Hello people!
I'm glad you enjoyed Chapter 3 it boosted my motivation to write Flame of Faith by a lot :).
I will continue to improve and who knows down the line I might re-write older chapters I know I'm not completely satisfied with the first one but I want to keep progressing the story for you guys!
Well enough about that let's keep going.
Chapter 4- Of Faith and Grimm
It has been a week now since Ardal appeared in Remnant, after saving Ruby's family and his meeting with Ozpin things have been calmed for him.
He has spent most of his time recently at the reconstruction site of the burned-down house helping the construction worker with mostly heavy lifting and metallurgic advice after Ruby insisted to be with him while her dad, uncle, and Yang took care of the Grimm.
A fact he realizes he still has not seen a single speck of the infamous black creatures, he could hear fighting and yelp of pain thanks to his earing but having not a single one of those creatures slip past the two hunters and their charge was quite surprising, but not unwelcome.
It allows him to focus on the construction and the red menace running around the heavy equipment.
During the fourth day of construction of the cabin, which now looks more like a small fortress due to Ardal insistence and Ruby's complaint that the new house must be able to be used by 'the super tall and cool Ardy', his dad quickly cave in at the use of puppy dog eyes from her and surprisingly Yang.
Said little girl was currently dangling from the top of a crane upside down, she had surprisingly mastered her Semblance rather quickly using it to quickly climb onto his shoulder a place she seemed to adore, Yang even tried it and seemed to like it too but missing her sister speed she had to ask him for it.
A few workers and Ardal were currently looking up at her. "Ruby Rose! Come down here this instant young lady Mister Edmond needs to use the crane and with you up there it is quite dangerous for everyone!" Some of the Faunus workers wince at his voice volume, but she seems to have heard him.
"But Ardyyyy! I can see so much from here! And I won't bother mister Edmond promise!" Said man was currently looking at a red cape dangling in front of his cabin glass.
Ardal closed his eyes to think before exhaling. "You would not want us to tell your dad no? I am fairly sure that banishing cookies from your diet would be quite the punishment no?"
Everyone could hear the gasp of horror that the little girl let out before the same blur of rose petals spiraled down the crane frame before barreling straight into his armor chest not even making him stumble.
The small girl had tears in her eyes and was giving him her best puppy dog eyes. "PleasedontsayanythingtomydadIwantmycookiespleasepleaseplease!"
If he was a normal man anyone would have caved at the look of adorableness glued to his chest but he was no normal man. "I won't say anything young one but you must stop climbing the crane, I would rather see you close to me or with those fine people helping us."
"But I don't wanna! It's boring! It's more fun to run fast!" In the blink of an eye, she was sitting on his shoulder her arms crossed and pouting. "And we don't do anything fun together you just work and work!"
Ardal glanced at the workers below them who were giving them amused looks, most of them could not believe that such a big armored man capable of lifting multiple tones of cement was being subdued by a girl big enough to fit in his hand.
"Why don't you take the girl on a walk sir? We got it for now and you could use a break too." Ardal turned around at the voice of Jade Lin the supervisor of the site, she was a human with tan skin and green hair, she was wearing the usual clothing you'll see on a construction site.
At hearing that Ruby gasped and smiled at him. "Yeah! C'mon Ardy! It will be fun promise!"
With a sigh and a masked smile, he slowly nodded his head. "Very well, but only if you stay on my shoulder young lady, we may not have seen any of those Grimm creatures yet but I will not put you in danger for nothing."
His only answer was an energic nod and then he was off to the forest the workers waving them goodbye. 'This little girl is as energic as a Guardsman on recaf...poor man he was so jumpy he ended up shooting himself when the Tyranids attacked.'
The walk in the forest was surprisingly relaxing for the Astartes, even his charge was resting her head on his, it was quite rare to see her like this she was usually darting everywhere or 'stealing' food for her and him even though he grounded her each time, but he also hated seeing her sad and it was in a way a noble action so he usually takes it.
"Ruby? Is something bothering you? You seem oddly silent since we left." He could not see it but the girl seemed deep in thought.
"Huh ?" His voice though startled her. "Ho hum, it's nothing just thinking Ardy..."
"Do not lie to me young one, only those who follow the Deceiver lie, and I know for a fact that you are not one of them." He could feel her holding him a bit tighter.
"Could-Could we go somewhere...? It's a special place for me..."
She sounded...sad? Hurt? The only time he heard her talk like that was during their first encounter. He stopped slowly before prying the girl from his shoulder and holding her close to him, she immediately squeezed his armored chest in a hug.
"Young Rose tell me what is ailling you? Keeping your sorrow will do you no good." His free hand was slowly caressing her hair he could see she was on the verge of crying so he just stood there letting her compose herself.
After five minutes of comforting the little one, she finally let out a shaky breath before looking at him. "Two-Two years ago Daddy told me my Mommy was gone...she-she left for a mission and-and she never came back..."
Ardal slowly removed his helmet to be able to smile softly at her. "Ruby, it is fine to cry for your loved one it does not make you weak quite the opposite, it makes you strong because if you felt nothing for your mother's disappearance it would mean that you are not human, our Father gave us the ability to feel all those emotions to make us stronger."
He could see her eyes focused on him she was drinking all of his words with rapt attention. "The Emperor of Mankind has a plan for all of us young one he might seem cruel at times but like you said, your mother simply disappeared she might be out there, somewhere, doing what is just for Humanity, for our Lord."
He stopped talking to look at her, her crying had stopped, this was good he thought, with great care he removed the only tear she had in her eye. "And if your mother really passed away be proud of her, for she has served her purpose for Him, even if she did not know of The Emperor welcomes all of his children, to the most pious to the lost like this world for He loves us all equally, she will be sitting with him at His throne looking at you proudly I am sure of that."
Seeing her more calm now put him at ease and so he went to sit below a tree its shadow covering the both of them.
They stayed here for what seemed like hours but were, in reality, closer to ten minutes before he heard Ruby speak in a small nearly impossible to hear voice. "A-Ardy...? Who-Who is this Emperor...? What does he have to do with Mommy...?"
A smile graced his face at the question and he looked at her. "Well, He is our Shepard, our Father. The Emperor is a God who walked among us mere mortals, with His help we conquered millions of worlds, and our peoples spanned the starts in mighty fleets, he saved us from ourselves and the other races He was the best warrior of us all, the most compassionate, wise, benevolent but most importantly he was the most kind.
He loves us all little Rose, yes even you." He chuckled at her curious expression and finger-pointing at herself. "But sadly everything went wrong, there is a story that I will tell you once you are older I promise.
But our Lord was wounded and terribly at that so us His servants after listening to his last wish placed him on a giant golden throne back on Terra, the birthplace of Humanity where he had been sitting for the past ten thousand years, observing us, guiding us, and more."
Ruby looked at him. She did not know what to think of this, of this emperor but for her, he sounded like a super-hero.
But something was bugging her a bit what does it have to do with her Mommy? Why did this man take her?
She felt...angry and her little fists were trembling slightly. "It's not fair..." She could see Ardal looking at her curiously. "It's not fair! It's not fair! I want my Mommy! Why did he take Mommy from us!" She was sad, angry, furious even and so she cried, she cried all her sorrow on his armor not knowing what to say and do anymore.
Ardal saw many children like her, he was about to comfort her when a growl stopped him from doing it.
Looking forward he could see several pairs of red eyes, he could count at least eight of them who were staring at them maliciously and with murderous intent, more precisely at the crying Ruby Rose.
Ardal had to guess those were those 'famous' Grimm he heard so much about, one of them maybe a younger one leaped out of his hiding spot eager to sink his teeth into the little girl.
It looked like a wolf, it looked like the monster could easily run on two and four legs, his claws and teeth seemed sharp enough to cut through a normal man with ease.
But the most important part of the beast was his pitch-black fur, bone-like mask and spike on his shoulder, and glowing red eyes.
'Just like me...' Thought Ardal sombrely understanding now the fear of the people around him and without moving from his position he waited.
Once the wolf-like creature was close he punched him, his fist raised so fast that it left a blur behind it, the Beowulf with a yelp of pain was sent flying through a tree his neck shattered and jaw completely gone, said piece of the Grimm was slowly evaporating at his feet.
It's at this moment that Ruby finally realizes what is happening, she saw the Grimm looking directly at her with a whimper of her own she hides behind his shoulder pad, the rest of the pack seeing their brethren die growled fiercely.
Ardal stood up while putting his helmet back in a fluid motion the lense of it glowing bright red, he was bigger than the young Beowulf, the sun hitting his armored back made him look like an avatar of war, the roar of the weapon that he took from his belt helping with this feeling.
From this giant, the Grimm could only sense, hatred against them but also...pity? It is then that the Astartes started to walk towards them, his voice resonating through the clearing like thunder.
"Protect us, O Emperor." In a flash of green, he was on the first of them his weapon bisecting it with a horrendous sound of bone and flesh tearing itself before he could even react.
"From the snares of the heretic, the mutant, the xeno, and the warpspawn." A Beowulf tried to jump on the strange silver light on his back, but for its effort, it only received a punch in the stomach followed up by the Narticum drilling a fist-sized hole in it dropping it dead.
"In you we place our faith. In you we find refuge. In you we find our avenger." The last three Beowulf tries to charge him at the same time resulting in him charging the one in front of him, crushing it under his weight.
The one on his left managed to grapple the silver light on his back only to cry in agony when his paw started to disintegrate, his agony was ended when a fist crushed his head hard enough to send his corpse flying
The last one was slower and by the time he reached the behemoth, a chainsword got embedded in his head ending his life.
It was then that the last of the beast decided to show itself, this one was as tall as him, his body was covered in thick bone white spike armor, his claw and teeth seemed sharp enough to cut an Astartes in half but Ardal pressed on.
"O Emperor give me the strength to defeat my foe." The silver glow on his back glowed brightly and Ardal charged somehow knowing that the child on his back was safe, the Alpha howled before meeting him in the middle.
"O Emperor, protector of Humanity allow this humble servant to serve your will." Ardal ducked under the raised arm of the Beowulf, his chainsword flew in the direction of the outstretched limb with a bloodthirsty roar cutting through it like paper, the Alpha roared in pain before taking a step backward.
"Allow me to prevail even in the darkest of hours to protect the innocent, the weak, and the impaired." The silver light on his back became blinding, Ardal was about to use his momentum to cut the head of the Beowulf but said light shot into the air, both foes stopped their aggression against one another to look at it.
The two had different reactions to the light, for Ardal it was like a warmth he only felt once, a warmth remembering him of the embrace of his father, it was then that he realized that he was looking at the light of the Emperor, he fell to his knee in reverence even his weapon seemed to purr in reverence to his Lord.
For the Beowulf it was a different story the monster was screeching inhumanely, his only claw trying to gouge his eyes out while his fur and skin were being burnt from him, smoke began to rise from him, his armor cracked and burned like the rest of his body, the beast fell to his knees mewling in pain before collapsing, but instead of evaporating like always his body was turned into a black boiling puddle with bits of armor sticking through it, said puddle did not disappear.
If Ardal had been paying more attention to his surroundings he could have heard to cry of agony of the Grimm close by, only when the last scream of pain stopped that the silver light started to slowly lower, the child in the middle of it slowly lowering to the ground unconscious.
Ardal still in awe at the display of power slowly stood up and approached the floating body of the girl, she was high enough for him to grab comfortably, it was only once she was secure in his arms and close to his chest that the light stopped completely.
Only silence was heard in the forest apart from the wind rustling slowly the leaves of the trees, Ardal vision was however focused on a small almost frail child in his arms, with such a display of power did Ardal realize why the Emperor sent him here, this child, this child could very well be the savior of his beloved Imperium.
He then started to slowly approach to black puddle on the ground, somehow all feeling of wrongness from the thing was gone it was like the beast died for good.
'So much power in such a small body...O Emperor this servant will give his life for this children.' With a last glance at the puddle and sleeping girl in his arm did Ardal started to walk back towards the construction site.
The walk only took him ten minutes with his slowed pace to not wake up Ruby, once there he quickly spotted Taiyang, Qrow, and Yang talking with the workers who seemed worried, he could only assume that the light reached them too.
Yang was the first to spot him and pointed a finger at them, at the view of the unconscious Ruby she rushed in their direction eyes wide in worry. "Ardy! What happens to Ruby ?! What was that light ?! Is she alright ?! Is-!"
Her questions were stopped by the hand of Taiyang who reached them with Qrow. "Calm Yang." Tai looked at him with worry on his face. "Ardal what happened? We were coming back when a light just appeared in the sky and Grimm started to melt." The word sent a shiver up the spine of the three family members.
They could not see it but Ardal had a giant smile on his face. "What you witnessed my friends was the light and power of the Emperor!" He looked down at Ruby slowly removing a band of hair from her face. "This young one possesses what seems to be the benediction of my Lord, she...she is a Saint it seems."
His explanation was received differently by each of them, Yang had climbed him to hold her sister in worry, and said little girl latched onto her big sister blissfully unaware of the world around her.
Tai was in a mixture of worry and skepticism, the man in front of him had been nothing but polite and helpful around his daughters, Ruby seemed to have taken a liking to him like a fish to a pond, and Yang even though it took some time warmed up to him too if the sight of his two daughters hugging one another in his arms was anything to go by.
Qrow however was glaring at him with distrust one of his hands on the hilt of Harbringer. "Look pal, I've been pretty patient with you those past few days, yes you saved them, but now there's a light show in the middle of the forest and you come back from that same direction with Ruby unconscious! So spill it what happened to her?"
There was silence for a few seconds, even the workers stopped talking to hear his answer. With a sigh, the Space Marine talked. "We got attacked by Grimm while Ruby tried to tell me about her late mother." This made Yang hug Ruby harder. "Like all good Imperial, I went to battle against my foes with a prayer to the Emperor on my lips.
While I was praying Ruby who was at the time on my back started glowing in a silver color, I did not pay attention to it I was too focused on defeating those wolf-like creatures, at the end of the fight I was battling with whom I guess was the Alpha of the pack.
The fight was one-sided, the beast might have been smarter than his brethren he was nothing against an Astartes, I'd had cut his left arm prayer still chanting from my mouth it was at this moment that young Ruby started to rise in the sky that silver light around her was blinding but somehow I could look at it.
It is at this moment that I realize. I realized that I was looking at the same power that sent me here, it was the same warmth and feeling of safety that my Lord used to allow me to meet such a young avatar of himself." His tone of voice was full of kindness but also reverence as if holding the child now was much more important than before as if he wasn't worthy of even touching her.
"You can rest assured Qrow Brawen that if one day I manage to reach out to the Imperium the Salamander as a whole will give their life for your niece for inside her resides a piece of the power of our Emperor."
Silence filled the clearing again but this time it lasted longer, a few minutes even, it was however broken by the rather small voice of Yang who had stood up in his arms. "So-so what now Ardy...? Is Ruby safe...? Is she gonna die or turn into this emperor guy...?"
Her answer was a negative shake of the head. "No child, the Emperor is merciful in His rule, your sister is a chosen, a Saint, I know of only one true Saint her name is Celestine, I have not seen her personally on the battlefield but it is said that her power can boost the morale of even the most cowardly of men and that she is capable of beating even the foulest of daemons with ease."
It was Qrow this time who snorted his arms crossed in front of him. "So what? Now she has to go fight a war no one knows about? Your friends are gonna come here with their fancy spaceship and steal her from us?!"
"Qrow calm down if Ardal wanted to do anything he would have done it a long time ago." Tai placed a hand on Qrow's shoulder trying to calm him down. "Besides I never heard him lie once and you know that I hate liar plus living with two little girls help with that too."
The confidant smile on his best friend's face, seemed to have calmed him a bit down, but the man still turned around hands in his pockets grumbling something that sounded like 'I need a drink'.
Ardal nodded his head at Tai. "You have my thanks warrior I am going to sit and watch over your daughters now, I promise that nothing will happen to them."
A trusting smile was on Tai's face this time. "Sure you do that Ardal." With a nod, he started to move towards a tree big enough to cover them with it's shadow but the voice of Tai stopped him.
"Ardal...thank you, thank you for taking care of my daughters...look if you want to know more about Summer come see me later okay? I'll tell you everything."
A nod was his answer and Ardal kept moving before sitting under the tree both little girls cradled against him.
Monday- At the now-finished house
And this is how the fourth day happened, the rest of the week was spent with no notable event, Ruby had not asked any questions about what happened but was strangely calmer than usual, she was also spending more time with her dad and sister letting Ardal focus on the house.
It was on Monday after the family of now four had moved back into their new house now fit to house an Astartes in full power armor that Ruby approached him, at first it was to help her move all her new toys and furniture to her room, it's then that she stopped him.
"A-Ardy? Could-could we talk please?" Her voice was shy and she did not look into his eyes, it was the first time she did that so Ardal like any good guardian sat on the ground of her room and removed his helmet.
Ruby slowly walked towards him before sitting on his lap, giants arms hugged her gently. "Of course Ruby, tell me what trouble you."
Ruby looked up at him timidly, she had somehow managed to grab a hold of his helmet, she was currently using it as a teddy bear.
"It's- it's about what happened in the forest...I dunno what happened I just-I just remember you fighting the Beowulf." She hugged the helmet tightly her body trembling slightly.
"And-and you were saying stuff and I was listening! And-and then nothing...I only saw you kick the butt of the first one..." Ardal looked at her with pity, this was why she hadn't been speaking much these past few days.
"Tell me, Ruby have you been feeling anything different in you since then? We all notice you being pretty distant since." His tone of voice was calm yet filled with worry for his charge.
The question seems to have caught her off guard and she looked down not daring to look at him in the eyes. "K-Kinda? I-I mean it's weird but-but I can kinda sense where the Grimm are? L-Like right now there's an Ursa looking at us from the forest..."
Ardal looked at her curiously before looking at said window and indeed he could see the bright red eyes of the Grimm staring at them. "I...see this is quite the ability young one, anything else?"
A small nod was his answer. "Y-Yeah, it's weird but I can 'see' his weak point?" Ardal picked her up so she could look at the Ursa more closely.
"Like I know that if you hit him on the side of the head hard enough you can knock him out instantly, same for all types of Ursa, but-but it's the first time I see one I only saw pictures of them!" He put her back down on his lap, Ruby had a lost look on her face not knowing what was happening to her.
"Ruby look at me please." Said little girl complied, he could see tears in her eyes, tears he quickly removed. "I will tell you what is happening to you child alright?"
Ruby gave a nod and a small sniffle her gaze locked on his. "Where I am from we follow a man, His name is The Emperor, let me tell you his story..."
And so he did, Ardal told him about the Imperium, the known life of the Emperor, their constant struggle, how his Lord helped and protected them, he told her everything, but just enough to not scare her young mind.
And Ruby listened enraptured by his story, he could see her eyes open wide with wonder, curiosity, and a bit of sorrow when he told her about the losing fight humanity was in.
His story lasted until dinner, during all of it, Ruby the ever-energic child stayed silent, and when he finished it took her a few minutes to blink the tears away and wipe the ones that found their way onto her face.
It took her another five minutes to get her bearing before she lunged at his torse hugging him tightly. "It-It's horrible Ardy! But-But the Emperor...he is real?" Ardal smiled at her hugging her back before giving her a small nod, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Ardy? I-I want to know more...It-it sounds super scary but I want to become a Huntress anyway!" She had a determined look on her face. "So-so if one day I can help you and all your friends I want to be ready! I don't want people to be sad because tons of baddies hurt them..."
Ardal chuckled at that before ruffling her hair making her use his helmet as protection. "It is a noble goal Ruby, one that makes me proud of you not many at your age will be willing to take up arms against the darkness."
Ruby stopped squirming under his hand and gave him a big sunny smile, a smile that he gave back to her with one of his own. "Say Ruby, would you like to learn a prayer to the Emperor after dinner? It would be another step towards Him and His Light."
He could see her take a second to consider it before nodding her head with a pout on her face. "Yeah! But only if you tell me where he took my mommy okay?"
Ardal could not stop himself from laughing and he stood up Ruby in his arms. "Of course young rose, I will tell you."
And so the duo left the room to have dinner not noticing the ray of sun that had hit the ground where they once stood, said ray seemed to glow in a golden divine light.
After the dinner
After eating a filling dinner consisting of pasta and a tad too much cheese for Ruby, the duo were currently in Ardal's bedroom.
This was the biggest room in the small fortress of a house with a custom-made bed that could support his weight with and without the armor, how you ask? The wood had been treated with gravity dust and earth dust making the wood as hard as steel but also very pliable.
The rest of the room like the bed was Space Marine-sized, but the two were currently next to a small man-made altar, the altar resembled the symbol of the Salamander being held by a golden halo, said halo was suspended by a thick golden chain held to the wall of the room.
Ruby looked at it with a confused look on her face and then to the item placed in front of them which consisted of a bowl filled with incense sticks.
There were also two small pendants resembling golden 'I' with a skull in the middle, Ardal looked at her and gave her one of the pendants. "I made them myself during the last day of construction with the help of the forge master Winston same thing for my Chapter symbol."
Giving a small nod to his explanation Ruby looked at the pendant in her hand curiously. "What does it mean Ardy? I-I mean what does the funny 'I' mean?"
A smile appeared on his face. "The 'funny I' Ruby is the symbol of the Emperor, it is the symbol of the entire cult to His name, and my Chapter symbol well we are considered as His Angel, but in reality, it is to pray to his Son, our Father Vulcan founder of the Salamander."
"S-Son? You mean those Pri-Pri hum big guys you told me about?" Ardal could see Ruby blushed at not being able to say it but he nodded his head.
"Yes the Primarchs, but only a few matters the others are treacherous monsters whose names I dare not pronounce near such sacred icons." The scowl on his face made Ruby flinch a little, it was the first time she saw him with anything but a smile or a neutral expression.
She placed one of her little hands on his hand with a smile on her face. "It's fine Ardy, you can tell me about the super strong guys later ok? So! Now that I have this what do I do with it?"
Seeing her so willing to learn even at such a young age made him smile, she could see him grab a lit candle that he had prepared beforehand and use it to light up the incense, the smell of it slowly impregnating the air around them.
Ruby watched him do it like a hawk he lightly nudged her before dipping his head, the pendant held by the chains in his hands, his fingers interlocked around it.
It took a few seconds for her to understand and she quickly took the same position as him, a small smile of approval adorned his lips. "Good now repeat after me young one this is the prayer taught to all the young of the Imperium you had already heard me say it even though it was a bit modified."
A nod of concentration was his only answer and he took position again next to her and so Ardal began. "Protect us, O Emperor."
Indeed Ruby remembered it at the one he used back in the forest and so she mimicked him. "Protect us, O Emperor."
A small prideful smile appeared on Ardal's face. "From the snares of the heretic, the mutant, the xeno, and the warpspawn."
Ruby's eyes were closed in concentration and repeated it. "From the snares of the heretic, the mutant, the xeno, and the warpspawn."
Out of the corner of his eyes, Ardal could see the silver hue gently enveloping her and so he continued. "In you we place all our faith. In you we find refuge. In you we find our avenger."
"In you we place all our faith. In you we find refuge. In you we find our avenger." The glow around her felt like a warm blanket this time not meant to harm but to comfort.
Ardal could not remove his eyes from the small form next to him but he finished the Prayer of Terra nonetheless. "Lead us forth into the legions of humanity's foes with thy spirit and give us the courage and capability to slay the foes in every battle we are compelled to fight, though they last until the end of time."
"Lead us forth into the legions of humanity's foes with thy spirit and give us the courage and capability to slay the foes in every battle we are compelled to fight, though they last until the end of time." While resiting the verse Ruby's hair started floating around her, but once she finished instead of calming down she stayed in the position of prayer the strange phenomenon not stopping.
Ardal could see a smile appear on her face and tears of joy slowly gliding down her cheeks, he could not say how long he stayed in the same position but at one point Ruby slowly stopped glowing her hair stopping their dance and going back to the bob-cut on her head.
Another minute passed before she slowly opened her eyes the smile never living her face and she turned towards him. "It's beautiful Ardy..."
Ardal raised an eyebrow at her declaration. "Beautiful young one? Did you have a vision?" His tone of voice was gentle and full of kindness but also curiosity.
She nodded her head still crying in joy. "Yes, I-I did not know where I was at first, I was floating over a giant golden city, I saw buildings reaching the stars Ardy, and then there was this voice, it was so kind he called me 'His lost angel'.
I-I felt a hand touch my shoulder and I was taken to the biggest castle I've ever see, It was so-so beautiful, the soldiers guarding it where even bigger than you and somehow they could see me, one of them even bowed in front of me telling me we will meet one day!".
Ruby stopped talking to get her breath back, her hands never letting go of the pendant. "And then the giant in gold led me to a giant room where there was a throne, and on it..."
She shuddered, but not in revulsion but what Ardal could guess was excitement. "There was a man, he was so big... he looked like a giant in an armor made of gold and shiny dust- no, gems I think He called them, the soldier left us and the man smiled at me, I felt like I was looking at my father..."
Ardal was enraptured in her tale, she saw Terra, she saw the Golden Throne and his Lord in muscle and flesh? Not in His dying body? "He told me he was the Emperor, he also told me that he used His power to bring me there because He wanted to see me with His own eyes."
His head was spinning in wonder and bafflement, His Lord was watching, this child was even more important than he dared imagine. "He said I was perfect, I felt so happy when he said that, He told me that I was destined for greatness but that all will be revealed in time, he-he also said that he had a message for you..."
If his head was spinning before now it was doing acrobatics on top of a Baneblade in the middle of a Tyranids infestation, his voice was filled with excitement and it was shakier than he dared to admit. "Wh-What was it?"
Ruby looked at him with those big silver eyes the smile turning somehow bigger than it already was. "The missing piece is here."
'The missing piece?' Ardal clutched the pendant harder thinking, it took him a total of fifteen seconds to come to two conclusions: the first one being Ruby but he already knew about that, but the second one nearly made him faint at the realization. "An-an artifact of my father...no-no it is too good to be true...!"
Seeing his reaction Ruby without hesitation placed the pendant around her neck and got closer to him, her small hands wrapping around his. "Ardy...whatever it is, we will find it OK? I promise! Once I become a Huntress we will go you, me, and Yang on a big adventure to find it It is a promise."
Taking a deep breath Ardal slowly calmed himself. "You are right young one, but if it is really an artifact of my father Vulcan we will need help, and if your story is true we might get the help of a revered Custodes in the future."
"Yeah! But for now, you have to teach me more about the Imperium! I wanna help you when I'm older!" She stood up her hands on her hips looking quite determined and Ardal gave her a big genuine smile.
"Of course but first you have to get older and go to that famous combat school that your dad teaches at alright?
Ruby's eyes widened. "What?! But-But it's like in forever! Can't you teach me how to fight like you?"
"No Ruby you will have to find your own style of combat and I believe you had only been taught by your dad, elementary school starts next year for you I believe." The downcast look on Ruby's face made him chuckle, the red menace completely forgot about that.
"But let's make an oath you and me Ruby, once you've entered Signal Academy I shall help you become a force to be reckoned with." The smile on her face told him everything but he waited nonetheless.
"Yeah! I'm gonna be . !" And just like that the energic child was back and Ruby's started to vibrate in excitement.
"So you accept then?" In the blink of an eye, Ruby was dangling around his neck hugging him tightly.
"Of course Grampa Ardy! You're the best!" And just as fast as she had jumped on him she was gone from the room to announce the news to her family leaving behind her a flabbergasted Space Marine.
"Grampa...?"
His musing was cut short back laughing coming from the open door, he could see Yang holding her stomach failing to keep herself up.
"You should see your face, Gramps! Bwahaha! Ho dust I needed that!" She slowly calmed herself wiping the tears in her eyes before stepping into the room before closing the door behind her.
She got close and sat next to him looking at the small shrine, the incense nearly spent leaving a pleasant smell behind. "Ruby likes you a lot you know? It's Ardy this. Ardy that all the time."
She looked at him and smiled. "I think she uses you to cope for our- erm her mother you know? I mean you're not a woman but you've been here for a week and been here for us every time we ask."
Ardal stayed silent his gentle smile telling her everything she needed to know. "I'm proud of her you know? It's been two hard years for all of us, losing Summer, her mom made dad shut down..." She looked down at her hands while fiddling with them. "I was the one taking care of her...when dad came back from Signal he would shut himself in his room..."
She took a shaky breath tears in her eyes, Ardal took her in his arms giving her a gentle hug, a hug she gave back immediately. "It took him more than a year to finally take care of us again...sometimes Uncle Qrow would help too but most of the time he was with Winter or on mission...but now you're here...I feel like this family can somehow work again...so thanks, Gramps."
The smile Yang gave him warmed his hearts and with a finger, he gently wiped her tears away. "You are welcome Yang, and even though it took me by surprise it would be an honor for me to be your honorific grandfather."
Yang giggled and gently smacked his torso. "No, you're our Gramps trough and trough alright? You're part of the Xiao-Rose family now OK?"
With a small laugh, Ardal nodded. "Well, how could I say no to such an adorable little girl? You and your sister are the same but at the same time different in your own way."
A cheeky smile appeared on Yang's face. "Well don't start like that Gramps, it's your first day on the job and you already sound like an old-timer but yeah it's pretty yangtastic to have you with us!"
Ardal could only shake his head slowly. "I think I understand your sister, the wordplay was terrible."
"Ho come on! Give me some slack, I'm sure you like them! After all, I'm just incensely good at them!"
Ardal rolled his eyes a small amused smile on his face, seeing it Yang gave a small victory punch in the air. "Yeah! But hey what were you doing with Ruby here Gramps?"
"Well if you must know I was teaching her to pray for the Emperor, and I can safely say that her first time was the most unique I've ever seen." Yang crossed her arms before sitting on his lap.
"What do you mean? Did she explode again?"
"No, nothing of the sort but your sister was 'taken' spiritually to Holy Terra and met the Emperor himself during our prayer, let's say that now she is a fervent believer of the Imperial creed." Yang raised an eyebrow at him.
"So you turn my sister into a religious numbnut Gramps? Not cool." Ardal smiled at her.
"No of course not in the Imperium the more zealous of us do not last long, belief in the Emperor is important yes, but discipline is really important too."
Yang sat back down and thought, her sister joining a religion at five, she is way too young! Well, she's not better off after all she is only seven but having to take care of Ruby after school helped her mature quickly. And so she came to a conclusion.
"Alright, I want in."
Ardal looked at her curiously. "Pardon?"
"I want in. Ruby is part of your religion thingy, right? I want in." Yang looked at him arms crossed over her chest with a resolute air on it.
"Of course, but sadly I do not possess a third Imperial icon." Yang blinked at his smiling face.
She was expecting to fight him for that, she even had a full argument ready for him! Well, it was mostly puppy dog eyes, her sister could do it better but she was no sloush either. "Hum sure, so when can we begin?"
"Me and Ruby are going to pray every morning after breakfast and right before bed you are free to join us whenever you want Yang."
She got a thoughtful expression before nodding. "Alright I'll join you tonight, I'm curious to see what my sister is becoming."
"Becoming? This is her own choice she is the one who come to me for it, I would not force anyone to follow the Imperial creed. Even if this line of thought is highly heretical but I will make an exception for this world." Yang simply gave him a deadpan expression before sighing.
"So is Ruby gonna be like you?" Her eyes widened at the realization of what she said. "I-I mean you cool and all Gramps, but is she gonna start being all 'Grrrr you heretic!' were gonna have problems with Dad and Uncle Qrow."
This time Ardal could not stop himself and laughed. "No, no do not worry I will only teach her the prayers and if she wants about our way of life after all she is Remanantian, not Nocturnian. One of the many reasons that the Imperium is so strong is also thanks to our different views on Human culture."
"Ho really like what?" If she was being honest Yang was curious about his world.
"Hummm let me see well there is the planet of Krieg which produce guardsmen the soldiers of the Imperium un-augmented human if you prefer." He got a nod of understanding from her.
"Due to a terrible event on the planet, Krieg is now a barren wasteland but they produce some of the best troops in the Imperium, they are called the Death Korps and they are experts in siege warfare, they are also known for the near fanatical belief of the Emperor but it is not my story to tell.
You also have Cadia who produced some of the best troopers in the Imperium, but compared to the Kriegsmen they were known for their shock trooper but most importantly their role as the frontline against the Eye of Terror, a tear in the Materium from where demons live. Sadly Cadia has been destroyed. But there is a saying, "Let it be known that the planet broke before the guard."
Yang could see a proud smile on his face and a tear rolled down his face, she did not know why but a tear also escaped her eye.
"Well the little history was good and I guess you were right, they both sound like total badass! But I gotta go Dad wanted to train with me today. Gotta be ready for Signal you know." Yang stood up and gave him a big smile before walking out the door. "Bye Gramps!"
And then she was gone, leaving him alone but it was fine after all he had maintenance to do on his guns, and he already had an appointment tomorrow with Winston to fix his power pack, it was good work out but he will need to be at full force to accomplish his duty.
But Ardal had one more thing to do before starting his task for the day, he had already prayed yes be there were things he needed to say, so taking back his spot in front of the altar he lowered his head.
"O Emperor Savior of Mankind. I your humble servant thank you for allowing me to perform your Will and help Mankind."
"O Emperor you are the light against which no darkness can stand, give me the strength to battle the darkness of this world."
"O Emperor Light of the Imperium guide my path for the road ahead for the task you have bestowed upon me."
Ardal stayed silent after that for a few minutes eyes closed, when he finally opened them a smile adorned his face, A ray of sunlight in the purest of colors was reflecting on the Shrine.
And so Ardal with his resolve reinforced went on about his day with purpose in his steps, it might take him years to complete his task but the Emperor works in mysterious ways indeed.
This but the end of this chapter guys!
Seems like the Emperor is getting new followers!
I hope you like the turns I gave to the silver eyes warrior haha.
Don't have much to say again today so let's jump to the question and some comments!
-Wonderful chapters so far dude! and for this not being your first language it's very impressive to see your vocabulary be this good! cant wait to see more from the salamander and glory to the emperor brother!
Why thank you! Yeah, I watch a lot of video in English same for reading it help tremendously I only have trouble with the orthography, haha but I'm getting better! (I hope)
-Will there be any more good guy space marines from other space marine chapters in this story? Maybe, who knows what the path ahead might hide from us! I already know I want to bring a Custodes the character might be hard to pull out but they are one of my favorite factions in the Imperium. (I let you guess which one is my favorite, whoever gets it earns a cookie :p)
-Skinned and flayed bodies? That's the Night Lords for you. Not sayiiiiing~
-Not much to say about this chapter, I'm not a personal fan of characters explaining everything right away but that is just me. It was funny to see that everyone thought he was a statue at first and I do wonder how Ironwood would react, I think Ardy would get along better with him. Other than that, can't wait for the next chapter. Yeah, I liked playing with the idea of the stoic Space Marine haha after all he must guard his protege :). Well as I saw it I'll figure that a Space Marine on a new planet would try to spread knowledge of the Imperium to some important people pretty early, the Horus Heresy being one of the most important events in the Imperium it seems fitting, and for the Chaos Gods, weel mortal enemy and all ya know? Must warn the people.
-Awesome work just don't do too much bashing they can ruin if done wrong but I will read if the quality of the story is still as good as this and I am glad to see no character bashing so far. Why thank you :). I might sound illiterate but I've never heard the term bashing haha ^^' and I could not find a translation in my language for the life of me. So hum I'll do my best?
-I kinda like the more noble-bright approach, yes it's Warhammer, yes it's supposed to be Grimdark, but fuck that, you've seen it once, you've seen it a thousand times. Yes, I feel the same too, I love Grimdark don't get me wrong but killing everything on-site gets old really fast and well he is a Salamander, I don't see him running around slapping people around because 'Ur-Ur no believe in Emperor!' it will defeat the whole purpose of the plot too haha. (Although he might 'accidentally' drop his combat knife In front of an unarmed White Fang who knows and shoot him after all he had a knife!)
Well, that was everything thanks for the support guys! Keep the critics coming they help tremendously same as the compliments it boosts my self-confidence a lot and keeps me going :). (I'll keep going anyway don't worry!)
Krieg out.