[Streamer] 4 – Interrogation

Moments after I awoke, messages clouded my vision.

[Congratulations on completing the challenge!]

[Issuing Reward: Tome of Ozul the Sage]

[Congratulations on completing the challenge!]

[Issuing Reward: Divine Wings]

[Divine Wings - Said to be a Gift from the Protector of Mankind to those he blesses. Wings are fully functional and are strong enough to take flight despite the blessed's body weight]

[End Stream?]

[No input. Continuing stream]

'...Wings?' I thought, reaching back to feel, finding nothing.

[The Emperor of Mankind states that his blessing only manifests when the Chosen chooses to do so]

[The Blood God and Conquerer of Stars congratulates the Streamer on their Victory]

With but a thought, two angelic wings tore their way out of my shoulders, making me wince. With a flex, my right wing curved around my body, allowing me to look at it.

The feathers were bloody, yet I could see a golden shine emitting from the wings underneath the blood. The Wings felt like something...divine. They gave off a 'holy' feeling that made me feel as if they were beacons of hope, of the Light against the Darkness, and a bane against the enemies of Humanity.

That's when I heard the door open in the small cell-turned infirmary I found myself in and came face to face with a nurse as I sat upright on the bed, entirely naked, examining one of my wings.

Without saying a single word, the Nurse’s eyes widened before she immediately turned around and closed the door behind her. I swear I could have heard some ‘clicks’ from the other side of the door.  Well...I had a few guesses about where I was, but if the symbol on the nurse's uniform was anything to go by, the options dropped to two.

SHIELD or Hydra.

Hydra was just a bunch of Nazis who infiltrated SHIELD after world war two and were using SHIELD as a cover for most of their operations, and they were primarily responsible for most of the messed up shit involving SHIELD. So, if I ended up with SHIELD, I had half a mind that I'd 'mysteriously' disappear and get taken by HYDRA if I were to drop my guard, especially if the upper management of HYDRA learned about my...Undeath.

With my...Patrons surprisingly quiet and time on my hands until that Nurse got someone, I called forth the reward I had gotten from Tzeentch, the Tome of Ozul the Sage. I was not an expert in Warhammer 40k Lore in any capacity, but I don't think I have ever heard of such an individual.

When the thick tome appeared before me and landed in my hands, I couldn't help but wince at the sheer disgusting aura the tome emitted. It looked to be made of red leather stitched haphazardly together, forming the tome's front and back. Embedded in the center of the tome was a crystalline eye in a bright shade of blue.

Part of me couldn't help but wince when I realized that it was obviously the skin of a daemon treated and stitched together to make the Tome's cover.

[The Emperor of Mankind demands that Streamer burn the Tome to ash!]

[The Keeper of Balance frowns upon seeing the Tome]

[The Changer of Ways beckons the Streamer to use the Tome]

Ignoring them, I opened the Tome and read the first passage.

To whomever may be reading this, my name is Ozul. Sage of Aurelia. This tome is an accumulation of all of my life's work, countless years of study, research, and experimentation. Listed are rituals, spells, and so much more. Due to my work, I have become an outcast, a 'Heretic'' to the Imperium. I have only made it this far in life due to an extensive list of Rituals to hide myself from the Imperium and my pact with the Architect of Fate. However, that Pact comes with a cost, as in the end, my soul will end up in the feathered hands of the Architect. It is my hope that whoever reads this does not follow my path and instead uses what I have learned to forge their own. Do not make a pact with the Ruinious Four. I pray that you heed my warning, for a Pact with one of the four is not worth its price.'

I was not the most knowledgeable about Warhammer 40k lore, but if I remember correctly, Aurelia is home to the Blood Ravens. I do not recall this figure ever being mentioned, though if he was, he was probably not all that popular of a figure. [#1]

I flipped to the next page.

Those with a gift for the Arcane are always hunted down. Whether it be by Chaos Cultists looking to expand their numbers or the Imperium seeking to use and manipulate those gifted or exterminate those who prove to be troublesome, we will always be hunted down by those ignorant, foolish, or spiteful. The first chapter of my Tome is about rituals, spells, and techniques one can use to avoid, escape, and hide from these forces, for even the most powerful can be slain in their slumber or a moment of weakness. 

[Hidden Presence], The first spell any Gifted in the Arcane should learn is a spell to make the caster harder to notice. This spell has proven to be a lifesaver to me dozens of times; however, there is a weakness to this spell, as with any other. Others gifted with the arcane can see through this spell. 

As I read about [Hidden Presence], I came to realize that Ozul was quite thorough in this passage about the spell. From explaining how to increase the duration and strength of the spell using material components or an Arcane Focus to a note about some Children and certain animals being able to see through the spell. He even included a passage for a ritualistic version of this spell that could affect objects and structures to create hidden passages, invisible traps, and even an invisible gun that Ozul noted to be surprisingly effective against those who were Mundane.

For hours, I read, finding the spells and rituals becoming more complex and challenging to decipher, something that my audience didn't seem to like as once in a while they'd complain, though I did notice two were intrigued by the Tome as much as I was if their comments were anything to go by.

[The Conquerer of the Stars is intrigued and theorizing ways to use the Rituals and Spells to his benefit]

[The Keeper of the Balance frowns in confusion towards the power the Words of Power represent]

I still had no idea who the two were, especially with how little context I could glean from their messages. However, I could assume a few things from what I have learned so far. The Conquerer of Stars knew magic to some degree and was undoubtedly a General, King, or strategist of some kind, while the Keeper of the Balance was old. I did not know how old, but based on some of the things they said, they've seen a lot and know a lot. I also learned that the Conquerer of Stars was more than likely not from an SCFI setting like the Runious Four, based on his unfamiliarity with the modern world, such as cars, appliances, and weapons. For god's sake, the dude gave me swords, and while some SCFI worlds extensively used swords, I doubt they were as simple as the ones I had received.

However, before I could continue reading, I finally heard the door of my cell open.

...

[#1] Ozul is an OC