On the surface of Valenda, the 7th Company's purification operation proceeded with the precision of a surgical strike, advancing in an orderly fashion. Deep blue figures moved between vast golden grain fields and eerie brown fungal forests, the roar of bolt guns and the snarl of chainswords replacing the past days' mad ramblings and profane chants of cultists. Hidden altars were destroyed one by one, and nests hoarding mutated fungal spores were cleansed by flames.
Just as the cleanup was nearing its end and residual resistance became sporadic and scattered, a unique drop pod, trailing a Fiery plume, descended like a silver hammer of judgment, precisely onto the ruins of a major cult stronghold that had just been cleared and still reeked of gunpowder and char.
The hatch opened with a hydraulic hiss, and out stepped not warriors in deep blue power armour, but three giants clad in silver-grey artificer power armour, exuding an invisible aura of killing intent and psychic pressure—Grey Knights.
Their arrival itself was a clear signal: the cleansing of this planet's Chaos corruption had entered its final and most thorough stage. Any hidden Warp filth that ordinary weapons could not eradicate would be completely purified by their demon-slaying psychic powers and weapons, leaving no hidden dangers. Their silver armour reflected a cold light under Valenda's dim sun, like three divine statues descended to the mortal realm, foretelling the true "cleanliness" that this agricultural world was about to experience.
Meanwhile, in the Chapter Master's office aboard the Macragge's Honour in orbit, Marius Calgar was reviewing the latest battle reports from the 7th Company. Looking at the cleanup progress and estimated time displayed on the data-slate, his tense mood of the past few days finally relaxed somewhat.
'At the current speed, in three more standard days at most, the fleet can conclude its mission here and set sail again.' He mused, his gaze sweeping over the note at the end of the report about the Grey Knights having arrived on the surface to begin the final purification. Calgar's attitude towards these Grey Knights Chapter members was clear—utilize their professional abilities for necessary purification, then send them away as quickly as possible. He truly did not want any further complications, or to spend extended time with these 'brothers' whose ideologies clashed and with whom he had unpleasant experiences.
His mood slightly improved, he casually picked up the specially made, enormous coffee cup with an astonishing capacity that rested on the armrest of his throne. He tilted his head back and drained the remaining, slightly cooled coffee. The caffeine, enough to keep a mortal hyper-alert for a whole day, was more like essential fuel for maintaining high-intensity work for a Primaris Astartes like him.
He had just handed the empty cup to the Honour Guard Warrior standing by his side, and before he could signal him to refill it, a high-priority communication indicator light on his throne's armrest began to flash urgently, emitting a distinctive hum.
Calgar frowned slightly and connected the communication. Captain Lyris's clear and steady voice immediately came through, but this time, her tone carried an unusual gravity:
"Chapter Master, we have just received accurate intelligence relayed from Terra, originating from Lion El'Jonson, His Lordship."
Hearing that Lion King and Terra were involved, Calgar's expression immediately became serious: "Speak."
"Intelligence confirms that three large expeditionary fleets of the Black Templars Chapter departed from their fortress on the Imperium's dark side thirteen standard hours ago, personally led by three High Marshals, officially commencing their Seventh Crusade of Annihilation."
"Seventh Crusade of Annihilation..." Calgar repeated the phrase, heavy with the implications of bloodshed and destruction. The Black Templars' Crusades of Annihilation always had a clear and extreme objective—the complete destruction of all xenos civilizations they deemed enemies of the Imperium.
Captain Lyris continued her report, her voice even lower: "According to the latest intelligence analysis provided by His Lordship Lion King, the primary targets of this Crusade are the Aeldari, Dark Eldar, and... the Tau Empire."
She paused, then added the most crucial and disheartening information:
"Furthermore, based on our analysis of navigation logs from the surrounding star systems, which we just intercepted and deciphered, the Craftworld that received our repatriated Aeldari refugees a few days ago, calling itself 'Sam-Hain's Finger'... its evacuation route has very likely been detected by the Black Templars' vanguard scout fleet. Currently... the situation is unknown."
Lilith said no more, but the outcome was already obvious. Given the Black Templars' extreme xenophobia, especially their policy of exterminating the Aeldari, once they caught up, the fate of that Craftworld and the Aeldari refugees it had just taken in, including thousands of Tears of Isha children, was self-evident.
Calgar remained silent, his power armour-clad fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his throne. He himself, and the Ultramarines Chapter, would not, and had no right to, interfere with the military actions of allied Chapters like the Black Templars; this was an unspoken understanding and boundary between the Adeptus Astartes Chapters. However, the Ultramarines, as representatives of the more pragmatic and open-minded factions within the Imperium, had significant ideological differences with certain extremely conservative Chapters, especially those like the Black Templars who pursued an absolute extermination policy against xenos.
More importantly, within the Ultramarines, there were also unspeakable secrets—for instance, at this very moment aboard the Macragge's Honour, there was an Aeldari companion, and a Dark Eldar Tech-Sergeant. These presences absolutely must not, under any circumstances, be leaked to fanatical brother Chapters like the Black Templars, who possessed a zealous obsession with "purifying" xenos!
Once news leaked, it would not only cause diplomatic disputes but could also lead to direct conflict between Adeptus Astartes Chapters, with unthinkable consequences.
With thoughts racing, Calgar had already made his decision. He ordered Lilith in a deep voice:
"Captain Lyris, this matter is classified as top secret. You will immediately coordinate with Honour Guard Captain Vitrius to activate the internal information control protocol and ensure comprehensive secrecy. Absolutely, absolutely no news about the presence of Aeldari members within our fleet must be leaked in any form, especially not to the Black Templars, or Chapters with similar ideologies! Do you understand?"
His tone was resolute, filled with an undeniable determination.
"Understood, Chapter Master! Information control will be activated immediately!" Lilith immediately acknowledged the order, and the communication was cut.
Calgar leaned back against his throne, taking the large cup back from the Honour Guard Warrior who had just handed him a full cup of coffee. He took a long, hard gulp of the scalding coffee, as if trying to suppress the vexation in his heart with the burning liquid. He let out a long sigh, filled with helplessness and a subtle, almost imperceptible worry.
'I hope... Kolesa won't find out about this.' He thought to himself. The Aeldari girl, who had just recovered from Lucius's scare, if she were to learn that her people's Craftworld might be hunted by the Black Templars, who knew what sorrow and fear she would fall into. He could only try his best to keep this news confined to the smallest possible circle.
Temporarily pushing aside his chaotic thoughts, Calgar knew he still had mountains of administrative duties to attend to. He picked up the electronic stylus, comparable to a war hammer, and turned his attention back to the seemingly endless reports and requisitions on the data-slate before him.
An Honour Guard Warrior in Saturnine Terminator armour, standing behind him, now stepped forward and reminded him in a steady voice: "My Lord, you have been working continuously for over three hundred standard hours without rest. According to Chapter medical regulations and the Primarch's supplementary clauses on commander health management, you must undergo at least four standard hours of forced slumber after three standard hours."
Calgar did not lift his head, his stylus rapidly moving across the data-slate. He merely responded softly, his tone carrying an unyielding insistence:
"We'll talk about it in three standard hours."
He paused, as if just remembering something, and added: "Oh, and immediately relay to Captain Orpha to coordinate and dispatch supply and transport ship formations as soon as possible, to deliver the new batch of fleet standard provisions from base reserves. We need to replenish the expenditures of this operation."
"Additionally," Calgar operated the data-slate a few times, bringing up a manifest, "I have compiled a special material procurement list here; it will be transmitted to your internal system shortly. Notify the logistics chief on Macragge to deliver the items on the list safely to the Macragge's Honour with the highest priority, as soon as possible."
His gaze lingered on a particular item on the list for a moment, his tone softening by an almost imperceptible degree:
"Pay special attention to the packaging and transport of those custom toys. Ensure everything is foolproof; there must be no accidents."
He spoke as if to himself, yet also as if emphasizing to the Honour Guard Warrior:
"In ten days... it will be that mischievous little one's birthday."
Even amidst such a tense and busy situation, the Chapter Master still remembered the pink-haired little Tech-Sergeant's birthday and thoughtfully prepared gifts in advance.
The Honour Guard Warrior immediately acknowledged: "Understood, My Lord. The message will be relayed immediately, and the list has been received and will be prioritized." He stepped back, beginning to efficiently execute the Chapter Master's various directives through the internal communication network.
Meanwhile, on a lower deck of the warship, in the new cabin that Luna had temporarily tidied but was destined not to remain so for long, one of the key figures in the storm of internal ship secrets triggered by the Black Templars' Crusade remained completely unaware of it all.
Eiras lay sprawled on her makeshift bed, cobbled together from various cushioning materials and discarded parts, sleeping soundly. Her messy pink hair clung to her forehead, her small mouth slightly agape, a glistening trail of drool uncontrollably trickling down, dampening the pillow beneath. Her small chest rose and fell evenly with her breath, a silly smile gracing her face; she was likely dreaming of some delicious synthetic jelly or finding the "ultimate solution" to her Eiras Storm's heat dissipation problems.
Although the Adeptus Mechanicus attendance records clearly noted her continuous absence for three days, the little one evidently didn't care. To her, even if the sky fell, those tall blue giants would hold it up, and she only needed to continue her wild research and carefree "Macragge's Honour Little Tyrant" life after eating and sleeping sufficiently.
She just didn't know how long this seemingly eternal tranquility could last.
The massive Macragge's Honour, after enduring the mad invasion and internal fierce battles by Lucius, the chosen of Slaanesh, demonstrated the strong resilience and efficiency expected of an Imperial flagship. Damaged hatches and structures were swiftly repaired or replaced, battle scars meticulously cleaned, and residual Chaos energy thoroughly purged by the Librarians. The warship quickly returned to its usual order and rigorous rhythm, as if that terrifying late-night incident was merely an unpleasant interlude.
The only change was that the internal security level was permanently elevated by one notch. The number of patrolling Astartes squads significantly increased, and patrol routes became denser and more unpredictable. Especially in critical areas such as the main hangar, engine room, bridge corridors, and reactor, the heavy, war-drum-like footsteps of Terminators echoed almost twenty-four hours a day. The deep blue figures of the heavy Saturnine Pattern Terminator armour, like moving steel fortresses, occupied every strategic corner, their crimson visors coldly scanning their surroundings, ensuring that any potential threat would be ruthlessly crushed in its infancy.
As for the news of the Black Templars launching their Seventh Exterminatus Crusade, under Chapter Master Calgar's strict orders, it was tightly controlled within a very small circle of informed individuals, limited to Chapter high command and essential communications and intelligence personnel. For the vast majority of ordinary Astartes and crew, what was happening at the edge of the galaxy was unknown, which avoided unnecessary panic and internal discussions.
In the Chapter Master's office, Calgar was handling the complex administrative affairs within the Ultramar Sector with astonishing efficiency. He had just approved an application from a mining world regarding the adjustment of rare mineral extraction tax rates, and then quickly reviewed a proposal to increase the basic wages and safety protection standards for the world's lower-class workers. For him, managing the civil affairs and economy of a vast sector was sometimes no less complex than commanding a galactic war.
Just as he had affixed his electronic signature to the last data slate, the Saturnine Terminator Honour Guard Warrior standing like a steel sculpture behind him stepped forward again, reminding him in his steady, unchanging voice:
"My lord, three standard hours have passed. According to regulations, you must rest."
Calgar subconsciously reached for another report awaiting review, concerning the prevention and control of fungal crop pests on an agricultural world, saying, "Just a moment more, let me finish this..."
However, when it came to the Chapter Master's health and rest, these loyal Honour Guard Warriors never yielded. Their absolute orders were to ensure that the Chapter Master's judgment and physical condition would not be affected by overwork.
"My lord, your health is the primary interest of Ultramar and the Chapter." The Honour Guard Warrior's tone was calm but unyielding, showing no intention of backing down.
Calgar looked at the other's determined stance, well aware of the stubbornness of these loyal subordinates, and sighed somewhat helplessly, finally putting down the large electronic pen. His massive body leaned back against the wide, cold backrest of the obsidian throne, and he slowly closed his eyes, which were threaded with tiny blood vessels from long hours of reading and decision-making. The light of his bionic eyes gradually dimmed, entering a low-power state.
A brief silence fell in the office, broken only by the faint hum of the power armour's servo systems running at their lowest power.
After a moment, Calgar, with his eyes closed, as if speaking to himself, slowly asked in a voice tinged with fatigue:
"Cassius... how is his recovery?"
The Honour Guard Warrior immediately replied, his voice clear and precise through the loudspeaker: "Chapter Master, Captain Cassius has successfully completed all critical surgeries, his vital signs are stable, and he is currently in deep restorative slumber. He is expected to awaken soon. Apothecary Vorlak stated that the Captain's superhuman physique and the Belisarius Furnace played a decisive role."
Hearing this good news, Calgar's perpetually slightly furrowed brow finally smoothed a little. He nodded gently and murmured:
"Remind me... in four standard hours."
After that, he said nothing more, his breathing gradually becoming long and steady, truly entering a forced state of rest to replenish his body and mind with precious energy. Seeing this, the Honour Guard Warrior silently stepped back, like the most loyal guardian, continuing to stand at attention, ensuring the Chapter Master's slumber was undisturbed.
Meanwhile, in the warship's medical bay, another severely wounded individual was behaving quite differently.
Dorian, that fellow, seemed to have liquid vitality flowing through his veins instead of blood. Although his injuries were extremely severe—multiple internal organs had been pierced and even partially shattered by Lucius's bizarre poisoned blade—after undergoing the Apothecaries' exquisite surgery and being infused with large quantities of precious regenerative elixirs, he actually started "bouncing around" again not long after the surgery concluded.
He moved his body, which was covered in sterile bandages and regenerative gel patches, doing simple stretches on the medical bed, causing the life monitor connected to him to emit a few disgruntled beeps.
"Hey, brother," Dorian yelled at the Apothecary who was checking his data, "When can I get out? The smell of disinfectant in here is making my head spin."
The Apothecary in charge of him looked up, glanced at the data slate which still showed several indicators requiring close observation, and said in a professional and calm tone: "Brother Dorian, I must advise you to remain in the medical bay for observation. Your injuries are far from reaching a safe standard. I need to constantly monitor your internal organ regeneration and check for any internal infections or rejection reactions, and provide you with the most appropriate follow-up medical care."
Dorian waved his hand dismissively, saying casually: "Don't worry, brother! Nothing that can kill me, Dorian, has been born yet! These minor injuries are like a tickle! I know you're busy, you still have gene-seed implantation surgery for the new recruits, so I won't waste your precious time here!"
With that, he disregarded the Apothecary's helpless and slightly warning gaze, nonchalantly pulled out several non-critical monitoring probes from his arm, causing the alarm to sound a few more times. Then, agilely, he jumped off the medical bed, put on the clean black casual clothes prepared nearby, pushed open the door, and swaggered out.
Walking through the brightly lit warship corridor, Dorian himself was a bit puzzled. 'Strange, when I used to suffer such serious injuries, I'd be soaking in a medical stasis tank for at least ten days to half a month. How did I recover so quickly this time? I feel like I have endless energy...' He scratched his bandaged chest, and a 'reasonable' explanation popped into his head: 'Could it be... that Primarch Guilliman saw my valiant fighting and specifically mentioned me to the Emperor, so the Emperor's blessing reached me? Yes, yes, yes! It must be! Hehe!'
This thought immediately made him even more smug, and he felt a powerful stride in his walk.
He wandered aimlessly, and before he knew it, he arrived at the common rest area for Astartes from other companies. There were quite a few brothers here who had finished their shifts and were resting. Seeing Dorian, bandaged but full of spirit, they all cast curious glances his way.
Dorian immediately perked up, sidled over to a group of 4th Company Astartes who were maintaining their weapons, and began his "broadcast":
"Hey, hey, brothers, do you know?" He lowered his voice, pretending to be mysterious, but his voice was actually not quiet at all, "I'm going to tell you a secret, about our Captain..."
He deliberately paused, waiting to attract enough attention, before continuing:
"Captain Cassius... tsk tsk, he actually likes men!" Seeing some people look confused, he immediately clarified, "Not Captain Cassius from the 7th Company! The 7th Company Captain is Cassius Donald! I'm talking about the First Company Captain! Our First Company Captain Cassius Venus!"
He spoke with certainty, as if he possessed irrefutable evidence: "He definitely likes men! I estimate... it's probably one of the guys in our company... hmm, you know, maybe Lieutenant Golden's type! Steady, reliable, always together..."
He spewed out his "major discovery" and baseless conjectures, completely immersed in the "truth" he had fabricated, without noticing that not far above his head, a quietly hovering blessed osseous unit servitor, its cold mechanical eyes silently recording every word and every rumor he uttered.
According to its preset program, these recordings would be uploaded, untouched and periodically, to First Company Captain Cassius Venus's private information terminal.
It is foreseeable that when the First Company Captain, recovering from his severe injuries, awakens and sees this "enthusiastic" record of "comradely care," the medical bay will likely soon welcome a second casualty requiring emergency treatment due to "internal injuries." And Dorian's recently recovered, sturdy and resilient body will probably have to endure a whole new "test."
On the surface of Planet Varunda, the 7th Company's warriors had already purged the organized resistance of the human cultists, but low-level Daemons, drawn by Slaanesh's corrupting energy or born from the cultists' insane rituals, still lingered among the ruins and twisted fungal fields, exuding a nauseating mix of pleasure and pain.
However, their doom had arrived.
The arrival of the three Grey Knights was like three red-hot knives cutting into congealed fat. These Warp entities, which would be troublesome for mortals and even ordinary Astartes, were fragile and easily crushed before the Grey Knights, who existed solely to hunt them.
Valerius, the towering warrior bearing the daemon smasher hammer, was like a moving fortress. A Slaaneshi Daemonette attempting to attack him with seductive shrieks and psychic claws was crushed under his massive power armour-clad boot like a rotten fruit before it could even get close! The Daemonette's twisted body emitted a teeth-grinding crunch under the absolute force, and then, the daemon smasher hammer in Valerius's hand, radiating a purifying psychic glow, slammed down!
"Boom!!!"
The space where the hammerhead struck seemed to twist slightly. The Daemonette's remains, along with its core Warp essence, instantly disintegrated into fundamental particles with this single blow, completely purified, leaving not even a speck of dust.
On the other side, Moreno and Kaldor's actions were swifter and more lethal.
The nemesis force halberd in Moreno's hand transformed into a silver whirlwind of death. He didn't even need to move much; he simply stood steady, and with each swing of the halberd, its tip unleashed a massive, pure silver psychic slash, dozens of meters long! These psychic slashes, as if alive, accurately tracked the Daemons attempting to flee or charge. Whether it was a whip-wielding Daemon or a shrieking Slaaneshi Daemonette, if grazed by the silver slash, it instantly vanished into ash and smoke with a mournful wail, like ice thrown into the scorching sun.
Kaldor, on the other hand, was like an elegant and deadly master swordsman. His nemesis force sword was already unsheathed, its blade glowing with a pure light. His figure weaved among the Daemons, and with each swing of his nemesis force sword, he carved out simple yet highly efficient trajectories. A Slaaneshi flesh-construct, made of twisted flesh and mad desires, like a giant chunk of meat, roared and lunged at him, but Kaldor simply executed a few precise sidesteps and incredibly swift thrusts, upward slashes, and horizontal cuts—
"Swish, swish, swish—!"
The massive flesh-construct's forward momentum abruptly froze, then instantly shattered into dozens of neat chunks of meat, like disassembled building blocks, scattering across the ground. Before they even landed, they were completely purified by the psychic energy attached to the sword, turning into wisps of smoke.
The efficient slaughter lasted only a short time. When there were no more active Daemon figures in sight, the three Grey Knights quickly regrouped.
Valerius and Kaldor came one on each side, behind Moreno, and each placed a silver-armored hand steadily on his shoulder pauldron.
The next moment, a visible, pure and powerful psychic glow, like a trickling stream, surged from Valerius's and Kaldor's palms, continuously flowing into Moreno's body. The white ocular lenses beneath Moreno's beaked helmet suddenly glowed intensely!
He gripped the nemesis force halberd tightly with both hands, raising it high, its tip pointing towards Varunda's sky, shrouded in corrupt clouds. Then, he sharply plunged the halberd's tip downwards, fiercely stabbing it into the earth beneath his feet!
"Om—!!!!"
An invisible yet immensely vast surge of pure psychic energy, containing ultimate order and purifying power, erupted and spread across the entire planet like a supernova, centered on the point of impact!
Wherever this psychic wave swept, the blasphemous runes remaining on the ground vanished as if erased by a rubber, the sweet, corrupting scent pervading the air was completely dispelled, the trace amounts of Chaos energy contained within the twisted fungal fields were instantly neutralized, and even the most minuscule seeds of Slaanesh's corruption hidden deep within the soil were annihilated by this sacred psychic baptism.
This psychic shockwave swept across the entire Planet Varunda with astonishing speed, like a global "formatting" targeting Warp filth. As the psychic afterglow gradually faded, the sky seemed to become clearer. Although the scars of war still remained, the uncomfortable, corrupting aura originating from Chaos was utterly gone.
Having completed all this, the three Grey Knights neatly put away their weapons and activated their personal small teleportation devices. Three flashes of silver light later, their figures vanished from Varunda's surface, leaving behind only the thoroughly purified land and the Ultramarines of the 7th Company standing at a distance, observing.
These battle-hardened Astartes had long heard of the Grey Knights' renown, knowing them to be the Emperor's sharpest secret sword against Daemons. But witnessing their combat and purification process firsthand still brought them immense shock. The Daemons that required considerable bolter rounds and effort for them to kill were like mere chickens and dogs before the Grey Knights; a mere touch of their weapons would cause them to vanish into thin air. And the grand psychic power, released by the three of them in concert to purify an entire planet, far exceeded their understanding of individual strength.
"The Emperor's Purifiers..." a warrior of the 7th Company murmured, his voice filled with awe.
Macragge's Honour, main hangar.
The Grey Knights' teleportation beacon destination was set here. With three flashes of silver light, the figures of Moreno, Kaldor, and Valerius appeared in the designated area of the hangar.
At this moment, Eiras was reluctantly squatting by the landing gear of a thunderhawk gunship, holding a can of lubricant and a dirty rag, intermittently wiping the complex hydraulic components. Her pink hair was messy, and her fair face bore two distinct dark circles. She continuously mumbled softly:
"Ugh... I'm not even fully awake yet... Why do I have to maintain this... It should clearly be the job of Technical Team Three... They're bullying me because I'm young..."
She was engrossed in slacking off when suddenly, a strange, somewhat uncomfortable feeling came from behind her. She instinctively turned her head, just in time to see the three silver giants—Moreno, Kaldor, and Valerius—standing not far away, seemingly having just completed their teleportation.
And the other crew members, ground personnel, and even a few Tech-Priests working in the hangar, upon seeing the three Grey Knights appear, instinctively lowered their heads or averted their gaze, quickening their movements, and swiftly passing by them, not daring to linger or peek, as if they were some walking calamity.
When Eiras saw these three, especially the one with the beaked helmet, who had dared to call her an "alien" that day! The little one's temper flared up instantly! Old and new grudges surged, and she had to let them know who was the "king" on this ship!
She immediately dropped the rag and lubricant can, puffed out her small chest, trying to look more "dominant" (though to outsiders, she just looked like she was bouncing), and then walked up to Moreno with what she thought was a powerful stride (but was actually just skipping).
She had to crane her neck to see the cold, beaked helmet. She extended a finger, pointing at Moreno, and in what she thought was her fiercest but still childish voice, she said:
"Hey! You! Silver giant! Tell me, which Chapter are you from?! Otherwise... otherwise..."
She tried hard to come up with a threatening warning, but her not-so-clever little brain failed her at the crucial moment and got stuck. She kept repeating "otherwise" for a long time, unable to think of what came next.
Seeing that the other party showed no reaction, Eiras got even angrier. She stomped her foot and continued to "threaten" in her utterly unthreatening childish voice:
"Otherwise... otherwise I'll go tell Lord Dorian! And make him beat all three of you up! Lord Dorian is super strong! He can beat you all with one hand!"
She tried to invoke the name of the "Macragge's Honour's" toughest man in her mind to scare them.
However, upon hearing the name "Dorian," Kaldor and Valerius, standing behind Moreno, exchanged an almost imperceptible glance through their helmets.
They certainly remembered that name—wasn't he the reckless brute who had tried to provoke them during a surveillance mission and was easily pinned down and taught a lesson by Kaldor?
This little xenos actually wanted to find that defeated foe to deal with them?
Moreno's beaked helmet lowered slightly, his white oculars sweeping over Eiras's pouting face without any emotional fluctuation.
He didn't even respond, simply turning his head and making a gesture to Kaldor and Valerius, then striding directly towards the hangar exit, his destination clear—Chapter Master Calgar's office for a mission report.
He completely ignored Eiras, who was blocking his way, trying her best to "assert her authority."
Seeing these three silver-clad individuals dare to ignore her so completely, Eiras stomped her feet in anger, her pink short hair almost bristling.
"Hey! Stop right there! Don't you dare leave! Do you hear me! I command you to stop in the name of Lady Eiras!"
However, the Grey Knights' heavy footsteps didn't falter in the slightest, quickly disappearing around the corner of the hangar passage.
Eiras felt an unprecedented disregard; her small face flushed crimson as she waved her little fists in the direction they had left, but to no avail.
It wasn't until a passing Tech-Priest, in his stiff, binary-laced voice, reminded her to return to work that she huffed indignantly, pouted, and slowly walked back to the thunderhawk gunship, picking up her tools from the ground.
She continued her half-hearted maintenance work, all the while "cursing" the three silver giants in her mind with every word she could think of.
The prestige of the Macragge's Honour's "little tyrant" had today encountered unprecedented challenge and defeat.
In the Chapter Master's office, Calgar listened to Moreno's concise report that the Planet Valunda purification mission was complete.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, only hoping to send these three unsightly Grey Knights away as soon as possible.
"The mission was well executed, and I thank the Grey Knights Chapter for their assistance," Calgar said in a formulaic tone.
"Since the purification is complete, the three of you may return to your Chapter to report."
However, Moreno's beaked helmet lifted slightly, the light from his white oculars steady, and he spoke in his ancient, flat tone, delivering words that instantly sent Calgar's mood plummeting:
"Chapter Master Calgar, before our departure, we received the latest directive from the Grey Knights Chapter.
Given the recent abnormal activity of the Black Legion and the imminent threat of the Fourteenth Black Crusade, to counter any potential large-scale or high-intensity daemon incursions, our Chapter commands the three of us to be permanently stationed on the Macragge's Honour until the threat level decreases or new orders are received."
Permanently stationed?!
Calgar's face instantly turned very grim.
He knew, of course, that having Grey Knights nearby would make dealing with daemons much easier; these professional purifiers were irreplaceable.
But allowing these three individuals, who had a grudge against his Chapter, held conflicting ideologies, and possessed an unyielding style, to remain on the battleship for an extended period was tantamount to placing a spark next to a powder keg!
No one could predict when a minor friction might ignite a conflict.
He remained silent for a few seconds, his mind rapidly weighing the pros and cons.
Direct refusal would be tantamount to defying the Grey Knights Chapter's orders, which was unwise both politically and militarily.
But letting them run unchecked was even more dangerous.
Finally, he raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, looking directly at Moreno's cold, beaked helmet, his voice deep and filled with unyielding authority:
"Very well.
You may stay."
He changed his tone, which became extremely severe, even carrying a hint of undisguised threat:
"However, you must strictly adhere to all internal regulations and the chain of command of the Ultramarines Chapter!
We will provide you with all necessary supplies and support for your stationing.
But—"
He paused deliberately, emphasizing his words:
"Absolutely do not interfere with any internal affairs of the Ultramarines!
Mind your own business and focus on your duty to combat daemons.
If I discover any transgressions on your part, or if you instigate any unnecessary conflicts..."
Calgar leaned forward slightly, the immense pressure of a Primarch's successor radiating outward:
"I wouldn't mind 'dealing' with the three of you and then requesting the Grey Knights Chapter to send a new batch of Grey Knights who understand the rules better."
The cold killing intent in his words was no idle threat.
For the stability of the battleship and internal unity, Calgar was absolutely capable of following through.
Moreno's beaked helmet remained motionless, the light from his white oculars still steady, as if he hadn't felt the oppressive pressure.
He simply responded:
"As you wish, Chapter Master Calgar."
There was no argument, no promise, just a calm acceptance of the conditions.
Then, he saluted, turned, and left the office with Kaldor and Valerius.
Watching them depart, Calgar's face was grim as he immediately opened a channel:
"Vitrius, Havis, come to my office at once."
Soon, the Honour Guard Captain and the Captain of the Fifth Company arrived.
Calgar directly ordered:
"The Grey Knights will be stationed here long-term.
You are to immediately arrange reliable personnel to keep a close eye on the three of them!
I want to know where they go each day, who they interact with, and what they do!
Ensure they strictly adhere to regulations and absolutely do not cause any further trouble!
Understand?"
"Understood, Chapter Master!" the two replied in unison, their expressions solemn.
They both knew what this implied.
Meanwhile, in a corridor of the lower living quarters, Eiras finally found Gaius and Kolesa taking a stroll.
As soon as the little one saw them, she immediately put on a dramatic act, her small mouth pouting, and her large green eyes instantly welled up with forced tears.
She scurried over, hugging Gaius's leg armor, and began to "sob":
"Waaah—!!! Lord Gaius! Sister Kolesa! Someone bullied me!!!" She cried "heartbrokenly," her small shoulders heaving.
Gaius was a bit startled, he squatted down and asked, "Who bullied you, Eiras?"
"It was three... three silver giants!" Eiras sobbed, describing, "They... they were so fierce!"
"Silver Astartes?" Gaius's first thought was the Iron Hands Chapter, "Are they brothers from the Iron Hands?"
"No, no!" Eiras shook her head vigorously, "They were... a very, very bright silver!
Their shoulder pads... seemed to have a book emblem?
And their power armour was covered in dense, glowing, strange symbols!"
Upon hearing this description, Gaius immediately understood.
Bright silver, a book emblem, covered in runes... these characteristics were too obvious.
"They are Grey Knights," Gaius said in a deep voice, his brow slightly furrowed.
Grey Knights boarding the ship, and it seemed they weren't just making a short stop.
Considering the recent daemon incursions and the movements of the Black Legion, he had a premonition that something big might be about to happen, or that the Chapter was preparing to face a more severe threat.
He looked at Eiras and Kolesa, and earnestly instructed them, "Eiras, Kolesa, remember, try to be careful recently.
If you see those Grey Knights, try not to get close, and leave quickly.
They... are very special; their way of handling problems is quite different from ours."
He was mainly worried that Eiras might provoke them again without realizing the gravity of the situation, and also concerned that Kolesa's Eldar identity might cause unnecessary trouble.
The Grey Knights' attitude towards xenos was no better than the Black Templars', and perhaps even more... absolute and cold.
Kolesa nodded obediently; she instinctively disliked the aura emanating from those silver-armored warriors.
Although Eiras was still pouting, seeing Gaius's serious expression, she reluctantly said "Oh," but in her heart, she was still plotting how to get even.
Within the Macragge's Honour, undercurrents began to stir due to the long-term stationing of the three Grey Knights.
As the warriors of the 7th Company successively boarded thunderhawk gunships and transport vessels to return to their respective ships, the massive Ultramarines Fleet adjusted its course, like a deep blue ocean current, silently gliding back into the vast expanse of the Ultramar Sector, commencing its routine patrol and deterrence missions.
In the early morning, within Eiras's new cabin, a daily routine 'war' began precisely on time. A buzzing blessed osseous unit, hovering by Eiras's bed, called out in a monotonous, repetitive electronic synthesized voice for a full standard hour:
"Tech-Sergeant Eiras, time to wake up. Tech-Sergeant Eiras, time to wake up. Tech-Sergeant Eiras..."
Finally, under the skull's relentless 'noise bombardment,' Eiras reluctantly, like a worm, wriggled out of her 'nest' piled with parts and soft clothing, reaching out to swipe at the blessed osseous unit in an attempt to teach it a lesson. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, her pink short hair frizzing like a clump of seaweed, muttering continuous, vague protests. It was clear that severe sleep deprivation had filled her small body with resentment.
She groggily took off her pajamas, which were emblazoned with the ring of macragge, and changed into her Tech-Sergeant uniform, always stained with oil and unknown grime. With her messy hair and two increasingly prominent dark circles under her eyes, she walked with unsteady steps towards the 'Valhalla'—the dreadnought maintenance area—beginning her 'destined' to be difficult day of work.
Maintenance work was tedious and heavy. Not long after, a Tech-Priest responsible for overseeing the work there, his red-glowing mechanical eye, caught an anomaly—the small pink head, suspended in mid-air by a sling, which should have been carefully checking the stability of the dreadnought wrath of corax's sarcophagus interface, was now slowly, then completely, drooping down, accompanied by an extremely faint, but sensor-detectable...snore.
She had fallen asleep! Hanging several meters in the air, while maintaining a sacred dreadnought, she had fallen asleep!
The Tech-Priest's metal-covered face showed no expression, but his internal processing core had silently recorded a 'severe dereliction of duty' penalty for Eiras, and was preparing to report it to the Chapter's logistics management department according to procedure.
However, this penalty report was rejected shortly after being uploaded. The one who rejected it was Lieutenant Golden, with a simple and direct annotation: "Excusable, but not to be repeated."
The Tech-Priest's binary chant showed a barely perceptible flicker of disorder, but faced with the decision of the First Company's Lieutenant, he could not argue and could only silently accept. He manipulated his mechanical tentacles, carefully lowering Eiras, who was suspended in mid-air and sleeping soundly, and then assigned another, more 'reliable' Tech-Sergeant to take over her work.
When Eiras was gently placed on the cold deck and groggily woke up, she saw the Tech-Priest standing in front of her, 'educating' her in his unperturbed binary language:
"...According to records, Tech-Sergeant Eiras, you have accumulated four days of absenteeism this month, made seven errors during work, and today added one instance of sleeping during an important maintenance task...According to Article 117 of the 'Adeptus Mechanicus and Ultramarines Chapter Technical Logistics Management Supplementary Regulations,' your behavior has severely violated the rules and will result in the deduction of your personal supply rations for next month, including but not limited to advanced synthetic nutrients, rare parts application authority..."
Eiras hung her head, her index fingers constantly tapping each other, her small face full of an 'I know I made a mistake' expression. However, just as the Tech-Priest lowered his head to retrieve the specific regulatory document, preparing to read it in detail, he looked up again—
No one was there.
Only a voice, growing fainter and fainter from the distant corridor, with a hint of mischievousness, could be heard:
"I know—! I won't be lazy next time—!"
Eiras had already taken advantage of his inattention and vanished in a flash.
Having escaped the 'nagging' Tech-Priest, Eiras's little head immediately began to churn, thinking about how to 'get back' at those three silver big guys. Soon, she had an idea—find Lord Dorian! He was the most 'powerful' on the battleship!
She skipped and hopped to find Dorian, who was in a corner of the Armory, meticulously maintaining his saturn-pattern terminator armour. Dorian was bare-chested, revealing his robust muscles, and was wiping away grime from the armor's joints with specialized tools and oils.
"Lord Dorian! Lord Dorian!" Eiras ran up to him, her small face puffed out with anger.
"Hmm? What's wrong, little Eiras? Who upset you this time?" Dorian stopped his work and looked at the little one.
"It's just... it's just that three... uh... what were they called?" Eiras scratched her head, trying to recall, "What kind of Knights were they? Oh, I forgot! Anyway, they were three big silver guys! They bullied me!"
Then, Eiras began her embellishment and instigation:
"They were so mean! They cornered me, looking fierce, and insisted I go with them! And... and they asked me for tasty bread! They said if I didn't give it to them, they wouldn't let me go!" This was entirely her own fantasy of wanting bread.
The more she spoke, the more animated she became, her small face flushed: "And! And! They also said... they must each... kiss me once! Otherwise, they'd spank me!"
These were entirely fabricated 'atrocities'!
Upon hearing this, Dorian, as if a bear had its tail stepped on, instantly flared up with anger! He suddenly stood up, his massive body exuding a menacing aura:
"What?! Which Chapter's scoundrels are so blind? Daring to bully you on the Macragge's Honour?! Let's go! Take me to them! I'll make sure they learn some manners!"
He subconsciously assumed it was just some brothers from an Ultramarines successor Chapter, or a Chapter with good relations, temporarily boarding for resupply or rest, who didn't understand the 'rules' and provoked Eiras. He never thought of those mysterious, powerful, and formidable Grey Knights.
Eiras, seeing Dorian take the bait, secretly rejoiced. She immediately grabbed his large hand and excitedly ran towards the area where she had previously encountered the Grey Knights.
Soon, they arrived at a giant viewport with an open view. Moreno, Kaldor, and Valerius stood there like three silver statues, gazing silently at the endless, deep starry sky and the slowly passing nebulae outside the viewport, as if on guard, or perhaps in contemplation.
Dorian followed the direction Eiras pointed, and when the familiar bright silver armour, especially Kaldor's helmet adorned with a crest and the nemesis force sword at his waist, came into view, his burning anger was instantly extinguished as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe!
It was him... it was them! The Grey Knights!
The painful experience decades ago, when he was in the 7th Company, of being easily pinned to the ground and rubbed by Kaldor, utterly helpless, replayed instantly and vividly in his mind like a high-definition video! That absolute suppression of power was still fresh in his memory.
His legs uncooperatively buckled for a moment, and he almost lost his balance.
"Uh... that... Eiras..." Dorian's imposing aura instantly deflated. He quickly bent down, forcing a very unnatural smile mixed with embarrassment and guilt, and coaxed Eiras in a low voice, "Look... they... they seem to be on a very important guard duty! We... we shouldn't disturb them, right? Come on, come on, Lord Dorian will take you to the kitchen to see if there are any new flavors of jelly..."
As he spoke, he took Eiras's small arm in his large hand, almost half-dragging and half-carrying her, quickly and 'discreetly' fleeing the scene, afraid of attracting the attention of those three silver-armored 'harbingers of death.'
Eiras was bewildered by his sudden change. As she was pulled along, she still looked back reluctantly, her small face filled with confusion and disappointment—what about helping me beat them up? Why did Lord Dorian suddenly... chicken out?
Dorian, as if holding a hot potato, moved swiftly, almost running, to quickly leave the area where the Grey Knights could be seen. Eiras was held in his arms, her large green eyes filled with bewilderment and grievance. She completely didn't understand why Lord Dorian, who had just been so fierce and ready to stand up for her, instantly changed his expression upon seeing those three silver figures.
Her small mouth was puckered high, her cheeks puffed out like an inflated pufferfish, almost enough to hang an oil bottle on.
"Lord Dorian! You lied!" Eiras cried out angrily, her small hands clenched into fists, continuously pounding Dorian's hard chest plate, making dull 'thump, thump' sounds. "You clearly said you'd help me teach them a lesson! Are you... are you also afraid of them?!"
She keenly sensed Dorian's momentary retreat.
Dorian was inwardly lamenting, but on his face, he could only force an even more strained smile, lowering his voice to explain: "My little ancestor, keep your voice down! Those three guys... those three guys are not to be provoked!" He quickened his pace, casually making up an excuse, "It's... it's Chapter Master Calgar's personal order! No one is allowed to disturb them! Yes, no disturbing! They are on a super secret, important mission!"
He carried Eiras, making several turns, and rushed into a relatively open, less crowded corridor. Only then did he slightly slow his pace, but his heart was still pounding from fear. He truly had a deep psychological shadow regarding the Grey Knights, especially Kaldor, who wielded the nemesis force sword.
"But... but they bullied me..." Seeing that being tough wasn't working, Eiras immediately changed tactics. Her small mouth drooped, her large green eyes instantly became watery, and large tears were about to fall. Her voice took on a heavy crying tone, her acting truly first-rate.
Dorian saw this situation and his head swelled. He feared nothing except Eiras actually crying. He quickly fumbled to comfort her, while simultaneously pulling out his ultimate weapon:
"Don't cry, don't cry! Eiras is the best! Here, Lord Dorian has good news for you!" He leaned mysteriously close to Eiras's ear and whispered, "I heard that the kitchen has a new batch of limited edition mixed fruit-flavored spiral rainbow super sweet synthetic jelly! It tastes especially good, and there's very little of it! I'll take you there right now and try to get you some, how about it?"
Indeed, "limited edition," "mixed fruit-flavored," "spiral rainbow," "super sweet"—these keywords were like magic, instantly hitting Eiras's weak spot!
Her large eyes, which had just been filled with tears, suddenly lit up, and her fake crying expression instantly vanished as if it had never existed. She immediately grabbed Dorian's arm, eagerly urging, "Really?! Where is it? Take me there quickly! Right now!"
All the previous grievances and the 'silver big guys' were instantly thrown out of her mind. Now, her little head was only filled with infinite longing for that dreamlike jelly.
Dorian looked at Eiras, who had instantly 'cleared up,' and let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally managed to appease this little ancestor with food. He dared not delay, and immediately carried Eiras, walking quickly towards the kitchen.
Near the kitchen, Eiras fully displayed her 'Macragge's Honour little tyrant' style, using a mix of coaxing, trickery, threats, and persistent nagging. She actually managed to successfully intercept several boxes of top-tier tasting synthetic jelly, originally specially supplied to Chapter Master Calgar, from the logistics sergeant in charge of rations!
Contentedly holding a box of jelly emitting an enticing sweet aroma, Eiras eagerly scooped a large spoonful into her mouth. The explosively sweet taste instantly conquered her taste buds, making her happily squint her eyes, and all unpleasantness vanished into thin air.
Dorian looked at Eiras, who was immersed in the delicious food, wiped away non-existent cold sweat, and mused: 'I need to go find Gaius and Luna soon and tell them to make sure they keep an eye on Eiras. They absolutely must not let her provoke those Grey Knights again. I managed to fool her this time, but I won't be so lucky next time...'
Meanwhile, in front of that massive viewport, the three Grey Knights still stood like silver sculptures.
Their power armour was equipped with extremely advanced sensors and audio collection systems. Dorian's not-so-clever 'Chapter Master's order' excuse, as well as Eiras's embellished and fabricated claims about 'wanting bread' and 'wanting kisses,' had long been heard clearly by them.
When they heard Eiras describe them as "fiercely cornering her, demanding bread, and not letting her leave," and even wanting "one kiss each," Kaldor and Valerius, who had been silent as iron, subtly tilted their helmet-covered heads and exchanged a glance.
Kaldor's processed, ancient and flat voice, with an extremely subtle, almost non-existent trace of confusion, sounded in the encrypted internal communication channel:
"Are we... that bad?"
Valerius's tall body also seemed to shift slightly. Clearly, being so 'slandered' by a Dark Eldar little girl, even the steel-willed Grey Knights felt an indescribable ripple in their hearts.
Just then, Moreno, who had been standing still, his aquiline helmet not moving at all, cut into the channel with a cold voice, uttering only four short words:
"Focus on the mission."
His voice was like ice water, instantly extinguishing that tiny bit of confusion and ripple. Kaldor and Valerius immediately composed themselves, redirecting their full attention to the vast and dangerous starry sky outside the viewport, as if that small interlude had never happened.
However, whether there was truly no ripple beneath those cold silver faceplates, perhaps only they themselves knew.
Eiras contentedly savored the limited-edition mixed-fruit spiral rainbow super-sweet composite jelly she had "intercepted" from the Chapter Master's special supply. Each bite made her eyes squint in happiness, and her pink short hair seemed to sway slightly with her joyful mood. She took small, delicate steps, spooning the jelly little by little as she ambled towards her new chamber in the First Company living quarters, planning to go back and comfortably catch up on some sleep.
As she walked, a question suddenly popped into her little head. She tilted her head, licked the jelly residue from the corner of her mouth, and muttered to herself, "Speaking of which... isn't the Captain's room right next to mine? Why haven't I seen Captain Cassius for the past few days? It's been so quiet outside his door... Could it be... that he's been confined by the Chapter Master again?"
This thought struck her as a bit novel. In her "long" fifty-plus years since arriving on the Macragge's Honour, she had never seen a Captain confined! The Captains she remembered were always majestic, powerful, and absolute in their commands. Captain Cassius... he was the first she'd ever seen! Was it because of that incident last time, chasing Dorian and damaging public property? The little one's thoughts began to wander again.
Passing a wide platform that connected the upper and lower decks, she habitually looked up. High above, on an extended observation walkway, a dark blue figure stood silently, holding a long, slender sniper rifle with a unique scope—the "Hawk Eye"—as he vigilantly surveyed the vast staging area below. That distinctive "pig-snout" breathing grille helmet, adorned with a laurel and bionic eye, Eiras recognized at a glance—it was Gaius!
"Gaius!" Eiras immediately became excited, forgetting all about her jelly. She scooped a large spoonful into her mouth, puffing out her cheeks, then, while chewing diligently, she bounced and waved vigorously at Gaius on the high walkway, her large green eyes filled with the joy of seeing a familiar face.
Gaius, high above, had evidently noticed the lively pink speck below. His helmet-covered face showed no expression, but he seemed to nod slightly in Eiras's direction, acknowledging the over-energetic little one's greeting, before returning his focus to his vigilant duty.
Satisfied with the response, Eiras continued to skip along. The sweet jelly brightened her mood, and her thoughts drifted. 'Speaking of which... I haven't seen Sister Kolesa for a few days either...' She missed the beautiful Aeldari sister a bit. Sister Kolesa always had a lovely, faint, cool fragrance about her, unlike the smell of oil and metal. And her silver hair felt incredibly soft to the touch, smooth like the softest silk, and it smelled nice too. Every time she leaned against Sister Kolesa, she felt especially safe, even safer than hugging her ugly Guilliman statue.
'Sigh,' she let out a tiny sigh, thinking with a touch of regret, 'If only I could go play with Sister Kolesa more when Gaius isn't around...' But the thought was fleeting, and she quickly cheered up, 'It's okay! I still have Sister Laya!' Thinking of the civilian from Drathemiandas, Eiras became happy again. Sister Laya was soft and comfortable to hug while sleeping, though she didn't know why Sister Laya always looked so tired, with dark circles under her eyes even worse than her own.
Meanwhile, Kolesa, whom Eiras was "thinking about day and night," was in chamber i-10-a, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
She sat leaning on the bed, which was a bit too large for her, covered by a soft, fluffy blanket with an exquisite ring of macragge pattern. Gaius had specially commissioned this blanket from Macragge's homeworld not long ago; its fine, warm material allowed her to feel a touch of "home" even in this cold, steel warship.
In her hands, she held a thick, worn book with a hard leather cover—the codex astartes. This was one of Gaius's personal books, which she had borrowed out of curiosity. At this moment, her purple eyes were filled with curiosity and concentration for new knowledge, and her slender, pale fingers carefully turned the white pages one by one, reading the discussions on legion history, tactical outlines, and organizational structure.
The soft white light of the chamber gently fell upon her, enveloping her delicate Aeldari features and silver hair in a hazy glow, adding a tranquil and unique beauty, different from the bloodshed of the battlefield. She frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled by some of the content.
When Gaius finished his watch, removed his heavy power armour, and gently pushed open the chamber door in lighter clothes, this was the scene he saw. His return immediately drew Kolesa's attention; she looked up, and her large purple eyes, upon seeing him, brightened even more, like stars being lit, filled with undisguised joy and dependence.
Gaius closed the chamber door behind him, the heavy alloy door shutting out the faint, heavy footsteps of the Terminator patrol in the corridor outside, creating a secluded tranquility in this small space. He walked to the bed and took out a beautifully packaged jelly from his small personal cooler—it was precisely the limited-edition mixed-fruit spiral rainbow super-sweet composite jelly.
"Dorian gave this to me; I hear it tastes quite good," Gaius said calmly as he handed her the jelly. "I hear it's from the batch specially supplied to Calgar."
Kolesa carefully closed the heavy codex astartes, placed it by the bed, and then took the very appealing-looking jelly. She gently scooped a little with a spoon and put it into her mouth; the rich and harmonious fruit flavor, the perfect sweetness, and the tender texture instantly conquered her taste buds. This was almost the best thing she had ever eaten on this warship, which was filled with synthetic nutrient paste and standard rations. Her pointed ears, which had drooped slightly in comfort, unconsciously perked up, showing her inner delight.
But then, as if remembering something, she looked at Gaius with some concern and asked softly, "This is... supplied to the Chapter Master? Then... is it okay for us to eat it?" She worried that it might cause trouble for Gaius.
Gaius sat beside her and shook his head, signaling her not to worry. "The Chapter Master won't mind these things," he explained, his tone conveying his understanding of Calgar. "He has almost no demands for material pleasures; food, to him, is merely fuel to maintain his body's functions. As long as it doesn't affect the warship's operations or readiness, he won't bother with such details."
Hearing Gaius say this, Kolesa relaxed and happily continued to enjoy the delicious jelly. At this, she immediately snuggled up to Gaius's side like a small cat seeking warmth, resting her head gently on his sturdy shoulder.
"Has anything special happened on the warship recently?" Kolesa asked softly as she ate her jelly in small bites, her purple eyes holding a hint of inquiry. "I can clearly sense three extremely powerful psychic conduits on board; their psychic energy... is very pure, but also very... oppressive. Are they the Grey Knights you mentioned before?"
As an Aeldari Farseer, her perception of psychic energy was far more acute than that of mortals or even most Astartes. The presence of those three Grey Knights was, to her, like three powerful spotlights in the dark, impossible to ignore.
Gaius reached out and gently stroked her sensitive pointed ear, a gesture that always made her feel relaxed and secure. He nodded and replied, "Yes, it's them. The Black Legion has been unusually active lately, and according to intelligence, the threat of the Fourteenth Black Crusade is approaching. The Grey Knights are stationed here as a precaution, to deal with the potentially accompanying large-scale or high-intensity demonic incursions."
He didn't mention the Black Templars' crusade, as that would only add to her worry and sorrow.
As he spoke, Gaius's gaze fell on a small, handmade comb on the dressing table beside the bed, pieced together from various discarded parts and smooth metal fragments—this was a product of one of Eiras's 'inventions.' Though rough, it was polished smoothly enough that Kolesa kept it for use. Gaius picked up this 'hand-made little comb,' full of Eiras's style, and began to gently and patiently comb Kolesa's long silver hair, which was a little messy from leaning on the bed.
His movements were delicate and tender, as if he were handling a rare work of art. The comb's teeth glided through her soft hair, untangling slight knots and bringing a comfortable tingle.
Kolesa savored this rare moment of tenderness, eating the delicious special jelly, lying in the arms of her beloved, feeling the gentleness of his fingertips and the peace that came from having her hair combed. Outside the chamber was the cold, vast, and dangerous universe, with the constant threat of war and chaos, but in this small space, in this moment of tranquility, she found her own solid haven. She gently closed her eyes, her long silver eyelashes falling like butterfly wings, pressing her cheek even tighter against Gaius's chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, as if this sound could dispel all external unease and gloom.
For her, this enormous, steel-and-war-filled Imperial flagship gained the warmth of a 'home' because of the man beside her.
After finishing the box of sweet jelly, Kolesa carefully placed the empty box aside, her entire weight relaxing further into Gaius's embrace. The chamber was silent, with only the low hum of the air circulation system as background noise. Perhaps the sweet taste stirred deep-seated memories, or perhaps this rare tranquility loosened her taut nerves; she unconsciously began to softly hum an ancient Aeldari song in her ethereal, melodious voice.
The melody was enchanting and beautiful, like a clear spring flowing through mountains, or a thin mist lingering under moonlight, carrying a distant and exquisite charm not belonging to human culture. However, within this beauty, there always lingered a faint, deep-seated sorrow and melancholy, as if narrating the past glory and present scattering of an ancient race.
Gaius listened quietly, he could feel the complex emotions contained within the song, a past belonging to Kolesa that he couldn't fully grasp. He looked down and saw that as she hummed, two lines of clear tears silently streamed from Kolesa's closed eyes, tracing down her pale cheeks and dripping onto the blanket on her chest, spreading a small dark wet stain.
She often did this, struck by memories of the past in an unguarded moment. She recalled the time spent studying psychic powers and dancing with her kin under the beautiful crystal forest-like dome of the Ark World of Aethel's Tear; she recalled the warmth of walking under the starlight with Kai and making vows; and even more, she recalled the sudden destruction and farewell brought by the Black Templars... Now, on this massive, cold, steel behemoth filled with the Imperium of Man's imprint, she was alone, like a rootless duckweed. Her race was withering, her home destroyed. Gaius became her only reliance, her only warmth, her only haven. She couldn't imagine where she would be now if she hadn't met Gaius. Perhaps she would have perished in wandering, or fallen into an even more terrifying situation... Whenever she thought of this, a great sense of loneliness and confusion about the future would surge, and tears would fall uncontrollably.
As if seeking more comfort and reassurance, she instinctively bit lightly on Gaius's finger that rested on her shoulder, not with force, but more like a whimper of grievance and dependence, like a small animal, her shoulders trembling slightly as she sobbed softly.
Gaius felt the slight dampness and gentle nibbling on his fingertips, and understood. He was not one for eloquent comfort, especially when facing such deep sorrow stemming from racial and cultural differences; any words seemed pale and powerless. He did not pull his finger away, nor did he say anything more, but simply embraced her more tightly and steadily with his other arm, completely drawing her delicate body into his broad and warm embrace, silently conveying protection and a sense of security with his body temperature and solid presence.
He knew that what she needed at this moment was not logic, but a safe embrace where she could cry and lean on.
However, this warm and slightly melancholic scene was fully observed by an 'uninvited guest' outside the chamber.
Outside the hatch, a sneaky dark blue figure was peering around the edge of the observation window, cautiously sticking out half a helmet, peeking at the situation inside the chamber. It was Dorian. He had just made an excuse to slip away, but in reality, he couldn't let go of the gossip, so he circled back and secretly snuck back.
When he saw Kolesa crying and Gaius just holding her without any further 'advances,' Dorian stomped his feet in exasperation outside, almost pounding his chest. Through internal comms, he ranted furiously in a tone of 'hating iron for not becoming steel':
"Oh, Gaius, you blockhead! You fool! Why is he so clueless?! The girl is crying like this, what a great opportunity! Hold her tighter, say something nice! What's wrong with kissing her forehead?! I'm so frustrated! He's like a dummy! If it were me..."
He was deeply immersed in his role as an 'emotional guru,' lamenting his brother's 'missed opportunity,' when a steady, slightly stern voice, like cold iron, suddenly spoke behind him:
"Dorian."
Dorian started, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and spun around abruptly. He saw a warrior standing behind him, clad in deep blue artificer power armour, his posture as upright as a pine. He wore a heavy red Bladeguard Veteran helmet with a distinctive gorget structure, and on his back was his characteristic, dangerously radiating double-bladed power axe. It was Sergeant Ilion Metauro, a veteran Sergeant of the First Company, known for his meticulousness and bravery.
Officer Meitaoluo's helmet-covered face showed no expression, but his tone carried undeniable authority: "If your Sergeant knew you were prying into his private affairs like this, I imagine he would 'personally' 'invite' you to the brig to reflect properly on what constitutes the conduct of an Astartes Brother."
Dorian was caught red-handed, his face instantly filled with an awkward smile, his hands and feet unsure where to go, his power armour making him clumsily shift his weight.
"Uh... haha... Officer Meitaoluo... what a coincidence... I... I just happened to be passing by! Yes, passing by! I saw that the wall structure here seems a bit... hmm... in need of maintenance! I'll go find a Tech-Sergeant to take a look right away!"
He rambled incoherently, explaining wildly, while simultaneously making his escape, no longer bothering to watch the 'live broadcast,' almost fleeing in disarray, quickly disappearing down the other end of the corridor, his speed not much slower than his usual charge into battle.
Officer Meitaoluo watched Dorian's hasty retreat, shaking his head helplessly; he was long accustomed to this eccentric colleague. He cast a final glance at the closed chamber door, did not linger, and turned to leave with steady steps, continuing his patrol duties.
Inside the chamber, Gaius might have vaguely heard some movement outside, but he paid it no mind; his entire attention was focused on the crying Aeldari girl in his arms who needed his protection. He simply held her quietly, like a rock, shielding her from all external storms, until her sobbing gradually subsided, leaving only the steady sound of her breathing as she nestled against his chest.