Well, I'm back sooner than I expected. I guess that's just what knuckling down does. It's time for the next chapter. Fortunately, this one was a lot easier than the last.
Also, you may have noticed that we have a new cover image. I commissioned a little piece from a friend of mine and I think it turned out great. Check them out if you want something of your own.
Chapter 25: Hello Old Friend
"He skipped like a stone on time's ocean. This is what's left." -The fate of Praedyth
The Vex were back. Lilith should have known she wouldn't be able to escape them forever. Yet she had hoped they would leave her. But alas, her dreams had been infiltrated once again. She paced through the halls of the castle. It was empty and abandoned, yet Lilith could feel the Vex's presence. The hair on her skin stood on edge, she could feel her heart pounding in her throat, and her mind writhed under their influence. Worst of all, she could hear the marching of their feet, that dreadful metallic noise that set her teeth on edge.
"I know you can hear me."
The dream world shook under the Mind's words. Lilith stumbled, leaning against the wall as she waited for the castle to settle. As she did, the marching grew louder all around her.
"I know who you are. You must understand that you cannot prevent our victory, you shall all bow before the inevitable ravages of the cosmos," Synegorus continued. Lilith could hear the contempt dripping from its synthesized voice.
"We will stop you," she said defiantly, "You are nothing but a scourge on our world. You corrupt everything you touch."
"I do not twist, warp, distort, or corrupt," the Mind replied mirthfully, "I am reality." Before Lilith could respond, the dream world began to collapse. The sound of marching Vex drowned out everything around her as she covered her ears.
Lilith woke with a jump, looking around her room. She rubbed her eyes, trying to wipe away her exhaustion. The sun had yet to rise and the Owl House was still drenched in darkness. Letting out a sigh, she got out of bed. There was no chance she would fall back asleep.
Luz flipped through the book in front of her, titled A Thesis on Interdimensional Travel, Volume 17. She had borrowed it from Royal who said that it was written by a scholar from something called Dead Orbit. Unfortunately, it didn't have anything that could help her with the portal. She groaned in frustration and closed the book. Setting it atop an ever-growing stack, she selected the next book from her list. Looking over to the side of the room, she saw the Echo Mouse racing on a hamster wheel.
"You and me both buddy," she mumbled, "I just wish I could figure out what I messed up with that door." The mouse decided to be unhelpful and remained quiet.
"Well, that's probably enough for now," Luz sighed, "May as well go join the festivities." Standing up, she took a moment to stretch before grabbing a party hat and making her way downstairs where Hooty was throwing a party.
"It's so nice to be here with all of Lulu's closest friends," he said as Luz was navigating the halls. The room had a little over a half-dozen guests; Gwendolyn, Eda, King, Steve, and a few others. Lilith sat in the center of the couch, holding a wine glass with an uncomfortable look on her face.
"Woo! All hail Lulu!" Steve cheered his former boss. The only reason Steve had been allowed in was that Royal had vouched for him. Interestingly enough, the Guardian was nowhere in sight.
"We're gathered here today to celebrate the new assistant curator of the Supernatural Museum of History," Hooty continued, "Here's to you Lulu." The rest of the guests cheered and began to mingle amongst themselves while Luz finally joined the festivities.
"Did I miss the toast?" She asked Hooty.
"Yup." The House Demon nodded, "But you didn't miss the app-pellet-tizers." He held out a tray with some snacks on it. At least, Hooty probably thought they were snacks. In reality, they were little more than piles of bones and raw flesh.
"I'm working on another one right now." Hooty began to retch as Luz tried to dissuade him.
"No, that's fine. Thanks though," she said, quickly trying to change the subject, "Where did Lilith head off to anyway? We want to congratulate her." She lifted her hat, revealing the Echo Mouse safely tucked away in her hair. Before Hooty could answer, a loud crack sounded through the Owl House as a whip lashed around one of Hooty's treats. One of the guests, a woman dressed in vibrant clothes, pulled the snack through the front door to herself.
"Oh I wish I could stay longer, but I must be off on my next adventure," she announced loudly, clearly not upset that she had to leave, "It was such a delight to see my little bookworm back in the historical world again."
"Uhh, yes, thank you, Flora," Lilith mumbled awkwardly, "But it's just a small job. I'm surprised you even heard about it."
"The Emperor has been keeping a close eye on you to ensure you weren't getting into any trouble," Flora said with a flip of her hair, "I already took the liberty of clearing out your office. I do wish you took more from my tutelage, history is supposed to be exciting dear." She didn't give Lilith a chance to respond, instead flinging her whip into the sky where it snagged a stray Griffin. With a single pull, she brought the beast to the ground and mounted it. She whipped it again, causing the creature to take off with her on its back.
"Who was that?" Luz asked, watching the Griffin fly away.
"Flora D'Spora. Bad girl historian, celebrity, and my former mentor in the Emperor's Coven," Lilith said bitterly.
"I have questions about that name."
"And I have questions about my life!" Lilith rounded on Luz, "All I ever got to do was desk work, while she goofed off riding wild snake-horses-"
"Snorses!" Luz gasped with stars in her eyes.
"-and eating mummy jerky! Well, I can be just as exciting as Flora. I'll create an exhibit that'll knock the Titan's socks off!" She stormed back inside the Owl House in a huff.
"Congratulations on your new job!" Luz called after her. She looked back up to where Flora had flown away. Unfortunately, Griffins were remarkably fast and she was now far out of sight. Looking around a little more, she saw Royal sitting atop the Owl House's roof. She called out to him but he ignored her.
"He's been like this for a few hours," Lancer said, appearing beside her. Luz managed to refrain from jumping, having grown used to the Ghost's antics.
"What's he doing?"
"He got a lead on the Darkness stuff and now he's trying to figure out what it means," Lancer said, "I think he saw something when Hooty accidentally powered him off. Something that's really eating him up from the inside. What that something is, I couldn't tell you. But he's being dodgy."
"Sounds like he's throwing a tantrum," Luz smirked. Lancer's shell widened slightly as he caught on.
"Oh totally. He's like a big, metallic child. Well, technically I suppose he literally is since he's only a few years old."
"I can hear you!" The Warlock shouted, standing up. He jumped off the roof and floated to the ground.
"Are you done hiding from new people?" Luz chided, "We're supposed to be celebrating Lilith's new job."
"Hooty said it was for Lilith's closest friends," Royal responded tersely, "And we are not friends. We're hardly even acquaintances."
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this," she said, seizing the Guardian by the arm, "You at least have to meet Eda's mom." She began to drag him back inside, with the Guardian offering a half-hearted resistance.
"An immortal warrior of the Light, bested by a fourteen-year-old girl," Lancer mocked, "Man, Cayde would get a kick out of this."
"Who's Cayde?" Luz asked, continuing to pull on Royal's arm.
"I'll tell you later," the Ghost said.
"Why do I let her talk me into this stuff," Royal muttered to himself.
"After careful analysis of this 'Deadwardian Era', I believe the current Human year to be 1660," Phillip reported, "Or was it 1670? The years are flashing by." The Echo Mouse sat on Luz's shoulder, projecting its stolen knowledge into the air. King sat beside her while Eda and Royal were busy cleaning up the mess from yesterday's party. Though Royal had a rather interesting interpretation of cleaning, having elected to simply dissolve any trash he encountered into atomic vapor.
"I've gathered all the portal ingredients," Phillip continued, "Including the Titan's Blood. All that's left is to seek out the Collector. He will tell me what I need to finish my mission. My companions and I have journeyed far and faced our greatest fears, but we haven't found anything yet." The mouse ended its playback and settled down, falling asleep on Luz.
"The Collector? What kinda nutjob puts "The" in front of their name?" Eda scoffed.
"Big talk coming from the Owl Lady," Royal shot back.
"You literally have a number in your name, you don't get to talk here."
"I've never heard that name before," King spoke up, scratching his skull.
"Same here," Lancer concurred, "I got the last few hundred years of the Isles memorized and there are no records on this Collector. I'd say they're a myth."
"Or someone doesn't want anybody finding out about them," Royal countered, "And erased all records of their existence from history."
"If the Collector helped Phillip with his door, then maybe he can help me with mine," Luz pondered.
"Assuming the Collector is real, we don't have any confirmation that they're alive," Royal shot her down, "Remember, Phillip wrote about him centuries ago. Does anything in the Isles live that long?"
"Aside from Titans and some ancient beasts like Grom, not really," Eda said.
"I wish I could just go back in time and talk with him," Luz said dejectedly.
"Take it from a guy who's traveled through time," Royal voice grimly, "The people you meet have a tendency to shape up different from what you expect."
"You referring to us, Buckethead?" Eda cracked, wiggling her eyebrows. Royal looked down, his plates shifting into a dark expression.
"Not exactly."
"Wait, Eda," Luz suddenly sat up, "Is time magic a thing?"
"Kinda," she said, reaching over to a nearby bookshelf and grabbing a tome, "Back in the day, I was a bit of an urban legend junkie. Twig foot, Lenderman, Possums."
"Those are real," Luz said.
"Yeah, sure," Eda snorted, "Anyways, there's supposedly these things called 'Time Pools'. Mythical puddles that act as a window to the past. Unfortunately, they never show up in the same spot twice. Me and Lily used to look for them all the time. She'd say I forced her into it, but I think she enjoyed it more than I did."
"Lilith, of course," Luz jumped off the couch, making sure not to disturb the Echo Mouse, "Thanks Eda." She snatched the book and ran off to find the Witch. She found Lilith in the kitchen, working on a poster board.
"Lilith!" She shouted, causing the Witch to let out a cry of surprise, "I see that you're busy with all fo this, but I need your help."
"Yes, one second. I want your opinion on something," Lilith interrupted, "I'm working on my first exhibit for the museum. I just know that Belos sent Flora to tick me off. I'll show them how much of a bad girl historian I am." She held out the board, displaying her research on Deadwardian Balusters. Luz tightened her lips, trying not to show Lilith any reaction. It didn't work.
"This won't work, will it?" Lilith questioned as her expression fell.
"Come on, don't let Flora get you down," Luz tried to cheer her up, "I've started referring to you as "Cool Aunt Lilith" in my journal."
"Oh, really?" Lilith was clearly flattered.
"Yeah! You can be a bad girl, and I know how." Luz held up the book, flipping it open to the page on Time Pools.
"Oh, I remember these," Lilith took the book from the Human, "It's theorized that coagulated Titan's Blood mixed with magical algae in the Boiling Seas, creating temporary rifts in temporal causality."
"Time magic," Luz cheered, pumping her fist, "I can learn how Phillip made the portal and you can make an exhibit that will knock Flora on her butt."
"I believe Edalyn and I made a device to track them down," Lilith pondered, "But I could never find a power source strong enough to make it work."
Luz's eyebrows lifted, "Wait here! I have an idea." She ran off and quickly returned with Amity's glove.
"Would Titan's Blood do the trick?" She asked, holding the glove out. Lilith looked between the glove and her board. Gaining a determined look, she turned back to the Human.
"Let's do it."
Unbeknownst to the two, Royal and Lancer were listening in on their conversation. The two looked at each other and shared a nod. Royal turned back to Eda while the Ghost phased away.
Odalia leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the Crystal Ball on her desk. One hand was loosely gripping a bottle of alcohol while the other absently rubbed her Oracle gem. She had been exploring potential visions for days, trying to find any chance to escape the Vex. Alas, every potential future ended the exact same way. In every timeline, the Vex prevailed.
Her hair stood on end as the air became charged with power. Glowing blue lights appeared before her. A split second later, an entirely unwelcome sight appeared before her. Silver plates slid and clacked as Sturme drew to his full height. His emotionless crimson optics fixated on her. She didn't look at him, electing to continue staring into space.
"Are you finished with your fruitless ministrations?" He asked, his digitized voice sounding reasonable. She didn't move to answer.
"I was not sent here by my master," the Vex-Witch continued, "I have come to make a proposition. I understand that the Vex can be unsettling, but their gifts shall lead us to heights we have never even dreamed of." Odalia finally looked up but kept her mouth shut.
"Perfection, immortality, everything lies within our reach," he continued, spreading his arms wide to emphasize his point, "We only need to seize it. Have you no grander ambitions?"
"You already know what I want." Her tone was tense and her words brief.
"This is all in your family's best interest. Imagine a world free from strife. There will be no more hunger, there will be no more pain. All there shall be is paradise, aligned to the perfect harmony of the Grand Pattern."
"Do you even know what the Vex are?"
"I know enough," Sturme dismissed, "The Universe is a marvelous tune and they are the notes. We simply must join the chorus. Your assistance would be of great use to us. Will you sing your refrain?" Odalia let out a deep breath and pushed her seat back. Slowly standing up, she smoothed out her clothes and stared the machine in the eyes.
"What choice do I have?"
Luz reached overhead and grabbed hold of a thick tree branch. With a small grunt of effort, she pulled herself up. Loosening her jaw, she pulled Lilith's device out from between her teeth and held it in the air. It began to spin as it activated, powered by the kinetic energy of wind and the magic energy of Titan's Blood. On the ground, Lilith held the other end of the device. She scribbled away in a journal, recording the readings that she was getting. Luz scaled back down the tree and hung from the bottom branch while the Witch finished.
"We're getting close," she said, closing her book, "I can feel it." She drew a knife and stabbed it into the tree Luz was hanging from, taking note of the bark.
"As I suspected, these are Wrinkling Oaks."
"They don't look very wrinkly," Luz commented, knocking on the trunk.
"That's because something is keeping them locked in time," Lilith explained, "Accounting for local plaque positions, the quake in the '30s, and the switch from Boiling Units to the Empirical System, the time pool should be about… here!"
She pushed through a small brush, shoving branches and leaves aside. Her path lead the duo to a beach, where the Titan met the Boiling Sea. Lilith blinked and looked back through her journal while Luz walked past her.
"But I triple-checked my calculations," she despaired while following Luz, "My equipment is first rate." She was so wrapped up in the current situation that she failed to watch where she was going. Her foot kicked something hard and she temporarily lost her balance. Fortunately, Lilith was able to prevent herself from falling.
"Stupid rock!" She cursed. Luz wandered ahead of her and kicked a loosed pebble. Instead of landing on the sand, it phased right through it. Narrowing her eyes, she kneeled down beside the sand.
"Maybe the Titan's Blood was too dry?" Lilith continued to pace, "Is it not algae blooming season?" Luz poked her head into the sand. To her shock, it met no resistance. Her eyes popped up on the same beach at a different time of day. Behind her, a large beast Demon stomped down the dunes. Luz pulled herself back out.
"Are my tools broken?" Lilith sniffed, taking off her glasses and looking at her own reflection, "Am I broken?"
"Lilith, you did it!" Luz cheered, "You found the Time Pools!"
"Hah! In your face!" Lilith boasted to her reflection. Luz gestured for the Witch to join her around the sand and pulled her through the Time Pool.
"A Stonesleeper from the Hecktaceous Period!" Lilith gasped, "Did you know they have a ticklish spot behind their ears?" Luz slipped back to the present and began poking at around the sand.
"Come on time magic, mama needs to commune with the dead." She dove into another pool. She was still on the same beach at night, though now she could see a small band of Witches sitting around a fire.
"Tonight, I shall revel so hard that I will not be able to stand!" One boasted.
"I shall revel myself to death!" Another met his companion's challenge. Luz pulled herself out and looked off to where they had been seated. Sure enough, a skeleton could be seen, partially buried by the dunes.
"No wonder no one has found these before, they're so well hidden," Lilith remarked, furiously recording everything in her journal. She dipped her head into another pool, only to swiftly receive a kick to the back of the head.
"Stupid rock!"
Lilith returned to the present, rubbing the back of her head to soothe the pain. Luz continued to experiment, dipping into another pool. A quick glance showed her the outline of Bonesborough on the horizon, though it was much smaller than she was used to.
"Aww, it's a little Babysborough," Luz cooed. A Witch walked past, carrying a basket of unknown goods.
"Yo," Luz called, "What era is it?"
"Tis be the Deadwardian Era," the Witch replied, taking note of Luz's odd location, "What ye be doing in the sand? Be ye a crab maiden?"
"Yes, Phillips time," Luz celebrated, "And yes, I am a crab maiden." She withdrew from the pool and called out to Lilith.
"I found it! I found Phillips time!"
"Incredible," Lilith remarked, crouching beside the Human, "Now, we must be careful. Should the tides come in we could be trapped, we would want to avoid causing any paradoxes, and don't get me started on the Bloody Fly effect."
"That all sounds really boring," Lancer said from behind the Witch, causing her to let out a cry of surprise, "A real bad girl historian wouldn't be worried about such trivial nonsense."
"Yes, of course," Lilith stammered, trying to save face, "Now, let's boogie down to history town." She fully stepped through the pool, journeying to the past.
"Didn't realize you were tagging along, little buddy," Luz said.
"Royal and I figured that you might want someone who's got some experience with time travel," the Ghost shrugged, "So, here I am. Now, let's not keep "Cool Aunt Lilith" waiting."
A knock on the door pulled Eda's attention away from her current business. She and Royal sat around the kitchen table, trying to decipher Belos' plan. Excusing herself from the table, she swung the door open.
"Hello Witchlet," her mother greeted.
"Oh, hey ma," Eda replied while Royal peeked his head into the living room, "Why are you still in town? Did you forget something at the party yesterday?"
"No, no," Gwendolyn chuckled, "Your father wanted to swing by." Eda's grip on the door tightened as Royal joined her at the entrance.
"Well, can you tell him that I'm busy," she said through clenched teeth.
"Why don't you tell him yourself? He's right outside," Gwendolyn said before noticing Royal behind her daughter, "Oh hello again. You know, it's always nice to see my little Witchlet making new friends."
"Don't call me that in front of him," Eda grumbled.
"Greetings, Mrs. Clawthorne," Royal offered a hand, "By the way, I'm sorry that I wasn't in town the last time you stopped by. I heard about the, uh, incident."
"Oh, it's no bother," Gwen said, cheerfully shaking the Warlock's armored hand, "This just means I get to share my favorite of Eda's childhood misadventures again. Here, Witchlet, why don't you go say hi to your father while I acquaint myself with your friend." King finally took that moment to join the others.
"I get to meet my Grandpa?" He asked with stars in his eyes.
"Indeed you do," Gwen said, "You know, the Clawthorne Clan was once renowned for our Palisman carving skills. And Dell? He was the best of them all." While Gwen doted on her adopted grandson, Eda shuffled away from the door, not ready to face her father after all these years. Royal watched her intently as she did.
Luz and Lilith wandered through the streets of old Bonesborough, with Lancer hidden away. Lilith had equipped a straw hat while Luz had nicked a helmet off the dead reveler from earlier. It wasn't like he needed it anymore. The three were drinking in the sights of the Deadwardian Era.
"Now, Luz, we are in the Savage Ages," Lilith warned, "Long before Belos banned Wild Magic. These individuals might be dangerous." As if on cue, Luz accidentally bumped into a short Demon. However, rather than attack them, he simply apologized and wished them a good day.
"Or maybe not," Lilith muttered. All around them, they saw normal people going about their day. At least, normal for the Boiling Isles. One Witch used an Abomination to help another lift their cart out of a ditch. A small group sat on the side of the street, playing their instruments in peace. A Demon grew a batch of flowers and placed them on their windowsill.
"This doesn't look savage or dangerous," Luz realized, "This looks awesome. Why would Belos want to ban this?"
"Well, supposedly the Titan doesn't like it," Lilith reasoned before her attention was stolen away, "Oh my Titan, look at this thatch work! Each bundle is individually knitted by hand." She began to scribble away in her journal, only for her expression to fall.
"But I bet Flora would scoff at it," she said bitterly. Luz approached a passing citizen, holding out a sketch of Phillip she had drawn based on a picture from his journal.
"Excuse me, have you seen this Human? Round ears, super smart, probably a celebrity?" She questioned. The Witch shook their head. Luz continued to ask around, only to be repeatedly met with similar results. Lilith continued to take notes on the architecture of the Deadwardian Era while Lancer was more content to encourage the young girl to keep going, unable to do much else. Eventually, Luz grew tired of her search. She paced through the street while Lancer and Lilith watched.
"How hard is it to find one Human?" She asked, continuing to walk in circles.
"Maybe he's on vacation," Lancer suggested, "I heard about some wonderful beachfront property out on the Fingers."
"I doubt it," Luz said, "He's close, he has to be."
"Dance, Human, dance!" A new voice broke Luz out of her stupor. It wasn't far off, maybe just a street away. The three time travelers rushed to the source. There, they saw a man with long, shaggy brown hair sprawled on the ground while two large Demons looked down on him. The Demons were nearly identical, save for one having a visible crimson tooth while the other's was green. The red-toothed one danged a small, rather worn book over the man.
"To think, that after the bonds of fellowship we forged-" he began to say, only for the red-toothed Demon to interrupt him.
"Bonds? Please, you still owe us."
"I promise, you will have your snails when I have accomplished my mission," the man pleaded. The green-toothed Demon took the book from his brother.
"Get a load of this. With my new and bravest companion, Blue Fang, I set forth. His strength should make fast work of any task."
"His pretty words should make good kindling," Red Fang said with vicious mirth. He ignited a small flame and held it under the book. Before he could set it to the torch, a pillar of ice shot out of the ground, striking the book from his hand.
"Hey! That doesn't belong to you!" Luz shouted, holding a glyph at the ready. Her free hand drifted over her revolver, carefully concealed from prying eyes. The two brothers shared a glance before backing off.
"If you want to save this scum, then be our guest," Green Fang spat, "Just ask how that turned out for Blue Fang." The two Demons departed. The man quickly snatched his journal and pushed himself to his feet, dusting himself off.
"You're Phillip Wittibane, right?" Luz asked gently, "The Human?"
"Why, are you here to gawk?" Phillip accused, "I may not have a Bile Sac, but I do have my dignity."
"I've heard about your exploits," she explained while Phillip inspected her and Lilith, "I know what it's like to be far from home. Can we talk?" Phillip stared at her for a moment before narrowing his eyes.
"No." He turned to leave, tucking his journal back into his coat. He began to limp away, his left leg struggling to support his weight.
"Wait! I can give you snails!" Luz offered, only for Phillip to ignore her, "I can make you some crutches!" The Human continued to ignore her.
"I can help you get to the Collector!" That caught Phillip's attention. He turned back to face the Human-in-disguise, regarding her curiously.
"Perhaps we may be of use to each other after all."
Eda slumped against the door to her room while King watched from atop her dresser. She buried her face in her hands while her mother knocked on the door.
"Witchlet?" Gwen called, "Aren't you going to say hi to your father? It's been years."
"Yes, I know," Eda forced out, "I'm just… sharpening my fang. Don't want our first reunion to be while I'm looking so blech."
"What's with you?" King questioned, "Why are you so afraid of facing your dad?"
"I'm not afraid," Eda denied, "I just haven't seen him since I- the Owl Beast ruined his… Look, I'm just not ready, ok? I gotta get out of here." She pulled open the window and prepared to flee, only for Hooty to appear in her face.
"Gee Eda, your pops is such a nice guy," he said, "Say, what's the deal with those scars-" Eda swung the window closed in his face, cutting him off. Dropping into her nest, she heard another knock at the door.
"Go away mom," she said without looking up.
"That's a new one," Royal responded from the hall, "But I think I prefer Buckethead." He opened the door and entered, quietly closing it behind him. His gaze was fixed on her, with a distant light in his optics.
"You done listening to my moms' embarrassing childhood stories?" Eda asked, trying to deflect why he was here.
"Get over yourself."
Eda blinked, caught off guard by that. She looked up at the Warlock and opened her mouth to defend herself.
"If you're here to convince me, then you're wasting your time," she said, "You don't know what I'm dealing with here."
"That's exactly the problem," he replied, "I don't know what this is like. I don't know what it's like to have a family who cares about you, a sibling you can bicker with, and parents who would do anything to make you feel better. All of that was taken from me. And here you are, throwing one of life's greatest gifts away. Your father is here to see you for the first time in years. Do you know what I would give to have that chance?"
"You don't know what happened," she fired back, "It was all my fault, I can't look at him knowing what I did." Royal remained silent for a moment, glaring at Eda.
"You're a fucking coward," he spat, "What happened to the Witch who took in a lost, foreign child purely out of the kindness of her heart? What happened to the Witch that was ready to die so that Luz could go home? What happened to the Witch that fought at my side against the Vex, even after she had lost all her powers?"
Eda didn't respond, but she did look away in shame. King glanced between the two, unsure of what he should do. Royal took a deep breath and knelt beside her.
"All Guardians are raised without memories of their past life," he said softly, "Most of us never learn anything about who we once were. But, you know me, I'm not like most other Guardians. I've done some digging and found some scattered pieces. I don't know much, but I know enough to be aware of what I lost. I had a family that loved me, friends that I stood beside, even a woman I wish I could've…" His voice trailed off as he clenched his fist tightly. Eda met his gaze again. This time, she didn't see the brave Guardian who would gladly face down any evil if it meant protecting the ones he loved. She didn't see the loyal friend who entertained her antics, no matter how much she may annoy him. She didn't even see the caring mentor who taught Luz how to care for herself. All she saw was a tired man worn down by the weight of his life after life.
"You have a chance to make things right," Royal said slowly, "Please, don't waste it." He stood up and left without another word, leaving Eda in silence. Her son crawled over to comfort her, a presence she gladly accepted.
"So, Luzura," Phillip began, "You and your Aunt Dirtrude started traveling together after the Legion of Crimson attacked your castle and chained the source of your land's power?"
"Yeah," Luz confirmed, "That is why we too seek the Collector. We believe that he can tell us how to shatter the chains that bind our great sphere." This was a lie, obviously, quickly crafted up by Lancer. Phillip nodded in understanding. He was currently leading the three time travelers through a forest. The group stopped outside of a cave and Phillip rummaged through his pack.
"Blazes," he cursed, "Did either of you bring a torch?" Luz smiled and held up a light glyph. To Phillip's amazement, she activated it, flooding the cave with light.
"Fascinating," the Human said, pulling out his journal to quickly jot down some notes, "I've never met another Picto-Glyph user before."
"You also use Glyphs?" Luz asked. Phillip nodded.
"Naturally, it's the only reason I've survived here for so long," he confirmed, "Plant, ice, fire, they all took me years to find. Almost as though the Titan was hiding them from me. I even found one hidden within the structure of a snowflake."
"So did I," Luz gasped.
"A warrior and a scholar," Phillip remarked, "Impressive. Most impressive." He pushed further into the cave, recreating the light Glyph in his journal. Luz stayed behind, turning her companions.
"I taught Phillip something new," she squealed before rushing to follow him. Lilith and Lancer shared a glance before setting off after the two. Phillip continued to lead them through the cave, activating light Glyphs to lead their way. Luz fell back slightly while Lilith stared into the back of Phillip's head.
"Say, Lancer," she whispered, "Who's that Cayde guy you mentioned earlier?"
"You wanna talk about this now?" the Ghost asked. Luz nodded.
"It'll be fine," she eased. The Ghost shrugged.
"Alright, well, Cayde-6 is a member of the Vanguard, the leaders of the Guardians. He's specifically the Hunter Vanguard. There's commander Zavala for the Titans and Ikora Rey for the Warlocks. Of the three, Cayde is notorious for being something of a wild card. He's a swashbuckling rogue who sneaks out of the Tower as often as he can."
"Sounds like a fun guy," Luz said.
"Oh you have no idea," the Ghost agreed, "Before I found Royal, I spent a lot of time at the tower. I'd join in on Cayde's poker nights from time to time. He taught me a lot about what the system outside the City is like. And he still owes me 25,000 Glimmer. Once Royal and I get back home, I'm cashing that bet in."
While the other two chatted, Lilith continued to watch Phillip with a suspicious gaze. The man looked back for a second before turning to face her.
"Your niece is very talented, you must be quite proud," he said, "I'm sure you played quite a large part in that."
"Oh, well, I may have taught her a thing or two," Lilith said, flustered. With her suspicion momentarily dispelled, Phillip turned back to the path ahead.
"I know a few tricks as well," he signaled for the group to stop and knelt on the ground.
"What is this?" Luz asked while he etched a pattern into the ground.
"A shortcut," he said, rising from the pattern on the ground. It was a complex series of Glyphs, interlocked with each other in a seemingly random pattern.
"A shortcut to where?" Luz asked. Phillip activated the glyph combination, flooding the cavern with light.
"To the Collector."
Eda placed her hand on the front door and took a deep breath. She turned around to where her family was watching her. King offered an encouraging thumbs up, Gwen smiled warmly, and Royal simply gave a curt nod. Feeling her confidence return, Eda stepped outside. Her father was standing at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the Boiling Sea. His Palisman sat on his shoulder.
"Hi dad," Eda said uncertainly. Dell turned to face her, a welcoming smile on his face.
"Hello Witchlet," he greeted, "Would you care to join me? The view is amazing. I see why you live here."
"I'm… sorry that I haven't been in touch," she apologized, "There's been a lot of stuff going on."
"Yes, your Guardian friend has told me about your adventures," he said, "He also told me how honored he was to be your friend." Eda smiled at that.
"The Rustbucket can be obtuse at times," she said, moving beside her father, "But he means well. Just don't believe everything he tells you."
"So he was lying when he said I had a grandson?"
"Oh, no, that's true. King's a Clawthorne alright. He can be a handful, but-"
"It's been twenty years, Witchlet," Dell said, cutting off her rambling, "I can't keep chasing you."
"Then stop!" Eda forced out, "I ruined your life. Have you even been able to carve a new Palisman since I attacked you?" Dell lifted his scar-covered hand, watching the fist tremble as he held it up. With a sigh, he let the limb drop.
"Stop trying to forgive me," Eda pleaded guiltily, "I don't deserve it." She began to walk away. Her father stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not here to try that again," he said, offering his eldest daughter a warm smile. He held up his hand again and unfurled it. Set in the center of his palm was a small seed.
"It's a Palistrom seed," he explained, "My carving days are over, but I've been helping the Bat Queen to replenish her forest. It's time someone new learned the trade."
"Did you come here just to brag?" Eda tried to joke.
"Partially. But also because I wanted to tell you that the past is in the past." He turned back to the Owl House, "It's ok to move on Witchlet. Tell Owlbert I say hi." He began to walk back to the Owl House, leaving Eda alone on the cliffside.
Luz gasped in shock as she landed. She covered her mouth, forcing down a wave of bile. Lilith was not so fortunate. Phillip rose instantly, seemingly unbothered by the teleportation.
"Where are we?" Luz questioned while Lilith pushed herself up.
"In the Titans skull," Phillip said nonchalantly, limping towards a large door.
"B-but this is sacred ground," Lilith stammered, looking around nervously, as though she was expecting the Titan to smite her where she stood.
"I suppose that's why no one ever wanted to accompany me," Phillip said casually as he approached the door, "But every legend has told me that the Collector lies beyond here. I just can't figure out the mechanism to open it. Perhaps if I weren't so frail." He winced in pain, clutching his leg.
"Don't worry, we can get it," Luz said, "Puzzles are in my blood. Seriously, my mom had to stop me from eating puzzles when I was a kid. You just stay here and rest up."
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me," Lancer muttered.
"Thank you for your kindness, Crab Maiden," Phillip placed a hand on her shoulder, "Perhaps we were destined to meet." Luz offered him a smile before rushing over to Lilith, who was inspecting the door.
"This mechanism is unlike anything I have ever seen before," she remarked, "It would be a perfect entry for my exhibit. But something seems off about it."
"We can't stop now," Luz encouraged, "Not when we're this close."
"No, Lilith is right," Lancer chimed in, "Look at the puzzle, it's almost completely solved. I've been crunching some numbers on it, the odds are astronomical. We're not the first one's here."
"And then there's Phillip," Lilith continued, "The confidence, the compliments. It's like he's saying exactly what I want to hear. It's all very, familiar." She shivered, despite the lack of wind to chill her.
"Sure, some of this is weird," Luz conceded, "But this is the Boiling Isles, everything is weird out here. Here, you guys finish up the puzzle and I'll talk to Phillip." The others reluctantly agreed and Luz turned back to the Human. He was scribbling in his journal, facing away from the door. As Luz approached him from behind, she peeked over his shoulder to read what he was writing.
I was able to single-handedly defeat the beast behind the door. Regrettably, I couldn't save my companions. Phillip finally noticed Luz's arrival and spun to face her. His smile had faded, replaced with a cold, calculating gaze.
"Phillip," Luz asked slowly, "Why did you bring us here?" The Human smiled again, but now it was a smug, triumphant grin. Before he could answer, a loud click followed by a rumble sounded through the chamber.
"I did it!" Lilith shouted, "I solved the puzzle!" Behind her, the door opened, revealing a pitch-black chamber.
"I needed a sacrifice."
"What did he say?" Lilith called. Her answer came in the form of a colossal clawed hand curling around her midsection and dragging her into the dark room. Luz called out in shock while Phillip drew to his full height.
"With the beast now distracted, I can finally get through those doors," he gloated. Luz spun on him, drawing her gun. Phillips's eyebrow raised at the weapon while Luz aimed at him. Her hands shook as she pointed the gun at his chest, trying to forget what had happened the last time she had used it on another person.
"You tricked us!" She accused.
"Oh please," Phillip laughed, "It was-"
"What, destiny?" Luz scoffed.
"I was going to say inevitable," he continued, You two were easier to trick than Blue Fang. Hopefully, you and your aunt can last longer." Luz glanced back at the door where Lilith could still be heard screaming. Letting out a swear in Spanish, she charged at the room. Lancer emerged beside her, casting a beam of light on the beast. Lilith was struggling against the beast, now revealed to be a Stonesleeper. The creature saw Luz out of the corner of its eye and screeched at her.
Luz fired at the Stonesleeper as she readied an ice glyph in her offhand. The bullets bounced off the creature's hide harmlessly. It screeched again and charged. Luz activated her glyph and slid along the path she created. The Stonesleeper rushed past, slamming into the wall behind her. It cried out in pain, dropping Lilith.
While the time travelers were busy dealing with the Stonesleeper, Phillip calmly walked past, pulling out a shovel from his pack. He stopped at a spot where the ground had already been disturbed and began to dig.
"That better be your own grave!" Lilith shouted as Luz pulled her away from the beast's claws. She activated a flame glyph, temporarily blinding the creature. Phillip's shovel hit something solid. Grinning madly, he pulled the relic out of the ground. It was a circular mirror, colored a pale turquoise. Inscribed on one face was the symbol of a crescent moon. Luz and Lilith hid behind a pillar while Lancer flew overhead, keeping eyes on the creature.
"I know you want to get home, but nothing is worth hurting people," Luz pleaded. The Stonesleeper honed in on her voice and swung its tail into the pillar. It shattered, with the two only escaping thanks to a warning from the Ghost.
"Oh, I very much disagree," Phillip remarked, drawing the same glyph combo from earlier on the ground, "Good luck with your Orb of Light, or whatever. You Witches come up with the worst lies." He tapped the glyph and teleported away. The flash temporarily distracted the beast, allowing Luz and Lilith to slip behind another pillar.
"Is this how it ends for Lilith Clawthorne?" The Witch in question bemoaned, "Her body, lost forever to the decaying corridors of time."
"Looks like you were right about that jerkweed," Luz admitted, "Sorry I didn't believe you, Lilith."
"While your apology is appreciated, it isn't needed right now," the Witch said, "Your humility before death is an inspiration for us all. I suppose dying here isn't the worst end I could imagine."
"Speak for yourself," Lancer shot, "I want to live!"
"If only I had listened," Luz despaired while the Stonesleeper paced through the room, "Wait, I did listen!" She raced around the pillar, instantly catching the Stonesleepers gaze while Lilith and Lancer both called out for her. The beast charged at Luz while she readied an ice glyph. Slapping it on the ground, she propelled herself into the air, flipping onto the creature's back.
"Eda's gonna kill me," Lilith panicked. Beside her, Lancer's optic widened. The Witch heard a loud thud and she hesitantly peeked around the corner. To her shock, the Stonesleeper was lying on the ground, falling asleep while Luz scratched a spot behind its ears. True to its name, the creature slowly turned to stone as it slipped into its slumber.
"Yes," Luz quietly celebrated, "Just like you told me." Lancer scanned the creature as Lilith quickly checked Luz to ensure she was alright.
"Fascinating," he muttered, "Giving off some real Medusa vibes."
"We still need to catch up with Phillip," Luz said, "But we don't have a way out of here."
"On the contrary, my dear companions," the Ghost said, projecting a recreation of the glyph Phillip had used onto the floor, "We have everything we need."
Luz instantly got to work, carefully tracing the pattern into the ground. Once it was finished, the others gathered around. With a quick slap, she activated the spell. In an instant, the group found themselves back in the cave from before. Luz quickly stood up, forcing down another wave of nausea while Lilith emptied her stomach on the ground.
"Come on, Phillip can't have gotten far," she said, running after the traitorous Human with her companions right on her heels Before long, they could see Phillip calmly walking through the woods, inspecting the mirror in his hands.
"Hey!" Luz shouted. Phillip jumped in surprise, tucking the mirror away as he turned to face Luz.
"You're still alive?" He questioned, "Remarkable."
"Tell me how that thing is going to get you back to the Human Realm," Luz ordered.
"Oh no, I don't think so," Phillip chided, patting his sack, "I have my own needs for it. But, if you want information, then perhaps we can make an exchange. I'll probably require another sacrifice at another point, I'm certain you and your aunt would be of-"
He was cut off by Lilith pushing past Luz and punching Phillip in the face. He recoiled violently from the strike, falling onto his rear. Clutching his bleeding nose, he glared at the Witch with venom in his eyes.
"You contemptible sorceress!" He spat. Lilith flexed her hand, smirking at the Human.
"Stay mad," she shot, "Come on Luzura, we're finished here." She sauntered off while Luz and Lancer watched.
"Cool aunt," Luz muttered. Lancer nodded in surprise.
Katya chucked a small ball against the wall of her cell. It bounced against the stone, producing a hollow sound. She caught it off the rebound, drawing it back and throwing it again. She had been repeating this cycle for hours. With the other Bards located in different cells, it was the only entertainment available to her. She didn't know where Darius had sent her, but she doubted she would be getting out anytime soon.
Hearing a noise coming down the hall, she quickly tucked her ball away. The sound of small claws clacking against the stones reached her ears. Unlike the Conformatorium, there weren't any Guards patrolling the halls and she hadn't been visited by any Coven officials. To Katya's surprise, a small Orange demon stopped just before her cell. Eberwolf stood up, grinning at the Bard.
"What do you want?" Katya hissed. Eberwolf didn't respond, but he did pull out a ring of keys and began spinning them around his finger.
"Are you here to taunt me?"
"Just let her out," another voice said from down the hall. Eberwolf frowned but complied, opening Katya's cell. She stayed where she was, staring at the Beast-Keeper curiously.
"You do understand how doors work, yes?" The other voice said again. They finally revealed themself, showing a familiar flamboyant Witch standing before Katya. Darius fixed Katya with an unimpressed look while Derwin and Amber peeked out from behind him.
"What's going on here?" Katya asked.
"We're breaking out," Amber said excitedly. Darius sighed.
"No. I am breaking you out. You are just following me."
"Why would he be helping us?" Katya continued to question.
"It's called a double agent," Darius snarked, "Now do you want to get out of here or not?" Katya finally relented, stepping out of her cell.
"I planned to do this sooner," Darius explained as he lead the Bards out, "But when I ran into the Owl Lady at the Conformatorium, I was forced to play along a little longer. Fortunately, we had your trackers removed, so we won't be interrupted again." They stopped at the entrance and Darius opened the door. Sunlight flooded the room, temporarily blinding the Bards.
"Raine had most of the Guards stationed at this facility reassigned to the Conformatorium to shore up its defenses," Darius continued, leading them away, "The ones who remained were rather easy to persuade to look away. As far as the Emperor's Coven is concerned, this was all the Guardian's work." They stopped in the forest as Darius turned to face them.
"Speaking of which," he said, "You are to avoid contact with the Guardian and the Owl Lady until further notice. Raine's orders." Before the Bards could object, Darius summoned a wave of Abomination goo, whisking them away. The Bards, plus Darius and Eberwolf, emerged in a large cave that had been converted into a functional base of operations.
"Remain here for now," Darius instructed, "We'll be making our move soon. In the meantime, continue to train. Raine will stop by as soon as they get a chance." He teleported away again, not giving the Bards a chance to question him. Katya stared at the place he had left before turning to Eberwolf.
"What is going on?"
The three time travelers had returned to the present, thoroughly exhausted by their adventure. They arrived at the Owl House just in time to catch Eda standing at the cliff's edge. She turned to greet the others after wiping away a few stray tears.
"Hey nerds," she greeted, "Did you have fun on your nerd quest to find the dead nerd."
"Laying it on a little thick," Luz said, "But yes, we did find him."
"Woah, really?"
"Yeah, he was kind of an ass," Lancer chirped as he flew off, no doubt returning to Royal.
"I punched him in the face!" Lilith grinned, clenching her fist again. She and Luz shot finger guns at each other while Eda watched awkwardly.
"Alright, this… this needs to stop," she said. The two obliged and returned to the Owl House. Tucked away in the corner of the living room, Royal was listening to Lancer's report.
"Phillip turned out to be a complete tool," the Ghost said, "He left us for dead. Fortunately, Luz was able to get us out. Then, Lilith clocked him clean in the face." The Warlock's eyebrows slid up as he heard that.
"Really now?" He asked, looking over at Lilith as she entered.
"You know, she not that bad," Lancer said, "She's not some malicious agent or dangerous double-crosser. She's just a nerd." Royal didn't answer, continuing to watch the Witch in question.
Back in the past, Phillip stumbled through the cave he called home. The shattered remains of lang-dead Palismen littered the ground. He clutched his broken nose, vehemently muttering to himself the entire time.
"Those barbarians, those Witches!" His voice bounced off the cave walls as he knelt next to a desk. He activated a light glyph and watched it float up. Satisfied with the magic's integrity, he set the mirror and his journal on the desk. Suddenly, he let out a grunt of pain. He pulled up his sleeve, revealing a tattoo of multiple interlocking glyphs. The flesh bubbled and writhed as he clutched the limb. Grabbing a Palisman, he cracked it open and drank its magical vitae. Drawing a deep breath, his body stabilized and the pain receded.
"It doesn't matter," he muttered, "I just need to live long enough to see this through." He raised the mirror to his face as it displayed his reflection.
"And you are going to help me, Collector." As soon as he said those words, shadows on the wall began to dance. Phillip looked up from the mirror as childish laughter began to echo throughout the room.
"Finally," a child's voice emerged from the shadows, "I do not drown." The shadows twisted into a humanoid form. Coalescing from the darkness, the Collector looked down at Phillip with a massive smile on his face.
"I rise."
And that's all he wrote. Gotta say, writing the bit's in the present was more fun than I thought it would be. Now, for some Destiny talk. If you haven't played the season finale mission yet, then I advise you to skip the next paragraph.
All I can say is; Holy shit. I was not expecting that. The mission was pretty fun, but the story was the real meat there. It's weird not seeing the Traveler hanging above the City. Kinda ominous, honestly. I've heard people batting around theories about what it was doing. Personally, I don't think it was trying to run. Rather, I think the Traveler was trying to avoid the City to spare it from any potential destruction at the hands of the Warsats. But those are just my two cents and, as a little thing between us, Royal does not agree with me there. But that isn't relevant to this story, now is it?
Spoilers over, but I wanna talk about Lightfall real quick. Everything I have heard about Lightfall has been great. The Witness continues to become more and more fascinating. I can't wait to turn it into a gun. We're just a week out, I'll see you there Guardians.
Also, Calus is dripped the fuck out.
Thatnewguy11: If I can find a way to make it work, then absolutely.
GodzillaMaster: They've had access to it since chapter 12, though I haven't done the best job drawing focus to it so I don't blame you for missing it. As for Jacob, the dude's played Destiny 2, that's how he knows what's going on. In all seriousness, he's just being a loon, spouting off nonsense. Technically none of that has happened yet, he's just throwing out whatever he can think of.
Trials sweat: I appreciate the good wishes. I should have it taken care of soon. Then, I just have to survive this semester. And you make a fair point about Amity being a Warlock. That being said, I will be sticking with my headcanon.
OMAC001: Yeah, I always found that kinda weird. Also, thanks for the call there. I thought I was missing something but I couldn't put my finger on it.
davisjustus99: Regrettably, I'm not too familiar with Dead Space either.
ToasterRoaster: I've got a pretty decent Starfire. Have I actually used it? Nope. It's like what Rylee Reloaded says; "Buildcrafting is for fucking nerds!"
mmmplays27: Space Potato, Space Rhino, I'm not too torn on the terminology. They're all targets to me.
mysticalex: You'll learn soon enough. While I don't have plans for the gang to get their hands on any exotics, I might cook up an end bit. Depends on if I can make it work. I've had some jokes I wanted to tell but they just kinda fell through cause I couldn't make it work.
Luz's search for Phillip wasn't going well. Despite Lancer's encouragement, she was beginning to become disheartened. Leaning against a wall, she let out a sigh. Suddenly, she heard a strange sound coming from the alley beside her. Peering down the alleyway, she saw a robed figure dusting themself off. They turned, revealing a familiar tentacled face.
"Xûr?" Luz asked in disbelief while Lancer appeared beside her. The strange creature nodded in greeting as he hobbled over.
"Greetings, contestant," he said in his usual strange intone, "I knew the Nine would not send me here without reason."
"Wait, how are you here?" Lancer questioned, "And isn't this happening four hundred years before we actually compete in your gameshow?"
"Time is fluid," Xûr responded, as if that explained everything, "Now, perhaps there is something I have that you want."
"Do you know where I can find Phillip?" Luz asked, holding up her drawing. Xûr chuckled.
"I'm afraid I cannot help in that regard," he said, "But my wares may be of more assistance." He spread his robes, revealing a collection of curiosities and strange mementos. Luz could even see another Exotic Engram tucked away in one of his pockets. Suddenly, she felt something appear in her hand. Looking down, she saw the coin she had won from Dares of Eternity. The inscriptions continued to shift and twist as she held it out.
"What can I buy with this?" Xûr took the coin and inspected it.
"Hmmm, I may be able to grant you one of our special Paraversal prize boxes," he said, "Will you win a new Sparrow? A free cruise to Europa? Or a miniature black hole to display in your room?" Luz shrugged and accepted the box. She opened it, revealing a burst of starlight that shot into the sky. The beam of light died and she peeked into the box. To her disappointment, all she saw was a small slip of paper.
"If the Nine wanted this, you would not have it," Xûr said generously, "Now, I am needed elsewhere. Until next time contestant." He faded away, pulled back across the Paraverse by his masters. Luz pulled out the slip of paper and inspected it. The text shifted just like the coin, but she could read some brief snippets.
"An all-expenses paid trip to a special pocket dimension, where pain has no meaning," she read, "Includes free complimentary breakfasts, with food that transmutes flesh into a fine red mist. Enjoy your cruise in elegance and style, unbound by the passage of time, and be sure to stop by the largest wooden roller coaster in the Paraverse."
"Yeah, I don't think you want to do that," Lancer chirped, "Maybe another time."
