Chapter 31 — Moon and Stars
Question: Who was happiest about Horus's return?
Answer: The Sixteenth Legion.
The warriors of the Sixteenth had assembled in such numbers that the outer courtyards of the Imperial Palace seemed under siege. Ceramite armor gleamed beneath the sun as hundreds of towering figures pressed toward the gates.
"We have a father!"
"We have a father!"
For the first time, the Legion that bore his gene-seed would look upon their Primarch.
It would have been a lie to claim the other Legions were not envious. For decades they had watched the Zero Legion gather around Yuki with familial warmth rarely seen among Astartes. Now, at last, they too would know that bond.
When Horus arrived, he was met by ranks of armored giants kneeling as one.
"Father."
"Father."
Horus froze.
"I don't even have a wife," he muttered. "Where did all these sons come from?"
"They were created from your gene-seed," Yuki said gently. "In every biological and cultural sense, they are yours. One day, you will lead them."
Horus looked across the sea of helms raised toward him. The weight of their expectation settled heavily on his shoulders.
"Sister… do I truly have the strength to lead them?"
Yuki elbowed his side.
"You have the ability. And if you don't know how, you'll learn."
Horus managed a smile.
He raised a hand.
The Legion answered with a unified salute.
The Banquet
Inside the palace, a formal table had been set — modest by Imperial standards, but rich in symbolism. Present were the Emperor, Yuki, Malcador the Sigillite, Constantin Valdor, and a handful of Imperial officials.
Horus noticed immediately.
"Chancellor," he said respectfully to Malcador, "where are the brothers who came with me? I would have them join us."
Malcador paused before replying.
"This is a state family banquet, my lord. Outsiders are not traditionally—"
"They are not outsiders," Horus said firmly. "Without them, there would be no Horus today."
Yuki opened her mouth to intervene, but the Emperor's hand lightly restrained her.
So. A test, she realized.
Horus turned to his father.
"Father…"
"They are being cared for," the Emperor replied calmly. "You need not worry."
"I swore to share their joys and hardships," Horus said. "If I feast while they wait outside, what does that make me?"
He stepped back.
"Father, Sister — please eat. I must find my brothers."
The door closed behind him.
Silence lingered.
Yuki leaned back with a faint smile.
"Impressive performance for someone newly awakened."
"Whether performance or sincerity," the Emperor said quietly, "he chose correctly."
They had all understood.
If Horus could not remain loyal to the brothers of his youth, how could he command brothers forged from different worlds and temperaments?
Real or not — he had passed.
The Mishap
A guard approached Valdor and whispered urgently.
The Captain-General stiffened.
"Ahem… there appears to have been a complication."
Horus's former gang brothers had learned — through rumor and half-truth — that becoming Astartes was the path to remain at his side.
They had rushed to the implantation facilities without food or rest, demanding transformation.
The apothecaries were horrified.
Astartes implantation was designed for adolescent candidates whose bodies could adapt to gene-seed integration. Adult conversion remained experimental and lethal.
The men refused to leave.
"If something goes wrong, that's our responsibility," they said. "But if you delay us any longer, we'll tear this place apart."
They were not afraid of death.
They feared being left behind.
The procedure began.
None survived.
Horus Searches
Horus scoured the palace districts.
Training yards. Barracks. Guest quarters.
They were gone.
His brothers.
Gone.
Palace Turmoil
Yuki pressed her fingers to her temples.
"Why were they in such a hurry? I'm months away from stabilizing adult conversion protocols… Who told them this was possible?"
The Emperor poured a glass of water.
"Do not worry."
"I'm not worried," Yuki said. "I'm worried about whether Horus will be."
To Horus, they had vanished within a single meal.
"What do we tell him?"
The Emperor looked at Malcador.
The Sigillite sighed.
So be it.
The Official Response
Two days later, an official inquiry concluded.
Negligence was cited.
Minor personnel were disciplined.
Responsibility was assigned.
It was clean.
Orderly.
Administrative.
Horus knew the truth.
He said nothing.
His brothers had chosen their path.
Yet the emptiness remained.
And the quiet anger.
I will remember this, he thought.
A Year of Instruction
The Emperor granted Horus one year to assume command of the Sixteenth Legion.
During that year, he would learn.
Yuki devised a rigorous schedule:
Morning:
Combat doctrine, history, philosophy, and statecraft with the Emperor.
Afternoon:
Legion command structure, logistics, and operational strategy with Yuki and the Zero Legion.
Each session included a ten-minute break.
Horus disliked the breaks.
He did not tire.
He cherished every moment beside his father and sister.
The Emperor spoke of humanity's destiny.
Horus listened with fierce pride.
Yuki shared command experiences with humor and warmth.
Horus felt, for the first time, at ease.
Kosonia's ghosts grew distant.
Night Beneath the Sky
One evening, Horus lay on the palace lawn beside Yuki.
"I think that's Polaris," she said.
Horus squinted.
"There's nothing there… and you're pointing south."
She sighed.
"If Father were here, he could show us the stars anywhere on Terra."
"Yes," Horus said. "Father is… remarkable."
She turned her head.
"Horus, what kind of man do you think he is?"
Horus answered without hesitation.
"He is great. Powerful. Perfect. If anyone can restore humanity's glory, it is him."
Yuki laughed softly.
"You've got a heavy filter on, little brother. I think he's just a big idiot."
Horus bolted upright and looked around.
"Sister! If someone hears you—"
"Isn't it true?" she said, gazing at the moon. "He's just a man. Who else but a stubborn old fool would carry the weight of humanity alone? He can't speak properly, pretends to know everything, and insists on bearing burdens no one should carry."
Horus lay back down slowly.
"Maybe… that is what makes him great."
Silence settled.
After a while, Yuki spoke again.
"Remember this: he is human. He rose from mortality to stand where he is. And he loves us as a father — not as a god."
Horus did not fully understand.
But he answered solemnly:
"I will remember."
A shadow fell across them.
The Emperor stood above, dressed simply, hands clasped behind his back.
Horus stiffened.
"Father—"
"Lie down with us," Yuki said casually.
The Emperor paused.
Then, without a word, he sat beside her… and lay back on the grass.
Horus lay on one side.
Yuki on the other.
The tension left him.
Only peace remained.
"Father," Yuki said softly, "show us the stars."
The Emperor raised a hand toward the empty sky.
"This is Andromeda… this is Polaris… and there—"
Above them, the night seemed less empty.