Chapter 272: You Cannot Remember History Only When It Is Glorious

A torrent of data danced within the command chamber, holograms floating above the dome and covering the mosaic floor.

On the wall behind the data torrent, all the magnificent deeds of the Ultramarines over ten thousand years were inscribed.

From the charge of the Emperor and Primarch Roboute Guilliman from Macragge, to Roboute Guilliman accepting his Legion, the Five Hundred Worlds of Olympia, and the sorrow of the Battle of Calth.

Xiang Leina watched these magnificent deeds and could not help but widen her eyes.

Merely looking at the murals, Xiang Leina could feel the power within those legends.

In fact, Xiang Leina felt as though she were walking within a legend herself.

The people walking beside her: Inquisitor Gryphax, Archmagos Belisarius Cawl, Living Saint Celestine, Chapter Master Marneus Calgar.

Each one a legend, each one a hero of the Imperium.

Of course, there was also Zhou Yun, whose form was hidden, whereabouts unknown.

In Xiang Leina's eyes, Zhou Yun was now also a member of the legends, an extraordinary figure.

In fact, Xiang Leina felt that Zhou Yun was somewhat too extraordinary.

Especially after just witnessing Zhou Yun fighting a Titan with his bare body. If Zhou Yun had not insisted that Archmagos Belisarius Cawl take credit for this feat, his name would likely have become a legend on countless worlds.

And she, Xiang Leina, a psyker born in the Hive City of Asford, a once-cowering illegal psyker, now had the chance to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with these legends.

This made Xiang Leina feel dizzy.

She dared not hope that future generations, when recording this history, would carve her figure onto the walls, but at least perhaps in the historical records, when recording these legendary figures beside her, she might be mentioned in passing.

This thought made Xiang Leina's heart flutter with excitement.

But at the same time, looking at those murals, she also faintly noticed something strange.

Her knowledge of the Imperium's history from ten thousand years ago came basically from the Ecclesiarchy; only after joining the Cadian Shock Troops did she learn a little of the true history.

So Xiang Leina could also discover the strangeness on the murals.

"Why does the content on the murals jump directly from the Battle of Calth to the end of the Horus Heresy?"

Xiang Leina asked, somewhat confused.

On this wall recording the magnificent history of the Ultramarines,

neither the records after the Battle of Calth nor the records of the Siege of Terra existed.

Xiang Leina's shallow historical knowledge told her that this period was almost the most important time of the entire Horus Heresy era.

How could the Ultramarines be absent?

Calgar, walking at the very front, suddenly stopped his steps; he turned his head to look at Xiang Leina, then turned back, and continued walking forward without a word.

"The Ultramarines did not arrive in time to support the Siege of Terra." Gryphax walked silently to Xiang Leina's side and spoke in a lowered voice.

Hearing this, Xiang Leina's expression froze slightly, then she quickly realized she had spoken out of turn.

In an instant, Xiang Leina felt a wave of shame; this matter was clearly a stain on the honor of the Ultramarines, and she should not have—

"No need for guilt. Failing to support Terra is not an undiscussable topic among the Ultramarines."

Calgar, as if sensing Xiang Leina's mood, suddenly spoke:

"The teachings of our Gene-Father: The value of history lies in providing guidance for future generations; whether failure or success, both are worth remembering."

"Glory and shame are equally important in history."

Xiang Leina listened to Calgar's words and silently saluted this legendary hero of the Imperium.

History deserves to be remembered, whether shame or glory; this character and rationality made Xiang Leina sigh that it was indeed the teaching of the Gene-Primarch Roboute Guilliman.

But Xiang Leina still felt confused.

She now knew the reason why the Siege of Terra was not carved on the wall.

But was there not still a long period of history between the end of the Battle of Calth and the Siege of Terra?

Moreover, Chapter Master Calgar mentioned only the Siege of Terra and not that period of history.

Why was this so?

A hand silently patted Xiang Leina's shoulder, as if signaling Xiang Leina not to ask further.

Xiang Leina did not see the owner of that hand but quickly realized this was Zhou Yun's reminder.

"You cannot remember history only when it is glorious."

Zhou Yun's voice sounded softly in Xiang Leina's ear:

"But some history even Primarchs are unwilling to remember... like the emergence of an extra Imperium or something."

An extra Imperium?

Although her heart was full of doubts, Xiang Leina immediately clamped her mouth shut, understanding that she should keep this doubt buried in her heart.

History that is not remembered is clearly not something she should ask about.

The Chapter serfs in the hall made way for Calgar and the Expeditionary Force.

The iron body of Chapter Master Calgar of the Ultramarines slowly moved forward and sat upon the marble command throne at the center of this domed room, with Dark Age guards standing beside Calgar.

And in this room, there were two other figures of note.

One was an Ultramarines Librarian with silver light glowing in his eyes; on the Blade of Glory, Lady Gryphax had given Xiang Leina a brief introduction to the internal figures of the Ultramarines, allowing Xiang Leina to guess that this was Librarian Master Digris.

And the other figure...

That was an Astartes holding a silver-steel warhammer, clad in power armor as white as silver; his power armor was inscribed with numerous holy maxims and sigils, and the pattern on his pauldrons was something Xiang Leina had never seen before.

"Lord of the Third Brotherhood of the Grey Knights." Gryphax spoke softly: "He is the Grand Master of the Third Brotherhood, theoretically equal in status to a standard Space Marine Company Commander."

"But they do not strictly follow the Codex, so the actual forces and authority they command are far greater than those of a standard Company Commander."

Speaking thus, Gryphax's gaze fell slightly upon the Grey Knight's chest, where a scroll hung:

"Grand Master Voldus of the Third Brotherhood."

The Grey Knight Grand Master, known as Voldus, noticed Gryphax and nodded slightly to her in greeting.

Then his gaze fell upon Xiang Leina.

The Grey Knight's brow furrowed slightly.

"An Alpha-level Psyker, untrained by the Imperium."

Voldus seemed to make his judgment in an instant:

"You have brought a dangerous individual; she is clearly, and has been for quite some time, an illegal Psyker."

"Do you possess an Inquisitorial warrant?"

Xiang Xiang Leina's expression stiffened slightly,

for she knew Voldus held no malice; in fact, the danger he spoke of was not directly aimed at Xiang Xiang Leina,

after all, the psychic power of this Grand Master and that of Degris beside him were clearly superior to Xiang Xiang Leina's.

Hmm... Xiang Xiang Leina judged for herself that this Grand Master was roughly at the seven or eight Xiang Leina level, while that Degris started at dozens of Leinas.

The danger they spoke of stemmed from untrained illegal Psykers, especially Alpha-level Psykers like Xiang Xiang Leina; one slip could turn them into a Warp gate, spawning daemons or even Greater Daemons right there on the spot.

"Grand Master, she certainly does." Ge Lei Fa defended Xiang Xiang Leina, saying, "In fact, she is the leader of the 184th Cadian Regiment. Do you truly believe an officer of the Cadian Shock Troops would be an illegal Psyker?"

Looking at Ge Lei Fa and hearing the words "Cadian," Voldus's expression softened slightly,

and he even gave Xiang Xiang Leina a slight nod of greeting, seemingly offering an apology.

Xiang Xiang Leina shivered slightly, her gaze drifting.

"You have it, don't you?" Ge Lei Fa noticed Xiang Xiang Leina's expression.

"... It was supposed to be there." Xiang Xiang Leina said dryly.

She had originally been an illegal Psyker; although she was later absorbed into the Cadians, she underwent no Inquisitorial training or vetting, and naturally possessed no Inquisitorial warrant.

In reality, General Droste had simply used his connections to secure a temporary permit for Xiang Xiang Leina from the Cadian Inquisition, requiring her to undergo vetting and training to obtain certification when time permitted,

but shortly after, the Black Legion attacked; Cadian was blown up by Abaddon, and the Cadian Inquisition that granted Xiang Xiang Leina her permit was reduced to ash.

So Xiang Xiang Leina pondered for a moment and realized she seemed... seemed to still be an illegal Psyker.

A deathly silence hung in the air; a twitch ran through Ge Lei Fa's eye corner,

"I will write you a permit later; go to the Inquisition and undergo vetting there," she said with considerable helplessness.

Meanwhile, Grand Master Voldus furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly displeased with Ge Lei Fa's casualness.

"No need for concern, brother Voldus."

Degris spoke with slight surprise:

"I have just checked; there are no traces of corruption on this Cadian warrior's body. In fact, her mind shows few signs of being warped by the Psyker arts."

"Even trained Psykers rarely reach this degree. Interesting, miraculous. Pity she is female."

Hearing Degris's judgment, the Grand Master felt slightly reassured and nodded in agreement.

"Pity she is female," Voldus said.

Female meant she could not become an Astartes; such excellent talent could not become a Librarian of the Ultramarines, nor a Grey Knight. Truly a pity.

Xiang Xiang Leina silently stepped back, trying to hide to the side and avoid notice.

However, their attention did not linger on Xiang Xiang Leina for long; it fell directly upon Yvraine and the Thousand Sons Red Armor Warrior behind her.

If Xiang Xiang Leina's status was still debatable, then the abominations on Yvraine and the Thousand Sons were beyond dispute.

Calgar, head bowed, looked at this expeditionary force before him.

Illegal Psyker, Inquisitor from some unknown era, Xenos Witch...

And that Archmagos Belisarius Cawl. Although he claimed to have subdued those Titans himself,

there were clearly issues here. Perhaps this Archmagos used some abominable technology, or perhaps someone else was responsible.

Was it those two Xenos? Some Eldar abominable technology?

Calgar could not judge, for that power was too great; he had never seen its like in his entire life.

"Why have you come, Archmagos?" Calgar asked in a low voice.

"For a promise."

Belisarius Cawl's voice returned to coldness and calm.

Calgar almost felt he was not speaking to him.

"For the contract signed with the Lord of Octarius," Belisarius Cawl said lightly.

"..."

Calgar stared at Belisarius Cawl; this remark left him bewildered:

"I do not know who you are, Magos."

"I have never signed a contract with you."

"In fact, I have never signed any form of contract with any follower of the Omnissiah."

Instantly, the air grew cold and heavy.

Grey Knight Grand Master Voldus gripped his warhammer, while Dark Age placed his hand on the relic power sword at his waist.

Even a wave of shock swept through the expeditionary force; Xiang Xiang Leina and Ge Lei Fa looked at Cawl with confusion.

Only Cypher remained calm; Yvraine and the Thousand Sons were as ever.

"Not you."

Belisarius Cawl slowly exhaled, as if about to reveal a secret buried deep in his heart for many long years:

"The son of Roboute Guilliman. The one who signed the contract with me was the Lord of Octarius."

"The true Lord of Octarius!"

(End of Chapter)