Warhammer: Stars & Ants

Macardo suddenly realized he had been too harsh on Zelo.

In fact, among all the Primarchs, he could not find another Primarch who did not argue with him, did not try to fight him, seriously considered his views, was polite, and could do his work.

Almost all Primarchs considered themselves superior to ordinary people, and they recklessly squandered the Empire's resources with their power and talents.

Even if Zelo is the weirdest one.

But he... but he... but he's not a bad person by nature.

Number 11 is not a bad kid.

Macardo could try to sew a human skin for Zero, which the Primarch would wear until it could no longer be peeled off—a skill he had learned from Primarch Guilliman.

Makado paused for a moment, then swallowed.

What is your opinion of the emperor?

"He is the ruler of mankind,"

Zelo said,

“He is stronger than any of us. He has his own plans. I should learn from him.”

“I mean the others,” Macado said in a hoarse voice. “Would you like his favor? I can help you try to get it from him.”

Zelo frowned.

"Why should I need his favoritism? Will his favoritism make my legion stronger? I understand, you mean that the Emperor's favoritism will give the legion more resources."

"No,"

Makado's voice became even lower.

"He will make his favorite children war commanders and send their legions to more glorious battlefields."

Zelo shook his head.

“I don’t need these right now, but if they would benefit my legion’s development and my plans, I would try to get them.”

Makado continued to patiently guide him.

"But this is based on your objective needs, not your heartfelt desires? You won't feel proud or honored because he looks at you or speaks to you, or be overjoyed because he simply talks to you more?"

"Why should I react like this because of a few words he said?"

Zelo asked from the bottom of his heart,

“I know the Emperor will be the one who suffers the most, so I will strive to share his suffering, but I will not be happy just because he said a few words to me. Why should I do that?”

Zelo was silent for a moment, seemingly in thought.

"Am I supposed to become like that?"

"No! Of course not! Absolutely not!"

Makado suddenly raised his voice, then laughed self-deprecatingly, a laugh that contained cunning and satisfaction.

Macardo realized that Zero cared less about the Emperor than any Primarch.

He needed to keep Number 11 in check, but he also saw a certain talent and potential in Number 11.

“I think I can make you my student.”

Macardo extended his hand, gesturing for Zero to extend his as well. Zero then extended his hand, and the Marksman began to use psionic energy to draw intricate patterns in the void above the Primarch's palm.

What are you going to do?

Zelo asked,

"An oath that will never be broken."

Makado whispered, "Since the Primarchs are all troublesome, why doesn't he choose one who is at least outwardly loyal and devoted to him?"

This psionic rune is extremely complex, especially since its target is a Primarch, and Makado must ensure that everything goes smoothly.

“I will teach you psionic skills, and I will pass on all my best abilities to you.”

The old man said, "Continue to carefully draw that intricate pattern."

"In return, you must guarantee to me that you will not do anything that would harm the Emperor or all of humanity. You must not harm the Emperor, nor do anything that would lead to the extinction of the entire human race. If you break this oath, then the oath of non-break will take effect."

What will happen then?

Zelo stared at the enormous magic circle floating in front of him. The magical energy of the rune masters was incredibly sophisticated, making him desperately want it.

Macardo raised his eyes and stared intently at Zelo.

"Then the decay will begin, and unless I intervene, you will be reduced to utter nothingness."

This is also Makado's countermeasure. Zero needs to be contained, and a psionic spell with mutual oath effects would be perfect.

The engraver pulled out an exquisite silver dagger from his waist, its surface engraved with countless intersecting handprints.

Makado cleanly and decisively made a cut in his palm, the blood flowing onto the dagger and gleaming faintly.

Then Macardo turned his dagger around, pointing the hilt at Zero, signaling the Primarch to do the same.

"But what if the emperor wants to harm all of humanity?"

Zelo asked, "I'll have to stop it then..."

"The Emperor would never do such a thing!"

Macardo raised his voice, interrupting Zelo directly.

Zelo paused for a moment, then took the dagger.

This is an extremely small and exquisite pure silver dagger, from which surges a kind of spiritual energy that seems to be alive.

"Yes, I accept. I will never harm the Emperor or any humankind—"

Zelo paused again, then looked at Macado.

"Shouldn't you add another 'you' to your name, teacher?"

Makado shook his head.

"The more regulations there are, the weaker the binding force becomes. Furthermore, if you are not allowed to harm me, it might hinder your growth in the future."

Zelo paused, his hand poised to strike with the dagger.

Looking at the old man before him, consumed by pain and aging, Zelo could sense that the old man was teaching him as if he were a child.

This can be seen from the books the old man prepared for him on the first day.

Zero had witnessed the feelings and actions of elders towards their juniors. Makado often did not treat him as a Primarch or a general; the Magebringers saw him as a child who had made a mistake and needed correction.

"Are you thinking of me?"

Zelo asked quietly.

Macardo remained silent, simply staring quietly at the dagger in Zelo's hand.

“Okay,” Zelo said, “I accept.”

He pierced his palm with the dagger, and blood gushed out, sticking to the dagger's shiny silver surface.

At the same time, the extremely complex and gorgeous psionic pattern that was floating in the air began to flash violently, and then it seemed to come alive and disappeared into Zelo's palm.

Macardo extended his hand, gesturing for Zero to return the dagger to him. The Primarch handed the dagger over, watching as the Magebringer carefully put it away again.

"I thought you wouldn't agree."

Macardo said that Zero didn't think much of it; he was certain that Zero wouldn't harm all of humanity. But he couldn't say for sure about the Emperor. However, since Macardo said that the Emperor wouldn't harm all of humanity, he decided to believe him for the time being.

Meanwhile, Zero still remembers the scene he saw when he empathized with the Emperor, and he vaguely believes that the Emperor may be bound to the fate of humanity.

Therefore, this vow was as if it did not exist for him.

He certainly wouldn't allow all of humanity to become extinct. If the Emperor is bound to humanity, then as long as humanity doesn't perish, the Emperor won't die either.

“I have the utmost respect for you, Makado. You are the most suffering person I have ever seen, yet you still try to work and help others—you did not succumb to the long-term pressure and pain.”

Upon hearing this, Macardo merely gave a wan smile and pulled his hood back up.

"I want to learn psionic skills."

Zelo is very serious.

“I know you are the strongest psionicist in the Empire besides the Emperor, and you are the most skilled among humans. I want to learn your skills.”

"So, can you start teaching me psionic abilities now?"

"No,"

Macado shook his head, stood up, and looked at the somewhat dejected Zelo behind him. His mood improved considerably.

"I'm tired, I want to rest today."

The rune-wielder said casually,

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock,"

He says,

"Wait for me at the red line, I'm going to take you out."

These words startled Zelo, who looked at Makado.

"Where to go?"

"Tomorrow is a rest day on the ship. There will be a market and a play in the side hall next to the flagship hall. I want you to come with me to see the play."

"You won't teach me psionic abilities?"

"Not for now."

"Not working?"

"I need to rest."

Macardo curled the corners of his lips, ignored Zelo, and left the garden.

Zelo stood there, stunned. He looked down at his palm and then gazed at the garden outside the pavilion.

He saw two or three butterflies frolicking among the low bushes.

That is life.

64. Weakness and tenderness

At eight o'clock in the morning, Zelo appeared in front of the red line on time. The Primarch stood in front of the seemingly binding line and looked up at Macado.

Macardo wasn't wearing his usual light brown, plain linen robe. The charlatan was dressed casually in a white robe with blue embroidery of flowers and leaves at the hem.

He didn't bring the Eagle Staff; he only held a wooden stick in his hand, about the same height as the Eagle Staff, bare and looking just like an ordinary tree branch.

Incidentally, on the ship, Macardo only provided Zero with the simplest combination of a linen shirt and trousers.

These clothes looked like they were meant for Oglin, but the old man simply threw them to Zelo.

Macardo wouldn't allow Zero to continue wearing the gladiator's attire given to him by Angron on the ship, acting like an uncivilized savage—

These are Makado's exact words.

Zero had no objections. He just wanted clothes to wear, and it didn't matter what kind. On Star Stoll, he often ran away naked, so having clothes was a good thing.

Good morning, Makado.

"Zero said, but Macado ignored him. The old man raised his staff toward him, the tip of which was spinning with some kind of mysterious psionic spell."

The next moment, the spell struck Zelo, and the Primarch's size instantly shrank, and shrank again—until he became the height of a normal person.

Zelo reached out in surprise, then looked up and around, as if curious about the perspective of a normal person.

“A simple spell,”

Makado explained, walking up to Zelo.

“Your brother Magnus also knows it. This spell allows you to control your height and size. You can become taller than any of your brothers, or shorter than a normal person.”

You will—

"Yes, I will teach you. Now follow me and use the concealment spell you know. Don't wander off—if you dare to leave my vicinity by more than twenty meters, I will deduct your pay from the legion."

"Ok."