Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 675 A Surprise on Prospero -
"So, your chief captain still hasn't woken up?"

In Magnus' private chambers in the Pyramid of Frotep, Ramezane finished admiring the view from the window and turned back to his pet dog brother.

The platinum sunlight of Prospero poured down gracefully from the gaps in the stained glass windows at the top, casting mottled shadows on the face of the Lord of Iron. Leman Russ was actually sitting on the sofa nearby, but unlike the Lord of Iron who strolled around casually with his hands behind his back, the Wolf King had been busy organizing the Iron Warriors and Space Wolves into hundreds of working groups since he landed in Prospero, and immediately launched a series of tasks.

Its efficiency, organization, experience and strict procedures were so high that even Magnus, who was the most critical, could not find any faults - because "Leman Russ" also took into account Prospero's normal administrative affairs and legion affairs when handling them. Although the use of psychic energy was strictly compressed, the quality of life and the efficiency of other affairs did not decrease as the Thousand Sons had initially pessimistically expected.

If the Scarlet King had not seen with his own eyes that Perturabo was leisurely reading books, drinking sand and making coffee every day while Leman Russ was working hard to send out a large number of well-organized working groups in a short period of time, he would have believed that all these affairs were handled by Perturabo.

But now it is a border collie that is handling the collection, registration and compilation of the Legion's psychic index of psychics on Prospero!

Magnus found this matter extremely absurd, but if he thought about the power behind it that gave Leman Russ such great wisdom and knowledge, he couldn't help but tremble with excitement.

If a coarse and rotten wood like Russ can become so clear-headed and intelligent just by paying the price of turning into a dog, then a good and beautiful wood like me can also pay a little price if I am willing...

"Magnus? Did you hear me?"

The Fifteenth Primarch leaned back suddenly - he hadn't known when his brother, whose mind carried great power and seemed a little out of the ordinary, had walked in front of him and was staring at his one eye.

"You said Ahriman—yes."

When Magnus mentioned his son who was seriously injured on Satya, a trace of regret and deeper worry appeared on his face. "I should have gone to see him earlier. I didn't expect the true face of the original Annihilator to be..." He paused, "If I had known earlier, I would never let Ahriman lie there for so long."

"Knowing this earlier is worth a fortune." The being who was like his brother nodded, "So is his life in danger now?"

"Not yet." Magnus answered thoughtfully, "In fact, when I examined him carefully, I found something even more strange."

"what's up?"

“Actually…” The Scarlet King frowned. “It’s not that Ahriman lasted that long in the canyon, but the injuries he suffered in Casper’s empathic magic dream were enough to kill him—although they were only injuries to the soul, they could affect reality if they were serious enough, and invisible wounds were more profound. But he was able to keep a glimmer of hope because of some kind of spell that reinforced his lifeline, and his soul was not cut out of his body and left us—of course I didn’t want him to die, but this was unusual. He was able to return to the real world alive and hold on until I could heal him… It shouldn’t have happened. It’s like…”

"Like?"

"It's as if someone knew he would face such a death crisis in advance, and repeatedly reinforced his lifeline many times in places where there was no need or omen. However, this person's method was so ingenious that even I can't figure out how he achieved such a degree of violation of common sense, and what price the guy who completed this ritual for him paid."

Anger, worry, and the excitement of challenging the unknown surged on Magnus's brow. "I am very motivated to catch such a skilled person and eliminate the hidden dangers on Prospero." His one eye was full of enthusiasm. "You will help me accomplish this, right? My brother, Perturabo."

--------

When Mahavastu Callimachus felt someone approaching, he slowly opened his old eyes.

The Scarlet King's official chronicler is now enjoying a rare period of free time.

Due to the Decision of Nikea, the two Primarchs of the Iron Warriors and Space Wolves returned to Prospero with the Thousand Sons with their huge fleet, claiming to be companions but most people believed they were surveillance. Several weeks had passed, and since his two brothers were always around him, the Scarlet King gave Callimachus a long vacation.

During this period, although hundreds of conflicts of varying sizes broke out between the Space Wolves stationed in Tizca and the surrounding urban areas and the Thousand Sons and local residents, these incidents were all settled before escalating into bloody conflicts because the Iron Warriors were numerous and kept a close eye on them. The most seriously injured soldier suffered from his self-esteem: the Space Wolves were very disappointed when they were told that they could not use an axe to chop off the head of the young wizard who was attaching a psychic dog tail to his butt.

Now, during this period of time, the gentle but not humid sea breeze, fresh air, leisurely pace of life and delicious food in Tizca City have obviously had great benefits for Callimachus' physical health. He can even concentrate on doing things he wants to do or talking to other people.

For example, now, a much younger chronicler walked into his sight with a triumphant step. Callimachus knew him. This person was the mortal apprentice chosen by Ahriman for himself on the world of Aguru - let's call him that - Lemuel Gaumont.

"It's nice to meet you, great Callimachus. I'm here to pick you up." The young man was polite and energetic. The two of them were close friends regardless of age. "Oh, but," Lemuel's eyes swept across the sketchbook in Callimachus's hand, "the landscape lines here are a little... not quite accurate. I think I can find several on Prospero."

"I am an exceptional scribe, Lemuel, which is why I was chosen to be the Primarch's exclusive scribe," the old man lifted his thin body from his chair to greet his young friend. The senior scribe looked more weathered than his actual age, "not because Magnus needed a royal painter to paint a picture for his bathroom."

"Really? Then why don't you write down these beautiful scenes in words? I believe your writing style will be more vivid than your charcoal sticks."

Callimachus's originally relaxed expression darkened the moment he heard this question.

The old man did not answer immediately, but calmly glanced around them for a few times, making sure that no one was looking here or watching them, and then he continued, "Because I have been a scribe and writing for too long, do you understand, Lemuel?" He chose his words carefully, and his cloudy eyes stared at his young friend and descendant eagerly, "For many years, I have been very proud that I will be a recorder and have the honor of writing a book for a primarch, but then my years seemed to be cut into pieces that could not be connected. Lemuel, I am just his scribe, not a recorder. Every time I find myself looking at the thick volume of Magnus's words and deeds that I have 'recorded', I can realize that I can't understand even a single letter of the vast tome I wrote... But I am on vacation now, and I think I can at least make sure that what I draw is of my own will."

Apparently, Callimachus' words were a little too obscure, and Lemuel did not particularly grasp the deeper meaning of them. However, he still reached out and held the old man's dry hand, "Don't worry too much, old friend. I think I have made some progress in this regard."

"What do you mean?"

"You remember I told you that I found a copy of the Book of Rogaeth in the library on Earth?"

"I remember, but you said you didn't have any good solution for these mysterious character arrays because you couldn't find the accompanying book, The Key of Angels. According to other records, that book contains a deciphering comparison or similar solution for The Book of Rogaes."

"That's right. We all believe that Magnus most likely used this lost legendary script to keep his own records. This script is very ancient and complex, and is believed to be the sacred language used by ancient angels. Because Ahriman - oh, may God bless him! He still hasn't woken up - because my mentor is now in a coma, I have almost nothing to do during this period of time, so I sent a request to Ekuannan, the guardian of the pyramid library, to borrow a library card from him. He issued one for me, and then the iron warrior next to him asked what book I wanted to borrow. He should want to register my borrowing entry, I guess."

"and then?"

"I said I wanted to find a book. In addition to the Iron Warriors, Ekuannan was also watched closely by a Space Wolf, and his attitude and mood were not very good. But he immediately said that he knew the book was in the library of the Black Raven School, and then he asked me to wait there. Then the servitor brought the book to me from the library about a quarter of an hour later. Such an amazing photographic memory! No wonder they all say that Ekuannan is a true scholar. Alas, seeing that the Thousand Sons are now under constant supervision and adapted to a life of suppressing psychic energy, I feel bad in my heart."

"...But perhaps the Lord of Steel and the Wolf King are right." The recorder who had been inseparable from the Primarch for many times suddenly said this. The young man's eyes widened, while the old man lowered his voice. "I am very grateful for your efforts for me, Lemuir. You are a true friend, but perhaps the words I wrote should not be translated, let alone their meanings witnessed by mortals. Psionic skills and their mysteries should not be so... spread and abused so casually. This actually goes against all the original intentions."

"Calimachus...?"

"I am very old, Lemuel. You were not even born when I first met Magnus on Prospero and followed him through the streets of Tizca amid cheers and sprinkled red rose petals. I am tired and want to retire from the Great Crusade and return to my homeland, where I can bury my bones."

"But your withdrawal from the Great Crusade is a great loss, Callimachus," Lemuel lowered his voice because of the deep fear in the old man's words, and held his cold fingers. "Besides, will Magnus allow you to retire from such a position?"

"This period of time is the most suitable," Callimachus said with an inexplicable brilliance in his eyes. "He is under psychic control and has no time to use more power to control us mortals. His brothers and heirs occupy almost all of his energy and time. Besides, even if he doesn't allow me to, I will leave. This is also suitable for you, Lemuel."

"Appropriate what?" The young recorder and psionic apprentice suddenly realized that the old man was holding their hands with a force that was not what he expected of such a thin man.

"It is fitting that you come with me, Lemuel, after all the years I have spent as a faithful chronicler of the Emperor," Callimachus said in a very low voice. "If things continue to simmer on both sides as they are now... now is the best time to leave Prospero."

A moment later, Lemuel was already sitting in the sedan chair that had been found in advance, and he and Callimachus were heading to the restaurant where they had scheduled to meet with their friends.

The old man resumed his frail posture beside him, closing his eyes to rest as the sedan swayed slightly, while the young narrator was pondering the old man's advice.

The environment of Prospero was good for the health of each of them, and they also made new friends here and benefited a lot. Besides, the psychic training courses and psychic skills that Ahriman had conducted for him did greatly enhance Lemuir's confidence and mental outlook.

To be honest, almost immediately after the initial period of surprise and fear, he fell in love with the feeling of psychic training. The feeling of being able to control supernatural powers at will was so good that before Callimachus reminded him, Lemuel was only excited about his new achievements and did not feel that there was anything wrong with it.

Now he began to wonder, if the degree to which the Thousand Sons had delved into psychic powers was appropriate for the supervision they were now subject to, then as a mortal being taught psychic skills directly by the Astartes Librarians, was he also touching many invisible red lines?
While he was lost in thought, the sedan carried them through the beautiful, flat, wide streets of Tizca, with white and gold buildings on both sides shrouded in dense shade. They continued forward, passing through the Secret Eye Plaza, which was bustling with market vendors and customers, and chose one of the eighty-one streets extending from this circular plaza to head south. He politely declined the enthusiasm of the many people who offered to sell them various flowers, fruits and handicrafts, but considering the friends he was going to meet later, he bought some floral essential oils in exquisite glass bottles from a vendor.

As the noisy noise of the market crowd gradually faded away, they turned into a quiet alley. The pergola and gardens on both sides made the place seem more pleasant. The restaurant they were going to was at the end of the alley, so they got off the sedan chair one by one, paid the bill and walked into the restaurant's door.

There was a beautiful little fountain in the garden by the door, surrounded by many carefully placed potted flowers and trees. At a table, the first two recorders, Camille and Calista, stood up to welcome them. They greeted each other with smiles and kissed each other on the cheeks. Then the last friend came around from behind the table and greeted them as well.

"You're late, but you brought us gifts, right? I forgive you then." Kalista blinked and Camille smiled.

“Oh,” Lemuel put his hands in his pockets, “there it is again. I suppose you know what it is?”

"Orchid, iris, and rose distillates, right?" The beautiful friend finally smiled wickedly and held out her hand to Lemuel. "The rose one is for me."

"Isn't there any surprise in the world for you?" Lemuel also laughed and put the essential oil bottle in the other's hand, "Utherma Atla."

"For me, there are enough surprises in the world."

The beautiful man in the scholar's robes blinked his big green eyes at him.

(End of this chapter)