Happiness, Void, Homeland, Darkness (II)

Terra.

Holy Terra.

Steel has spread, covering most of the land. The remaining wilderness and peaks are blanketed in thick snow. Terra still experiences seasons, the reason for which is unknown. It still snows, but it hasn't rained in a long time.

"In Terra, rain is considered a sign of good luck," says Constantine Valdor. "But the last time this good fortune came was six years ago."

"Six whole years?"

"Six whole years," the Adeptus Custodes Marshal replied.

His magnificent golden armor seemed unchanged, his helmet held high to his chest, its crimson feathers trembling slightly. The lightning bolt emblem and the Aquila gleamed together on the armor, creating a rather interesting contrast with his icy face.

"Starting from the third year, the number of people spreading rumors increased. We had to hunt them down globally, and most of them chose to hide in the wilderness. They wanted to escape Judgment this way, but our eyes and ears were all over the world. Their physical characteristics could not be hidden under the precise calculations of machines."

The much taller man walking beside him chuckled softly, "You sound like you hate them."

"No," Constantine replied coldly. "I'm merely acting according to the law. His Majesty doesn't care about them, but we must. He's created an image, and here—"

The Adeptus Custodes Guard Marshal gestured with his chin around.

"--This is another landmark he created, a palace larger than any city, an extremely complex creation, even possessing its own independent climate system. In a sense, Karyl Lohars, this is the true Terra. But I still think it's absurd and ridiculous to build such a city."

The giant in the black and white suit nodded. "What was his answer to you?"

"He ignored my assessment," Constantine said. "He understands my entire thought process; he knows I'm just complaining, not really blaming or criticizing him. Neither I—or we—have that ability."

You seem completely unconcerned about your flaws.

"I am merely a tool," the Adeptus Custodes Marshal said coldly, and then fell silent.

They strolled up the long staircase. The staircase was pure gold, carved from a single piece of gold and covered with a surface made of a transparent material, making it sturdy, beautiful, and breathtaking.

Karyl looked down and saw clearly the gold reliefs carved into the transparent material. They spent a few minutes climbing to the top of the steps, and then passed a patrol of Imperial Adeptus Custodes.

They remained expressionless and silent, ignoring even Constantine himself. The Grand Marshal of the Adeptus Custodes himself seemed to have no intention of greeting them; he simply continued leading the way.

They then walked through a circular archway and entered a corridor surrounded by jewels. The walls were openwork, with countless statues silently gazing within. The marble floor was gleaming, and a group of workers were bent over at the front, busy at work.

Karyl and Constantine passed by them, but these men didn't even bother to glance at them. They seemed to be quite accustomed to the presence of any giant.

Emerging from the corridor, they found themselves in an open space. This place was no longer refined; instead, it possessed a distinctly rough quality. Stone walls and metal cables intertwined, creating a vast, deep, and dark atmosphere.

Hundreds of elevators floated and sank in this vast space. Constantine led him to one of the elevators, and after a short wait, several officials carrying documents rose up from below.

They were clearly caught off guard by Karyl and Constantine's appearance, but quickly left after bowing. Karyl watched them go, while Constantine stepped forward. After a brief delay, the machine began to move on its own.

It had sturdy railings to ensure the safety of passengers, and even handrails on the railings to prevent passengers from falling due to speed. Karyl bent down slightly, looked over the railings, and began to gaze downwards.

He had expected to see a black hole filled with countless machines and people rising or falling. But he only saw swirling clouds, Karyl remained silent.

At that moment, he finally felt as if he had been transported to another world.

He is located in the Himalaya Mountains, deep within Terra, a place of solemnity, grandeur, and beauty. It is the culmination of human wisdom and the core of the Imperium.

This is not Earth.

He still harbored a glimmer of hope, even after landing on the Nightfall.

He saw the sun from orbit, and after landing, he saw a dense crowd of people. That's when he began to have hope.

So the Night Lords traveled to the military camp by vehicle and expressway, while Konrad Curze Curze, representing the Eighth Legion, went to the Administratum to sign several documents. He then made his way to the Imperial Palace, attempting to find traces of the past there, rather than in those towering, massive Hive City.

He had hoped to find something slightly familiar here.

But no.

There was nothing there.

Once again, Karyl Lohars forced himself to mentally twist the word "Earth" into "Terra".

The elevator continued to ascend, bringing with it a chill, but the air was not thin. Karyl saw many machines placed on the huge gaping cliff face; it was they that produced the air.

After a full ten minutes of ascent, they arrived at another open space. Then came another corridor, the only difference being that the marble floor was no longer as shiny.

Stepping out of the corridor, the world opened up before me. Dozens of palaces, each enormous, were interconnected, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Light reflected and condensed on their magnificent rooftops, mirroring the painstaking efforts of humankind.

Karyl narrowed his eyes, memorizing everything. The Adeptus Custodes Guard Marshal, however, continued forward as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. They ascended thousands of steps and arrived at the entrance of a grand hall. Only then did Constantine speak again.

"Next time," he said, staring intently into Karyl's eyes, "Please come with me through the fast lane. Going through the main entrance is a complete waste of time—a four-hour journey. You should be thankful the Lord doesn't care about such things."

Karyl offered a silent, apologetic smile— the Adeptus Custodes Guard Marshal had intended to take him along another route, one that was said to lead to the destination, this very hall, in just a few minutes.

But Karyl preferred to see the Imperial Palace with his own eyes, and Constantine agreed to this request at the Emperor's insistence, though he was somewhat annoyed by it.

It's hard to say exactly what angered him. Was it Karyl's request, or Karyl's apologetic smile?

"The Lord is waiting for you inside, along with one of his creations, Rogal Dorn." Constantine regained his composure and began to continue his narration.

"You can go straight in; your biometric data has already been pre-loaded into the quantum alarm on this door. Konrad Curze Curze should arrive in about ten minutes."

Thank you, Constantine.

"No need," the Adeptus Custodes Guard Marshal said calmly. "I'll leave first; he probably wouldn't like to see me standing next to you."

Karyl couldn't help but chuckle. He watched Constantine leave, but he could still sense many gazes coming from the shadows.

Not all the Adeptus Custodes had seen him; did they still harbor that curiosity? Karyl had no answer, but he hoped they did.

He put his hands behind his back and began to observe the main hall's entrance.

It is at least fifteen meters high and resplendent in gold. Glass, malachite, and some gemstones that Karyl couldn't name adorn the door, forming a magnificent relief painting together, a scene of Ancient Terra that embraces all things and has everything.

The giant in his formal attire stared at it blankly, and that feeling of being in another world returned. His memories, which were so fragmented that they were almost just images, quietly surged within him. Karyl carefully picked them up and compared them with the images he had seen.

A few minutes later, he closed his eyes on his own, ending his journey home across the Milky Way.

"My home no longer exists," he thought. "The Earth is now a name only the most learned historians would use."

He sighed softly, turned around at the sound of footsteps, and saw Konrad Curze Curze.

He no longer let his black hair hang loose, nor did he simply tie it up. A serious slicked-back hairstyle appeared on him, and although the person who styled his hair had done their best, a few stray strands still fell from his forehead.

The Night Haunter looked at them with annoyance and spoke first, his voice sounding as if squeezed out between clenched teeth. "Those Administratum officials are nothing but Gretchin."

"They're trying to curry favor with you?"

"No, they just kept introducing themselves to me between signing documents, telling me they knew some big businessmen, some Tech-Priest, hoping I would consider partnering with them to sell Adamantium."

Konrad Curze Curze shook his head with a straight face. "Very clever, but I really dislike this kind of cleverness. What about you, Karyl?"

Karyl knew what he was asking, but he wasn't keen to answer. Konrad Curze Curze, however, sighed slyly at that moment, "It's okay if you don't want to say."

"I'm satisfied," Karyl smiled. "Rather than letting the fantasy continue to fester and become a huge dark cloud hanging over my head, it's better to let it be cruelly shattered by harsh reality."

Is this a satisfactory answer? It doesn't sound like it.

"Let's go inside," Karyl said. "It's getting late, and we don't have much time left in Terra."

Konrad Curze Curze agreed with him.

Besides.