Go Soo-Hee and Shim Eun-jin were summoned to the Cannoness’ office. It was not a cubicle that might be familiar to ministorum adept, instead, it was more of a canopy where cherubim nested. If they were not at rest or connected to a nutrient feed, they swooped across the room from one activity to the next. Some were reading from the canoness’ library and files to memorize information that she may ask them for. Others were engaged in cleaning the office: dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, polishing wood furniture and glassaic murals. Many were at work on cogitaters and data-slates responding to the myriad messages the office receives both inside and outside the Order.
A few were maintaining the Canoness’ gear: a suit of power armor with the pink cloth of her office; and an inferno pistol gifted by House Valerio for her heroism during the Long Winter when she was a battle sister. The Witch had blocked out the sun from reaching Wirye for months and her beasts descended upon ice choked land. Fertile fields and fruitful vineyards became shrivelled tundra with snow soaked red from slaughter. It was the Canoness, then only sister Bae Doona, that fought alongside the current matriarch of House Valerio, then sister Paoletta, to protect the sanctity of the province and the Valerio bloodline. The pistol earned a moniker: Arabella’s Gaze, for all foes within its sight combust as the wicked did under her’s.
Though Bae Doona had proven her dedication in the field of battle, the office of Canoness was about more than war. The role of martial champion belonged to the Zephyrim who were to be deployed where others could not in the battles that must be won. The role of leading soldiers belonged to the Palatine who coordinated with the defense force to manage the struggle against the Sinui and the Witch on operational and strategic levels. The role of managing the order’s domestic affairs belonged to the Legatine, who organized the preceptories across Incheo and distributed aid as needed be it sword, stencil, or stent.
The Canoness had the role of spiritual exemplar, inside and outside the order. She performs the rites of initiation for every sister as they graduate from novitiate to their ordo, the thread that ties every ordo into one sisterhood. She received confession from the preachers and nobles and Sister Superiors when they have none other to turn to. She guided the flock alongside the clergy, in her studies and debate with deacons, and through the watchful eyes and bellowing voices of the dogmatas. She represents the sisterhood in the planetary assembly and will represent them when they are returned to the light of His Imperium and rejoin their sisters in the Order of the Sacred Rose.
Bae Doona, in her rhodonite habit, was at her desk in front of them reading the report from Ulsa and ‘The Bad Zone’. Pen strokes empahsized and noted the details. She paid no heed to the chubby cherub that gnawed on her hair even as her head tilted under its weight. Her hum synchronized with the infantile chorus that filled the room.
At a corner of the desk was a copy of Lectitio Divinitatus, the Holy Word written by blessed Lorgar. Lorgar, The First Faithful, was one of the Emperor’s sons and put His divinity to word for mortal comprehension. His teachings have guided the Imperium towards righteousness for ten thousand years; in dark and forgotten corners like Incheo, this tome is candlelight for a flock without their shepard. Every canoness must make their own copy. The cover she forged from iron, plated with gold, and bound by the riveted leather of a witchbeast, the likes of which unknown as she hunted and skinned it alone. The pages of vellum were grafted from her skin, the words penned by hand in ink drawn from her blood. When she passed, her copy would be added to the library of the office alongside those made by her predecessors.
When she was done, she placed down the pen to cradle and rock the cherub in her arms.
“This is all quite troubling, don’t you think? This ‘Sugilite’ that you’ve taken upon yourself to dub, is quite the busy body, or perhaps, we are seeing spring sprouting of seeds long ago planted and soon to be burgeoning. A terrible thing for a garden to have weeds stifling roots with locusts on the horizon.”
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“Yes, my canoness,” answered Go Soo-Hee, “we must excise this daemon before the next Epidemic lest it stab us while our back is turned.”
“Yet our best opportunity to do so has slipped from your gasp,” she spoke gently, yet the words stung worse than Joro venom, “and now we have no leads. Perhaps that was the best it could do if I may be optimistic.”
“My canoness, I have no excuse for my failure-”
“Our Zephyrim are our best, sent where none other would do for results that no other could outdo. You were simply outnumbered in a situation where we did not have the confirmation needed to commit the few qualified for it. I am especially concerned about this hypothesis you mentioned. Could you describe it?”
“Yes, my Canoness. In the Underhive, the obscura den and contraband networks were dismantled unopposed. In Ulsa, the dissident cells were picked off. The daemon abandoned the projects it developed.”
“Perhaps it is craven or more desultory than we give it credit for,” said Bae Doona. A cherub landed to place a wine glass of Valerion for her to sip.
“That would be the least damaging explanation, but I fear that these projects were not ends themselves but means for its true objective: to prod our weaknesses and lure out better targets to corrupt, militant sororitas specifically. It began at the bottom of the well but it is steadily climbing.”
“You say it is targeting sororitas. Tell me: do you find the faith of your sisters wanting that you believe they could be corrupted?”
“The only one who is truly incorruptible is the God-Emperor, our faith merely borrows his strength. That many believe the sororitas are incorruptible, as well as our martial prowess and access to ecclesiarichal and governmental politics, is what makes us more valuable as champions, in service to His Imperium, yes, but also as targets of the Arch-Enemy. That is why it wants to study and isolate potential candidates rather than building on a foundation of drug addicts and menials.”
“A grave threat indeed. Hae Nyeo also included in her report that the target intended to be found. Legatine, what is your recommendation?”
“It is as you both say,” started Shim Eun-jin, “the ordo militant, especially the Zephyrim, are stretched too thin to deal with an enemy that engages us only when it can isolate us. Even if we had the certainty to gather a flamewing, it would flee for more advantageous situations with no current way for us to track it.”
“Then there is nothing we can do?”
“For now, not directly. I have already discussed with the Palatine that we currently do not have the troops to face an emerging threat. Less households are enrolling their daughters into the Schola Progenium, and even fewer students are on path for the ordo militant. To bolster our numbers, I believe we should open enrollment to the public.”
“My Legatine,” said Go Soo-Hee, “Hae Nyeo’s current… test has yet to even be initiated. We especially cannot afford to relax our standards to accept the unworthy at a time when we are threatened with corruption.”
“Hae Nyeo’s student was the first to face this daemon, as you are well aware. I believe you also said that faith itself was what imbued us with His strength, unless you now wish to tell that a greater strength comes from the blood. If we can fill our ranks then we can consolidate the strength of the Zephyrim.”
“It is not about blood. With noble birth comes noble upbringing steeped in discipline and education that prepares them to serve His Imperium long before they reach the classes of the Progenium. The average underhiver and mist walker lacks the depth of appreciation necessary to have faith with all their heart and soul, to see beyond their sinful Id and embrace service in a grand design. If all we need are bodies to hold guns, then we have the defense force and combat servitors for that. What good is a dull blade if it encourages recklessness?”
“You speak well, Go Soo-Hee. We will appraise results of this novitiate before we consider the necessity of the Legatine’s proposal. I will be conducting her initiation soon and follow her progress closely. Both of you have your leave.”
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