Several years later.
The hatch of the Law of Faith waited silently beside the Vengeful Spirit's docking passage. The enormous metal door bore the Word Bearers' cross emblem, its surface gleaming dully beneath the corridor lights.
Lorgar emerged from the room Horus had carefully prepared for him, stood in the middle of the corridor, and stretched.
He raised both arms high above his head, his spine giving a series of crisp cracks, as though his entire body were waking from a long state of relaxation.
He rolled his shoulders and neck, then turned to look at the towering figure following him.
"It's time I left, Horus." Lorgar's voice was light and casual, as though he were saying goodbye at the end of a pleasant holiday.
A faint smile touched his lips, but it concealed a trace of complicated emotion that was difficult to detect.
Their years together had deepened his bond with Horus, but they had also brought a certain unease in his heart into sharper focus.
"Are you sure you won't stay a little longer, Brother Lorgar?" Horus followed behind him, walking a little more slowly than usual, making no attempt to hide his desire for Lorgar to stay.
His gaze lingered on Lorgar's back, as though he could keep him there simply by looking at him.
"Look, there's still so much we could do together. We could keep fighting side by side..."
"It's time I left, Horus." Lorgar stopped, turned around, and gave a helpless smile.
He looked at Horus's face, so full of genuine desire for him to stay, and shook his head.
"My fleet is still waiting for me to return and take command. I've already spent several years here—if I don't go back soon, Rockefeller, Anna, and the others will start thinking you've kidnapped me."