"Haha, friend, I was a bit out of line just now. Please don't take it to heart."
Magnus, perhaps realizing that his words and actions had been a bit too emotional, apologized embarrassedly.
The other had just saved so many of the Thousand Sons from the flesh-change. To suddenly slight him was not a good thing.
"You see, we are all creations of the Emperor, and when the Emperor created us, he had already set a duty for us."
Magnus tried to continue to persuade Kasjia.
"Just like Fulgrim is a born artist, Ferris is a born master mechanic, and Guilliman is a born military leader."
"And me, I am a born sorcerer. To be born a psyker, to explore the unknown boundaries of the Warp, to collect the forbidden knowledge scattered throughout the world, is the mission and task that the Emperor has given me."
"It is in my nature, my friend. If I really, as you said, no longer look at the wonders and marvels of the Warp, then what use am I?"
"Wouldn't doing so be forbidding a fish from swimming, and forbidding a bird from flying?"
He said with a smile, defending himself after a moment of silence.
"I understand your concerns, friend." He smiled and patted Kasjia's shoulder affectionately, seeing his silence.
"You are afraid that our psionic research will eventually become uncontrollable."
"Afraid that we will touch the red line that we should not touch, afraid that we will open the Pandora's box of psionics."
"But isn't research just like that? Whether it is science or psionics, there will always be a certain amount of risk before innovating and opening up a new path."
"But compared to this unknown risk, I am more afraid that we will lose the will to move forward."
"Becoming stale, and clinging to old ways."
"Therefore, we must be enterprising."
"This is both the mission given to us by the Emperor, and also the goal that I, Magnus, have pursued all my life."
"No matter what the result is, even if we fail and go down the wrong path. But as long as we do not give up the heart of innovation and enterprise, we will eventually be able to achieve our wishes."
Magnus's answer was exquisite and full of philosophy.
The moment he finished his speech, cheers and applause came from the other Thousand Sons Astartes who were waiting with him.
Actually, Kasjia's request was more like an accusation against the Primarch's research into psionics.
Fortunately, he had met a scholarly Primarch like Magnus, who had no airs, and who would kindly defend his actions.
If he had met the Lion King in his prime (referring to his temper)...
...his head would have flown off long ago.
"But, Lord Magnus, before we explore, we will not know whether we are facing a treasure land with endless minerals, or a dark forest where countless demons are lurking."
"And as far as I know, the existence in the Warp may be far more terrifying and vile than you and I imagine."
"I am afraid that you will fall into the abyss because of this."
"Thank you for your concern, friend."
"But as I have said, we will not be afraid of challenges, let alone the death that may come with them."
"To die in the pursuit of truth is the lifelong pursuit of me, Magnus, and also the long-cherished wish of every one of our Thousand Sons."
He closed his eyes and bowed to Kasjia with a smile.
I can't talk to him!
There's no way!
This guy is really the kind of stubborn person who will walk down a dark path to the end!
A purely curious baby!
Kasjia suspected that if he really revealed the existence and plan of Tzeentch to him now...
...the first thing this guy would do would be to stick his head into the Warp to see what Tzeentch really looked like.
He's hopeless. Just waiting to die.
He was already completely immersed in his own world, in the illusion of a great self-sacrifice and the pursuit of truth.
Kasjia looked at the other's expression of self-indulgent emotion, and then his gaze turned to the somewhat helpless Ahriman at the side.
It's alright. The anger is gone now.
There will be retribution in the future.
"How about this, friend. If you have any other requests, I, Magnus, am always willing to listen."
"But please forgive me for refusing to restrict the research of Warp psionics. This is the ideal and belief that I and the Thousand Sons have pursued all our lives. Please understand."
Seeing that he really couldn't persuade Magnus, Kasjia sighed.
"In that case, I'll keep this favor for now. We'll talk about it when there's a chance in the future."
"Now, bring up the last person who needs treatment."
It was a young girl in a coma.
Unlike the previous few, who clearly had no close relationship with humans, this young girl looked no different from a normal person.
She was even as calm as if she were in a deep sleep.
"This is..."
"My sister, Heliosa," a Thousand Sons Astartes squeezed forward and said, a little reserved.
He was surrounded by great figures.
The Primarch of the Thousand Sons was right beside him, and at the same time, the only one who had the ability to save his sister held the position of First Lord Commander of the Third Legion and the Primarch's husband.
And he, Iskandar Khayon, was just a small, unknown Space Marine.
To be able to stand with so many great figures was enough to make him feel a little nervous and excited.
"She was attacked by a Psychneuein not long ago, and her condition is now very critical."
"Even though it's not the flesh-change, but... Lord Kasjia, I implore you to save her!"
As he spoke, he knelt down on one knee sincerely.
"The Psychneuein is a disaster that once ravaged our Prospero," Magnus explained to Kasjia at the side.
"They lay their eggs in the brains of humans, especially psykers. Once the larvae hatch, they will feed on them."
"Although I have recently driven out all the existing Psychneuein on Prospero, these strange psychic creatures seem to keep appearing, which is strange."
Clearly, Magnus had led a team to carry out several purges of the Psychneuein. Logically, these damn psychic beasts should have been extinct from Prospero by now.
But for some reason, it seemed that swarms of Psychneuein would appear on the planet every once in a while.
"Although I also understand that this is not your duty, but since she is a life on our Prospero, please be so kind as to save her from the sting of the Psychneuein."
"Just take it as a personal request from me, Magnus."
Kasjia: So, I'm the Breaker of [Kings] now?
"Get up, Khayon."
"I will do my best."
As he spoke, Kasjia's hands once again surged with the golden-red holy fire, and it climbed onto the head of the unconscious Heliosa.
Seeing this, the Thousand Sons Space Marine slowly stood up and retreated—
Wait.
Did Lord Kasjia just call me by my name?
He suddenly froze on the spot.
But he hadn't even said his name was Khayon?
"It's no use."
Just as he was thinking about why the other would know his name, bad news came from Kasjia's side.
"I can't save her."
"But, my lord! You were clearly able to turn a twisted monster of flesh and blood back into a human form. Why..."
"The reason the flesh-change curse could be restored was because although the bodies of those Thousand Sons had mutated, their souls were still intact."
If they could understand, Kasjia would have wanted to use the example of the Butcher's Nails.
But unfortunately, Angron had not yet returned.
The connection between her brain and the egg, just like the connection between the nails and Angron's brain, was already closely linked, almost becoming a part of the other's brain.
As a psychic creature, the Psychneuein's parasitic egg not only parasitized the brain, but also parasitized her soul.
Even if Kasjia's psionic flame could restore it, in a situation where her soul had already been fused with the egg of the Psychneuein, Kasjia could do nothing.
In this situation, she could at best be modified to be a ship-girl.
If he, Kasjia, were to burn a part of her soul away now, she would most likely only be able to live as a vegetable for the rest of her life.
"And under the influence of the Psychneuein, your sister's soul has also been affected... this is a situation that my psionic flame can no longer solve."
"But I can point you in a direction—"
"The Mechanicum Magi are researching artificial machine spirits. Perhaps they can preserve your sister's soul."
"Khayon, our guest has done his best. It is not his fault," Magnus said, trying to comfort him.
"I understand, my lord... I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Kasjia."
He stood on the spot for a moment.
Then he turned around and walked out alone, holding his sister Heliosa in his arms.
The medical treatment for the flesh-change of the Thousand Sons had officially come to an end.
"...Kasjia, do you still remember my invitation?"
"Come to my manor. There's the best wine in all of Prospero!"
"...Remember to come to my lecture, on biology."
"It doesn't matter if you're not an Apothecary. Just come and listen."
"Lord Kasjia, I am so grateful that you were able to save me from the flesh-change!"
"Please, accept these meager tokens of my gratitude."
"It seems that on Prospero, your popularity these days is almost higher than mine."
In Magnus's own quiet, private manor.
He said to Kasjia beside him with a smile.
Perhaps feeling a little sorry for not being able to fulfill the other's wish, Magnus had been accompanying Kasjia on a tour of the various scenic spots of Prospero these past few days.
After all, the Emperor's Children's fleet still had to participate in the upcoming Great Crusade.
Although, like the Thousand Sons, they did not have a heavy crusade mission.
But the extremely proud Fulgrim was not like Magnus, who was willing to stay on her homeworld as a shut-in.
"The trade of the 28th Expeditionary Fleet's merchant convoy is basically finished. We will be leaving Prospero soon."
All that was left was Melusine, who was currently giving a biology lecture at the university...
...and Fulgrim, who was performing The Sagittarius Golden Ring for the locals in the theater.
It seemed that the people of Prospero quite liked it... it seemed the performance was sold out every time.
Even when the Primarch was not present, the venue was still packed.
Kasjia was a little speechless.
He really didn't know what kind of spell this group of people was under.
To be so崇拜 a play that could only make one feel embarrassed.
"Thank you for your company, Lord Magnus. We will be leaving soon."
"If the flesh-change situation becomes serious in the future, you can first temporarily seal the victims in a stasis field and wait for my arrival."
"Ah, the title of 'lord' is not necessary. As the savior of our Thousand Sons, from now on, you and I can just call each other by name," Magnus said with a smile and a wave of his hand.
"Alright, Magnus."
Kasjia said with a smile, "You know, the Emperor is also not very fond of too deep research into psionics."
"But as long as you don't casually bring Warp creatures into the real world, he generally won't say much about your research."
"Haha, what are you talking about? Bringing Warp creatures into reality? Kasjia, our Thousand Sons are not yet fallen to that level," Magnus laughed awkwardly.
"Friend, you must be joking—"
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion came from the distance of the Tizca avenue they were walking on.
Immediately after, the earth shook.
Bizarre creatures, like a tide, were charging towards the oasis city of Tizca from one side of the horizon.
Kasjia, with his extremely strong psionic perception, could feel the origin of these guys even though they had not yet appeared in his field of vision.
From their appearance, these creatures with no uniform form were like the Warp creatures that were constantly floating outside the Geller Field during voyages.
Daemons of Chaos Undivided, with no corresponding allegiance to the four gods.
Just like a surging tide of wild beasts, they were all madly advancing towards the capital city of Prospero, Tizca.
The momentum was huge.
A true pandemonium.
"MAGNUS—!"
This is what you call—NOT fallen?!
"This... I, friend, this..."
"I... this wasn't done by anyone from our Thousand Sons! Friend, you have to believe me!"
This was done by the former Corvidae cult!
But after discovering that the other party had been obsessed with summoning, even Magnus had felt that they were a bit too extreme.
Even Magnus, this extraordinary individual, was a little scared by their methods.
Therefore, not long ago, these guys from the former Corvidae cult had been cleanly cut off by Magnus with a holy separator.
The leading magisters of the cult had even been exiled by the Primarch himself to—
"Exiled!?"
"You're telling me you just exiled this group of dangerous individuals!?"
"You mean to say that after you knew this group of guys had mastered forbidden knowledge and had the desire to research forbidden knowledge!"
"You did nothing, you dealt with nothing, and you just let them go to a remote place, 'Eh, no one is supervising you now, you can research whatever you want'!?"
"Is that what you mean!? MAGNUS!!!"
You know, Kasjia rarely gets angry.
Unless he really can't help it.
For a rare moment, in the face of a Space Marine's anger, the Primarch Magnus did not dare to say a word.
"I... I, it wasn't me—"
Knowing that he was in the wrong, he did not dare to say a single word of rebuttal.
"Me my ass!"
Kasjia quickly rushed towards the daemon tide.
"Quick, assemble the army, prepare to engage the enemy!!!"
Magnus (to the Emperor): Look behind you!
Ahriman (to Magnus): You look behind you!
....
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