Warhammer: Dark Knights

As you left the training field and entered the corridor you had walked through earlier, you saw Selina waiting for you. "Young master, how was the training?" she asked.

"Nothing happened, don't worry," you replied confidently. "I even defeated my opponent in the duel, so now Father can't say anything about me." To further reassure her, you jokingly flexed your arm, which was notably lacking in muscle, to show her you weren't injured.

"That's good to hear, young master," she said, relieved. "What are your plans for later?"

"I plan to clean up, eat something, and then head to the library," you answered as you began walking toward your bedroom with Selina standing on your left.

Meanwhile, in the throne room, a deep and authoritative voice asked, "So, how did he perform, Alaric?" The man on the throne was tall and imposing, dressed in a black uniform with white trimmings that accentuated his military precision and stern demeanor. His gaze, sharp and commanding, bore down on Alaric, who stood at the foot of the twenty-step dais.

"The reports were accurate, my lord. Young master Richard has shown some promise in terms of stamina," Alaric replied with a respectful bow. His posture was straight and disciplined, like a drawn sword, not daring to slack in the presence of such authority.

"However," Alaric continued, "he successfully defeated his opponent in today's duel. His movements were a bit stiff, but he demonstrated an impressive ability to read and counter his opponent's attacks. It shows that young master Richard has potential. With proper training, he could still develop competent swordsmanship."

The man on the throne, Maximilian Aurelius, listened in silence, his expression unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his throne, the only sound in the vast hall apart from their voices. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice low but filled with power.

"Potential… huh." He echoed Alaric's words with a touch of skepticism. "Alaric, do you know when his potential will be fully realized? I don't have the luxury of time to nurture someone slowly. The death of the High King has accelerated everything."

There was a hint of frustration in his tone, a sense of urgency that reflected the political turmoil outside the castle walls. Maximilian rose from the throne, his movements deliberate and commanding, as his sharp eyes gazed in the direction of the castle where the High King once resided. What was once snakes watching each other cautiously, now all the snakes starting baring their fangs openly.

"I need to focus all my energy and resources on the struggle for the High King's throne," Maximilian continued, his voice like a hammer striking the air. "The future of our Aurelius family cannot be destroyed by this conflict, nor can we allow our enemies to seize the throne. If they do, the Aurelius family will be finished."

Alaric remained silent, standing tall but processing the gravity of Maximilian's words. After a brief moment of contemplation, he responded calmly, "The young master still has much to improve upon, but if you permit me to intensify his training, I believe he can become a reliable asset. With his photographic memory, he could assist Lord Marcellus in political matters as well."

Maximilian did not respond immediately, his mind weighing the options before him. After a long pause, his expression became resolute, as if finding clarity in the situation.

"No," he finally said, his tone firm with a new determination. "He might be able to serve the family in an even greater capacity."

Alaric, puzzled by Maximilian's words, hesitated but dared not ask for clarification. Sensing his curiosity, Maximilian calmly continued, "Do you remember the man who visited ten years ago?"

"Of course, my lord," Alaric answered, his eyes widening slightly in realization. "You can't mean…"

"That's right," Maximilian interrupted before Alaric could finish. "Richard will be sent to participate in that man's plan. When he first came, no family dared to answer his request. No one sent anyone to join. But things have changed. If we send Richard now, we might gain that man's support. If it works, the throne of the High King will be ours."

Maximilian held a piece of paper in his hand, bearing the emblem of a spider with 12 legs. 'Being born into the Aurelius family means you must always think of the family first, Richard.'

At that moment, you stood before the grand doors of the library. 'So this is the library. Now, I should be able to find the information I'm looking for.'

Upon entering the library, you see multiple row of high bookshelves around the library with the central part of the library have a map of the castle imprint on the ground. 'Well, this is indeed a large library, now, where are the books that tell the family history at.'

While you searching for the book you want, you when past multiple hooded figure that walking around the bookshelves, cleaning it and arranging it. 'Huh, this is strange, why does them feel so..... soulless?' Their movements were too fluid, too synchronized, lacking the usual imperfections of life. But you just push it aside when you found the books you wanted.

"The Chronicles of Aurelius", a grand tome that meticulously records the history of House Aurelius, stands as a testament to the house's legacy. It chronicles the lives of the most important and prominent figures, both past and present, who shaped the house's destiny. However, the pages of this revered book not only hold the names of those born into the house. They also include the stories of individuals from outside then bloodline—those who have served House Aurelius with unwavering loyalty or made such remarkable contributions that they were granted the honor of bearing the house's name. These figures, though not of direct descent, are immortalized within the tome for their extraordinary deeds, cementing their place in the house's legacy for eternity.

After finding a place to sit down and read the book, you find out you family is one of the most ancient noble house, one that originated from an ancient place call Terra. House Aurelius is one of the prominent lord during a anarchy period, and during the later stage, your ancestors declare alliegence to a person name Emperor. And there is a picture of two headed eagle, and a golden armor figure standing in front of the eagle.

Your heart races as you piece the clues together. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me, right!!??" you think in disbelief. "I got reincarnated into the Warhammer 40K universe!!!" The enormity of this realization hits you like a bolt of lightning, as the grim, dark universe of the far future suddenly becomes your reality.

Turn out, house Aurelius after joing the Imperium, also serve in the military, Imperialis Auxilia, just like the current time. But, they are also figures that serve in the civil office, though most of them also serve in the military department, Munitorum Offices, doing the paperwork for the supply.

During the Great Crusade, all the members of the house serve and die on the battlefield among stars, while this put the house in a bad spot as many members die and just disappear all around the galaxy, the Aurelius cement their prestige in the military and also gain the trust of Malacador. As multiple figures that serve in the Munitorum Offices got send to all the Legion as an advisor, while in the reality, they serve as the secret supervisor for the Imperium, watching the Legions closely for any wrong doing, suspicious movement of troops and fleets, and they only report to Malacador alone.

But, all the primarch know about their missions, but they all just turn a blind eyes as they did not harm them and just let them do their things. As they believe this can help in increase the trust Terra have in them. Especially after the Emperor have return to Terra and name Horus as Warmaster.

During the Horus Heresy, many of the figures that serving in the traitors legions got killed before they successful in sending any messages back to the Imperium. And the many members serve in the Imperialis Auxilia died during this conflict, some died in the battlefield and some died by treachery.

The brutal reality of the Horus Heresy left House Aurelius severely diminished. The heavy casualties they suffered meant that very few members survived the chaos, with only a handful of loyalists emerging from the conflict. The only confirmed survivors were those stationed on the fringes of the galaxy, in remote and unimportant areas that had not been targeted or harassed by the traitor Legions.

Among the main branch of House Aurelius, only three members residing on Terra managed to survive the turmoil. These individuals had played crucial roles in the Imperium's military and logistical operations but had narrowly escaped the horrors of the Heresy. The catastrophic loss of life weighed heavily on the house's legacy, forcing many survivors to reevaluate their futures.

With the heavy toll of the war, most surviving members of House Aurelius chose to retire from active duty, returning to Terra to build new lives. The survivors sought to restore their family lineage, focusing on having children and nurturing the next generation. This shift from battlefield to home front marked a significant turning point for House Aurelius, as they transitioned from a prominent military presence to a family striving to preserve their legacy amidst the ruins of war.

As the new generation grew up on Terra, they would join the newly form Astra Militarum and also the Departmento Munitorum, just like their ancestors did. While future look bright for the house, the arrival of 544 M32 once again change it all. War of the Beast, that also known as Waaagh! The Beast arrive with many members falls on the battlefield in the efforts in buying time for the central government, Terra and Lord Commander of the Imperium, Koorland after the threat of the Orks are inform of all the important and high ranking officers in the Astra Militarum and Imperial Navy.

While suffered heavy casualties, house Aurelius got rewarded with governance over a system after the war. But the reward have been sabotage by Drakan Vangorich, who is name Lord Protector of the Imperium as while they follow his orders, he fear of Aurelius influence and seek to limit it, thus the change of reward from governance of a system to just a fiefdom on a feudal world on an unimportant system have been made.

Because the war just ended and many influence members have unfortunately died in the conflict, your ancestors just accept this reward as they believed that standing up to Vangorich could lead to dire consequences, potentially even the annihilation of their house.

When Vangorich reign end, house Aurelius fate did not change as most of their influence have diminished and are deemed not worthy enough for the new High Lords use their times on. Thus, house Aurelius remain a duke on this feudal world.

So, all the duke, house head of Aurelius do their best in increasing their influence on the planet, local and nearby system. In hope of gaining enough influence to become High King of this world.

"Well, it is worrying that I got reincarnated into warhammer, but luckily I reincarnated as a noble, and a powerful one too and not some no-body in a hive world." This realization provided a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of the universe. While the Warhammer 40K setting was fraught with danger and uncertainty, having noble status offered opportunities that others could only dream of.

After spending 3 more hours reading different kind of books, you find out that you did inhered the photographic memory. 'That's good to know, I'm not only can remember faster, but nobody can find out that the real Richard have change to me.' With this, you put back all the books that you read back to their places and exit the library.

But, before you can turn towards to direction that led to your bedroom, you heard a sound. "Young Master Richard, your father, Lord Maximilian have request you to join for the dinner." a servant, Albert that serve for your father say to you. "Understood, I will arrive for the dinner." You answer. And Albert bown slightly to you before leaving.

'Well, I better prepare myself properly if I'm meeting father.' You think while walking towards your bedroom.