The Empress Can’t Communicate: Prologue (Patreon)

There is Always Hope

The Eldari Core Worlds were a sight to behold. Like gleaming pearls in the dark sky, they shone with a brilliance in both the material world and the immaterium alike. Its surface was littered with monolithic structures made of Wraithbone, the Sea of Souls made manifest. With their impossible shapes, they soared up into the heavens, drawing the eyes of those that beheld them.

Standing amidst the crowded street, he could feel the power thrumming through them. He could hear the songs of those that shaped them as they stood proudly; monuments to the power of the Eldari Empire. With its verdant parks, countless public works of art, and scenic sights at every corner, It was like Paradise itself was brought down to the very earth itself. Despite these wonders however, all he felt was dread.

Perhaps it was his previous life, his time as a human coloring his views, but the way his fellow Eldari indulge in pleasure had him on edge. Amidst the peals of laughter and smiles, he could see the hunger in their eyes, the way they seeked every higher thrill. From the loud wails of discordant song, to the giddy laughter of those burning their minds through chemical pleasures, and even shameless displays of carnal pleasures, it was everywhere.

Not everyone indulged in such, but if he looked closed enough, he could see such excess and pleasure seeking in public display. It made his stomach turn whenever he got close to those shrouded with purple, this haze that pervades everything. Not even closing his eyes could shut such sight off for he felt their very soul scream.

Like a siren song he couldn't escape, it wormed its way into his head, promising thrills which he desperately had to push back. He wasn't sure if it was just him or if every Eldar felt it this way, but it terrified him. Having lived in their shoes for so many years, how could he blame them for falling for such sweet promises?

"Born as a full powered Eldari, but right before the fall. Talk about a monkey's paw of a deal," He thought to himself as he scowled. Sometimes, he wished he never woke up at all.

Shaking his head of such thoughts, and pushing back the songs to the back of his head, he kept his gaze ahead. He couldn't falter today, not when he had someone he wanted to protect; One who was all too vulnerable to the siren song. Feeling his dagger, he turned his attention back to his companion.

"Beautiful isn't it, Eon?" His lovely friend whispered as she skipped along, her stark white hair almost shining against her dark skin. Wrapping her arm around his arms, his childhood friend then poked him on the cheeks, "And you took ages before you brought me here!"

"I simply like it better in the provinces, Iyanna" He replied, rolling his eyes at how touchy she was. He knew Eldari were different, but sometimes he wondered if she was just strange. Eyeing the preacher in purple and gold warily, he muttered, "Things are quiter there, not unlike here…"

Another thing he found strange about Eldari were how intimate they were, how they seeked the touch of others. Already, he could see some couples doing it discreetly in an alley. Even he wasn't so numb as to not indulge with it as he pulled Iyanna close for comfort, something which she leaned into as they headed city's maze like quarters,

Maybe it was due to how they were tied to the warp as a race, how their souls burn so brightly unlike others. Even the passing human tourists looked like sparks compared to the stars of his fellow Eldari. It's probably how easily they fall for such corruptions that now pervade the capital.

"But it's so boring there! Not unlike here, in the heart of the empire!" She whined, dragging him along as they explored the various sights that the city has to offer. "They say that the night life around the temples are to die for~" She sighed as she gazed longingly into the various cafes.

"I wish they didn't mean it literally," He muttered, doing his best to avoid staring at the more risque display of skin, "Just stay close Iyanna, it's dangerous out here," he warned her as he clutched his dagger tiger, ready to pull it at a moment's notice. "Not when the Pleasure Cult's gaining popularity recently," he hissed as they passed by performers whose skin was marred with an all too familiar mark.

"Really Eon, worried about the pleasure cults?" Her companion teased, letting out a laugh. " I know you don't like them, but come on, loosen up, They just want to have fun!" She waved off his concern.

"A bit too much if you asked me," He replied as his eyes found themselves upon the erotic displays of the trope, their colorful purple clothes almost painful to his enhanced vision. Seeing the performers' graceful movements and sensual dance, He felt a shiver of desire run up his spine.

Catching his gaze, they grinned as they taunted him, offering themselves up while they danced, "Hey there~ You look like you could have a good time. Why don't you two join us!" He stood frozen for a moment, his body wanting to shift course.

"Ohh, those two are quite cute," Iyanna purred as she eyed the two lustfully. Leaning up to him, she whispered huskily, her breath tickling her ears as she tempt him, "What do you say Eon, wanna have some fun with them?"

He wanted to do it, to just give in and accept it. He could feel the mark calling to him, their whispers growing in volume as he felt desire all but overwhelm his reason. "We won't bite," the cultist whispered before they grinned, their teeth a bit too sharp for his liking, "Much."

Shaken from his stupor, he pulled her away from these feinds as he apologized, "I'm sorry, but we two have some urgent business to attend to." He could hear mocking laughter and hoots from behind them, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get away.
"H-hey!" Iyanna protested as he dragged her along. Letting out a growl of frustration, she relented, but not before shouting back at the performers, "He didn't mean it! We'll call you later!"

Even as he all but run, he could sense the crescendo of pleasure, their worship to a profane god echoing in the very Sea of Souls until it reached its peak. The harsh, coppery scent of blood hits as a wave of agony and ecstasy washed over his very soul. Before he could pull them away, back into the webway where it was safest, she forced him to a stop.
Digging her feet into the ground, she pulled him aside before shouting, "Damn it Eon, what is your problem!" Looking him in the eyes, she scolded him as she gestured back at the trope at the end of the street, "Those girls were just trying to be nice! Can you just chill for a moment."

Their form bled, holding on to the gaping hole in their chest before they collapsed amidst applause. Watching their broken form be healed, to perform such brutal acts once more, he felt sick. It was madness, as no creature should feel pleasure from inflicting such grievous harm to themselves, but these monsters seemed all too happy about it. This was beyond mere sadomasochism, this was profane.

Unable to contain himself, angry at how Iyanna couldn't see the insanity in such an act, he lashed out, pushing her aside as he shouted, "I don't want you to get hurt, ok!" The wraithbone around them warped, bending into claws and jagged spikes, as his emotions let loose. Seeing Iyanna cowered back, he looked away as shame filled his chest.

Forcing himself to steady his breath, he slumped against the walls before sliding down to the ground. Hugging his knees close, he apologized, "I'm sorry Iyanna, I've just been a bit stressed lately. Not with all the things I've been dreaming about."

Even now he could hear the screams, those that would die in cataclysm to come. He knew what was to come, he knew how things would end up to the opening of the Great Rift and the horrors that would soon come. For everyone else however, they were merely… vision.

Walking up to him, she knelt down before pulling him in for a hug. "Those nightmares again, huh?" She whispered, stroking his back. "You have to stop listening to those doomsayers. Not even those Mon'keigh could bring us down if our empires come to blow," She assured him.

He almost wanted to laugh at how cruel it was, how soul crushing it was, but all his warnings were nothing more than hearsay. After all, how could the mighty Eldari Empire, with its mastery of the warp and their mighty gods, could fall? He and the rest that warned them were the mad ones, not those who worshiped her.

"Yeah…" He sighed, sucking it up as he sang, letting his voice heal the damage he caused. The wraithbone, echoing his voice as their innate tone changed to match his own. Slowly, the sharp edges softened while the spikes sank down, until it was as if nothing happened. He wasn't sure why his voice shaped wraithstone so easily, but it was a gift he was happy to have.

"As sad and haunting as ever," She whispered as he gave him a kiss on the forehead. Standing up, she offered him his hands and smiled, "Come on~ Let's get out of here before the busy bodies show up. Can't deface a building you know~"

Smiling, he reached up and grabbed her hands before pulling himself up and bolting; Just in time for the guards to miss them. Laughing, he ran with her, apologizing as they weaved through the crowd. It took a bit before they shook them off.

Leaning against a lamppost, he panted. Sometimes, he wished things were as simple as this. Just two idiots having fun, without a worry in the world, but that's not how things were. Slowly, the smile on his face slipped as he sighed.

"That was fun," Iyanna replied as she combed her hair over and grinned at him. As their eyes met, her grin fell, turning to a sad smile. "Those dreams are really bothering you, huh?" She asked.

Nodding, he shared to her, "They're getting more vivid," At this point, he felt like a broken recorder, but he had to at least try. If not to warn the others, he could at least have his friend understand, "These pleasure cults, they scare me Iyanna. The being they're worshiping is not someone you want to tangle with," He whispered.

Iyanna gave him a look before she replied, "Look, I know you're a bit stuck up," Feeling his cheeks born with indignity, the girl seemed intent to rile him up as she poked his cheeks, "But that's ok since you're cute."

"I'm not stuck up," he muttered, annoyed at how she brought that up of all things. What if he wasn't as comfortable showing skin as she was? He liked clothes and he didn't want to get cold! Can't a man have his comfortable robes?

"Then let's do it," She countered, pulling up her top like there wasn't a crowd just outside the alley they were in.

Grabbing her hands, he stopped her from undressing. "I-Iyanna! Not in public!" He scolded as his ears burned.

Grinning back, she quickly pointed up, "See, stuck up." He could only let out a groan at her teasing smile. Was he stuck with a girl like her? Pulling him in a hug, she assured him once more, "Come on Eon, those are just dreams. If they weren't, the council would have cracked down on the cults."

"I know…" He replied. It was one of the few things he was grateful about at this age. Chaos wasn't as active as it would be in a few thousand years. Yes, there were daemons but not to the scale of the 30th Millenium. Still, he couldn't relax, not when he knew what was to come. "But I'm still afraid," He told her.

Smiling widely, Iyanna pulled him in for a warm hug. He froze up before he hugged her back, enjoying her warmth. "I'm glad that you worry about me but I'm starting to worry about you as well," She whispered as he stroked his back.

"I know that the pleasure cults could get extreme," She started, making him snort as he rolled his eyes.

"A bit of an understatement there," He fired back. While they were happy to inflict such harm onto themselves, nothing quite sticks. What was the pain to a race that could come back even from the worst of injuries?

"Hush you," She scolded him before she continued, "But they don't force us to do any of that stuff. They just want us to be honest with ourselves and to others." Despite his reservations, they do keep to themselves. It was only the allures of their pleasure they experienced that pulled people in.

Holding him tightly, she asked, "Is it really that bad that I want you to be happy, that I want us to be happy?"

He pursed his lips, considering his words before he sighed in defeat, "No…"

Kissing him on the cheeks, she told him, "If it keeps you happy, I won't join these cults…" Trailing off, she then grinned as she added, "You join with me!" Holding his hands, she told him, "Together forever, remember?"

He held her hands tightly, never wanting to let her go, "Yeah…" Despite his wishes however, he couldn't stay here. Pulling back, he told her, "Thank you Iyanna, for looking out for me," If he ever wanted her to keep that smile, he had to let go.

"Hey, us troublemakers stick together," She told him as she looked around before asking, "Now, where do we go? The theater? The restaurants? The shops!" her tone, laced with excitement.

"I say the shops," He told her as she let out a squeal of excitement. That should distract her long enough for what he wanted to do. Reaching for his pocket, he pulled out a book before handing it over to her, "Hey Iyanna, can you hold on to this for me?" he asked as he gazed towards the tall spires of the temple just over the horizon.

"Your black book? Why?" She asked, frowning as she gave him questioning looks, "You never let this off your sight, like ever," She told him. He did it for good reason, it held the story of what was to come along with caches of some stuff. It also contained a spirit stone, one he had made in secret for her. He wasn't sure if it'll help, but better than nothing.

"I'm just going to visit the temples," He replied, waving off her concerns, "You know, just going to give my respects. Maybe I could get a boon from Vaul… or maybe avoid getting smited by Khaine," He jested, making her chuckle. "But really, I just don't want to get mugged," He lied.

"Silly Eon," She replied, bopping him on the nose for his trouble, "The pleasure cults stab people, not steal from them," She told him before she slipped the book between her breasts, "But sure, I'll hold on to them." As he held back a groan, she laughed, "At least I know you wouldn't run off since I hold the key to all your secrets~"

Shaking his head, he told her, "If I don't return in an hour, you can read from my notes," Walking off, he bid what might be his final goodbye, "See you in a bit! Also, don't go crazy with the shops! You know how they hate people taking stuff and just letting it rot in a closet!"
"I do not!" Iyanna shouted back, pouting in protest, "Come back here!" Before she could grab him, he slipped away, fading into the immaterium.

It was a rough affair even as he skimmed along the surface, the void staring up at him as he did his best to ignore the presence in the dark, "I'm sorry Iyanna, looks like I have to do this alone," He whispered. It was time he met the gods and forced their hands.

He landed unsteadily upon a solid slab of wraith bone; the courtyard to the temple of the gods. As he got his bearings, he looked up and saw constellations of stars, the map of the Eldari empire made of precious gems. With their luster and ethereal beauty, each one could have bought entire worlds if they were to be bartered to a lesser civilization.

"Millions of years of civilization, all down the drain chasing after pleasure," He whispered as his eyes trailed to the cracks and decay hidden by the luster.

While many danced and sang, enjoying the bounties of the empire, living their days, the rot that was eating the Eldari empire was taking root. Even in the most sacred grounds, the rot was already spreading as minute cracks were starting to spread while murals were marred with profane markings.

Still, it was silent and he found solace in the solitude as he walked by the empty courtyard; under the shadows of colossal pillars. With the courtyards to the temple empty, he was left to his thoughts.

As his footsteps echoed, he thought back to the time he woke up so many years ago; a whole new life. It may have been a whole lifetime since he first laid his eyes on those alien skies. Joyful were his days he experienced childhood in another life. He almost lost himself in those hazy days until he dreamed once more, dreamed of the coming days and of a past life.

Fear, confusion and melancholy filled his heart once more as his frown deepened. Reflecting on his life, he wondered why he woke up. Why him? Why here? Why? Those questions brought about uncertainties. Gazing down on his own hands, watching the blazing light that filled his benign through his sight, it would look like any other soul yet within it was another light. Deep inside was the remnants of a star, hidden amongst the flame.

There he knew that his dreams weren't but fiction and in came dread. What would others think if they were to know? Would they see him as an aberration, a monster, a daemon perhaps? No… if he were a daemon, he wouldn't have been able to step into any temples, much less the heart of worship.

Still, he kept it to himself much like the burden of his knowledge. The beings in the warp, the old enemy sleeping inside their tombs, the unending tide from the outside, and then… Revelation. He was so far back in time that none of these would matter. He could just live out his days, prepare for the worse and then flee. Hell, he could even join the debauchery himself… but no, he simply couldn't sit idly.

While his voice was lost amongst the masses like those of his fellow Eldari who knew of the truth, he had to do something. A few caches here, maybe even efforts to colonize a planet there, with the time he had on his hands he could do something. He had purpose, he had a vision of the eldari being saved, if not for his own sake, then for the galaxy's sake.

His visit here was no different from any other. There must be a reason why the Eldari Pantheon couldn't have acted. He wasn't so sure if the legends were true, of how Vaul created a great barrier between the gods and the eldari, but one way or another, it was going down.

As he was about to enter the temple complex, a fellow aeldari came thundering his way. "Go away! The temple to the gods is not a place for fornication or any of your hedonistic ways!" they shouted. If he knew any better, they were just another face from the crowd but by the gentle light of the soul, devoid of the luster of youth, he was before an ancient one.

"I'm sorry head priest for the troubles, but I mean you now harm," He replied appeasingly as he held up his hands. As the man paused, his gaze judging, Eon told him, "I'm not here to worship She Who Thirst, I'm here to pay respect to the true gods."
The man narrowed his eyes, confused for a moment, before they quirked their brow, "Oh, a fellow doomsayer?" He nodded and the older man smiled, "It seems that there are still some in this city who do not abide by those cults."

"I'm actually from the provinces," He replied with a soft smile before adding, "But there's alway hope, head priest. So long as we live, Asuryan light could guide us." He was never truly religious in a human or aeldari terms, but he knew well enough to atleast give them proper reverence. After all, it was hard to ignore how they could be talked to.

"Indeed," The old man nodded before urging him inside, lighting the way with but a flick of his hands. As the braziers burned an ethereal blue, he welcomed him to the house of the gods, "Come, before you get cold."

As they walked in the hallowed halls, he saw that not even the inside were spared. More markings were etched on the walls. Passing by a patch of red crystal, he swore he smelt blood. "I apologize for the state of disrepair," the man sighed, back bent and shoulder weary.

"The cults tried to erect a profane statue for their goddess and we barely held them back" The priest pointed out, pointing at the broken statue of Asuryan lying on the ground, while the legs of that evil monster stood shattered over its pedestal.

"I'm surprised they haven't done much more," He noted, shaking his head in dismay. It was always a shame to see such precious works of art, destroyed by zealotry.

"We try," The man whispered before letting out a heavy sigh. "Back in the days, we could make it so that it was as if nothing happened. But now, with our song growing quieter, we had to put things back, piece by piece" He told him, explaining the sad state that he found the temples in.

"With the cult's numbers growing by the day, less and less believers drop by to give their due. Without worshippers, the songs are simply not strong enough to stave off decay, much less defacement from a mob," the priest explained. It was almost like a downward spiral. Why enter a decaying ruin when the pleasure cults were right at their door steps?

"We had good people," The man recalled with a fond smile, "But their numbers are dwindling. Most of them are opting to flee to the edges of the empire," He shrugged.

"Why don't you join them?" He asked, curious at why not. Already, there is an exodus. In human terms, they were doom preppers that took things to the extreme. He had heard rumors of cargo ships being turned to towns already. He wondered how long it would take before he heard about the craftworlds.

"As much as I wish too, I won't. I still have a duty to uphold," The man replied, holding his head high. Looking back, he asked, "If I were to leave, who would lend a hand to those in need?"

He gave the man a nod of respect. He was a good man. It was a shame that he was willing to stand in the middle blast zone in the vain hope of saving at least one. Passing through the long hallway, they finally arrived at the main sanctuary. Standing before the arched doorway, he felt dwarfed as he saw the giant circular room housing the oldest depictions of the god.

Far more ancient than even the temple itself, perhaps from the time of the War in Heaven itself, these crude and titanic effigies of solid spirit stone which burned with a power unlike anything he ever felt. "Here we are, the hall of the gods," the priest told him while he gazed up in awe.

Stepping inside, he felt a change in the air, their presence growing sharper as the constant voices that had accompanied him ever since he woke up were silenced. Gone were the twisted cries of ecstasy, there was only silence and the gaze of being far larger than he was. He could feel their gaze on him as they stirred, his heart almost stilling as each one of them seemed to grow even larger.

Hearing the soft prayers of mercy behind him, it seemed that he wasn't alone in feeling their presence. For a moment, he hesitated. Once he stepped into their domain, they would see him for what he was. His soul would be laid bare… but was there any other choice?

The Eldari gods were the only force that he knew might have a shot at stopping this. He just needed to get them to tear down the barrier between the Eldari and the gods. He had idea… a bad idea, but what was life without a few broken bones and possibly being tormented by Khaine, the Bloody Handed; The one god all too willing to torture his fellow gods… no big deal.

"Do you wish to have some privacy?" The man whispered, looking over to him in worry, probably sensing his intentions as well. A bit of madness was all too hard to miss for the sight of the Eldari afterall.

Nodding back, he replied, "If you would, Head Priest." There was no more turning back, no more running away. It was now time that he met the gods and had his little chat with them.

"I wish you luck," They whispered before they retreated, leaving him alone amongst the very gods of his people.Taking a deep breath, he ventured forward, letting go of his fears as he faced them head on.

With all eyes on him, he prayed. "I know I've never been a devout believer, but… I need your help," He begged them, kneeling before the gods as he made his case. "You know she's coming, don't you? She Who Thirst that would bring doom to our worlds, the doom of the Aeldari as a whole," He told them, gazing up as he saw the burning light in the Maiden's eyes.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he felt their overbearing presence growing stronger, their vision boring into his very soul. "Not even Khaine would be strong enough for them once the future comes to pass," He gritted out before a wave of red hot anger slammed into him.

He fell down on all fours, retching as the weight of the bloody handed one bore down on his back. It was as if a giant was pushing down on him with a finger. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself back up, refusing to bow down to him as he gathered himself, "Deny it you bloody handed shit head, but we both know you can't do it!" He shouted as one by one, the statue came to life.

The ground below him buckled as Khaine's hands bled crimson, but he couldn't care any less he begged them, "I don't know how much time there is but you need to act! Just do something. For your sake and for hours!" Though even as the rest lit up, Asuryan remained still.

"Tear down the barrier between us, help us! Please!" He asked the Phoenix King, but they refused to listen while he felt Anaris loomed over him. Having the attention of the war god on him, he smiled as he closed his eyes. Pulling himself back into the warp, he could feel the war god pulling him back.

"You think you can escape, boy?" the gods cruel laughter as Anaris's burned with the light of a thousand sun; His death all but reassured.

"No, I was actually counting on you getting angry," He replied as he stopped resisting and let himself be pulled, launching himself down into the depths of the warp. He felt their grasp slip as she sank into the turbulent sea, past the souls of the eldari and right against the massive crystalline wall that was the heart of the storm. "Sorry Iyanna, looks like I'd be late," He whispered before his vision turned white.

-x-x-x-

His head rang as his vision slowly came to focus. He wasn't sure if he was dead, or he had just passed out, but whatever it was, it felt painful. Cracking open his eyes, he saw the grinning visage of a giant staring down at him.

"Oh, you're awake," the jester laughed, their lazy eyes rolling in their sockets as their grin widened, "I know you mortals can be insane, but that was amazing! Will you do that again?" He asked, chuckling as more giants came into view.

"H-huh? Confused, he wondered where he was. The last thing he remembered here was-! Freezing, he looked up and found a flaming giant scowling at him.

""Rise, I will not suffer a weakling in my presence," The growled out, their voice like the sound of countless bellowing horns.

"Khaine," A voice, firm yet gentle, commanded, making the giant grit their teeth in frustration. With a roar, they tossed their sword at him. He felt himself almost die one more time as it sank to the hard floor, just inches away from his body.

"Fine, I'll spare the boy. Happy?" the giant shouted before they walked away and leaned against one of the pillars in the room he found himself in.

As he gathered his wits, he realized that he was inside a giant throne room and there, sitting upon his seat of gold and fire was the unmistakable visage of the Phoenix King. "Asuryan," he whispered as he got down to his knees. He had entered the realm of the god and now, he stood before them as their audience. He bowed low in respect, especially with Khaine just a stride or two away from where he was.

"Indeed," The kindly king nodded, gesturing for him to stand up. Hesitantly, he stood up, finding himself dwarfed by the major gods of the pantheon, all gathered before the seat of the Phoenix King. Leaning closer, the god noted, "We have to say, many worshippers have asked to tear down the wall between us… but you might just be the first one to try and tear it down by your own hands."

"I had to try, my lord," He replied, feeling relief flooding his form. No longer fearing for his life, he warned them, all but tripping his words as he did so, "It was urgent my lord, time is of the essence. You can see my soul if you need to. Lileath's vision rings true!"

The youngest amongst the group gave him a strange look as she whispered, "You are either the bravest eldari we've ever met."

"Or the most foolish," Khaine snidely interjected, earning him the ire of the rest in the room. The god wasn't so wrong though, as he admits that it could have ended so badly for him. He did yeet himself against what is essentially a solid wall.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Asuryan told him, "We will be frank with you…" He could not quite hear the words that left his mouth, but he felt it to his core; his name in its truest essence whispered to his ears before he continued, "We've seen her rise, the one that would bring doom to us all."

"So, you could help us, right?" He replied shakily, excitement rising up his chest as he asked them, "You see what will happen. Can you fix it? Can you help us?" For once in his new life, he felt hope only for it to be crushed as he saw the Phoenix King shake his head in dismay.

"Unfortunately, we can't help," The god replied as he leaned back against his throne, "Not anymore…"

"You can't or you won't?" He snapped back, his anger boiling over once more. He couldn't believe that the gods would just sit this out, to let this tragedy come to pass. "Do none of you wish to help us!" He asked, refusing to back down even as the War God roared

"Watch your tongue, boy!" The giant spat, but he held firm. He was angry at them and angry at himself for believing that they'd at least do something. No wonder the Eldari fell.

"It is alright brother, he is only voicing his frustration but do not mistake malice for our action," The Phoenix King scolded him, forcing him to his knees as he reminded him that he was still in the presence of a god. "To answer your question, we can no longer cross into the world of the living," The god told him before he trailed off, "Not when we're far too weakened…"

"Even if we were to bring down the wall, then what, young one?" The woman beside the king added, "All it would bring is a slower and agonizing death for the Eldari as a whole," She told him.

"They will resent us, view us as tyrants," The broken, crippled god of smiths pointed out.

"Their wills, bound to our own just like in the days of old. Our people would live, but their passions muted, their lives without the freedom they enjoy," The old crone added before the motherly beside the hunter chimed in.

"Is such a life worth it? A stagnant, still existence?" She asked as tears flowed down her cheeks.

He looked away, feeling his anger die down as he faced the question. He didn't quite consider what it meant for the gods and the eldar to live side by side once more. A return to the old ways, one far closer to living weapons, that was their lives before all of this.

Was he really willing to live a life and doom others to it? A life tied to such forces that he might as well not have a will of his own? No, no he could not. Shoulders slumping, he whispered in dismay, "So It's too late then." There was no way he could avoid it.

"For us, yes…" The king of the gods said before he rose upm "But for you, son of man and eldari, it is not." Feeling his gaze upon him as they stepped down from their throne, the god commanded, "Rise my adopted child, you still have a role to play. You will become our champion!"

"W-wait, what?" He replied, blindsided by the sudden change. Even the gods were taken aback as they looked at their king in shock. Only Vaul himself was unaffected, but mostly due to how his gaze turned from judging to one akin to a smith inspecting the metal presented to them, How the hell did things turn to this?

"Asuryan, you can't be serious," Khaine said in disbelief only to realize that the King was truly serious. "This, this is madness! This is suicide!" The warrior shouted in anger as he recalled his sword which flew back to their awaiting hands. With his burning sword held high, he tried rallying the rest of the gods, "We can take them! Not even those three interfering would be a problem now that we know they're coming,"
None would take his offer as they sided with their king. "Will you join us, brother?" the king asked, extending his arms out to the warrior.

"Come on Khaine, it's not like you'll need it once you're shattered," Cegorach laughed as he hid behind the King. They wouldn't come unscatched as Isha cuffed them on the back of the head.

Lowering his sword, the warrior looked at the offered hands before slapping it away, their face twisted in fury, "I refuse!"

As he snapped out of his daze, he quickly joined the War God in protest, "I agree with Khaine!" The warrior looked at him, to which he raised his hands in surrender. He wanted no part of this, at all. He didn't know what he was getting into! Why was this being forced on his hands?!

Giving him a nod, the man then turned back to the gods as he pointed at him, "Look even, the mortal knows he's not worthy of the powers of the gods!" Hearing what they had planned, he gave them questioning looks. He was the worst possible option for this!

Storming off, they shouted, "I will take no part in this!" Their form burst into flame, leaving the room before the other gods could even reply. Without the war god, Eon suddenly felt alone.

"He will be, in time," Asuryan whispered as he talked to the other gods. While they were busy, Eon took his chance, trying to sneak out before they enacted their plans. Being stuffed with the power of the gods might sound amazing, but it also means that the bitch would be after him.

"Kurnous, Isha, hold him down," the king's voice echoed across the hall, signaling his doom. Before he could make a break for it, he found himself bound by plants; their vines wrapping around him as their presence loomed over him,

"Morai-heg, prepare the boy for his task," The king commanded, giving him little time to protest as pain overwhelmed him, "Vaul, prepare the crown."

"Come on, could I at least tell you what I think of this!?" He screamed as the crone reached down to him, tearing at his very soul. Pain, pain was all he felt as he was opened up like a can. He could feel the inside of his souls spill out to the surface as he burned from the inside out.

Amidst the agony he felt, he heard them whisper, "Our age is about to pass, our worship all but limited to a few true believers. Our power's waning," He felt like taffy stretched beyond its limit, his sense of self almost fading as he struggled to stay sane, "While we can't slay her for she had grown too mighty, we can deny her of her price."

"We grant you our power," They said in chorus as strength filled his veins, his blood boiling over, "We grant you our knowledge," They chanted as his mind expanded, his eyes opened to the infinite, "We grant you part of our being," They chanted as he felt himself being pulled back, the pain abating as a dull din filled his sense.

"Y-you're making me a host? But there must be others far more worthy than I am," he gasped as the edge of his vision started to turn black and the world closed in, "Heck, I'm not even a true one. I was human…" He slurred, trying to fight the darkness.

"It's exactly why we chose you," their voice echoed in his mind, their tone filled with hope even as they became more ethereal, "Of all the champions we could choose, you're the only one she won't slay out right."

"The Age of Gods might have ended, but the age of the Eldar has only just begun," He… he didn't want to fade. He didn't want to return to that darkness again. "In you we trust the fate of our people. Lead them, guide them, it is now in your hands," They asked him as he clung on to their voice, desperately holding on.

"Find the one called Revelation, my child," They commanded as their presence faded, their voice like the whispers amidst the silence, "Find them, for they could be either our greatest ally… or our worst enemy."

As his eyes closed and numbness spread across his form, he heard the old crone croak out, sounding like a shadow of their already faded radiance,"As impressive as the boy's resilience is, his soul needs time to heal, Asuryan".

"I have so many things to say, but it's now time for you to rest," Isha whispered as he felt a kiss upon his brow. He felt bliss, his soul finally stilling as their voice slowly faded into nothingness, "Sleep my child, you have much to do once you wake up…"

-x-x-x-

He slept, his form still as he floated in a dreamless void. He didn't know how long it lasted, but in that void, he felt at peace. Like an old friend, it welcomed him, lulling him back to rest as the memories of pain faded away, leaving nothing but memories of his encounter. Even as he stirred, his mind finally breaking the shackles that bound him, he wanted to rest.

Despite his wishes, he would have no choice as he started to burn. Opening his sky, he beheld a dusty and barren wasteland as he fell down from the skies. For a moment, he marveled in awe at its desolation. It almost felt like a dream but the fires that consumed his clothes would quickly wake him up.

Terror filled his senses as the world grew larger until it filled his vision. The only consolation he had as the ground came up to him was the fire wrapping around his form felt… warm. Like a fiery comet, he slammed down to the ground with earth shattering force.

He blanked out, his mind skipping and the next thing he knew he was climbing out of the crater. "Why is the world spinning?" He laughed as the world shifted like the dunes of the desert… no, he was in a desert. Looking around, he saw himself in an endless sea of sand and salt. "So pretty…" He blinked as he fell over.

Staring up at the yellow sky, with the smiling sun dancing in the sky, he wondered where he was. He was certainly not in his bedroom, that's what! As he struggled to remember what he just ate, he found a very sharp and pointy blade poking his nose.

"An Eldari? No… something else," An ethereal, fairy-like voice whispered as a tall golden form loomed over him. Whoever she was, her fire felt like the sun of his once distant home. He laid there, unable to look away as their form came into focus. Tilting their head, they whispered, "You are strange. What are you…"

"I know what you are though," he giggled, slowly pushing aside the blade as he told her, "You're beautiful." Laughing, he fell back, wondering if this dream would keep on going.

He saw the girl pause, their cheeks turning an interesting shade of pink before they muttered, "... Flattery won't do you any good," Stabbing the blade to the soft ground, just inches away from his face, she hissed out, "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you here and now? What is your purpose? Who sent you!"

What was his purpose? As he remembered, he suddenly laughed, "Hah… would you believe that the Eldari gods gave me what little power they have left and tasked me with saving my people?" He replied. He knew it happened, but it sounded so silly.
"... what?" Even the girl sounded confused! The gods truly must be crazy if they trusted him of all people to find the Emperor.

"That's what I said," He replied before he yawned, "Now excuse me while I go to sleep," Closing his eyes, he tuckered out, returning to his rest. The sun was too bright for him to be awake. It was time for him to return to sleep.

A/N:

You know... I ask myself why I keep having chapters explode in size. I enjoyed writing this chapter a bit too much. Hopefully, you enjoy a peek at Pre Fall Eldari, the Pantheons interaction as well as his faithful meeting with a certain Empress~ He's going to have the shock of his life once he wake up, lol.