"He's gone, or... hidden himself even deeper."
Aurellion finally stopped and shook his head at Trajann Valoris, his tone heavy.
"I have a feeling he's still in the palace, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. But he's hidden himself well. Very well."
Trajann Valoris's heart sank.
An enemy with a Primarch's strength, a master of disguise and infiltration, who knew the palace inside out and carried Adeptus Custodes weapons, was hiding at the very heart of the Imperium... It was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over the Imperium's head.
"Back to the command room."
Trajann Valoris's voice was hoarse.
"We need to reassess everything... about the Alpha Legion, about their Primarch... about the 'four' you sensed."
He turned his gaze toward Aurellion.
"Perhaps some ancient secrets, long buried and unknown even to us, are about to be uncovered."
Deep beneath Terra's crust lay a secret Adeptus Custodes outpost, protected by ancient technology and mysterious rituals alike.
It was known as the "Golden Echo Sanctuary."
Its immense dome was made of pure psychic crystal, with the steady glow of runes symbolizing the Emperor's will flowing across its surface.
The air was thick with ozone, sacred oil, and a vigilance that had not faded in ten thousand years.
At that moment, the highest-ranking members of the Adeptus Custodes Conclave stood solemnly around the tactical round table at the center of the Sanctum.
They included Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes Trajann Valoris, several battle-hardened Custodian captains representing different battle formations and ancient traditions, a gathering of Hidden Conclaves members, and Aurellion.
The atmosphere was so heavy that even the air seemed to have stopped moving.
"Brother Aurellion's perceptions, together with the strength and characteristics displayed by the target, all point to a being beyond our understanding."
Trajann Valoris's voice