"Ha... hahaha." Evan landed on the ground and slowly circled the bowl of "priceless treasure."
(The date of the chicken's extinction could no longer be established. The Adeptus Mechanicus could clone eggs using incomplete genes, but could not hatch chicks from them. Eggs were a luxury delicacy reserved for nobles. Most important, however, was collecting and reconstructing the spices.)
"I gave up ten meals of braised chicken when I left home back then. Today, you've paid back the first." Evan circled twice before finally resolving to take a bite.
Existing only as a soul, he trembled slightly as he finally lifted this bowl of food "meant for humans."
"Welcome home, child. Welcome back to... Earth."
Malcador quietly watched this child who had traveled so far wolf down his food. He ate savagely and crudely, yet each mouthful actually contained only a tiny spoonful.
Perhaps most of Malcador's attention was on the attacking Chaos Gods, or perhaps on the quadrillions of praying mortals. He said nothing for a long time.
Evan ate a Braised Tiger-Skin Egg. Its flavor felt as familiar as yesterday.
The magnificent Imperial Palace and its countless steps, the lofty Golden Throne and rows of Adeptus Custodes... how he wished this were a dream.
But the moment the last mouthful of egg white was "swallowed" and vanished into his soul, his "eyes" snapped open.
The "dream" was over. He would never lose himself in insubstantial fantasies. The flowing blood would not disappear because he closed his eyes, and the darkness hanging over humanity could not be dispelled by standing here.
Evan straightened. The entire mass of warp essence began to contract until it condensed into his original appearance. His deep eyes slowly rose to face the Golden Throne.
"Your skill at winning people over is on par with