Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

"What do you usually feed it?"

"Salmon and vegetable pancakes, cat sandwiches, meatballs, and mousse cake."

"..."

“Can cats eat mousse cake?”

"Anyway, it is very happy to eat."

"That's normal: after all, it eats better than most people in this galaxy: So what about this alien? Is it the emergency food reserve you prepared for this cat?"

"No, it's the second cat."

"..."

"It looks nothing like a cat."

"I thought the same way not long ago, but now, my mind has changed: If you don't believe it, you can also touch its head. This little guy has learned to purr like a cat."

"..."

"What a miracle of biology."

[Orion]'s golden eyes flashed with cold light. She sighed meaninglessly, but she did not extend her fingers to the quiet alien next to her, but continued to rub the one who was touching her. Underneath, the fat cat was rolling all over the floor in comfort.

And this Morgan's pet, who was named [Warmaster], just slumped on the ground casually, letting Orion's slender fingers caress back and forth between its back and head: as a A feline creature with psychic talents and a certain degree of intelligence. After accompanying Morgan for more than twenty years, [Warmaster] seems to have undergone some kind of benign mutation and is able to do many things that are beyond people's imagination of animals. intellectual behavior.

This can be observed from its different treatment of outside creatures: when facing Morgan's descendants and subordinates, the pet of the original body showed a more or less arrogant attitude. It walked around the dining table of the Dawn Breaker and its mortal helpers, picking up the fish pieces and cakes it liked, and gargling its mouth with the tea in the cup. If it was in a good mood, it didn't mind letting the diners touch it. The tail is used as a reward for this passive feeding.

Such arrogant years lasted for more than ten years, until everyone on the battleship felt familiar with it, until a new generation of Dawnbreakers and mortal descendants grew up, until the pet of the original body became the Queen of Glory. Something similar to a natural phenomenon.

In this way, [Warmaster Haunted] became the second worst weather condition on the entire Dawn Goddess: the first worst was naturally [Conrad Haunted], and the latter was also the only one who could escape from [Warmaster]. He is a legend of reverse food grabbing, which makes him even strangely popular among the children on the bottom deck.

When facing Morgan and the star maids created by Morgan, the fat cat, as the pet of the original body, will show absolute docility and well-behavedness: although theoretically, it has never seen Orion, but It seems that based on some kind of soul fluctuation, and for reasons that cannot be ascertained at present, [Warmaster] can still clearly identify the close relationship between Orion and Morgan, and changes his attitude in a timely manner, allowing Orion to caress. .

Such differential treatment was naturally noticed by the two star maids, so. These two metal creatures, who were actually related by blood, just looked at each other and naturally extended this matter to themselves.

"Even a beast like this, after wandering so long among our mothers, becomes very different from its kin in the wild: even more intelligent than some of the arrogant mortals. ."

"It's called Strong Brain Cat: that's the scientific name."

"I know what it's called, Virgo: When I was in Avalon, I had to handle no more than fifty smuggling cases about strong-brained cats every year. The profits of these psychic creatures in the black market are astonishingly high: that's why , I have also seen many strong-brained cats, so I was able to discover the difference between this one and its kind."

"Although Strong Brain Cat has always been known for its extremely high IQ, even compared with its most cunning cousins, this one's intelligence and psychic fluctuations are too powerful, and it even has humanized expressions : If it lives long enough, it may really be able to build the foundation of civilization in its own mind."

Virgo chuckled.

"According to 伱, Orion: If this fat cat can live for hundreds or thousands of years and live to the future world, will it still become some kind of sacred relic? Maybe the Dawnbreakers of later generations will still surround it. Beside it and listen to ancient wisdom."

"Old strong-brained cat, where is your wisdom?"

After Orion's exaggerated tone, the two star maids laughed out loud at the same time.

But soon Orion lost her smile and became serious.

"Don't be happy so early, my dear sister: don't forget that we are also eternal creations created by our mother. In other words, this is very likely to be our future, regarded as fearless and ancient by a group of Dawnbreakers. By?"

"..."

"It's really chilling."

Virgo imagined it for a moment and couldn't help but shudder.

Orion, on the other hand, gently scratched the fat cat's chin and listened to the comfortable purring.

"Beasts like this will be very obviously affected by being around the Primarch, and creatures like those Astartes or mortals, as well as us, seem to be similarly affected: Virgo, you have been looking after this Guy, didn't you notice any change?"

"Change……"

"It has tripled its weight in twenty years: is that a change?"

"..."

"It sounds like a perfect match for our mother."

"..."

"If you keep saying that, Orion: then I will arrest you for leaking secrets."

"Aren't you going to add another one to spread rumors?"

"This is not a rumor."

"..."

The two star maids looked at each other, were silent for a while, and then burst out into cheerful laughter: secretly slandering their creator, their mother like this, made both star maids feel something. Forbidden happiness.

Orion, who had red hair, returned to seriousness first. She held the fat cat like a snowball in her arms, and while stroking it, she walked to the steps under the throne, and deliberately said Bypassing a certain Dark Watcher who was happily enjoying the mousse cake next to him.

"Do you know why I left Avalon and made a special trip to Holy Terra?"

"Is it because the order was not given by mother herself?"

"Of course: without her order, it is impossible for me to neglect my duties, but for me personally, there are certain personal reasons for coming here this time. I have some questions and I want to get my mother's personal answers."

"question?"

Virgo frowned.

"Your idea itself is already a big problem, Orion: The knowledge and abilities given to us by our mother are completely matched with the responsibilities we need to fulfill. If you encounter a problem that you cannot solve at all, then the only way The answer is that you have exceeded the scope of your responsibilities and entered an area that your mother does not allow you to enter."

"That was a mistake, Orion."

"If you go by what you said, Virgo, this is indeed a mistake, but my thoughts are different from yours. I don't think this behavior is completely wrong."

Orion shook his head. Although they were both star maids, she and Virgo obviously had some fundamental differences in their ideas, although this difference was not fatal or obvious.

"So, Virgo: Do ​​you think that if we follow the initial plan that our mother has planned for us when she designed us, it is like a clockwork pendulum, and if we continue to implement it consistently, this is the best situation. Yet?"

"if not?"

The first created Star Maid frowned. Certain metaphors in Orion's mouth made Virgo feel disgusted from the underlying operating logic.

"What new ideas do you have?"

"It's not really a new idea."

The slender fingers slowly kneaded the somewhat rough hair of the fat cat. In Orion's golden pupils, there was a light that was completely opposite to that of Virgo: unlike the original maid who had always been by Morgan's side, this The third Star Maid, who was placed in sole control of the Avalon Legal Department, obviously has greater independence and thinking time.

"I just feel that although the initial plan my mother set up for us is indeed perfect and almost irreproachable, there are always more accidents and emergencies in reality. Their number is as bizarre as the circumstances. , often exceeding the mother’s initial expectations: So in this case, if we can develop according to the actual situation and expand our own energy in an orderly manner, then it is not a bad thing for the mother, is it?”

"There's something wrong with your words, Orion: how do you know that your act of expanding your abilities is orderly? And not a Magnus-like act?"

Virgo's eyebrows danced, and she retorted to her sister without hesitation, while Orion just searched for the meaning of the word Magnus in her memory template, and her eyebrows were like towering mountains. Wrinkled up.

"I just put forward an idea of ​​mine, Virgo, there is no need for you to insult me ​​with such bad words, I did not betray our mother!"

"Oh, the Guilliman kind?"

"..."

"It doesn't make much of a difference."

Orion gritted her teeth, but she did not insist on this issue for too long: after putting the fat cat in her arms on the ground, patting its furry butt, and letting it run away quickly, the Ava The top person in charge of the Long Legal Affairs Department smiled, walked all the way to Virgo, and took a cup from the tea cup she was holding as a symbol of reconciliation.

"I'm not here to quarrel with you, Virgo. I'm just here to express some thoughts in my heart. Moreover, you need to consider the real situation: you can stay with our mother for a long time, so you have to All I have to do is listen to and remember her every word, but unlike me, we have to walk in every corner of the galaxy because of her interests, which makes us have to start thinking for ourselves.”

"Mother did not allow this behavior."

"So, this is my personal purpose for this trip to Terra. I will apply to her in person for permission to think about myself. If she doesn't allow it, I will stop related behaviors: but I can't think of her banning me. reason."

"..."

Virgo was silent for a moment, and she did not continue to refute what Orion said, although this did not mean that she agreed with this point of view: she just did not want to have a dispute with other star maids who were also created by the original body without the explicit instruction of her mother. That's all, after all, back when Morgan was shaping them. The harmonious relationship between each other has been engraved in the underlying operating logic.

"Maybe: but I still don't agree with you, Orion."

"I didn't want you to agree: even my mother's genetic father, the twenty primordial offspring he created are filled with countless examples of incompatibility. It's beyond my ability for you to remain calm to my suggestions. Expected it.”

I didn’t come here specifically for this: it was my mother’s call that made me leave Avalon and come to Holy Terra. At the same time, I also brought countless vital documents and files from the entire Far Eastern Frontier. According to our In terms of mother's words, she will use these things in her communication with a certain palmer. "

Virgo tilted her head, and some noises from the side disturbed her: she took the time to glance at the black watcher next to her, and found that the little man in robes was sitting on the ground, touching his neck in discomfort, looking like he was choking. .

"I remember my mother told me that she would discuss the tax issues in the entire Far Eastern Frontier region with the Patriarch: this seems to be one of the most important purposes of her coming to Terra."

After pouring a cup of tea and handing it to the Black Watcher rolling around on the ground, Virgo's brows were just like Orion's just now.

"Mother really intends to pay taxes to the empire?"

"I don't know, but if the attitude of the Emperor and the Seal Master is really resolute, I don't think my mother will completely break up with them on this matter, but as long as there is a chance, she will still run away from these things. Taxes.”

"With this money, wouldn't it be better to use it to build more warships?"

"Your words sound unfavorable to the entire empire, Orion."

Facing the sisters' teasing, Orion just grinned, not hiding the contemptuous attitude in her pupils at all.

"What does the Empire have to do with us?"

"..."

"really."

"So what are you going to do next, Orion?"

"I think……"

——————

"I'll be gone for a while."

"It won't be long."

When they were about to advance to the Square of Heroes, the midnight ghost who had been wandering around Morgan suddenly spoke.

After everyone took the photo at the entrance of the palace, several Primarchs dispersed. They all had things to do alone and could not stay together all the time: that kind of photo was like something after a trip. It's like a memorial, symbolizing a short farewell.

Leman Russ took his heirs and left with the long-awaited Imperial Guards to complete his mission; Jonson took his high-ranking knights to supervise the progress of the Dark Angels recruitment activities; and Morgan, who had completed this activity first, was able to wander around Terra's palace at will, without even any imperial troops following her. They all seemed to be doing other more important things.

In the first ten minutes, Midnight Ghost remained as before, following the Lord of Avalon like Morgan's loyal shadow. He behaved very well, only occasionally moving at high speed to tease the passing patrols. Just the Imperial Guard.

But just when they were about to reach the Square of Heroes, the Noslamor suddenly became a little restless. He seemed to sense something, like a bird eager to migrate, constantly showing that he wanted to temporarily Willingness to leave.

At the beginning, Morgan was still a little reluctant: although she was sure that under her education, Kant had become less desperate than before, but this was Terra's palace after all. If the Midnight Ghost gave her another If something happens, Morgan won't be able to protect her troublesome brother like before.

But her resistance was still unable to withstand Conrad's almost pleading tone. In the end, Morgan nodded and was originally going to the Square of Heroes. The plan to view the sculptures of the Primarchs was also temporarily cancelled.

The Midnight Ghost moved in the other direction almost impatiently: at the end of the road, Morgan could only vaguely see a spire, a spire that did not exist in the first place.

Before leaving, Conrad seemed to feel something. He turned his head and whispered something to the Lord of Avalon with a smile that was so inexplicable that it made Morgan feel a little uneasy.

"Go forward, keep going forward, go to the amber palace, then open the door and walk in: believe me, Morgan, you will not regret it."

[Speak clearly. 】

"I've made it clear: There is someone out there waiting for you."

Conrad grinned, and that nostalgic mischievousness returned to his face. Before Morgan frowned and raised his hand, Midnight Ghost instinctively ducked away and fled away from the Spider Queen's attack. range, waved his arms as a farewell, and then disappeared at the end of the road.

"You must go! Morgan!"

【……】

Morgan raised her eyebrows, but she didn't say anything more in the end. Then, she followed Conrad's instructions and headed towards the amber palace in the distance: As for the statues on the Square of Heroes, they will be brought with them in the future. It's not too late for her brother to come and watch.

only……

Who is waiting for her?

Morgan was slightly suspicious, and she couldn't help but speed up her steps. Almost in the blink of an eye, she arrived in front of the amber room that Conrad had ordered.

When pushing open the extremely luxurious door, the Lord of Avalon hesitated out of instinct. Then, she slightly opened a crack in the door to get a glimpse of the information in the room: it was endless. The light comes from the reflection of countless gorgeous crystal creations.

These creations were priceless, but they didn't matter: what really mattered was what Morgan saw clearly.

Among these priceless treasures, she saw...

A falling feather.