The flagship of the 10th Battalion, the Relic-class warship Sting Rose.
Semenio wore a black robe, his hands clasped upside down.
He drew in a deep breath, slowed his steps, and merged into the crowd.
The Shadows of Order poured down along the bridge, through irregularly spiraling passages, descending level by level to the next deck.
Treading the obsidian passageway, they walked toward a brand-new structure—a chapel.
This was an open violation of the Imperial Truth, but the Shadows of Order felt no aversion.
They stepped forward with pious devotion.
They knew that today they would hear the true words.
The Legion's Chief Chaplain had personally overseen the construction, converting the entire deck into a chapel.
From censers in the wall niches, the scent of mandrake incense spread outward, rendering the entire deck sacred and solemn.
Semenio entered the chapel and tilted his head slightly up toward the enormous statue.
He had been ordered to infiltrate "Alpharius," and not long ago had been dispatched once more to infiltrate the Legion. Though his performance had been outstanding, too little time had passed, and he had not been included in the selection for the Honor Guard.
Semenio looked up at the enormous statue. Its entire body shimmered with a mysterious metallic sheen.
He knew that it was the mysterious metal known as Double-Number Black Gold.
It was a black surface branded with irregular white growth patterns of eleven and {XXXII}.
Eleven was easy to understand. They were the Shadows of Order, the great Eleventh Legion.
As for thirty-three, he did not know where it came from.
He hoped to receive an answer in today's sermon.
Semenio followed the countless numerical veins and looked toward the towering statue.
His father's chiseled, axe-hewn face entered his eyes.
So this is Father—
Semenio had once