Silence had fallen again in that room, Aesoth massaging his chin thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Izuku. That scrutinising look wouldn't let him calm down; he was almost waiting for something, as if waiting for him to speak. Izuku felt the need to say something, anything, even a simple question would be useful. But of all the things he can say or the questions he can ask, only two came to mind.

  ?W-where am I? W-where is my mom??

  Only a few seconds passed when Aesoth's deep voice rang out again. This time, he spoke Japanese, but with slight differences from the Japanese he is used to.

  ?You are on the Sacred Terra, in my private rooms of the Imperial Pace.? he calmly stated. ?As for your mother, I don't know how to answer you, Midoriya-kun.?

  ?I-I understand, Koumadra-san.?

  ?You don't actually understand, Midoriya-kun. Also, correct the appeltive you refer to me. Not "san", but "sama".?

  ?Y-yes, Koumadra-sama.?

  ?Better. Now tell me, Midoriya-kun, how did you reach the Golden Throne??

  ?The Golden Throne?? he asked, confusedly ?What is the Golden Throne??

  ?......Let me rephrase, how did you get here??

  Izuku looked down slightly, and memories of what had happened before he was sucked into that bck hole came flooding back to him. He spoke without concealing details, as if his instinct required him to tell only the truth before this man, that the smallest falsehood would be immediately discovered and lead to terrible consequences.

  For his part, Aesoth didn't interrupt him even once; his superhuman mind catalogued and analysed every word and phrase spoken. When the child finished, some questions appeared in the venerable Captain-General's head.

  ?So, you're saying you came here because of an accident, during a Vilin attack, correct??

  ?Yes? he said shyly

  ?What are Heroes? What are the Vilins??

  ?Heroes save people with a smile. The Vilins make others cry.?

  In Aesoth's mind, many pieces began to fall into pce, confirming Izuku's story. A visitor from another universe. This is the first time it has happened. An incident in which a criminal or "Vilin" takes Izuku Midoriya hostage, and for reasons unknown to him, ended up at the foot of the Golden Throne, without auxiliary w enforcers or "Heroes" being able to do anything. One moment, could the object my lord entrusted to me have something to do with their intrusion?

  ?The name of your pnet, what is it called? Where are you from??

  ?My mother and I live in Musutafu, Japan.?

  He doesn't know the name of the pnet...? Looking back, the ancient imperial archives mention an archipego on the Asian continent with a name very simir to this one. So it's likely he's a native of Terra

  ?In Japan, can anyone become a Hero or a Vilin??

  ?Y-yes. Thanks to the Quirks, anyone can become one or the other, or even live normally.?

  ?Quirk??

  ?These powers are unique to each person, and they appeared and spread across the world all those years ago. My mother also has one.?

  It looks like a mutation. So the boy is a mutant too...

  ?So, everyone owns this Quirk, right??

  ?Y...... y-yes? Izuku said hesitantly

  ?Hm? You hesitated. Is there something you're hiding from me??

  ?......... I...? He started and then paused, noticing Aesoth's attentive gaze.

  ?You... what??

  ?I-I don't have it.?

  ?Don't you have it?? he asked Aesoth, raising his eyebrow.

  ?I-I am Quirkless, Koumadra-sama.? Izuku began trembling. ?I am Quirkless, and that's why everyone says I can never make my dream come true.?

  ?Your dream??

  ?Becoming a Hero like All-Might.? he said, tears beginning to gather in his eyes. ?Everyone tells me I'm a burden, that I'm a nobody. Every day, my mother keeps apologising to me...?

  From there, Izuku began to talk endlessly. He talked about the guilt he doesn't possess, the guilt his mother doesn't possess, and how he is targeted by other children because of his being different.

  Aesoth let him speak, beginning for the first time in centuries to feel the feeling of pity, because of this child. In the Imperium, mutants are persecuted, and purity is exalted. But for him, it's the opposite. Just because he's pure, he gets picked on. But... what is true purity in that world? Are Quirks simple genetic mutations? Or is it the humanity of that Earth that is evolving?

  Aesoth now better understood his lord's sudden order. This child had his dream stolen even before it could come true. The Imperium is continually besieged by Xeno, Heretics and Mutants, every day sending millions of lives to the crucible of war just to prevent the extinction of the human race so loved by the Emperor. This brutality dictated by necessity, the indoctrination and religious fanaticism propagated by the Ecclesiarchy... this was not the Imperium that the Emperor of Mankind had seen. He hadn't seen this carcass driven by superstition instead of reason. The Emperor has sat on the throne for 7000 years, but Aesoth is confident He can see how His subjects have turned His dream into a nightmare. This child dreamed and still dreams of being a Hero. He's not from this universe. He resisted the presence of the Lord of Mankind. And my Lord gave me that order. He wants to give this child a chance to make his dream come true. But why one of us? We are his guards; our duty is to be by his side. How can he become a Hero?

  Aesoth never questioned his Lord's will and certainly won't do it now. Probably, there are reasons he is unaware of, if this now-crying child, venting his frustration, has to enter the Adeptus Custodes.

  ?Feeling better now, Midoriya-kun??

  ?*Sniff*, Yes. Thank you for your patience, Koumadra-sama.?

  ?Now let's get back on track.? Aesoth began. ?The pce where I found you, where you arrived, is the hall of the Golden Throne, where the Emperor of Mankind sits and watches over humanity scattered throughout the gaxy. Do you remember??

  ?......I remember golden light, a presence pressing on my head, a burning but enveloping heat like an embrace, and I remember... a skull with a red lens, girded with golden urel.?

  That st detail left Aesoth surprised. Genuinely surprised, as the urel wreath has not girded his Lord's head since He has been seated on the throne. The urel is a symbol of wisdom and victory. This child not only saw the skeletal face of the Emperor, but he saw it girded with urel. This means that if he ascends to the rank of Custodian, his duties will also take him outside the Imperial Pace. Now, he can no longer use excuses to dey this child's entry.

  ?Um, Koumadra-sama.? Izuku called. ?I should go now. I should go home, or my mother will worry.?

  Aesoth looked at the shy child in front of him. His expression got complicated, very complicated.

  ?I don't think it's possible.?

  ?I-isn't possible?!? he asked tremblingly ?Why?!?

  ?Whatever carried you at the foot of the Golden Throne is irreparably damaged.? Aesoth said coldly ?I entrusted the object to an Archmagos of Mars so it could study and repair it. But how long it will take to repair it, and especially whether it can be repaired, is a whole different story.?

  The realisation that he was stuck in this universe struck Izuku, the shock so great that his initial shock and fear were soon repced by tears and pleas to return home. Aesoth remained silent the whole time, until the young man calmed down again. But in Izuku's eyes, the desire to return home had become very strong.

  ?I'm sorry I haven't given you better news, but maybe there's something I can do for you.?

  Rubbing his eyes, Izuku looked up again, listening to the Captain-General.

  ?Now answer with extreme sincerity. You said you want to be a Hero. Even if they keep telling you it's impossible, that you have no hope of becoming one, would you keep trying to make that dream come true??

  Izuku looked at him in surprise. A silence that sted several minutes to allow the child to contempte his heart. He wiped away the remnants of tears he had and then stared into Aesoth's eyes

  ?Koumadra-sama, even though I am quirkless, even if the whole world or the universe told me it's impossible, it is my dream to become an Hero to help others and see them smile. I want to show them that even someone like me can be a Hero who can save people while smiling.? he stated

  Aesoth's left lip rose slightly. A smile of approval for the indomitable determination that burns in the heart of this visitor from another dimension.

  ?When I found you, the Emperor of Mankind commanded me to give you the chance to become one of us.?

  ?One of you?? he asked Izuku in confusion.

  ?We are the Adeptus Custodes, the personal guard and advisors of the Emperor, the Guardians of the Golden Throne.? Aesoth proudly stated ?And perhaps the only opportunity that fate or the Emperor himself has offered you to realise your dream.?

  Izuku's eyes shone with a new light. True, he cannot return home, but at the mention of being able to realise his dream, hope fred, repcing the desire to return to his mother's arms. Noticing this, Aesoth curbed the excitement that was about to ensue.

  ?It is true that this is a possibility that only a small number of people are granted permission for. But even less, manage to overcome the ascension.? he began, ?It will take many years to become one of us. Your body and mind will be reshaped, your training will be unbearable, and it will push you beyond human limits. You will have to absorb knowledge at speeds that have driven many to madness. But above all, there is a high chance that you could die in the process, and if you manage to survive, I do not guarantee that you will remember who you were, your affections, and your dreams. Your duties will be to the Emperor, and His safeguarding will be all that guides your steps. You will be the embodiment of duty and discipline.?

  Izuku's excitement obviously died down. Having the chance to fulfil his dream, in exchange for anything that identifies him as Izuku Midoriya. The very thought scares him, and even though his desire screams at him to accept without a second thought, his head knows that Aesoth told him to realise that once he sets out on the path to becoming a Custodian, the only way to give up that journey is to die.