Heartbreak117

  Out of ingrained instinct, the Space Marines, Archmagos, and Sisters of Battle lower themselves in deep respect to the visage of a mighty golden figure. More majestic than all of Her Primarchs, the Emperor of Mankind has graced the mortal world at st. As the warmth of Her holy light washes over them, they 't help but feel emotional, even with their hardened or metallic hearts. To all of them, this is like a dream e true, being in the same room as the object of their reverence. Some may questiohenticity of what's happening, refusing to believe that She is maing right here and now. Yet, the people in the room feel with every fiber of their body and soul that, ihe Emperor is truly here with them.

  "Rise, children of the Imperium." Her soothing voice gracefully ands them. "Your duty is not to kneel."

  The Emperor's voice, emboldened by Her psychic prowess, feels like a balm that heals their souls. Unwilling to dey their a by a single instahe people in the room stand up respectfully. It's only now that they view the figure shrouded in the Light of Truth. Encased in Her Golden Aqui Armor, the Emperor stands taller than any Primarch could hope to be. A shining Halo be seen floating above Her long, flowing dark hair. Her pierg eyes glitter ao shift colors from a cold arctic blue to a shimmering green and many other shades. Yet, there's a noticeable sense of boundless wisdom and patien how She gazes at them. Her lips curl in a motherly smile, seeing their stalwart souls and dedications shine like beas in the darkest of times.

  The Emperor nods at them kindly, one by one saying their names. "Samander Space Marine Chapter Master, Tu'shan, Samander Chief Librarian Vel'a, Archmagos Dominus Cawl, ess Superior Elyzabeth Fortier, Patisavorae."

  "My Emperor..." Someone speaks up with a noticeable tremble, though it's unknown to all but the Emperor who has said it. These children of the Imperium are gettiional, or are struggling to process the data of reality right in front of them.

  Smiling at them, the Emperor walks to the one-way mirror. "Join me, children. We have things to discuss."

  With Her permission, the group walks to the mirror, or in Archamagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl's case, skittering to it. Standing side by side, they barely fit in the viewing chamber due to the impressive size of the Emperor and Her Space Marines. For a minute in this time-stopping, colorless world, they remain in ptive sileil the Emperor speaks again.

  "Eio have a st poised to be someone bigger than any of us foresee." The Emperor turns and gazes at them slowly. "I foresaw my failings, but even I ot view what's in store for little Ein. It is... Fasating." The Emperor then turns to gaze mysteriously at the time-stopped figure of Ein who is leaning ba her chair with closed eyes.

  Hearing their Emperor addressing her adopted daughter, Elyzabeth respectfully says. "My Emperor, is Ein a cause for ?" It's hidden uhe weight of her respect, but there's a worry about how Elyzabeth speaks.

  The Emperives a melodid reassuring chuckle. "I am ed, yes, but it is because I am worried for her future. Her existend well-being are critical to the survival of the Imperium. More than any of you, my children, ever imagine."

  They all stand alert, uanding the gravity that seems to beset the Emperor's voice. The Samanders, in particur, feel a rising sense of duty. Whoever is crucial in the eyes of the Emperor will receive the Space Marines' utmost attention.

  The Emperoes on to hold out an opened palm that previously rested on the pommel of his Holy Fme Sword. It's on his palm that the Emperor materializes a badge of the Order of Our Martyred Lady, ohat is crafted by Ein's hands.

  "You have all glimpsed of the effect of the badges, made with dedication and care by little Ein." The Emperor says with a clear voice. "It's as you all expected. The badges made by Ein do carry my Light, a fra of it, but enough to subtle enhahe Sisters of the Order of Our Martyred Lady in mahat are important. Yet, perhaps the most crucial aspect of these enhas is the wearer's Luck. One of the most abstract cepts Humanity has e to know, but it is still perhaps the most useful to have in any situation. So long as the wearers still have these badges ohey will no doubt bee stalwart defenders against the darkhat preys on Mankind."

  "That is..." Elyzabeth sucks in a breath at the revetion and its ramifications.

  "Nigh impossible." Dominus Cawl states pinly, yet not in the way that disparages the Emperor. No, he is merely stating a supposed fact.

  The Emperor smiles. "Indeed, Belisarius Cawl. As improbable as it sounds, little Ein has ented these badges with a fragment of my Will, using nothing but her pure passion to protect those that are important to her. It has to be known that, when wearing this badge, you will have a much easier time resisting the taint of the ."

  Chapter Master Tu'shan nods. "Then it's imperative that we must secure and protect Ein, my Emperor. Such a bright and talented soul shouldn't be at the forefront that is Cadia."

  Chief Librarian Vel'a also adds. "My Emperor, Cadia is too close to the Eye of Terror. I am afraid the Ruinous Power will sense her presend seek to eliminate her at any cost."

  Before others interject, the Emperor patiently raises a hand to calm them.

  "I am reassured that your hearts are in the right pce. Of course, little Ein's safety is important. However, while we must ensure her well-being, it's also critical that we do not obstruct her natural path of development. There are forces at py that want her destiny to bee the greatest there is. Grand pns and ambition, mine included, are in motion, all tered around Ein. She is the fulcrum that we will use to ehe future of Mankind, or at the very least to safeguard Humanity from another dark period. And ironically enough, Ein is the safest here, on Cadia. The dreaded politi Terra will no doubt swallow her up, even before she spread her wings if she is to be brought back there."

  They all uand the implications. Vivid images spring into their minds, hypothesizing what their Emperor has said. At this time, Tsavorae bows. "My Emperor, what should we do?"

  The Emperor smiles. "Let it be known among yourselves that little Ein is blessed by my Light. There will e a time when Ein rises to the occasion, perf deeds of valiance, wisdom, and might. Her potential shall be limitless with her budding might growing day by day. heless, until little Ein matured and even afterward, there must be a safety for her. Even the greatest of persoumble and fall, even I was one such person. In her path forward, Ein will e face to face with peril aback. She needs allies, friends, and partners... A family, even, to keep her body, spirit, and mind strong against the relentless onsught of the grim darkness of the universe."

  The Emperor looks at them with Her shining gaze.

  "Lucifer Bcks have been deployed." The name es as an uandable shock to them. "They are tasked with subtly supp little Ein on a tactical level, masking themselves as fellow Cadian Guards. However, they alone are not enough. That's why I must ask you all to stand by little Ein's side, but be careful to not grousing needless attention ohere will e a time of great flicts, tering around Cadia that little Ein will be a part of. Ensuring little Ein's survival will be the only way for the Imperium to survive that time. How you all will e around to safeguard our Hope will be left at your discretion. However, certain provisions have been made to support you in this task. I trust my children will be careful and smart about this critical matter."

  The Emperor stops before sighing wistfully. "It is a shame that I 't be here much longer. It's only through the Light in the badges that I project myself here for a short while. For the foreseeable future, I will foasking little Ein's presence from the danger of the . The damnable Gods won't be able to gaze at her until the time is right. This way, you all shield her from the more immediate threats."

  Feeling that the time for their Emperor to leave is near, the group pays their respect to Her once more. Smiling at their devotion, the Emperor nods before looking at Ein's form o time. This final gamble She made better works, otherwise, She will bee a ughing stock at the Bar in the Void.

  Fading into motes of Light, the Emperor leaves with a smile as color and Time return to the world. After five minutes of silence, Elyzabeth finally heaves a sigh, half in disbelief.

  "Well, that just bloody happened."

  Even Dominus Cawl 't stop his syic speech. "The ce of Her appearing is utterly abysmal. My processor failed to even pute for a period of time."

  Tu'shan barks out a ugh. "No wonder you were oddly quiet. Though I guess we all did back theheless, it won't be wroo say that our schedule will be permaly booked from here on out."

  "And it doesn't have to be said that not a single word of this is allowed to leave this room. Not even Ein know." Elyzabeth adds. "Also, we will o influehe Cadian 8th somehow. If we ingrate ourselves with them, we apany Ein openly easier."

  Vel'a nods. "A good pn, and we should explore other avenues also."

  Tsavorae finally speaks up. "Then it's a good thing that Ein is on leave for the few days. It should give us enough time to pn her security details."

  ------------------------------------------------

  [Daily login reward received:

  Gained Abyss Totem stigmata.]

  [Abyss Totem stigmata:

  Error: The bearer o explore the bes of the stigmata themselves. Please tact the System Administrator for more details.]

  Mentally cheg out the Daily Reward I received, I only sport a weirded-out look.

  'What the fuck is this?'

  It's the first time I ever received an error for an holy unknown reward. And that, tag an Admin? How the hell do I even go doing about that? There are many questions in my mind, with me taking a while to uhe mystery surrounding the Abyss Totem stigmata and enjoying its bes. It's only iure that I truly appreciate the stigmata, and not just because of the bes it offer.

  Heartbreak117