I'd like to preface this Chapter with a note to you all, as well as a disclaimer. Thank you for sticking with the Mortal Son for as long as you have. Considering we're about a third of the way through (as of this chapter), I can't promise that the following chapters will be coming as quickly as they previously have. I'm going to take a bit more time between releases in order to not just lengthen my chapters, but provide a bit more depth and meaning. I've been far too hasty focusing on a release date, then actually deciding if the Chapter is finished or not, if I've covered the material necessary in order to set the foundations of later moments. But I'm glad what is down has entertained y'all.
The disclaimer is for those that seem to take issue with creative decisions. I'm not trying to write the same story you've read a thousand times before. I'm not trying to throw a wrench in the machinery. In fact, the mortal son started as a repurposing mission for characters, concepts and story points that have either been abandoned or the BL failed to expand upon. I wanted to take forgotten threads and missing moments in the lore and craft them into a full story. One that shows every aspect of the fictional universe I've come to admire.
And yes, it's grimdark. It's supposed to be depressing and hollow. And sometimes I will miss the mark on certain moments, because maybe that's not how you would imagine someone to act in such a situation. I.E Vownus being a positive prick. But even in his case the brief description that was available for his character on the Lexicanum is that he's a noted 'optimist'.
To put it simply, I'm trying to write a story while drawing conclusions from unfinished work. I'm adjusting certain things, yes, but please don't take it personally. I'm not trying to attack your preconceptions and understandings, I'm trying to write an entertaining story.
For those of you that mind this, I'm sorry.
For those that don't, thanks for the support.
Deep beneath Hive Primaris' lay a secret.
If one were inclined to scrupulously search the layered depths of the collective goliath structures, they would certainly make an odd discovery.
Shrouded by the constructions and formations necessary to house the millions of denizens for Balor's largest Hive, was a church.
Tucked into the deepest corner, beneath the natural alcove created by the artificial imperial buildings, this church was hidden to the vast majority of the Hive's denizens.
Unlike Gothic structures of its kind, it was not grand. Rather, it was conformed and concise, purposefully built with its meager size in mind.
Even if it had been grandiose and bold, it would mean nothing to its obviousness when considering its placement.
It was built beneath a set of support pillars, and thus its distinctive appearance from the hundreds of walkways above was completely covered by the great metal beams.
At a glance, many would find it hard to tell which had been built first, the Church or the foundations for Hive Primaris.
To the human eye, the Church's surface was crumbling and desolate, its exterior having seen kinder days. Time was not a benevolent entity however, and much of its sculptures and statues had fallen into gross disrepair.
But to an observant spectator, the Church was a far cry from a decrepit or rundown shamble.
It had been constructed to stand the testament of time. And though its exterior was not shown further love by its crafters, the interior remained preserved and properly maintained.
The large gates of wood that separated the in from the out were without blemish or rot. No scratches or marks stained the deep brown oak doors.
Hidden as it were, a path lead to this secret church's entrance. Ducking under pipes, leaping short gaps and passing through shadow, one would come to stand before the doors larger than any mortal man.
And they were not built with Mortal men in mind.
Within the church, one would find it to be as long as it was tall.
Akin to all churches of the ecclesiarchy, a dias dominated the end furthest from the door. This dias was nestled beneath the imposing glass windows. Nearly no light reached this far into the hive, and the panes of glass were almost always shrouded in darkness, their colored depictions only visible under the pockets of candlelight throughout the church.
Before this dias, and the speaker's pedestal that was fixed at its center, one would expect pews.
Rows of seats were the penitent and the holy would come for prayer.
And there were.
But they were far fewer in number, and far more spaced out, then what a normal holy site would have. And further unlike other church's, these pews were directed toward one another, rather than the dias and the pedestal.
A small litter of candles, surrounded by parchment and blessed sigils, lay clustered at the center.
Of the six seats of stone, four were occupied.
All of these figures were robbed in cloth of ragged night, black wrappings that did little to conceal their inhumanly large forms.
They were not decorated in armor, but each had the posture of a patient warrior in silent deliberation. One sat with his hands clasped together, a threaded necklace of which the Imperial Acquila hung was laced between his fingers.
The next had a hand to his chin, his eyes focused on the flickering flames of the candles before them all.
The third sat focused and still, his back straight and hands upon his legs. Seemingly at ease and at attention simultaneously.
And the fourth sat calmly, his posture naturally rigid, but far more relaxed than the others around him.
It was the fourth that sparked sound into the near silence of the hidden church.
"T'was bound to happen" he murmured.
The third softly scoffed, but maintained his staunch posture.
"First the Wolves… and now this" he fixed the fourth with a vacant gaze, "of what use are your gifts, if you could not foresee such circumstances?"
The fourth did not reply, nor did he meet the third's gaze. His eyes remained locked to the small dancing firelight of the pale wicks.
Silence returned for a brief moment.
The first, whose thumbs were rotating the threaded notches of his necklace, spoke to the others.
"Where is he?"
"Be patient" the second replied calmingly, his tone both wise and sure. This was a being who exuded both confidence and tranquility.
"He knows what he's doing"
The first bit back sharply, "and you would know this, how, Brother?"
An awkward quiet settled in. The third and second turned to look at the first, their eyes conveying a serious concern.
The necklace ceased shifting.
"I apologize Brother" the first rumbled back with a sigh, "but every day we spend here, hidden in these accursed shadows, is another day our penance persists"
"And we must bear it as we always have" the third nods to the first, "with grace and humility we shall do our duty"
The second smiles serenely at the first, "even after all these years you still have quite the temper. Time has yet to quench your fiery spirit Brother"
Before their talk could continue, one of the large doors to the church shifted open with a great groan.
The large figure, dressed similarly to those within the church, moved with a swiftness that was at odds with his size.
As he approached the pews, the shrouded figure was greeted by the fourth.
"Mordo" the fourth addressed the arrival, "what news do you bring?"
The largest of them all hurriedly sat, his eyes meeting each and every one of those around them.
"The Wolves are returning to the surface" he shook his head briefly, his voice sharp and stern, "they bring a new arrival"
The first sat up straight, the necklace of prayer seemingly forgotten.
"Is it-"
Mordo shook his covered head before the first could finish, "no. A small contingent of Astartes, but not your kin. Astral Knights accompany the arrivee"
"The Sons of Dorn" the second murmured, "I thought them slain to the last, their chapter eradicated"
"As did I," Mordo agreed.
"And who is it they stand with?" the fourth quickly asked, "is it the being that I sense?"
"I cannot say," Mordo immediately replied, referring to the latter question, before his face hardened, "however, they are the guard of an Inquisitor. A Witch Hunter"
A wave of tension bloomed between the shrouded warriors.
"We are uncovered" the first quickly hissed, "all of this was for-"
The fourth snapped his fingers, immediately drawing silence to the room. The first shut his mouth, but fixed the fourth with a filthy glare. Ignoring the look given by his companion, the fourth spoke directly to the newest member of the conclave.
"Mordo. This Inquisitor arrived with only one vessel, correct?"
The largest of them nodded silently.
Nodding quietly, the fourth sat back in a similar silence, his eyes returning to the candle light.
This sudden moment of contemplation drew the ire of the third, who was more than willing to directly address the fourth with his frustration.
"Seraphis. Zachariah's concern is valid. You cannot dismiss the possibility"
"I can and I will, Mikail" the fourth, the now named Seraphis, boredly replied. His eyes remained on the fire.
The quiet frustration of Mikail, the third, remained. But he did not speak further.
"Seraphis" the second attempted, "I know that there may be-"
The fourth finally had his gaze drawn from the flame, his eyes narrowed and annoyed
"You know? You know, what, exactly?" He leaned forward, "That it is dangerous for us to remain in one place for so long? Do not forget Gabriel, I know just as well as all of you what the consequences would be for our association. I am not blind to the danger your Brethren present, but something else is at work here"
While he originally spit each word with a venomous tinge, the anger tapered off into silent contemplation.
"Something far more important…"
"How can you be so sure?"
Seraphis looked up into the small slit in the cloth that covered Mordo's head, looking into the man's black gaze as he spoke.
Seraphis sighed.
"I have guided us down a path you are all blind too" his eyes drifted to the flames once more, "the threads of fate are not something you can ignore or run from. If they have guided us to Balor, then on Balor we shall remain"
He met the gaze of each member of the conclave.
"At the end of this journey brother's, we shall see your oaths fulfilled"
His fist clenched.
"We shall repent for the sins against our kin"
The flames of each candle within the room burned a touch brighter.
"And we shall regain the honor we have lost"
From Orbit, Vownus had been unable to take a good look at Hive Primaris' layout. Even as it stood as the largest of Balor's Hive cities, it was far from what any moderately developed Imperial world would call large.
As the Space Wolf dropship flew closer and closer, Vownus had been given permission to observe the approach from the pilot's cabin.
From over the shoulder of the piloting Space Wolf, the Inquisitor had finally been able to take his measure of the city. In but a few moments, his mind completely absorbed a general sense of the layout.
While Agrax had cities of a spherical design, as Hive's typically were, Hive Primaris was built into a large mountain range.
The tall spires of stone contested the skies with the Hive Spires, the long spine of their snow capped range drifting many miles to the west and east.
Hive Primaris was a walled city. From their current height, Vownus could make out three walls, the outermost being the largest in length, but the shortest in height.
Three concentric semi-circles, the edges of each wall built into the mountain range that the hive was somewhat nestled within.
At the northmost point, within the tightest keep and against the mountain face were the dazzling Hive Spires of the nobles and dignitaries. It was no surprise that Balor's elite held the most defended and notable position, their tall structures openly competing with the natural elements of the mountains they sought protection beneath.
A testament to man, and it's incessant need to conquer nature.
Spewing from the next band, between the middle and inner walls, Vownus could see two Factorums. They were only discernible due to the billowing clouds of black and white smoke that spewed from their piped roofs. Cortetis would be glad to know that this world might have something to do so they may not remain idle.
Two small fortresses flanked the west and east side of these Factorums. These would be the homes of the guardsman dedicated to the protection of the Mechanicus' vital infrastructure.
And they were labeled small fortresses in Vownus' mind, a comparison he made due to the presence of the central fortress.
Built into the very wall that divided the central band to the outer, this middle Fortress was the largest. Vownus could make out three distinct structures and a gigantic landing field.
This was where Balor trained and deployed its many Regiments, the main export of this world to pay the Imperial Tithe.
It was at the crossroads of the entire hive, the central fixture as it were.
As the nobles dominated the skyline, the Guard held the heart of the Hive, a thought that the Witch Hunter found to be subtly pleasing.
The outer band of Hive Primaris, separated by the third and longest wall, was for the general population.
Vownus could see many overlapping layers and smaller spires, each connected to one another through the large walkways slathered in Imperial decoration.
A single Fortress, small like the inner two, was to the South-East and nestled between these population centers.
'A recruitment center' Vownus nodded to himself. This was where the people entered into service, before moving to become a full fledged fighting force at the central Fortress.
A very practical set up.
The Inquisitor cast his gaze only briefly to the lands beyond the outer wall that the Thunderhawk steadily approached.
To the southwest lay fields and forests, the small moving dots and mechanical structures showing that Balor did dabble in farming.
But as his eyes crossed over to the South-east and east, Vownus saw that this was only a minor effort.
Though there were fields beyond the walls, a great river cut through the lands. Many tributaries and small paths of flowing waters rendered the lands shattered and swamp-like. The people did as they could, farming the locations that they had cultivated, but such natural elements were not simply tamed.
Vownus did not how small vessels drifted across these open waters.
Even if the natural pathways of the river and the forests that dominated every shore of its many banks prevented grand scale Imperial farming… the people of Balor had turned it into an opportunity to fish.
'Resourceful' Vownus internally declared, stepping out of the cockpit without a single word to the pilot.
Even as he had sought to distract himself with the image of Balor, he found his mind returning to his previous concerns.
The meeting aboard the Axe of Russ had concluded a mere half hour ago.
Kjarl Grimblood, Wolf Lord of his Great Company, had eventually decided to grant Vownus leave. This was after deep discussion with the Wolves Rune Priests Ivur and Torrid. It had been a tense debate, one that Vownus had only caught glimpses off, but had eventually bore fruit.
But it had come with some concessions on Vownus' part.
Even after he had given everything he had to keep the peace between the Space Wolves and his Inquisitorial duties, the Wolf Lord had demanded more of him.
Vownus had every right to deny, fight back, and ultimately order the Wolves…
But a part of him wished to bridge the animosity between the Inquisition and these particular Astartes. If not for his organization's sake, but for his own, Vownus wished to at least try and clear the bad blood.
He had his limits however.
And as they had skirted formality, let alone toed the line of making orders and demands of him, Vownus was irritated.
The most irksome concession was that Ivur was to monitor him now. The Runepriest had accompanied Vownus and the Astral Knights.
It seemed as if the Wolf Lord had trusted Ivur to act as his eyes and judge the situation accordingly. The Rune Priest was here to validate if Lucian was as Torrid feared, or if the boy was what Vownus had implicitly claimed…
And Vownus had no issue in this.
Ivur would see as he did, of that he had no doubt.
What the Witch Hunter did doubt were Ivur's intentions. The Rune Priest had some ulterior goal, an objective that he and perhaps the Wolf Lord were privy to.
As Vownus stepped back into the cabin of the Thunderhawk, he met eyes with the latest addition to their group.
Ivur gazed back at him, his grizzled face displaying no emotion.
For the servant of a man that demanded he bare his secrets, the Witch Hunter was supremely irritated that the Wolves thought it appropriate not to share their own.
But the Inquisitor would not call the Wolf Lord a hypocrite in his own hall.
After all, the Wolves had some purpose upon Balor, for they had been here for some time. Destiny and fate itched at Vownus' spine, reminding him of the nascent possibility that they were here because Lucian was here… that their purpose and his mission might be in-line with one another… but the Inquisitor didn't want to entertain that possibility.
More allies were preferable, but as more could be railed to his cause there were those that would turn away from such a calling. There were those that would not believe.
Even though they permitted Psyker's in their ranks, the Wolves had a bitter and bloody history with sorcery.
The Burning of Prospero was evidence enough for that.
So of all the potential allies Vownus could consider, even if Ivur seemed to be taking the possibility that this particular Inquisitor was speaking blatant truth, the Space Wolves were at the bottom of Vownus' proverbial list.
Ivur looked away from him, the old Rune Priest closing his eyes in calming thought.
A frosty aura blossomed from the Space Wolf, drawing the helmeted attention of Raduriel and Dominius that sat beside the warrior.
…Ivur was Divining, right in front of him.
The obvious show of skill ranked the Inquisitor's spine, a soft chill flowing down his form. Whether this was some form of intimidation or boastful arrogance, the Witch Hunter couldn't tell.
Or perhaps it served another purpose entirely?
Vownus forced down a frown as he returned to his vacant seat.
Aethod did not give him a look, but Vownus knew that the Librarian wished to speak with him urgently.
And they would.
Once he'd finished flaying Caius, Lynwood and Lucian.
He keyed his personal Vox Caster, the one intergrated into his lapel.
In the moderately sized yet spacious dormitory they had been led to, Lucian lay on the top bunk. A petulant frown was drawn across his features.
For a boy that had grown sick and tired of perpetual confinement within the Tempest's Advance, the source of his irritation was plain for the quietly lurking Inquisitorial Agents.
Caius and Lynwood stood at the far end of the room, the younger of the two watching the boy fume as the elder remained still yet vigilant by the door.
The Castellan's man, Private Jasper Corvate, had guided the trio to an empty barracks room.
Presumably an officer's one, going by the minimal number of beds in such a large space.
And of course a small table and chairs, one that Caius was certain served as a discussion and planning space.
But the room's spaciousness wasn't the source of contention, rather that it was located underground. It was also matt gray, obviously windowless, and had hardly any interesting things in it besides a Recaff dispenser.
As soon as they had been let into the room, Lucian had almost exploded with irritation.
Lynwood's stern tone was not argued with, and the boy was forced to accept that the three of them would be waiting in the space until Vownus arrived.
And thus the standoff had begun.
The irked teen taking to the furthest bunk in the room, glare fixed on the steel sheets of the ceiling. The former Arbites remained by the door, one wary to not piss off the boy. The other, uncaring of how his charge reacted to the circumstances.
Caius blew on the steaming cup of black liquid as he brought it to his lips.
As he drew in a sip of the Recaff, he wished to let out a quiet groan.
While the 501st had an excellent selection of drink, their Recaff was… an acquired taste. Balor's however, tasted just like Helios.
Caius felt the need to politely remark as such.
"Just like home" he murmured, taking another swig quickly after his first.
Lynwood let out a grunt, but said nothing.
Lucian stewed.
Silence returned.
Internally Caius winced. This silence gnawed at him, the tension between an impulsive boy and a firmly principled man doing far more damage to his peace of mind then it did to the aggrieved parties.
"So…" Caius tisked, "is nobody else curious?"
Lucian didn't move, but Lynwood inclined his head toward Caius.
"Of?"
"The Castellan" Caius faced his elder, "and that whole song and dance I failed to understand"
Out of the corner of his eye, Caius noticed Lucian shift on the bed.
'So it wasn't just me' the Agent smirked internally, knowing that Lucian was just in the dark as he was.
Meanwhile, Lynwood's face twisted into a frown.
"He conducted himself appropriately. With what do you take contention?"
Caius shrugged, "of all the people to greet us, why him? He's a Castellan. Surely he's got better things to do then talk to indentured muscle"
Lynwood frowned further, "mind your words. This is our duty, not slavery"
"But you get what I mean" Caius verbally jabbed, "mister Big Wig Harkoden has an entire Fortress to manage, yet he willingly decides to not only greet, but accommodate us?"
Lynwood snorted derisively, turning away from Caius as he answered oh so succinctly.
"We are Agents of the Inquisition"
Caius waited for more.
Yet there was none.
And now Caius frowned. The answer was not sufficient for him.
"...and?"
"And what?" Lynwood grumbled, shutting his eyes for a moment, "do you not understand the power that stands behind us Caius. As Agents of the Inquisition we wield Vownus' authority. His order cannot be questioned"
Caius' jaw nashed air for a moment, looking for words, but Lynwood gave him little time to find anything to say.
The elder pushed on.
"He was likely aware of our arrival as soon as we touched down. Even likelier considering we are so-" Lynwood tapped the bold designs of his armor, "-obvious. The Rosette merely sealed his understanding"
"But why him?"
Caius and Lynwood looked to Lucian, who had abruptly mumbled the question.
The boy didn't turn to look at the two, but continued speaking as he glared at the roof. His hands were locked behind his head, an approximation of comfort if his expression did not give away his annoyance.
"...as you say, you represent Vownus' authority. And Vownus' position means he regularly deals with Governors and Marshals… not some Major General. That means Harkoden sought us out. That means he wanted to speak with us"
Lucian turned for a moment, fixing Lynwood with a frigid stare.
"True" the elder spoke back, "instead of working our way up the chain of command, a representative came to us. In most cases I would once more chalk this up to our status"
Lucian rolled back to look at the ceiling once more.
The younger Agent spoke up.
"In most cases" Caius reiterated, taking another hefty sip of Recaff.
"It is odd that he came so quickly" Lynwood replied to the unspoken request to expand his answer, "a Castellan for such an active Fortress would undoubtedly have other duties"
"He was curious," Lucian stated with firm assurity .
Lynwood nodded "That he was. But as to why? We can only guess the truth"
Caius hummed.
That seemed to be as far as they would get in that line of dialogue. None of them knew what the Castellan's intentions were. But Caius was at least glad in knowing that it wasn't just him who harbored some minor suspicions. Lynwood was to be expected, but Lucian as well? Perhaps the boy was beginning to grasp the concept of how not everyone was so pure of heart.
Many served the machinations of themselves or those they were bidden to. And that was at best. Some served the ruminations and plans of far worse.
A disturbing truth of mankind, but a truth nonetheless.
As a species we look out for our own interests and concerns, no matter the inherent piety or constitution we hold as standards of ourselves.
But this was a darker line of thought, one that Caius wished to explore at a later time. Preferably with something stronger than Recaff in his system.
But what else to speak of?
"What's with all the tunnels?"
It was not Caius who blatantly switched topics.
Lucian had sat up from his bunk, looking down at the two Agents with a pathetically slumped posture.
His golden eyes were bare and plain. He was curious as to the multitude of interconnected pathways that lay beneath the surface of the Fortress, and presumably the hive as well.
"What of them?" Lynwood riposted simply.
Lucian frowned at the counter question, but continued to speak, "I don't get their purpose"
Lynwood's face morphed to one of stoney contemplation, "really?"
Lucian's face was on the edge of a glare, "I wouldn't have asked if I knew"
The elder arbite softly nodded, "I suppose that's true"
The room shifted to quiet for a beat.
"And?" Lucian asked petulantly.
"And what?" Lynwood mirrored his response to Caius from earlier.
The boy huffed, exasperated "What's their purpose?""
"Work it out" Lynwood airly replied, a note of joyus calm in his words that Caius did a double take.
Lynwood had the smallest smirk across his face as he gazed at the irritated Lucian.
Caius wished he had a Pict device. Instead he worked to seer this image into his mind for all eternity.
Lynwood's smile's were far between and few in number. Of all the times for the man to find enjoyment in his duties, it would be now, in a verbal joust with a boy under his protection and instruction.
Before Lucian could verbally reply, Lynwood's vox caster loudly erupted.
"Hey. Vownus here. Still alive, no thanks to you three impatient idiots"
Everyone in the room reacted to the vitriol in the Inquisitor's voice.
Caius startled, Lynwood stiffened and Lucian paled.
"The Landing fields, be there in twenty. Bring the boy"
And the vox shut off.
Ivur Sverdsyn kept his subtle tension from showing to the Thunderhawk's other occupants. With his eyes closed and mind cast into the Immaterium, the Rune Priest sat Divining the many paths of the future, casting his gaze to the stretches of time that lay before him.
He knew the other two Psyker's within the now sharply descending drop ship were focused on him. He knew they were equal tones, confused, insulted and suspicious of him.
Especially the Inquisitor.
Vownus Kaede knew that Ivur was not accompanying them to simply 'Observe' the being. The Witch Hunter knew that Ivur was up to something.
And the Rune Priest admittedly was up to something, but nothing nefarious or vicious.
He had his own postulations and theories to validate.
His own branches of fate and purpose to consider.
The entirety of this Great Hunt of Kjarl Grimblood's Company had set out with a singular purpose in mind.
To find their Father.
As every Hunt conducted by the other great hosts had done in years long past, they would seek their Father in the stars. They would travel to every darkened corner of this dimension and the next until they found him.
For Leman Russ, the Primarch of the Space Wolves, was still alive.
Every Space Wolf knew this. They knew that their Primarch lived.
Merely missing, the Great Wolf would be sought out until he was found.
And it was up to the visions and messages imbued in the minds of the Chapter's Rune Priests to find him.
Such a vision had been given to Ivur, only years ago. The Rune Priest had been shown images of battle and bloodshed, victory and defeat, honor and duty… and a great tree.
One that Russ himself stood before.
Since that day, the Company of the Firewolf had sailed out into the cosmos, a deep longing motivation burning at their hearts.
Ivur had been awarded a more prominent position within Kjarl Grimblood's host, and although he did not command as those of the Wolf Guard did, his voice was one that more often than not the Wolf Lord requested.
Ivur was loyal.
He was trusted.
And he was the company's compass in matters of the Warp. Their navigator on this great hunt, only Ivur's talents could lead them to where the visions of their Father depicted.
"Brother, Knights and Inquisitor. We shall land within the minute"
The pilot's vox coated voice took Ivur's attention, his consciousness carefully extracting itself from the future's examination.
"Thank you Bjorn, it was a calming travel as usual"
The pilot scoffed a laugh at Ivur's comment, but said nothing further.
A slight jolt worked at his stomach as the Thunderhawk's descent slowed. The engines reached a critical roar before the sound of whirring automatons buffeted the cabin.
A steady thump followed shortly after, signaling the vessel's contact with the ground.
Ivur smiled to himself as all the occupants of the drop ship stood.
It would be good to once again be out and about, rather than constantly nosing through stuffy old tomes.
The bay doors opened, the Inquisitor leading the charge.
Even as they had landed, Ivur had felt the glowing maelstrom of luminescent power approach.
As they had touched down, the Rune Priest could sense the being through the walls of the drop ship. At this distance… his mind unbiddenly summoned vile images of putrid creatures the warp could create.
Even though the presence of this being was neither malevolent or vicious… its sheer power struck a deep chord within his being.
Ivur wasn't expecting the three figures awaiting them all.
Especially how the shortest of the three mortals, a mere child, was the very being he had sensed.
That was when he got a good look at the boy.
…and his eyes.
Lucian stood with a straight back as the super large Valkyrie set down before them. Even from about twenty to thirty meters away, the powerful engines of the vessel nearly deafened him.
From the belly of the blue toned warship marked by a Wolf's head, a very familiar pointed hat emerged.
The figure beneath said hat was also noticeably irritated, a deep scowl maring his features.
Vownus Kaede was pissed.
"Oh fuck" Lucian barely heard Caius whisper beside him.
The familiar forms of the Astral Knights followed behind the Inquisitor, whose sharp step was matched by their slow march.
…but there was a new face among them.
The last to depart from the dropship before the great vessel departed was robbed in animal furs. He carried a staff akin to a walking stick, an action which seemed odd for one that was obviously a Space Marine.
All thoughts regarding this new individual were lost as Vownus finally stepped within earshot of them.
With the dropship and its loud engines now gone, the Witch Hunter's anger was direct and simple to discern. The man gestured at the Astartes behind, the Super Soldiers slowing their walk even further as the Inquisitor broke off from them.
His pace was thunderous as he approached the waiting trio.
"And who's bloody idea was it to go planetside, without my permission?!"
Vownus came to an abrupt stop before the three of them, Lucian taking an involuntary step back behind Caius and Lynwood as their Inquisitor glared at them.
"My Lord-" Caius attempted, but was silenced by a backhand.
"No" Kaede snapped, "no excuses, no arguing. I tell you to stay put, you stay put. I tell you to watch the boy, you watch the boy. Now tell me, and I want a fuckin' name, whose idea was it?!"
In that heartbeat of a moment, Lucian saw Lynwood's foot twitch forward. He knew what the man was going to do.
Lynwood would take responsibility. He'd claim it was all because of him, and his doing.
A small part of him was willing to allow this, to let the man take Vownus' ire so Lucian wouldn't have to.
But another part of him felt disgusted at that.
"I did"
All three of the men looked at Lucian, whose back stiffened in response to their scrutiny. Caius seemed like a fish out of water, Lynwood was stone faced, and Vownus was bubbling with anger.
Lucian's back remained straight, as he looked Vownus in the eye, his own glare beginning to form.
"You told them to guard me. They did" he almost growled at Vownus, "I asked them to take me to the surface"
"Why?" Vownus hissed.
"Because" Lucian was surprised he angrily snapped back at the man who he regarded as a pitiful mentor, "I was sick of that coffin! I couldn't stand it! Stuck on the same stupid place where I-"
No one cut the boy off except himself.
The reality of his situation came back to him, and the honest admittance of why he deeply disliked the Tempests Advance came with a thundering moment of clarity.
He had died upon that ship, thus he would endeavor not to spend a moment longer upon it.
Lucian looked down at his feat, his tone far more sobered.
"They took me to the surface, but it was my idea" he gazed up at Vownus, "so if you're gonna be mad at someone, you be mad at me"
In the silence that followed his fervent declaration, the towering figures of the Astral Knights walked up from behind Vownus.
They came to stand around the Inquisitor, their focus upon the small gathering. Lucian spared them a brief glance, wondering what they were here for. From beneath their helmets, the young Psyker could only wonder what they thought.
Meeting eyes with Librarian Aethod, Lucian wondered about the man's contemplative look. The silver eyes of the Librarian were not fixed in frown or glare, not were they calm and relaxed. Something plagued the great warrior's thoughts, an errant thought perhaps, but-
"Lucian"
Vownus' stern tone stole the boy's attention.
"While I understand your reasons, you do not have the right to supersede my authority" his frown was as pronounced as his slow wording, "however I cannot punish you for finding… a loophole, in my order. But note that this is the first and last time I will tolerate such behavior"
Lucian nodded slowly, until Lynwood bumped him with his hip.
"Yes my Lord," Lucian quickly added, but Vownus fixed the two Agents with a sharp look. He passed over Caius after a moment, but remained fixed upon Lynwood.
"I expected better from you" was the words Vownus settled on, "but we will talk about this later. For now…"
The Inquisitor turned from them, looking back to the Astartes.
"You scared Rune Priest? You'll get a much better look up close"
The taunt was levied suddenly and suredly, the words flung beyond the gathered Astartes Guard and to the figure that had brought up the rear of the arrivals.
The new Space Marine.
The one covered in furs and with the walking staff.
As one the Astral Knights parted to allow the newcomer to approach the gathered group. Strangely, Vownus also stood aside, giving the "Rune Priest", a direct and unimpeded path to Lucian.
As the boy curiously studied him, Ivur couldn't help but push down his baffled thoughts. The golden gaze was upon him now, the scrutiny of a look he had never thought to be under. In the Immaterium he felt the warping presence that loomed over his own. The swiveled focus of invisible might came to bear fully on Ivur in that moment.
He felt his knees weaken, but they did not bend.
His grip tensed and released, his mind firing a million questions.
The loudest of them all seemed to repeat on a loop, the Inquisitor's words of introduction falling on deaf ears as Ivur thought to himself again and again;
'How?'
He could not imagine the sheer might of this being he had sensed, the raw power crackling at the surface of a mortal life… to be so young.
So small.
…and yet so familiar.
An aching memory buried within his very bones resonated out, as if some part of him had stood before such a being before. His flesh, or parts of it, possessed memories he did not… and a more primal yet instinct piece of him recognised what stood only feet away.
Ivur was overcome with static shock.
Unbidden, a tear fell from his eye.
And then the boy spoke.
"Is… is he alright?"
Ivur shook himself, the strange trance he had been lapsing into falling away in an instant.
"I'm quite alright, mortal"
"Lucian"
Ivur blinked, his attention fixing on the sudden reply.
"My name is Lucian '' the youth enunciated, his eyes fixed to Ivur's. The "my Lord" was tacked on after an abrupt jab from the older Agent that stood by the boy's side.
"Lucian" the Rune Priest slowly tested the name on his tongue, "you are quite the strange little mystery, boy"
"...I am?"
"Indeed" Ivur nodded, "but perhaps we should speak more on this elsewhere" he nodded around to the far off faces of passing Guardsmen and curious onlookers. They all stood in an active landing site after all.
These curious individuals abruptly returned to their duties as the fearsome Space Wolf fixed them with a look.
"I agree," Vownus huffed, "Aethod. Stay with Lucian. Find a place to settle down for a bit. And make sure he doesn't decide to wander off again"
The Librarian separated from the group of Astral Knights without a word, coming to stand with the two Agents and the boy.
Vownus gestured to the Captain of the other Astartes.
"Germael and Knights. Let's go see about our lodgings"
The helmeted Captain nodded slowly with a rumbled, "yes Inquisitor" but Ivur was able to make out the brief glance the man made toward the Librarian.
Aethod did not say a word let alone acknowledge the look in any capacity.
The Inquisitor looked to Ivur, "you'll stay with the boy?"
It was phrased as a question, but the Rune Priest felt the touch of accusation at the question.
"I will," Ivur nodded.
"Good" Vownus nodded, already beginning to walk off toward the command buildings, "let's not waste anymore time"
The Captain of the Tempests Advance was hunched over the data terminal. Alongside Olivina stood the vessel's First Lieutenant, Lodias. The young ensign which managed the terminal was nervously speaking as his commanding officers observed the information his terminal displayed.
"It… it makes no sense" the ensign gestured to one pocket of the data, "and I've spoken with the Navigator, yet the reading is the same"
"A forming eddy in the Warp" Lodias rumbled the possibility to himself mostly, even as his eyes continued to devour the reading.
But the Ensign held firm.
"No. Varus wouldn't have bothered me with something so trivial"
"No he would not" Olivina muttered, her eyes tracing the fluctuating point displayed on the star chart.
"If it was atop a Mandeville point-" the ensign gestured to the second pocket of the informational clusters, "-I would say it's some kind of vessel escaping the warp"
"And yet it lies within empty space" Lodias followed up, a frown discerning his features as he stood to his full height, "a vessel off course?"
"Or a warp storm" the ensign muttered.
Lodias threw the young fellow a sharp look.
"Indeed" Olivina agreed, peering ever closer over the youth's shoulder, "what did Varus say? Did he also suggest a warp storm?"
The ensign shrugged slightly, "he has no clue. He entertained the idea, but he's never seen one form that suddenly, yet alone consistently display itself against realspace"
Olivina nodded with grim affirmation.
The ensign and by extension the Navigator of the Tempests Advance, Varus Benetek, were correct. Warp storms were a dangerous yet unavoidable threat to the universe. They formed at random, swallowing words in their putrid energies unless pushed away by the strongest of Psychic protections.
A forming warp storm was only observable by the eye of one intune with such energies, or a Navigator of the Navis Nobilite.
But there was a precedent for the behavior of these deadly phenomena. And whatever Varus had detected, did not behave according to these preconceived notions.
This understanding was what pushed Olivina's thoughts towards another possibility.
"A vessel traveling through the warp would not generate such… fluctuations" Olivina quickly worked out, "meaning this to be some kind of Warp anomaly"
"I do not like those words" Lodias growled.
But before Olivina could offer any kind of calming explanation, the young operator that sat before them spoke up.
"Uh" the Ensign hesitated, "not necessarily ma'am"
The captain fixed the youth with a piercing stare.
The ensign was practically sweating beneath her gaze, "those fluctuations could be caused by a warp drive attempting to translate a large vessel or vessels back into real-space, ones far greater in size and mass than the Drive could handle"
Lodias scoffed, "such an attempt would be suicidal. It would risk not only the integrity of the ship, but the chances of the drive successfully working would be… astronomically impossible"
Olivina stood again, eyes fixed to the pulsating point.
"I'm just saying" the Ensign shrugged softly, "it's a possibility. Someone could be trying to get out of the Warp but is severely unequipped to do so"
"Someone" Olivina's eyes narrowed as she spoke, "or something"
Lodias looked at her.
"You believe this theory?"
Olivina waved a hand at him.
"I do not dismiss the possibility"
Lodias nodded at the wise decision, asking "shall I inform the Inquisitor?"
Olivina shook her head, "not yet. Unless we are sure there is no need to interrupt his duties. Contact the Axe of Russ, see if their Navigator comes to a similar conclusion"
Lodias nodded, saluted, and walked away to another terminal that housed the comms officer.
Olivina looked down to the Ensign.
"Your attention remains focused on this point, Ensign" she calmly ordered, "if there are any significant changes I am to be notified"
The youth saluted, "yes Captain"
She waved him down and walked away, her thoughts stewing.
Captain Olivina felt a worrying chill up her spine.
Her senses were screaming at her that something was wrong.
How right she was.
Even though they had found themselves back in the room they had inhabited before Vownus' arrival to Balor's surface, Lucian didn't complain.
Accompanied by Librarian Aethod and the Rune Priest, Ivur Sverdsyn, the boy had kept a sharp hold on his tongue.
Vownus had been angry. The hit against Caius had been proof of that enough. But Lucian was keen enough to discern that the true source of the Inquisitor's irritation was likely tied to whoever this Rune Priest was.
The youth had been told that the older Psyker was a "Space Wolf", a different kind of Space Marine than what the Astral Knights were.
And Lucian knew a little about such a topic.
Each Chapter of Space Marine had a different father, or 'Primarch' as some texts called them. So these Space Wolves were a cousin chapter for the Knights or something, their Primarch's having been brothers.
But that was as far as his knowledge extended. Lucian hadn't a lot of time to ply any of the Astral Knights with questions regarding their origins or their history. He knew they were the last of their name, but barely any more beyond that.
This Space Wolf however, the Rune Priest, was an entirely new sight.
His features alone did justice to the name of their Chapter, that much was obviously certain. Vownus explained little of them, but Lucian could make his own conclusions.
Of the glances that Lucian attempted to take of the now quiet Rune Priest, he had made out that the elongated canines were akin to fangs, as well how Ivur possessed the keen eyes of a sharpened predator.
Lucian had already pictured the aged face of Ivur in a snarl, mentally confirming the image to be a fearsome sight even though he had only imagined it.
The silence between the five of them was oddly tense.
And for a reason that Lucian could not confirm.
There should not be such tension between allies…. right?
Lynwood and Caius remained by the door as they did before, making as little noise or movements as possible. While Lynwood stood stock still and sure, Caius seemed skittish and nervous. That was because Ivur and Aethod were on opposite sides of the room from one another. And although they were not looking upon one another, it felt akin to a stand off.
Their large forms took up a hefty chunk of space each, and their eerily still presence was unnerving to say the least.
Lucian had returned to his bunk, willing to pass the time by staring at the ceiling in imaginative boredom.
Hopefully Vownus would return soon, and then he'd make good on his promise to finally train-
"Lucian"
The boy nearly jolted at the powerful calling of his name.
Sitting up slowly yet surely, the boy looked toward the one that had spoken out to him.
Ivur's oddly calm blue eyes looked back, his face betraying nothing obvious. Out of the corner of Lucian's eye, Aethod adjusted himself ever so slightly.
"Yes my lord?" Lucian replied politely, turning most of his body to look at the Rune Priest.
He couldn't help the small glances toward the hollowed out head at the brim of Ivur's hood. A hood made of animal fur.
"You are the Inquisitor's apprentice, yes?"
Lucian nodded and made to answer but Aethod spoke first, cutting across the reply with a harsh note.
"Do not be so hasty, Wolf"
The Rune Priest shrugged his massive pauldron covered shoulders, "it is but an innocent question"
Aethod said nothing more. His eyes remained on Ivur though, something Lucian took note of as he looked back and forth between the two.
Ivur was so similar to Aethod. He could see the rippling waves surrounding him. But while Aethod had a visibly tight control over what he had explained to be his 'soul', Ivur's own energy was flowing and free.
It was seemingly conducting itself in a path around the Rune Priest, but it undulated and flowed of its own accord, rather than a repeating route.
"Boy"
Lucian blinked, focusing back on Ivur's features.
"Sorry my Lord. Yes, Vownus has promised to train me"
"Promised" the Rune Priest ruminated, "but has yet to follow through?"
Aethod adjusted himself again but said nothing.
Lucian nodded a moment later, "not yet, but soon I would imagine"
"I see," Ivur nodded, and a second after silence returned to the small barrick of a room. Caius coughed once, and Lucian adjusted himself on the bed, but no other words were spoken for a quite handful of minutes.
Until of course;
"Perhaps a lesson then?"
Aethod's voice responded as Lucian's did.
"Rune Priest"
"Really?"
The words of the Librarian were of chastisement and warning, while the exclamation from the boy was filled with hopeful intrigue.
Ivur fixed Aethod with his attention first, "surely the Inquisitor will not mind some simple instruction for his Apprentice"
Aethod's expression was just a hair shy of a glare. But instead of denial he said, "I will observe. If I suspect any danger the lesson will cease"
"Of course" Ivur nodded, before turning to Lynwood and Caius, "you two might want to wait outside"
Without waiting to see if they would comply, which they obviously did, the Space Wolf looked to the youth.
"Now Lucian, let me teach you something important"
The boy scrambled down from the top bunk.
Castellan Hageski Harkoden had facilitated a smooth arrival for Vownus. Upon validation of his Inquisitorial identity, the man had done his utmost to make this a painless process of arrival.
After a brief chat with the man, who had openly admitted to greeting Lynwood, Caius and Lucian only hours before, Vownus trusted him to deliver news of the Inquisitor's presence to the Marshal of Balor.
And while Vownus knew he'd have to speak with the Marshal face to face at some point, and not because he could be ordered to, but out of respect to the man's position, he wouldn't do so now.
The Witch Hunter found himself oddly tired, a deep ache in his bones that was partly baffling, yet oddly comforting.
Alvarion had always said a weary Inquisitor was an aware Inquisitor. And of all the duties one could have to the Imperium of man, none were as morally taxing.
Having to hurdle words and dodge partial admissions of truth was one thing, but to knowingly lie to so many so often… lesser men would be corrupted by such divine authority.
The Inquisitor directed his immediate attention to the giant by his side, letting a shake out across his shoulders to wrestle away the tiredness.
Vownus had secured lodging for the Astral Knights, and while nearly all the Astartes had departed to inspect their given space, Germael had requested a word with Vownus.
And so the two walked together, Germael's step slow and methodical in order to keep pace with Vownus' mortal march.
They made an odd duo to the passing Guardsman throughout the grounds of the Fortress proper.
The Captain and the Witch Hunter.
Germael had unclipped his helm as they stepped out from the administration wing, his face and features bare to the chilly winds of Balor.
"An interesting climate" Vownus commented, observing the far off line of mountains beyond the eastern walls of the hive.
"Indeed" Germael agreed, "I saw large tracts of desert along the equator, and yet we find ourselves bordering frigid forests"
Vownus had appreciated the sight of the snow capped mountains far more than the yellow sands of dry desert. The cold feeling of snow struck a familiar pang in his body, something that gave him comfort should he be beyond his senses.
The cold of snow was similar to the touch of the warp, in that it was an unmistakable feeling across one's form.
Vownus sighed however, knowing that he should just cut to the chase. Deciding to take a note from the Space Wolves, he directly broached the subject to his walking companion.
"I don't need to be a Psyker to see you are troubled Captain"
Germael had the decency to not deny this.
"I am, Inquisitor"
"Please Captain, we've known each other for long enough now that you may refer to me by my name"
Germael frowned, but did not falter.
"Vownus. I find myself… my mind lacks the clarity you seem to possess"
The Inquisitor said nothing for a moment, his thoughts tracing the words.
"Myself and Aethod?" he spoke softly.
Germael seemed taken aback, but eventually settled for a quiet nod, "aye. Aethod has… taken his new duty with stride, a purpose in his step that propels him far beyond where I may venture"
Vownus raised a brow at the Space Marine, "and yet you are not proud of him for this?"
Germael hesitated to speak, his tongue twisted before he could reply.
The Witch Hunter let the Captain sort through his thoughts before speaking.
"I struggle to see as you both do. The boy is a Psyker yes, but he is still a mere mortal" Germael sighed, "you have shared what your prophecy spoke of… and of the implications of the boy's very existence, yet I have doubts"
"And you have come to me, to air these doubts?" Vownus wondered.
Germael nodded, his tone quiet and unsure, so at odds with the formidable warrior Vownus knew him to be.
"We are the last of our Chapter, Vownus. Even with the Neophytes under us… our numbers are pitiful. As Aethod takes upon the role of teacher to the boy, he is forgetting the duty he holds to his Chapter. I attempted to speak with him on this… and I fear that I only succeeded in gaining his ire…"
Ah.
Vownus understood now.
Aethod was the Librarian after all. Not just a Psyker. He was the History of the Astral Knights, the last member of his order, the keeper of all their deeds and the last piece of their legacy.
The Captain was worried that his Brother would forget the others.
"I see" Vownus nodded, "I cannot speak for Aethod, Captain, but-"
"Germael" the warrior interjected, "you are right, we have been among one another's company for long enough to remain as titles"
"Very well" the Inquisitor nodded softly, "Germael. I cannot speak for Aethod"
He pondered for a moment.
"But as a Psyker myself, you must trust your Brother to understand the importance of his role, not only to you, but to the prophecy" the Witch Hunter took the hat from his head, dusting the brim of it with the back of his hand.
"It is hard," Germael admitted quietly. As a non-psyker, Vownus pitied him only slightly. He could not understand why Aethod would behave or act as the Librarian did. Only a Psyker could truly comprehend the truth of what Lucian was.
"I can only imagine" Vownus replied to the Captain of the Astral Knights, the hat returning to his head, "the boy will do wondrous things Germael. For all of mankind, what we do now will echo throughout eternity"
Germael soured slightly, "the Astral Knights do not seek vainglory"
"I did not say that" Vownus replied evenly, "but is it not your duty to see to the protection of mankind? To rid it of dangers that may assail our great Imperium?"
Germael seemed to stand straighter than before. A trick of the light perhaps, but Vownus looked him in the eyes as he responded.
"It is"
Vownus nodded, "then we shall see your duty done" Vownus stopped walking, his eyes still fixed on the horizon of Hive Primaris's walls.
"We shall strike the greatest blow ever known against the enemies of mankind" the Inquisitor quietly admitted, "and we shall do so by training the greatest weapon the Imperium could ever ask for"
Germael stood beside him, arms crossed over his chest as he too appreciated the site of Balor's largest city.
"By Dorn and Emperor" the larger warrior affirmed.
A peaceful silence consumed the two of them.
At the behest of the Space Wolf, Lynwood and Caius stood outside of the barrack room they were to call their own. After all, a lesson with the subject matter being Psyker magic was enough of a motivator to leave for Caius.
The younger couldn't speak for Lynwood, but Caius did note how the man was as far from the doorway to their room as he could be.
An uneasy thing to believe, that where he would be required to sleep would be the same space that sorcery was conducted in…
Caius let out an involuntary shiver.
Best to think about other things.
"You know…" he openly stated, glancing down both ends of the corridor they stood guard in, "... I don't think I ever imagined I'd be in a situation like this"
Lynwood raised a weathered eyebrow at him, but said nothing.
"Here we are" Caius pointed at the ground, a strong note of humorous disbelief in his voice, "standing guard, while Psyker's do magic, right behind us"
Lynwood snorted, but remained quiet.
"It's baffling" Caius continued, "if I weren't so scared I'd be curious"
The younger buffed his nails for a moment, "still, gotta say this is the strangest set of circumstances that I've ever been in the orbit of"
Lynwood said nothing. But the silence was extremely pointed.
Caius picked up on this, turning fully to face the man at attention.
"Well"
"Well what?" Lynwood grunted.
"If this isn't the strangest thing you've ever experienced, then what is?"
Lynwood frowned at Caius, "I never said it wasn't"
"Right" Caius hummed, "you didn't"
Lynwood continued frowning.
Caius smirked, "because it isn't… is it?" he gleefully asked.
Lynwood looked away, his glare fixed on the wall opposite them.
"Don't ask" was all he said.
"Well now I wanna" Caius' grin was mischievous and large, his eyes showing that he enjoyed tormenting Lynwood ever so slightly.
Lynwood sighed, his eyes closing for a moment.
It took Caius a moment to realize that the noise came from a place of solemnness, a tint of emotion entering Lynwood's eyes that Caius had never seen before.
It was sadness.
The old man was… sad?
"Lynwood?" Caius asked softly, "look, you don't have to…"
"It was the strangest day of my life" the older Arbite interrupted, his gaze focused on the wall still, "and I remember it clearly till this day. Start to finish"
Caius remained silent.
"The strangest day of my life" Lynwood repeated again, "hmph" he grunted looking down the corridor away from Caius.
"...was the day I fell in love"
Those words took Caius a moment to process.
And another handful in order to formulate the appropriate response.
"What?"
"I was a Sergeant once" Lynwood muttered, his eyes looking straight again, but never glancing in Caius' direction, "a soldier in the PDF of my homeworld. Xenos attacked our planet"
Caius could see the memories dance across Lynwood's eyes.
"We fought bravely. And we fought for a long time. A very long time" he spoke softly, "and we would have fought to the last man"
"But?" Caius quietly asked.
"But we were saved" Lynwood closed his eyes, "an Angel from the heavens descended down upon us, a cadre of the Emperor's finest under her command"
Lynwood's eyes opened again, a soft smile on his features.
"She was regal, untamed and powerful, a fearsome warrior that commanded the power and respect of all those around her"
Caius listened in quiet awe at Lynwood's emotive words.
"It was her that saved my life, commanded us to take up arms and aid her in ridding our world of the Xenos' foul presence" the ex-Arbite's smile grew, but as did the note of melancholy in his voice, "and I fought by her side. Carved a bloody path through to our victory"
Lynwood scoffed slightly, but it was humorless.
"There, knee deep in all the blood, guts, fire and death, did I meet the love of my life" Lynwood looked at Caius now, "upon our triumph, she took me into her service shortly after. I served with her for a long time"
Caius put two and two together.
"An Inquisitor? You fell in love with an Inquisitor?!" he stammered.
Lynwood nodded calmly, "Yizabel Vhez. Of the Ordo Xenos"
And that was when Caius felt his stomach drop out from beneath him. He recalled the words of Ahmazzi that felt like a lifetime ago.
'She died some time ago. A few years at least'
"Lynwood…" Caius whispered, his mind failing to come up with anything to say
"When she understood my affection for her, she released me from my service to her. I found myself on Helios shortly after"
"Because you loved her, she let you go?"
Lynwood shook his head.
"No" he looked to the ground slightly, his chin dipping but an inch, "she let me go, as you put it, because over time she felt the same way… by then, our feelings… I interfered with her work"
Caius was floored.
It seemed… incredulous.
Duty over Love. As any of the Imperium was expected to do as such… and yet Lynwood had been forced into such a position.
"I'm so sorry"
"Do not be" Lynwood replied calmly, "I have had time to come to terms with what happened"
"But-"
"There is nothing more to say Caius" the man sharply interjected.
Caius settled back into silence, his gaze unwaveringly focused on the once more silent Lynwood.
Eventually he found control of his tongue.
"Why now? Why tell me this now?"
Lynwood turned to him, a strange look in his eye.
"Because you asked"
Silence returned shortly after.
Lucian stood with rapturous attention as the Rune Priest spoke to him. Even though the man trod over topics that the youth had already been subjected to, the clarification was nice to hear.
Ivur was telling him of the Psychic Disciplines.
While Psyker's were a varied and odd bunch, something Lucian took as a slight insult, they were commonly classified into different disciplines.
There were five dominant ones that Ivur explained to him. As Aethod said nothing during the explanation, Lucian took all of this information to be credible.
"Biomancy, Divination, Pyromancy, Telekinesis and Telepathy" Ivur intoned each word slowly, the titles of the disciplines given clearly to Lucian's ears.
"It is quite normal for a Psyker to show latent talent in one such Discipline. It is also normal for a Psyker to display some overlap in other Disciplines. I myself, am strong within the path of Divination" the Rune Priest calmly noted, "do you know what that means, Lucian?"
The youth nodded.
"You can see the future"
Ivur chuckled, "true. But that is not all"
A wave of chilling energy encircled the Rune Priest, who had closed his eyes as he channeled the powers of the Immaterium through his being.
"As I may see far ahead, so too do I look back with clarity. I find answers to questions posed, and queries yet formed. Past, present and future, all is clear to a master of Divination"
The cold feeling ceased as Ivur's eyes opened once more.
Lucian frowned slightly, "what use is the past?"
Ivur smiled, "Ostus Barrow was a brave man. He would have made an excellent warrior"
…
Lucian almost stumbled back in abject shock. The room pulsated once, the very air rippling around the stunned youth.
Aethod's voice cut through the charged atmosphere.
"Vownus told me you encountered a Biomancer upon Agrax" Lucian turned to the Librarian as the Rune Priest studied him quietly.
"I did?"
Aethod nodded, "the one who pulled the life from his victims by touch. The Brother of the Governor"
"Right" Lucian muttered, remembering the man who had stood by the strange girl. The girl that was still aboard the Tempest's Advance.
Ivur cleared his throat, getting the attention of the youth before the boy's thoughts could run away.
"A Biomancer is intune with the power and processes of the body. A master of flesh, they may shape and influence physical forms at will"
"Including their own?" Lucian asked, curious.
Ivur nodded, "though I have no talent in the discipline, I have seen it utilized first hand. A trained Biomancer is a dangerous opponent"
Lucian could only imagine. To turn your own flesh into an advantage, or to burn away that of your opponent… he had seen the untrained work of Lorn De Chambaal on Agrax. And that man had driven himself insane…
"Telepathy is the power of the mind over others. A Telepath can shred the thoughts of another with a whim" Ivur calmly continued, "this is a discipline I have some skill in"
"As do I" Aethod admitted as well, "it is a useful skill to pick up regardless of if you are naturally predicated toward it"
"How so?" Lucian wondered, looking between the two.
.Because none can hear words unspoken.
It was Ivur's voice, but the Space Wolf's mouth had not moved. Lucian's jaw slackened slightly.
.It is a tactical advantage, so long as your foe cannot listen in.
Aethod's ethereal voice had spoken that to Lucian's mind.
"You can listen in?" the youth blurted in surprise, looking at the Librarian.
The Astral Knight nodded, speaking aloud rather than in thought, "a skilled Psyker may. Entities of the Warp, should they be powerful enough, can also do as such"
A disturbing thought. Lucian considered it over and over again.
It seemed in most cases of Psychic power, there were definite pro's, but also debilitating cons.
Ivur cleared his throat, and the youth looked up to him.
"Pyromancy-"
And as soon as the word left the Rune Priest's mouth, the youth snapped up the chance to demonstrate his own knowledge.
"Is fire!" Lucian quickly blurted, "complete and total mastery over an instantaneous inferno!"
Ivur slowly nodded at the boy, "correct" he looked to Aethod for some sort of clarity towards the boy's sudden response.
The Librarian offered a slip of a smile.
"Inquisitor Kaede has not been completely lax in his instruction of the boy"
Ivur refocused on Lucian, ignoring whatever subtext Aethod had layered in his response.
"Last, but by far the least, is Telekinesis"
Aethod rumbled a complementary statement, "Vownus' primary Discipline"
Ivur made a mental note of this, while still explaining to the boy, "where as Telepathy is mind over thoughts, Telekinesis allows thoughts to dominate matter"
"Like… lifting things without touching them… or… throwing people without touching them?" the boy hesitantly asked.
Ivur titled his head slightly, but nodded, "indeed"
Lucian sheepishly smiled, "that… that might be my discipline then"
Ivur's stare narrowed ever so slightly.
Aethod did not react.
"And why do you say that?"
Lucian explained what had happened upon Helios, both the instance with the cult and when he first met Vownus, and then the Biomancer on Agrax…
Ivur and Aethod listened carefully to every word the boy gave them.
Three figures conferred in the semi-darkness, long wax candles and vox-displays being the only source of light in their shadowed enclave.
The perpetual silence that these figures enjoyed was punctured lightly by the crackle of chatter, the fizzing display of their monitors, and the artificial clicks and mechanical whirring of one of their number.
Two were seated in high chairs around a short table, their seats adorned with blessings and runes, with the Imperium's sigil of the Inquisition at the precipice of their wooden thrones.
They had spent hours delving into the detailed reports, news from a far off location and the progress being made at said location.
In silence they studied the information, knowing full well that they were to discuss the information they were being presented at the end.
One by one, they set themselves at ease, eyes of flesh and metal coming to observe one another.
The quiet reigned for only a few moments longer.
Seemingly the eldest of their number was the first to speak.
"It was wise to involve the Mechanicus. We haven't seen such progress in years…"
This elder was a slender man, bespectacled and swathed in robes that would signal him to be an archivist, rather than some kind of Inquisitor. His black and unkempt hair, loose and frayed across his face and head, presented the image of a lazy old man.
But the brimming intelligence behind the focused gaze, the firm line that his crusted lips drew… It was a face of contemplation only a scholar possessed, one so manic in his devotion to knowledge and understanding, that he had undoubtedly let himself go.
Care of his own physical form became a hindrance to his own discovery and pursuits.
This was Van Vuygens, an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, one typically swathed in tools and surrounded by servitors, but rather under equipped for this particular meeting
Van Vuygens traced his finger up the data slate that rested upon the table before him, drawing up lines of information and pictographs as he wished to discuss something in particular.
The image was eventually found.
"But I would advise caution. Regardless of the boon's you may discover Magos" the old man gestured to the highlighted picture, "there are dangers"
Without even considering the image, the synthesized tones of a throat not crafted by biology but rather artificial design spoke out.
"We are aware"
"You are aware" the raspy reply was immediate as it was sarcastic. Van Vuygens leveled his bespeckled glare toward the hooded representative of the Mechanicus.
"Need I remind you of how much time even the slightest setback could cause us Magos Oladere?"
The hidden figure of Magos Explorator Rure Oladere released no following noise.
Having cowed the Mechanicus, the elder Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos focused on the other compatriot in the room, one also seated in the chair of the Inquisitor.
"And you, Skane? You are oddly silent for once"
Astrid Skane possessed skin of an unusually pale disposition. The marks of shadow cast above her eyes gave her an unnaturally gaunt expression. Her gaze was piercing and stern, a sneer most commonly set on her masculine features.
Clothed in simple armor adorned with complex seals, Astrid Skane was a determined member of the Ordo Hereticus. A Witch Hunter, but one who took a more subtle approach to her Ordo's unspoken dress code.
"Time and again I wonder the purpose of this rotation" she muttered, bringing a hand to cradle her bored and exhausted head.
"Your experience provides perspective" Van Vuygens automatically replies.
The Magos remains silent.
"When there are matters pertaining to a Psyker" Skane pointedly gestured to the images of black stone pillars and uncomfortably long hallways.
"These are Xenos constructions, and as such are outside of my realm of expertise"
The older Alien killer peered at the younger woman.
"You truly have no insight?" he wondered.
Skane huffed out a sigh, "I agree that we should advance cautiously, but we are expected to return with results"
"Results that could be tainted should we push to far, too quickly" Van Vuygens countered, but still left room for Skane to debate should she wish.
The Xenos exterminator was a believer in healthy discussion.
"But we must return with something" Astrid exhaustedly admitted, "once more the Cabal will meet, and once more nothing will have changed! Simply because we're too scared to explore an empty ruin?"
Van Vuygens narrowed his gaze in a serious sign of contempt.
"Ruin they may be… empty however, is not an assumption we can lightly make. Should we throw caution to the wind and proceed haphazardly, we risk far more than what we are gambling to gain"
Astrid didn't reply to this, and her abrupt turn from Van Vuygens line of sight said enough.
But the old man was sympathetic to his colleague's impatience. To sit around and monitor a dig site was one thing… to watch as painfully slow progress made on uncovering the truth of this dig site was another.
The order could be given to accelerate such investigations, after all the Cabal that Skane and Vuygens belonged to wasn't even sure this was the location they had been searching for…
But with haste came more danger.
In particular, a foul race of Xenos slumbered in similarly designed ruins, and Van Vuygens did not wish to awaken any of that species.
"I am not ignorant to your plight, Skane. But we must be sure when making such a decision. I too, do not wish to return to Zerbe with naught but dust and failure to share"
Skane drooped in her seat.
"And so we do what we have been" she grumbled, "wait"
"Indeed" Van Vuygens nodded, "we shall wait"
And in the darkness they would wait.
Waiting to see if what they dug up was what the Diviner had written of.
They had come for her in the night. Like when the servants of the Archenemy had taken her for their twisted purposes, these silent servants had appeared at what was left of her home.
Only one had spoken, demanding that she come with them.
Vanella had complied, leaving the husk of her home behind as she was taken to the Hive.
She did not ask anything of her captors. From their look alone, she knew that they would not answer any questions she had.
Instead she accepted whatever fate was to befall her.
Worse had come to her home, her family and her friends.
Helios was but a shell of what it once was.
The golden fields seemed to not shine as brightly anymore, and the days grew colder even though summer was upon them.
Wounds were still fresh.
Every night Vanella woke from pained nightmares, teary eyed prayer saving her from twisted thoughts in the deepest hours of darkness. It was a twisted and sickly life she lived now, a shell of what once was.
Her family was gone.
Taken by the violence that had swept across Helios like a plague.
Her community had been decimated as well.
She missed Titos. The boy had been officially declared dead months ago. Vanella still felt the pain of his loss.
Her heart ached as she thought of Lucian, snatched away by the Inquisition. It was comforting knowing he was alive still, but she'd never be able to see him again.
Taken to the stars…
Such a fate didn't sound so bad.
And as the vehicle she was carried in ground to a halt, Vanella finally considered her own fate.
Perhaps… perhaps this was it?
Perhaps she'd finally be granted some kind of morbid peace.
She'd heard stories of the hidden servants to the armored Inquisitor. She knew of the name that people brought from the city.
So as she was ordered to step from the Vehicle, she recognised the man before her, dressed in the distinctive armor that others had talked of.
Rykehuss, Inquisitor of the Emperor's holy Inquisition, stood before her.
And he had a smile on his face.
AN: And there we have it. A few pay offs that I had written a looooooooooooong time ago. Sad to say it took so long, but more are on the way. Thanks to everyone who reviews. To the one guest who don't like Rykehuss, I'm sorry, but he's a bit of a creepy powerhungry fuck, so I'm going to write him accordingly. If y'all could do me a favor? I need a few more Ork names. Writing with their use of words is already painful enough, but coming up with names for the green bastards is proving to be just as irritating. A little help would be much loved.
For those that enjoyed, your reviews feed me.
For those that didn't, please let me know what I can do better (besides reeeee-ing about Lore inaccuracies)
The Emperor Protects,
Freedom