Sicarius led the way, with Robert following behind. The two walked side-by-side into the temple-like depths of Hera Fortress. Grand pillars supported the towering dome, upon which was painted the glorious epic of the Ultramarines over ten millennia. Every step felt like treading upon the long river of history.
"Every inch of brick and stone in Hera Fortress is steeped in history, Governor Robert," Sicarius' voice echoed through the empty corridor, carrying an innate pride. "Our archives are vast, but if you wish to experience the glory of the Chapter firsthand, there are a few places you must not miss.
Would you prefer to gaze upon the statues of our ancestors in the Hall of Heroes, who forged legends with their lives, or observe the narrative bas-reliefs carved into the Hall of Victories, chronicling our ten millennia of campaigns?"
Robert's eyes lit up, and he said without hesitation, "Statues! I want to see the statues."
"A wise choice." Sicarius nodded slightly and led Governor Robert down an even older passage.
They first arrived at a brightly lit hall, where statues of heroes from the past few millennia stood. Sicarius pointed to a statue of a space marines holding a power sword, eyes wide with fury, and spoke fluently:
"This is captain Thor Invicus. He held his ground against xenos until his death, buying precious time for his battle-guys to counterattack."
He then pointed to another, more serene statue: "This is the predecessor of Chief Librarian Varro Tigurius. He sacrificed his soul during a crusade against Chaos to close a massive warp rift..."
Sicarius recounted the lives and deeds of these heroes as if they were old friends, from their glorious births to their even more glorious deaths, every detail crystal clear.Robert listened intently, his eyes gleaming with admiration, as if he had personally witnessed those magnificent epics.
But gradually, as the two walked deeper into older halls, Sicarius' introductions became shorter and shorter.
"This is... Brother Oren, a captain from M36, who distinguished himself in a crusade against the orks."
"This one... we only know his name is Keyes, an ancient Champion of the Blade."
This was not because Sicarius was displeased, deliberately withholding information, or lacked knowledge. Quite the opposite; as a prodigy of the Ultramarines, his erudition far surpassed that of ordinary men.
However, the history of the Ultramarines was simply too long; ten millennia were enough to bury too many memories. As they walked deeper, even Sicarius, who had graduated from the Macragge Academy with top honors, did not know why these silent statues stood there.
Their deeds were lost in burned databases and forgotten battle reports. All that was known was that they had all been Ultramarines, and must have achieved glorious feats worthy of being commemorated here.
The light grew dim, and the air was filled with the scent of ancient stone mixed with dust. The style of the statues here also became more ancient, even bearing the ruggedness of the Great Crusade era. Sicarius was completely silent now; he could only act as a guide, leading Robert through these giants forgotten by time.
Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Robert, do you wish to continue? Beyond this point lies an area not even recorded in our archives."
"Yes," Robert's answer was firm, "I haven't seen what I wanted to see yet. Let's keep going."
They walked a long distance further, arriving at the deepest part of Hera Fortress. Most of the statues here were already broken, and even their names were blurred. Sicarius was certain that perhaps only those old scholars who had spent their lives poring over archives could find a sentence or two about them in some dilapidated unofficial historical manuscript.
It was here that Robert's steps stopped without warning.
He did not look at the towering giant statues but instead cast his gaze upon a wall. Embedded in that wall were relatively small plaques of honor, commemorating those warriors of outstanding merit.
Sicarius followed Robert's gaze and found him staring at one of the bronze plaques. The carving on the plaque was very old, with only a name and a line of small text.
Ionide Hill
"In memory of Brother Ionide Hill. After the Primarch's slumber, he continued to fight steadfastly for the Imperium for five hundred years. His will unwavering, his loyalty unshaken."
Sicarius stood beside Robert, his tall figure casting a long shadow. Reason told him that as a guide, he only needed to wait quietly. But as his gaze swept over that name, an unprecedented, ineffable feeling surged from the depths of his genes, like distant thunder from the past, stirring a faint echo in his soul. This impulse made him break the silence.
"Governor Robert," Sicarius' voice was a few shades deeper than usual, "Do you know this space marine?"
"I know a little, but unfortunately, I'm unlikely to get his autograph or a photo," Robert's reply carried a playful tone that only players would understand. He looked at Sicarius with some confusion. "What's wrong, captain Sicarius? Have you heard of him?"
Sicarius also realized that his lapse was quite obvious. He adjusted his demeanor, trying hard to regain a steady tone: "I only just learned of him... but for some reason, seeing this name, a strange feeling surged within me."
The Ultramarines, known for their resolve and confidence, now had a hint of hesitation in his voice: "This feeling... I've never had it before."
"What the heck, could the rumors be true..." Robert muttered to himself.
He kept a straight face and said in a joking tone, "Perhaps captain Sicarius, your gene-seed is inherited from this space marine?"
Robert didn't expect Sicarius to fall into a long silence after hearing this. After a moment, he replied with an extremely serious tone: "Although the probability is very small, it's not impossible.
Every space marines' gene-seed originates from the Primarch, but it also records some traits of the host as it is passed down through generations. If my gene-seed is indeed connected to Brother Hill, then my feeling just now can be reasonably explained."
"Uh..." Robert was at a loss for words. He had said the truth as a joke, and the other party had taken it seriously. He cleared his throat and changed the subject, "I don't think there's anything else further ahead. How about we turn back here and go see the sleeping demigod?"
"Father?" Sicarius responded. Even with a personality as straightforward as the Imperial Fists, he could tell that Robert's main purpose for this trip was to see this space marines named Hill, as Robert had never hidden his intentions. However, he didn't ask further; there was nothing to investigate about such matters.
"Of course," Sicarius turned around and made a gesturing motion, "But Robert, you are also unlikely to get Father's autograph or a photo."
"Pfft—"
Robert almost couldn't maintain his expression, nearly choking.
"What's wrong?" Sicarius' face, hidden beneath his helmet, turned towards him, his tone filled with pure confusion, "Robert, is there anything unusual with your body?"
"No, nothing,"Robert waved his hands repeatedly, forcing down his laughter. "Let's hurry to meet the Primarch, I can't wait..."