Warhammer: In the Name of Ashes

"I understand your confusion. You will have a new mission, but not now."

Calvin pulled Marduk up from the iron-grey floor and turned to look at the faceless statue of the god.

The face of the Lord of Humanity is hidden behind layers of nothingness, but its divine light and heat are always exuding the holy brilliance that belongs to the collection of human will.

That was the Emperor, Calvin knew it, and Marduk knew it.

Even though Calvin has not actually met him in the physical universe, this statue of God that exists in the spiritual world lacks some details;

But He represents the pure divinity of the human race and truly points to the only existence.

"But I am no longer worthy of the name of a saint and continue to walk in the empire."

Marduk responded in a low voice under the emperor's statue. This was also the question he was most confused about now.

The mission given to him by the Emperor had been accomplished, and he should have returned to the throne for the final battle.

The planetary remains of Colkash should have been called St. Marduk's End in its original destiny;

And the mother planet of Liberace, which was given to the Revenant Angels Chapter, should also be the sanctuary where his remains are preserved.

What else could he do? Do you continue to preach under the false title of saint?

Hundreds of years of operation are just to spread the emperor’s salvation to this suffering land;

And when all this is successful, it will be the day for him to retire.

"This is not a question for you to decide."

Calvin winked at Marduk and then explained to the confused apostle:

“It’s not even my problem, it’s His will.

He caused me to be born in the agricultural world called Seul a hundred years ago, and He also asked me to come all the way here to save you and the sentient beings of Orpheus. "

Marduk did not refute. From Calvin's memory, he already knew the growth and fate of this Primarch.

With a fundamentally different origin and growth than all Primarchs, this special existence has not been able to step onto the highest stage of the empire.

He also had the emperor's favor and favor, but unlike his brothers, he did not have a mission that was fixed in his life and destiny from birth.

"Only the Emperor's insight..." Marduk prayed in a low voice.

"He will lead our way forward." Calvin continued this prayer.

"What's your next step?"

Marduk asked Calvin.

Since it was the Emperor who ordered this man to save him from death again, his future whereabouts would naturally follow Calvin's arrangements.

"Go back. I want to return to Terra, and you want to go back to your post."

Calvin said decisively.

Things in the Orps sector were already on track, and it no longer meant much for him to stay here.

The Chapter Alliance from the Krieg System is about to be disbanded, and the main force of the Chapter returning from the Extreme Star Field in the distance also needs to be supplemented by these warriors.

And he should return to Terra and see what He looks like in the real universe.

Calvin had too many questions about this universe that the Emperor needed to answer.

Regarding the future path, he also has too much confusion and needs the guidance of those who have gone before him.

The rescue of Marduk was purely accidental, and he had no long-term plans for this now canonized state priest.

But the historical accumulation of the nation in his previous life and his brain with powerful computing power all told him instinctively:

Only by uniting all forces that can be united can we achieve our ambitious goals.

In this context, allies are assistance, the more the better; enemies are resistance, the fewer the better.

Marduk understood what Calvin meant.

At this time, Marduk, who had already reached the rank of red-coated clergyman in the state religion, if he had not died after being canonized, he would have had a place at the highest level of cardinal power in the state church within a hundred years.

And if nothing unexpected happens, his influence will far exceed that of his peers. As long as he maintains his existence, he will naturally be a strong candidate for the next pope.

At this time, Calvin and Marduk did not have such long-term ambitions, but just wanted to continue their previous work.

The latter can accept this arrangement, but he still has his own small demands regarding the name of the saint.

"Don't worry about these names anymore. Since it's already here, you can't refuse it."

Calvin comforted the brooding old man with sincere words.

“Think of those behind you, those who followed you through all the hardships to get to Orps;

Think of the rogue traders and admirals who have staked their families' honor and wealth to support you and help you.

Rejecting this honor not only denies your personal dedication, but also denies their dedication. "

"...your will."

Marduk accepted the honor with difficulty. He was so obsessed with his own purity that he forgot the existence of these followers.

When Calvin put the efforts and sacrifices behind these things in front of him, he only belatedly realized his selfishness.

"I……"

Faced with his excessive pursuit of fame and purity, Marduk was horrified. Under the temptation of fame and fortune, he actually fell into an obsession that he shouldn't have.

"It should not be your burden, but your motivation. You should carry this guilt with you and serve the Emperor better."

Calvin drew the final conclusion for this matter, and set the stage for Marduk's higher self-pursuit on the road of faith.

This communication in the soul ended here. After the two woke up, there was no more communication in the eyes of others.

In the days that followed, Calvin was caught up in busy official duties, making the final touches for his return to Terra;

St. Marduk the Great Confessor, who had been named a saint, also appeared at the celebration ceremony and led a huge crowd of pilgrims to the next bishop's world.

According to outside intelligence, Orps is not the end point of this holy war tour;

According to the pace of the pilgrim fleet, they should return to the starting point of the Holy War - Bishop World of Ophelia No. 7 - in a hundred years.

Calvin gave great support to the pilgrims.

Under his order, the sector government prepared more merchant ships and supplies for the pilgrims.

Even the sector fleet contributed several small ships for escort.

There is a lot of waste waiting for improvement within the sector, and it is not that no one complains about this;

But Calvin knew that as long as this flag remained, in the next few hundred years, more people would follow the footsteps of their ancestors and come to this land where they shed their blood.

This is an investment with long-term returns. Whether it is superficial political capital or real demographic dividend, it has long-term significance and value.

The above are all the reasons he put forward on the surface when discussing politics in the sector, but secretly he supported Marduk beyond the norm, and the reasons were not known to outsiders.

The farewell date coincided with the return date of the Krieg Chapter, and Calvin did not appear in person at the farewell ceremony.

As his representative, Allen said a final farewell to the leader of the pilgrim army, St. Marduk the Confessor.

Looking at the "colleague" in front of him who still looked old but whose muscles under the red robe were full of vitality, Alan Janus brought the original words of Calvin's advice:

“Fortresses and swords are not the empire’s last line of defense, faith is.

And your mission is to strengthen it endlessly.

The value of this job is unique and irreplaceable. Please cherish your lost life and put it to better use in the great cause of the Emperor. "

First update, I don’t know if it’s too late for second update, please vote.