A torrent of data swirled within the command room, holograms emerging on the dome and the mosaic-tiled floor.
On the walls behind the data torrent were inscribed all the magnificent deeds of the Ultramarines over ten thousand years.
From the Emperor and Primarch Robert Guilliman's charge from Macragge, Robert Guilliman accepting his Legion, the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, to the sorrow of the Battle of Calth.
Reyna gazed at these epic deeds, her eyes widening involuntarily.
Just by looking at the murals, Reyna could feel the power within those legends.
In fact, Reyna felt like she was in a legend herself.
The people walking beside her: Inquisitor Greyfax, Archmagos Belisarius Cawl, Saint Celestine, Chapter Master Calgar.
Each was a legend, each an Imperial hero.
Of course, there was also Alexander, whose form was hidden, his whereabouts unknown.
In Reyna's eyes, Alexander was now also a part of the legend, an extraordinary individual.
In fact, Reyna found Alexander to be a bit too extraordinary.
Especially after witnessing Alexander fight a Titan with his bare hands. If Alexander hadn't insisted that Archmagos Belisarius Cawl take credit for the achievement, his name would likely have become a legend on countless planets.
And she, Reyna, an psyker born in the Ashford hive city, a formerly hidden illegal psyker, now had the opportunity to walk alongside these legends.
This made Reyna feel dizzy.
She dared not hope that future generations, when remembering this history, would also carve her image onto the walls, but at least perhaps in the historical records, when documenting these legendary figures around her, she might be mentioned in passing.
This thought made Reyna's heart flutter with excitement.
But at the same time, as she looked at the murals, she also subtly noticed something strange.
Her understanding of the Empire's history from ten thousand years ago primarily came from the Adeptus Ministorum, and it was only after joining the Cadian Shock Troopers that she learned a little about the true history.
So Reyna could also spot the oddity on the murals.
"Why does the content on the murals jump directly from the Battle of Calth to the end of the Great Heresy?" Reyna asked, somewhat confused.
On this wall, which recorded the glorious history of the Ultramarines, there were no records from after the Battle of Calth, nor any from the Siege of Terra.
Reyna's limited historical knowledge told her that this period was almost the most important time in the entire Great Heresy era.
How could the Ultramarines be absent?
Calgar, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Reyna, then turned back, and continued walking without a word.
"The Ultramarines did not arrive in time to support the Siege of Terra," Greyfax silently walked to Reyna's side and said in a low voice.
Reyna's expression froze slightly at her words, then she quickly realized she had spoken out of turn.
Suddenly, Reyna felt a pang of shame. This matter was clearly a blemish on the Ultramarines' honor, and she shouldn't have—
"There is no need for shame. Failing to support Terra is not an undiscussable topic among the Ultramarines."
Calgar, as if sensing Reyna's feelings, suddenly spoke: "The teachings of our Primarch: The value of history lies in providing guidance for future generations, and both failures and successes are worth remembering."
"Glory and shame are equally important in history."
Listening to Calgar's words, Reyna silently bowed in respect to this legendary hero of the Empire.
History is worth remembering, whether shame or honor. This character and rationality made Reyna exclaim that it was indeed the teaching of Primarch Robert Guilliman.
But Reyna was still confused.
She knew the reason why the Siege of Terra was not carved on the wall.
But wasn't there still a significant period of history between the end of the Battle of Calth and the Siege of Terra?
And Chapter Master Calgar only mentioned the Siege of Terra, but not that period of history.
Why was that—
A hand silently patted Reyna's shoulder, as if signaling her not to ask.
Reyna didn't see the owner of the hand, and quickly understood that this was Alexander's reminder to her.
"You cannot only remember history when it is glorious," Alexander's voice softly echoed in Reyna's ear.
"But some history even a Primarch would rather not remember... like an extra Empire or something."
An extra Empire?
Although her heart was full of questions, Reyna instantly clamped her mouth shut, realizing she should keep this doubt to herself.
History that wasn't remembered was clearly not something she should ask about.
The Chapter serfs in the hall made way for Calgar and the Expeditionary Force.
Chapter Master Calgar's steel-clad body slowly moved forward and sat on the marble command throne in the center of the domed room, with Aggeman guarding him.
And in this room, there were two other eye-catching figures.
One was an Ultramarines Librarians whose eyes glowed with silver light. On the glory blade, Ms. Greyfax had given Reyna a brief introduction to the Ultramarines' internal personnel, allowing Reyna to guess that this was Chief Librarian Tigurius.
And the other figure...
That was an Astartes holding a silver steel warhammer, clad in silver power armor. His power armor was inscribed with numerous holy maxims and symbols, and the emblem on his shoulder pauldron was unlike anything Reyna had ever seen.
"Grey Knights Third Brotherhood Grand Master Valdus," Greyfax said softly. "He is the Grand Master of the Third Brotherhood, theoretically equivalent to a Space Marine Captain."
"But they don't strictly adhere to the Codex Astartes, so their actual command of troops and authority are far greater than a typical Captain."
As she spoke, Greyfax's gaze briefly fell on the Grey Knight's chest, where a scroll hung: "Grand Master Valdus of the Third Brotherhood."
The Grey Knight, known as Valdus, noticed Greyfax and nodded slightly in acknowledgment to her.
Then his gaze fell on Reyna.
The Grey Knight's brow furrowed slightly.
"An alpharius-level psyker, untrained by the Imperium."
Valdus seemed to make a judgment in an instant: "You have brought a dangerous individual. She is clearly... at least for a long time, she was an illegal psyker."
"Do you have certification from the Inquisition?"
Reyna's expression stiffened slightly.
She knew Valdus had no ill will; in fact, the danger he spoke of was not directly aimed at Reyna.
After all, this Grand Master's Psyker power and that of Tigurius next to him were clearly stronger than Reyna's.
Hmm... Reyna judged that this Grand Master was probably at seven or eight Reyna-levels, while Tigurius was at dozens of Reyna-levels to start.
The danger they spoke of was due to untrained illegal psyker, especially alpharius-level psyker like Reyna; one mistake could turn them into a Warp gate, spontaneously spawning daemons or even Greater daemons.
"Grand Master, of course she does," Greyfax said, defending Reyna. "In fact, she is also the leader of the Cadia 184th Regiment. Do you truly believe an officer of the Cadian Shock Troopers would be an illegal psyker?"
Looking at Greyfax and hearing the word 'Cadian,' Valdus' expression softened slightly.
He even nodded slightly to Reyna, as if to apologize.
Reyna, however, shivered slightly, her eyes a bit unfocused.
"You do have it, right?" Greyfax noticed Reyna's expression.
"..I should have had it," Reyna said dryly.
She was originally an illegal psyker. Although she was later recruited into the Cadian, she had not undergone any Inquisition training or vetting, and naturally had no certification from the Inquisition.
In fact, General Drost had simply used his connections to get Reyna a temporary permit from the Inquisition on Cadia, requiring her to undergo vetting and training to obtain certification when time allowed.
But not long after, the Black Legion attacked, Cadia was directly blown up by Abaddon, and the Cadian Inquisition that granted Reyna the permit was all blasted to dust.
So Reyna thought for a moment and realized that she seemed... she seemed to still be an illegal psyker.
The air was dead silent. Greyfax's eye twitched.
"I'll write you a special permit later; you can go to the Inquisition to undergo vetting again," she said with some helplessness.
Grand Master Valdus frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Greyfax's casualness.
"No need to worry, Brother Valdus," Tigurius said with a touch of surprise.
"I've just checked; this Cadian warrior shows no signs of corruption, and in fact, her mind doesn't show too many signs of being twisted by Psyker energy."
"Even trained psyker rarely achieve this level. Very interesting, very miraculous, but unfortunately she is female."
Listening to Tigurius' judgment, the Grand Master also felt a little relieved, then nodded in agreement.
"Unfortunately, she is female," Valdus said.
Female, meaning unable to become an Astartes. Such excellent talent unable to become an Ultramarines Librarians or a Grey Knight was truly a pity.
Reyna silently took a step back, trying to hide herself to avoid being noticed.
However, their attention did not linger on Reyna for too long, falling directly on Yvraine and the red-armored warrior Thousand Faces behind Reyna.
If Reyna's issue still had room for debate, the blasphemy on Yvraine and Thousand Faces was undeniable.
Calgar looked down at the Expeditionary Force before him.
An illegal psyker, an Inquisitor from an unknown era, an xenos witch...
And Archmagos Belisarius Cawl, who claimed to have subdued those Titans.
But there was clearly something amiss. Perhaps the Archmagos had used some blasphemous technology, or perhaps it was someone else.
Were those two xenos? Some Eldar blasphemous technology?
Calgar couldn't judge, because that power was too immense, something he had never witnessed in his lifetime.
"Why have you come, Archmagos?" Calgar asked in a low voice.
"For a promise."
Belisarius Cawl's voice returned to its cold and calm state.
Calgar almost felt as if he wasn't speaking to him.
"For the pact signed with the Lord of Ultramar," Belisarius Cawl said indifferently.
".."
Calgar stared at Belisarius Cawl. His words left Calgar bewildered: "I don't know who you are, Archmagos."
"And I have never signed a pact with you."
"In fact, I have never signed any form of pact with any follower of the Omnissiah."
Suddenly, the air grew cold and heavy.
Grey Knights Grand Master Valdus tightened his grip on his warhammer, while Aggeman placed his hand on the hallowed power sword at his waist.
Even within the Expeditionary Force, a ripple of astonishment passed through. Reyna and Greyfax looked at Cawl with confusion.
Only Celestine remained calm, and Yvraine and Thousand Faces were as always.
"Not you."
Belisarius Cawl slowly exhaled, as if about to reveal a secret buried in his heart for a long time: "Son of Robert Guilliman, the one who signed the pact with me was the Lord of Ultramar."
"The true Lord of Ultramar!"