-M29. 671. Terra. Imperial Palace-
Two weeks of term that had been scheduled slowly arrived at its end. But thanks to their schedule, the Japanese and Falmartian could fulfill their desire and thirst for curiosity.
The Imperium of Man is a place full of wonder; with those two weeks, their time is well-spent. Thus, the exclusive luxury in the Imperial Palace has come to their hands.
The Japanese had witnessed the future with their own eyes, with countless miracles. They could not predict the numbers how many advancements their future could create as if humanity had come closer to godhood. Anything modern humanity's wildest dreams are in Imperium possession. Furthermore, when they heard about the Third Galactic War, they could not comprehend how humanity survived it.
Despite its size as a galactic civilization, Imperium's technological prowess proves otherwise. The technological marvel and the effects of the galactic war wounded reality as well as space and time. Those feats gave them power that infinitely exceeded their size.
The Falmartian, save for Lelei and Rory, spent the rest of their time wandering in the Sigillate's museum with Malcador himself as their companion. It was neither a delightful nor pleasant tour. They are burdened with a great responsibility for their respective race and country.
In Lelei's case, it was entirely different. She had the most insightful journey in her life. She had spent her entire time attending class or reading as many books as she could in the Librarium. Her magical prowess skyrocketed as she could perform seemingly impossible spells. Even though she was given nearly two weeks to study, thanks to Prospero's mastery over the Immaterium, they can alter the flow of time, so Lelei has studied for more than two months. Much to her happiness, the couple that becomes her mentor adores her to the extent she is part of their family.
Rory herself could not find the right words to describe her experience. Since their first meeting, Rory has been called by the Emperor to have a talk together. In each session, her faith dwindles even faster. The Master of Mankind has proven to her and showed her the ideal truth that no one other than him can see. The Emperor is the answer to all as well as the key of guidance to ascension. Speaking of the ascension, the Emperor has shared her with his dream. It was beautiful to every extent she could be able to imagine.
Now, their time is nigh, and they must return and regroup. They are disappointed to leave as the breathtaking sight of Terra and its luxuries has taken a deep root in their souls. But duty needs to be done.
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The Imperial Palace is crowded with millions upon millions of Imperial Citizens as much more is waiting beyond the Eternity Wall. Whether organic or silicon, they celebrate with cheers and other enjoyment they can acquire.
It was their grandeur day of victory. The day when they defeated the Aeldari Dominion and gained their right as the apex species of the galaxy. Since the dawn of age, humanity has changed with countless reforging. They emerged with greater height and power, reaching the zenith previously thought impossible.
At the rebirth of the Federation by the Emperor's own hands, human society undergoes a drastic technological and social revolution. Many ancient cultures were revived, while many high architecture buildings were rebuilt. Yet all forms of religion must be disbanded either peacefully or with force.
In the technological sectors, humanity's mastery over the material universe and the Warp leaped incredibly. When the first revelation of the Golden Order, they arrive with blessings and innumerable instruments of destruction. Thus, becoming the key to Aledari's downfall. When the war was over, humanity plundered countless Aeldari artifacts, thus boosting the advancement even further.
Now humanity is waiting for its final destiny as ascended species, becoming something that transcends those self-proclaimed gods in the Immaterium. Under the direction of their Emperor, their faith has secured in the most prominent hand.
At a certain Imperial Palace recreation room, Raias is enjoying his Amasec. His eyes scan through a document in the holovid before him. It was the next order he needed to follow.
It can be said that Raias was quite surprised when he read it for the first time. It was instructed that he and his team must protect Princess Pina as she was currently gifted the title of Primum Praesidium. As the Emperor had decreed, she must be protected by Solar Guardian and assassin elements. But he did not predict it would be his team.
"May I enter, Captain?" The masculine voice of Nathaniel brokes Raias' train of thought.
"Of course," Raias replies immediately, turning off his holovid.
The metallic blast door opens, revealing Nathaniel and Maiya in their skin suit. Their faces are plastered with optimistic emotions, albeit caution is present in their countenance.
"Captain," Maiaya greets him with a smile.
"You can sit," Raias extends his arm to the couch before him.
"Yes, Captain," They say in unison, taking a seat before their Captain.
"Any reason why you came to me, Lieutenants?" Raias take another sip from his bottle.
"We just want to discuss our next mission." Said Maiya bluntly.
"I assume each one of you has read the instruction." Raias nodded his head in affirmation. "What is your opinion, then?"
"With honesty, Captain. It was unusual." Nathaniel begins, narrowing his eyes. "Indeed, she is our enemy; in that case, the Emperor would not risk his Custodian for political reasons. Though we are sure, His Majesty can make that problem disappear."
"Hidden motives?" Raias asks.
"Perhaps," Nathaniel shrugs in dismissal. "But we can't also say for certain."
"To add a more bizarre fact, we shall be accompanied by an assassin." Maiya sighs in exasperation, rubbing her hair slightly.
The assassin ordos are among the most secretive organizations in the entire Imperium. Thus no one dares to cross passing them. It was the fact it was governed by one singular organization that only answered to Lord Malcador and the Emperor themselves. It is an organization that possesses the power to make an entire world with billions of souls disappear without a trace.
"I understand your concern, Maiya. But I hope you can make yourself comfortable with it." The Captain makes a reassuring smile at her.
"I will manage, Captain." Maiya sighs in tiredness.
"Speaking of assassins, I'm sure we will deal with at least one assassin, two if the situation turns dire," Nathaniel remarks plainly.
"No. I think that is not going to happen." Raias interjects, eyes narrowing.
"You mean there would be more than that? Pardon me, but they are a Feudal World society. I don't see any reason for the High Lords to send more." Said Maiya, raising her brow in confusion.
"I will argue why they created Ultima-class arcology if it was just a Feudal World. Furthermore, it was an alternate reality." Raias says his opinion.
"But still, guarding a feudal Princess with more than two assassins and a squad of solar Guardian. Solar Guardian is understandable, but a squad of assassins is..." Maiya could not finish her sentence as she was lost in her thought.
"Don't worry. There is nothing to worry about." Raias smiles to assure her.
"I think you are right..." Maiya avoided any direct glance at her teammates, confusing Raias.
"I see... You have a bad experience with them, haven't you?" Raias concludes by watching Maiya's body language.
Maiya does not reply, only nods her head. The light in her eyes dimmed, exposing her fear. It was unusual for a woman like Maiya, who smiles with her brightest smile, encompassing anyone around her.
It brought a distant memory for Raias. A memory he kept hidden beneath his mental fortitude. It was about a woman who had a similar smile to her. It only brought a metaphorical pain to his soul whenever he remembered it. Now, he realizes the real reason why they are here with him. It was her request.
"Maiya, look at me." Said Raias softly.
She complies, raising her head so that she can see the face of her Captain. His warm face brought a spark of joy to her heart.
"There is nothing to worry about. We are His Majesty's loyal servants. Those who are worthy of their blades is the one who betrays humanity and Imperium. Look at them." Raias gestures toward the window.
The Lieutenants turn their heads toward the said window. The window directly shows them the massive landscape around the Imperial Palace. There, they see countless Imperial Citizens surrounding the gigantic walls of the Palace. Many of them are humans, but there are also thousands of sub-human. Abhumans and Men of Stone happily cheer with each other and enjoy this pleasant life with their non-flesh brethren, like being entirely non-human like Men of Iron.
"Their smiles. Those innocent lights must not extinguish by any means in our watchful eyes. Solar Guardian itself was born in Federation Age. The purpose of protecting humanity from any horrors lies ahead. Our duty is to be humanity's first and last line of defense. If we implement it with all of our hearts, those assassins will never lay their hands on us." Said Raias confidently. His transhuman charisma blared from his eyes with conviction, banishing any fear in Maiya's heart.
The Imperium is vast, spanning millions of worlds. Sometimes harsh rules must be enforced with citizens in the quintillion or even more. But there is one for certain in those rules. They were created to protect humanity. Two of their instruments is the creation of the Solar Guardian and the Assassins Ordos.
Humanity's greatest strength is unity. Many had declined that claim due to either their arrogance or ignorant. Nonetheless, it was an accepted fact that came to every heart of those who served humanity's bastion.
"Yes, Captain." Maiya concurs, smiling with joy that shows a new height of her.
"I'm glad to hear that, Maiya." Raias turn his head to Nathaniel. "Your concern for your colleagues is extraordinary, Nathaniel. Keep that in your heart tightly."
"I will do, Captain. I will." The bald Solar Guardian says, honored by the compliment.
"Let's enjoy this day together, shall we?" Said Raias, pouring his Amesec into a couple of crystal glasses on the table. "It came from Macragge, my homeworld. Please, enjoy yourself."
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The Falmartian and the Japanese were given directions to assemble at the inner garden gallery near the Saturnine Wall. The garden itself was massive and surprisingly exotic. Even the breeze was gentle and spiritually touching to any living being.
The Japanese are the one who enters first, waiting for the rest.
"I wonder how their journey went," Kuribayashi mutters out loud.
"I can't say I'm not curious. But damn, the Imperial Palace is indeed a place of surprises." Kurata remarks, grinning broadly.
"You and Itami's love for anime." Said Kuribayashi sarcastically.
"Hey!" Kurata shouts in annoyance before taking a deep breath, turning his glance at his superior. "That was the most incredible experience in our life, right?"
"How many times in your life can you enter your favorite anime? Never until this one." Somehow, Itami's thirst for anime had been satisfied with that experience. But the ironic part was it successfully made Itami focus on his work, surprising the rest of them.
"Whatever," Kuribayashi could not hold her sigh, massaging her temple to ease her headache.
"But I can't deny it myself that Imperium is something else entirely. Since we entered Terra, my heart has always been enveloped in perpetually warm and content. But to my curiosity, I can't find where the warm atmosphere came from."
"I must agree with you, Sergeant Kuribayashi." Said Aizawa. "I can also feel it. It... Rejevunate my soul. I don't know how to describe it, but I feel much younger whenever I wake up."
"It might be connected with strange energy in the Palace. Anathematic power, was it?" Kurata asks his group, shrugging.
"The power of the Emperor. That's the way they call it," Said Itami, holding his chin in wonder.
"Anathematic... I don't want to offend somebody, but it sounds similar to Anathema. Yet, from what we learn about the Emperor, he was the personification of order. Which made me wonder... The archenemies, they told us days prior. What are they?" Kurata renders his voice as low as possible, trying to hide it from anyone besides his team.
"I welcome you to this garden. I hope you all have a pleasant morning." Alexander's voice made Kurata shut his mouth tight.
"Alexander. Many times I must say thank you for your hospitality." Aizawa says in gratitude, smiling with satisfaction and joy.
"Please, don't mind it. I'm just performing my duty, after all." Alexander retorts in a soft dismissal tone. "As your friends shall come in minutes, I have prepared hors d'oeuvre for all of you."
Itami seems to notice something. "Is that French?"
"You guess it correctly, Lieutenant Itami," Alexander replies jovially. "I searched across Library Sanctus to find this archaic term. Quite amusing, if I may say."
Itami nods in understanding. "French is indeed a beautiful language, after all."
"Now, please follow my direction," Alexander gently address the Japanese.
With the help of the Ferrous Mind, they arrive at the inner garden. It was fully decorated for their breakfast as a round table made with flawless marble gloriously displayed before them. On top of it, complete eating utensils and the said hors d'oeuvre were served perfectly.
"I must admit, it was marvelous like always, Alexander." Said Aizawa, smiling.
During their stay at the Imperium, they have been presented with various luxuries and the beauty of the Imperium. The cuisine is one of them. Saying they are delicious is an understatement, as the complexity of the flavors exceeds their wildest appetite.
After a few minutes of waiting, the rest of the group arrived. But, a surprise to all, they are drastically different than before.
Tuka wore a regal black robe. A golden Aquila is beautifully woven on it. Yet, the face of the cheerful elf is nowhere to be seen. It was a somber determination that clouded her facade.
The Saderan Princess and her knight were no different. Even though their attires were not changed, their figures changed completely.
Steadfast and determined. Furthermore, their naivety disappeared completely, replaced by the will of steel.
And the next one is Lelei. She is the one who changes a lot, even some of them need time to recognize her. Her usual robe is not there anymore, replaced by a white robe with red lines across it. Her chest was covered in flawless silver breast armor with a fragment of ruby at the center.
The most drastic change that came to her face was that even though the stoic feature was still there, the innocent was not. Some of her hair also changes to red, matching her attire. In her hand, there is a metal staff. The staff is alive like it has its own soul at a simple glance. But when their eyes blink, the odd sight disappears, leaving an ordinary staff.
The last person who enters their eyesight is Rory. To their surprise, she did not change at all. It made them draw breath in relief. Yet, there is apparently one person to notice a crack in Rory's face. Her face is like a broken mask that resembles the perfection of her being. The difference is hidden in a near-perfect mental fortitude, but her eyes could not hide it.
"Rory, are you okay?" Itami asks in concern.
"Ah, Itami. I'm fine. There is nothing to worry about." Rory shrugs off the question, smiling like her usual self.
"If you say so," Itami decides not to push further, glancing at the rest of them. "Come here, join us."
They nod their head in unison, taking their seat on empty chairs. Slowly they take the into their mouth, enjoying themselves in the pleasurable flavor.
"Because everyone is already here, I shall serve the nourishment." Said Alexander as a flash of light came to the fold, materializing foods with tantalizing aromas. "You may eat, honored guests."
Thus, they did. In the later minutes, there is only silence between the Japanese and the Falmartian. The cause of it was unknown, but it is suffocating them.
"Ummm... What do you think about our stays in here, guys?" Itami begins, trying to ease the atmosphere.
"Enlightenment," Lelei easily states with her stoic face. "I have learned many. From how to use spells most efficiently and even the secret of the nature around us."
"It..." Pina held her tongue to find the correct words to structure her sentence. "It was unforgettable. These days are among the experiences that will change my life forever,"
"I will concur with Princess Pina. Lord Malcador has given us many and many valuable pieces of information. He even reveals to us about Third Galactic War." Bozes recalls the experience when she received the vision. It made her shudder as the bone-chilling memories lingered in her mind.
The Japanese grimaced as they also learned about that part of the Imperium's history. The scale of that war is beyond any form of imagination to endure.
"For me, it was a duty. To ensure my species' salvation." Said Tuka firmly. It was not that surprising due to her heritage. A race like Elf that bear many resemblances of an Eldar was unwelcomed by the entire Imperium. History has proven an undeniable point. Thus, they only take pity on her.
"I hope your endeavor shall bear a sweet fruit, Tuka." Lelei encourages her warmly.
"Thank you, Lelei." Tuka nods in gratitude.
"Speaking of our journeys. Lelei, you traveled to Prospero. What does that planet look like?" Aizawa asks in pure curiosity.
"Prospero," her facial feature changes drastically as she smiles at her brightest. "It was the heaven for scholars and magicians. The architecture was different from Terra. It was the manifestation of the Sea of Soul in the material realm. A seemingly building-sized library could host an entire nation's worth of books—a place where impossible structures were built majestically. The sky has the colors of incredibly beautiful aurora and the ever-present power that guides me with my psychic power as well as protects me from those who slither in the dark. It was a place where the law of the material universe and the unimaginable power of the Empyrean blend to discover every secret in the universe."
The description needs time to digest by their minds fully. Which only gives them one option to respond. They nod in understanding.
"That was... Something remarkable, Lelei." Kuribayashi says to her with a wry smile.
"Of course!" Lelei beamed. "It was the best place I could live for. It is a place for those who seek enlightenment. Every living person in Prospero is a psykers like me. We are cursed with the power to destroy worlds. But my mentors told me otherwise. We are born with a great responsibility to be the future of all mankind. Humanity fears anything unknown to them. But as long as they want to learn more, that fear can be conquered. I saw it with my own eyes. They risked their lives to save me from my carelessness when I entered the Empyrean Sea for the first time. They see value in each one of us. Then I was told about our ascension and His Majesty's dream."
The euphoric atmosphere began to fade, leaving room for another conversation.
"His Majesty's dream." Surprisingly it was Rory who mutters.
"The dream of our ascension. A dream of the Ideal Truth."
For unknown reasons, it sent them chills in their bones. Something about Rory's eyes made them nervous—only Tuka and Lelei had noticed the difference in Rory's figure. Her eyes were not purple. Instead, it was a pair of golden orbs.
"I see," Lelei mutters, nodding her head.
"Ideal Truth? You mean the Imperial Truth?" Aizawa asks, feeling intrigued.
"I can't say those two were identical. Imperial Truth was designed to guide civilization. But the Ideal Truth was another case entirely." Rory stares back at the questioner. "It was the opposite of the Primordial Truth. Of that fact, it was the truth of humanity's existence."
Those who have read about the Imperial Truth can understand her words, albeit only half. But those who are not are utterly lost in her words.
"Care to explain, Rory?" Kuribayashi inquires, tilting her head.
Rory ponders momentarily, holding her chin as her eyes dart low. She recalls moments when she talked with the Emperor about the true value.
"Humanity was born with their instinct to survive. They create communities and cities for their own protection. But that was not only the case as we made weapons and various advancements for our desire. That desire shall transform into countless forms many had forgotten or even change into a form we cannot describe. But one shall remain, and that is our ideal, and that ideal will ascend further into dreams." Rory says softly, smiling fondly.
The group listens to her as her aura makes the entire attention solely focuses on her. It was nearly supernatural charisma made manifest.
"Dream of humanity constantly changing through ages. But those dreams stand for one thing. They stand for a new height. Imperium and the Imperial Truth are two instruments to lead humanity to the ultimate goal of their utmost ideal. The Emperor of Mankind saw this and wanted to bring his species with him—the truth about our destiny. Everything will uncover itself upon us when that destiny has come at hand."
"For what purpose?" Lelei asks.
"Isn't that clear?" Rory glared at her, eyes narrowing. "To surpass those self-proclaimed gods."