon seeing it for a moment longer Naris pieced together that it was in fact his.
The marines mine began to process the information quickly. If it had gotten here the damn Xeno likely came along with it and perhaps more from that ship. Finding Janos would be a great boon to making this world more advanced if he could only keep the Tech Priests influence under control. Anything else could prove useful but not entirely relevant in the long run.
"Where did you find it? Last I saw that dagger it was still inside the hide of a great beast that escaped me." The marine said calmly, not showing his inner conflict and panic just at the sight of it.
"It was fooound near the Maaaaw beasts breeding grounds. No one waaaas sure what to maaake of it since it had noooo magic but was so strooong." Raswaal said with a smile, the hint at what he wanted being clear.
"It was made of a metal known as Adamantium and was only given to the greatest warriors due to its rarity." Naris said easily, already having a hope to discover any amount on the world if it existed here at all.
"Such a shaaame then, for fighting a beast in my territory I thaaaaaanm you for assistance theeeeen and your blade willllll be returned to you. How long do you requiiiire for your decision then Naris?" Raswaal asked calmly as Rem opened the case and offered the marine the combat knife.
"Only a week will be needed, I thank you for returning this to me, Lord Raswaal." The marine said as he took the blade to examine for a moment before sheathing it at his side once more.
More forces around from the 40k universe to contend with and politics to deal with abound. How will Naris ever get his much needed break.
On another note I have been debating pairings for a while and just figured I would do a poll later but wanted to know what names you all want on there outside of the predictable two. Feel free to just either leave the name in the comments and if you want to leave a compelling argument for the ship feel free to make it!