Chapter 1082: Thinking of Organizing an Interstellar Trip

"Father knows."

Guilliman said suddenly.

"He must know. That is why he appears so... abnormal. That is why he demanded that we report immediately if we encounter a 'Reality Distortion Phenomenon'. That is why he was vague about the matter of Mortarion."

Magnus sat back down on the carpet.

"Yes, Father knows. And he chose not to tell us the whole truth."

Guilliman was somewhat puzzled.

"Why? If such a threat exists, we should face it together. Only when the primarchs are united as one can we deal with any crisis."

Magnus looked at Guilliman and spoke.

"Robert, you always believe in 'facing things together', believe in 'systems' and 'processes'. But some knowledge is inherently dangerous.

Knowing that 'another version of yourself might fall' could plant the seeds of doubt in your consciousness. And doubt is often the beginning of a fall."

Magnus pointed to the books around them.

"I have read similar concepts in ancient texts. Certain ancient civilizations believed that knowing of the existence of a 'Mirror Self' leads to the instability of existence itself.

Because you will start to think: 'If that version of me fell, why wouldn't I?' 'If I experienced what he experienced, would I make the same choices?' Such thinking is dangerous."

Guilliman fell into Silence.

Magnus was right.

If he knew that a version of himself had betrayed the Emperor and turned to darkness, he would indeed start to think: What led to that "self's" fall? What happened differently in that world? Did the Emperor of that world do something different?

And these thoughts could shake his faith in his Father, in the Star Alliance, and in the great cause of Humanity.

"So Father is protecting us. By way of concealment."

"Everything Father does has its reasons, Guilliman."

Magnus said gently.

"Even if we cannot understand it for the time being. He sees what we cannot see, knows what we do not know, and has considered more complex factors.

As sons, our responsibility is not to question, but to trust and support."

"Then, what should we do?"

Guilliman asked.

"Pretend nothing happened? Continue with daily work as if there is no threat of a 'Mirror Rift'?"

"No."

Magnus shook his head.

"We should do what we are best at. You, my brother, continue to build and perfect the systems and institutions of the Star Alliance; a strong, stable, and united Star Alliance is the foundation for dealing with any threat.

I will continue to study the nature of psychic power and reality, try to understand the mechanism of the 'Mirror Rift', and look for methods of detection and protection."

He smiled: "We don't need to know what Father is hiding; we only need to trust that Father letting each of us perform our own duties is precisely to deal with this threat, even if we do not know the full picture of the threat."

"You are right, Magnus. I may have been too fixated on 'knowing' and neglected 'acting'.

No matter what Father is facing, what I can do is make the Star Alliance stronger and more efficient, so that no matter what threat arrives, we have a better foundation to deal with it."

"Exactly. And don't forget, we are not fighting alone. We are a family, and every brother is an extraordinary existence.

Even when facing a 'Mirror Self', as long as we are united, there is nothing that cannot be overcome."

These words made Guilliman feel warm.

Indeed, they were a big family, fighting for the future of Humanity under the leadership of their Father.

This kind of brotherhood was something no threat from a parallel world could compare to.

The tense atmosphere eased.

Guilliman leaned against the bookshelf, watching Magnus organize the scattered books.

"You know, Magnus, sometimes I envy you."

"Envy me?"

Magnus did not even look up.

"Envy me for being buried in piles of books all day, or envy me for having this red skin?"

"Envy your... focus."

Guilliman said.

"Your pure pursuit of knowledge and truth. Unlike me, always drowned in endless administrative affairs, dealing with tens of thousands of trivial matters, yet rarely having time to think deeply about truly important issues."

Magnus laughed.

"But Guilliman, your work is equally important.

Knowledge needs to be applied, and truth needs to be institutionalized, otherwise they are just castles in the air.

The administrative system you built allows the Star Alliance to operate efficiently, allows hundreds of worlds to work in coordination, and allows billions of Humans to live in an orderly fashion. Is this not a great achievement?"

"I know. It's just that sometimes, I feel... lonely. Among those mountains of documents, in those never-ending meetings, I feel myself drifting further and further away from the essence of a 'primarch', more like a... high-ranking bureaucrat."

"Then stop occasionally, Guilliman."

Magnus suggested.

"Find something to do that is purely 'human' rather than 'primarch'. For example... go see the little one."

Mentioning Yingxin, Guilliman's expression immediately softened.

"How is the little one doing lately?"

Guilliman asked.

"I haven't been to see her for a while. The affairs of the Star Alliance..."

"She is doing well."

Magnus's tone also became relaxed.

"Actually, she came to see me yesterday and asked me about some basic psychic theory."

Guilliman raised an eyebrow, "Psychic theory? Is Yingxin very interested in psychic powers?"

Magnus paused, a warm light flashing in his eyes.

"She is very intelligent, Robert. Although she is not a Primarch, her comprehension and learning speed far exceed those of ordinary people."

"And she has a... very strange feeling; when you are by her side, you will feel that this world might not be so bad."

Guilliman completely agreed.

Guilliman remembered the last time he saw Yingxin was in the Experimental Garden of the Star Alliance.

Yingxin was taking care of those exotic flowers and plants transplanted from various worlds, humming an unknown melody.

When he approached, Yingxin gave him a brilliant smile.

"Brother Robert! You came just in time; help me look at this Moonlight Flower. It hasn't been blooming lately; is it suffering from the change of environment?"

At that moment, Guilliman was not the Ultramarines Primarch, nor was he the Star Alliance Archon.

He was just a brother worried about his sister's flowers and plants.

"What has she been busy with lately?"

Guilliman asked.

"Many things."

Magnus began to list them.

"Besides studying ancient poetry, she is also learning three new musical instruments..."

"She is also participating in the digitization project of the Imperial Palace Library, helping to organize some non-confidential ancient books. Oh, and she is thinking about organizing an 'interstellar trip'."