-M29. 671. Imperial Palace. Terra-

Rory walked down the seemingly endless corridor of gold, a sense of unease settling over her. She had seen her schedule for the day, and it only brought her distress as discomfort slowly crept into her mind.

Yesterday, she had felt the Emperor's mighty power; even the vast distance between them could not shield her from it. From that, Rory had deduced the Emperor's true nature. He was unmistakably a god, as no other term could describe such immeasurable power. Yet, at the same time, he denied his own divinity, choosing to be recognized as a human.

"It doesn't make any sense," she murmured under her breath, gripping her halberd tighter.

As she walked deeper into the corridor, she noticed a golden giant standing around five meters tall. His aura demanded submission, although it was nowhere near the same level as the Emperor. Inferior, but still mighty. The giant held a spear, taller than himself, with a crackling ethereal aura that seemed capable of cutting through anything.

"The Emperor is waiting for you, Rory Mercury," he spoke with power and authority, transcending her as an Apostle.

"Who are you?" she asked the golden-armored transhuman. On the surface, she seemed unfazed, but deep inside, she felt overwhelming distress.

"My name is Glariodus, Prime Custodian of His Majesty's protectors," he proclaimed, his red-colored visor staring deep into Rory's soul.

"Prime Custodian," she muttered, narrowing her eyes slightly. "What kind of transhuman are you? I know the rest of your kind, but I've never heard anything about a Prime Custodian."

"We are his eternal guardians, protecting his existence from any threats, even from other transhumans," the golden man answered with a stern tone that successfully crippled Rory's mental fortitude.

Rory took a deep breath to regain her composure, bracing herself to stare at the giant. "Very well, lead me to your Emperor."

"Follow me," Glariodus commanded, entering a certain path that only the gods knew where it would lead.

The Imperial Palace was an intricate place. Its bizarre structure was something that even Rory's nearly millennia's worth of experience could not comprehend. How a very distant place could be reached with only a few meters of steps, or how a short distance could take days to traverse, was beyond her understanding. As an Apostle, her mind had been designed by Emroy to be more than mortal, enough to gather a significant amount of data to sustain her long-lived body and prevent her mind from going insane in the process.

Her immortal body and mind granted her the power to see this palace differently. Rather than a maze, she saw the entire structure as arteries connecting to each other, hiding secrets beneath its impossibly complex architecture.

The deeper they went, the more intense the anathematic power became. Rory had many questions regarding the Emperor's power. It was extremely pure, and Rory's connection to her god slowly diminished as if it cleansed her soul by its sheer force.

As they continued, the Imperial Palace began to change, not in any of the five mortal senses but in a way that was deeply unsettling. Something about the walls around her was not right. She could sense the walls twisting and changing in a metaphorical sense, something she could not describe or understand. It was as if something was blocking her mind from comprehending it fully.

"What's this... I... What?" Rory muttered, touching the golden wall. It felt like solid metal, but her magical senses told a different story. The wall, suffused with Anathematic power, bent reality. To her mystical perception, the wall resembled a liquid, almost appearing as a sea.

"I assume you are curious about the Imperial Palace, Apostle," the Custodian inquired, turning his imposing form toward her.

"How is this possible?" Rory replied, eyes cast downward. It wasn't intimidation that made her avoid his gaze but the strange sensations emanating from the transhuman.

"The Imperial Palace was designed by the Emperor's wisdom and the Seven Adeptus Logos legions," he stated curtly. His tone brooked no further discussion. "We need to move. I don't like to keep His Majesty waiting."

Rory nodded, following the Custodian in silence. She tried to ignore the strange sensations that washed over her as she ventured deeper into the Palace.

The immense power permeating the Palace struck Rory with a realization about the Emperor. It was a simple yet terrifying conclusion. When she met the Emperor yesterday, it was but one of his masks to conceal his true magnitude. A mask that shielded the immense might of the Emperor that she did not wish to see.

"We have arrived," he proclaimed rather than merely stated.

Before them stood a ten-meter-high golden gate, adorned with ornaments that shamed any civilization she had seen. A gigantic twin-headed Aquila clutched a bolt in its talons.

"The Emperor is beyond this gate. Consider your words carefully, Apostle," the Custodian advised. Suddenly, he was enveloped in golden light. "I will be waiting for you; I shall arrive when you are done."

The light vanished, leaving an empty space. Silence reigned supreme. Rory took a deep breath before touching the metal gate with her fingers.

A shimmering psychic power spread across the massive gate, sending shivers down her spine due to the immense energy needed to open it. The gate swung open, revealing a room made of platinum marble with dozens of bookshelves. A red carpet stretched across the floor, enhancing the grandeur with golden ornaments scattered in every corner.

"Rory Mercury, glad to meet you. Please proceed deeper into the room. I shall guide you," the Emperor's soft voice echoed in her mind.

Without knowing how to respond, Rory complied with the Emperor's order. She walked deeper into the impossibly vast room, guessing it was as large as an entire city based on various claims and her initial impressions.

As she ventured further, she arrived at what seemed to be the center of the room. Surrounded by bookshelves and ornamental decorations stood a flawless wooden table with a luxurious throne behind it.

But those were not where her focus lay. Her concentration was solely on the two golden figures occupying the room.

One, helmetless, was unmistakably the Emperor, smiling gently and sincerely at the other figure.

"I think my guest has arrived," the Emperor spoke softly, glancing at Rory with a warm expression.

The other golden figure followed his master's gaze. His eyes shone red through his visor. Rory deduced from his ornamental armor that this man belonged to the same order as Glariodus. Yet, one distinct feature made her frown.

The man was massive, nearly as tall as the Emperor, who stood around six meters tall. This man seemed closer to divinity than any transhuman she had ever seen, more so than Glariodus, and closer even to the Emperor himself. Indeed, she had never seen a transhuman of the rank of Adeptus Logos, but this man embodied what she imagined it to be.

"You may leave, Valdor," the Emperor commanded, gesturing at the masked giant.

Valdor nodded, and the giant vanished in a burst of the same golden light as Glariodus. When the light faded, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Greetings... Emperor of Mankind," Rory said, bowing slightly to the lord of the Imperium.

"Curious. You addressed me honorably, quite unlike your usual self, Apostle of Emroy," the Emperor chuckled, raising his hand. "You can come closer."

Rory did as the Emperor asked, yet she could not answer his question directly. The mighty being named the Emperor transcended her understanding of gods and their powers.

"It..." Rory hesitated, searching for the right words. "It is because I need to address you with something worthy for a being like you, Emperor."

"I can see your claim and nature as clear as daylight, Rory Mercury. Please, stop refraining like that." The Emperor smiled, placing his palm on his armor. A brilliant golden light enveloped the Perpetual, transforming his armor into a regal black attire usually worn by the highest nobility echelon on Terra. His size also changed, now appearing at the same height as an average person.

The nearly millennia-old demi-goddess was baffled by what she saw. The sheer magnitude of the Emperor's power was unmistakable as that of a god. The golden light was undeniable. Thus, Rory steeled herself.

"To answer that question, Your Majesty, I need to ask you one," Rory inquired, lowering her gaze slightly.

"Ask away, Priestess."

"Your power... your might. They are divine. Your existence is that of a god, but why deny your right to it?" Rory asked, her voice trembling. "I want to understand."

She had expected many things from this situation, including the possibility that the Emperor might erase her presence from his sight. Instead, nothing came for her.

"Raise your face, proud daughter of Sadera," the Emperor commanded in a neutral voice.

Rory raised her face, staring into the Emperor's eyes with utmost shock. She saw no animosity or anger, only a smile—a fond and knowing smile. A fatherly smile, as if a gentle father were teaching his daughter to listen to his tutelage.

"Since the Gate opened in my realm, I've seen this moment. Your question has come to me since your world came within my reach. This moment is one among countless that I decided should come to pass," the Emperor said, his eyes staring deep into Rory's soul.

"Does that mean..." Rory trailed off, words failing her. The Emperor had foreseen this very moment. She knew that gods possessed future sight, but something about the Emperor's statement was different, suggesting he could change his fate at will.

Those were things only gods were capable of.

"I decided this should happen," he stated simply, without hesitation.

"If that was the case, then why do you reject your divinity, Your Majesty?" Rory shouted, her voice filled with rage, ignoring who was the person before her. She tightened her grip on her halberd. "Your power... Every inch of your presence screams power. But why plunder my gods? Why seek to destroy them? Humanity needs faith to survive, as the Imperium has faith in you as their leader. But you deny them. You deny humanity's deepest desire but still claim the title of Master of Mankind."

The Emperor stood unmoved, his calm demeanor unshaken by Rory's outburst. He listened intently, his perfect figure remaining a testament to his unyielding presence.

"Gods have been part of humanity since our species existed. I have lived for nearly a thousand years. I have seen how humanity grows with their faith in my gods. They act with bravery and valor, pursuing arts and magical power. They build, and they destroy. Whenever gods add something new from the Gate, we cherish it because the new treasure awaits us. Through gods, they shall have salvation in life and the afterlife," Rory declared bluntly.

The Emperor's calm gaze met hers. "You were born an orphan and then devoted yourself to the worship of Emroy. Am I wrong, Priestess?" His tone lacked significant sentiment, mixing rationality with an emotional touch.

"Yes, I am," Rory replied curtly.

"There is one reason I despise religion and gods no matter their forms, Priestess," the Emperor said, stepping closer to the demi-goddess before stopping right in front of her. "It would be my origin."

"Origin?"

"I have lived more than you so-called gods," the Emperor revealed, causing Rory's eyes to widen in disbelief. "But before that, I need to ask you about that Gate. Are you fully aware of its origin?"

"The Gate is a relic used by my gods to add new creations to their garden. It is a sacred tool to serve their purpose," Rory stated confidently, yet she withheld one crucial detail.

Whenever she talked with Emroy about the Gate, the god would change the conversation or dismiss it entirely. This led Rory to her own theory, but the gods' skepticism about the Gate only deepened her curiosity.

"I see," the Emperor said, walking away from her and directing himself to his table. "I will ask you another question. What are gods to you, Rory Mercury?"

"Gods are benevolent beings that rule Falmart and act as its protectors. They are the gardeners of the world, transcending any mortal comprehension," Rory replied, her nearly millennia-long life as a priestess shaping her view of the gods. She had witnessed empires rise and fall, and religions founded and destroyed.

"Benevolent. What a human sentiment to describe gods, Priestess," the Emperor replied neutrally, his interest seemingly waning. "If they annihilated a country with its innocent citizens, would you still call them benevolent?"

"Gods' judgment is beyond what any mortals can see, Your Majesty," Rory retorted, a trace of sarcasm in her voice.

The ancient Emperor began to chuckle. It was not a dry or hollow chuckle, but an amused one, which confused the Apostle.

"When mortal beings face conditions beyond their understanding, they are given two choices. Either they deny it or simply accept it. Both are forms of ignorance. Gods are indifferent. They are neither benevolent nor malevolent. If you can even call them gods," the Emperor said, turning his body to stare directly into Rory's eyes.

Rory stood silent, petrified by the Emperor's gaze. Something about it instilled a genuine fear within her. The golden orbs seemed to pierce directly into her soul.

Rory steeled herself, her temperament getting the best of her. "A form of ignorance? Then what about you, Emperor of Mankind? You deny your own power, restricting your citizens from their nature. Isn't that also a form of ignorance?"

In that moment, Rory realized her mistake. Yet, she felt nothing. The Apostle of Emroy gathered all her remaining energy to stare back at the Emperor.

The Lord of the Imperium's face bore no wrathful or angry sentiments. The Master of Mankind gave her only a neutral look. Rory had expected the worst, but the situation left her confused.

"I created the Imperium, and by my hands, I guide humanity to its salvation. When I came to the fore, mankind was in peril. They needed a champion to guide them," he revealed bluntly.

"I am here to be their protector, not as a paragon but as the foundation of their ideals of ascension and destiny. That is our difference, Rory Mercury. Ideals live through ages, constantly changing to ensure mankind's future is secure. While you live to become their paragon, enforcing the words of your gods."

Rory dared not say anything in response. The Emperor's words made her feel scared and curious at the same time.

"We are very different, yet quite the same. Your life has been devoted to their service, blind to what humanity truly is," he continued.

"Do you think my entire life and journey are foolish endeavors?" Rory growled, her blood boiling with distress. The Emperor was correct. Rory had been Emroy's messenger for nearly a millennia, bringing her god's holy words to people and acting as an executioner for those who dared oppose her. If the Emperor's words were true, she had been a fool her entire life.

"You are not a foolish human, Rory Mercury," the Emperor said, his voice crafted with perfection.

"What?" Rory's mouth gaped open.

"You have spent many years in blind obedience. I cannot blame you for being simple-minded. You are blind but not a fool," the psyker said with a fond gesture.

Rory lost her ability to speak, the situation rendering her speechless. The Emperor's reaction was not what she had expected, but her instincts told her there was more to it.

"I have learned about your nature. Your gods were once mortals before they ascended into godhood. That should serve as more reason for their arrogance and unworthiness," the Emperor continued, his tone turning cold, increasing the tense air around them. "No gods are worthy of worship. Moreover, they were made from mortals. By that, their origin is the same as ours."

Rory did not reply. She chose to listen further, having no other alternatives.

"I will give you a chance," the Emperor said, touching his table. At the center of the room, a giant metallic orb with an iron circle appeared from the floor.

"What chance?" Rory asked, her tone filled with skepticism.

"Since your arrival, you have kept asking me about the Imperial Truth, haven't you?"

"Yes, I am." Rory sighed before taking a deep breath. "Your Imperial Truth speaks about humanity's ascension and our birthright by abandoning all superstition and religious beliefs. What are you after with that, Emperor of Mankind?"

"The Imperial Truth was created to be ideals that unite humanity and reveal their greatest enemies," the Emperor said plainly.

"Gods are humanity's enemies? How is that even possible?" While not entirely shocking, the realization that they were enemies of all living beings sent a shiver down her spine.

"There are many hidden truths behind their divine existence. They hinder our progress to become something more, like them," the golden man explained, tapping the orb. The glimmering light transformed its surface, revealing a map.

"What? I don't understand," Rory said, eyes radiating confusion.

"Every human can become like them, even more than their so-called divinity," the Emperor said, watching the sphere with a nostalgic, even somber, expression.

"Do you have any proof of that?"

"My own existence is proof of humanity's destiny." The Emperor turned, standing tall with his psychic corona blazing into reality.

"Every human... can become like you?" The truth baffled the Apostle. She knew mortals could be elevated to godhood, but the Emperor's assertion that humanity could surpass even her gods left her awestruck.

"Indeed, they can. But before we delve into that realm of explanation, you need to understand the reason behind the creation of the Imperial Truth and the true face of gods." The Emperor tapped a certain place on the globe. A bright flash of golden light filled the room with psychic power.

Rory opened her eyes and was shocked by the sight. A vast, rocky landscape stretched out under a blue sky. The place felt ancient and long forgotten.

"This is Terra when humanity was still young," the ancient man said, a sign of longing in his voice.

"Why did you bring me here?" the Apostle asked.

"To understand the reason behind my decision."

From the horizon, a man in a dirty robe walked with determination in his eyes. This man was not a mortal; Rory sensed something unusual about him. When she tried to peer into his soul, she felt as though she were drowning in a bottomless ocean.

"Who is that man?" Rory whispered.

"Ollanius Persson, the first Perpetual. He is my friend. What I will show you is part of his journey, a journey that shaped the face of the Old Earth."