He started learning to play chess when he was still a new soldier.
As the chess game progressed, Soshyan's breathing gradually slowed down and deepened, and his mind was no longer chaotic. Even the doubts deep in his heart got a moment of respite during the game.
In the past training, the purpose of playing chess was to get rid of distracting thoughts in the mind and concentrate the scattered energy - he was almost successful.
Sitting across the table was Dante.
The legendary commander had a serious expression on his face and was focused on the game in progress——.
After a long time, Soshyan finally made a decision. He placed a chess piece in his hand and looked up at Dante.
But the other party just smiled and moved the other one in return.
"Alexei, what led you to become a Space Marine?"
Dante looked at the chessboard, and the loud voice broke the long silence, echoing around under the empty dome.
The hybrid accent from Baal has a long history and is obscure and weird, and sometimes Soshyan doesn't know whether what he finally understands is consistent with what Dante wants to express.
"What did you say? Your Majesty?"
"Why do you have such lofty ambitions in your heart? You could have chosen to live a peaceful and natural life as a mortal. What attracted you to challenge the trial of a near-death experience? Why do you expect to become an Astartes? ?”
Soshyan shook his head, seemingly startled by Dante's question.
"It's been too long...I...it's really hard for me to recall my life as a mortal. I only remember that at that time, I simply wanted to become a Brother Astartes..."
"Don't give up, keep trying."
Although it was a bit strange, since Dante was so insistent, Soshyan guessed whether there was some important message hidden in his past.
He shrugged and began to remember his past as best he could.
"If I remember correctly, I... I may be longing for the power to change things. My hometown is an ordinary world, where life is short and boring, but even in that remote country, there are rumors Following the legend of the Astartes fighting - in the void more than ten thousand meters high, the angels are engaged in an endless war with the enemies of the Empire."
Soshyan tried his best to recall his life before his promotion, but his attempts were like a mud cow sinking into the sea, unable to stir up any bigger waves.
"At that time, I felt that I should be such a person and have such a life. I hope that one day I can hone my strength and put it to use... I hope to leave a mark in the world, I’ve seen so many people end up with no meaning or impact, no one knows or remembers them, and I don’t want that, I want to make a change.”
Soshyan missed Dante's gaze, which was staring at him. He always felt that the other person was trying to read his thoughts.
"You hide your thoughts from me."
Dante's deduction was so accurate that he didn't even need to look into Soshiyan's eyes anymore.
"How can a young child have such a complicated mind? Let me tell you about mine. My father is a salt seller who wanders with the tribe. The life in Baal is hard and cruel. I just hope to escape the short and cruel life. life, yes, my original intention was just to live for a long time, I was only twelve years old at that time."
Soshyan was confused. The other party seemed to have something in his words. What was Dante's attitude towards him?
Appreciation? Still worried? Perhaps the topic of today's conversation is his trial? How much of the truth did Dante guess?
Soshyan could not detect the condemnation and accusation from Dante's sight. After pondering for a moment, Soshyan made the final move that he had carefully planned for more than half an hour, preparing to determine the outcome and win in a way that Dante would never have expected. game.
But he made a mistake, and Dante's backhand ended him completely.
Dante, who had won the victory, looked at the chessboard in silence, and the slight twitch of his brow was the only expression of the subtle fluctuations in his heart.
Silence enveloped the two of them, reluctant to leave.
After a few minutes, Dante stood up from the table, walked to the display area deep in the hall, and entered the dusty hidden compartment.
The densely packed drawers in the compartments are all nailed with brass name tags, recording some meaning in thin characters that Soshyan cannot decipher.
Dante's eyes and fingers passed over the labels one after another, and finally stopped in front of a drawer. Then he waved his hand, and the heavy drawer opened for him silently, unfolding smoothly and quietly towards his eyes. direction.
In the drawer, an ancient scroll lay quietly. The roll paper made of gray-white unknown leather quietly wrapped the shaft. The upper and lower ends of the shaft were in the shape of eagle claws. In the claws, there was a fist-sized scroll. Magnificent blood stone.
Then it was held in Dante's hand——
"This is the twentieth unknown volume of secret records left by Sanguinius. Only the past chapter leaders of this secret record know of its existence, but they cannot open it."
Dante said, handing the scroll to Soshyan.
"Sir, this-"
"The Primarch once gave the order that only the Forsaken Sons could open it, and I believe that was you."
Soshyan immediately stood up, straightened his back, bowed deeply, and took the scroll handed out by Dante.
"Your Majesty, I am honored, but are you really sure that it is me..."
Dante stared into Soshiyang's confused eyes and said:
"Perhaps the time has not yet come, Alexey, but it is destined that sooner or later you will bring about changes in the Empire."
The meaning of the Lord of the Blood Angels was unclear, and the weight contained in his words was as heavy as Mount Tai. There was some kind of secret emotion flowing in the depths of his eyes. It took Soshiyang a long time to identify its true identity - Fang Zheng. Worried about his safety.
Soshyan glanced at the scroll in his hand. What exactly did Sanguinius leave behind?
"Open it when you're alone."
Dante smiled.
"The purpose of the original body in doing this is that only you can know all the secrets."
Seeing Soshyan's solemn expression, he took a step forward.
"I can understand you, Soshyan Alexey. Such a huge responsibility is not something that anyone can easily bear."
The heartbeat in Soshiyang's chest was like roaring thunder. Even after being alone in the room with him for several hours, he still found it difficult to respond to Dante's gaze——.
"I trust you."
Dante continued, patting Soshiyan lightly on the shoulder.
"Wait for your opportunity, don't rush it, remember it, remember it."
Soshyan was speechless. He wondered if Dante had peeked into his soul? Did he also see the many hallucinations that haunt him - those memories from ten thousand years ago?
Taking a deep breath, Soshyan tapped his breastplate as a tribute. The entanglement and confusion in his chest were really mixed.
"I will keep it in mind, Lord Dante."
Dante seemed to want to say something more, but finally chose to remain silent.
Soshyan guessed it.
"Sir, you seem to be particularly concerned about the weeper? Is there anything I can do to help you? But it doesn't hurt to say anything."
