The Word Bearers' central Library was less a repository of books than a magnificent temple of knowledge, steeped in the scent of incense and ancient parchment.
Beneath its towering vaults, countless shelves stretched to the limits of sight like a forest of steel, bearing a vast treasury of knowledge in physical books, Dataslates, and sealed scrolls.
The low hum of the environmental control systems echoed through the air, accentuating the solemn dignity that usually reigned here.
Yet now, an invisible tension hung over this tranquil sanctuary.
In a relatively open reading area deep within the Library, Hercules stood on guard.
His enormous, dark blue form leaned slightly forward. His massive Power Sword remained sheathed, but the hand clenched around its hilt betrayed his extreme vigilance.
His sharp gaze remained fixed ahead, like a hawk locking onto its prey.
The target of his vigilance was the mysterious "construct," or, as she could now be called, Anastasia.
She was leafing through the books and Dataslates spread across the enormous reading table at an almost voracious pace.
Her movements were so fast they left afterimages. Her slender fingers swept across pages and screens, drawing torrents of information into her inhuman core.
Her expression was focused, streams of data flickering like waterfalls through her azure eyes. Hercules had no doubt that the information she absorbed in a single minute exceeded what a Mortals scholar could study in a lifetime.
"Hercules!"
A low voice laden with suppressed fury broke the silence.
Menoetius stormed into the Library like a whirlwind, leading his Tactical Squad.
The warriors swiftly fanned out to secure advantageous firing positions, their Bolters all trained on the figure who was "reading."
Menoetius swept his gaze across the area, confirmed that Hercules was unharmed, then locked his eyes on Anastasia. His hand was already