Desh'ea.
Once a city of sin, it had now transformed into a radiant city of light.
The Mechanicum had erected an orbital elevator that pierced the heavens with near-miraculous efficiency. Four other equally grand mega-structures were climbing toward the sky day and night.
The city's area had expanded more than tenfold. Ceramite skeletons grew upward at a rate of ten meters per day, gradually revealing the silhouette of a hive city.
Countless massive construction machines moved through the forest of steel, the deafening roar of industry never ceasing.
In synchronous orbit, hundreds of transport ships arrived at Nuceria every day, unloading tons of construction materials at the spaceport to feed this young, ravenous city.
The palaces of nearly all high-ranking nobles had crumbled in the revolutionary wave that swept the world. The wealth they had accumulated over millennia melted away like spring snow, returned to the hands of the people.
The only exception was the House Octavia. Even as the Mechanicum was feverishly constructing the hive city, the Octavia palace remained unchanged.
Six World Eaters escorted their youthful Primarch through the palace corridor's gilded floor tiles. Six maids in black-and-white uniforms held candelabras, leading the way ahead.
As the gilded doors to the throne room slowly opened, only Angron stepped forward alone.
The World Eaters stopped unanimously, standing with the maids on either side, guarding the entrance.
On the gilded throne, Claudia lounged lazily against the gilded armrest, her tone soft. "Little Angron, you've come."
"Sister Claudia, the Mechanicum has proposed using hundreds of massive machines to excavate this palace intact from its foundation and raise it into the heights along with the hive city's steel framework."
Claudia puffed her cheeks slightly, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. "Little Angron, I thought you came to greet me!"
Angron lowered his head helplessly.. "Good morning, Sister Claudia."
Claudia's lips curled slightly. "Since you've greeted me, then there's no need for to such trouble. Just tear it down."
Angron looked up, puzzled. "Tear down what?"
"This palace." Claudia tapped the throne's armrest lightly with her finger. "Dismantle it. You didn't like the Mechanicus' plan either, did you?"
Claudia's heterochromatic eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Surprised?"
Angron spoke softly. "After all, this place holds all your memories with Father."
"It's fine." Claudia tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile resting on her lips. "My dear and I will make many more memories."
"Little Angron. Do you prefer a younger brother or an older brother?"
As always, Claudia managed to catch Angron completely off guard. Her pointed question left the young Primarch visibly bewildered.
"Shouldn't it be younger brother and younger sister?"
How can an older brother be born after a younger one?
"Then do you prefer a younger brother or a younger sister?"
Angron thought very seriously. "Sisters, I guess. I already have enough brothers."
Claudia's voice carried a teasing edge. "So Little Angron wants my dear and me to give you a little sister? That can be arranged. Once my dear returns, I'll-"
"Sister Claudia!" Angron quickly stepped forward to cut her off, terrified she might say something even more shocking. "My brothers are here. Would you like to meet them?"
"Is it little Konrad?"
"It's Lorgar and Russ."
Claudia half-closed her eyes, clearly uninterested.
Claudia stretched lazily.
"Since Little Angron asked, I suppose I'll see them."
...
Russ stood by the observation window of the Faith's Ashes, suddenly breaking the silence. "He hasn't met our brother yet, has he? He met every Primarch but skipped Angron. Why?"
"He told Angron to go to Terra to meet him. Perhaps he feels guilty?"
"He's not the type to feel guilty over things that haven't happened. Even if they have happened, he wouldn't feel guilt."
"I'm as puzzled as you. Just like we still haven't managed to meet Horus. His secrets are too numerous."
"Why don't you call him Father?"
"And you? Why don't you?"
Russ and Lorgar exchanged a smile.
They held no special affection for the Emperor; the word 'Father' simply couldn't pass their lips.
Since he was unwilling to fully trust them, they wouldn't fully trust him either.
They had one father. They didn't need a second.
"Among all our brothers, you and I get along best."
"What about Konrad? I thought you two were close."
"Konrad's fine," Russ said slowly, shaking his head. "But… his thoughts run too deep."
Russ understood that this wasn't Konrad's fault. Anyone tormented by visions of the future would inevitably become guarded and secretive.
So Russ never deliberately picked at Konrad's flaws, and always chose his words carefully when speaking to him, not out of fear, but out of understanding.
Being with Lorgar was far easier. They could speak freely, even mock each other openly.
Lorgar gazed at the bustling starport beyond the viewport. "Are we truly brothers, Russ?"
"Of course." Russ's voice carried a rare solemnity. "All Primarchs are our brothers."
"Then," Lorgar hesitated briefly, "may I call Lady Sylvia 'Mother'?"
Lorgar had precedent for this, with Konrad, but Konrad never liked discussing their brothers' shortcomings, as that might affect Caelan's opinion of him.
Russ, caught completely off guard, bared his fangs in a grin.
"Caelan once taught me an ancient Terran word. Want to guess it?"
"Enlighten me."
Russ enunciated clearly. "Get lost."
"Why?" Lorgar raised his voice slightly. "Aren't we brothers by blood?"
Russ was speechless, practically rolling his eyes. "Don't you have your own mother?"
"I never had a mother growing up."
"…Brother, you're unbeatable."
Russ crossed his arms over his chest. This brother of his was truly desperate for a mother.
But it wasn't just him who lacked a mother. Didn't Corax also have no mother?
And the recently returned Mortarion and Jaghatai Khan, they might not have mothers either.
Russ couldn't understand Lorgar's obsession, and he certainly wouldn't give up his own mother. Sylvia already had plenty of children. There was no place for Lorgar in their family.
"It was presumptuous of me, brother." Lorgar lowered his head, disappointment unmistakable in his voice.
Russ felt no sympathy. He'd mastered this trick since childhood. He didn't believe anyone would actually fall for it.
And besides, Russ could see straight through Lorgar's logic.
What Lorgar wanted wasn't a mother in a sense.
He wanted Caelan's wife to be his mother.
If his brother truly saw her as a mother, Russ would be happy.
But Lorgar clearly had ulterior motives. Russ would never agree.
"What are you two talking about?"
Medea and Silvi approached, intertwined. The Iron Woman tilted her head slightly. Sylvia's eyes also gleamed with curiosity.
"My brother is greedy."
Lorgar neither agreed nor disagreed. He didn't think greed was wrong.
Konrad and Russ had mothers, so they thought he was greedy.
Those brothers without mothers would surely understand his intentions.
Since being rejected by Konrad last time, Lorgar had changed his strategy. He wanted to deepen his friendship with Russ first before discussing the matter. Unfortunately, Russ was completely unwilling.
But even if rejected by Konrad and Russ, he still had chances. His other brothers also had mothers. What if he succeeded with one?
Might as well try. It's not embaracing.
.....
The roar of the Stormbird's engines gradually subsided. The steel beast landed steadily in the center of the palace garden plaza.
Angron was already waiting with six honor guards, along with an elegant lady holding a gilded folding fan and her six maids.
A flicker of surprised passed through Russ's eyes. "Brother, why haven't you grown up yet?"
The youth looked up directly at Russ. "I'm six years old. By human standards, I'm already quite grown."
Russ and Lorgar neither agreed nor disagreed. When they were six, they had already conquered worlds. Yet Angron at six was still a child.
His mind was mature, but his body's growth rate was slow. Yet this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Lorgar suddenly stepped forward, going down on one knee before the elegant lady. He said earnestly, "Lady Claudia, may I call you Mother?"
Angron's eyes widened in shock. He instinctively turned to Russ.
Russ clenched his jaw and stared rigidly at the painted dome of the palace ceiling, perfectly demonstrating the meaning of instant regret.
Actually, getting along with Konrad was quite pleasant too. At least Konrad had a mother and wouldn't call another brother's mother 'Mother' upon first meeting.
These brothers of his, each one was more outrageous than the last.
Claudia covered her lips lightly with her fan, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Of course you may. I like Little Lorgar's straightforwardness very much. But if you want to call me Mother, my dear must approve first."
"Father won't object!" Lorgar said confidently. Caelan had promised to always support him.
This wouldn't violate any principles. What reason would Father have to refuse him?
The whole thing went so smoothly that Russ had whisper to Angron, "Brother… you're really okay with this?"
Angron replied helplessly, emphasizing each word, "Claudia is only my sister."
Still, Angron felt more stirred than he let on.
He hadn't read Lorgar's mind, but he could feel his sincerity. Lorgar truly wanted a mother.
For a fleeting moment, Angron even felt a hint of crisis, but it vanished like morning dew.
If he had to choose a woman as his mother, he would want it to be Claudia.
They were brothers. His mother was their mother too.
That was only fair.
Anyway, he didn't mind.
"Is Little Angron jealous? My offer always stands, if you want, you can call me Mother anytime."
"No," Angron said stiffly.
If he didn't admit it, then it didn't exist!
A teasing laugh sounded from behind the fan.
"Little Angron is so cute."
Claudia shifted her attention to Russ. "Hello there, Little Russ."
Russ also went down on one knee to show respect. "I pay my respects, Lady Claudia."
He was different from Lorgar. Lorgar sought to claim a mother. Russ was simply showing respect to all the women who had journeyed with Caelan.
Lorgar wished to acknowledge "Caelan's wife" as his mother. Claudia wished to acknowledge "Caelan's sons" as her own.
One sought truly to become Caelan's son. The other sought truly to become Caelan's wife.
Neither motive was pure, yet neither was harmful.
For whatever their intentions, neither would act against Caelan. That alone was enough.
Titles mattered little. Being called "Little Russ" was fine. Russ felt no embarrassment. But if it were Konrad, he would likely be at a loss.
On the matter of claiming a mother, Lorgar and Claudia were perfectly aligned.
As for Angron, his brother was too childish.
Young and unaware of a mother's goodness, mistaking pride for treasure.
In this, he was perhaps even more twisted than his shell.
Russ was different. He never failed to express himself.
From the beginning, he had both a father and a mother. And his father and mother loved each other deeply. Was there any family more perfect than that?
Russ never envied his brothers, for he already possessed the best.
"Hello, Sylvia."
Claudia extended a slender finger clad in lace gloves to stroke the she-wolf's fur. Sylvia nuzzled her head affectionately against Claudia's face.
Gentle affection flowed in Claudia's eyes. "Little Russ, how old is Sylvia this year?"
Russ replied, "She's just turned eighteen in terran years."
Fenrisian wolves grew quickly.
They had spent three and a half years together on Fenris, day and night. With his brothers returning one by one, it had been six years since Caelan left Fenris.
"What a coincidence. I just turned eighteen too. May I call you Sister Sylvia?" Claudia leaned gracefully toward the wolf. Her silver hair cascaded like moonlight, as though merging with the wolf's silver fur.
"Awooo!" Sylvia gave a low howl, her wet muzzle brushing Claudia's cheek in approval.
'Mother, oh Mother! You cannot be like this!'
Seeing the sly gleam in Claudia's eyes, Russ sighed helplessly.
His mother was still too innocent. How could she yield so easily?
By age, Mother was clearly the elder!
But in such matters, as a son, he could not intervene.
Still, it was fine. Who was elder and who was younger depended on Father. And Russ believed only the bond between Father and Mother was the purest of all.
"Sister Claudia."
When Claudia looked over, Medea quickly changed her address.
For if she did not call her sister, she would later have to call her "Mother" alongside Lorgar.
Age was irrelevant.
In the Legiones Astartes, many warriors who had survived since the Unification Wars, hundreds of years old, still called their Primarchs, mere children or youths, father.
"Both sisters are so adorable." Claudia's lips curved, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
Her advantage was established. None could shake it.
....
"Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
The Emperor's unnamed confidant tapped his staff lightly. The ground echoed with a crisp sound.
"What can be done?" The youth lowered his gaze. "If I were to go myself, should I take her life, or let her be?"
"Indeed, a thorny matter,"
To take her life, they might not even succeed, even if it was only an avatar.
And she was not alone. Though the shackles of realspace weighed heavily, she was not without defenses.
Though the ancient Aeldar Empire had fallen, restoring its glory was but a thought for her.
Even if they could kill her, would they dare?
To slay a Primarch's "mother" without cause? How would Angron see them? What would the other Primarchs think?
They could explain, but they had no proof.
Since she dared to come, she must have erased all traces. They could never catch her in a lie.
If they tried assassinating her, she would undoubly survived, play the victim, earning sympathy and tears.
The only reason they had learned the truth was thanks to a "kind" warning from an anonymous source, anonymous, but not entirely.
That source claimed to despise liars like her, full of deceit.
They knew it.
This was poison wrapped in honey.
And even if she 'died', she would simply wear another identity.
The anonymous source would surely "kindly" warn them again. But would they continue to hunt her?
They would be mad!
Caelan had struggled to rebuild trust with the Primarchs. If they severed it themselves, Caelan might despair and abandon everything.
The Primarchs would break with them. The Great Crusade would collapse.
And in the end, they both chose the same thing:
Close their eyes.
If they didn't see it, it didn't exist.
And as for that anonymous informant?
Ridiculous. Anonymous tips couldn't be trusted.
Let that damned anonymous bastard go eat shit.
.......
Apologies, I just recovered from Salmonella poisoning