"The Creator was not just adept at forging weapons but also at construction."
"In terms of raw power, we may not differ much, but you can craft mighty weapons, unlike me, who can only endlessly shift my form."
"Weaker C'tan need to work together, but the powerful ones, like the Void Dragon or the Nightbringer, see their kin merely as adversaries."
"After the Nightbringer shattered me…"
Qin Mo silently listened as Mimic recounted tales from eons ago, only breaking his silence as Mimic reached the final part.
The quill in Qin Mo's hand trembled slightly, and he looked up into the empty space before him. "Didn't you once say that it was I who forged the weapon that shattered you?"
"That's not impossible. You must understand, I am merely a fragment, not whole. I cannot help but alter my surroundings, shaping memories for myself. It could have been you who shattered me, or perhaps the Nightbringer, or even some other being..."
Though Mimic's voice remained ethereal, Qin Mo could sense sadness and confusion in it.
Clearly, Mimic's words could not always be taken at face value; its very existence was unstable. Much like when Qin Mo had ventured into the illusion it created, Mimic had been lost in the memories of the past. Those memories, too, might not have been real, but rather figments conjured by its fractured mind.
"A shattered Star God is indeed pitiable," Qin Mo mused, before posing another question, "What would happen if you were erased completely?"
This question did not involve any memories, so Mimic answered with certainty. "The material universe would lose its shapes. Matter would still exist, but without form. Beings would find everything indescribable, as if the concept of shape itself had vanished."
"Could you not, like Llandu'gor, cast a curse, making it impossible for people to discern shapes?" Qin Mo asked again.
Llandu'gor, another Star God, had been slain by the Necrons, and in its dying breath, cast the Flayer Curse. The infected Necrons became Flayed Ones, obsessed with tearing the flesh from their victims, and even began to worship Llandu'gor.
Mimic reflected for a moment, then gave a vague reply. "I remember little of Llandu'gor, but it wasn't a pleasant entity. I could cast a curse, but it wouldn't be nearly as troublesome as what would happen if I were completely destroyed."
"Indeed," Qin Mo nodded, resuming his work.
After completing the documents supporting Donna and her father's claim to the Lannis family inheritance, he began drafting a decree restoring the honor of a noble family on Tyron II, a family eradicated for joining the Resistance, honoring their righteousness and valor.
Though these bureaucratic tasks were tedious, Qin Mo found a certain respect for the nobles who had made such sacrifices for the Resistance on Tyron II. Had it been someone like that scoundrel Arkana, or his ilk, Qin Mo would have erased every trace of their existence from the universe.
...
The following morning.
Outside Qin Mo's quarters, Donna sat cross-legged on a chair, quietly awaiting the exit of the person ahead of her.
Leaning against the chair, Donna's gaze wandered over her surroundings. A plain corridor, a row of chairs against the wall, and several officers also waiting to meet with Qin Mo.
This place was a far cry from the castle on the Lannis family estate, but Donna found it preferable. There were no excessive decorations or cumbersome formalities — everything was refreshingly simple.
"Do not be disrespectful when you meet the Governor, or you may be thrown out."
"Do not do anything you shouldn't, or say anything unnecessary. First, respectfully ask about the progress of the documents. If he says they are complete, receive them courteously, bow, and then leave."
"..."
Donna's father was currently on another planet, reminding his daughter of proper etiquette. Knights had their own communication channels, relayed via orbital shipyards, so their conversation remained private.
Donna wasn't particularly interested in listening to all of this. After enduring it for a while, she finally responded, "Got it! Old man."
Her father chuckled, having grown used to her impatience. He himself had been much like her in his youth.
But discipline was still necessary.
Donna first heard her father's laughter, then his voice turned serious. "You'd best pray to the Emperor that I'm in a good mood when you return home, or I'll confine you for a week. And each day, you will follow every family rule."
At this, Donna's expression changed, and her posture became more upright. The mere thought of the family's endless rules gave her a headache. Even something as simple as a meal required a half-hour of preparation: how to hold a spoon, where to place the plate, how many seconds between each bite...
"I've remembered everything you said, Father. Please rest assured," Donna replied.
"You'd better."
With the communication ended, Donna quickly turned to the smooth metal wall, using it as a makeshift mirror to adjust her appearance. Though it wasn't as good as a real mirror, it would have to do for now.
After ensuring her appearance was in order, the door to the Governor's chamber opened. The previous visitor had concluded their business and left.
As an officer rose to enter, Donna stepped ahead, slipping inside with a smug smile as she closed the door behind her.
Turning to address Qin Mo, she saw he was engrossed in drawing something. Curious, she approached to take a closer look.
On a large screen, a device orbiting a star was being meticulously sketched.
"What's that?" Donna asked, intrigued.
"A device to harvest energy from a star," Qin Mo replied, looking up briefly before reaching into a drawer to retrieve a parchment. "Here."
Donna took the parchment and examined it, recognizing the decree she and her father needed — the official endorsement of the Lannis family's rightful succession.
"Thank you, Governor," Donna said, expressing her gratitude, though she hesitated, then voiced another concern. "My father and I need support for our knights — repairs and supplies..."
"Doesn't your family have technicians or members of the Mechanicus?" Qin Mo asked.
"We did…" Donna nodded.
Qin Mo understood immediately. The Lannis family's technicians had either not joined the Resistance or had perished in the battles. And since Tyron II took no prisoners...
"I see. I'll see what I can do, but with the entire system entering a development phase, many things demand my attention. You may have to wait," Qin Mo assured her.
With the Governor's promise, Donna felt reassured. This Governor was a man of his word.