Spiritually Driven 9 - or 'The Traveler is 'God', but I am quite the Messiah in this Dark World' (Destiny/Destiny II, Spirit!SI)

"Why does it have to leave all the time?"

I sighed softly, having gotten accustomed to 'Hash' and her curious but 'blunt' personality. It was similar to how Xi Ro once behaved but… with a hint more of intrigue towards the reasoning of some complex things that she couldn't simply explain in a few words.

Nokris had been taking care of her for a while, and she was growing wonderfully. Her mind was sharp, her understanding that the Light may not be the best but it was not corrupting and damning as the Darkness was.

Silly, but not dumb.

Still, I could tell that the Traveler's escorted departure, just like it happened before the discovery of the Harmony, had shaken her like it had shaken others that had been gripping at this 'religion' with a lot of their inner faith.

With Nokris busy with plans to appear before the newcomers once it was confirmed they could be approached without causing a diplomatic disaster, I was left to 'babysit' her.

She was a bit older from how I remember her being and… the girl's guts had only gotten bigger from the way she seemed to pick on her uncle. Not disrespectfully so, but in a way that felt like two socially-awkward morons poking at each other.

Only for Hash to be a sucker for hugs by the end of the day.

The Traveler gives help to those that need it. Like a good samaritan would with a needy fellow. Once he is done providing them not only with greatness, but the means to preserve it, he seeks others to keep giving hope.

"It's just…"

You would prefer he keeps around the rest rather than straying. You know what is coming will use all chances to hurt.

"Yes," The young Light User admitted curtly. "I… Great-Gramps?"

That nickname was the bane of my existence, but it was better than being hammered with 'Great-Grandfather' all the time. One can handle long titles so much and time hasn't hardened my patience in that regard.

Ask and you shall be answered, Hash.

"Do you think I should train even more? I mean, Uncle Nokris says I am going properly fast but-"

Your pace is fine. I think yours is a matter of nerves and maturity.

"M-Maturity? How does uncertainty match with that?"

If you were immature, you would not care much for the greatness of this concern of yours. You are afraid for the Traveler and you are afraid for yourself.

"...Is it fine if I am? I was told- I have heard that the Traveler is a beacon of protection. If it leaves and something attacks us… are we safe?"

We have a fleet that is far stronger than what the Traveler can accomplish militarily on its own, my dear child. You have good reasons to worry, but the one that could strike us knows that they would lose that battle. In fact, we would have better reasons to worry about the Traveler's wellbeing during his voyage- hence why we have the escort fleet to keep him safe.

"I see…"

You're not convinced? Anything that is preventing you from easing down a bit?

"It's just… I am dumb."

That's fair.

"G-Great-Gramps! I am trying to be serious!"

And I, being the jovial Great-Gramps that I am, am trying to get you to break out of that funk you got going. It's fair to be paranoid, it's unhealthy to let that feeling stir deep in you for too long. Which is why we talk things through so, when we feel like we find ourselves at a strange impasse, we find a way to solve it.

She bowed her head.

"I never thought of it that way. Talking… I don't want to burden people with my problems."

Child, I have lived thousands of years now- I had been a listener, at times without being given a choice about. I can assure you, if I offer you my capacity to listen, it is not without some heavy thought on it.

"...Okay."

It was quite simple worries by the end of the day. The fact she was young and very 'fragile' on an emotional level left her in a rather awkward spot to give them weight that they didn't deserve.

Soon we were back on studying what Nokris had left her to finish before the end of the day, with me keeping watch over her as Hash looked more at ease with herself after confiding in me her current plight.

All in all, it was a unique but still calm day.

Oryx was silently staring at Savathun.

It's been ages since they had seen their sister, and even more shocking was the presence of a scowling Xivu Arath placidly twirling a blade by her fingers. This reunion, it had sounded so falsely based about the meaning of family- a concept Savathun was quite 'abstracted' over with her mind.

The God of War was seemingly driven by the point of this meeting, unwilling to see it as a potential deception due to the topic itself- speaking about Father.

To Oryx, it was a mere chore to see what sort of lie the Witchqueen had mustered to try and hurt them both. To Xivu Arath, this was a duty as a 'proper daughter' should be respected. To Savathun, this was a 'lovely day' to see her siblings after so long.

"You spoke with Father."

Oryx was not willing to go and chase around Savathun's potential dilemma, shattering through the mental maze that the Witchqueen had prompted out of disdain.

"Hm? How can you tell?"

…She did not.

"Sister!" Xivu Arath snapped furiously. "Why didn't you tell us?!"

"Heh, it was a bit complicated, but… I had time to think. My condition definitely assisted me in drawing a plan that could supposedly help us all."

"...What are you talking about?" The Taken King pressed on it and Savathun… sighed.

"I want you to taint my worm."

"That would make you my puppet-"

"The worm, not me," Savathun corrected. "The worm can't control me anymore, but its hunger has recently gotten unpleasant and-"

"I can't do that," Oryx interjected flatly, stunning the Witchqueen with that admission.

"You… Wh-What do you mean you can't?!"

"When I resurrected you and Xivu Arath, I realized that your worm is firmly attached to your biology. Removing it would kill you without a proper substitute of energy which darkness alone can't provide."

"...That's frustratingly bad but… not demoralizing at all!" Savathun exclaimed. "For the plan I have still relies on something I still have-"

"Dignity? No wait-" Xivu Arath struck out of nowhere, only for the Witchqueen to slam her fists on her chair's armrests.

"Stop it!"

…This rekindled some amusement in Oryx. For just a fleeting moment.

"This is important. I don't know where father is but-"

"Have you really spoken to him?" Oryx questioned, deciding to just get straight to the main point for them. "Did you?"

"I did… and I have proof of that~."

Before either God of War or the Taken King could have asked for it, a darkness-compelled mirror appeared before them and-

"A simple question. You will have to forgive this inquisitive daughter of yours for being concerned by this emotional plight. Still, without further ado…"

Savathun's voice was relayed in a different tone. It was 'echoey' but still fine to listen to. Oryx braced as they hoped that it was not a trick, but they were pleasantly surprised when-

"Do you still love us, Father?"

A familiar snort came through that simple question that felt as innocent as fake.

I thought I made that-

His voice! Xivu Arath tensed up at that, her full attention on the screen as Savathun spoke once more.

"Lies come through all forms. I think we had this very conversation when you taught me that lying within reason of goodness is not wrong. Isn't it?"

The silence… Oryx hated it! They wanted an answer from Father too! She deserved it!

"Say it!" The Witch Queen snarled, her temper flaring at the silence. "I want you to be honest about it! Do you hate or love us?! Do you still find the strength to call us your precious dau-"

I do.

There was an immediate pause, then a strange amount of bliss filtered through. Yet, much to everyone's chagrin, it was a fleeting scene.

"Hm?"

I still love Aurash, Xi Ro, Sathona. I love them to death. Then I see you, Savathun, I see Oryx and Xivu Arath… And I feel pain because I know you are not going to come back from this. I know what you may think right now 'I can change with the light, after all that is how Nokris broke free from the Darkness', but Nokris was not twisted by it. He was not broken by it. He was not stolen from me.

Regret returned. Without a worm to gnaw at her innards, Oryx felt the pangs of the past's sorrow hit at her scar, opening them for the moment as she felt a growl work its way through her throat.

Xivu Arath was… oddly quiet, merely listening as she raptly sponged the words uttered by their Father. Out of the trio, the God of War was the one that had been deprived of that chance the most so… this was the first time since he left for her. And her reaction was as mighty as one would expect behind that seemingly-tame expression.

"Father-"

You made a choice that day, Sathona. How many times do I have to remind you and your siblings about it? You had a chance, you had the means to say no- no one was trying to coax you into this and you had free will. What do you have now if not a fake godhood that is chained by some worms and a mongrel that defines himself as the true manifestation of darkness?!

The 'conversation' ended there, with the trio now welcomed by silence. Oryx wondered if there was more to it and if Savathun planned to release more of that discussion as some sort of forbidden fruit to fall for.

"...I should have bonked you that day. Bonked you, sold that ship, we would not be having this big mess in our hands."

The somber words from Xivu Arath, delivered in such a tame voice, felt chilling considering the bubbling anger that was visibly manifesting behind her thin mask.

"It's futile to cry on what is no longer redeemable. We have to think about the future! And that means we have to save Father."

"How?" The Taken King asked.

"With this plan!"

…

…

"Dammit, Sathona," Xivu Arath remarked quietly, eliciting an irked squawk from the Witchqueen while Oryx merely shook their head at this situation.

It was insane, but it was a good plan. Which made for a rather wild headache to entertain for the time being…