This will be AU. Meaning, an alternative universe, I admit that I don't know all the lore of 40k but then again, the damn lore is vast, and even then that word doesn't do justice to it, so I will have to do some research on some things. So expect some things to not happen and others to be different.
Chapters for this story will be at random, meaning when I get them done, I don't have the whole story planned out.
You all know I don't own Warhammer 40k and everything else except for maybe the OCs.
And now, I leave you all to the story.
Xxxx Prospero xxxX
3rd POV
" Uncle! I finally learned the trick you showed me!" The boy was obviously excited to share the news with his uncle, said uncle was still seated in his chair, with a surprised face.
' Uncle!? How?' Magnus thought in pure confusion, but before he could say anything, a womanly voice spoke from the entrance of his office.
" Osiris, how many times have I told you to knock before asking for permission to enter?" The beautiful woman at the doorway said sternly.
She was indeed beautiful, the woman shares her people's skin color, she has black hair flowing down her back but part of it is tied into many different braids and knots, it was also decorated with jewelry and golden pins.
She was wearing other jewelry such as golden earrings, an ankh amulet, golden rings with sapphire, and ruby gems.
She has the tattoo of the eye of Ra on her right eye, making said eyes stand out more, reminding all that would gaze upon her of the same blue of the skies.
She was also wearing a red chiton, but this one was obviously for women but it was much more sophisticated and graceful, it was also accompanied by a Usekh collar colored in gold, red, blue, and black. Lastly, she was wearing open brown sandals.
The boy called Osiris nervously shifts on his feet with a nervous smile but before he could say anything in his defense, the two were interrupted.
" Nathifa?" Magnus unconsciously murmured in confusion. It was now that he recognized her from the memories. She was another child that Amon took in, she was originally the daughter of a friend of Amon who unfortunately died due to the hated Psychneuein.
Amon took her in and raised her as his daughter, and this is how the two knew each other, they grew together as siblings, forming a very close bond between them, even more than normal.
And the boy named Osiris was her son, the father, a strong and skilled warrior that Magnus made sure to learn everything about, to be sure that the man was a just and honest man who sincerely loved her, and fortunately, he was.
Nathifa, upon hearing her name, only raised her eyebrow in amusement before crossing her arms against her chest.
" What? I can't visit you? Dear brother of mine? Are your studies, projects, and work more important than us?" Nathifa slightly teased, though one would notice some seriousness in her eyes.
Magnus focuses back on her and just chuckles. His deep chuckle echoes in the office, surprising Nathifa as she hasn't heard her brother genuinely laugh in some time.
Magnus gets up from his seat and in a quick movement, supposedly impossible for someone of his great frame, picks Osiris in his arms before placing him on his shoulders, letting the boy lightly grip his hair to hold himself firm.
Such a movement compelled Osiris to laugh as he was being carried on his uncle's strong shoulders, gifted with being able to see the world from his uncle's point of view, before his attention was captured by an eagle and snake made of grey smoke, conjured by Magnus with only a thought, dancing around Osiris as the boy was captured by the beauty and such realistic details of their forms.
This surprised Nathifa even more because while her brother has always shown affection to her son, he usually isn't this …expressive, or happy.
Magnus then walked toward her and smiled before he took his right hand off Osiris's leg and gently caressed Nathifa's cheek with his index finger.
" What's up with your surprised face, Nathifa?" Magnus asked.
Nathifa, who previously leaned on the soft and caring touch of her brother, moved her left hand on top of the hand that she was leaning toward, the sheer difference in size was easily ignored, used to it after so many years.
She opens her eyes that she unconsciously closed, before studying her brother's eyes for mere seconds in silent contemplation before lightly shrugging her shoulders.
" Nothing, it's just that you aren't usually this cheerful, and was silently wondering what made you happy today." The blue-eyed woman responded.
She noticed how Magnus's finger that he was caressing her cheek froze at her words for a faint millisecond before quickly continuing.
She narrowed her eyes at him, an action that wasn't lost to Magnus, who could only sigh at her words.
" Nathifa, I know that I have been focusing on my works, studies, and ruling Tizca.
I recently have realized how poorly I have been acting toward those I care about. I have realized just how blinded I was due to my thirst and hunger for knowledge and the secrets of the great ocean.
I realized my wrongdoing, so I wish to spend the time that I have left, with my loved ones." Magnus spoke softly and sincerely. From the little lore that he knew regarding the original Magnus, he never liked how due to his obsession with knowledge, the warp, and his pride and arrogance, ended up pushing away his brothers and those that were close to him.
Nathifa upon hearing Magnus's words, couldn't help but be shocked but she was secretly happy. Magnus always had a hunger for knowledge, but in these last years, this hunger worsened and created a small drift toward them, which deeply hurt her.
But then she processed the words that he spoke, her eyes filled with surprise and slight fear.
" What do you mean, Magnus? With the time that you left? What are you talking about?" Nathifa worryingly asked. Magnus sighed, he wondered, before deciding that he might as well inform her now of the arrival of the emperor.
Magnus calmly removed Osiris from his shoulders, dispersing his previously conjured constructs, making the boy sigh as he was returned to the floor.
" We might want to speak about this in private." Upon hearing her brother's words, Nathifa nodded stiffly before turning to her son.
" Osiris, please be a dear and go to master Malik, he should be inside the west library in the third division. I and your uncle have to speak over important matters." Osiris, upon hearing this, looked between the two before nodding and ran out of the office, wishing to see and spend time with one of his favorite teachers.
The moment the boy left, Nathifa with a mere wave of her hand, closed the door and locked it with her telekinesis by only using a small portion of the great ocean's power.
Nathifa glared at Magnus, waiting for him to explain himself. Said person could only sigh as he returned to his seat, a big chair that resembles more of a throne than a chair, decorated in gold and red.
" Nathifa, I have told you about my…creator, my real father in the past, remember?"
At his question, his answer was a nod and a frown.
" Well, as you know we have spoken over the years through the great ocean, or as my father calls it, the immaterium.
You and I both know that I'm different than the rest, always have been, my height, intelligence, biology, mere strength, my immunity to sickness and diseases, my power and potential over the immaterium.
But most importantly, the fact I'm no longer affected by time. You know it, I know it, Amon knows it, we have all noticed that I have stopped aging years ago." Magnus spoke, his words causing Nathifa's frown to grow. Magnus right now is 42 years old, being older than Nathifa by one decade, but his aging stopped when he turned 30.
" You think that I don't know about this? I know that you are different Magnus, I understand that you can barely be called a human, that in reality, you are what some would believe to be the peak evolution of humanity, or something completely different.
But I don't care about those details, we don't care, those that know you and care for you. I can only feel sadness and grief for you because I know that after some decades, I and Amon won't be here, and only my son and his possible descendants would remain, and even then they would also be overtaken by the sands of time, leaving you alone. " Nathifa passionately spoke at first, but as she kept talking, her voice lost the fire and sadness took its place.
Magnus could only look at this woman, who prior to his death would only be a stranger, but now, because of his years of memories and the emotions he felt in them from the original owner of his body, he could only look at her in sadness and love.
" I know Nathifa, but it has everything to do with it. I have told you in the past that my father is someone powerful, and I mean very powerful Nathifa.
He created me along with my brothers for a purpose, and that purpose is to lead his armies throughout the stars and unite humanity under his banner and truth.
I'm but an asset, more so than some of my other brothers because not only I'm the only pure psyker among my brothers, but he made me so one day I would be the only psyker to match him in power.
I won't have a choice but to follow him when he comes to collect me, and when that happens, Prospero would be added under his banner and I would have to join his…crusade." Magnus finished speaking, he crossed his arms, not sure what to do and how to properly break the news to Nathifa.
Nathifa, on the other hand, was assimilating Magnus's words, she was confused, she already knew the uniqueness of Magnus and his different biology, and she doesn't understand why Magnus is bringing this up now. She focuses back on him, and suddenly a suspicion dawns on her.
" Magnus, why are you telling me this? Your father, when is he planning to come here to collect you?" Nathifa asked in slight fear, and Magnus' silence didn't help to relieve her fear.
" Today, Nathifa, I can only guess that he will arrive at any moment now." Magnus's whispering words shocked her, confirming her suspicion.
Magnus sighed as he can see Nathifa slightly shaking as her eyes watered, and even if he has his telepathy off, he can still feel the sadness and grief radiating off Nathifa.
The red-haired primarch left his seat and kneeled beside Nathifa, so that his height won't be too much of an obstacle, and hugged his sister in all but blood. His giant arms, full of powerful muscles capable of turning a normal human into nothing but a bloody mess, gently embraced her, his chin on top of her head as she was hiding her face just below his chest.
It wasn't long before she started crying softly, and even then it didn't last long, she was still shocked, but the realization of his future departure still hurts her.
Minutes passes by before the tears stopped, and only a grim silence filled the office, till it was broken by Nathifa herself.
" Will you leave us right afterward?" Magnus heard Nathifa's murmured words, and could only embrace her tighter without hurting her.
" I don't know Nathifa, I really don't know. I can maybe make a deal with him, so I can stay here for a couple of years, but I won't be able to stay, sooner or later I will have to leave to fight in his crusade." Magnus' words didn't do much to relieve Nathifa's worries.
The two spend hours together after Magnus' revelations, they talk about the possible changes that Prospero would go through after the arrival of Magnus' father, and how this would affect Osiris, with Magnus trying his best at acting normally without raising suspicions from Nathifa.
It wasn't till Magnus looked at the digital clock on the wall of his office that he realized it was about to be three o'clock, which means that in an hour his meeting with the magisters templi will start.
Nathifa, seeing Magnus looking at the time, already knew his meeting would start soon, being informed by him previously. She got up at the same time Magnus did, which earned her a questioning glance.
" I'm going with you, the others won't mind." Magnus opened his mouth to deny it, but shortly closed it, he knew his sister was stubborn, so he didn't waste time and chose to deal with it.
Nathifa smirked seeing this and followed him as the two left the office and walked toward the throne room. While walking, the two passed many servants and guards of the sanctum. Magnus's sanctum was the most fortified of the known temples of Tizca, serving as a fortress, a safe place for the civilians of Tizca, and a last line of defense if Prospero were ever to be invaded.
As minutes went by while the two walked, they finally reached the throne room doors, which were giant, looking more like a city's gate than a room's entrance.
In front of it were two guards, wearing the same armor and clothes like those that Magnus spoke with outside his private chambers except for the fact that their armor looks more stronger and advanced.
The moment the two saw their king, they bowed before opening the doors and letting the two walk inside. Once the two passed through, the two guards closed the giant doors, the slamming noise echoing through the large throne room.
Magnus, having previously seen the throne room through the original's memories, isn't shocked by its appearance.
The throne room, with the interior space and decoration being similar to a temple, was mostly made in gold and white marble, through the hall the throne is facing, four great columns stand on both sides, the base made of white marble while the ends end in a gold, at the top of each of them one could find red banners with a golden scarab.
From the ceiling, there were red cloths and veils hanging, adding a more mysterious and temple atmosphere to the hall. From the door to the throne, there was a red carpet with golden runes and Prospero writings.
Five pairs of windows with clear glass were scattered throughout the giant hall, letting in the daylight from the outside.
At the end of the hall, there was a high golden platform with stair steps leading to it. On it, a giant throne can be seen, it was golden, with red, blue, and green in some parts, the throne is decorated with hieroglyphs telling the story of the ruler of Prospero with some describing the deeds, miracles, and inventions the crimson king has done prior and during his ruling of Tizca.
Built with such similarity to an Egyptian throne. The armrests were two heads of golden jackals with black markings around their eyes and on the top of the headrest, a golden scarab rests, as if climbing the throne and gazing at those who would dare to lay eyes on it.
As the two walked toward the throne, Magnus stared at it for mere seconds before taking a seat, and he couldn't help but lean back in his seat as the throne was as comfortable as he remembers from his original memories.
Nathifa on the other hand walked up till she was standing on the right of Magnus and slightly behind the throne, a sign that Nathifa is quite the powerful noblewoman with high status and someone who has the trust of Magnus, she's still compliant and loyal to the king.
As the two waited in silence, Nathifa wondered what would be the reaction of Amon after hearing the news, surely he would be skeptical and wary. As she and Magnus started to quietly converse with each other while they waited, the time quietly passed till finally, there were only a few minutes before the meeting would begin.
Suddenly the doors of the throne room were opened by the stationed guards outside, they let five figures enter the great hall before closing the doors behind their backs.
As the group of five walked up to the throne they all kneel in respect and greeting to Magnus before taking a seat on well-decorated chairs that had been put there by servants hours before the meeting would take place, they were seated in a reversed U shape facing the throne and their king.
These five figures, while generally wearing the same red cloak with a red and black chiton with golden writings on at the edges, are all wearing unique armor with armored pants underneath the chiton and decorated runes, along with the symbol of their respective cult on the back, these were the magisters templi, the most powerful and adept from each of the cults and those that have mastered a specific discipline and art of psychic powers that they displayed the most affinity with.
There are five cults in total, their membership being irrespective of the future XV legion Fellowships or other organizational distinction and based solely upon an individual's chief psychic talent.
Each fellowship will therefore be made up of marines from all the cults, although some cults will tend to dominate certain Fellowships. Each cult had a pyramidal headquarters in Tizca, where knowledge specific to the cult's area of expertise was kept and relevant training was carried out, as well as their own insignia, displayed upon their armor on the shoulder guards.
The five cults represented the different aspects of psychic powers employed by the people of Prospero and each specialized in one particular area of psychic mastery. They were founded by the nine original members of Magnus' innermost cabal, who between them had variously spontaneously developed the five distinct abilities of psychic power that would form the basis of the cult system. Each cult developed a hierarchy, with the cult leader being known as the Magister Templi.
Cult of the Corvidae are known for their specialty of precognition; the ability to see into the future, they are often referred to as seers, they are those that stay vigilant and always at the ready to face future threats, and thanks to their gift, they often do so with minimum losses, they are the sentinels of Tizca. The symbol of the Corvidae was that of a black raven's head.
The cult of the Pyrae on the other hand is pyrokinetic, able to both generate and control fire. Their powers can also be used to make them effectively immune to pain or injury caused by fire. They can project the fire they generate in many ways, principally as variations of shields, projectiles, and weapons.
The temperature and lethality of the flames can be controlled as it is warp-powered, Pyrae fire can become exceedingly lethal to not only anything it burns but also anything in the immediate vicinity of the flames.
Pyrae's teachings also include the ability to control and manipulate automata, such as Robots and even Titans. The symbol of the Pyrae was that of a scarlet phoenix.
Cult of the Pavoni, the Pavonae are apparently able to use their psychically-generated powers to manipulate body chemistry, in themselves and others. In skilled practitioners, this can be displayed as both the control over one's appearance and being able to, within reason, resculpt one's facial features into a more pleasing cast.
Another simple known use was making oneself immune to dehydration, interestingly enough. Direct battlefield demonstrations of Pavonae abilities tended to focus on the offensive use of lightning generated from one's own nervous system and the ability to boil the blood of their enemy. Pavoni members are also able to use their abilities in the field of healing, the symbol of the Pavoni was that of a white feather.
Members that are from the cult of the Athanaeans are telepaths, able to read the thoughts of others as well as transmit their own.
Athaneanans complement Corvidae in intelligence operations, while Corvidae interprets what may happen and influence strategy, Athaneans are able to discern current movements and influence immediate tactics.
Athaneans also provide secure communication. Battlefield roles involve direct intelligence gathering and transmission, and their symbol was known to be an open eye.
And finally, those from the cult of the Raptora, are known as Raptorae and they use the art of telekinesis, trained in using their own telekinetic power as a means of both offense and defense.
Offensively, Raptorae could direct physical objects at enemies, as well as simply use their powers to directly manipulate enemies. This means ripping parts of them off, for example.
Defensively, they generate 'kine shields', barriers of invisible physical force that block attacks. Kine shields were not just generated for personal protection but could also project shields for the protection of others.
The largest kine shield known to have been achieved covered the entire city of Tizca, the second time it was generated from the Raptorae pyramid by a massed group of cult members, the first on the other hand covered the entire city and a couple of miles from it, created by Magnus himself. Generating such shields can be draining for those involved, with damage inflicted on the shield eventually taking a toll. This cult's symbol is that of a bird's open claw.
Starting from left to right, there was the magister templi of the Pyrae cult known as Alazar. He was a tall man standing at the height of 6'1 and in his late forties, long braided brown hair with expressive grey eyes, sun-kissed skin with black tattoos over his forehead, and bearded chin, in its scabbard at his waist was a golden Khopesh with red gems decorating it.
Next to him was Hastar, the magister templi of the Pavoni cult. Hastar was a man of average height, but instead of having the standard red cloak that all magister templi wear, his was customized by him.
It was still red and still possessed the symbol of his cult on the back, but the edges of the bottom were a vibrant green, it also covered more of his body, efficiently hiding it from sight, on his wrists he has vambraces that has hidden blades underneath for stealthy kills and as the last weapon resort.
His skin was slightly darker bronze than normal, his eyes, on the other hand, are very similar to emerald gems, they were cold and analytical, being the calmest out of the five and being a man who doesn't speak very often.
Then there is Phanek from the notable Athanaean cult. Phanek possesses amber eyes and silver hair even though he's in his late thirties. Phanek was an oddity among the people of Tizca, being one of the few whose skin is slightly tan, but it is his birthmark in the shape of a complex rune covering his entire back, given to him by his father shortly before his birth while still inside his mother's belly.
What this rune does is boost and double the strength and potential of an individual ability when it comes to a psyker's powers and arts. It is a forbidden rune to most people, only those who have a strong will and strong potential as a psyker are chosen to acquire it.
The reason why it is normally forbidden, is because it can only be applied when the target is still in its mother uterus, and the rate of those that will adapt and accept the rune without consequences is very small, thus making the number of those who aren't strong enough to bear it, to increase, and most of the time, those newborn don't make it alive past dusk after their birth. At his waist behind the cloak are scrolls and daggers attached to his belt by either chains or leather straps.
Alexios, leader of the Raptora cult, is the youngest out of all the magister templi, being only in his late twenties, a feat very few have accomplished.
His short black hair and black charcoal eyes would normally silently stare and study those that catch his interest, though very few are capable of doing that. Alexios has two slight straight Khopesh at his waist in their scabbards.
He also has two black tattooed lines going in a straight line from below his eyes to his jaw, as if dark tears of grief were frozen on his face for all to gaze upon. He also has golden bracelets and chains over his arms.
And finally, there is the fifth and last magister templi of the Corvidae cult, Amon, once a tutor and mentor to Magnus, then a friend, and one of the few people who Magnus would look at for advice.
When Magnus came to Prospero, it was said that a great comet had borne him to the ground, for the impact he had on the people of Prospero was as great as his impact upon the planet's crust.
The primarch was schooled in the ways of the commune, and he quickly learned everything they had to teach. He had endured Amon's tutorials and sermons regarding the power of the Great Ocean on Prospero.
Because of this, he became a tutor to Magnus, teaching him all he knew of Prosperine culture, philosophy, and psychic discipline.
Amon had been kind to him and had accepted the knowledge of his growing obsolescence with good grace, for Magnus outstripped him in learning and power at an early age. Amon grew to love Magnus as a close friend, someone he could trust.
Amon has grey hair, close-cropped, and skin very similar to the color of old vellum. A short and well-kept black beard adorns his face and fierce brown eyes.
As the five greatest psykers, after their king, took a seat, silence filled the room for a few seconds till the crimson king leaned back on his throne, and nodded.
" I'm glad to see that all of you have been on time. Now, I'm sure that you are wondering why I have called for this meeting, correct?" Magnus rhetorically asked.
All five magisters nodded, curious to hear what their king had to discuss with them.
Magnus stares at all five of the magisters in the eyes, not only seeing their curiosity but also feeling it through their mind even though he's not actively using his psychic powers.
" Old friends, I have called for this meeting because a new era is coming to Prospero, an era of change, a new golden age for Prospero."
Magnus' voice echoed throughout the throne room, he and his sister Nathifa were studying the other five occupants' reactions, and they weren't disappointed.
The five magisters looked at their king in confusion, not sure of what to make of his statement.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The Flagship of the XV Legion
The last high-ranking member of the fifteenth legion stared out into space, the warp's swirling colors surrounding the last remains of the once-mighty fleet of the XV Legion.
The Astartes kept staring out the grey and black coloring of the warp as it continued to swirl around his vision, the burden and emotion of failure growing as every moment passes.
Legion Master Osmadiel stood in his damaged mark II crusade pattern armor, the sections of plates were shredded open from what could only be considered claws of monstrous beasts, and his chest armor and shoulder guards were also decorated with holes and dents from bolter guns and other range weapons. Osmadiel's helmet hung from his hip as he thought about what was about to happen.
Death on the battlefield seems to be the only solution that could remove the stain upon his name, but if only things were that simple.
The discovery of their primarch, news that would normally be celebrated and bring happiness is now only dreaded and only invokes feelings of shame, because he will see them at their lowest.
Osmadiel couldn't help but clench his fist even tighter, hot rage slowly spreading throughout his body.
The campaign to achieve compliance of world 4-039, a star system with four planets and two moons, ruled by a council of shamans whose members and those of the same bloodline possess overwhelming psyker abilities, the Imperial Command called in the fifteenth Legion after seeing the enemy's powers to fight on equal ground.
The fifteenth was known as the Astral Warriors, but those from the Imperial Command who had seen them fight on the battlefield also whispered the name of Doom Bringers. It never truly troubled the Legion, for their brotherhood had always been firmer than some of their cousins.
They knew their gift is something that normal humans and even some of their cousins find to be dangerous and even claimed as unnerving. But it is something that they have embraced and learned to use as a tool to fulfill their purpose in the great crusade.
As the whole legion and fleet arrived to wage war against 4-039, they didn't think anything of it, thinking the results would be the same as all the previous worlds they had conquered, but they were wrong.
The council of shamans used their psyker abilities, unleashing a horrific warp storm in the system, which made traveling impossible, even more so for reinforcements to arrive. However, Osmadiel didn't blink at the storm and was unworried about being cut off from reinforcements.
The first three worlds, even though they fell quickly, put up enough resistance that the number of losses from the legion was greater than expected. The enemy was more capable than what the intel suggested, their weaponry was more advanced than other previous worlds they conquered, but not on par with the Imperium.
Osmadiel and the first company, with support from the second and third companies, decided to pierce the council's prized homeworld. These sorcerers, through the use of a vile and obscure ritual that engulfed all four planets, created gate warp portals that appeared on each of the planets, and those portals spawned monstrous and terrific Daemons upon all.
Many of the Astartes were killed fighting off the Daemons and in the attempt of saving their brothers from the terrors of the immaterium. Many of the Legion and fleet ships, some were given to them by the Emperor, were destroyed and damaged.
After Osmadiel and his brothers, after suffering bloody losses after days of fighting nonstop, were finally capable of locating and destroying the ritual which was the focal point of the warp gates, the warp storm alongside the warp portals disappeared, allowing the war council to send reinforcements.
Whispers from high lords, nobles, and high commanding officers, were speaking over the possible disbanding of the legion after seeing the massive failure.
Osmadiel knew that the fifteenth wasn't generally beloved like the Sixteenth or the eighteenth nor how the thirteenth was quickly showing their worth after having found their Primarch to lead them.
Osmadiel remembered fighting against those Daemons. Horrific Daemons that could only crawl out of the deepest parts of hell, merciless Daemons with red hide and flaming axes and swords, green and disgusting Daemons whose mere presence rots and decayed everything around them and carriers of diseases and plagues.
But the most hated and difficult to deal with at the beginning were the feathered Daemons who surprisingly could match them, the Astral Warriors, in the arts and powers of psykers.
On the other hand, the deceiving snake daemons, those who enjoyed killing and torturing his brothers before ending their lives, with one of their favorite tactics being to hide within possessed humans before injuring and in some cases killing the caught off guard Astartes.
The fifteenth Legion came very close to suffering a legion death for only a single company worth of warriors survived. So many of Osmadiel's brothers lay dead, their Gene-seed forever lost thanks to his hubris and failure as a leader.
What makes it even worse is that after winning the campaign with little to show for it, they received the news of their Primarch location being finally located by the Emperor, they then received orders to join the Emperor's fleet to not only meet their gene father but to also be escorted in their moment of weakness.
And so, only hours ago they were able to join the Emperor's fleet, and have been since then traveling through the warp to the homeworld of their primarch.
Osmadiel finds himself wondering what their Primarch will think of the once-powerful Legion.
They were never the largest legion, but they had rolls of honor that not all of the other legions could hope to match, with only the first and sixteenth ahead of them by a handful.
However, now Osmadiel wondered if all those honors and glories are genuinely worth it for the tens of thousands of his dead brothers, their legacy forever lost because of his actions.
The Terran-born legion master let out a sigh before looking down to the data-slate tally of the destroyed warships, vehicles, and the names of the dead continue to scroll downwards like a never-ending line as if mocking him of his greatest failure.
Osmadiel is glad they still have the Gloriana battleships, Promethean Cruisers, and Tiamat Class Destroyers. Those ships are rare and time-consuming to repair.
However, the total number of the fleet is only ten, which is nothing compared to the other legions. Suddenly the heavy sounds of power armor footsteps caused Osmadiel to turn his head, only to notice one of the last remaining veterans of the Legion standing beside him.
Ahzek Ahriman is a librarian who holds the rank of epistolary and is one of the last remaining librarians of the fifteenth legion. There are rumors that out of the remaining librarians, Ahriman is the most likely to ascend to the empty position of chief librarian after the previous one fell during the climax of the previous disaster of a campaign.
Ahriman stood beside Osmadiel, staring out to the greyness of the warp with his silver eyes. The Legion Master stared at the hardened and mournful face of the librarian, taking in details of the tan skin tainted with small scars and the reminders of their procedure to become an Astartes.
His armor was still damaged and marked with several deep crisscross scars from single-handed fighting off massive, abominable beasts with burning swords and axes.
Seconds go by in silence before at last he lets out a sigh before turning his head to stare at Osmadiel.
"Such a disaster of a campaign. We will finally get to reunite with our Primarch, but instead of presenting him with our glory and honor rolls along with a healthy legion, we will show him the failures that his sons have become, in our moment of foolishness.
I wonder what will happen to us now." Ahriman said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Osmadiel didn't speak for a moment, staring at his old friend in silence before he finally shook his head, his lips twisting into a hard line.
"Once we meet our Primarch, I'm willing to offer my head to him to pay for my failure.
This way, the last few of us will still live on to continue the Crusade," Osmadiel said, glancing down at the data slate again, the numbers still rolling downwards.
Ahriman at hearing this couldn't help but grunt, his somber eyes glaring at Osmadiel and forcing him to meet his eyes, his right hand went to grab his brother's shoulder pad and with a hard voice, he spoke.
"Don't be so quick to offer your neck on the chopping block just yet. We do not know how our Primarch will act upon meeting us.
Do I think he will be disappointed with our failure? Probably, but I doubt your death will fix the problem we are facing right now.
We must rebuild, regain our strength, and show that the fifteenth Legion is still fierce even after a terrible and costly victory. I rather have us survivors show the new blood what are the consequences when pride blinds you." Ahriman explained.
Osmadiel at hearing Ahriman couldn't help but nod, feeling some sort of peace in his troubled soul. As he was about to say something else, he noticed the strange but familiar pendant worked into the shoulder guard of Ahriman's power armor, at this Osmadiel couldn't help but frown with confusion.
" Ahriman, that pendant on your shoulder, isn't it from-" But before he could finish, Ahriman interrupted him, his tone went back to somber as his face twitched into an expression of grief for a few seconds before shifting into an emotionless face.
" Yes, it's Ohrmuzd's pendant, I have it worked into my armor as a tribute to him and in his memory, till the day comes where I will join him in death."
Osmadiel, slightly shocked at hearing the news, could only blink, his head once again got clouded with grief and shame as he mourned the loss of another brother and friend of his.
" How? Was it quick?" Osmadiel couldn't help but ask Ahriman, his only answer was a brief nod after some hesitation.
" He fended off a horde of red giant Daemons, giving us enough time to retrieve and save the injured while retreating to the Omega sector, before he blew himself up with a psychic explosion, taking him and the enemy out.
By the end, only pieces of his armor survived, the fact that his pendant survived the explosion is a miracle in itself." Ahriman explains, his face frowned as he remembered the battle and the chaos that soon followed after the ambush of the enemy, followed shortly after by his twin brother's sacrifice.
Silence filled the hall as the two Astartes calmly watch the warp and the surviving ships of a once-great fleet, surrounded by a full and healthy fleet, much more advanced and numeral compared to theirs.
" You know, Ohrmuzd always had the fear of succumbing to the flesh-change, a fear shared by me." Ahriman started, his eyes not moving from the warp, his mind and subconscious being focused on the past, reliving memories of old conversations and moments spent with his twin brother.
Osmadiel turns to stare at Ahriman, his intrigue and interest being peaked by the other Astartes words. Ahriman, still relieving the memories, continued.
" He was so happy when the Emperor was able to find a cure against the flesh-change after he came to learn of it. Not long afterward, a new set of operations and genetic changes after the injection of the Gene-seed of our primarch were added to our procedure and practice to Astartes creation, and when we participated in the operation and procedure to permanently avoid it, the heaviest weight that we have ever felt in our life was released from our shoulders.
While his passing is tragic and a painful wound that I will have to bear for the remaining of my life, the only consolation that I have, is that he chose his path to death, and his sacrifice saved countless others. That in the end, he was able to change and decide his own fate."
Osmadiel didn't know how to respond, he knew Ahriman was a person who didn't want to be pitied by others, so he just stood in silence, offering silent support, musing over his friend's words of past events, and relieving his own memories from moments spent with Ohrmuzd.
As silence filled the passageways, Ahriman without a word turned and left, most likely to grieve in solitude. Osmadiel didn't stop him, how could he? He couldn't help but curse himself in his mind due to his failure, his hands tightened into fists as once again rage flowed through his veins.
The silence lasted for minutes till the vox hissed to life, signaling the Vox officer is trying to reach him.
"This is Legion Master Osmadiel," he responded, knowing that it must be important if they wanted to speak with him at the moment.
"My Lord, the Navigator, has informed me that we will be exiting the warp and into the newly found Prospero system. We shall be leaving the warp within minutes." The Vox officer informed the Legion Master.
Osmadiel turned back, looking out to see the warp slightly decreasing.
"Understood, I will shortly be at the bridge," he replied, turning around and leaving the corridor he was in.
The walk to the bridge was quiet with few servitors and servo-skulls moving and floating around, revealing just how much was lost from the personnel. However, the fifteenth Legion still stood, but for how long is the question that plagues Osmadiel's mind even after speaking with Ahriman.
Soon, he made his way to the bridge's massive doors and stepped inside, seeing the last remaining bridge crew quickly moving from console to console with so many places empty.
Those that are left are the veterans who survived the worst and the horrors of the previous campaign, those that have seen the truth out there in the galaxy and yet remained faithful to the Imperium's ideals.
As he stepped inside, alarms sounded throughout the bridge, signaling that they were exiting the warp. As he walks till standing next to the Captain's throne of this mighty ship. His eyes focus on the planet below them, knowing that he will soon finally meet his gene-father.
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Well, this is it for the second chapter. Let me know your opinions in the review section.