No one could establish exactly when the Emperor had first begun to act-at least, not the vast majority of people.
But Aaron had once been Ra, Ra-Endymion, Tribune of the Adeptus Custodes and a hero of the War of the Webway. As a Custodian whom the Emperor had once trusted above all others and entrusted with his ideals, Aaron naturally knew something of the Emperor's past.
The Emperor was a complicated being. In Aaron's opinion, he was even more like a god than the deities of the Realms. As the cold sun within the Warp, the Emperor had once possessed humanity, but it had become his weakness.
Drach'nyen, the nightmare that had haunted the Emperor throughout his life.
Now it was Aaron's turn to bear that nightmare. Aaron was Drach'nyen, and Drach'nyen was Aaron.
Yet even when confronted with Drach'nyen's curse, the Emperor had merely endured the pain of being pierced through and replied coldly, "At least, not now."
That was why Aaron thought the Emperor seemed more like a god than the deities of the Realms, each so full of humanity, joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, with their own preferences and interests.
The deities of the Realms, by contrast, seemed like a group of "higher-dimensional beings." Some had even ascended from mortals, such as Cyric, Midnight, Shaundakul the God of Wanderers, and Azuth the God of Mages. They all possessed a strong streak of humanity.
And, of course, there was Karsus, the Archmage most famous in the webnovel circles of Aaron's previous life.
Mama Selûne had said that Karsus's "miracle" had even amused the Overgod Ao. It was the only recorded occasion on which Ao had smiled.
Aaron observed everyone's reactions to the Emperor's appearance.
Sure enough, when the Emperor first appeared, both those of lawful alignment and those