"Then I have one final, most crucial question. Why is it that when we, I assume all primarchs, travel through the Warp, we feel this inexplicable sense of familiarity? Why do we sense a mysterious calling?" Russ finally spoke up.
This was the issue that truly concerned him.
Upon hearing this, Magnus opened his mouth as if to answer, but fell silent instead.
"I'm sorry, Lord Russ," Kasha replied, "but what the Emperor has permitted me to tell you is limited to just this.
"As for the matters regarding you primarchs, that is the highest level of Imperial secrecy. Even I do not know the full truth."
Why were the primarchs drawn to the power of the Warp? Why did it feel so familiar to them? Why did they sense a call?
She did not know the exact answer, only an inkling. Maybe her mother knew; maybe her father did too.
But all of it had been buried long ago.
"But all of this—!" Russ wanted to press further, but Magnus placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
"We already know enough, Russ. Don't push any further. Kasha doesn't know, and neither does Axis.
"And we need to trust Father. The reason he forbids us from exploring the Warp is that it really is unimaginably dangerous. Even I, with the strongest psychic powers, can become a target for those malevolent entities lurking within." Magnus spoke calmly.
Russ nodded in agreement, accepting Magnus's reasoning. He already knew more than enough for one day.
"Those four beings in the Warp are true abominations. Never trust a word of whatever they may tell you," Axis added.
In truth, sometimes the four Chaos Gods weren't outright lying. But even if they told the truth, they were still be toying with you.
For instance, when they showed Horus a vision of the so-called future ten thousand years hence!
The Emperor was shown sitting upon the Golden Throne, the Imperium decayed beyond recognition, and so Horus resolved to rebel against his father.
But what the four Chaos Gods never revealed was that this terrible future was caused by Horus himself.
Moreover, before all this, Axis had read "The End and the Death," and in it, Warmaster Horus had endured countless centuries of endless warfare within the Warp, only then returning to the material universe to lead his Black Legion.
The four Chaos bastards were certainly no good.
They might not always lie, but they'd never miss a chance to set a trap for you, even if it menat revealing part truths.
"Relax, Axis, I get it. You don't have to worry about me," Russ replied with an eye roll, he wasn't going pretend he had reconciled fully with Axis.
"Russ, my brother, do you still oppose my Librarius Project?" At that moment, Magnus looked toward Russ and asked.
The only reason they had learned part of the truth about the Warp today was thanks to the matter of founding Librarius.
Now, Magnus wanted to ask again: did his brother support his plan?
Russ remained silent ofr a moment before he replined, he'd considered many things.
"I agree with your proposal. The Space Wolves will have their own Librarius, and to receive your help is an honor."
Now that he had some understanding of the Warp, he felt at peace, no longer troubled by the questions that plagued his mind.
He was able to consider the points Axis and mgnus put forward with a wider perspective.
"Hahaha! I knew you'd agree, Russ.
"Librarius must be cultivated from youth. There are many young psykers on Prospero.
"Originally, they were to become my new recruits, but now I'll select the most talented few and give them to you.
"I'll have them implanted with the gene-seed of the Space Wolves, let them become your sons by gene, and once all their modifications are complete, they'll be trained here on Prospero. When I judge them ready, I'll send them to your side," Magnus explained.
As long as Russ could be convinced, the Librarius Project could continue.
Once Russ's new sons were trained, Magnus could persuade other primarchs to adopt the plan, hopefully winning even more support.
"Very well! Tomorrow, I'll bring over some Space Wolves gene-seed for you," Russ declared.
He planned to return tonight and have Axis use his ki to purify the gene-seed, perhaps with that perfected gene-seed, they could finally eliminate the threat of the Wulfen Curse.
Only by implanting the perfected gene-seed in his Astartes could he feel at ease leaving them on Prospero.
"Then I'll take my leave, brother. I still need to have a conversation with Father," Magnus said, excusing himself.
The two primarchs had learned much today.
After chatting with everyone, Magnus returned to his quarters alone and began to meditate, communicating with the Emperor in the Warp.
The Emperor quickly reassured Magnus and instructed him to build a massive Geller Field shield around his residence on Prospero, warning him to remain ever vigilant.
"Don't worry, Father. I'll stay on my guard. I would never believe a word those Chaos Gods say," Magnus replied.
"That puts my mind at ease, my son.
"Among all the primarchs, you are the strongest in psychic power, second only to me among all of humanity.
"Even Malcador is far behind you.
"I believe that when the two of us join forces, we will be unrivaled in the Warp!
"You shall not let anyone sever the bond between us as father and son.
"When the Great Crusade ends, I will retire, leave the material universe, and travel the Warp with you. There are threats we must understand to guard against, or to resist," the Emperor said.
"Really, Father? But after the Crusade, won't you still need to govern the Imperium?" Magnus asked, unable to hide his excitement.
He had never dreamed that after retiring, his father would actually promise to explore the Warp with him, it felt…too much like a father son bonding moment.
"After the Crusade, I will choose an heir from among the primarchs. There are some things I can't tell you just yet.
"But I promise you, when the Crusade is truly over, when my plan is complete, then you and I will explore the Warp together, unlocking the infinite knowledge and the truth you desire," the Emperor replied.
One day, he would explore the mysteries of the Warp together with his father!
The very thought filled him with yearning.
Perhaps, once his father's plan succeeded and humanity was truly saved, even the four Chaos Gods would be weakened, and the Warp might become a much better place.
Magnus was elated by the Emperor's promise and felt an incomparable sense of awe and reverence toward his father.
Afterall, the Golden Thone was always meant for Magnus.
It wasn't as if it was bad thing before Magnus himself broke the wards, and changed the meaning of the golden throne.
For someone of Magnus' level it was a blessing to be able to explore the wrap and unlock the infinite Knowledge of the universe.
"Prepare well for the Great Crusade, my child. Train more Legionaries. For all mankind, we must complete the Crusade," the Emperor said.
Magnus nodded enthusiastically.
…
On the other side, Russ, accompanied by Axis, took a landing craft back to the Gloriana class ship.
He summoned the Apothecaries of the Space Wolves Legion and ordered them to bring a batch of Space Wolves gene-seed, then took Axis to a secret chamber.
"Axis, after seeing you purify Magnus's gene-seed, I was wondering if you could do the same with mine?
"You know all about the Sixth Legion's problem. That Wulfen Curse has always haunted your brothers," Russ explained.
"Father, I can use the power of Ki to help you purify your gene-seed," Axis replied with a nod.
To him, evolving the Space Wolves gene-seed was no more than a trivial task.
But the Wulfen Curse was different from mere fleshly mutations.
Magnus's gene-seed was, speculatively, cursed by Tzeentch, but the Space Wolves' transformation into Wulfen was an issue with Russ himself.
When the Emperor created this father of his, he had included many canine genes in the process.
So, in truth, the Wulfen Curse had some connection to the Warp, but the real problem was at the genetic level.
Still, Axis believed that evolving the gene-seed into its perfect form wouldn't be entirely useless, it should at least reduce the probability of the Wulfen Curse erupting.
Besides, the perfected gene-seed would be more stable and safer.
Soon, the Apothecaries brought over a large vat of preserved gene-seed.
These gene-seeds were typically stored in stasis fields as they were the most important resource of the entire Legion.
With the Great Crusade waged far from home, once the gene-seed matured, the Astartes would harvest them, store them in the stasis vault, and only after returning to Fenris would they be transferred to the Wolf Fortress.
Axis placed his hands on the incubators and began channeling his Ki energy to purify the gene-seed.
Under the purification of Axis's Ki, the gene-seeds began to change.
There was no visible change, but the fainted of taint that remind in germ cells had entirely vanished.
Sensing this, Russ was overjoyed. He couldn't actually sense the taint of the warp, but what he could sense was the purity of the now perfect gene-seed.
It was as like how someone who always lived in the city wouldn't know what fresh air in the wilderness felt like.
Only when they experience would they understand the difference.
"Haha! Well done, Axis! When the new recruits arrive, I'll have them bring these perfected gene-seeds back.
"From now on, all new recruits will use this perfected gene-seed," Russ declared.
Axis smiled and nodded.
"Father, when Magnus and I were in the laboratory, we used gene-seed to grow a special Astartes-type Saibaman.
"Would you like to make one as well?"
The Astartes-version Saibaman had tremendous combat power, physically strong, with psychic abilities and a long lifespan.
Ordinary Saibamen didn't live nearly as long.
..
..
Yep, I forgot to schedule the second chapter.
Have a great day/night!
Also, powerstones!