Morning, the next day Rosetta awoke to the rumbling clang of heavy, metallic feet echoing in from the outside world. She rushed to the shadow of the wall and hid from the hole just as another shadow consumed the light shining into the cave.

It's broad features, pauldrons, power pack, Rosetta recognised the silhouette of Astartes power armour. The figure struck the roof of the hole, blasting away chunks of solid rock with its gauntleted fist.

Soon, when the hole was big enough, it leapt through and landed inside the cave. The earth shuddered as its feet slammed against the ground in a thunderous collision of earth and metal. Rosetta had to bite her tongue as she found herself staring down the back of a giant.

She recognised the familiar purple and gold of a most hated foe. The dreaded traitor Astartes of the Emperor's Children have come to Helios. The giant still wore the ancient battle plate of Mark III power armour.

Holy ancient symbols of winged talons, still visible under drapes of skin and fur, told of the grace this angel has fallen so far from. They told of glories long since forgotten. They told of suffering, regret and a longing that shall never be relieved.

He reached into his sheath and slowly drew a greatsword. A massive two-handed weapon by human standards but it fit in his single hand like a glove. He sniffed and snorted then flinched. As if he was repulsed by the filth of the cave.

Piled up crustacean manure and corpses stunk the room to the high heavens. Rosetta was so lost in her mind to notice until now. Yet she used the cover to try to slip away. She took one step to the side as the Astartes scanned the room.

Then she froze as the Astartes jerked his head then lashed out impossibly fast. Smashing into the wall behind Rosetta as the Sororitas ducked under the strike and leapt towards the water. She sensed him recoil as he ripped his sword out of the wall.

Another sword strike made her leap again and land on the shoreline. She dove into the water just as a third slashed into her back. She allowed the current to carry her with all speed and it slammed her into the rock and sucked her into a hole.

-//-

The world was pitch black. Rosetta couldn't even open her eyes. Her lungs begged for air but she could not allow it. Her body was battered and bashed as current thrashed her against the rock. She let her body free, conserving oxygen by not doing anything.

In return, her body was hurled about like a rag doll. She suffered a world of pain as she was thrown against the walls of the hole and was forced through its many curves. Rosetta almost cried as the world encroached upon her.

She felt nothing but the running water around her and the accursed rock. Her lung's demands for air began to prove too great and threatened to make her pass out. She started taking in water but strained again, resisting the oncoming tide.

Then one mighty smack to her forehead shocked her out of it and the water flowed in once again. She tried to shut her mouth once more but it was too late. It was too much, she was tired. Tired of living. She let the darkness consume her utterly.

Like a corpse, she fell out with the waterfall on the other end. There, she was found near death by an unlikely saviour. A strange figure draped in ragged clothes. It took an interest in her long before and prepared well in advance.

With an outstretched, long, bony palm it projected its energy at the Sororitas. Upon command, the water was pulled out of Rosetta's lungs and her heart was struck. Coughing and gasping for air Rosetta was revived.

After a few tense moments, Rosetta awoke. Coughing up water and drained of strength she barely caught a glimpse of her saviour before passing out once more. Without a moment's delay, he took her from here and hurried to safety.

-//-

He took her away from the mountain, to home and hearth. He took her in. Healed her, clothed her and tucked her away. In time and with careful attention Rosetta soon recovered from her hell. At last, she awoke, free from her bleak life in the mountains.

Rosetta looked around at a room made of stone and wood and lit by a bright fireplace. She relished the comfort and warmth she found inside her bed. The place was old, huge logs of wood stood tall and strong amidst a wall of stone held together by thick mortar.

Wooden shelves lined the walls. Each one filled with oddities of all kinds. From artistic creations carved from all manner of material to fossils to jarred specimens, they amounted a strange collection of the weird and wonderful.

She was sure it had to be another illusion or at least an afterlife of sorts. She got up and found herself clothed in a chemise. Then she became surer that she was dead by the minute as she experienced strange smells and comforts she did not recognise.

The tantalising smell of cooking food, the warmth of the fireplace, it all was alien to her. Throughout her life, trivial matters such as tasteful foods and comfortable temperatures were either expressly forbidden or ignored concerns. Lest the temptation distract a focused mind.

Now, these so-called temptations flourished in her senses. She did not like it. It was both decadent and distasteful, an affront to her faith. One's holds should be spartan in nature. Containing nought but the necessities of life.

She found her way to the door and turned the knob to open it. Wandering out into the hallway, she turned to her left and found the disturbing sight of the hooded figure staring out the window and into the night.

Don't trust him.

He presented her with a single jewel in the shape of a water drop. It fit in his hand. A single gem laid within that seemed impossibly huge. In its depths, the stars of a galaxy shone with divinity.

Its very presence carried a weight upon the souls who bore witness of its majesty.

"This is the Heart of Freya." He said.

His voice was ancient, deep and rasp. It was heavy with the weight of regret as was his heart.

"For aeons, my order has stood guard over her. Even when she was broken into seven pieces we gathered her up and protected her until one can make her whole." He continued.

Then he looked down at her arm.

"The power of the dark prince pollutes this land as it polluted the hearts of my order. My former brethren foregone their robes and donned armours of gold and decadence. You must restore Freya. You must restore us."

Then he shivered in sorrow

"Otherwise I fear we are all doomed to a fate at the dark prince's hands."

Then like the distant echo of brewing anger Aura returned.

The Imperium has returned old fool! This planet is theirs!

"No! That future is yet to be decided Freya!" Mimir snapped back, silencing her instantly and stunning Rosetta.

With all urgency, Mimir took Rosetta's right arm and beheld the jewels wrapped around. He pointed to the disc one, the first one Rosetta had found.

"This is her compassion." He explained.

Then he pointed to the other one.

"That is her anger." He continued.

Aura's anger and hatred brewed all the more visible now.

I will not be imprisoned anymore!

Aura roared as she leapt at Mimir. In response, Mimir took hold of Rosetta's arm with his right hand and raised his left one up into the air.

In that instant, Aura was lifted into the air and restrained. She hissed and growled in anger as she struggled to move. Mimir's eyes glowed like fires in the shadow of his hood as he exercised powers gathered from millennia of living.

Awed by the show of might Rosetta froze. The use of such dark powers, the manipulation of and the dabbling of the warp. The presence of mutant filth both disgusted and offended her. Yet, barehanded she felt helpless before such power. She felt useless.

"You are incomplete Freya. Allow me to restore you one last time."

No! Never! I will allow the Prince's wrath to flow upon these plains before I am consumed!

Mimir forced the jewels to break free from their chains and all three began to float in the air. The teardrop jewel began to pulse. It expanded and contracted like a functioning heart. Aura gazed upon it with horror and disgust.

"It is done. Freya! Now given the name Aura! You shall have your heart back! By the winds of the void, I restore it to you!" He began to roar.

The Jewels glowed blindingly bright. Like stars, they shone with all their might. They began orbiting the beating heart. Going ever faster and closer by the second. Rosetta had to shelter her eyes from the immense light.

When the light cleared the jewels had reformed into one and Rosetta reached out for it. It had now taken the form of a small orb. It sparkled with the light of all colours yet still seemed empty.

It rested in her hand and chains burst out of it and wrapped themselves around Rosetta's arm. Then Aura burst back into sight. This time she seemed calm, caring even.

Aura looked to her barer and smiled. Afterwards, she spoke.

Hello again, Rosetta.

-//-

Suspicion burning brightly within her, Rosetta found this Aura disturbing. Her hair had grown, her smile had returned and the disgust in which she regarded everything had all but faded from her entirely.

Aura bowed her head.

Forgive me. I had not been myself until now.

She had always thought the child, some machination in her mind. Perhaps even a bizarre anomaly. For too long the Sororitas had childishly convinced herself that Aura was not what she clearly was.

"Daemon." The word seeped out of Rosetta's lips like an ice-cold curse as she boiled over with rage. She stabbed her finger at Aura.

"You will not corrupt me any further, warp spawn!" The Sororitas barked.

Unfazed Aura took a step forward and Rosetta recoiled. Seeing that Aura paused, she changed her approach.

Again, I apologise for my actions. I was created to battle the archenemy not serve them.

"Lies!"

Realising impending peril Rosetta grew utterly desperate. She knew it was a hopeless fight yet she'd be damned if she didn't try. She began to tug on and claw at the chains binding her to Aura. Sensing the oncoming doom she lost her senses in the berserk rush to survive.

She gave up on the chains and grabbed a small bust and leapt at Mimir's throat. His eyes burned like torches again as he erected a force field. Rosetta slammed hard on it and was hurled back against the stone wall.

"Mutant! What trickery is this!" Rosetta hissed.

"I have no love for you, star born. Like it or not... The strands of fate have bound us together. I have no choice! I must make you into what you must become or all will perish!"

He raised a hand and Rosetta was raised off of her feet. She began to wail and howl with pain as the jewel bound to her was driven into her skin. Bit by painful bit it became part of her. She stared at him with blazing fury.

"Heretic! I'll have you burn for this! Aargh!" Rosetta struggled to growl the words through immense pain. She felt the massive jewel being pushed through her body. Pushing through masses of muscle and body tissue it created excruciating pain.

Then she felt it penetrate into her torso and flow between her various organs until finally resting just in front of her heart. She gasped and panted for air as the pain ceased. Then to her horror Aura nodded and Mimir's hand gesture changed.

She screamed in pain as chains shot out from the jewel and permeated throughout her body. Bonding with flesh, bone and nerve they flooded her mind with white-hot pain. It was too much for any mortal mind to bare. She passed out, poor victim of fate.

Rejoice, Sister. We are one.

-//-