Nikephoros shuffled in the queue with the other students of the Schola Progenium. The group was being herded along the path to the Schola's Mausoleum. Nikephoros was in awe of the enormous statues of the legends he studied in the small chapel back home. He wanted to get out of line and pray at the feet of the massive mile-high statue of the Emperor Triumphant. The young man wanted to run among the hundreds of statues to find Sebastian Thor, Malacador the Stiligite, and the Primarchs. That hope was dashed by the stern look of one of the many guards.

"You look as if you've never seen a statue before," a girl said from behind Nikephoros.

"The only one we had back home was one of the Emperor Beneficent out in front of the chapel. It wasn't even life-size," the boy answered after he turned around.

The girl looked at Nikephoros as if he had just confessed he was actually a new breed of intelligent grox. "How can you not have a life-sized statue of the God-Emperor?! Isn't that, like, illegal or something?"

"We were a young colony. I don't know the story, but grandpa said he remembers hearing his grandpa talking about being the first humans on the planet," Nikephoros revealed.

"Oh, that's stringy I guess," the girl said. "I'm Enyo, by the way."

'Stringy?' "I'm Nikephoros," Nikephoros answered. The conversation never had a chance to continue. A stern-faced overseer glared at the two children. The next few hours passed in silence.

It would be the last time he ever saw Enyo. Three weeks later, she was dead. Nikephoros had heard there had been an accident during a class on weapons. A student activated the pilot-light of a flamer and it had set off the tear gas being used to desensitize the class. Enyo had burned to death while saving her classmates. Nikephoros had only known her for a few short moments, but the death hit him hard. He found comfort in the teachings of the Ecclesiarchy.

He considered Enyo a martyr for her sacrifice.

Nikephoros poured himself into his studies. The first few years at the Schola Progenium consisted of a unified curriculum. The Missionaries running the school ruthlessly molded the children into Progena. That being said, the Missionaries encouraged the students to channel their energies into their interests. Nikephoros remembered how the Inquisitor had said he had an instinctive grasp for war and initially sought to be a great warrior in service of the God-Emperor.

He did not excel. He was not exceptional. He was simply one more talented individual in a class of thousands.

This realization caused the child to emotionally shut down for a time. Nikephoros was not sure why he possessed an overwhelming desire to bring war to the enemies of Mankind. The Schola focused a great on reinforcing the Ecclesiarchy Tenets of holy war and Humanity's manifest destiny. Nikephoros and the other students of the had almost no leisure time. They were being honed into weapons to serve the God-Emperor.

Finally, Nikephoros grew weary of his attempts at meditation through flagellation. He could not purge his doubts through physical pain. The young man needed guidance.

As his classmates celebrated the Zhujanzai, the religious feast honoring the Imperial Guardsmen and Red Hunter Astartes that died purging Chūjitsuna of the xenos species that had claimed the world during the Age of Apostasy, Nikephoros slipped into the main chapel.

Nikephoros signed the Aquila as he whispered a prayer to the God-Emperor. The air was thick with incense and the exhaust of three hundred choral servitors. Minor priests, Schola Acolytes, and lay-servants hurried around the minor, merely two-hundred thirty eight meters by sixty meters, chapel. Nikephoros knew that coming to such a minor chapel would give him the best chance to talk with a senior priest of the Ecclesiarchy during Zhujanzai.

"Excuse me," Nikephoros said politely as he approached an acolyte.

"Yes, child?" The Acolyte said solemnly. "How may I impart the Will of the God-Emperor to you?"

Nikephoros bowed his head. "Father, I need guidance. Soon, I will be selected for my task in service to the God-Emperor. I will accept, and rejoice, in whatever role the Imperium believes I can best sacrifice my life for the God-Emperor as. I-I just wish to prepare myself for that role."

"It is good that you understand your place in the Imperium," The Acolyte began. "Young child, you have glorious acceptance of your position. I commend your determination to martyr yourself in service to our Blessed Imperium."

"Blessed and noble are the Martyrs, for they died in service and by the Will of the Emperor. Citizens must assign all power to the Emperor, for who would not love the commandments and lash of their God and Master?" Nikephoros quoted Saint Koleparq's Treatise on the Martyrs.

The priest smiled. "You are well read for a child. However, you should be wary of knowledge. It can lead to questions and those who question their station question the Will of the Emperor."

"I only read that which shows me the path that leads to the Emperor's Table," the young man assured the priest.

"Good, all Knowledge stems from the Emperor. Technology from his aspect as the Omnissiah of the Mechanicus, spiritually from his aspect as the Sole God of Mankind, militarily from the time where he strode the Stars during the Great Crusade. He is All."

The Father smiled as the child nodded reverently. "What was your purpose before you arrived here?"

Nikephoros looked up. "To serve the Emperor."

'Such glorious indoctrination,' the Priest thought. "How were you to have served the Emperor?"

"My family were farmers. We grew manoic and kaorn," Nikephoros recalled. His mind brushed up against Forbidden and he recoiled. It wasn't a word, but a concept or a geas. Once again, Nikephoros shuddered at strange and shrouded knowledge that existed within his own mind. He pushed it aside. A blessed mind was one that was too small for doubt after all.

"I believe a path is revealing itself. Return to your readings, the Chapel of the Seven Martyrs will contact you during your next sleep cycle."

Nikephoros bowed and profusely thanked the Priest. The Priest blessed the child and asked for the Emperor to continue to consecrate the boy to His Service. After the boy had left, the priest returned to his alcove and activated a vox.

"This is Father Ahito," the priest began. "I would like to request access to the academic records of Nikephoros Komnenos."

Six days later, Nikephoros Komnenos entered a small chapel within the Schola Progenium itself. There were two dozen other students in the chapel. Several were reciting prayers, but many sat at rigid attention. The great doors to the chapel were thrown open. As their years of training dictated, the Schola Juvies jumped to their feet and snapped to attention.

A grizzled old woman appraised the collection of students. Her form was heavily rebuilt with bionics. Nikephoros could clearly see that her entire right arm and leg were Mechanicus-blessed replacements.

"Children of the Emperor," she began. "I am Oliah Lamartie and I have wandered in dark places. In my century of servitude to the Master of Mankind, I have sought out the shadowed areas of the Emperor's Galaxy to bring our Lord's Light to the huddled masses. Through my lessons, you too will seek out these dark places. Children, you have been chosen."

"Children, you shall be Missionaries."

Thought for the Day: A questioning servant is more dangerous than an ignorant heretic.

Wow, it has been a long since I updated this. As with most of my 40k fics, you can thank Battle Bruva Volks for getting my muse to focus on something! Please review. Reviews are the Emperor's Currency.