Warhammer 40: Shattered Steel Soul

Chapter 493 The Emperor's Children

"The word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'I want to tell you that the hesitation I find in you is very uncharacteristic of you. I see that you are in great distress. I remember your eagerness when we first met, when you held me in the cave. I thought you were very experienced. But now I see that you are not yet sure of what you want to teach me, and there are many things you are reluctant to do.

'The Lord looked at him and said, "Go forward and tell me of old: 'Do not turn back.' I need you to tell me to set the unsettled heart of my youth, just as you chose our path for me in the ship. Tell me that the heavens will be astonished at us, and the abominations will be driven back to the wilderness and emptiness at our fingertips."

"The shadow in the fire bowed down before the Lord. He said nothing, but the Lord knew everything.

"Okay! Lord, I want to tell you that you will establish a kingdom here, but many things will also be destroyed in your kingdom. The people you lead will always destroy the place you built. Since you know that I am your son, you must also know that many of us have died under each other's swords, and in the future we will swing knives on ourselves, turn cities into ashes, and turn battlefields into furnaces. But you must build a holy city, just like the one in the invitation of the seal holder, you should build it, so that we can have people to kill.

"Then the Lord said, 'Fat earth is defiled, good wood is burnt; but is there a place where men can keep the light of heaven forever? There is no such place. So I will build for them a dam that will collapse, and a yoke that will break. Since men have sinned, this sin must come from me, so that my copy will also be destroyed. But this is what we have agreed on.

“The shadow turned away and said: Then I will go forward, and you will go backward.

The LORD sent him away and said, “Rely on me, and I will know that you are the one who wants to destroy my country. After all, I created you, and if you look around, you will see that I created the country that is coming here. However, there is no way for you to go back from now on. Although you have seen many people who have lost their lives for us, my intention has not changed.”

"The shadows dispersed from the dunes, and on the hills of the desert was a city buried in the sand, with a secluded path going down to the depths. Under the secluded path was the throne of the Lord. The golden throne will certainly be lost one day, but our Lord will not greet it with any fear or anger, just as fire is not afraid of thorns and the lion does not care about ants.

"Just then, a long trumpet was blown on the earth, and an empire was established."

-

Narek read aloud on the pulpit. There were not many people in the chapel. The people here took in Batusa Narek and several of his crew members out of simple morals and of course their love for some tall, young laborers. This did not give them much new interest in preaching - what Narek said was far from the two major sects in the empire.

Whether it was the followers who supported the truth of the empire or the followers who agreed with the doctrines preached by the Word Bearers, they probably would not agree with the remote knowledge that Narek was spreading now. He had always expected this, so he was surprised that there were still a few villagers who were listening here.

Among the seats he saw Alyona and her sisters, who, perhaps because they were too busy and had too much energy to waste, were standing by the mercy seat instead of sitting on the benches.

"Priest!" Alyona called him while he was resting to drink water. "Does your story have a name?"

"That's true. I'm still thinking of a name."

"Isn't it a name inspired by God?"

"Alas, how can God tell us everything in advance? If you listen to my story carefully, you will know that God also needs enlightenment, Alyona. But - if you can't think of any new suggestions, I am considering the 'Ecclesiasticus'."

"It's so long," said one of Alena's sisters. "Do we really have to use this?"

"Then do as you please, see how you like it." Narek agreed with good temper, it seems that not many things can make him angry now. The longer he spent in this peaceful place, the less unnecessary waves in his heart: the boy at the end of the Glorious Crossroads has occupied most of his mind, he seems to see his figure every time in front of him, and can't help but correct his behavior all the time.

"Then... 'story'," the white-haired girl said, puffing her lips. "That's what I'm calling it. The latest storybook. It tells the story of the birth of our human empire."

"Is this the story of the birth of the human empire?" Narek smiled, "Well, it seems there is nothing to hide."

"I hope you're not afraid of being captured by the Word Bearers or the Ministry of Justice, Priest. Your stories are too blasphemous to the throne," said Alena. She looked quite comfortable and yearning as she embraced her sister. "But I really like your story. If the emperor is really like what you said, I'm afraid I would like to meet him... Well, I won't bother you anymore, Priest! I see someone is waiting anxiously!"

The other young men and women in the chapel stopped staring at the white-haired girls.

So Narek continued.

-

"There was a chill wind in the temple, like the cool air blowing from the wasteland and the hive city. People would say: Why is there rain and snow in this temple? But this is what the Lord wants to welcome. He is waiting for the man-made strong wind in the temple to blow in his face, which is exactly what He ordered. As soon as He waited for this wind, He knew that the human empire would be shaken by all kinds of injustice and danger.

"It was at this time that the shadow followed the flickering light of the candlestick and quickly came to the Lord's side. "Hey, my son! The Lord said so. He not only said so, but also called the shadow's name, but this name is not something we can know. The shadow was very surprised, because the Lord should not know who he was at this time, but his anxious heart had been clearly heard by the Lord.

"The shadow said silently: Father, it seems that we have met many times. This is the first time I see you, and I am afraid you will not see my shadow again.

"The Lord asked, 'Have we caused all this suffering? Have we torn so many hearts apart by our choices? Have the banners of my enemies been flying over the temple? Otherwise, why are you so confused? You are truly a spirit of iron, and your heart has been broken into many pieces by many deaths, but you do not show it to me. You must know that you will cause much destruction in the future and kill many people. Your sorrow is like the sky darkening at noon. How can it last?
"Shadow looked at the Lord and was speechless for a moment. He must have found the Lord with a lot of hesitation, as if he had walked into an open tomb, but he did not know that he had received the Lord's guidance right away, just as the Lord had received his guidance tens of thousands of years ago.

"You will go to my past and future and personally give me many instructions to punish the enemies of mankind and to avenge the many evil people who have harmed my children. They deceive us like evil birds and want to prevent us from crossing this sea of ​​suffering. I ask you to know that since you have come here, I must have made many efforts, but I still fell into the cage of coercion and misfortune. Then, please climb the traitor's wall on my behalf and destroy everything that hinders us.

"Shadow hesitated silently. His heart was shaken by the devastation he saw. He returned to the Lord with the intention of not leaving, but to bury the dead. He was still wavering, not wanting to see the many sacrifices, and the Lord did not alienate him because of his hesitation. He knew that they would both reach a day when they would never retreat, but the Lord had already passed that day, and his son had just come down from the tree of bitter fruit.

"Thus says the Lord: Behold, the enemies of mankind have risen, and we are not helpless. Our plan is a shield that no sword has ever penetrated. But do not hesitate, for you still have to hold up this shield. Why, if you want to weep, weep! But your mission has been chosen by you.

"You are standing at a crossroads. There are many roads ahead, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, but I will only choose the straight road I am walking on now, and I command you: you must choose my road. You will understand why your choice is made by me, and then you will also understand that my choice is made by you.

"If your enemy is the kingdom I built, then you will know later that I have allowed you to destroy it. However, I still have to say: I have chosen people to speak for me, and I will also choose you to be my spear. As for the rest, I am afraid that I will not be able to pour my anger on the earth myself, and you should not tell me who I chose to do what - that might backfire. I must burn my future myself.

"The shadow accepted the Lord's teachings. Was he perhaps waiting for some gentle touch? However, he himself knew that when he came here, what could keep him going was no longer comfort. If a person decided to burn many worlds with fire, turn the cheers and birds into panic and dust, and let the remains be used as fertilizer on the ground, then what could support him would be destined to have nothing to do with comfort. Therefore, what he expected was indeed an order, as if this could make his heart feel better and not suffer the pain of annihilation and devastation.

"The shadow bowed to the Lord, his mind still unsettled, just as a grapevine will not bear fruit as soon as it is planted. The Lord knew that he was not a person who did not think, so he let him use his wisdom to solve his confusion. Then the Lord told him: Go, my weapon. Give, and then reap. The flock asked for rewards from fate in this way.

"The shadow quietly went away, his presence wavering but not disappearing instantly.

"Every man's path is his own, and he who sets out on it chooses his own steps. I have heard your voice, and I am about to go forth. But there is one thing I still want to ask of you, my Lord, for today is the day for you to write your last letter.

"The Lord is not surprised: although I have done my best, since I am destined to lose my words, I will indeed leave a set of letters to guide your hearts. Constantine Waldo will be the guardian of the collection. Will you watch me write my will and seal it?
"The shadow has vanished from the presence of the Lord, and the Lord has taken the knife and has carved delicate marks on the skin of the soulless one, letter by letter. No one's words resemble his, no one's appearance and figure resemble his, no one's silence resembles his.

"He did not mention what he was thinking, nor did he say much about his true thoughts. His letter was not to his offspring, but to the empire. He left behind half of the plan, and hoped that the other half would never be used. He knew that the curtain he had built had been destroyed, and his children were destined to leave, but he still wanted to post the last message. That was the crimson wax seal on the letter paper."

-

When Batusa Narek was about to leave the planet, Alena and her sisters chased him out. They stretched out their hands, as tough as birch wood, and held Narek's hands stubbornly one by one, unwilling to let go.

"I have finished telling the 'storybook' here. Even if you want to listen more, I have to go to the next place."

"Going to the next place to tell these stories, priest?"

"Maybe, and then there's the struggle with the Word Bearers' sacred texts." Narek said, looking down at the sisters in front of him. They came with their own bags, packed into a small package, and the bag flapped on their shoulders. "I'm just a preacher."

"Hey, I see you are a warrior. You are so big and have so many hard muscles. You can't be just a priest." Alena said. Her face did not even show a trace of blush in the cold wind, as if she was a living shovel standing there.

"I don't care why you are so absorbed in preaching, but I think you must know how to fight, and you must have some ideas that are more extraordinary than telling stories everywhere... It's very strange, as soon as I heard you start with the story of the Tower of Babel, I knew that I had to tell you this matter..."

"Go ahead, Alena," Narek replied. He already had some premonitions. People who grew up on this planet seemed to be born with a very extraordinary thing in human nature, that is, the idea of ​​being able to withstand the cold wind and many things worse than the cold wind. When they face these obstacles, they must still have a hearty smile on their faces.

"We can't stay here. I've learned so many things. This iron land can't keep us... Well, you will definitely encounter battles in the future, but how can you be enough with just a few of you? Take us with you. We are happy to fight for the emperor you mentioned and kill the enemy - don't mind that we are not space marines! Let me tell you, even ordinary guards may not be as capable as us in fighting."

Alyona said, her naturally white hair cut short to her ears, which made her eyes twinkle more stubbornly. "Since you are a priest, we will be nuns. How can there be no nuns?"

(End of this chapter)