After ordering the five chapters that had fought in the previous campaign to rest, Nareth led the newly arrived Second and Fifth Chapters toward the Damaetus System to rescue Knight House Vyronii, which had endured a centuries-long siege by the Mitu.
Before the Fifth Chapter's fleet departed, Santiago Borgkamp, who served as adjutant, received new deployment orders.
Filled with excitement, he boarded a Stormbird and ascended onto the Shadow's Sovereignty, the flagship of their gene-sire.
As a former member of the Honor Guard, Santiago was no stranger to the Primarch's vessel, but he was unfamiliar with the location mentioned in the report, the Librarium.
The Librarium sat at the rear of the ship, behind the Primarch's palace, isolated from other sections.
Santiago knew its general layout, a rectangular structure.
The outermost ring was the Archivists' area, where scribes worked tirelessly.
All battle reports and accumulated knowledge gathered by the Legion were compiled, categorized, and archived here.
Though the Shadows of Order were not as obsessed with hoarding knowledge as the Thousand Sons, the influence of their Primarch and the vast Librarium still made it an immense treasure trove of wisdom, one so vast that even the Librarium itself could hardly contain it.
With the completion of the Legion Fortress Shadowhold most of the reports and system scan data had since been moved into the main tower's secret spires.
After presenting his authorization rune and passing inspection, Santiago entered the outer Archivist zone.
There, he spotted a Librarian in a black robe bent over his desk, studying a flickering crystal plate.
'That should be a Mitu data carrier', Santiago thought silently.
'Had I accepted Chief Librarian Thomas's invitation, I'd probably be doing this kind of work right now… But I prefer standing beside my battle-brothers. Even if Librarians fight beside us at times, it's not the same.'
He favored the brotherhood of battle over the detached scholars of the Librarium.
Lost in thought, Santiago walked past rows of worktables and obsidian shelves stacked with books, scrolls, data-slates, and glowing crystals, even alien materials like strange furs and stones used as data media.
Finally, he reached a black obsidian podium. Around him stood warriors from various companies, brothers of the Shadow's of Order marked by their shoulder heraldry:
Red arrows of the Seventh Chapter, blue waves of the Ninth, and others.
He recognized many of them as fellow Honor Guard members, assigned by the Black Emperor himself.
A smile crossed his face, remembering the days when he personally followed the Primarch.
When ninety-two warriors had assembled beneath the podium, the instructor appeared.
"Shadows of Order from every Chapter, you were summoned here because you have demonstrated psychic potential," the instructor said.
"During our journey to the Damaetus System, you will undergo training."
"The curriculum includes the Enumeration of Primarch Magnus and the Aeldar Fire Dragon Runes."
He paused, scanning their faces.
"Some of you may question using xenos runes. But as our Father said, 'Use every tool wisely', and yet, also remember his warning: 'Beware the loss of control.' The Fire Dragon Runes are power our Father tested himself, and Chief Librarian Thomas has confirmed their safety through practice."
Santiago harbored no prejudice against alien runes. As a psyker, he already wielded powers that were far more perilous; his Teleportation drew directly upon the Immaterium.
He knew the risks. An ancestor of House Borgkamp had once lost control mid-teleport and was banished into the unknown void.
Seeking mastery, Santiago had studied the Thelema mindstate granted by the Black Emperor, mastering all three levels.
He felt safer knowing that, during the battle of Advex-Mors, the Black Emperor himself had taught him a sacred invocation, a prayer to call upon the Emperor's aid should he ever be imperiled.
The Emperor had even elevated him to the rank of Apprentice, a sign of His paternal care.
If danger struck, Santiago could open a warp gate to escape or pray to the Emperor for deliverance.
As he listened, the instructor continued:
"Most mortals cannot even reach the first level of mental focus. They can control their emotions, but not achieve perfect calm or clarity of thought. Of course, our Primarch's aide, Arsena Dunn, entered that state within ten minutes under His guidance."
After one ship-standard hour, Santiago, who was already familiar with such techniques, managed to attain the First Level of the Enumeration
At day's end, when the instructor checked their progress, Santiago noticed that only he and one other had succeeded, a young Librarian apprentice wearing a black robe trimmed with blue.
His name was Miguel Cuesta.
The instructor then spoke:
"Today's training ends here. Now, you have an opportunity. The Mindforge Staff, recovered from Medusa, awaits its master. Each of you may hold it for eleven minutes, try to commune with it through your psychic energy. If it responds, it is yours."
Following the instructor, the Shadows of Order proceeded through sections guarded by two warriors, stopping before a great door.
One was, clad in black power armor decorated with blue stars, pressed his hand to a scanner.
Psychic light flickered; runes danced under his fingers.
After verifying a rotating cipher sequence, the locks disengaged with metallic clangs and deep hisses.
The door thundered open, exhaling cold mist.
"This is the Librarium Armory,"
"Follow my path. Do not stray."
They stepped into the vault. Passing through two more gates, they reached a chamber the size of a hangar deck.
On racks of psychic weaponry lay numerous staves, each seemingly ordinary except for a heart-shaped head.
One by one, the psykers lifted them and poured their will into the ancient relics.
Santiago's staff remained inert. But Miguel's, at the first touch of his power, flared with dazzling light.
Crackling arcs of energy burst forth, drawing the Astropath's immediate attention.
"Congratulations," he said to Miguel.
Moments later, both Miguel and Santiago were summoned before their Primarch.
Nareth first spoke with Santiago, confirming his successful absorption of the Apprentice's Potion, then gave him the next sequence Potion, the Trickster.
Santiago drank the shimmering brew and, stabilizing its energy, ascended to Sequence 8, entering the first level of the mental state. After sorting his newly gained abilities, such as Flash, he bowed and said:
"Thank you, my Lord. I will use your gift well… and show the Mitu a few tricks."
Nareth nodded. "Send in Miguel."
Moments later, Miguel entered, clutching the Mindforge Staff.
It was his first time meeting the Gene-Father, and he could barely contain his awe.
"Father."
"Miguel," Nareth said calmly, "show me your mastery of the staff."
Miguel took a deep breath and channeled power into it.
Crackle!
Lightning danced from the staff, filling the room. Even the clock above the office door shivered, its lines of order vibrating faintly.
'So, a powerful tech-psyker indeed,' Nareth thought. 'To awaken the Mindforge Staff… this one has potential. Perhaps not on par with Lydriik, but formidable nonetheless. Maybe I should cultivate him as an extraordinary being.'
He recalled that Lydriik, the first wielder of the Mindforge Staff, had beheaded the Sapphire King, a Slaaneshi daemon born from the psychic storm of Ferrus Manus's death, a manifestation of their Primarch's rage and regret.
Though many Iron Fathers perished in that battle, Lydriik's mastery of the Mindforge Staff had been decisive.
That relic was a staff of immense power, far surpassing the Staff of the Psybrids.
Nareth then reviewed Miguel's dossier.
"You're from Kasai, yes? Your family forges psychic longswords for the nobility?"
"Yes, Father. House Cuesta is the oldest and largest swordsmith clan in Kasai."
Nareth nodded slightly.
'A lineage that melds technology with psychic craft… perhaps it's no coincidence he awakened the staff. High psychic potential and mechanical aptitude…'
"From now on, you are part of the Honor Guard."
"By your will, Father," Miguel said, realizing that this day had truly been his day of fortune, a powerful staff in his hand, and the Gene-Father's personal recognition.
.....
Term Correction
Heart-Forge Staff - Mindforge Staff
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If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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