923.M30.
Ocean World, Naktis.
Arkhas Fal, newly promoted "Ocean Songster," approached the Obnis's closed mouth. He suddenly burst into song, singing loudly.
The usually quiet, taciturn man no longer restrained himself. He poured the resentnt of being exiled by his gene-father, the sha of being exiled as a Legion Master, into his song.
His low voice rose, expressing his pent-up anger, then softly, gently, poured out his sorrow.
The emotionally charged song echoed within the Obnis's vast body, moving it to emit a long, drawn-out roar.
CRACK!
Arkhas shot out like a cannonball. He ended his song with a long, high note, leaving his sorrow, anger, and sha behind.
He closed his mouth. His black-robed body fell into the water, swimming like a swift shark.
His pale skin imrsed, ocean currents washed over him. Every cell in his body danced.
'Wonderful!'
'A pity. I must soon embark on a new journey.'
Inspiration struck. He thought of the water tanks he had seen aboard the 9th Chapter's ships, under Storm Lord Szczesny.
'I will install water tanks on the Nicor. Fill them with Naktis's seawater.'
As he thought, he broke through the waves, swimming towards the fortress under construction.
Three Terran hours later, the full-fldged "Wind-Blessed" Arkhas, surrounded by invisible currents, rose from the water, leaping onto a cliff.
He looked up. At the cliff's peak, a figure leaped down.
The howling wind slowed. The black-armored figure landed before him.
The currents around him dissipated. He landed silently on the cliff face.
"Arkhas, congratulations on becoming an 'Ocean Songster'." Szczesny said with a smile.
"Praise be to my Lord. All is His gift." Arkhas said devoutly, his hands naturally clasped, fingers pointing downwards.
Since leaving Terra's orbit, he had prayed to the Black Emperor more and more, praising Him.
Szczesny made the sa gesture. His armor clinked, radiating cold.
Arkhas looked curiously at Szczesny's armor. It was completely different from what he had worn the day before.
His gaze swept over the runes. They looked familiar.
After a mont's thought, he asked, surprised.
"Wolf King Leman Russ's armor?"
"I've seen his frost armor. Though the paint is different, and it's been resized, the runes are the sa."
He took a deep breath. The sea wind, mixed with the cold, filled his lungs.
"Yes, it's his." He said affirmatively.
"It has a unique heat-dissipating generator. When activated, it absorbs surrounding energy, especially thermal and kinetic."
"The Primarch's body would be enveloped in deadly cold."
"It is indeed the armor Russ once wore." Szczesny's tone held no respect. Since learning that Russ had sent Rune Priest Ohthere Wyrdmake to sche to gather evidence of Shadows of Order abusing sorcery, he had no goodwill towards the Wolf or his Wolves.
"The Reaper Lord won it in a duel against Jorin, Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves' 13th Great Company."
"Russ staked it." Szczesny did not detail the battle on Lecter. The Emperor had forbidden ntion of the 2nd Legion.
"Sanchez defeating Jorin is no surprise." Arkhas nodded. 'Sanchez had the Black Emperor's gift. How could a Wolf compare?'
"The Forge Lord resized it for , incorporating the Dominum Armor's adaptive system." Szczesny said.
His old armor, unlike Knight Lord Thierry Viera's, had not been passed down to another Shadows of Order. It had been rewarded to House Sicarius, the ruling family of Talassar.
The Planetary Governor's second son, Matteus, had led Auxilia forces assisting the 9th Chapter in battle, with great distinction.
They had also heavily developed the Storm Adamantine deposits in the Shattered Isles of Talassar, forging storm axes for the 9th Chapter.
Storm Adamantine, forged by millennia of waves, was incredibly tough.
Storm axes, after cleaving countless enemies in battle, would not dull in the slightest.
After donning the Huntress armor, Matteus's body had been adapted by its systems. He now had the robust, towering form of an Astartes.
'Lord Russ's armor, now worn by Szczesny.' Arkhas thought with feeling.
He looked at the armor, perfectly fitted to Szczesny, with no sign of reforging. He spoke.
"Tech-Priest Malvoleus's armor is a masterpiece, each suit a rare treasure."
Though only a Tech-Priest, Malvoleus's skill was unmatched in the Imperium.
"Lord Horus's armor was forged by him. He also worked on Lord Ferrus's dusa armor."
Malvoleus had once only forged armor for Primarchs. Now, he mass-produced it for Shadows of Order's Court Brothers. It was puzzling.
Only the Black Emperor could command such a feat.
"He will also forge custom armor for you." Szczesny said. With a thought, he activated the thousands of tal plates connected to his neural cortex.
The hinged frawork, linked by micro-fiber bundles, activated. The seasoned "Wind-Blessed" rose.
Arkhas also rose. They ascended rapidly. After thirty ters, his ascent slowed, and he fell behind.
As the distance between them grew, Arkhas began to fall, while Szczesny continued to rise.
Six standard hours later, Arkhas, filled with anticipation, walked onto Malvoleus's forge deck.
He saw the red-robed Malvoleus standing at a workbench, his servo-arms moving rapidly over ornate armor plates.
He approached the table. His eyes flickered.
The image that had flashed through his mind earlier returned.
"Lord Russ's right pauldron."
Malvoleus turned, recognizing Arkhas Fal, the forr Legion Master of the 19th Legion, exiled by Lord Corax, now serving Lord Nareth, the incarnate Omnissiah.
"Lord Fal, you are indeed well-traveled."
His servo-arms lifted from the ornate plates. "By my Lord's command, the remaining pieces of the Elavagar, after forging Lord Szczesny's suit, will be used to craft a new suit for Lady Marlena Skala."
"My Lord initially wished to forge a suit for the his Aide, Arsena Dunn, but his body cannot bear heavy armor."
"Also, his fla-based psychic abilities would be suppressed. Lady Marlena ultimately received the opportunity."
Malvoleus recalled the training ground at Vostroya's Shadowhold, where Marlena had punched a training partner, sending him flying over ten ters.
She was like a humanoid bear.
After his reverie, he examined Arkhas Fal appraisingly.
"Lord Fal, my assistants will provide technical support to your Chapter, helping your Techmarines complete the repainting and holy blessings as quickly as possible."
"Now, tell . What kind of armor do you need?"
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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