Northwestern Galaxy, Serpent's Cradle.
Nareth set foot on the sixth planet again. The vast numbers of Slaaneshi daemons had vanished with the destruction of the Warp portal.
The twin stars' original blue light now bathed the planet's surface.
His consciousness expanded, sweeping over translucent marble slabs, resilient basalt, and volcanic obsidian.
The sixth planet was, overall, a rocky world, capable of meeting the construction needs of an entire sector.
Of course, the Aeldari's mastery of psychic arts meant its land still produced more than Imperium-engineered agri-worlds, even exceeding Tizca's psychic terraces.
His consciousness then perceived the clear springs flowing between the rocks. The moment he touched them, he immediately sensed their uniqueness.
He instantly knew they were the material Slau Dha had used to convert Perpetuals.
His golden wings beat. He rose.
Golden light flashed. In moments, he reached the rocky terrain, looking down at the spring, its water so clear it was almost crystalline.
With each breath, the spring's sweet scent filled his nostrils.
Physical and mental fatigue faded together.
"The legends are true."
He sighed. The legends of the Serpent's Cradle's sweet water, said to cure all ailments, were true.
His psychic intuition stirred. He activated his Spirit Vision, gazing at the saturated spiritual luster.
'Spring water saturated with spiritual luster!'
He thought, astonished. After examining it, he confirmed its spiritual luster was similar to the Sequence 3 Dice of Prophecy.
'Sequence 3 level. The main ingredient for converting Perpetuals. Does it correspond to Sequence 3 "Unaging" on the Demoness Pathway?'
He examined the spring for a long time. The water was pure, radiating a pure life color.
He turned his head, looking to the right. Six kilometers away stood an organic spire built of psychic crystal.
'The greater daemon didn't corrupt that spring. Perhaps it couldn't, or perhaps it only used it as bait.'
As he speculated, his right palm turned. A crystal bottle appeared.
With a thought, a telekinetic hand lifted the bottle, holding it over the spring, filling it.
With another thought, he brought it to the Kingdom of Disorder.
The bottle was unchanged. The pure water radiated spiritual luster and sweet scent.
"Even smoother than I expected. No need for purification. I can perform the Perpetual conversion ritual immediately."
With this thought, he went to the newly unlocked tenth layer.
The moment he entered, the "Mentor of Disorder" saw grey threads of law forming a box-like space.
Clearly, this layer corresponded to "Backroom Deal."
With a thought, he immediately perceived the difference between this ability and his own.
Besides the higher level of the Kingdom of Disorder, making the forced trade more effective, it could also operate remotely within a certain range.
Through "linked" items, he could trade within a surrounding area.
He immediately thought of an application: sending "Spiritual Sculptures" "linked" to the Kingdom of Disorder into a target area, then performing a "Backroom Deal."
A week later, on the second planet of the Serpent's Cradle, on a plain purified by Sun Pathway beyonders with holy water, Nareth chose a site ten kilometers from the spring for the Perpetual conversion ritual.
The ritual site was arranged according to the symbols of the Aeldari goddess of life, Isha.
First, the base of the symbol needed to be arranged.
A pit was dug, just large enough for the convert to lie in.
The base determined the scope of the other areas.
A cross-shaped 'trunk' was 'planted' above the pit, formed by Aeldari runes.
Gemstones, palm-sized, were arranged in three leaf-shaped areas, in the other three directions of the cross.
Nareth chose his most trusted aide, Arsena, who served him most often, as the first Perpetual convert.
He said to his Aide, "Arsena, I once said you would not die of old age."
"Now, it's time to fulfill that promise."
"Lie in the pit."
Arsena examined the clear, sweet water in the pit. With a light sniff, it was even more refreshing than pure air.
"Thank You, my Lord."
He removed his Dominum Armor and stepped into the pit.
He immediately felt coolness on his feet. A refreshing sensation spread through his body.
He lay down. No discomfort from holding his breath. The water filling his nostrils felt remarkably pleasant.
Light and shadow flickered in the Primarch's eyes. He raised his hand, placing it on the top leaf.
The entire ritual area blazed with brilliant light, brighter than the blue light of the twin stars.
As the light blazed, Arsena felt the cool water instantly turn warm.
He felt as if immersed in a hot spring. Life force washed over him. The age spots on his arms and neck visibly vanished.
Nareth's gaze pierced the brilliant light, watching Arsena's body, once slightly dull, grow lustrous.
The brilliant light faded, then vanished in a final flare.
A gentle breeze blew. The gleaming gems turned to dust.
The pit was dry.
Arsena lay stunned for a few seconds before emerging from the incredibly pleasant state.
He felt as if he had awakened from a delightful dream, his body, mind, and spirit in perfect condition.
The lingering, vague fatigue from the Sak'trada Deeps was gone.
He quickly donned his Huntress armor and walked to the Black Emperor, who stood with hands clasped behind his back.
He knelt on one knee, his voice thick with emotion.
"Thank You, my Lord, for Your gift. The life the Hrud took has returned to me."
"You have granted me new life."
Nareth turned slowly, looking at the "Polymath."
"Indeed, new life. You must have seen references to immortal beings in your research."
"The Emperor. Malcador. Vulkan. All are Perpetuals."
"Now, you are like them. You will not die of old age, and you possess a degree of resurrection ability."
Countless references in countless books flashed through the "Polymath's" mind.
Threads of evidence became clear.
'So this is what my Lord meant when He said we would not die of old age. He meant making us Perpetuals.'
'My Lord came to this region for us.'
'Not only did He restore the life I lost, He made me a Perpetual.'
Arsena's long, narrow eyes shone like gems. He made a solemn vow.
"My Lord, I will emulate Malcador. As the Sigillite serves the Emperor, I will serve You forever."
'No, Malcador will burn out on the Golden Throne. You will live longer.' Nareth thought silently. "Rise."
After Arsena rose, Nareth instructed.
"Order the Techmarines to build a teleportarium."
"The Legion has twelve Chapters. The Serpent's Cradle has twelve planets. Each Chapter will receive one for colonization and development."
"The forested first planet goes to the Seventh Chapter. The second to the Second Chapter. The deep-sea world, the third, to the Ninth Chapter..."
Ten days later, a hundred meters from the first conversion site, Marlena and Diana stood before the pit, their cheeks flushed.
Seeing no lust in Nareth's commanding gaze, his eyes as calm as ever, Marlena lay down in the clear water without hesitation.
Diana, efficient, hearing the water, lay down too.
As the brilliant light blazed, Diana's streaked blonde-white hair rapidly returned to its shining gold.
As a biomancer, Marlena's sensations were clearer.
She felt life force flowing into her body.
Every cell in her body leaped.
She examined herself, confirming her life level had undergone a fundamental change.
Each cell was transforming in ways she could not understand.
Even bio-lightning could not effect such profound changes at the cellular level.
'So this is what my Lord meant. Incredible.'
She struggled to extend her psychic energy, exploring the changes in her body. She vaguely discerned patterns similar to the ritual site's within the life light.
The moment she outlined the abstract runes in her mind, her mind went blank.
Light and shadow flickered in the Primarch's eyes. He looked at Marlena.
His gaze was not on her nude form. The biomancer's perfect body was still within mortal bounds, holding no attraction for him.
His gaze was on the Sea of Souls.
A point of bright light flickered in the colored vortex beyond the veil.
'It seems her spirit, as well as her body, is transforming.'
'Why is Marlena different?'
As he thought, the light faded.
He noted Marlena emerged from her trance a second slower than Diana.
Marlena and Diana walked to the Black Emperor, hands clasped behind his back, and offered their thanks.
After questioning Marlena about her experience, he determined her uniqueness was related to her use of bio-lightning to probe during the conversion.
He did not stop the conversion process. The twelve worlds had varying numbers of similar springs, of similar size.
He expanded the conversion scope.
The Error Pathway leader of the "Marauders", Tierney. The "Assassins'" leaders, Maria Kournikova and Dementieva.
The two "Pleasure," after conversion, pleasantly surprised found their abilities enhanced.
Knowing this, Nareth confirmed the spring water corresponded to the "Unaging" and named it the Fountain of Youth.
He then included the Legion's high command in the conversion.
Though Astartes typically died in battle before aging, Sigismund would still die of old age at the hands of the Chaos-empowered Abaddon.
Though he could not convert every son into a Perpetual, the Fountain of Youth was sufficient for the Legion's high command.
Besides the Chapter Lords, he selected certain company captains.
The Light Lord, Wilshire, and his 1st and 2nd Company Captains, Winterburn and Solier, were converted in the blue light.
The Death Lord, Adams, his 1st Company Captain Oliver, Fifth Company Captain Keon, and Chief Apothecary Mikael, were converted in the darkness.
Chief Librarian Thomas, Nicholas, Miguel Cuesta, Ethan, and Okafor were converted simultaneously.
Chaplain Pat and his deputy, Martin, who oversaw the Sun Pathway.
Among them, Thomas and Okafor, with their "Eyes of Mystery Pryings," also had their spirits refined by seeing Isha's symbols, their psychic powers noticeably enhanced.
Nareth did not convert Hasik into a Perpetual. He had not served him long enough to deserve that reward.
After making Hasik a true "Provoker," advancing him to Sequence 7 "Pyromaniac," he began arranging his own conversion ritual.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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