Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 32: Shadows and Sacrifice
The oppressive air of the labyrinth grew heavier as the massive Chaos gate creaked open. Beyond lay a twisting abyss of pulsating shadows, the walls alive with warped symbols glowing faintly in the darkness. The faint whispers of the Warp licked at the edges of consciousness, like fingers probing for a crack to exploit.
Inquisitor Kael turned to Rae and her team, her sharp gaze taking in their pale faces and steady resolve. Her voice was cold and commanding, yet edged with something that almost sounded like concern.
“You are still children,” Kael said, her tone cutting through the tense silence. “This is no place for the inexperienced. I will not have you throwing yourselves away in some misguided attempt at heroism.”
Rae straightened, meeting the Inquisitor’s gaze with calm defiance. “We’ve made it this far. You need us.”
Kael’s expression didn’t waver. “I need you to live. You’ve proven your worth in guiding us here, but what lies beyond is not something your blades and stealth alone can defeat.”
She gestured toward the swirling shadows ahead. “You will stay in the darkness. Hidden. Silent. If you are seen, you will die. If you falter, you will jeopardize this mission. Do you understand?”
The group exchanged glances, reluctant but unwilling to argue with the force of Kael’s words. Rae nodded. “We understand.”
“Good,” Kael said. “Lead us further, but remain unseen.”
Disappearing into the Shadows
Kael motioned to her remaining stormtroopers, who adjusted their weapons and prepared for the descent. The group moved forward, Rae at the head, her team slipping into the shadows like wraiths. One by one, they disappeared into the labyrinth, their footsteps silent, their presence almost imperceptible.
Rae stayed just visible enough for Kael to track, her movements deliberate. She led them through the maze of twisting corridors, her flashlight dimmed to the faintest glow. The Inquisitor’s stormtroopers followed closely, their weapons trained on every shadow that flickered in the corrupted light.
Kael’s eyes remained fixed on Rae, her voice low but firm. “You’re braver than most adults I’ve known. But bravery can quickly turn to recklessness.”
“I’m not reckless,” Rae replied quietly, her gaze scanning the darkness ahead. “Just determined.”
Kael’s lips twitched in the faintest hint of approval, but she said nothing more.
The First Vanishing
As they delved deeper, the air grew colder, the faint whispers becoming distorted murmurs that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. The stormtroopers moved in tight formation, their flamers casting flickering light that barely held back the encroaching darkness.
Then, without warning, one of the stormtroopers at the rear let out a strangled cry. The group turned just in time to see him vanish, pulled into the shadows as though by unseen hands. His weapon clattered to the ground, his screams fading into silence.
“Stay together!” Kael barked, her power sword igniting with a brilliant hum. “Do not stray from the formation!”
Rae’s heart raced as she tightened her grip on her blade. The shadows seemed to pulse with malevolence, and the oppressive weight of the Warp pressed down on her chest. She turned to Kael, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.
“This is what we warned you about. The labyrinth… it’s alive.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll burn it alive.”
The Labyrinth’s Tricks
The group pressed on, their formation tighter than before. Rae’s team moved ahead like ghosts, unseen but ever-watchful. Celestine’s sharp eyes scanned for threats, while Tyren’s cogitator buzzed softly as it tracked the fluctuating energies around them. Marcus and Soren flanked the group, their weapons ready.
As they turned a corner, the corridor ahead seemed to ripple and shift. The walls closed in, then expanded, the symbols pulsing brighter. The whispers grew louder, turning into mocking laughter that echoed through the labyrinth.
“This way,” Rae said, motioning toward a narrow passage. She glanced back at Kael, her expression grim. “It’s unstable, but it’s the only way forward.”
Kael nodded, her voice cold. “Lead us.”
The stormtroopers moved carefully, their weapons trained on the walls. The passage twisted and turned, the air growing thicker with every step. Rae could feel the Warp pressing against her mind, probing for a crack, but she pushed it away.
“Stay focused,” she whispered to herself. “Don’t let it in.”
A Silent Guide
Rae’s team vanished further into the shadows, their presence so faint that even she could barely sense them. Only the faint shimmer of Celestine’s blade and the occasional flicker of Tyren’s cogitator marked their movements. They were her unseen eyes and ears, silently scouting the path ahead.
Kael followed Rae closely, her power sword casting a faint glow in the darkness. “You move like someone twice your age,” Kael remarked quietly. “Who trained you?”
“My father,” Rae replied, her voice soft. “He taught me everything I know.”
Kael’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before she spoke again. “He would be proud. If you survive this, you might have a future beyond this Scola.”
Rae didn’t respond, her focus fixed on the path ahead. The compliment meant little in the face of the horrors waiting for them.
The Final Approach
After what felt like an eternity, the corridor opened into a vast chamber. The flickering light of the stormtroopers’ flamers revealed jagged stone pillars, each inscribed with glowing Chaos runes. At the center of the room, a swirling vortex of darkness pulsed with raw Warp energy.
Kael raised her hand, signaling for the group to halt. Her voice was low but firm. “This is it. The heart of the corruption.”
Rae turned to her team, her voice a whisper. “Stay in the shadows. Watch, but don’t engage unless you have to.”
Celestine’s voice crackled softly over their hidden comms. “Understood. We’ll cover you.”
Kael stepped forward, her power sword raised. “The light of the Emperor will purge this place. Stay close, Rae. I’ll need your eyes.”
Rae nodded, her heart pounding. She could feel the malevolence of the Warp pressing against her, but she refused to let it consume her. This isn’t over, she told herself. Not yet.
And with that, they moved into the heart of the labyrinth, the shadows closing in around them.
