Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, in the Primarch's office.
Hathor Maat, a psychic Wyvachs resting on his shoulder, awoke from his dream. The newly elevated "Dreamwalker" bowed to the Black Emperor.
"I thank You for this gift. I will continue to carry out Your will and serve You."
The Magister Templi of the Pavoni Cult, seeing the Black Emperor's chiseled chin give a slight nod, instinctively mimicked the gesture, sculpting his own.
"My Lord, during the conclave of the Magister Templis, our gene-father did not reveal what secrets he had uncovered on Aghoru."
"He only shared some insights into navigating the Great Ocean, which were more captivating than anything he had taught before."
Hathor subtly reminded the Black Emperor that he never doubted His power.
But since he was following the gene-father on divine command, he naturally reported all important information.
"I see," Nareth said calmly, unconcerned about the outcome of their contest of Warp navigation.
'The "Travelers," like Santiago, will likely learn a great deal from being near Magnus.'
Nareth and Magnus had exchanged observers. Hathor Maat, having been seconded to the Shadows of Order, naturally became the Thousand Sons' representative.
Nareth had chosen the "Travelers."
Drip, drip, drip...
A buzz from the comm-bead in his right ear. He pressed it, and Arsena's voice came through.
"My Lord, the vessel has arrived at the Mandeville point."
"Chief Navigator Visscher has again expressed her concerns about Your personally commanding the Warp transit. I have reassured her."
"Miss Vivar is very excited. She wishes to write a glorious account of Your contest with Lord Magnus as the conclusion to Your biography. To that end, she has requested permission to interview Lady Visscher, to understand what transpired."
After hearing Arsena's report, Nareth said with a smile, "Relay her request. Let Visscher decide for herself."
He rose from his throne and strode onto the bridge.
Instead of taking his command throne, Nareth sat at a console designated for the Shadows of Order.
Captain Diana watched the Primarch's massive form, confined to the seat, yet still at ease.
'Lord Nareth's martial power far surpasses Lord Magnus's, but Magnus is far more knowledgeable about the Warp...'
As Diana worried for Lord Nareth, the Shadow's Sovereignty translated into the supernatural realm.
Light and shadow flickered in the Primarch's eyes. His perspective rose rapidly.
Shadows stretched, outlining the light-wreathed Shadow's Sovereignty.
Nareth looked down at the ship, a slender point of light piercing the thick shadow.
His pupils contracted. Light flashed, sweeping across the thick shadow.
Whoosh!
Where the light passed, the shadow, like wet paint, splashed out stars.
With a thought, a star rushed closer.
His vision shifted. A world covered in ice and snow came into view.
A hundred ships Aquila Lander shuttled back and forth.
Food, weapons, and other supplies descended via space elevators to the lower levels.
Valhallans rose from the ice, stepping into the void.
Nareth withdrew his wandering thoughts. The Ullanor star chart, which he had studied, flashed through his mind.
Using the star chart as a guide, he matched the stars in his mind to those he saw in his own Warp-imago.
He lit up one star after another in the thick shadow.
Until, at the edge of his search, a point of golden light blazed into his world.
Roar!
Countless roars converged in the green mist.
Howl!
An elegant wolf-howl sounded.
'Found it.'
Nareth cast a golden light, attaching it to a planet ablaze with surging red light.
He opened his mind's eye, sensing and distinguishing the connection between the golden point and himself.
Two streams of light shot out, one from each.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Drawn to each other, they flew closer.
Their paths were not straight lines, but constantly curving and leaping.
Sometimes arcing like a rainbow, then suddenly twisting downwards.
Nareth watched the two streams of light collide, weaving a shimmering path.
Every psyker, and every Navigator, has a unique understanding of the Warp, a unique Warp imagery.
Lion El'Jonson's is a forest. Konrad Curze's is a river. Corvus Corax's is shadow...
No Navigator's star chart drawn by another can be used directly. It must be recreated in one's own Warp-imago, according to one's own understanding.
"Ha!" He exhaled.
'After multiple divinations, Warp voyages, and the insights gained on Aghoru, I am now a qualified Navigator myself.'
A memory flashed: his journeys to and from the Crystal Labyrinth before his return to the Imperium.
'Now, if I were to make that journey again, it would be far easier.'
He could clearly see the difference. Then, he had not yet understood his own Warp-imago.
In the Warp, he had relied only on instinct and luck.
Now, he could not only grasp the currents clearly, but also chart paths in both directions, drastically shortening travel time.
As the Primarch pondered, part of his awareness returned to his body. He picked up a stylus and traced a curve on the screen.
Diana stared at the bright line that appeared before her. 'Lord Nareth has done it!'
She immediately relayed the orders to the Helmsmaster's team.
Aboard the Photep, flagship of the Thousand Sons.
Magnus's mutable eye had shifted to blue. He stared at the ellipsoid spheres drifting through the Great Ocean.
A smile touched his lips. His eye shifted to gold.
He traced a razor-sharp path with a grin.
Santiago Borgkamp and the other "Travelers" were permitted to stand around the data-filled columns.
They watched the sudden flare of runes and the flickering data.
Santiago was the first to mentally chart the path. He turned sharply, looking at the crimson giant in golden armor.
Magnus's plotted course was like two cars driving side-by-side, one suddenly swerving in front of the other.
The residual Warp-disturbances from the Photep and other ships would disrupt the Shadow's Sovereignty's fleet.
'Showing off?' Santiago thought, uncertain. He saw Magnus turn, his golden eyes blazing.
Santiago averted his gaze, no longer focusing on Magnus's display. He divided his attention, monitoring the Warp transit data from the aetheric reader.
Magnus glanced at Santiago's tense form. Though he would not share the Webway's secrets with Nareth, he could demonstrate some of his mastery of Warp navigation to him and his sons.
An unparalleled art, surpassing any Navigator.
Magnus's gaze shifted back to the Great Ocean.
The crimson ship rose above the sea, tracing a rainbow-like, perfect arc, before descending before the black ship.
Ripples of aetheric energy lapped, sending up spray.
Every droplet was accounted for in Magnus's calculations, blooming according to his will.
Thwip!
The flowing current suddenly froze.
The black ship was becalmed.
Magnus's lips curved in a self-satisfied smile.
Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Nareth frowned.
The light was cut off by the passing crimson ship. The path to Ullanor vanished.
Light and shadow flickered in his eyes as he tried to re-weave a path to Ullanor.
Moments later, he gave up.
'My current limit is Warp navigation only under relatively calm conditions.'
'Once I encounter a Storm of Destruction or a similar powerful disruption, I cannot manage.'
'But I am not without recourse. Even without the Tuchulcha Engine, I have a way.'
As Nareth rose, he smiled reassuringly at Diana and the others, who looked on with concern.
"Do not worry. I will return shortly."
On the Photep's bridge, Magnus watched the stranded Shadows of Order fleet.
'Nareth truly has no way out. His knowledge of the Great Ocean's mysteries is far inferior to mine.'
He glanced at the Tizca great-clock and addressed the Magister Templis standing nearby, including Ahriman.
"In nine hours, I will share my knowledge with Nareth and help his fleet set sail again."
Ahriman and the others bowed, then turned to leave.
Khalophis, stroked the psychic Wyvachs on his back, a gift from Lord Nareth.
Scenes from Aghoru flashed through his mind: Lord Nareth's warm hand, his authoritative voice...
Khalophis, Captain of the 6th Fellowship of the Thousand Sons, frowned slightly.
A flash of anger flickered in Santiago's eyes as he stared at the data columns, his mind racing.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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