Lion clawed at the excessively rigid collar of his suit, wishing he could tear the thing off entirely. His gaudy attire was composed of several layers of silks and furs, colored black and dark green with hems of golden thread woven in symbolic patterns. Lion had no care for what the patterns meant, nor how expensive the clothes were, however he begrudgingly understood their purpose. He was presenting himself to another house, one that went by the name of "Borugond"; a rich and powerful family that owned many castles and estates in the east, with a number of knights, warriors, and lesser lords sworn under them. Most importantly, they reportedly had an intact STC fragment that allowed them to produce powerful weapons and armor unlike anything normal smiths could forge. He understood perfectly well the reason for all of this pomp and pageantry, but that didn't mean he liked it. This was an extension of his duties and nothing more. Once it was over, he could return to clearing the dark woods of tainted beasts and building up the ranks of The Order just as he had been since Luther had found him.

"You look fine, son." Luther said, standing next to the tailor. "Dignified, regal. Let us see those metropolitans call us rural barbarians now! Oh, no offense." He said, remembering that the tailor also hailed from the more urban settlements to the east.

"None taken." The tailor said, with a slow and slightly unsettling voice. He was a tall and lanky man, with bony fingers and a pale face with dark shadows beneath his eyes. Nonetheless, he performed his task admirably and, despite Lion's general discomfort, the tailoring of his attire was complete. Luther reached into a leather pouch and retrieved a small handful of gold coins, counting them out and placing them in the tailor's waiting hand. The tailor rubbed the coins in his hand for a moment, judging their authenticity before placing them in his purse with a contented clink. With a tip of his tall, black hat the tailor departed, leaving Lion and Luther alone in the dressing room. Luther himself was adorned with a less gaudy but still formal cloak draped over a suit of ceremonial armor, an old sword dug out from the reliquary at his side.

Empty pageantry, all of it. Lion thought. He did not understand why anyone put up with it. Yet they did, and as such, so would he.

"Well, I'm going to go and ready the hall for the arrival of the Duke and his daughter. He should be here in an hour or two, so make sure you are prepared." Luther said, leaving the room. Lion removed the heavy mantle from his shoulders and hung it in the wardrobe, alongside the many meters of draping cloth and expensive furs that accompanied it. Stripped down to only a light, skin-tight tunic and leather trousers, he walked over to his window and rested his elbow on the windowsill. He breathed in the cold evening air, looking out on the vast courtyards and training grounds within the castle walls. He was observing the familiar sight, when something strange caught his eye. Down in the archery range within the training grounds, there was an unfamiliar figure firing arrows at one of the targets. From this distance Lion could only discern that they were wearing a dark green cloak, hiding their face from view. His suspicions led him to quickly descend into the courtyard to investigate.

As he descended the grand staircase, he heard the faint sound of wind howling through the halls. Immediately he looked for the source of the disturbance, noticing that the front gate entrance had been left slightly ajar. Disturbed by this flagrant disregard for the castle's security, he flew across the main hall and slammed the great wooden doors shut, locking them with a large iron bar. In that moment he saw something in his peripheral vision, a small shape moving in the shadows on the other side of the room. When he turned, it was gone. With the entrance sealed, and after triggering a silent alarm to the fortress's guards, he shifted his attention towards the intruder in the courtyard. Armed with a sword and shield, he crept out of the interior of the fortress and into the courtyard proper. He could still see the hooded intruder in the archery range. Lion crept along the fortress walls without making a noise, approaching them from behind with a tight grip on his weapon.

"I know you're there." a clearly feminine voice said, the stranger then turning to face the young knight. Lion was taken aback both by the surprise of being caught so easily, and by the sight of the young woman's face beneath the hood. Locks of dark, curly hair draped across her olive face, with two piercing golden-hazel eyes burning into him with a cocksure look. She launched the last of her arrows downrange, striking the target exactly in the center… while her eyes were turned towards him. She lowered her bow, though Lion still wasn't sure if she had any other concealed weapons.

"What are you doing here?" Lion said.

"Target practice?" The woman said. The Lion looked unamused… which, to be fair, was how he most often looked.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Lion said.

"What, you don't recognize your bride-to-be?" the woman said. Lion furrowed his brow.

"The duke isn't scheduled to arrive until later tonight." He said.

"I know. I rode out in front of my father's caravan so I could see our new allies for myself…. also, I just wanted to get away from all that nauseating courtly etiquette." the woman said. "The front gate was open, so I took the liberty of letting myself in."

Lion simply stared at her with a cold gaze, running through the situation in his mind and weighing his options. If she truly was who she said she was, then harming or otherwise mishandling her was out of the question. On the other hand, if she was a spy or some sort of intruder merely posing as the duke's daughter, he would need to keep a close eye on her. Either way, he needed to positively identify her somehow. Lion was alerted to the sound of clanking armor behind him, and turned to see Luther in full plate rushing up to meet him.

"Lion, I heard the alarm, what's goin-" Luther's eyes widened as he set eyes upon the woman in front of Lion, a look of panicked confusion flashing across his face.

"L-lady Atalanta!" Luther said. "When did- Duke Iasius isn't supposed to arrive for-" Luther stopped, taking a short, deep breath and composing himself. "I apologize profusely, I was… not yet prepared for your arrival."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Sir Luther. I came on my own, my father hasn't arrived yet." Atalanta said. Luther breathed a sigh of relief, his posture relaxing as if he had been slightly deflated.

"Luther… how do you know she is the duke's daughter?" Lion said.

"Well, I met her briefly the last time I spoke with the duke… in addition, she's carrying one of the famed heirlooms of the Borugonds." Luther said, gesturing to the bow in her hands. "Speaking of which… why exactly did you bring that here?"

"My father intends to gift it to the young master as a dowry." Atalanta said, looking at Lion. "I wanted to use it one more time before he handed it over. Frankly, I think he's just trying to get rid of me and hoped that if he gave away my favorite bow it would make me willing to leave as well."

"Oh… uh, well, I suppose that makes sense. Not really my business what goes on between you and your father." Luther said, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, if this matter is resolved, I'm going to return to preparing for tonight's ceremony. I'll just… leave you two to get acquainted, then." Luther said, lingering for a few awkward moments before leaving. Once he was gone, Atalanta nocked her last arrow and fired it downrange while Lion continued to glare at her with an impenetrable expression.

"You're going to keep watching me until I leave, aren't you?" Atalanta said.

"What do you think?" Lion said. Atalanta slung the ornate bow over her shoulder. "I do have one question for you, noblewoman."

"Yes?" Atalanta said.

"How did you get inside the keep? Our defenses are near impenetrable." Lion said. Atalanta only chuckled, eliciting a slight change in expression from the young Lion.

"What do you mean? The front door was open when I got here." she said.

Duke Iasius arrived a few hours after his daughter, bringing with him an immense entourage of servants, bodyguards, and a long train carriages filled with expensive goods and priceless treasures seemingly for no other reason than to show off his family's wealth. To the layman it would have made the relatively austere and spartan fortress of the Order seem destitute in comparison, but the guests who truly mattered understood fully where the true value of the Order lay. Indeed, the duke had not proposed a marriage alliance with Luther in pursuit of more gold, for he had that in abundance. What Luther and the Order had was strength, power, cunning, and hearts of steel. For his part, Luther did play along with the elaborate rituals and ceremony expected of him, though he cared little for it. Lion, caring even less, did not bother to concern himself with any of it until he was obligated to appear. He had servants keep an eye on the "intruder" Lady Atalanta, ensuring she did not attempt to probe their defenses any more than she already had. As far as he was aware, she remained in her assigned lodgings until her father arrived. The Duke greeted his daughter coldly, taking her aside and, from what little Lion could hear through the thick stone walls, lambasted her quite furiously. It seemed she was not lying about her father's intentions when they last spoke.

When the time came for Lion to appear, he donned his gaudy and uncomfortable ceremonial attire, descending a green velvet staircase into the grand hall. Various nobles, wealthy lords, and other guests of importance, most invited by the duke, were all gathered in attendance. He was escorted down the aisle by two warriors of the Order, clad in armor he wished he were wearing instead. It was customary for the father of the bride-to-be to officiate the engagement ceremony, and so the Duke of Borugond stood at the altar alongside his daughter, awaiting the Lion to approach. The Duke was adorned with expensive silks and furs interwoven with precious metals, the price of which would likely have been enough to purchase Lion's entire wardrobe. At his side stood Lady Atalanta, dressed in customary white robes. Her appearance contrasted greatly with that of when they had first met earlier in the day, all of her athleticism and roughness hidden beneath layers of expensive cloth. As the duke spoke long recitations of vows and promises between a husband and wife, Lion's mind was mostly fixated on how the woman in front of him had bypassed the fortress's defenses. After the Duke had finally finished his long-winded oration, the time came for Lion and Atalanta to recite their own vows. He had of course memorized them effortlessly, and gave little thought to the words as he prepared to speak them. Then, just before the vows could escape his lips, he was alerted by the sound of doors opening followed by a commotion in the crowd.

In the back of the grand hall, within the grand entranceway stood a diminutive figure, clad in thick robes that obscured its face and body. The tiny creature, no more than 4 feet tall, moved so gracefully across the stone floor as it approached the altar where Lion and Atalanta stood that it appeared as if it were gliding just above the ground. None of the shocked attendees dared to stand in its way, knowing well that to impede the movement of one of these mythical creatures was tantamount to cursing one's own name. The Watchers in the Dark were known to all inhabitants of Caliban, though for the vast majority of them they were reserved to ancient legends and hushed rumors. For one to appear in such a place as this, surrounded by people, was practically unheard of. The small humanoid clutched something in its hands, revealing what it held once it had ascended the steps and stood before the betrothed couple. In its palms rested a pale blue flower, its petals glowing with an ethereal and almost translucent texture. It was the fabled lunar rose, an extremely rare wildflower named so both for its entrancing, glowing hue that resembled faint rays of moonlight, as well as that fact that it only bloomed on nights with a full moon. The flower could only ever be found in the deepest and darkest sections of Caliban's cursed and monstrous forests, and combined with the fact that it could only be harvested it at night meant that searching for it was considered suicidal - leading to its exceptional rarity.

Immediately, several gears began to piece together in Lion's mind. The Watchers in the Dark operated in ways beyond the normal constraints of everyday physics, allowing them to move and traverse seemingly impassable barriers. One of them could easily have been responsible for the earlier lapse in security, as well as allowing it to reach here without being caught. What he could not begin to fathom was why.

"I-it is a miracle!" The Duke said, raising his arms into the air. "This union, this alliance… is blessed by the guardian spirits of Caliban itself!" Lion, previously lost in thought, realized that all the eyes in the room lay upon him now.

That's right. Lion thought. It's customary for the fiance to gift a flower to the fiancee as a symbol of their engagement contract.

Lion leaned down, tentatively reaching for the flower in the diminutive creature's hands. Sensing no hostility or resistance, or really any reaction at all, he plucked the flower and examined it closely. After studying it for a few seconds, he knelt down and offered it to Atalanta in the manner he had practiced and was expected of him. All of his movements were calculated to be neither too flamboyant nor too mechanical, a perfect facade to placate the throngs of nobles and wealthy elites in attendance. Atalanta smiled, taking the flower and giggling with a toothy grin. It struck Lion as rather unbecoming of a noblewoman, as she did not seem to put nearly as much care into her persona as he did. He looked back down to where the Watcher had stood, realizing that the small creature had vanished into thin air. The crowd, equally perplexed, swiveled their heads around the room, searching in vain for any sign of the creature. It was as if the Watcher had simply ceased to exist when the crowd's gaze shifted from it to Lion.

With the floral ritual performed, the ceremony was all but complete. Lion and Atalanta recited their perfunctory vows, tying them and their houses together in perpetuity. The crowd cheered and applauded, and it seemed that Lion's performance had more than fulfilled their expectations. The unexpected intercession of the mystical hooded interloper no doubt aided in this perception. As the many guests mingled about in the aftermath of the ceremony, Lion found an opportunity to slip away unnoticed. His part had been played, and he had no desire to continue his tiresome facade for any longer.

The next day, Lion awoke many hours before sunrise to prepare for his daily morning patrol of the shallow woods. Beasts rarely ventured out into the open during the light of day, preferring to stalk and hunt men in the dark of night. The humans of Caliban were wise to the beasts' habits, however, and were sure to post guards on night shifts for most hours. The very early morning, however, was when these guards were at their most fatigued, waiting to be relieved by their daytime counterparts. Their replacements, only just having awoken, were also often still yet to fully wake, meaning that this time in particular was often the most dangerous in terms of beast attacks. As such, Lion made it his personal duty to lead watch at this most crucial time.

He made his usual preparations, gathering essential provisions and equipment, ensuring his weapons and armor were clean and in good condition, and going over his planned route to make certain that he did not leave any part of the perimeter unpatrolled. As he finished packing the last of his equipment, he heard an unexpected knock at his door. Confused why anyone would be up at this hour or why they would choose to interrupt his preparation, he cautiously answered and opened the door.

Atalanta stood before him, with her family's artificer bow hung on her shoulder and a quiver of arrows at her side. She was wearing much more rugged attire than the ornate dress she sported last night, reminding him of the first time he had seen her after she trespassed on the fortress grounds. She seemed to be dressed and prepared for an outing.

"What are you doing up at this hour of the day?" Lion asked.

"Well, back home I usually get up this early to patrol the grounds." Atalanta said. "Around now the night guardsmen will be retiring and the morning guardsmen will be just waking up, I'm sure you understand." Lion nodded in response. "I heard you up as well and figured you had the same idea."

"You intend to patrol the forest edge for beasts?" Lion said, with a hint of skepticism. "Does your father approve of this?"

"Not exactly, though he's never been able to stop me." She said, sauntering into his room. Lion pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I do not think it wise to risk the alliance between our houses over a simple patrol." Lion said.

"The alliance breaks if either of us is killed. How do you know you will be at no risk while I will be?" Atalanta said, sitting down on the side of Lion's spartan bedside.

"I have no knowledge of your combat skills. I do not know how you will fair in the event of a beast encounter." Lion said.

"No knowledge?" Atalanta said, rising to her feet with an indignant expression. "Did you not watch me demonstrate my skills with a bow yesterday?"

"...practice is one thing. Surviving in the field of battle is…"

"Fine then, I have a proposition for you." Atalanta said, "If you take me with you on patrol, you can continue to keep an eye on me… as you have been since I got here." Lion was taken slightly aback, unaware she had been onto him. "...Or, you leave me behind, and leave me alone in the fortress unsupervised." Lion sucked his teeth in annoyance, quickly regretting having involved himself with this woman at all. After a moment of brooding, he accepted that he had been had.

"Be ready in 5 minutes." Lion said. "If you are late, I'm leaving without you."

Atalanta smiled.

The dim morning sky shimmered like obsidian glass, the faint glow of the approaching sunrise casting an ethereal pale glow across the horizon. Only the edges of the great cosmic eye that normally dominated the sky could be seen lingering to the east, which fortunately meant the beasts would likely not be as active. Lion rode atop his sturdy black steed while Atalanta followed close behind on her chestnut warhorse, a fine and expensive thoroughbred from the east. They trod along a worn dirt path that circled the furthest ring of their settlements' defenses, with the tall, dark, and imposing forest looming close by. They trotted through clouds of dense fog, drifting through scattered ruins of ancient stone temples and archways.

"You know my father always told me that our ancestors built these ruins scattered around Caliban, before the forests overtook everything and forced us behind our walls and fortresses." Atalanta said.

"Is that so." Lion said. "According to our records, the forests have been here since there were humans to record them."

"So who do you think built them?" Atalanta said. Lion shrugged his shoulders.

"Does it matter?" Lion said. Atalanta chuckled.

"No, I suppose not. Has anyone ever told you that you're not very fun to talk to?" Atalanta said. Lion uttered nothing in return, instead raising his finger to his lips. Atalanta immediately understood the meaning of his gesture, and her demeanor instantly took a serious turn. Lion and Atalanta brought their horses to a stop, slowly so as to cause as little noise as possible. Lion dismounted in silence, his armor gently clanking together so subtly that the sound was absorbed by the wind. Atalanta dismounted as well, quietly drawing an arrow from her quiver but waiting to nock it upon her bowstring. Lion kept his eyes trained on a ruined cathedral in the distance, half-obscured by fog. He kept his hand ready on the hilt of is sword, treading lightly through the dew-kissed grass. It was difficult for him to tell what he truly saw in the misty twilight murk, a moving shape, a swirling cloud of fog, or merely a trick of the light… regardless, he wasn't going to take any chances. He stepped through a partially crumbled archway and stood in the middle of what used to be some kind of temple or hall, the ceiling completely caved in and only a small portion of its walls and columns left standing. Tall grass, twisting vines, and immature shrubs curled and crept along the aged stone remains. Small white mushrooms formed a myriad of circular arrangements in the grass, glowing faintly like small lanterns. At the far end of the ruin in the center of a grand circular atrium, sat a hunk of white marble chiseled into the shape of an altar, or perhaps a throne. Either way, it was far too large for a human. Lion cautiously entered the grand ruin in pursuit of the unknown target. The air around him seemed to grow even more quiet as he entered the ruin, his footsteps sounding muffled and distant. A chill ran up his spine, and the hairs on his arms stood up. A feeling of indescribable energy shot through him, and in response he immediately turned around to face-

Darkness.

His vision was engulfed by an all-consuming blackness, and it was as if all sensation had left him. For a moment he thought he was dead, though the faint sensation of heartbeats and the rising and falling of his chest as he breathed dispelled that notion. A crack of light broke through the darkness as his eyelids parted slightly, taking considerable effort for him to open his eyes fully. Shades of green poured into his vision, and his eyes blinked repeatedly as they adjusted to the light. He immediately took stock of his surroundings, some of it familiar yet somehow different. It was clear to him that he was in the same ruined temple that he had entered just a moment ago before blacking out, with all of the same crumbling walls, toppled columns, and piles of rubble in exactly the same places, yet somehow everything else about his surroundings had changed. Gone was the vast sea of early morning fog, replaced by a vast emptiness dotted with stars and ribbons of ethereal light. It was as if the world ended just beyond his immediate surroundings, giving way to an infinite void that swallowed the earth. As his eyes wandered around the abyssal island tomb, they fell upon a sight that sent shivers down his spine. Adrenaline shot through him, and he gripped his sword tightly. Just a stone's throw away, perched on the previously empty altar, laid a colossal beast. It was an immense predator with coarse, shimmering fur that gleamed like a coat of golden armor. Its paws, each dwarfing the size of a man's head, bore barely-hidden claws of gleaming white that, if extended, would have been comparable in size and deadliness to a shortsword. Concealed within its immense maw were dagger-like teeth, bared in their entirety as the creature opened its mouth to yawn with a low, rumbling growl. Its menacing deep-green eyes emerged from behind its closed eyelids, the jade spheres reflecting the dim light like emerald stars. A dark-orange mane nestled around its neck like a crown of fire, demanding respect and awe from all those who beheld it. Lion immediately recognized what the creature was: it was his namesake. A beast so terrible and deadly that it struck fear into the hearts of the bravest warriors, the true lord and master of the Calibanite forests. As the titanic feline lord cast its jade gaze upon Lion, he felt as though it had already tore into his flesh merely by setting eyes upon him. Most believed being caught in the sights of a Calibanite Lion meant certain doom - and for most, it was.

Has the princeling finally tired of dreaming? A disembodied voice said, echoing all throughout the chamber. Lion took his attention away from the beast for a moment, searching for the voice's source. No… the Watchers remain ever-vigilant. Perhaps it is not yet time… or perhaps He simply doesn't care.

"Who said that?" Lion said, his voice not betraying the trepidation he felt. He sounded as if he knew the answer; but simply couldn't believe it. The lion lifted itself up on powerful forelimbs, descending from the altar-throne in a graceful motion. Its footsteps made nary a sound as it paced slowly across the room, circling the young Lion who could only draw his sword in response.

You do not know me, but I know you. I have watched your victories, and seen your secrets. The beast said.

"Who- what are you?" Lion said, his voice retaining an authoritative timbre despite his precarious situation.

Who am I? Once I was a mighty lord, ruling over these ruins.

"You ruled the forest?" Lion said, recalling the old Calibanite legend that lions were once mighty kings, cursed by greed, wrath, ambition, lust - it varied from story to story - and turned into terrible, mindless beasts.

I ruled over all forests. I was the Lord of Caliban, watching over its people and defending them from cruelties of the void. Then… when the rupturing came… that damned usurper… Ouroboros.

"Ouroboros?" Lion said, the name striking him as familiar.

That foul fiend poisoned the earth, turning the very ground against its people… my people. The beast was becoming spirited, which heightened Lion's cautiousness. Enough opening of old wounds. All that matters is that we are both here… but whether you are ready to accept it is another matter.

"Accept what?" Lion said.

That everything you know is a lie, conjured by a soul-wounded dreamer and fueled by faceless fey.

"What are you implying?" Lion said, more emotion entering his voice than he had intended.

I hear the voice of your father calling to me, demanding that you wake. Fortunately for you, I never was much for taking orders.

"My father? What are you-" Lion was interrupted by a faint sound echoing in his ears, muffled as if he were immersed in a deep pool of water. It rang through his mind, stealing away his attention and causing his surroundings to begin melting away.

I will be waiting for you… when you are ready, Lion El'Jonson. The beast said, before fading away with the rest of the world.

"Lion El'Jonson!" Atalanta shouted, violently shaking the unconscious Lion's shoulders back and forth in an attempt to wake him. His eyes fluttered for a moment, then shot open. His chest filled with air as a faint expression of surprise or panic - it was difficult to tell which - flashed across his face before fading.

"What happened?" Lion said, looking around. He was right back in the foggy ruins, the light of day beginning to stream through the dense clouds of mist.

"I should ask the same of you." Atalanta said, a clear look of relief painted across her face. "I watched as you entered this ruined temple, then just… collapsed. It was as if you had fallen under a spell or something. What happened to you? Did you see anything attack you?" Lion looked to the side with a contemplative expression, his eyes shifting imperceptibly.

"No… I simply had a strange dream."

In the dingy, steam-filled streets of a far-flung hiveworld, a portly, balding kiosk attendant took a drag from a tarnished e-cig in his right hand while reading a dataslate that read "Vigilus Times". He removed the cigarette from his lips and released a puff of smoke from his mouth, using his right pinky finger to swipe across the screen and flip to the next page.

"I'll be damned, who would'a guessed the Cardinal was a Chaos worshiper all along? I tells yah, for all the good Lord Guilliman's been doin', things this side o' the galaxy are goin' ta hell." said the man wearing a name tag that read 'Ziegler.' He lowered his dataslate, put the cigarette back in his mouth, and looked up at the two figures standing at his kiosk. "Anyway, what can I do you for?" The shorter of the two, an older man with a rough-looking face and wearing a drab trenchcoat, looked at his partner. She was an abnormally tall, lithe woman, though not the tallest he had seen recently. She wore a red robe that lightly concealed her augmented body, giving her the appearance of a highly unorthodox techpriest, and wielded a strange-looking sword on her back. After exchanging expressions without words, the man turned back to Ziegler.

"As a matter of fact, there is something you can do for us. You see, my partner and I are looking for someone… and we were wondering if you could help point us in their direction." Inquisitor O'Niell said.