RWBY 40k fanfiction – Salem, mistress of Inquisition.

Ep 4 : The Lineage Master.

Salem had stopped counting the years spent on Terra.

Nearly a millennium had passed and nothing had really changed on Terra.

The wars between the empires were always recurrent and stagnation was always present.

However, Malcador grew increasingly worried about the Warp.

Indeed, year after year. The presence that had led Mankind to its decline was ever greater. Even managing to eclipse the other Chaos Gods while the demons vainly sought the way to their realm.

The duo finally learned the responsible of it: the Aeldari Empire.

Salem was dubious about them. Indeed, Malcador had explained that the Aeldari are the masters of the Galaxy. Their technology even at the time of the Age of Technology was far superior to that of men. With their machines they could destroy or create worlds and stars. Their psychic powers as well as their emotions were much deeper than humans.

But Malcador had come to understand that the presence in the Warp was due to the growing depravity of the Aeldari. As the machines did everything for them, the Aeldari became ever more hedonistic, and their idle pursuits nurtured the presence in the Warp.

But what worried Salem was the fact that Malcador had a terrible nightmare. From what he said, he could see a new kind of Chaos God. A depraved, excited and frustrated Chaos God as well as a gigantic eye in the Galaxy.

The woman wonders if it was more of a vision than just a nightmare. For her part, she could sense from her Pariah gene something in the Warp. Something akin to breathing, a heavy breath like the universe. A breath of a sleeping being. But who with each breath, the noise became a little louder, less distant as if he were on the way to waking up.

The witch didn't know and better ignore it for now.

Salem after spending centuries alongside Malcador had changed a lot.

She was no longer the desperate young girl she used to be. But a woman whose wisdom came very close to her wrinkled-skinned master.

Although she still wore an appearance approaching her youth spent on Remnant, the reason for which is habit or even nostalgia. The woman's gaze was dry, devoid of preconceptions and filled with skepticism.

She now knew Terra, Humans, Xenos and Chaos very well.

But there was one thing that Malcador didn't want Salem to meet yet was the Lineage Master. An enigmatic being that she only knows through the words of her master.

Malcador said of her that the Lineage Master was much older than any human being.

A being would have been born at the time of the early days of Terra, when Humanity was in the Stone Age. Also, many legends are affiliated with him such as the fact that he would have defeated the Dragon of Mars. A very dangerous creature that has come to sow panic on Terra.

Either way, Salem thought it was only a matter of time before she met in person.

Moreover, this expectation will not last longer at the beginning of the 29th millennium.

Salem was training in pure creation magic. It was really hard for her but if she could create anything out of nothing then anything would be possible.

It was then that Malcador entered the training room.

Malcador: "Salem?"

Salem: "Yes master?"

Malcador: "I have to tell you something and it's vital."

Salem: "Go ahead."

Malcador: "Imagine that one of your dearest wishes will be fulfilled."

Salem: "That is to say?"

Malcador: "I received an invitation... from the Lineage Master himself."

Salem's eyes widened.

Salem: "Really?"

Malcador: "Yes. He wants to see us without further delay. You can meet him in person."

Salem: "Hmm..."

Malcador: "We leave immediately. The journey won't be long because his palace is a few mountains from here."

Salem: "I see...I'm getting ready."

Salem put away the things in the training room.

Salem: "That day has come. I will meet him in person..."

The duo set off from the Sigillite temple before embarking on a journey through the mountains of Hymalazia.

They went up and down the mountains.

Then they came to a temple entrance that Salem had never seen.

A richly decorated entrance, carved into the rock.

Salem: "What should we do master?"

Malcador: "It will open on its own."

They waited a moment and then the two stone doors opened. The two entered the temple.

The interior was crowded with even more historical artifacts than in the Sigillite temple.

Salem: "Incredible..."

Malcador: "Yes, it is."

They arrived at the end of the corridor with a closed double door.

Both doors opened and revealed a person behind.

Salem was absolutely shocked and surprised to see a person like him in front of her.

Indeed, he was a very tall man. At least 4.30 meters.

He was dressed in rich clothes of unsuspected quality.

But what impressed Salem above all was the fact that the man's body was perfect in every way, perfect in health, strength, muscle, etc.

The Man's face was that of a square-faced man who was both old and young. A golden light surrounded his head. His irises shone with golden light. His long black hair fell over his chest and back.

His presence invaded Salem in all her being.

It was then that the man began to speak, in a deep voice with several voices superimposed like a deity with several faces.

Lineage Master: "Malcador the Sigillite. Nice to finally see you."

Malcador: "This is my apprentice. Salem, the magician. Salem introduce yourself."

Salem came out of her shock.

Salem: "Oh...yes. It's an honor to meet you."

She bowed to the man.

Lineage Master: "Come on. Know that you are not the only ones."

Salem: "Who are the other guests?"

Lineage Master: "Come see."

The group entered deeper into the temple.

They crossed the stone corridors to finally arrive at a large room. Salem then saw three other people.

One was a woman hidden in a long coat but whose few locks of black hair escaped.

The other is a 50-year-old looking woman with blue eyes and her hair.

The last one is a brown-haired man looking in his 40s.

Lineage Master: "My friends, I have brought you guests."

White-haired woman: "Ah... So you are Malcador the Sigillite and you miss are Salem, the magician."

Malcador: "Indeed."

Salem: "You know us well."

White-haired woman: "Pleased, my name is Amar Astarte."

Chestnut-haired man: "Ezekiel Sedayne."

The Caped Woman: "Erda."

Salem: "Why are we here? May I know?"

Lineage Master: "With your help, I could begin a grand plan."

Salem: "Which one?"

Lineage Master: "The Unification of Humanity."

Salem raised her eyebrow.

Lineage Master: "I see you doubt my words."

Salem: "It seems very perilous to me. Techno-barbarian nations are dangerous. Especially since the planets of Humanity are isolated by the Warp."

Lineage Master: "I understand your doubts for the first statement. For the Warp, certainly it isolates the planets today but in the future this will no longer be the case."

Salem was surprised.

Salem: "Really?"

Lineage Master: "Indeed, from what I saw in a vision. The Aeldari Empire will suffer its downfall and a new Chaos God will be born. Due to his awakening, a gigantic eye will open in the Galaxy while that the storms will calm down."

Salem: "This is my master's vision!"

Malcador: "Thank you for giving me certainty."

The Lineage Master: "Therefore, the unification of Terra must be done without further delay so that we are ready to lead the unification of the human planets. Ezekiel, Erda and Astarte have already accepted my proposal. When do you think Sigillites?"

Malcador: "I am."

Salem: "Hm... I have my doubts but if what you're saying is doable then I'm in."

Lineage Master: "Very well. Let's start now."

Salem (thoughts): "I wonder what it's going to be like as an alliance."

During the following months, Malcador and Salem move into the temple of the Lineage Master.

Salem could see that while bringing the STCs back to his new home, young children were entering the depths of the temple.

She could hear screams of pain from there, she didn't understand what was happening and it terrified her.

One day, she questioned the Lineage Master on this subject.

Salem: "I'm starting to have serious questions about you. Let me be clear, what fate are you inflicting on these children?"

Lineage Master: "I knew this time was coming... Salem, these children are going to be my future warriors who will conquer Terra."

Salem: "What?!"

Lineage Master: "You heard me right. The population of Hymalazia is too small and bringing prosperity here would only take too long. My future Thunder Warriors will brought the techno-barbarian kingdoms to their knees."

Salem (sighs): "There are no other alternatives?"

Lineage Master: "You can imagine that I tried but it's better to sacrifice lives to save many others. Because the universe is cruel and cursed."

Salem: "I know...You know what? I can help make sure the mutations aren't too much of a handicap for the Thunder Warriors. I've already managed to create Blank's genes for myself. So I think I could at least purify your warriors."

Lineage Master: "That would be a great help."

Salem: "Let me accompany you."

Lineage Master: "Follow me."

The Lineage Master accompanied Salem to the depths of his temple.

They arrived at a large room, where thousands of children were lying on the ground, already with huge muscles. They were plunged into a huge coma.

Lineage Master: "We're coming to the lab. Ezekiel and Amar are already there."

Salem: "Aren't you coming?"

Lineage Master: "I am gathering resources for the Thunder Warriors with the help of your master."

Salem: "I see...I'm going."

The two-part ways and Salem walks into the lab.

Sedayne: "Hello, magician."

Astarte: "Why are you here?"

Salem: "I came to help you."

Sedayne: "How?"

Salem: "Know that my magic is unique and I could assemble the genes by my hands."

Both have a skeptical look.

Salem: "Give me a book, so that I can read it and reproduce the whole thing."

She put on a biochemist's coat then took a cup of blood. Astarte gave her the notebook and Salem began to read it and memorize it.

After a long time of memorization. Salem took a cup of blood.

She put her hands around the cup and a red aura covered them. Via the microscope, she began to remove the parts of the DNA that are mutated.

She manipulated for a long time before finishing.

Salem: "Come see."

Sedayne and Astarte looked at Salem's work through the microscope.

Sedayne: "That's...really good."

Astarte: "Yes, no impurity. This should be noted."

The two began to write and correct their calculations.

Sedayne: "I think we're going to get along well, Salem."

Salem: "Thank you."

They continued to assemble the genes for weeks. They ended up getting the result.

Lineage Master: "This is the result of your labor."

Sedayne held out a vial of blood, which the Master of Bloodlines retrieved and observed for a long time.

Lineage Master: "It's beyond my expectations. Sure, the DNA is mutated but at least the Thunder Warriors will be stable enough."

Several years later...

The new Emperor of Mankind stood before his armies of Thunder Warriors. Several thousand, dressed in their knightly armor, gigantic bolters and Adamantium swords.

The Emperor himself is dressed in his golden armor, decorated with symbols of eagles. He is armed with his flaming sword while his other hand was armed with claws.

Emperor: "Thunder warriors of the Imperium. You have been gathered here for one reason only. A dream for Humanity that it has cherished for centuries: unity.

It is with you, your strength, and your resistance that this dream will be realized because the Imperium will be invincible with the strength that we all share! Let the Unification begin!"

He raised his flaming sword in the sky, silence fell in the valley. Then, the Thunder Warriors raised their fists, swearing their allegiance by this silence.

The Emperor turned to his group.

Emperor: "Organize the Imperium well while I'm gone."

Malcador: "It will be done."

Astarte: "Of course."

Sedayne: "It's time to start."

Salem: "I've been waiting for this for a millennium."

Salem watched the Emperor descend the steps and then order the troops to leave with him. Leading the Thunder Warriors out of the valley.

Salem watched that army go.

This gigantic army of which she contributed to its creation. She could feel a little pride.

Salem (thoughts): "My first step to the stars. My first step back to Remnant."

(Narrating Salem).

It was from there that my existence on Earth took a turn.

The Emperor's invincible armies took control of every barbarian nation.

Under the control of the Imperium, roads, infrastructures, crops, irrigations, and others were built.

The populations submitted little by little to this news offered by the Emperor.

The Hymalazia as I knew had become over time a great city under construction, exploiting the rock of these immense mountains to build what it had to build. Also, the machines built here had terraformed the land into a large habitable garden. This capital soberly named "The Imperial Palace" is the pinnacle of the beauty of what the Imperium offered.

The armies of the Thunder Warriors were always bigger, better equipped and more powerful.

Ursh, the Pan-Pacific Empire, the Achaemid Empire, the Yndonesic Bloc, Merica, Hy Brasil, these fearsome techno-barbarian empires have fallen into the hands of the Imperium.

Terra was covered in gold and light.

Scientific truth surpassed superstition and the Churches were deserted or destroyed.

My master Malcador became the most intimate confidant of the Emperor himself.

For my part, I was trying to perfect the Thunder Warriors but also to find a way to perhaps transmit magic without resorting to genetics towards the inhabitants of the Imperium.

However, I was far from imagining what the Emperor was going to propose to me...

(Normal Narrating).

Salem was walking through the shining halls of the Sanctum Imperialis, the private part of the Imperial Palace.

She arrived in Malcador's office. She saw that Erda was with him.

Salem: "Master? Why did you call me?"

Malcador: "The Emperor wishes to speak with you and Erda. This is a very important subject."

Erda: "I wonder what it's all about..."

Malcador: "Go into the living room. He's waiting for you."

Salem: "Very well."

Erda: "..."

The two women left the office before crossing the corridors.

Erda: "What does the Emperor want from us?"

Salem: "I have no idea. But we'll find out soon..."

They arrived at the Sanctum's living room and then entered it. It was a very large room, lit with big lights while sofas and tables were arranged everywhere.

In the center was the Emperor drinking tea.

Emperor: "There you are... sit down. Please."

The two women sit down.

Salem: "So what is the subject to be discussed today?"

Erda: "Hm... I'm all ears."

Emperor: "This is a project that is very close to my heart. A project that will give me the Imperium a future."

Salem: "Well? May I know?"

Emperor: "I need sons. Real sons. Sons in whom I can entrust future galactic legions."

Salem and Erda are surprised by the Emperor's words. They blushed.

Salem: "You want an heir now? I don't believe it..."

Erda: "I didn't expect such a request..."

Emperor: "At least that's not what you may think."

Salem: "What?"

The Emperor took a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the table. They were plans for some sort of incubator.

Salem: "What is it?"

Erda: "It looks like some sort of incubator..."

Emperor: "This machine that I have replicated to the number of 20 are waiting for an egg and my seed. After the fusion, these machines will make genetic modifications in order to improve the constitution of my future heirs as much as possible."

Salem: "Therefore... It's up to us, isn't it?"

Emperor: "Exactly. Of all the women in this world. You are untouched by corruption and whom I can trust."

Salem remained perplexed as well as Erda. They were really hesitant about the decision to be made. Especially Salem who felt like she was betraying her late husband like that. But in the end, as the saying goes: love is the death of duty.

In addition, she felt great jealousy and frustration to see mothers with their children when nothing came out of her womb except blood.

Salem sighed and gave a sad little smile.

Salem: "Hm... Why not...I've wanted a family that I can love for a long time."

Erda: "Salem, why are you sad?"

Salem: "I had a husband in my youth. But unfortunately he died when he was just a young man full of passion. Me who wanted to do everything with him, all that was gone. For more of a millennium, I remained faithful to him. But the more time passed, the more I wanted to set up my lineage. Also, he told me that I should be happy on my side. So, it's decided (turns to the Emperor) You will have sons but I want one thing in return: let me love them like the mother I want to be."

Emperor: "...Very well."

Salem: "Thank you..."

Erda: "... When I think about it. I haven't had a child in my life. It might be time to be a mother myself. I'm in."

Emperor: "In that case, let's go straight to the laboratory. I've done my part of the job, it's time to do yours."

The two nodded and then the trio left the living room.

To be continued... Ep 5: My babies, the Primarchs.

Salem gave of herself so that the Emperor could have heirs. Erda was also there.

However, the two women although wanting to have children, the question about their father began to divide them.