"Big Uncle."
The title caught Guilliman completely off guard.
He looked down at the young woman standing in front of him. He took in her smiling face. He looked into her clear, bright eyes.
For a brief, surreal moment, the image of that timid little girl from twenty-three years ago—the one standing at the front of the line clutching a bouquet of flowers—slowly overlapped with the young woman standing before him today.
Guilliman's lips parted slightly, a rare trace of emotion bleeding into his voice.
"Are you... that little girl from back then... Mila?"
Mila's eyes curved into happy little crescents, her smile deepening.
"I am! I can't believe Lord Guilliman actually remembers me. I'm honestly so touched!"
Guilliman stared at her, speechless for a long time.
Twenty-three years ago, this girl couldn't have been more than seven or eight. Back then, even though they had tried to dress her up to look cute, she was frail, pale, and carrying the obvious signs of malnutrition.
But now...
She was healthy, confident, and her eyes were absolutely shining.
Guilliman finally spoke, his voice carrying a rare, undeniable... gentleness.
"I never expected you to grow up so fast."
He paused, his tone shifting into something far more serious.
"So, tell me. How have you been all these years? Has Crimson Dawn been governing this world properly? Because if they haven't, you can tell me right now."
Mila tilted her head up, looking at the towering, twelve-foot-tall blue giant. She studied his majestic face, reading the genuine concern etched into his features.
She let out a soft, crisp laugh.
"The lords of Crimson Dawn have done absolutely everything in their power to give us a good life. The changes across Aurelian are plain for anyone to see."
She paused, sweeping her gaze across the towering skyscrapers, the spotless streets, and the sprawling farmlands in the distance.
"I'm doing wonderfully, Lord Guilliman."
"I'm actually a literature teacher now, working at the First Elementary School in Dawn City's Dawn District."
When talking about her job, Mila's eyes sparkled with unmistakable pride.
"I absolutely love what I do. I work incredibly hard every single day to help raise the next generation of Aurelian."
"I want them to look up to the lords of Crimson Dawn as role models, so they can grow up to build and develop our world even further."
Listening to her speak, the smile on Guilliman's face deepened.
He slowly knelt down... and reached out with a massive blue power-armored gauntlet to gently pat Mila on the head.
It was the exact same gesture he had used to comfort that timid little girl twenty-three years ago.
"Hearing you say that..." His voice was warm, filled with a paternal, fatherly affection. "...makes me very happy, Mila."
With his heavy hand resting on her head, Mila's smile turned absolutely radiant.
Just then, Sanguinius, who had been standing quietly to the side, spoke up. His voice was equally gentle, carrying a note of genuine concern.
"Mila, what happened to Ian from back then?"
Mila turned her head to look at the golden angel with the folded white wings at his back. She gave him a sweet smile.
"Lord Sanguinius, Ian and Tom both went off to join the Crimson Dawn PDF."
"Because that was their dream." Her voice carried an innate, unquestionable pride. "They always wanted to be real soldiers. That way, they could protect everything we've built here on Aurelian."
Sanguinius gave a slow nod.
Mila continued, "We people of Aurelian still believe the exact same thing we did back then..."
"...that hard work forges the future, and the dawn will inevitably arrive. So every single one of us dedicates ourselves to that cause."
She looked up, meeting Sanguinius's eyes. There wasn't an ounce of fear in her gaze—only total conviction.
"And Crimson Dawn dedicates itself to every single citizen of Aurelian just the same."
"We don't deal in empty praises."
"We let the facts speak for themselves."
Sanguinius fell silent.
He looked at the young woman standing before him.
He looked into her clear eyes and echoed her words in his mind: We don't deal in empty praises. We let the facts speak for themselves.
His mind drifted back twenty-three years, to the plaza in Kent Hive where he had first met this girl.
Back then, she was frail, pale, and her eyes were dull and lifeless.
And now...
Here she stood—confident, open, with eyes full of light.
Suddenly, Sanguinius felt the ball of furious anger that had been burning in his chest for over two decades...
...start to slowly dissipate.
He thought of Titus.
He thought of the golden figure who had intervened during the heresy uprising in the City of the Holy Anthem.
He thought of that... unknown entity that had caused him to lose his dignity so completely in front of his Father when he returned to Terra.
He had fully expected that coming to Aurelian would be an exercise in fury, interrogations, and a relentless hunt for answers.
But now...
Looking at this girl, looking at the crowds around him who were welcoming him from the very bottom of their hearts, looking at the absolute miracle Crimson Dawn had spent twenty-plus years building...
He suddenly realized that his anger didn't seem all that important anymore.
A slow, faint smile touched the corners of Sanguinius's mouth.
It was a subtle expression, but an entirely genuine one.
Right on cue, Cogboy strolled up to the group. He came to a halt beside the two Primarchs and waved a hand at Mila.
"Alright, Mila, you should take the kids and head out for now."
His voice was gentle, but it still carried the necessary authority of a planetary governor.
"We need to take the lords on their official inspection tour."
He looked at Mila, his gaze filled with the affectionate warmth of an elder.
"Don't worry too much, they are the most righteous and upstanding Primarchs in the entire Imperium. They'll handle everything fairly, by the book."
He turned around, raising his voice to address the crowds still watching them.
"Alright everyone, show's over! Let's clear out!"
Hearing Governor Cage's orders, the massive sea of people slowly began to disperse.
Yet, they kept smiling, chatting in hushed, excited tones as they walked away, their eyes still glued to the two towering figures.
Mila flashed Cogboy a sweet smile.
"You got it, Governor Cage!"
She was just about to herd the children away when she remembered something and spun back around.
"Wait..."
She looked at Cogboy, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Make sure you tell the two Primarchs that tonight is the fifteenth of August!"
"It's the Mid-Autumn Festival we established all those years ago!"
"That's when Aurelian's Crimson Moon and Silver Moon are at their brightest and fullest. Every major city on the planet is going to throw a massive festival to celebrate coming together!"
Her voice was bright, filled with an undeniable sense of anticipation.
"Make sure you bring them to the party!"
"That food Crimson Dawn introduced back then, the 'mooncake'? We've updated the recipe a ton of times over the years. It is seriously so good now."
"You guys have to come try it!"
Cogboy looked at her and laughed helplessly.
"I know, I know."
"Now hurry up and get those kids out of here."
Mila nodded, leading the flock of children toward the edge of the plaza. The kids chattered excitedly as they followed her, their bright, ringing laughter floating through the air long after they'd left.
The remaining onlookers trickled away in Mila's wake.
But they didn't really leave.
They just retreated to the outer edges of the plaza, lingering around and keeping their eyes fixed on the center stage.
Right now, the only people left standing in the center of the plaza were the two Primarchs, their Legion high command, Cogboy, and the other core Crimson Dawn members.
And lying at their feet was an absolute mountain of gifts.
There was gourmet food, packs of cigarettes, bottles of liquor, oil paintings, art pieces, crystal sculptures, scale models of Astartes, miniature Astartes mechs built from steel...
Every single gift was meticulously wrapped in beautiful paper, covered in handwritten well-wishes and blessings.
Cogboy stared at the massive pile of presents and gave Guilliman and Sanguinius a somewhat embarrassed look.
"My Lords, this is just a token of appreciation from the people of Aurelian..."
Guilliman looked down at the pile of gifts, silent for two seconds.
Then, he gave a faint nod.
It was a subtle movement, but Cogboy immediately caught the meaning.
He whipped around and waved at the Crimson Dawn guards standing by.
"Pack all of this up and transport it straight to the Crimson Drake Gate."
The guards immediately sprang into action, efficiently sorting and packing away the mountain of presents.
Guilliman watched the guards hustle, then glanced out at the crowds still lingering on the periphery.
He turned his head and looked right at Cogboy.
"Governor Cage."
His voice was calm, but it carried an indescribable weight.
"Let's begin. Starting with Dawn City."
Cogboy nodded, gesturing forward with his right hand. "After you."
--
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