He certainly grasped the monumental weight of that commitment.
Eldrad Ulthran—the oldest, most prestigious, and most visionary old seer among the Craftworld Aeldari since the fall of their ancient empire—wielded an undeniable and far-reaching influence across the surviving remnants of his species.
During the era of the Great Crusade, he had even been the first alien entity to deliver an explicit warning to the Emperor of Mankind regarding the treachery of Horus.
He recognized far more lucidly than the vast majority of his pride-bound or glory-obsessed peers that the Aeldari Empire was nothing but dust and ash; this was an era where humanity dominated the galaxy.
If the Aeldari wished to survive, collaborating with a human faction that possessed critical capabilities was an almost unavoidable choice.
When Eldrad claimed he could persuade other Craftworld Aeldari to enter his service, Osiris believed in the genuine possibility of it. However, recognizing a possibility and entirely accepting or relying upon it were two completely separate matters.
Osiris remained silent for a moment, carefully weighing every single word delivered by the High Farseer. Then, he shook his head slowly, his intonation remaining flat yet carrying a piercing, fundamental clarity.
"The High Farseer's commitment is exceptionally weighty, and I can perceive the absolute sincerity behind it. However, the term 'service' is perhaps too heavy an expression, and it is far from what I urgently require at present."
An imperceptible glimmer flashed deep within Eldrad's eyes as he quietly awaited the follow-up.
"The Aeldari are an ancient, highly skilled race possessing unique value," Osiris continued, stating it as an objective fact. "But similarly, you are a highly complex race riddled with intense internal tensions. I have no intention, nor do I currently possess the capacity, to integrate or govern such an ancient and prideful civilization to have them 'serve' me."
He shifted his focus, his gaze sharpening slightly, cutting precisely like a scalpel into the absolute deepest scar of the Aeldari race. "Furthermore, the fundamental core and inertia of any civilization are almost always rooted within its most basic cultural and survival modalities. The High Farseer should know far better than I how the youngest of the four unutterable entities in the Warp came to be."
He did not utter the name aloud, but every Aeldari present understood—Slaanesh, the Prince of Pleasure, was birthed precisely from the ultimate indulgence, depravity, and concentration of psychic energy during the final days of the ancient Aeldari Empire.
It was the Aeldari themselves, relying entirely on their own actions, who forced the creation of a ruinous god within the Warp that delighted in devouring their souls.
"The universe of Pandora appears completely clean at present, devoid of the omnipresent corruption and low whispers of the Warp," Osiris's voice was calm, yet every word carried immense weight.
"But that does not mean it is an absolutely secure harbor, nor does it mean certain behavioral inclinations or patterns will naturally vanish just because the environment changes.
If the migrated Aeldari, upon shaking off the immediate threat of Slaanesh, gradually recover and eventually slip back into—or even intensify—a spiritual pursuit and lifestyle resembling the final days of your empire's apex... then no one can guarantee whether the underlying rules of that universe might birth something entirely new due to the convergence of massive, homogenized, and extreme psychic soul energy."
He looked directly at Eldrad's projection, which had grown exceedingly grave. "The threat of the Dark Prince may be temporarily distant, but has the very soil that nurtured the Dark Prince been discarded alongside it? This is a risk I am forced to evaluate. The corridor I open must not introduce a future curse capable of jeopardizing an entire new universe."
These words fell like a cold hammer of reality, shattering whatever lingering traces of wishful thinking might have remained deep within Eldrad's mind. Osiris's understanding of the Aeldari ran far deeper than mere surface-level collaboration; he was pointing directly at the core tragic root and potential danger of their species.
Eldrad's projection seemed to dim for a brief instant, as if an eon of exhaustion and sorrow were about to spill over. He took a deep, slow breath, his voice lacing with a heavy, resolute acknowledgment.
"You see through us with absolute clarity, Lord Osiris. This is no mere accusation, but an irrefutable fact and warning," he conceded openly. "The fall of the ancient empire is our eternal shame and the source of our deepest agony.
Indulgence, extreme emotions, and sensory pursuits are the breeding grounds for ruin. This fact is engraved into the heart of Ulthwé, and indeed every Craftworld that still adheres to the Paths to constrain themselves."
He straightened his posture, as if delivering a solemn vow. "I can promise you, and I will utilize my remaining life and prestige to guarantee, that any child of the Aeldari permitted to migrate to the new universe must strictly adhere to revised and reinforced strictures of the Path.
We will establish a self-constraint and societal monitoring system far more rigorous than what exists in our native universe. We will discard any ancient habits capable of triggering a collective spiritual degeneration, placing survival and the continuation of reason above all else.
We will never, and can never, repeat our past mistakes to become the gravediggers of our own undoing in any universe."
Osiris listened quietly, his countenance entirely devoid of any sign of being persuaded or moved. He understood the true core of the Aeldari all too well—that deep-seated desire for extreme experiences and the artistic inclination toward perfection embedded in their very souls were instincts that even the "Path" could only barely restrain.
Otherwise, the Drukhari of Commoragh, who sustained themselves on the agony of others, would not arrogantly proclaim themselves to be the true "Aeldari orthodoxy" for casting aside hypocrisy and embracing their instincts.
The "Path" was a tightly wound string; how long it could maintain its tension, particularly after the maximum external pressure was removed, remained a massive unknown. Eldrad's promise was genuine, but as to how long its efficacy could endure and how wide it could cover, Osiris maintained his reservations.
However, Eldrad's standing and sincerity required a certain degree of response at this juncture. Flatly refusing would be disadvantageous to both parties and would waste a magnificent strategic opportunity.
Osiris appeared to reflect for a brief moment. Then, adopting an intonation as if he had just arrived at an idea, he spoke slowly. "The High Farseer's promise and resolve have been received. The concrete restrictive details and the administrative blueprints following migration can be formulated thoroughly at a later date.
However, prior to establishing a formal, more guaranteed framework of cooperation, I do require a token—something far more symbolic and possessing practical binding force—to serve as a testament to our mutual adherence to the covenant, and as a foundation for potentially expanding our cooperation in the future."
He successfully directed the topic away from the ephemeral concepts of "trust" and "promises," steering it toward a concrete, tangible token.
Eldrad's focus sharpened noticeably. He knew the critical aspect of the bargaining price had finally arrived.
"Please, state it. So long as it lies within the capability of Ulthwé, or indeed any sphere of Aeldari influence I can sway, we will exert our utmost efforts."