Legend of Ransera

Re-Indtrodoucrination

Familiarity.
Like waking from a long dream, eyes opening to the familiar ceiling he has woken to for years. The same smells his nose has smelt for the longest time. The same sounds of other Knight-Legionnaire dressing for duty of the day. Yet his dreams felt more like memories. He wondered about them were they real? Too fleeting were they in presence as he woke each morning being home.

"Baudric? Man, they said you were back but I didn't believe it." Andrin poked his head into the room "We saw you go down and couldn't find you in the waters. We were certain you were lost. Then we here you are back half a year later and going through your debriefing."

Baudric never really cared that much for Andrin. Too much of a hot shot that focused more on showing off then keeping to combat basics. Too often those antics would lead to serious injury to one or more of the unit. The pack, as they liked to call it. Why was it him to come and not Cole or Pavel.

"You were gone for so long. Ended up replacing you in the pack. Muller of course denied the idea you had fallen. Took a while for him to approve replacing you in our unit. I wonder what you'll do for the Uberfallenlicht now that you are flying solo?" His voice began to irritate.

"Andrin. Stop. Talking. If you have reason to be here, get on with it already, if you have only come to gawk then get out before I make you."
Very quickly Andrin threw his hands up in mocking defeat. His smug grin the last thing Baudric saw before he began dressing in uniform. Undoubtedly he would need to report to his Primarch for new orders now that he was out of debriefing and being brought back into the fold that is the Imperial Legion. The process could have gone much more worse than it had been if it weren't for Muller vouching for Baudric's loyalty. Returning to service of his own volition was merely enough to not be slain on sight. The grueling process of getting a new collar had ended up adding a numb weight on his mind. Strange how foreign it felt in his time away with the connection to the power it held being broken. He couldn't remember anything leading up to his collar being replaced. Yet his dreams felt like another man's memories that shared his face. Waking proved to hold the dreams out of reach for now. The feeling of something important being held there could not be shook.

The rest of the morning continued on with his normal routine. Breakfast in the mess hall. Then onto the headquarters for the Uberfallenlicht. Paperwork, research and preparation for some new target would begin. Instead he settled on thumbing through the books not for research but entertainment. Reading first hand accounts on encounters. Reading the way each soldier talked about their missions leading up to the encounter and break down of their target.

The current account talks about a Nebiros class demon that had reduced three units working in unison down to only two survivors. A flash of icy cold air grazed the back of his neck sending the chill down his spine. He could swear that the smell of putrid iron as something bugged the back of his mind. Suddenly his mind fell into greyspace. A defense his exaltation had heightened. The world around him looked like a layer of ashen dust had settled over decades. Looming always in distant sight was the obelisk he has always known in this space. But he wasn't alone. Like faded stains of light hanging in the air. Silhouettes stood out. Like ghosts suspended in time.

One a battle. Baudric plowing through a horde of figures as two souls illuminated by a divine like light fought beside him..
The second. Sitting at a table with Soft moonlight and golden diffusion. They felt not unknown to him. Yet no memory came to his beckon over them either.
"He will see you now." Stepping into the office of his Commanding officer, Primarch Heinrich Muller, always turned his stomach to rot. Now was no exception. Too many times has he been here at the vile behest of this man whom disgusted Baudric to no end. Still, he was his master and keeper. Part of a collection to a mad man.
"Ah my boy. To see you home hale and whole. My pride. My crowning achievement. When your unit came home without you. The anger I felt that day. A part of me died with you. I could not stand the thought that you were never to return."

Muller stood and walked around his desk. Usually what followed this action were some of the worst events to have ever take place. Instinctively, Baudric locked his eye sight on a spot on the wall behind the desk. Waiting to hear commands to perform. Confusion would instead set in as his hand was then gently grasped in both hands of Muller's. Looking down as the man's face now inspecting him with a strain of emotion threatening to break the stone hardness. No impure thoughts. Just a man who truly worried for Baudric's well being stood there. For the first time. Baudric saw the human Muller was.

"I couldn't accept it though. They called me stubborn, Threatened to force me into retirement. But I would not give in. Then your message arrived from Zaichaer. You were coming home. Finally I could sleep. Finally you would be home soon. And now here you are. Without a unit you will now be needing purpose again. I have a mind to keep you at my side at all times. Personal guard. That I would love greatly. Though it would be too strong a temptation."

There they were. Sinister eyes of a hungry wolf staring at a rabbit. Baudric continued to hold his head high refusing to allow this man to know his effect on him.

"No.. Too strong a temptation. Instead you will work with the newest recruits to the Chapter. With the recent outbreak in the Gash I need them ready faster. That way I can also keep my eye on you through my window while I put together a new unit."

Baudric dared to glance to the window reminding himself that the training pit was just there outside. He could only imagine how many times Muller stood at the window watching his collection, indulging himself. They stood there quietly for an impregnated amount of time. He could hear Muller's breathing grow heavy, thanking the emperor silently as no command came forward to add to indulgence.
"Return to your orders in a week. I need you well rested. Allow the effects of your new collar settle in. I know many Avialae have to readjust to collars. You are dismissed."

Baudric did not need any emphasis to leave the office. He did so without a second thought. Closing the door behind him thankful that his visit with Muller was far shorter than he expected and uneventful. A small clatter of noise caught his attention down the hall. Slowly he approached the source of the sound. Just down the hall stood a small room, normally locked. Inside was some sort of strange mix of arcane and alchemical laboratory. He didn't see anyone immediately so he was uncertain if he was permitted inside. The though occurred to call out, but as he opened his mouth his eyes fell on a pile of items that looked like they were waiting for someone to come along and catalog them. Resting there on the side was a black of crimson and jet.

Something about it called out to him. He felt a disconnected feeling of lost security. Like he had been mugged. Glancing around to check the immediate area before he stepped inside the room and plucked the sword from the pile. In the split second of holding it he knew it belonged to him. It felt right. A lost piece of him found. That satisfaction was quickly doused at the sound of footsteps approaching from the hall.

Taking the sword he moved further into the room, bringing his wings in close to his body as he squeezed behind a large contraption of crystal and metal plating. Two hushed voices spoke through the silence of the room.
"... What if Muller saw! We'd both be in trouble!.."
"I know! Just be grateful no one saw. I swear I closed the door behind me. You think I want people to know the Chapter is collecting illegal magic?! look lets just go to our meeting."
"Hold on i need to get something out of the back first."
Rustling cloth could be heard as a door closed. Carefully peeking around he watched as both made their way to the back room. No time to think things through. He needed to leave, now! Quickly he moved around the contraption and moved to the door. Opening the door as quickly as he could but closed it as carefully as he could. He needed to leave without being spotted. Not by them and not by anyone through the Headquarter's entrance. Moving further down the hall he found his exit. A back staircase reserved for emergency exits. What better emergency could there be then this?

With heart pounding he left.