As new recruits of the Third Legion, Kasjia and Lucius were naturally both scheduled for Space Marine augmentation.
But with the Emperor's Children currently in a state of rebuilding, the necessary gene-seed had to be extracted from Fulgrim's blood and slowly cultivated.
With the current extreme shortage of gene-seed, the new recruits' surgeries could only be carried out one by one, chosen by lottery.
And clearly, Lucius had received this unexpected prize.
"Yay!"
"Kasjia, you can just get ready to eat cookies every day from now on, hahaha!"
He chirped, and then bounced out to follow the Apothecary Melusine.
"Wait a minute!"
"Apothecary, may I ask, how long will I have to wait for my augmentation surgery?"
Seeing this, Kasjia quickly called out to her.
"You?"
She looked Kasjia up and down. "Your situation is special. Most of your augmentation surgeries will not be done by me."
"Huh?"
Although she did look very much like a mad doctor, and might one day win the title of "Legendary King of Transhuman Modification" in Warhammer...
...as the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor's Children, her skills were absolutely impeccable.
If Kasjia wasn't undergoing his augmentation surgery with her, then with whom?
"You'll know when you get to Holy Terra."
Melusine did not reveal much more, just threw out this sentence, and then left with Lucius, closing the door behind her.
After Lucius left, only Arcur and Kasjia remained in the room.
"...Just now, was I a bit too harsh?"
Out of the blue, after she had sheathed her sword again, Arcur asked a little awkwardly.
Her gaze was no longer as cold as before, but was filled with a gentle apology.
"Sorry, whenever I fight, I can't really control my expression and words."
"Whenever I win, I always have a habit of saying some inappropriate taunts... if I hurt you, I'm really sorry."
"It's nothing."
Kasjia replied with a smile.
"Actually, there was some truth in what you said."
"Fulgrim has indeed wasted too much time on me."
She was a Primarch who pursued perfection in all things.
But even with her superhuman abilities and will, she had her own脆弱的一面.
"I can feel that ever since she regained her memories and joined the Great Crusade, the burden on her shoulders has become heavier and heavier."
As a Primarch, she had to devote herself fully to the Great Crusade.
As a role model, she had to lead by example, making her every word and deed the epitome of perfection.
As the master of the Third Legion, she could not let the dead warriors who had bestowed the Palatine Aquila upon her be shamed.
And even... as his, Kasjia's, wife, she had to bury all this pressure deep in her heart, only showing her brightest smile and happiness to her beloved.
She could not disappoint the Emperor/her children/the dead heroes/Kasjia.
She could not disappoint anyone.
She had to be... perfect.
Kasjia could feel the huge psychological pressure surging beneath the lively exterior of the Phoenician.
"I have to help her share some of it."
"Otherwise, she might be crushed by it in the future."
Kasjia sighed heavily, the training sword in his hand still swinging without a moment's rest.
"But tell me, what can I do for her?"
He smiled bitterly.
"Is that why your sword looks so impatient?"
"Yes."
"Don't you think I know the saying 'more haste, less speed'? But the difficulties we will face are too many, and the enemies we need to defeat are too strong."
"If I don't try to push myself a little, only the darkest ending awaits us in the future."
"I see."
Arcur nodded in approval.
"Since you already have the determination and will to persevere, I will naturally not hold back in my swordsmanship."
"Then I ask for your guidance."
Kasjia nodded in response.
He felt that their relationship had grown much closer.
And then he saw her pick up the cookie tray and walk towards him.
"—How about a cookie first?"
"Trust me, it's really delicious."
The dagger is revealed now that the map is unrolled.
"Respected Lady Arcur, I am grateful for your guidance in swordsmanship. But on this matter, please allow me to refuse."
"You're really not having one?"
"—No."
Kasjia's eyes were firm, his expression serious.
Like a righteous hero, like a brave warrior preparing to die a noble death.
"Hmph, fine, don't eat it."
Arcur Tona huffily put away the tray.
Then, she picked up a training sword from the side and resumed her fighting stance.
"In that case, are you ready, Kasjia?"
"Now, it's time for your 'guidance'."
She deliberately emphasized those two words.
"Hiss—"
"Ow, ow, ow, ow."
Arcur Tona was indeed a talented sword master.
If it weren't for her overconfidence in her own cooking skills.
The depth of her swordsmanship was such that even a Primarch skilled with a blade like Fulgrim would feel inferior.
But at the same time...
...the cookies she made were something that not even the famously resilient Dusk Raiders could easily stomach.
Arcur had given him two choices.
To eat, or not to eat.
It seemed that both paths led to death.
But faced with a life-or-death crisis, Kasjia still chose to endure her storm-like blows.
Feeling the numerous bruises all over his body, he felt quite helpless.
She said it was to train his resistance to blows, but he had no doubt that there was a considerable amount of retaliation involved.
"Did you make her angry on the very first day?"
Fulgrim asked teasingly as she applied a white ointment to his back.
In the past, when Fulgrim had guided him, it was always with a "lover's swordplay." Even in actual combat, she would stop at the first touch.
Seeing Kasjia beaten like this, she felt both pity and a little bit of schadenfreude.
"Hiss—it still hurts."
"No... but right, Fulgrim."
"When is my Space Marine augmentation surgery scheduled?"
"Yours..."
Fulgrim leaned in and whispered in Kasjia's ear, covering it with her hand.
"The Emperor has said that your augmentation surgery will be partially custom-designed by him."
"Huh?"
The Bucephalus.
He connected with the psychic communication of that old acquaintance.
"Old friend."
"Number Three has successfully returned to the Imperium. We are on our way back to Holy Terra."
[How is she?]
"Far beyond my expectations."
He said, unable to stop a smile from forming on his lips.
"I have to admit, your proposal back then did have some merit."
[You mean, that among this bunch of rascals, some women are indeed needed to prevent family disputes?]
[Heh, I remember you didn't agree at the time.]
"I don't deny it."
He admitted.
"And this trip, there was also an unexpected gain."
Unexpected, but still within the plan.
"A newcomer is about to join our family."
[Oh?]
"He's a very interesting fellow."
He looked up at the colorful splendor outside the Geller Field.
A hint of nostalgia flowed from his eyes.
"And in the future, we might call him—"
"Number Twenty-One."
-------
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