"Bring them over," Bastion said, too lazy to make the journey.
"My Lord, I think it would be best if you meet them outside," Elara advised as Bastion turned to face her fully.
"Who are they?"
"My Lord, the Canoness and what seems to be a regiment of the Adeptus Sororitas," Elara replied as Bastion sighed.
"I'm guessing they didn't state why they're here," Bastion said before suddenly turning to look behind her.
In the distance, he could see the armored Canoness walking toward him with about three Battle Sisters following behind. Their bolters were in hand, chainswords drawn.
Behind them, he noticed his PDF bodyguards being replaced by Sororitas. They were taking over his palace—yet Bastion remained seated calmly, as though oblivious to it all.
There was a strange calmness in him despite the potentially dangerous situation he was in. He didn't feel panicked, nor even the least bit worried.
"Your Grace," the Canoness greeted, giving a military salute.
The armored women behind her immediately knelt, heads bowed and weapons laid aside. This was the outcome he'd expected. The title of Saint came with certain perks—beyond near-absolute control over his court.
"You may rise," Bastion said, still seated.
At his words, they stood and quickly took positions around the small structure. Seeing this, Bastion turned to the Canoness.
"It is the duty of the Adeptus Sororitas to protect the Emperor's Chosen," she replied.
Hearing her, Bastion nearly rolled his eyes. He knew that much. He'd expected this from the beginning, ever since he understood who the Sororitas were.
He didn't need anyone to tell him how fanatical they were—he'd already seen the Canoness defy a Cardinal just to speak with him.
To these women, his words carried far more weight than those of a high Ecclesiarch or Cardinal. A perk of being a Living Saint—by default, he had full control over armies he wouldn't normally command.
"A formal request could have been placed. This…" Bastion gestured toward the Sororitas who had replaced his guards, "...could be mistaken for treason or heresy."
"I apologize, my Lord. However, no further delays could be allowed on such an important matter," the Canoness said. Bastion merely shrugged.
Truthfully, he didn't care much about who guarded the palace. The more external bodies around him, the more his sainthood was legitimized—even if he knew he wasn't truly a Saint.
"So, I'm guessing that as of today, you're now in charge of my protection?" Bastion asked.
"It is as you say, Your Grace," she replied.
Staring at her, Bastion finally met her eyes and immediately saw the unwavering zeal in them. The documents hadn't lied. Scanning the Battle Sisters around him, he sensed the same fanaticism in their gazes.
The Ecclesiarchy had truly shaped these women. They were trained to recognize miracles and follow them without question. For his current situation, that was good—but he could also see the darker side of their devotion.
He was a false Saint. If he harbored even a hint of ill intent, he'd just gained an extremely loyal army.
"You know, I never got your name, Canoness," Bastion said as he stood.
"Lucilla Castella, my Lord," she replied, bowing.
"Very well, Miss Lucilla. While I accept the Adeptus Sororitas' protection, I cannot endorse employment based on faith alone." Bastion turned to Elara. "My Lord? Your Grace?" Elara and Lucilla responded simultaneously.
"Summon all Sororitas who've formed this 'Saint's Guard.' Elara, fetch me paper and pen," Bastion ordered.
They both bowed and hurried to obey. Despite the flicker of frustration on the Canoness' face, she complied without hesitation.
No more than thirty minutes later, Bastion stood before a small regiment of Adeptus Sororitas.
"Praise the Emperor!" Bastion chanted instinctively.
"Praise Him!" they shouted in unison.
Seeing their zeal and fanatical faith, Bastion knew they'd either be a great asset or a significant hurdle to his plans. Thankfully, the more blinded they were, the easier they'd be to manipulate—though considering the circumstances, it might be best to open their eyes slightly.
"There are 200 of you comprising the Saint's Guard. However, I must remind you of one thing: you are no longer of the Adeptus Sororitas," Bastion declared in a tone that demanded understanding.
A few gasps arose, but most simply stared at him.
"Though I may be a Saint, I do not employ based on faith alone. Each of you will undergo reeducation and testing. If you pass, you'll sign a contract formalizing this arrangement," he continued.
As if his words were law, the women remained still, their expressions unchanged—pure, unwavering faith. Even the Canoness showed no dissent.
"Any objections?" Bastion asked.
"None, Your Grace!"
"Excellent. Then let us proceed."