Three days later, in the Central Sanctum of the Mother of Tears.
It was an enormous circular hall, more than a hundred meters across and fifty meters high. A portrait of the Primarch Sanguinius adorned its dome. That perfect being gazed down with compassion in his eyes.
An altar stood at the center of the hall. Upon it rested the Chapter's holiest relic: a drop of Sanguinius's blood, sealed inside a crystal vessel.
All the Company Captains, veterans, and Chapter Chaplains had gathered there. Thousands of Space Marines formed a circle around Saul.
The Chapter Chaplain was an elderly Space Marine named Phil. He had once fought alongside Phoros and had taken part in countless campaigns. More of his body consisted of combat augmetics than living tissue, yet his voice remained resonant and his gaze sharp.
"Saul." Standing before the altar, Phil looked at him. "Are you ready to accept this burden?"
"I am ready," Saul replied.
"Then kneel."
Saul knelt on one knee before the altar.
Phil took the crystal vessel from the altar and carefully opened it. A drop of golden blood shimmered within, radiating holy light.
"This is our father's blood," Phil said. "The origin of our Chapter, the source of our strength. Every Chapter Master is consecrated with this drop of blood."
He raised the crystal vessel, positioning the drop above Saul's forehead.
"In the name of the Emperor, in the name of Sanguinius, and in the name of the glory of the Lamenters Chapter, I declare..."
Just then, something unexpected happened.
The drop of golden blood suddenly began to glow. This was no faint shimmer, but a dazzling, almost blinding radiance.
The light grew brighter and brighter until it flew from the vessel like a meteor and landed on Saul's forehead.
Saul felt a warm