The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Besides the matters concerning humanity, Sochoyan also had to deal with something involving Eldar. Originally, he intended to handle it later, but the other party strongly requested a meeting. After consideration, Sochoyan agreed.

The meeting was set in a secret room deep within the Light of the Heart's deck, undetectable by any probes.

The room wasn't large, less than fifty square meters, and lacked any entrances or exits. To enter, one had to use special teleportation means, as the room encased in thick alloy was a chamber made of wraithbone.

Sochoyan, in his power armor, sat on a massive wraithbone throne. Before him stood the Shadowseer, Varyu Ma'Tua, wearing a mirrored mask. From her ornate, colorful robes, she produced a beautiful crystal, placing it in her palm as if performing a mime, leaning forward as if blowing on it.

The stone then floated from her glove, lifted by an unseen force across the room. Subsequently, ghostly light swirled across the wraithbone walls.

Sochoyan had always been curious about the Harlequins' teleportation skills. It seemed there was nowhere in the galaxy they couldn't reach. However, Veronica believed in respecting the Harlequins' privacy and culture, so he hadn't delved too deeply. Witnessing it firsthand still felt incredibly magical.

Soon, a section of the wraithbone wall vanished, replaced by the light of another dimension. This was the Harlequin's teleportation portal.

A blurry figure appeared in the portal's light, gradually becoming clearer.

It was a slender and elegant Eldar, wearing a deep purple Seer's robe over gold-trimmed wraithbone armor adorned with arcane symbols. The overlapping golden shoulder guards were inlaid with green gems, and she wielded a bladed, spear-like starlight scepter, her face hidden behind the black visor of a typical Eldar gold-tipped helmet.

As the Seer stepped into the wraithbone chamber, the Shadowseer bowed slightly to Sochoyan before disappearing into the shadows.

Thus, only the two remained in the wraithbone chamber.

The Seer then removed her helmet, revealing a dignified and solemn face with tied-back black hair. She possessed a warrior's face, unlike any other Seer Sochoyan had met, resembling more a Warhost or Shrine High Priest, and a rather radical one at that. A scar ran from the corner of her right eye down to her chin, and a third of her left ear was missing—'scarred beyond recognition' by Eldar standards.

But the Eldar didn't have a culture of scar worship. In fact, only the Khrave of Ghomor, those who worshiped Khaine, would deliberately keep scars. The Craftworld Eldar chose to erase scars after battle, so this Seer's choice was intriguing.

Was it born from anger? Or from pain? Or perhaps from self-reproach?

"People of Alaitoc, Eldrad Starbane, greet Phoenix Lord."

Upon reaching Sochoyan, the Starbane Seer paid her respects with rhythmic, elegant language, bowing deeply with her left hand on her chest.

"I have long heard of Starbane's name. It is a pleasure to meet you today. Please, be seated."

"Thank you, Lord."

A cushion had been prepared on the carpeted floor. Starbane walked to the side, shook out her robes, and sat cross-legged on the cushion in a meditative posture, placing her helmet beside her feet.

"Seer Starbane, due to the urgency, we can only meet in this place, in this manner. I hope you understand."

Starbane turned to Sochoyan and said calmly:

"The Eldar you have seen in the past, including the citizens of the court, generally hold attitudes of either contempt or animosity towards humans. Therefore, when you preside over court, you often wear a mask to reduce the resentment your race causes in your subjects. Now, you are willing to meet me as an unmasked Astartes. Such trust is already causing me unease."

Sochoyan looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Is that so? Then, looking at me now, Sochoyan Aleksey, the Astartes Chapter Master, is all you think of trust?

"Before coming here, I visited several old friends in the court and then met with His Majesty. I discovered that many past views were wrong. It's ironic that many, including myself, pride themselves on being wise, but are still inevitably influenced by gossip,

forming ridiculous subjective conjectures... which made me think of something else."

"What is it?"

"What determines an individual's racial affiliation—their own genes, the cultural customs they adhere to, or their way of thinking? I began to look at this question from another angle, and finally, I came to the conclusion that you, Lord, are neither human nor Eldar from any perspective... You exist in a state unknown to all Seers. But without a doubt, the Father God Asuryan chose you, even though he may no longer exist. Your appearance is by no means accidental. Regardless of what others think, I will not regard you as human, nor will I presumptuously see you as Eldar."

Sochoyan grinned.

"Then what am I?"

Starbane replied calmly:

"A god, a god among mortals."

Sochoyan was first stunned, then shook his head.

"You overestimate me, Seer Starbane."

"I believe in my point of view. After all, what else in the mortal realm could easily slaughter the Necrons on an entire tomb ship? The vast majority of the court does not realize the power you possess. All of this is merely due to your humility, your low profile, and some hesitation that still exists in your heart... If humans can have a god among mortals lead them to rise again after decline, why can't the Eldar? Our race has had six and a half million years of glory. These ten thousand years of decline have made all Eldar deeply remember the lessons. All that is lacking is a banner to reunite the hearts of the people."

"Look at me now. In my words and deeds, which point meets the requirements of a 'god'? What fills my head is still a mortal. To be honest, I feel confused and lost about my own destiny."

"Lord, who can define the meaning of a god? If being transcendent, detached from desires, and without needs is what makes a god, then are there such beings in the galaxy? Let alone the fact that the Ruinous Powers themselves are slaves to fate. So I call you a god among mortals because you stand in the mortal realm, yet possess a power that should not exist in the mortal realm."

Sochoyan understood that the Harlequins had likely informed her of his "achievements" in single-handedly destroying a tomb ship, which led Starbane, who knew the Necrons well, to fundamentally change her view—precisely because she understood the Necrons, she knew their strength, and therefore realized what kind of great power was needed to single-handedly destroy a tomb ship.

But he didn't want to dwell too much on this topic and instead asked:

"Seers are all able to predict the future, so Seer Eldrad, can you guess what I am thinking now?"