"So, where are we going next, Lion El'Jonson?"
"The front lines. That is where we belong. The matter with Dulan was merely an interlude, an extra detour I had to take for my brother."
"Everyone is saying this war is about to end."
"I don't care what they say. No matter what they claim, for now, this war is not over."
——————
The Warmaster was sprawled languidly in its box, which was specially lined with blankets. It looked at least two full sizes fatter than when it was first adopted, its fluffy, snow-white fur even shinier and smoother. It resembled a pampered king, and in fact, it was a king; the Unbending Truth was its rightful territory.
This intelligent feline lady had taken only a few days to easily discern the world she now inhabited. Undoubtedly, the woman who exuded the scent she adored was her sole master, the one who had bestowed this territory upon her.
Although there was no prey for her to hunt nor fresh water, her master's subjects which were now her subjects would deliver food and water to her precisely on time each day for her leisurely consumption.
As for the others, they were merely wandering subjects on her master's territory, save for one taller and more terrifying presence. His status seemed even higher than her master's, and he always appeared stern, emanating an aura that filled her with dread. Yet, her master was fond of seeking him out, almost always carrying her when she did.
Oh, it was enough to drive a cat to despair.
Still, she wasn't afraid of him. She wasn't afraid of any of those big, dark figures. She felt she could beat them; she just didn't want to bother.
Beyond that, her intelligent mind also held other thoughts: her master didn't always stay with her. Her territory seemed much larger than her own, and whenever she went to inspect it, she would leave for several days at a time. During these periods, she would entrust her to her own subjects for care.
She remembered two of their names: one seemed to be Corswain, and… Zahariel?
Never mind, it wasn't important. They were all her subjects anyway. After all, this incredibly strange, cold, hard place was already her kingdom, so everything within this kingdom rightfully belonged to her.
She lay on her territory, watching the lights constantly flashing outside the strange transparent stone, observing huge spheres sweeping past her eyes. On her other side, her master and that terrifying individual incessantly discussed something. They always liked to discuss things, rarely pausing.
It seemed she was gradually getting used to such days.
…Boring.
——————
"The other brothers?"
Lion El'Jonson leaned back in his seat. Several documents and star charts were casually spread before him—some important, some outdated. On the other side, barely an arm's length away, Morgana sat in her own seat, legs crossed.
"Yes, the other brothers."
Her hair had grown a bit too long, so she had simply parted it and braided it into two pigtails, each hanging to one side. Neat bangs connected them, beneath which lay teal eyes that could be concealed at any moment.
She reached out, pulled her intelligent feline onto her lap, stroked it, and quietly waited for her brother's answer. She wasn't worried that Lion El'Jonson would refuse the question. Why would he?
Lion El'Jonson seemed to hesitate, as if deep in thought. After a long moment, he finally looked up at his kin.
"Which one do you want to know about?"
Morgana considered.
"Let's start with…"
"Let's start with the one you know best or are closest to, Lion El'Jonson."
She uttered the light words, and then…
Then the atmosphere fell into a rather peculiar silence.
"…Besides you?"
"Of course."
Morgana raised an eyebrow. She suddenly realized that her unintentional words seemed to have truly stumped the Primarch before her. Lion El'Jonson's brows were tightly furrowed, his pupils constantly flashing with light, then dismissing thoughts.
Morgana thought of a rather absurd, peculiar, but, in Lion El'Jonsons case, perfectly logical explanation.
"…Have you never bothered to learn about our brothers, Lion El'Jonson?"
"Why would I need to learn about them?"
Morgana's question only made the Lion of Caliban frown deeper.
"They should be the ones learning about me. After all, I walk the truly correct path, while they merely wallow in the mire of their own desires, squandering their talent and power."
"All this time, I have tolerated it. You know, Morgana, many Primarchs waste their strength. It could even be considered a form of disloyalty, and I have always tolerated their wastefulness. My experiences on Caliban have given me such a broad mind."
Morgana's lips trembled, but she ultimately said nothing. After a period of silence brought on by Lion El'Jonson's words, Morgana revealed a silent smile.
"Perhaps you should try to understand our brothers, Lion El'Jonson, even for your own personal relationships. Imagine, if you and Leman Russ had been on good terms before, the incident with Dulan could have been avoided."
The Lion merely grunted.
"You've made the same mistake as Leman Russ, Morgana."
"While my popularity may not be the best among all of them—after all, Horus and Sanguinius are extraordinarily gifted in that regard—no one else's popularity can compare to mine."
"…Really?"
"As I just said, all this time, I have generously tolerated their incompetence and inefficiency. If only these fellows understood how correct my path is and how much they are wasting, my brothers would realize how magnanimous I have been all these years."
"I can't imagine why they would dislike me."
"…"
"…"
"…Perhaps."
It was the first time Morgana had been silent for so long.
——————
The conversation continued.
Lion El'Jonson reluctantly recalled his brothers. He hadn't met all the Primarchs. At the very least, he probably hadn't met Magnus. Mortarion and Lorgar had only been fleetingly seen through electronic screens.
In fact, completely unlike popular belief, the Emperor's many sons didn't often meet. Situations with multiple Primarchs present were especially rare, as, aside from a summons from the Emperor or Horus, the only circumstance that could gather several Primarchs was when a Primarch encountered a powerful enemy that their Legion couldn't resolve alone, forcing them to seek help from their brothers.
For Primarchs and Astartes warriors, who were as arrogant as they were, admitting helplessness against an opponent was undoubtedly a disgrace. Therefore, few Legions would rashly call for aid, and the vastness of the galaxy also prevented Astartes Legions from always congregating.
In such circumstances, most Primarchs' impressions of their brothers were often filled with prejudice and illusions. Moreover, these sons of the Emperor all harbored a vague arrogance, and their familial affection for their kin was often twisted by this unconscious arrogance. When this expression was received by other Primarchs, it would, in turn, be wrapped in the arrogance of those other Primarchs, ultimately escalating into terribly bad situations.
Yet, despite this, some consensuses circulated among the Emperor's sons—consensuses that even Lion El'Jonson acknowledged.
The Lion of Caliban offered praise to the Archangel of Baal in front of his kin, concisely commending his martial prowess while disdainfully dismissing his mediocre command abilities.
"However, while Sanguinius's command may not be excellent, his power is one that can create miracles."
As he spoke, Lion El'Jonson's pupils gleamed.
"War in the void is not a one-man affair. Individual martial valor rarely brings about overall change in a battle of millions. But Sanguinius is different. He is the kind of figure who can turn the tide of battle with his own strength, courage, and fury. To be his friend is a blessing; to be his enemy is a great catastrophe and challenge."
Subsequently, Lion El'Jonson spoke of several other brothers, emphasizing those who played pivotal roles in large-scale wars: Horus, Guilliman, Ferrus, and Dorn.
"Horus possesses a wondrous charisma. It's hard to say how good his command abilities truly are, because his real strength doesn't lie in pure command, but in his ability to always draw in more allies. However, this is ultimately a misguided path; he cares too much about how others perceive him. He shouldn't be like that."
"Horus is always preoccupied with matters beyond the battlefield, which more or less hinders his command performance. Although his Legion seems to have a distinguished reputation, overall, it's not as good as Rendan's elite."
"As for Guilliman, this ambitious fellow is completely the opposite. Among the Emperor's sons, only he is so arrogant, daring to defend his own realm and plotting one grand conspiracy after another. Everyone knows how ambitious Guilliman is; he's just waiting for the right, damn opportunity."
"But I also have to admit his wisdom and capability. Relying solely on his so-called Five Hundred Worlds, he can gain an advantage in the most brutal wars. While his command may not be outstanding, its strength lies in having no obvious weaknesses…"
"No, that's not quite right either."
A mysterious smile touched the Lion's face.
"As for Ferrus, he is indeed an out-and-out artist of war. Compared to Ferrus, Perturabo is far too crude and reckless, and Guilliman seems a bit small-minded. Horus might be able to contend with him, but if the battlefield were limited to a clash between two Legions, I wouldn't favor the Shadow Moon Wolves."
"Aside from his own rage, I find no flaws in Ferrus. But in fact, even his rage is a weapon. He is also an artist in close combat and dueling, and only a handful of Primarchs can compare to him, especially when he dons his multi-functional backpack. I once witnessed the powerful strength contained within that item; as long as he remembers to use it in battle, he is invincible."
"Finally, there's Dorn…"
The Lion snorted.
"I don't like him. He's like a rock. If he served in my Legion, I'd assign him to guard deadly weapons; he's suited for that."
"In terms of offense, Dorn is indeed gifted. He always seizes the best opportunities and weaknesses, engaging in combat like the most seasoned boxer: Imperial Fists, the name of this Legion comes from that."
"But that doesn't change his flaws. He's an egomaniac, a fellow who loves to mock all his brothers and curry favor with his father. No one likes him; everyone thinks he's a successful weirdo."
"But, I have to admit, he possesses outstanding abilities. He's an unappreciated master in many fields. If a war spanning star systems and the galaxy were to break out, Dorn would be a very suitable candidate."
The Lion's words glossed over these most excellent brothers, then lingered on those who were less outstanding or less obvious.
"Fulgrim? Oh, his Legion is indeed quite good."
"Vulkan, I don't know much about him or his sons. He might be good for fighting, but he's probably not suited for war."
"Magnus, he's not just unsuited for war, he's unsuited for anything at all."
"Perturabo, his abilities are among the best of his brothers, but that's all. I don't know why, but his capabilities are completely undeveloped."
"Mortarion, he's formidable, and his Legion is formidable, but he's not worth fearing, though he certainly needs to be guarded against."
"Don't overestimate his danger, don't underestimate his malice. That's all."
"Lorgar…"
"…Lorgar."
"Heh…"
Lion El'Jonson let out a scoff. He remained silent for a while before moving on to the next topic.
He didn't speak of this brother until the end of the conversation, only at the very last moment, he said, as if with a sigh,
"The Word Bearers are a pity."
"They deserve better."
——————
For Lion El'Jonson and Morgana, such conversations had unintentionally become a daily routine. During times without war or work, the Lion of Caliban was even happy to spend time with his kin in this way.
He could clearly feel his trust in Morgana increasing, but Lion El'Jonson also knew clearly that he couldn't trust her completely.
No one was worthy of his complete trust, except the Emperor.
No, even the Emperor…
Lion El'Jonson would never tell Morgana that there was a secret room hidden in his quarters, where a most peculiar longsword rested: it was specifically designed to drink the blood of Psykers.
However, he hoped he would never have to use it, though he was always prepared.
Prepared for the day Morgana would leave him, leave his Legion.
But he never imagined that day would arrive in such a manner.
——————
"The storm?"
When Lion El'Jonson learned that Morgana had taken Zahariel to an untamed world to explore an ancient ruin, he didn't stop her.
But when he heard that the star system had been swallowed by a Warp storm at some point,
His brows furrowed.
"Ugh, I feel completely out of it today…
Who am I, where am I, what rubbish am I writing…
Ahem.
Alright, here's a recommendation for a little seedling (novel).
(My friend from the last PY project has already soared to success, sadly)
It's called "The Emperor's Daughter of the Red Sands"
It's really a seedling, a story about the female Primarch Angron. Although it doesn't have many words, both the plot and the writing are on point.
You can go check it out, or add it to your bookshelf to nurture it. Fanfiction for Warhammer is rare, so let's be kind to it~
Ah…
I feel like I'm about to become a fallen pioneer.
Sadly.
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