Hey all, what's good? We're leaving the honeymoon period of Final Shape, and what a honeymoon it has been. Just to let you all know, I will have to take another brief hiatus after this chapter. Chapter 21 has been thoroughly kicking my ass, and I've only managed to cover about half the ground I want to despite working on it for over a week and a half by now. Once I clear that hurdle, we'll be in the home stretch to Witch Queen. And let me tell you, I cannot wait to get there. Just need more time to cross this hurdle.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review cursing me to never get the Salvations Edge raid exotic.
Chapter 20: The Razor's Edge
"I kill the enemy, but I do not hate them." - The Paladin
Royal was a maelstrom of fire as he stormed through the H.E.L.M. His mind was empty and clear; there was nothing to distract him. He was here for one reason, and all else was irrelevant. Lament clung to his back, ready and eager to taste the blood of a Hive God. A few Eliksni still operating in the area quickly got out of his way as he brushed past them. His flames died down a little as he entered the portal chamber. Petra Venj stood before the swirling vortex, looking through a few field reports. She looked up as Royal entered.
"Guardian, what brings you-" Royal shoved her aside, ignoring the Awoken's protests. Petra stared at him as he passed through the portal. Fearing the worst, she set off after the Guardian. By the time she got through, Royal was kicking down the door to the Witch Queen's chamber.
"SAVATHÛN!" He roared, his voice bouncing off the walls. The crystal cocoon glowed faintly as Savathûn acknowledged his arrival.
"Oh my, Royal, what a pleasant surprise," Savathûn cooed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Enough of your games," Royal spat as Petra arrived behind him. He tore Lament off his back with one hand and pointed it at Savathûn. "Where is she? What did you do to her?"
"You will have to be more specific," Savathûn said, sounding rather bored with the Warlock. "I've met a lot of she's in my time."
"What have you done to Lilith Clawthorne," Royal said, his voice little more than a growl. "Answer truthfully, and I might make your execution quick."
"Guardian, stand down," Petra ordered, drawing her sidearm on Royal. "For the sake of the Reef, no harm shall befall Savathûn until Queen Mara decides."
"It feels good to be so loved," Savathûn said sarcastically. Royal glared at Petra before reaching out and grabbing the barrel of her gun. His hand erupted in flame, melting the weapon into a pile of useless slag. Petra hissed as she dropped the now molten metal.
"Stay out of this," he threatened. "Or your queen will have to find a new attack dog."
Savathûn cackled, "Oh, how wonderfully delicious. But you really shouldn't go threatening her. You need the Reef as an ally, do you not?"
Royal glared at Petra as she spoke into her radio before returning to Savathûn. "Out with it, deceiver. What have you done to Lilith!"
"I knew you cared about her, but I didn't know it was to this extent," Savathûn said curiously. "Lilith was such a useful host, almost as useful as Osiris. Through her eyes and mind, I learned so much about the Isles and its people. She could take me places my previous host could not."
"And what interest would a Hive God have in the Boiling Isles?" Royal interrogated, his fingers hovering over Lament's trigger.
"I assume you won't accept curiosity for curiosities sake?" Savathûn taunted. Royal didn't reply, maintaining his look of pure hatred and disgust. "I didn't think so. Truthfully, when I heard the Collector had been felled, I was many things. Enraged, surprised, concerned, remorseful. But most of all, I was intrigued. And it only grew upon my arrival. Imagine my shock when the Witch Queen stumbles upon a world filled with Witches. It was all so poetic. I found myself a suitable pair of eyes—that one woman with the green hair, her name eludes me. In time, I found Lilith. Dear sweet, eager Lilith. A few whispers here, a couple of rumors there, and she practically walked right into my arms."
"You're testing my patience, alien," Royal scowled. "I advise you to get to the point quickly before I introduce you to mine." He gunned Lament's engine, letting the blade rattle as its chains spun on their axles.
"I can see what she liked above you," Savathûn said. "So blunt. So direct. So honest. Through Lilith's eyes, I bore witness to so much. Magic I had never conceived of. Alas, Lilith began to deteriorate after so many years. I was left with little choice but to find other uses for her. But I had what I came for and other matters that required my attention."
"And what of the Isles?" Royal questioned. "Tell me what threads you have wound before I learn if that cocoon can withstand my blades bite!"
"Always straight to threats with you," Savathûn said, most likely rolling her eyes within her prison. "What more do you need to hear? The Isles are still there, no armies of Hive razing their surface. I have kept it hidden from those who would wish it harm. You're welcome." Royal's eyes narrowed, focusing his fury on the Hive God before him. He began to walk forward, only for Lancer to appear before him.
"Royal, don't do this," the Ghost warned. "We cannot risk war with the Reef. Attacking Savathûn won't bring Lilith back." Royal was practically shaking with rage but managed to restrain himself from doing something rash. Letting the engine die down, he slung Lament over his back.
"Yes, listen to your Ghost," Savathûn taunted. "You pride yourself as an intelligent creature. Take a step back and analyze the situation." Royal's optics widened as she threw his own words back at him. He moved without thinking, barely able to see through his rage. His fists shot toward Savathûn, and a tornado of flame erupted forth. The fire consumed Savathûn prison, blanketing her artificial shell in a blaze of celestial Light. Petra visibly recoiled, her skin blistering from the intense heat. Behind her, a dozen Corsairs poured through the door, weapons drawn.
Cutting off his pillar of thermite, Royal lowered his hands. Savathûn's prison was undamaged, though it had the faintest glow of residual heat as smoke drifted off it.
"It was getting rather cold in here," Savathûn said sardonically. "Farewell for now, Royal." Her prison fell dormant, the crystals darkening as Savathûn left to do whatever she did in her free time.
Royal was still shaking with rage but resigned himself to the fact that he could not strike at Savathûn so long as she was protected by Mara's spell. Petra ordered the Corsairs to escort him out. One hesitantly approached him. Royal's body tensed, and he half-lunged at them, only going far enough to make them flinch away from him. He spun on his heels and left without another word. The Corsairs followed him, escorting the Guardian from Savathûn's chambers.
Luz crept through the Ascendant Plane, carefully keeping her rifle's barrel out. Iris was somewhere above her, likely doing the same. Before them were a few Hive, guarding the beacon, which was their objective. They were hot on the next Techeuns trail, and Xivu Arath was throwing everything she had at them.
Luz slipped behind a pillar in the bombed-out ruins of the church where the final beacon was located. She peered around the support and took note of the Hive's forces. She sent her findings to Iris, who was stalking through the building's rafters. The Hunter confirmed as she moved into position. Ordinarily, Luz would have preferred to have a third Guardian as backup. But considering just who Iris was, she supposed the two would be fine.
Luz lay in silence, waiting for Iris's signal. Being a Nightstalker, she would obviously have something subtle and sneaky prepared that would let them get the drop on their foes without alerting the Hive to their presence. This was Luz's chance to get hands-on stealth training from a master, and Iris immediately squandered it by diving at a Knight. One of her swords cut into the Knight, slicing through its torso and leaving its guts to dangle over the ground. Before the surrounding Acolytes could react, Iris's hand cannon fired a symphony of death that split their skulls open. Realizing what was happening, Luz dove out of cover and brought her rifle up to her face just in time to see Iris decapitate the last Acolyte. Its body dropped to the ground while its head rolled over to Luz's feet.
"I would appreciate a little more heads-up," Luz said. Iris grinned and pulled out her Compass.
"I'm sure it would," she said as she began to attune it to the beacon. "Don't worry, there'll be plenty of Hive for you to kill." The final beacon activated, and the sounds of its internal mechanisms whirring resounded through the Ascendant Plane. There was a distant screech; the Hive were about to descend upon them.
Luz took up a position overlooking the ruins that once were the main door, her machine gun prepped. Iris melted into the shadows, cloaking herself with Void Light. Luz waited in silence, listening only to the sounds of her heartbeat and the clicking of the beacon. A third sound emerged from the miasma of the Ascendant Plane, the rush of hundreds of Hive.
Luz took a deep breath and lined up her eyes with the sights. Her fingers curled around the grip of her weapon, its weight growing to feel comfortably familiar in her hands. Royal was right; Guardians did have a special bond with their gear.
The first Hive tore through the front entrance, dozens of Thrall practically falling over each other to dig their claws into Luz first. She opened fire, listening to the gun's rattle and feeling the feedback as it kicked into her shoulder. Her bullets cut the Thrall down, and Luz drowned out their dying screams.
Her rifle ran dry, and she pocketed it, swapping to her hand cannon. A quick salvo of rounds finished off the wave of Thrall just in time for a squad of Acolytes to reach the door. They immediately opened fire, careful to protect themselves with cover. Luz threw a storm grenade their way as she rolled back behind her own cover. The cracks of thunder and the stench of charred chitin were all she needed to know the result.
She was forced to move when a fireball landed beside her. The Acolytes fired on her as she dashed out of cover. Thin needles of Void energy splintered against her shields as she returned fire. She slid behind another pillar, though not before sending a lash of electricity that chained between the remaining Acolytes.
Even as they went down, more poured in to fill their place. A few Knights stormed in behind them. One drew his sword and charged at Luz while the other two rained fire upon her with cannons. Luz cursed as she narrowly dodged the sword Knight's overhead swing. She fired a burst of Arc energy into his chest, causing the Knight to twitch erratically. Despite that, the Hive forced himself onward. Luz ducked under another swing and took her opportunity to circle around the Knight. She fired a trio of bullets into the Knights back, shattering his thick chitin. The Knight howled as the shard of natural armor scared its exposed flesh. Luz finished up with a point-blank Lightning burst.
The Knight disintegrated into charged sparks. Luz turned around, her hand cannon at the ready to target the remaining Knights, only to see Iris standing over their slain bodies. The Hunter freed and quickly cleaned her sword before slinging it across her back. Luz opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted when the ground shook under her feet. Luz stumbled as she tried to regain her footing. A gargantuan axe cleaved through the side of the church, collapsing it. A pillar came crashing down on Luz, pinning her to the ground.
She groaned under the weight of the marble stone. Her armor held up to the strain, protecting her from being crushed. Her shields weren't so lucky, collapsing under the intense weight. Luz tried to push it off her as the axe reemerged, cutting through the wall again. Iris was forced to roll out of the way as more ceiling collapsed.
The wall exploded, caving in as a hulking Knight crashed through it. Kelgorath's feet shattered the floor tiles, choking the air with dust. His eyes quickly fixed in on Luz and then Iris. His axe came up, cleaving through the ceiling. Iris rolled backward as the axe slammed into the space she had occupied but a half-second before. Iris sprang back to her feet and flung a few grenades at the Knight. Ignoring the bursts of Void energy, he charged toward Iris.
"Man, this guy cannot take a hint," Iris said, dodging his furious swings. "You know this clown? Owe him money or something?"
"Never met him," Luz said through gritted teeth as she tried to shift the pillar's weight off her.
"Amity and Crow fought him while trying to get to Savathûn," Aurora said. "He's nasty, but nothing you two can't handle."
Whatever Luz was going to say next was cut off by Iris flying past her, having caught Kelgorath's axe to her chest. The Hunter's shields took most of the force, only to shatter as she slammed into the wall beside Luz. Iris groaned as she forced herself up, doubtlessly bleeding from at least a couple wounds.
"Iris Yue," Kelgorath growled, dragging his axe through the ground as he slowly approached. "You aided in the attack on Oryx's Dreadnaught and the Taken King's downfall."
"Yeah," she said as Luz finally freed herself from under the pillar. "What's it to you?"
"I am his sister's vengeance," he said. He surged forward, charging as an unstoppable tide of violence. Luz and Iris dove in opposite directions, firing Arc blasts and rifle shots as Kelgoraths axe swung in a brilliant circle of death. The Knight shifted his weight, moving far faster than anything his size had any right to, and once again charged Iris down. He crashed through the remaining pillars of the church, bringing large chunks of the roof down atop them.
Iris rolled out of the way, firing her pulse rifle into Kelgoraths helmet. Most of them ricochet off his carapace harmlessly. Kelgorath swung his axe in a low arc. The blade found purchase in Iris's thigh, cutting her leg clean off. Iris grunted as she fell to the ground. Light pulsed through the limb as Hajime tried to repair the damage. She barely had time to roll out of the way before the heel of Kelgoraths axe shattered the ground beneath it. Kelgorath pulled his axe back up, ready to try again.
Luz didn't give him a chance and unleashed a tempest of lightning from her hands. Kelgoraths body lit up like the sky at dawn. The Knight roared as his body burned with electricity. He tried to fire a blast at Luz, only to buckle as Iris drove one of her swords into the back of his knee. Iris released her grip on that sword and drew her second as she slipped around the Hive. Her second sword flashed in a brilliant arc and dug into Kelgoraths throat. The Knights' roars turned into gurgles as blood flowed from the wound. He clawed at his throat to stem the tide as Iris pulled both swords free. Kelgorath stumbled back. His axe cleaved through the air as he desperately swung it, giving himself some space. He glared at Iris before slamming the shaft of his axe against the ground. Hive runes burned the fabric of the Ascendant Plane as Kelgoraths body was consumed by dark matter.
"Yeah, you better run," Iris gloated. "Tell your master to send something more threatening next time. Like a pack of Thrall." Kelgorath raged in response but was cut off by the runes activating. He vanished in a crackle of Hive magic that left a sour tang in the air.
"I can see what Amity means about the taste," Luz said, shirking away from the aroma of death.
"Missions not finished yet," Iris said, already turning back to the beacon. "Let's get this Techeun home." She returned to the beacon as it clicked. The mechanisms within were aligned, and a portal opened above them. The Techeun spilled out, saved from hitting the ground as Luz caught her.
"So, that's another rescued Techeun," Crow said over the radio as he prepared their exit. "Exactly how many of them did you just fling in there? Were you hoping if you just hurled enough bodies at the Ascendant Plane, maybe your troubles would go away?"
"Watch your tone, Crow," Perta said cooly.
"Or, what, you'll leave me for dead here too?"
"Oh, I'll do more than that," Petra threatened. Crow was about to rebuke her before remembering himself.
"Opening the portal," he said. "Good job on a mission complete."
"Nice work, kid," Iris said, giving Luz a light punch on the shoulder. "Feel free to turn in for the day, I'll handle Savathûn." Luz nodded gratefully, looking forward to maybe squeezing in some more training with Royal. She wanted to start practicing Void. A part of her squealed at the idea of Amity helping her out, just as she had done not long ago.
"I can't believe this!" Amity screamed, the sound of her boots meeting the tiled floor resounding through Willow's ears. She had been pacing in a loose circle, ranting and raving to herself and anyone who would listen for the last fifteen minutes. Willow had been listening the entire time, more or less forced to do so while polishing her armor. Vernal growths had already sprouted through some of the cracks in the old plate due to her residual magic, coating the metal in a thin layer of vines and leaves.
"So you've mentioned," Willow said, rolling her eyes. "Several times now."
"Because it doesn't make sense!" Amity snapped. "Of all the people in the Demon Realm, why did it have to be him? What was the Traveler thinking?"
"This might not mean much coming from me, but I think you're overreacting," Willow said dismissively. Amity rounded on her.
"How can you say that?" She hissed. "It's Belos!"
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Willow asked, looking up from her armor and fixing Amity with a deadpan stare. Amity groaned, smacking her palm against her forehead.
"Right, no memories," she groaned. "I told you that you should have prepared the spell, but no one wanted to listen to me. 'Why would we need to preserve our memories? The Traveler won't make it to the Demon Realm.' Well, look who's been vindicated now! In your face, Gus!"
She stopped her rant when she realized Willow was watching her, as though she was an escapee from an insane asylum. Amity took a breath as she corralled her thoughts.
"Look, Belos was a horrible person who tried to kill us specifically a very long time ago," Amity said. "He tried to kill everyone on the Isles! And there was everything he did with the Vex and the Collector. He is not Guardian material."
"I didn't realize you got to decide who is and isn't qualified to be a Guardian," Willow muttered. "And here I thought that was the Traveler's call."
"Are you defending him?" Amity asked, hardly able to believe what she was hearing.
"Defending Belos? No," Willow said. "Defending the clueless man currently being interrogated by two Exo's? Yes."
"How can you say something like that?" Amity asked. Willow tapped her knuckles against the side of her head. Amity groaned in frustration yet again. As she and Willow argued about the revived Emperor, Paladin and Venator were having a discussion of their own inside Paladin's office.
"This is really him?" Paladin asked, looking Belos up and down. The man squirmed in his chair uncomfortably, weaving his fingers together as he tried to shrink away from Paladin's sight.
"No, it's actually Steve, and he underwent some cosmetic surgery," Venator said. Paladin gave her an unamused look before turning back to Belos.
"Does he bear any signs of his curse?" He asked. Belos's eyes widened in shock.
"My what?"
"Not that I've seen," Venator said. She paced around him, watching the man curiously. Then, without warning, she swiftly drew her knife and sliced through his arm. Belos hissed and grabbed the wound. It wasn't severe, only deep enough to sting. Venator held her knife up, watching his crimson lifeblood slowly run down the edge of the blade. "Looks like the Traveler cleansed him."
"Would one of you please tell me what is going on?" Belos asked, desperately pleading for some kind of understanding. Paladin could see fear in the man's eyes, and some part of him took pleasure in that. He quelled his vindictive side and sighed.
"What is your understanding of the situation?" He asked calmly. Belos blinked before trying to find the words to speak.
"I was resurrected from the dead," he said. My Ghost brought me here. I had to stick to the shadows. Everywhere I went, people would attack me. They called me horrible things: tyrant, butcher, monster." As he spoke, his voice became hollower, and his gaze less focused.
"I see," Paladin said, his voice stern and unsympathetic. "And have you any suspicions as to why?"
"None at all."
"So, what do we do with him?" Venator asked quietly. Paladin sighed and wrung his hands.
"What can we do?" He asked, somewhat rhetorically. "We have no real choice but to take him in."
"Lydia is going to lose her shit when she hears about this," Venator muttered.
"I can deal with Lydia; it's Amity and Scholar that I'm more worried about," Paladin said. "You know how they can be."
"If that's what you think is right, then I'll have your back," Venator said. "Just so long as the record states that I think this is a terrible idea." Paladin nodded in agreement before turning back to Belos.
"Do you have a name?"
Belos shook his head. "None that I can recall."
"I can give you one if it's all the same to you," Paladin offered. Belos nodded. "Very well then, Phillip, welcome to your new home." Paladin reached across the table and shook the man's hand. Belos, now Phillip, accepted. "I would strongly advise against attempting to look into your past. You may not always like what you find."
"I understand," Phillip said. The Titan rose from his seat, and the former Emperor did the same.
"You mentioned that you encountered people on your way here?" Paladin asked. Phillip nodded, and Paladin frowned. "It's only a matter of time before word spreads if it hasn't already. We will have to act quickly to alleviate the worst of it. When Lydia hears about this…" His voice trailed off as he ran a hand over his head.
"The Traveler tests us in strange ways," Thatch mused.
Royal slumped into the seat of his jumpship, burying his face in his hands. His optics were narrow, filled with hatred directed toward the captive Hive God like a thin needle. Alas, he could do nothing to target Savathûn.
"Well, so much for learning to keep your anger under control," Lancer muttered. Upon realizing that Royal was in no mood for jokes, he sighed. "We're going to make Savathûn pay for what she did, I promise."
"I failed her," Royal said. "I failed Eda. I failed all of them! They were supposed to be safe, untouched by my war!"
"Look at me," Lancer ordered, floating in front of his Guardian. Royal looked up, liquid fire burning in his optics. "What's done is done, and we can't change it. Lilith can't be saved, but you can damn well make sure she is avenged."
"I cannot cut at Savathûn," Royal said. "Not while she is protected by Mara's enchantment."
"Then we play along," Lancer said. "Speed up the retrieval of the Techeuns as much as we can. Then, once Savathûn's cage is opened, we will be free to return all of Savathûn's treachery upon her ten-thousandfold."
Royal slowly nodded as he processed Lancer's words, his rage gradually fading until it was a more measured burn. "Have I ever told you how crafty you can be when you desire?"
"You're always free to compliment me," Lancer said. "Besides, one of us has to be the brains of the operation."
"Then I guess I'll have to be the looks," Royal said. "Traveler knows you're lacking in that department."
"Well, I'm not the one with a girlfriend, am I?" Lancer teased. Royal awkwardly averted his gaze and muttered something unintelligible under his breath. All that was missing was the faintest of blushes. A shame Royal was incapable of doing so. Having little else to do, Royal set his trajectory to bring him back to the Demon Realm. Maybe some time there would help to calm his mind.
His arrival was swift, and soon, he was basking in the sunlight of the Demon Realm. He moved through the Sentries base until he reached Paladin's office. He knocked on the door, wishing to discuss what he had uncovered. There was a sound of chairs scraping against the floor. After a moment, the door creaked open a tiny amount. Venator peered through the crack, her eyebrows rising as she saw her brother.
"It's just Scholar," she said, turning back into the room.
"Let him in," Paladin replied. Royal was about to question what they were doing when Venator yanked him inside the room and quickly shut the door behind him. Royal regained his footing and looked up at Paladin. As he did, he realized one more person was inside the room.
Sitting directly in front of him was Belos, looking over the back of his chair with a blank expression. Royal's optics widened as they darted over the man. Belos's face shifted to one of pain as he nursed his temple. Royals optics darted to his brother, desperately begging for answers. The Titan could only offer a tired sigh.
"As you can see, things have been going interestingly here," Paladin deadpanned.
Luz stretched as she entered the Sentry headquarters, trying to push the soreness out of her body. She arrived just in time to see Amity and Willow bickering over something she didn't know about. She looked between them as they argued before shrugging and collapsing into a seat.
"Luz, it's good you're here," Amity said. "I need you to back me up here."
"Back who up with the what now?" Luz asked, still only half-listening to their debate.
"Belos is back," Amity hissed. Upon seeing Luz's blank expression, she set a hand on her forehead. "Why can't you guys just remember?"
"Wait, that name sounds familiar," Luz said, racking her brain from Royal's stories and her journal. "Isn't he the Emperor dude who tried to kill us?"
"Yes, thank you," Amity said. "The Traveler brought him back! As a Guardian!" Amity accentuated her point with numerous frantic arm motions. For her part, Willow just rolled her eyes. Luz furrowed her brow as she thought.
"Oh, alright then," she said, turning away from the two. Amity was dumbfounded.
"That's all you have to say?"
"Should I have more?" Luz asked. "Did you believe the Traveler only chose people of outstanding moral fiber? If he's back, then the Traveler clearly has a purpose for him. Besides, that stuff was literal lifetimes ago. He doesn't remember it, and I don't either."
"That doesn't change what he did," Amity said, frustration starting to creep into her voice. "His ambition would have seen the Isles burn! He nearly petrified you! Hell, he did kill you!" She was practically pleading with Luz now.
"His past doesn't define him," Luz said. "He's a different man now."
"I'd sooner believe a Stonesleeper can change its sediment than believe he can change his ways," Amity spat. "If Paladin has half a mind, he'll throw the bastard into the Boiling Seas." Luz's eyes narrowed, and anger began to bubble up within her.
"That's not right, and you know it," she said.
"I don't know how you two can sit there and defend him," Amity said. "He's a monster, and death hasn't changed that. He'll find a way to get his memories back, and then he'll be the same genocidal maniac he always was. I have half a mind to barge in there myself and-"
"You don't know anything," Luz shouted, snapping up from her seat and glaring at Amity. The Witch seemed genuinely caught off-guard by Luz's outburst. Even Willow was surprised, looking up from her armor with widened eyes. Luz stormed over to Amity, thrusting a finger in her face. "You can't know what it's like! Because you couldn't bear the thought of living without your precious memories! Some of us don't want to be forced to live by the standards of who we were before!"
Amity recoiled from Luz's outburst, looking genuinely hurt. Any guilt Luz might have felt was quashed by her anger. Amity's words had cut deep, feeling like barbs directed not just at herself but also at Crow. Seeing the Witches hurt face, Luz grit her teeth and tried to find the right words to continue. When nothing came to her, she let out a frustrated curse in Spanish before turning on her heels and storming out of the room.
Amity tried to reach out for her as she left, but Luz was gone before she could do anything. Amity pulled her hand back, curling it into a ball and holding it to her chest. She looked at Willow, only to see the Sunbreaker giving her an unimpressed, half-lidded stare. Willow shook her head before returning once more to her armor.
Meanwhile, Luz was practically seething. She crossed back through the portal, ignoring Aurora's worried beeps. She activated her radio, trying to hail Crow. After a moment, there was a scratch of static.
"Luz, what's going on? Crow asked. "What do you need?"
"I'm on my way to the H.E.L.M. now," she said. "Be ready when I get there. We're getting you that audience with Savathûn."
As I said above, I will need to take another break. These will likely pop up from time to time, so I have the space to give chapters the focus they need individually. All I can ask for is your patience.
Now, real quick for Belos/Phillip (I'm just going to call him Phillip from here on out, for simplicity's sake). He isn't going to be a super pivotal mainstay character. He has a purpose, I have a plan, but he's more of a background character that exists to facilitate other characters in their growth.
GuardianLightTheVanguard: I edited your missing review back into chapter 19.
1. It's still too early for me to feel comfortable making a call on episodes vs seasons. That being said, I don't have insane expectations for Echoes since it launched with the expansion. The first season of an expansion cycle was usually on the weaker end, save for maybe season 16. That being said, I think these weapons are some of the coolest we've ever gotten, aesthetically speaking. The activities are alright. The arena one is fine, while the timed one in the Vex Network is really tense and fun. I was not expecting it to be as hard as it was, which is a nice kick in the teeth that seasonal activities outside of Deep Dives, Altars of Summoning, and the Coil never had.
2. She is, yes.
3. I do not plan to do anything with Ager's Scepter. It's there, it exists, but it is not the focus of the story.
4. Three out of five. Ikora and Zavala have no real interest in Phillip.
5. No, actually, Royal wouldn't do that. He doesn't like judging Guardians by who they were in their former lives. He won't like Phillip, but he is able to separate the Phillip of now from the Belos of old.
6. Royal has—admittedly far too much—faith in the Traveler and its judgment.
7. I believe I've mentioned before that Lilith and Royal's relationship is one of my biggest missed opportunities from WnW. I want to make up for that here. That being said, remember Lilith was possessed centuries ago. Royal is a little bit late.
8. Ayyy, someone noticed that Willow's sparing partner was Boscha. You get a cookie. I like to joke with my friends that I could totally make Willow and Boscha besties here because I am the god of this wretched world, and it would amuse me.
9. Sometime in the nebulous future. She has some growth of her own to do.
10. I did now, thank you for telling me.
11. Probably, yeah. Most likely won't be until around Witch Queen. There are a few too many characters at the moment, so I need time to cycle some of them out.
12. I did. It was neat. There's not much else to say, is there?
Crazy Cakes 23: Quick question, would there be a coup on the Isles since Lydia seems to be drumming up some drama? Also would the Witches be considered a human subspecies? There's a theory stating witches are descended from humans who came to the isles and the fact they can interbreed is a point to that. They're like the Awoken but branched off earlier and are less advanced.
What, no. Why would there be a coup against Lydia? She's just a politician. Granted, that definitely makes her a bad person, but she's not any more evil than normal. Trust me. As for how Witches and Humans click together, I actually subscribe to that theory. I headcanon that Witches are, on average, physically weaker than Humans. Like, they have lighter muscle mass, less dense bones, and stuff like that. Evolutionally, they have no need for a Human's physicality since they have magic. It also follows that since the Bile Sac grows off their hearts, they have smaller hearts, lungs, etc. So they can't pump blood as well, they get winded a bit more easily, yada yada. Intelligence-wise, I think the averages are pretty much the same. But that's just my headcanon.
Guest: What the Destiny Multiverse controlled by the Traveller and the Darkness/Vex vs cartoon?
What? o_O
wHaT aM i LoOkInG aT hErE
You are looking at the folly of man and all our hubris.
davisjustus99: Huh. Neat. Never thought I'd accidentally cause something to happen. But we got Belos back. And why do I want Crow and Luz to get together rather than Amity and Luz?
Yeah, I've already given my piece on the Luz and Crow dynamic. It's cute, but Lumity is the end goal. That doesn't mean I'm gonna make it easy.
Also, sometimes I like to joke that, between Eido, Amity, and Crow, I'm building Luz her own harem.
mmmplays27: we have another Crow situation, damn. half of me is hoping tha you turn Belos into another cinnamon roll and have the full turnabout, but the other half is hoping you make him still a deviously evil ass mf and have everyone kick the shit out of him regularly. not sure which is weighted more in my head, but...
The response from y'all seems to be evenly split between "Don't let Phillip find his memories and redeem him" and "Fuck this bastard kill kill kill". What is my plan? Well wouldn't you like to know, weather boy.
BlueRoseLevi: Great chapter, loved seeing that more Witch-Guardians are being created and I'm interested to see how a Lightbearer Belos is gonna play out after that reveal. Crow's really gonna have some competition in the "I'm getting my ass beat for something I don't remember" challenge.
As shown in this chapter, the main purpose of bringing Phillip back was to parallel him with Crow and heighten Luz's own internal conflict. There will be some more to come, but that's a bit later down the line.
GodzillaMaster: Fuuuuuuuuck...
Of all the people that could've become guardians, the parasite was chosen by a Ghost?
And damn, Lilith was possessed by Savathun? That woman just could not catch a break...
You know, it takes a lot for me to feel bad for fictional characters. But what I have in store regarding Lilith... yeah, I feel little bad for her. She went from a tool of a genocidal dictator to being mentally tormented by the Vex to Savathûn's puppet, all in the span of a few years. I really have it out for her, don't I?
hornig3: Oh I was really hoping we wouldn't get that rat bastard back, please can he at least not get his past memories so we can judge him and not another Belos?! Also Luz is helping in both the worst and best ways which is so Luz. When THAT moment comes her martyr complex and/or her people pleaser instincts may come back up.
Ah, Luz. So determined to make yourself miserable just to help other people. Let's see how this plays out.
In the waning months of the year, when the winds grow cold, there comes a time of frights and delights. Guardians and civilians alike will don elaborate costumes meant to strike fear into the heart of their fellow—or draw out a good laugh if nothing else. Candy was devoured, and joy was had.
Luz squinted as she pieced together the final touches of her costume. Delicate robes of flawless white mixed with a few splashes of lavender. A ribbon here, a lovely emerald gemstone there. Luz stepped back and admired her handiwork.
"Oooh, pretty," Aurora said, appearing beside her Guardian. The Ghost had similarly joined in on the festivities, trading her usual shell for a long, pointed hat. Stringbean voiced her agreement with a happy hiss.
"Now to put it on," Luz said. There was a flash as she transmatted the costume onto her body. "Alright, done. Now, off to the celebrations!" Aurora and Stringbean cheered before the Palisman changed into a staff for Luz.
Along the way to the party, they ran into Amity. The Witch had stylized her armor to look like a massive spider. She even had extra robotic appendages to help sell the effect. Pal was dressed up in a complimentary garb, likely against his will. Ghost had a small sheet draped over herself with slits for her eyes.
The party itself was a good time. Guardians were mingling, chatting, and celebrating. Luz was mostly content to remain near the punch bowl with Amity, admiring everyone's costumes from afar and making small talk. As she brought her cup up to her lips and took a sip, she saw a tall figure shouldering their way through the crowd. A man in a costume stylized to look like something from an old mecha show approached the pair.
"Hey, you two," Royal said. "What do you think?" He spread his arms, showing off his costume. Luz gave it an appraising eye while Amity giggled.
"Did you really dress up as a robot?" She asked. "Don't you think that's a bit on the nose?"
"I didn't dress up as any old robot," Royal countered. "I dressed up as an evil robot." He made a few stereotypical gestures, like a death machine from an old horror movie. "Beep! Boop! Fuck the fleshies!"