Darius hesitated for a moment before replying, “No. My aor died otlefield. He… he was stru the chest, a dired honorable death, just as he would have wanted.”

  Kayvaan closed his eyes, steadying the storm of emotions ing within him. After a long silence, he opehem again and spoke, his tone measured. “Yes, you are indeed my soldier. So, Darius, what brings you here? You’re the only one who has visited me retly, and I doubt it was easy for you te this meeting.”

  Darius nodded, his expression serious. “It wasn’t easy at all. There are yers of approvals and tless procedures to gh. Even after getting clearahe meeting time is strictly limited. Today, I only have half an hour. But I assure you, this level of supervision won’t st much longer. In about two months, the restris should be lifted. Please uand—it’s a matter of protocol. I appreciate your patience.”

  Kayvaan’s face remained calm as he replied, “I didn’t say it’s a bad thing. In fact, it’s quite fitting for me right now. I spend my days reading and basking in the sun, giviime to reacquaint myself with this ged gaxy.”

  Darius’s face softened with relief. “I’m gd you feel that way. The High Lords have already started discussing your situation. Ohey reach a decision, they’ll step in. I believe your freedom isn’t far off.”

  Hearing this, Kayvaan's brows furrowed slightly. The mention of the High Lords brought back memories he had tried to leave behind. He had severed ties with such authority long ago—why would they themselves with him now, after housand years? However, he quickly dismissed the thought. Speg wouldn’t ge anything. Some matters required patience. “I uand. That’s good news,” Kayvaan said, his toral. “But surely you didn’t e here just to deliver that?”

  “Of course not,” Darius said, a faint smile curving his lips. He reached into his bag and carefully pulled out a small metal box. Holding it as though it were a sacred relic, he pced it oable in front of Kayvaan. “I came t you this. Please, open it.”

  Kayvaan’s eyes lingered on the box. Its design was familiar—cssical, even a by today’s standards. Yet, he didn’t touch it. Instead, he asked, “What is it?”

  “This,” Darius said solemnly, “is the Emperor’s reward.”

  “The Emperor’s reward?” Kayvaan asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

  “Yes. During the Great Betrayal, wheraitor Horus led his forces to the gates of the Imperial Pace, the Emperor emerged victorious but suffered grievous injuries. After the war, he made his final arras and asded to the Golden Throne, where he remains even now.”

  Kayvaan already khis story. It was the first thing he had studied after passing the scrutiny of the Ordo Malleus and being fined here. He had requested books—many books. Learning about the state of the Imperium through its history was his priority, and he had absorbed as much as possible.

  Among the ats that captured his attention, the final battle stood out most vividly. The Imperium had triumphed, but beh the surface of those triumphant words y grim truths. Kayvaan had learo read between the lines, unc the raw and often ugly realities masked by glorified narratives.

  The fall of the outer defenses was swift, and the gates of the Imperial Pace had nearly been breached by Chaos. The defenders were forced into desperate retreats. Kayvaan had uncovered a forbidden record, one heavily sored, but its remaining fragments painted a haunting picture.

  “The mile-wide walls of the Imperial Pace were more than defensive barriers—they housed workshops, armories, and living quarters. Bloody battles raged through these halls, and soon, rivers of blood ran ankle-deep, mingling the lifeblood of loyal Imperial soldiers with that of traitors. Not far away, at the Lion’s Gate Spaceport, wave after wave of Chaos Space Marines nded, swelling the enemy ranks. The fall of humanity’s st fortress seemed iable.”

  Kayvaan's thoughts often lingered on Sanguinius’s final stand. Statio the Eternity Gate with his Blood Angels, Sanguinius stood as the st bulwark against Chaos. The enemy hurled everything they had at him. Alone, Sanguinius faced a monstrous bloodthirster and tless traitors, holding the line long enough for the remaining defeo retreat. His sacrifice was both noble a-wreng, his life taken by Horus in a csh of unimaginable power.

  Kayvaan had also read that Horus, desperate to end the flict, had ordered the shields of his fgship lowered, inviting the Emperor to front him directly. The gamble had cost Horus his life and ehe rebellion, but it left the Emperor mortally wouhe Chaos forces, leaderless, had fled into the Eye of Terror, abandoning their doomed followers.

  Though victorious, the Emperor had not recovered. To preserve his existence, He was entombed within the Golden Throne, her alive nor truly dead—a sileinel watg over humanity.

  Kayvaan’s thoughts were interrupted by Darius’s clear voice: “After being gravely ihe Emperor insisted on carrying out his duties. He personally rewarded loyal warriors and passed judgment on traitors. The reward meant for you resented during that time. My aor, Alen, safeguarded it in your absehe moment you woke up, a protocols were triggered, and we were notified. I’ve worked tirelessly to meet you in person to hand this over.”

  Even though Kayvaan’s feelings for the Emperor were not as deeply rooted as his mentor’s, Darius’s words struck him deeply. For a moment, he sat in silence as tears welled in his eyes. He made no effort to stop them.

  housand years may have passed, but the Empire had not fotten its warriors. In that moment, Kayvaa as though time itself had colpsed. Through the a box, he was transported back to the day of victory. He could almost see the Emperor, bloodied yet resolute, seated in the grand hall as He hohe loyal and judged the fallen. Every sacrifice had been reized. Every loyal warrior, living or dead, had been aowledged.

  For a ruler like that, how could any soldier not give their st breath?

  Kayvaan reached out, his firembling as they brushed the surface of the box. It was as though he were toug a relimeasurable value. “What’s inside?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

  “We don’t know,” Darius replied with a gentle smile. “The Emperor did not specify the tents of the reward. Our family never ope, nor would we dare to. It is yours to unveil.”

  Kayvaan said nothing further. He wiped his tears, took a deep breath, and broke the a seal. Carefully, he opehe box with the reverence of one unveiling something sacred.