Pride

With the arrival of the Isenlyth, Baldur was given extra lessons that he could have never had a chance to get due to the short amount of time he was able to spend with Eldrad. And in return, he and his people shared as much as they could about Feluc and their culture as well as the Imperium's. 

The relationship between the two groups was progressing well, though many members of the Imperial Army and Navy were against having the Asuryani on their flagship. These voices were ignored as Baldur wanted to learn as much as he could from these people. 

But this progression would eventually hit a bump. The next several worlds that they had come across complied without issue, seeing that the Imperium was too powerful to disobey. It was their 9th world after they had met with the Isenlyth that the issue occurred. 

Those people refused to comply. When their fleet was decimated, they refused. When their largest army was destroyed, they refused. Even when their leaders were beheaded by Baldur personally and put in front of the capitol building, they refused. 

It was only when the Grey Knights burned down the capital and killed all the people within that the people of the planet finally got the message. They understood that the ones that had come would not simply give up if they remained stubborn. So the last leader who was spared surrendered on behalf of his people. 

When it was all done, Baldur and his honor guard were inside the massive library that the planet had. This was the one building left untouched in their attack on the capital. Baldur's men walked through the library and took important documents before walking out of the front doors. And that was when Elvara could no longer take it.

"Do you feel pride?" the Isenlyth asked in anger and confusion, seeing all the death that was around them. The buildings burning in the background. A world that had been destroyed. "Of the lives you took? That you are conquered someone weaker than you? Why not fight someone stronger? Our people would never do something so cowardly! I thought you were a king! Where is the pride of a king?!?!"

"Pride?" Baldur asked, baffled. He could feel the rage building. As much as he wanted to hold it back, he couldn't. He had held it back for long enough. 

"I abandoned my pride years ago for the sake of my people. I wear a collar around my neck like a dog with the chain held in the Emperor's hands!" he shouted in her face, his energy leaking out of him and rapidly cooling the surrounding area

"I was a good king! I fought for my people, taking down criminals wherever they reared their heads! I brought Psykers out of the shadows, creating a place where not only they were accepted but where they could learn to live their lives more freely. I created an academy for all to learn freely without caring about status, family, or wealth! Where an orphan from the slums could learn next to the daughter of a duke!"

"I united my entire system without shedding a drop of blood or my Psyker powers, only trying my best with my words to convince them all to come under my rule. I made an alliance with all 3 branches of the Aeldari! I created festivals for us to enjoy together and promote unity! All I wanted was to create a peaceful society!" Even as his voice raged, everyone could hear the pride in it

"But that was not my fate! That was not my destiny! I always knew the Emperor was out there and that he would come for me one day. I knew that I would either have to kill him or submit! So I trained for years! Constantly honing my skills and abilities, pushing myself like no other! I wanted to be strong enough to kill that tyrant and let my people live in the peace I had created for them!" Baldur held his hands to his head as he feel to his knees, the first time they had touched the ground in years

"But when I saw him with my own eyes. When he appeared in my throne room, all I saw was him standing atop a massive wall. He was at a height that I could not reach! So I had two choices before me: submission or death, just like all these people before us." his voice began to get quiet, the rage was still there but it was steady

"But I was different. I was a Primarch. I was one of his tools! He would not allow planets that were loyal to me to survive, even if I died! It was not just my life I could think about at that moment! It was my wife's! My mother! The lives of my sons! Of my people! All who he would erase without a thought because they were related to me, the son that rebelled!"

"So I choose to become his tool. To become a conqueror that ruined the lives of others to protect the lives of those I care about! But do not think that I take joy or pride in this! Do not think for a moment that to be true!" he roared at her, the force behind it knocking her back and causing her nose to bleed but the woman did not even try to stop it. She simply looked at Baldur in shock

"A Galaxy where many small empire and kingdoms exist. Where there will be the occasional conflict and there will be corruption. To me, there is nothing wrong with that. To allow others to live their lives as they wish as long as it does not bring harm to another." his voice cooled, losing the emotion in it. All those around him could feel how empty Baldur felt at the moment.

"I will one day reclaim my pride, though. One day, I will become strong enough to fight back. To break the chain that holds me. And when I do, I will burn down the Golden Throne and all of Terra along with the Emperor," Baldur turned around and began marching forward without looking back, ready to return to his drake. "Until that day comes, I will continue doing what I must to ensure the survival of my people."

The others all looked at each other, none being able to say a word. Elvara stood up with the help of her brother before they all followed Baldur back to the Drake, each with a deeper understanding of the 2nd as well as new-found respect.