Chapter 45: Chaos Enters the Fray
In the following days, Omega didn't manage to "fish" for any more psykers, but he did "hook" the Archmagos's retaliation. Although the retaliation wasn't aimed at him, he was injured nonetheless.
"I'm not finished with Archmagos Veyl!" Omega, with a ferocious "horn" on his head, slammed his hand on the table.
Rhea looked at the "horn" on Omega's forehead and doubled over with laughter. "I never thought the only person injured in the earthquake would be you, our great Warmaster, hahaha."
"That's going too far! A few more steps up and I would have broken my neck!" Omega complained, pointing an accusing finger at the cog-girl.
"Yes, yes, my mistake. I just didn't expect it. Jacob, did you expect it?"
"Haha, alright, Rhea, let it go. Can't you see Omega's face is red with anger?"
"Okay, okay, I'll stop. But the Temple should be completely wiped out this time. The war is almost over," Rhea said, her tone light.
"You have to admit, the Archmagos's move of turning their own strategy against them was brilliant. Attacking the Temple's void shields with lost technology would have been too costly. Crashing a ship through the planet's crust to destroy the Temple's defensive zone with earthquakes and lava... so ruthless! So brilliant!"
"Who would have thought? A few days ago, the Archmagos was the one being hit. Yesterday, the Temple was hit by the Archmagos. The Temple probably never saw that coming," Aedus said.
Paul sighed. "It's finally over. I can finally live the normal life of a priest. I haven't had a single normal day since I became one."
"A priest's normal life is?" Jacob asked.
"Being a tech-slave in a factory?" Omega chimed in.
"Hey, hey, Paul, be happy, but don't bring up such painful memories!" Louis pleaded.
Paul: "..."
"Omega, have you and the Magi discussed how to deal with the Archmagos?" Rhea suddenly asked.
Omega noticed everyone's ears perk up. He didn't keep them in suspense. "Although it didn't turn out as I had hoped, with us being able to profit from the situation, the Archmagos has also suffered heavy losses. He won't do anything to us. He'll most likely try to appease and recruit us first, then slowly push us out over the next few decades."
"A few decades?"
"Of course. Teyedan is in ruins. At a time like this, anyone with a brain wouldn't force an armed group like us. After all, we never raised a banner of rebellion."
"Why a few decades?"
"It will take at least that long for Teyedan to return to normal. Mars won't miss this opportunity to kick a dog when it's down. During this time, we will be a necessary defense force for Teyedan."
"You mean they'll only make a move against us when they no longer need us?"
"That's right. So we don't need to worry. We'll wait for the Imperium to come in and clean up the mess. We'll have plenty of time to gather resources and technology. In a few decades, with enough capital, even if the Archmagos wants us to stay, we might not want to. Right?"
"Hahaha, that's true. I've never even been on a starship."
"I've been here for decades. A few more decades and I'll have had enough."
"To roam the stars!"
"To excavate ruins!"
Seven curses, seven plagues
Seven blessings, seven sacrifices
Seven rots, seven eternities
Viruses multiply, life multiplies
Fungi flourish, life flourishes
In decay, find eternity
You who are stained with eternal joy
Look upon the essence of decay
Be grateful to the Allfather
Viktor considered himself a failure. He had failed his father's sacrifice and his mother's expectations. His first failure had cost him his father. His second had cost him his mother. His repeated failures had left him without a family.
Oh, Omnissiah! Why have you forsaken me? Oh, Machine God! Why have you never enlightened me?
From the moment he could remember, everyone had told Viktor that he was a child favored by the Omnissiah. As he grew up, he believed it too. He had a better memory than the other apprentices, a better understanding. He was the best among them all. But he had failed. He, whom everyone had believed would become a priest, had failed. Twice.
Two failures had cost him everything, including himself. From that day on, all that was left was a shell named "Viktor." Faith, knowledge, the Motive Force, the Machine God, the Omnissiah—it was all scrap-code.
Then the war broke out. Viktor heard the people's fear, heard of the Skitarii's deaths, heard of the priests killing each other. The deaths of those he had once revered, envied, and admired brought a flicker of joy to the shell of "Viktor." But what did it matter? He had lost everything. He cared about nothing. Pain, joy—it was all the same.
Then the food stopped flowing from the pipes in the hab-block. Everyone was starving, going mad. Viktor just locked himself in his room, ignoring the chaos outside. Let it all end like this... he thought.
A day passed, and his stomach was in knots. Two days, and his intestines were spasming. Three days, and he finally understood how painful death was. Every inch of his body groaned. A second felt like a year. Viktor didn't know how much longer he had, but he couldn't bear this pain for another second.
I want to live! I don't want to suffer like this! I want to live! I want to live! Father, save me! Mother, save me! It hurts so much!
He tried to get up, but his body, other than sending him waves of pain, would not obey his commands. He could only lie there, helpless, enduring the torture.
Someone, save me! Anyone! Save me! I want to live! I want to live!
"Sigh... poor child."
A voice echoed in Viktor's mind. He clung to it like a lifeline. He wanted to call out for help, but he was too weak to make a sound. Save me! Save me! Shout! Shout! Shout out loud!
"No need to rush. I hear you. I hear you," the voice said again. Save me! I don't want to die! I want to live! It hurts so much! Save me!
"No problem, no problem. The pain will be gone soon. Don't worry, everyone likes a child like you." The voice was so kind, like his father's stern rebukes, like his mother's loving concern. It had a magical quality that seemed to soothe the pain in his body. Thank you. I feel much better now. I want to talk to you more, but I...
"Sleep. Sleep. When you wake up, everything will be better." Viktor was too tired. He needed to rest.
He didn't know how long he slept. When he woke up, the pain had lessened, but his body still wouldn't move. It felt like some bumps had grown on him, but those were minor problems. Didn't all workers have some minor ailments? He had something more important to do. He wanted to know if the voice was still there. Are you still there?
"I am. You are not yet well. How could I leave?"
Thank you. You are so kind, so warm.
"Is that so? My family are all like me."
I'm so envious of you. I don't have a family anymore...
"Oh, I'm sorry. You are so unfortunate, so pitiful. How can you not have a family?"
They were all for me. It was all because of me. They...
"So pitiful, so very pitiful. Don't be sad. I will be your family. Then you will have many, many family members. We will sing together, play together, and offer gifts to the Allfather together."
Ah! Me! Someone like me! I'm not worthy! I...
"You are, you are. I've asked everyone. They all like you very much."
Really? How is that possible? I have a family again!
"Yes, yes. From now on, you are my family, and I am yours."
Wonderful! This is wonderful! I have a family! I'm not alone anymore!
"That's right. Be happy. You should be happy every day. Let me tell you about our family."
Yes, I want to know. I want to know about our family.
"Yes, a family should know each other. First, let me tell you about our loving father!"
On the first day of knowing his family, they had eased his pain. On the second day, they had made him a part of their family. From that day on, Viktor was no longer alone. The first thing he did every morning was to talk to them. And they would always patiently tell him about their father, their ideals, their desires...
The third day.
The fourth day.
...
On the seventh day, Viktor was healed. He had survived. His body was no longer in pain; instead, it was filled with strength, with vitality. In these seven days, Viktor had learned a lot, understood a lot. After all, he was smarter than others. He knew that all of this was a gift from the Allfather, a blessing, a grace.
Now, Viktor had a mission: to share the love of the Allfather with more people, to let them know his greatness. He was not afraid of the unknown future, because his great brother—Rotigus the Rainfather—was always encouraging him from the Allfather's garden. He had to work hard. He had to go to the garden to be reunited with his family.
Viktor's neighbor was currently lying on the corridor floor, waiting to die. His intestines had spilled out of his abdomen, and he had managed to stuff them back in. He knew he was going to die. He just lay there, hoping to reduce the pain a little.
The long-unopened door to his hab-unit creaked open. Hearing the sound, he was surprised, even in his dying state. He had thought Viktor had died in there long ago. If he had known Viktor had hidden food, he would have pried open the door and taken it.
What a stench! What is that monster? Why is a rotting, swollen corpse moving? It... it's Viktor! Stay away! Omnissiah, save me! I was wrong! I repent! Don't let me fall into the hands of this monster!
"Oh, Adal, you're dying. Don't worry, I'll save you. Death is so terrible. But don't worry, I have the Allfather's love. Adal, do you know the Allfather?"