My Life as A Death Guard
Chapter 464: Magnus Begins
A message came through the wind.
The Wolf King lifted his head and sniffed hard. Fenris's brief summer carried a foul, rotting scent—the stench of corpses decaying beneath the permafrost.
"…Winter is coming." Russ said, frowning deeply as he stared at Valdrmani. Its cold rim told the Wolf King that a new storm was on its way.
"Damn it," the Wolf King muttered to himself, "why is this summer so short… eight hours? No, nine."
At the far edge of his vision, where the land seemed to drift away, Leman Russ saw the rising blizzard. The storm would hinder his journey, so he hesitated no longer and immediately set off with his Wolf Guard.
The snowstorm surged.
. . .
"This is the place?"
The Wolf King fell silent. They had already reached their destination. The Breath of Syrtr lay before them—it looked like an ordinary volcanic fissure. Beside the narrow opening stood a crude altar built of skulls.
His Rune Priests walked forward in silence. Some of them were old—older than Russ in their knowledge of this mysterious land. The Wolf King did not understand their psychic rites, so he let his sons begin their chanting.
Amid the dance of staves and incantations, the fissure opened.
The thick sulfur stench by the volcano struck the Wolf King's nose. Russ remained expressionless, staring intently into the crack as he felt at his waist—
He pulled out the remaining half-bottle of mead and drained it in one gulp.
"Burp," Russ said. "Alright, my priests—can I go down now?"
Through his hazy vision, the priest wearing a primitive mask walked toward him.
"My lord, master of winter and war," he said, as Fenris's sun climbed to its highest point behind him, like a great eye watching. For a fleeting moment, Leman Russ thought he saw a shadow flash across the edge of that eternal sun.
"Today is the summer solstice. This year's summer is unusually short—so your time will be limited. You may drink their wine, you may speak with them, but you must not eat the fruits or meat they offer. Avoid answering their questions as much as possible, even the most orderly spirits delight in deceiving others."
"By the laws of winter, you will gain what you seek, but you must also pay a price."
As he spoke, the priest slowly stepped aside, making way for the Wolf King. Russ stepped into that domain of fire and winter, the priest's final words echoing in his ears:
"Your time is not abundant. You must return to the world of men before the summer sets."
. . .
Magnus took a deep breath and staggered to his feet, his mind spinning.
"So… what should I… what should I do?"
Magnus trembled, instinctively touching his neck. The heavy sensation there constantly reminded him of reality.
"No…" Magnus said softly, "what can I still do?"
If he could remove the shackles, Magnus was certain he could recover half of his psychic power in a short time. But without ritual, without sacrifice, trying to change the current situation… would be difficult for him.
Magnus thought carefully.
The Changer of Ways wanted to lure that thing into the Webway, and Magnus needed to stop it.
He had once glimpsed the Emperor's ocean of knowledge. The moment he saw the Webway, Magnus understood—humanity, the Emperor, could not afford to lose it.
But… how could he stop this?
"Fenris… can you destroy the Webway?"
The planet remained silent, denying Magnus's question.
+…You still do not understand Him.+ The cold wind wailed, +It is not this Webway that draws the Avian—but fate. He is unwilling to abandon the wager He once placed, Magnus.+
Blind Magnus parted his lips.
"Me?" he said in disbelief, as a far more terrifying thought slowly seeped into his mind.
Magnus remembered the prophecy he had seen at the Council of Nikaea. If, at that time, he had been controlled… monitored… then—
Magnus's voice faltered.
"He knows that I know His thoughts—and that I will try to stop Him?!"
What?!
Magnus recalled the vision from that day—the howling wind, the raging blizzard, the benevolent Warp entity that resonated with him. He stood amidst the storm, chanting those spells, and in the end, Leman Russ lunged at him in fury.
Now he understood. That kind presence in the Warp… was Fenris.
"—I was right! There are benevolent beings in the Warp!" Magnus shouted, spreading his arms wide, as if trying to prove his point to those who had once refuted him. But what could that possibly prove now?
And now—what was Magnus, the prisoner whom no one believed, supposed to do?
He didn't even have enough psychic power left to turn the tide!
Magnus clenched his teeth instinctively. He realized that the Changer of Ways had calculated all of this.
He questioned himself deep within, searching for a way out.
First—he was being watched by the Changer of Ways.
He was being watched.
Magnus examined his own soul. Beside a small, pitch-black fissure, he saw the fragment he had once paid to the Changer of Ways.
He. Was. Being. Watched.
Second—Magnus knew part of the future. He would join forces with Fenris, cast a great spell, and attempt to stop the Changer of Ways.
He could roughly infer how events would unfold: he would cooperate with Fenris to stop Him—only to be interrupted by the Wolf King, who knew nothing of the truth. The ritual would either fail… or succeed.
Even if Magnus tried to explain things to Leman Russ, the Wolf King would never believe him.
As for Fenris…
"Spirit of Fenris… will you tell Leman Russ that I am right?"
+Child, I am sorry. Even winter cannot turn a living heart.+
Fenris denied the possibility of persuading Leman Russ.
Which meant…
Magnus realized that the final change, the thread of fate, would rest between himself and Leman Russ.
This would be a dynamic, shifting, uncertain end.
The end… could only belong to him and Leman Russ.
Magnus told himself this.
At the same time, he stared fixedly at the scar upon his soul—that warning left by the "jailer."
Magnus raised a hand and touched the white cloth tied over his eyes. Beneath it was nothing. Of his two eyes, one had been traded to the Changer of Ways, the other given to the Emperor—and now, that eye was with Leman Russ.
"Spirit of Fenris…"
Magnus paused.
"Can you ensure that your son, Leman Russ, will never fall to corruption?"
+So long as my beloved firstborn does not leave his homeland, my blessing shall not fade.+
Magnus smiled inwardly. Even Leman Russ! he laughed to himself. Even the Emperor's favored son still had the possibility of falling!
But at least, for now, Leman Russ would not fall. That was enough.
Magnus thought: before he stepped into the final end, Leman Russ must remain pure.
Then…
There was one last question.
"Can you protect my soul?"
Magnus asked. Unsurprisingly, the answer was no.
+…One end of your fate-line has already sunk into His domain. I cannot help you, child.+
"Then… will you place your trust in me?"
Fenris fell silent. After a long while, the world spoke again:
+The other end of your fate-line is still held in your own hands. You are the one chosen by winter.+
"Then… what if I seek protection from that being?"
+Magnus, one end of your fate-line is no longer in your hands… The Deceased One can disrupt those who perceive the future, that's the key to winning what lies ahead… The avian that toyed with the Deceased One is not as omniscient as you imagine.+
As if comforting him, the spirit of Fenris did not fall silent.
+Fifteenth son of Him, your soul is as sincere as your form. You need not fear the end of your fate-line that has sunk into that treacherous light. Hold fast to the other end—you are still true.+
…That's enough.
Magnus thought… he did not know how far Fenris could see… but whether its vision was short or far-reaching, it was enough.
He—Magnus—would decide his own fate!
Decide what kind of man he would die as!
For the last time, Magnus's thoughts brushed against the "jailer," and he trembled almost imperceptibly.
…
Inside the prison, the crimson sinner leaning against the wall stirred.
Fenris had told him that the planetary will would go to obstruct the battle on the other end, and that, in the meantime, a series of "accidents" would occur to aid the crimson sinner's escape.
Magnus rubbed his stiff shoulder. As expected, he felt that one corner of his collar had been gnawed through by a beast.
The small creature slipped down from beside him, and Magnus heard the footsteps of his guards—the Space Wolves—leaving.
Good.
Magnus thought with rising ambition. It was time for him—Magnus—to take everything back. To show those who had looked down on him… the true Magnus!
Magnus took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea and revulsion welling up inside him for what he's about to do. He turned inward, examining his soul—and saw that fragment.
In his heart, Magnus spoke:
"Great Changer of Ways!" he called out,
"Great Changer of Ways—I, Magnus, wish to offer the death of Leman Russ, and the entirety of Fenris, as sacrifice in exchange for power, knowledge, and freedom."
"I will faithfully fulfill the events of the prophecy—but I ask to be granted, in advance, the power needed to defeat Leman Russ."
"At the final moment I foresaw—when Fenris entrusts all its strength to me—I will present it, along with Leman Russ's heart, to you. At the moment I deliver my offering, I ask that I receive what I seek."
Magnus heard a delighted shriek. He felt something like feathers brush against him, and at once his psychic power began to surge back.
The power granted by the Changer of Ways was restrained—ensuring that Fenris would not detect it.
Besides, Magnus thought, his fate had already entered the Realm of the Sorcerer!
He's like a book full of stain, being dirtied a little more would not draw much notice!
He drew in a deep breath, feeling both surprise and exhilaration as his power returned. Magnus stood, slowly—relieved—and removed his shackles.
Damn you, Leman Russ.
Magnus let out a low, cold laugh, recalling the Wolf King's crude contempt and actions toward him.
At his bare feet, the bloodstained shackles clattered to the ground.
The crimson sinner stepped out of his cell.
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