-M29 671. Imperial Palace. Terra-
It has been a day since they arrived in the Imperium. Lelei could not fathom the scale of luxury within this said nation. The food, the knowledge, the wonders. No words can describe how grandeur they are.
Now, she had breakfast with all of her friends. To be said, when she experienced the food yesterday, it molded perfectly on her tongue.
She never had enough of these foods, so she chewed them carefully for a better taste. Countless flavors filled her mouth, filling her appetite.
"It's wonderful. From the outside, it's just like a slice of ordinary meat. But when you ate it." Lelei takes a bite. "But I can't count how rich the tastes are."
Itami nodded, swallowing his ramen. "This is the best ramen in my life."
"I can't say more, sir!" Kuribayashi exclaimed. Even though her food was not ramen, but something resembling a Katsudon.
The Falmartian noble cannot say more as their eyes are locked on their food. They were baffled by the rich flavor, faces flustered.
"I... I can't say a word," Pina mumbled, taking another bite of the steak.
Bozes nodded in confirmation. She tried her best to suppress her saliva from falling from her mouth. The fragrance is beyond tempting, exceeding her experiences with various nourishments.
"Ah, Lelei. According to the schedule, you won't accompany us, right?" Rory asked the blue-haired mage.
"Yes," She nodded. "I will go to Prospero."
"Prospero?" Tuka inquires with interest.
"From my readings, it is a planet of Forzare System of Segmentum Ultima," She answered plainly.
"Hmmm... I wonder why they choose to place you there," The Apostle said, holding her chin.
"They apparently listed me in scholarship. So easy to guess this planet is a worldwide academy. It piqued me, so I searched for any information about it." Lelei wept her mouth using a handkerchief on the table.
"Did you find anything?"
"I did," Lelei's smile widened, which was unusual for someone like her.
"Care to share with us?" Itami said, answering her smile with his own.
"Of course," Lelei nodded. "From the documents in Lord Agral's possession. I came up with the information that Prospero is a planet that became the pinnacle of the Imperium's warp science innovation. It also served as the paragon of knowledge."
"Paragon of knowledge in the vast place like the Imperium. I'd like to know what it would look like." Itami said warmly.
"So do I, Itami." Lelei smiled enthusiastically.
Then, the sound of a ringing bell sweeps the room.
"It is the time, honored guests. I hope you are ready for the journey." Alexander's voice rang in their minds.
"I guess it will be our separation," Itami said to the group.
"Not for long," Kurata retorted.
The rest of the group could not say as enthusiastic as the Japanese or the mage. They had glomed expressions plastered on their faces. Before they can say more, they are engulfed in the light of teleportation.
Lelei instantly arrived at the open space. Before Lelei is a gigantic plane made up of master-crafted ornaments. A twin-headed golden Aquila opens its wings wide to reveal their glories.
"Lelei Lelena," The voice called her. It is a towering figure more than even Lord Agral. This man is nearly touched four meters in height. He wore deep blue-colored armor and a robe that covered his back. His helmet is arcane, resembling an ancient arc wizard from stories of old.
"That's my name," Lelei nodded. "May I know your name, honored lord?"
"Ahelax Norius, hailed from Arcanum Legion of the Adeptus Astartes." The giant speaks neutrally as a psychic aura manifests transparently around his entire being.
"Lord Ahelax, may I know why you are here?" Lelei asked politely.
"I was tasked to be your Guard Aide until your return from Prospero." He resolutely stated, lacking any further human aura from him.
Lelei thought someone like Captain Raias and Lord Agral would be entirely inhuman thanks to their transhuman capability, but this man stands above them.
She held her urge to kneel before him as her magical sense screamed of fear and submission. Although Lelei is totally aware that this transhuman suppressed his aura for her sake.
"Let's make it quick. Your teacher is eager to meet you," The Astartes told her.
"Yes!" Lelei quickly replied, kicking her leg to enter the transport.
___________________________________________________
She did not expect any of this. How could she not? Now she is in space, a place beyond the blue horizon.
There, a gigantic ship ornated with art and architecture screams power and glory. The vessel was six times the size of a mountain, bearing cannons that could bring untold destruction.
"Milord, what ship is that?" Lelei asked, pointing her finger at it.
"It is a Judicator class Light Cruiser. Eight kilometers in length, possessing enough firepower to protect us. We intended to use a battleship to escort you. But the idea was scrapped due to its conspicuous presence." He answered as their transport landed on one of the ship's hangars.
"Welcome aboard, Leilei Lelena. I'm Ulius, Ferrous Mind of this ship," A male voice came to her mind.
"Glad to meet you, Ulius," Lelei said with a nod.
"Please enter the Teleportarium," Said the Man of Iron gently.
She nodded, walking in the direction that was somehow supernaturally directed by the ship's Ferrous Mind. The Astartes follow her, inviting astonished looks from the crews.
They are human and golem, working together in harmony.
As they entered the Teleportarium, a flash of blue light bathed them. They instantly appeared in the vast room. It is filled with humans who perform their duties on their metallic tables. This room is more like an observatory, as the wall of glass stands as a barrier between this room and outer space.
She wonders about her travel and how Prospero would leave a mark on her memory.
"As the VIP is already here, let's open the head to the Webway!" The Commander shouted to his men.
Webway is a term that never once appear in Lelei's ears. It piqued her curiosity as she took steps closer to watch the said Webway.
The speed moved at a speed that she was barely able to comprehend. Despite the speed, she can stand undisturbed.
"Amazing." She said in awe.
The Commander smirked, turning his body to the young mage. "Thanks to our graviton devices, we can stand like this."
"My apologies, but I don't understand." Lelei genuinely said, staring at the man in confusion.
"It is Imperium's technology that manipulates our gravity in this ship. Thanks to that, we can't feel the turbulence." The Commander replied, hoping the little mage understood it.
"Gravity, a force that held us to the planet's core so that we didn't fly to the sky. So if we have enough of its power, we can avoid the side effect of our tremendous speed. Interesting concept." Lelei muttered. She utterly forgot the world around her as she said it out loud.
This made the Commander blink several times. He stared at the Astartes with a smirk. "Now I understand it all."
It only takes a short of arriving at the Webway Gate. It was a massive round Gate the size of an entire planet.
"Coordinate input is complete, sir." Said one of the Operators.
"Acknowledge. Proceed to perform the Webway travel." The Commander declared.
The speed instantly enveloped the vessel in an ethereal aura. Without a moment to spare, the Light Cruiser instantly disappears from reality.
Before her eyes, Lelei witnessed a dimensional structure that could not even make sense. It was pure energy unfolding into time and space, creating infinite possible geometries that twisted into impossible angles.
She could not even glance at the size of the dimensional space. It rapidly turned into whatever she thought it would be.
"My head." Lelei wrapped her palm around her head.
"Your mortal mind can't comprehend it. Please, don't stare at it for a long time." The Commander told her.
"Okay," Lelei replied, lowering her gaze.
______________________________________________________
-M29. 671. Forzare System-
They exited the Webway, returning to the material world. As the ethereal arcane light disappears, Lelei takes the courage in her body to stare ahead.
The sight is magnificent.
Half a dozen moon-sized fortresses remained vigilant with bastions of titanic fleets around them. She wondered why she had not seen them on Terra.
"The Terra and Sol Systems' defenses are extraordinarily complex compared to the Forzare Systems." The Astartes snapped the young girl from her thought.
"How..." Lelei whispered.
"I'm a psyker. Reading any person inside this ship is within my capability." Said the Astartes bluntly.
The Commander sighed in exasperation while Lelei stared in astonishment.
"Amazing," Lelei cleared her throat. "What do you mean by Terra's defense is much more complex?"
"Forzare System is completely protected both in physical and psychic means. These fleets are few among countless. But Sol System on a different scale." Ahelax paused.
"It's home to the Anathematic power of the Emperor, the most advanced technology in the entire Imperium, and the cradle of human civilization. The protection is even beyond what I can fathom. The protection here is only a drop compared to the ocean, which is the Sol System." He said, holding the chin section of his helmet.
"Then why does it seem invisible?" Lelei asked because the answer still didn't satisfy her thirst for knowledge.
"Something invisible and unknown commands the greatest power. From your experience with Prometheus Arcology, you should know what that means, Lelei Lelena." Ahelax stated firmly.
The atmosphere of the bridge slowly fell into silence as Lelei took a deep dive to process the words.
"Look, that's Prospero." The Commander's voice invites the gaze of the young mage.
"That's beautiful," Lelei said in awe.
"I know, right? As one of the shining beacons of the Imperium, she will always shine the brightest." He said with a grin on his face.
The planet itself could only be described as a white diamond. It was the magnificent jewel of the Forzare System, the pinnacle of Imperium's psychic knowledge and innovation.
A place of heaven for scholars and psyker. A place where the madness of the Immaterium could be decypher and studied. A place beside Mars that can create impossible wonders.
Their ship entered the orbit, slowly descending. Lelei finally witnessed the wonderous sight of Prospero. It was far from what she had expected. Imperial Palace is indeed a marvel on its own, but the buildings and architecture of Prospero so something magical and even downright impossible.
The sky is colored blue as spiral buildings stretch to heaven. Impossibly crafted with immaterial and material constructs. The shape is impossible to describe as it defies the reality around it.
"Let's head out to our drop ship," Said the Astartes, walking away from Lelei.
"Yes, milord." Lelei nodded her head to the Commander before following the psyker transhuman.
_________________________________________________________________________
Using a drop-ship, they head to the largest city in Prospero, Tizca. The city has floating orbital plates of fine white crystals and pyramids.
"I wonder how Imperium can create them," Lelei muttered.
"You will see it soon," Ahelax replied. "This planet is also home to our legion, Arcanum Legion."
"Legion... Transhuman hierarchy. I want to know more about those things." The blue-haired mage admitted, albeit shyly.
"I understand your confusion. I will tell you once we get there." The Astartes said plainly.
It had plagued her mind since she heard those terms. Transhuman hierarchy means someone must stand above all. Scaling from Lord Ahelax's height, he must stand above Lord Agral in the hierarchy.
It made one slot remains.
The dropship landed smoothly, sending a chill of excitement to Lelei's spine. This is it, the moment of truth. As they left the dropship, soft wind touched Lelei's skin.
Lelei gasped in shock as her body flooded with psionic power. It filled her lungs and enveloped her essence, gently embracing her entire being. The air, the land, and the sky are alive.
"Even if it was your first time here, you can feel it. You must be a talented psyker." A feminine voice resounded from behind the Falmartian.
Lelei turned her body. She is greeted by a pair of people wearing regal white robes. A couple is a man and a woman. The male has blonde hair, while the female has yellowish-red hair. They possess the same height as the Solar Guardian, which means they are possibly centuries years old.
"Greetings, my name is Orias Vel Glaxius." The man called Orias said softly.
"Saira Val Glaxius," Unlike the man, the woman named Saira only greets Lelei flatly.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Lelei Lelena. I came from Falmart." She introduces herself politely, bowing to show respect.
"We welcome you to Prospero, miss Lelei." Orias greeted with a smile.
"Cease with this talk. Show Lelei her room, and we shall continue this," The Astartes declared emotionlessly.
"As you wish, Lord Astartes," Orias nodded, regaining his composure to address the young mage. "Please, follow us."
They walked across the main path of Tizca. It is crowded with both transhuman and mortal humans. From their apparel, they are either mages or scholars.
"This feeling... Are they psykers?" Said Lelei tentatively.
"Yes, they are." To her surprise, it was Orias who answered her question.
"But how? I thought psykers were rare within the Imperium," Since they had traveled to the Imperium's territory, Lelei spent most of her time studying Imperium's culture and demographic. Among countless trillions, psyker is still considered a rarity among Imperial Citizens. One in a million.
"I think you are fully aware that Prospero's status is one of the thousands of Schola Psycana," Orias answered.
"Yes, but this is too much. Prospero is a planet with one billion humans. But I can feel tens of thousand of psykers in this place alone." Lelei stated, tightening her grip on her staff.
"That is one of this planet's secrets. We will tell you when the time comes." Orias smiled at her.
Lelei raised her eyebrows, confused by the psyker's statement. Somethings special lies deep in this planet, and it intrigues her.
Her distinctive appearance caused many Imperial Citizens to stare at her. Because of their psychic abilities, they can sense that Lelei is utterly different from them.
Lelei feels distraught by it, lowering her head to avoid attention. It piqued Ahelax as he huffed in distress. The psychic power of the Astartes snapped the mortals and transhumans around him.
"Thank you," Lelei whispered.
"I did what was necessary. Their ignorance irritates me." Ahelax replied dryly.
Their journey had been quiet after that, but no one dared to look at Lelei with a strange gaze anymore. The Astartes' aura is enough to give her the protection she needs.
The largest arcology in Tizca is right before them. It was much larger than any mountains she had ever seen. Upon entering it, she was greeted by the impossible crystal structures and overwhelming psychic atmosphere.
As her eyes scanned the room, Lelei spotted dozens upon dozens of Astartes performing their duties. They bear the same marking as Arcanum Legion, which implies this planet is indeed their home.
"Lelei, are you fine?" The blonde psyker asked in concern.
"I-I'm fine. Although the presences are overwhelming." Lelei can feel her palm sweating.
"Bear it for a moment. We almost arrive at the teleportarium leading us to your chamber." Orias reassured.
It took a short time before they arrived at the teleportarium. Instead of a metallic or golden structure like the Imperial Palace, it is esoteric with psychic crystals.
With a wave of Ahelax's hand, the machinery began to awaken, emitting psychic power into the air. Surprisingly, it brought serenity to the young mage. It calmed her sense and gently shifted her distress to nothingness.
"Feels better?" The blonde transhuman asked with a warm smile.
"Yes, thank you." Lelei nodded.
Orias smiled before taking his step to the teleportarium. Lelei followed, and thus, she was blinded by a flash of white brilliance. The psychic energy filled her nerve, curing all of her mental exhaustion.
She arrived at her room. It was large enough to store a two-story house.
"Now, let's begin our schedule," Orias stated, taking his position. "Do you have any questions?"
"I have. First, why is there such a large concentration of psykers here?" She said bluntly.
"It is thanks to Prospero's special World Spirit." He simply answered.
"World Spirit?"
At this question, Ahelax stepped forward. "It would be better to show it to you."
A ripple of psychic power flooded the room, wavering like a serene ocean. The form of madness is carefully shaped in its purest manifestation. They were suddenly brought into a stream of a pure maelstrom. It did not rage with fury or malice, only emitting warmth and gentleness.
"There," Ahelax pointed.
Lelei followed the direction. Upon witnessing it, her eyes widen in shock.
It was a gigantic presence stretching in countless dimensional forms. It was utterly transcendent to the law of physics. Its titanic presence within the maelstrom enabled it to twist the sea of psychic power as it pleased.
It protected one billion souls in its embrace, cultivating them from simple human beings into a psychically active humans.
"Humanity is born with talent within their fragile body. Once that talent is awakened, they can become like us, Lelei Lelena." The Astartes slowly stated. "We gather those worthy to ascend, elevating them to their deserved height."
"So... This World Spirit is the main reason there are many psykers in Prospero," Lelei concluded.
"Indeed. But Prospero does not always like that," The Astartes admitted with a sigh.
"What does that mean, milord?" Lelei raised her eyebrow in confusion.
"The World Spirit is Artificial,"
"Artificial? So the Imperium creates it?" It made her speechless. To create such a psychic being beyond even gods in her world. It was not the power to create a mere spirit but to create gods.
"Yes," Ahelax nodded. "After our war with Aeldari Dominion, we gained birthright to rule the cosmos. We combined our wisdom with theirs. Some of the wonders of Aeldari Dominion are beyond us. Yet those wonders were left rotten beneath their arrogance and debauchery. We took them to use them like they were intended to be."
Slowly, the answer began to appear within the mortal's mind. It wrapped into her mind to reveal the truth. The truth that spokes all.
"So every Schola Psycana is seeded with World Spirit. Why does the Imperium want to accelerate our ascension into psyker?" She said bluntly.
"Because it was our destiny. Humanity's evolution to a psychic race is inevitable. The Emperor decreed that the process must be accelerated with careful and strict cultivation." Said Ahelax with his master-crafted diplomatic tone. "Prospero is one of Tri Magister Oculum. Three of the finest Schola Psycana as Prospero serves as the center of Imperium's warp science."
"One of three?" Even with her stoic expression, she could not hide the excitement in her tone.
"Prospero, master warp science. Levisia, master of Atheric. Orbus, master of Soul-Forge," Lelei's eyes shone excitedly as he finished listing.
"You have sent Prospero to learn warp science and cultural exchange. Psyker from your world is unique to us. We hope to learn from each other, Lelei." Orias smiled at her.
"Of course," Lelei nodded. "Then where do we start?"