Chapter 116: We'll See Each Other Tomorrow
Dawnlight - Parish School
The children today were fortunate, for not only did they have the honor of sitting with the noble Astartes, but they also had a rare moment of relaxation.
It was story time.
Sharing and passing on stories was a birthright of humanity. And an untainted human soul would always pause for a simple, beautiful story.
"Teacher!"
In the classroom, after listening to the story, Erica raised her hand, her eyes shining with curiosity and anticipation. "Why did the Great Angel choose fewer grapes instead of more apples?"
Karna smiled faintly, his gentle gaze falling upon Erica. "Well, little Erica, what would you choose?"
Erica thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "I... I would choose the apples. Because I can't afford grapes. There are a lot of apples, and I can bring them to my mama and my sister, and still have some left for myself."
Her voice was childish, but it held a rare firmness. Even though she knew the grapes were tastier, she still chose the apples.
"Hmm, it seems Erica values her family very much," Karna said, nodding gently and offering words of encouragement. His gaze then shifted to the towering Space Marine. "Seth, what would you choose?"
"The grapes," Seth said proudly, his voice low and powerful, as if declaring an unshakable conviction. "Because I can take them!"
He actually answered.
Arthur, standing in a corner of the classroom, felt his eye twitch. Watching a giant who had been fighting for a hundred and ten years compete with a child was really pushing his limits.
"Good. As a son of the Angel, you should have confidence in your own strength," Karna continued to nod in approval. He then turned his gaze to Cylene. The girl, born in the void, whose hair and eye color were different from the norm, was looking down, seemingly hesitant.
"And Cylene?" Karna's voice was still gentle, as if to encourage her to speak her mind.
"Actually, I... I want both," Cylene said, puffing out her cheeks in embarrassment, her voice barely a whisper. Her fingers were twisted together, and she looked a little anxious.
This little girl has a boundless future.
The corners of Karna's mouth turned up slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.
"That's right. When you want something, when you need something, you have to fight for it. You shouldn't think that you only deserve to eat the cheap things, or only what's available," Karna's voice was soft but powerful, echoing in the small classroom. His gaze swept over the face of every child, as if he wanted to carve these words into their very souls.
"You should eat better, dress better, use better things," his tone held an unquestionable firmness, as if he were passing on a certain belief to these children. His fingers tapped lightly on the lectern, a low, dull sound, as if to add weight to his words.
"You can rely on your own efforts, you can help each other. If one person isn't enough, then two. If two people aren't enough, then more." His voice gradually rose, carrying an inspiring power. "And if that's still not enough, then come to us. We will teach you how to fight for it. We will lead you to fight for it."
The children's eyes lit up, as if they had seen a kind of hope in his words. They leaned forward slightly, as if wanting to get closer, to hear more clearly.
"Do you remember?"
"We remember," the children answered in unison. Their voices were childish, but they held a rare firmness. A light shone in their eyes, as if in that moment, they truly believed they could change their own destiny.
"...Today's lesson is now over," Karna said, looking at his chrono. Romulus's plan was very detailed. Even though he had added a lot of his own style, he had just finished.
"We'll see each other tomorrow."
Karna stood before the lectern, his gentle gaze sweeping over every face in the classroom.
He knew that what he could give these children was not much.
In terms of conviction, these Astartes had experienced wars that were longer than his own lifespan. They were long since numb to death.
In terms of suffering, you could pick any one of the children who had struggled out of the ship's lower decks or the war on Pierdra, and they would have experienced more than the four transmigrators combined.
The only thing Karna could pass on to them was love.
In terms of childhood, the transmigrators were confident that they were happier than ninety-nine percent of the people in this universe.
And love cannot be taught. Fortunately, they had the opportunity to pass it on through their actions.
It would be a long process.
"Goodbye, teacher!"
Thirty minutes. For the children, this class, which was a complete break from their routine, was only thirty minutes long. A relaxed atmosphere filled the classroom, and rare smiles appeared on the children's faces.
This relaxation was destined not to last long. Because next, they still had to study the Imperial scriptures, memorize the long histories, learn the professional knowledge of their respective departments, and also undergo physical training, and, under the guidance of the Drill Abbess, complete the cleaning of the church.
They spent an average of fourteen hours a day in high-intensity study.
It was hard, wasn't it?
But there was no other way. This was not the world of the transmigrators. This was Warhammer 40,000. The greatest effort the transmigrators could make was to make these children strong enough before they had to face the universe.
Even the transmigrators could only give them thirty minutes.
Thirty minutes was not long. Compared to the long lives of a human, an Astartes, a transmigrator from another world, it was just a small fragment of their life. But a bond had already been formed between them, and it would only grow stronger in the future.
"..."
Arthur watched the departing children. Their figures looked exceptionally small and fragile in the light of the corridor, but they were full of vitality. Their steps were light, their laughter echoing in the empty corridor, as if they were happy for a better choice, eager to share the story with each other.
Right now, they couldn't think about the meaning of the story itself—but that was enough.
When, in the future, they had to endure the boundless darkness, when they had to face this cruel universe, when they learned the truth of this universe through hardship. When they learned of the monsters in the Empyrean that made all living things drown in pain, when they learned that they were nothing more than a speck of dust in the universe, when they learned how the Imperium had transformed from a vibrant nation into a decaying, rotten corpse.
They would think of today. They would think that there was such a time in their lives.
The cruel blows of reality would eventually shatter the romance of idealism, but a warm light, lit long ago in the past, would support their minds and souls.
The fulfillment of their childhood would heal their entire lives.
Arthur's gaze remained at the end of the corridor until the children's figures had completely disappeared. His fingers unconsciously stroked the hilt of his sword. His expression was indifferent, but a faint light shone in his eyes, a mixture of anxiety for the future and comfort in the present.
The Astartes, who were basically set in their ways, were very difficult to handle. The Flesh Tearers and the Carcharodons were two extremes. If Karna couldn't charm these sons of the Angel, the transmigrators had initially planned to just dump the problem on Dante, and let the old man who had ruled the Blood Angels Chapter for over eight hundred years worry about it.
But now, even Karna himself felt that he should do something. Since he had a natural advantage, it wasn't a bad thing to use it to do what he could.
And then, it was time for the professional knowledge.
The moral education class had to be attended, and the professional class had to be attended as well. Only then could it be called a sound education.
Arthur turned and walked towards the firing range. The Flesh Tearers had just undergone surgery, but they could still try to start the combat simulations.
Arthur and Romulus were not worried about whether the Astartes could handle it. Because Old Terra had already proven that there was no upper limit to human competitiveness. Superhumans like the Astartes, while displaying their superhuman combat power, should also be using their superhuman brains.
Arthur didn't require every member of the Flesh Tearers to be like him, running combat data for the Dark Angels' Hexagrammaton with Romulus every day, conducting biological research with Ramesses, monitoring the situation inside the entire warship, lowering his presence to gather information in unfamiliar areas, and then dueling with the high command of the various Chapters to exchange feelings.
He did not have excessively high expectations for the Flesh Tearers. So his requirements were simple.
Karna would teach them how to be human. He would develop a new combat doctrine for this Flesh Tearers Chapter.
Superhumans who had been selected after literally out-competing hundreds or thousands of their peers shouldn't be unable to accomplish this much. The Flesh Tearers were mad, but they were also a Chapter with a legacy of nearly ten thousand years. Their tactical knowledge was not a problem. Next was to teach them how to become a qualified Destroyer Host.
In fact, many Chapters were watching the changes in the Flesh Tearers, especially the Chapters that had participated in the war against the Tyranids on Pierdra. They were watching the enhancements this surgery brought to the Astartes, because a Destroyer Host, a combat force that could completely destroy biomass, was what they needed most in their future fight against the Tyranids.
As long as they could ensure the survival time of the Astartes, they would also form their own Primarch's Guard.
What? You say Destroyer Host?
That's called the Primarch's Guard. We formed it to commemorate our Primarch. The Codex Astartes explicitly states that it can be formed, and it doesn't even restrict the wargear. What's wrong with using some high-powered weapons?
Whoever dares to investigate will get lost in the Warp.
The Flesh Tearers who had received the training order stood up in neat ranks, a serious look on their faces. No matter how reluctant they were, they would not disobey a combat order. Only at times like these could you see that they were a group of professional soldiers.
"Lord Karna," Seth said, looking at Karna, who was still deep in thought in the classroom, his voice filled with anticipation. "Can we still meet in a place like this?"
Although he really didn't understand what the Great Angel wanted to teach them, this calm and relaxed feeling was truly captivating.
"Of course," Karna said with a cheerful wave, looking at the Flesh Tearers. He was already planning to have the Blood Angels send some of their own men over.
"We'll see each other tomorrow."
(End of Chapter)