Welcome back, ladies and motherfuckers. It's time for more of this accursed story. I'm staying a few chapters ahead of the curve, so I'm currently working on chapter nine while this goes live. Things have been going a bit too peachy for everyone. Time to fix that.

Chapter 5: A Path Best Unwalked

"Fallen. Don't like 'em. They'll gut you from stem to stern in half a second. Want my advice? Shoot 'em dead." - Tonbo-08, Warden of Europa

Luz awoke and began blinking the grogginess out of her eyes. Rolling over in her cot, she glanced at her clock. Seven in the morning. Frowning, she checked her messages and found one from Royal. He had been called away to attend to some other business, so she would be alone most of the day. He had also provided a few instructions for meditation and training but was mainly content to leave her to her own devices.

Yawning, she pried herself out of bed and started the shower. After stepping out and slipping into some casual robes, she pulled out some of the research she had conducted last night. She absently nibbled on a ration bar as her eyes passed over the document. Slowly, her gaze drifted to the drawer where her photos were stored. Setting down her research, she pried it open and pulled out her wedding photo.

She stared at the other woman and felt her memory bubble, trying to recall something that had been erased. Her eyes traced the woman's long pinkish-purple hair and golden eyes. Her face was illuminated by a joyous smile, and the two held each other closely. There was a feeling of emptiness inside her chest, a crater of emotion. She felt a vague notion of positive feelings, but nothing more than that. She was pulled back to reality by a loud beep from Aurora. The Ghost flew over to her, blissfully unaware of what her Guardian was doing.

"I just got a message from Eido," she said as Luz put her photo away. The Warlock cleared her throat and turned her focus to her Ghost. "Misraakskel wishes to speak with you in the HELM."

"The helm?"

"Hub for Emergency Logistics and Maneuvers," Aurora elaborated. "Flying command center for whatever critical issues need to be addressed. That's where House Light coordinates our joint operations against the Vex."

"Then let's not keep Misraakskel waiting," she said, stumbling through the pronunciation again. She had improved, but it still didn't quite flow off her tongue. After armoring up, she set off for the hangar. The trip to orbit was a good chance for her to practice her piloting skills. The HELM came into view. It was a giant spaceship that floated above the city, watching the void for any threats. Luz docked, disembarked, and entered the command center of the HELM. Eido was waiting with her back facing Luz, conversing with another Eliksni. Luz called out to her, and the scribe turned around.

"Luz, I'm glad you came," she said before looking at Luz's new armor. "Oh my, it's beautiful." Luz smiled and pried her helmet off.

"It feels great," she said. Thanks for your help designing it." Eido half-bowed in gratitude before gesturing for Luz to follow her. The two entered a side room where more Eliksni and a few Human technicians were all working hard. A colossal Servitor had been hooked into a machine on the far wall. Numerous cables hung from it as its massive purple eye darted around the room. It focused on Luz and Eido and narrowed as they drew closer.

"I greet you in the Light, Guardian Luz." Misraaks's voice emanated from the machine, though heavily distorted. Luz bowed with a goofy smile on her face.

"And you as well, Misraakskel."

"You have been practicing," he noted approvingly. "It pleases me to say that there have been no more attacks from inside the walls. I spoke my heart-words to all who would hear: we have no anger within us."

"I'm glad to hear it. Have you found the people who attacked you?"

"No, nor do I intend to," Misraaks said. "We will not be led to violence, no matter how wide the path. We must now focus on the Vex. The machines do not stop to consider our situation, and neither should you. My people have been through much, but cruel and thoughtless deeds will not break us." Eido accepted a data slate from a Human worker and showed it to Luz.

"Our Splicers have managed to isolate another of the Minds coordinating the assault on the city," she said. "Ordinarily, there are other Guardians who we would turn to, but we are remarkably short-handed right now."

"So you called me," Luz said.

"If it is not too much trouble," Eido sheepishly confirmed. Luz smiled and nodded, crossing her arms in a show of bravado.

"I can handle some cranky machines."

"Be cautious," Misraaks warned, "the Vex Network is an ever-twisting realm filled with countless dangers. Our Splicers can impose some limited sense of order upon it, but once you are in, you will be vulnerable." Another Eliksni stepped over, holding a strange contraption. It was the length of Luz's forearm and had dozens of neon green wires running over it. Luz fitted it onto her arm, and the machine molded itself to rest more comfortably. She flexed her arm, feeling her Light mingle with the machine.

"You will need a Splicer gauntlet to breach their defenses," Eido explained. "I think you will find this to be sufficient."

"It's perfect," Luz said. "What do you need me to do?"

Misraaks laid out the mission. Luz would breach a weak point in the Vex defenses, slipping through the space between timelines. The Splicer gauntlet would ensure a clean cut to allow her in and out without losing her time. Then, she would have to locate and neutralize the Mind to weaken their simulation. Once done, they would be one step closer to breaking the Endless Night.

It wasn't long before Luz was ready to go. Eido had offered some basic instructions on using her Splicer gauntlet and a few words of luck before she left. Now armed with knowledge, Luz activated her gauntlet. Several prongs flexed outward, channeling and focusing her Light to cut her way into the Vex Domain.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Aurora asked. "Royal wouldn't want you going in there."

"He taught me to protect the innocent," Luz countered. "That's what I'm doing." Reality began to bend before caving in on itself. A stable vortex of data appeared before her.

"You ready to enter the Vex Domain?" Aurora asked.

"Not really," Luz replied. "But Royal wasn't, and he came out in one piece." She stepped into the vortex and felt any sensation of order leave her. She fell upward through unreality for an unknowable amount of time before her feet hit the ground. She stumbled slightly, raising her rifle as she tried to gather her bearings.

Luz and Aurora were in a massive empty chamber. A colossal wall stretched into infinity. The wall and the ground were made of a luminous green material. The sky—if it could even be called a sky—shone with harsh artificial coloration.

"This area is infested with Darkness," Aurora beeped, slightly uneasy. "Or at least something similar to it. If you die in here, I can't bring you back." Luz had been informed of this possibility. Theoretically, her gauntlet would allow Misraaks to pull her out should she die, but it was an eventuality they all wished to avoid. Doing so would also mean losing their chance to weaken the Vex. Her radio sparked to life as she walked closer to the wall.

"Each trespass into this domain grows easier for us," Misraaks said. "You wield the gauntlet with a technique that belies your experience. I feel you moving through the network as they do. You are not an invader, but rather, part of the system." Luz pressed her free hand against the wall, searching for a vulnerability to exploit. She found it and activated her gauntlet, hacking into the Vex's firewalls. A small section of the wall dissolved, revealing a narrow opening that led into a tight corridor. Luz holstered her rifle and began to creep through the opening.

"Finally, a reason to be thankful for you being short," Aurora quipped, prompting a snort of laughter from Luz. The path ahead dipped downward, turning into a steep ramp. Luz quickly investigated before sliding down the incline. She pressed onward as the path twisted and wove. It split into separate pathways, a meager defense protocol from the Vex. Fortunately, they hadn't counted on Luz being guided by Splicers.

She reached the edge of a significant drop. Beneath her was empty nothingness, a pit that made the vacuum of space feel cramped. In the distance, she could see a small ledge where the path continued. Taking a deep breath, she got a running start and leaped across the gap. Light pooled into her legs as she carefully glided to safety.

"A purge sweeps through the Network," Misraaks said before she could celebrate. "The Vex are agitated and on guard. Be cautious." As soon as he said that, a vibrant net of hostile data appeared behind her. It resonated with danger, emitting a sharp hum as it closed in on her. Luz took off down the path, deploying her gauntlet and aiming it at the side of the narrow corridor. A small cavity appeared, just large enough for her to squeeze into. She did, and the purge program passed her by.

Letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in, she exited her alcove and continued. The path continued to bend, trying to mislead her. Luz wouldn't be so easy to fool. She reached a section where the path receded into a tiny ledge over the same abyss. Parts of the wall shifted in such a way as to cut off the path. However, they would retract briefly, allowing her a tiny window to slip past.

"What kind of defense system lowers itself?" Aurora questioned. Luz frowned and held out her Splicer gauntlet.

"The Vex are fighting against… something," she said, analyzing the code before her. "I can't tell what, but its signature is similar to their own."

"Whatever it is, it is not us," Misraaks said. "Proceed with extreme care." Luz nodded and folded her gauntlet back into place. She took a few seconds to watch the walls as they moved. Once she found her opening, she dove between them. They snapped shut behind her as she used her Light to prevent herself from falling into the abyss. Just ahead of her was a portal leading to an unknown destination. After Misraaks confirmed that it was safe, she stepped through.

Luz was suspended in the air, slowly being lowered through several rings. The rings scanned her to determine if she was a threat. Her gauntlet deceived them, though it wouldn't last forever. She reached the bottom of the rings and looked into the Vex Domain proper.

It was an eternally sprawling space that was tinged with violent crimson. Floating islands made of blocky green data hung in the expanse of nothingness. A few platforms were suspended between the islands, each carefully manipulated by Misraaks and his Splicers to give Luz a path.

She moved slowly, opting for caution over speed. A few of the platforms required controlled bursts of Light to glide between. All the while, the harsh weight of the Vex Collective began to wear down on her.

"Starting to see why Royal doesn't like to talk about this place," she muttered. Aurora chirped in wary agreement. As Luz continued to press forward, a massive net of translucent white energy appeared before her. The path had been cut off, and the barrier extended too far for her to fly around it.

"The Vex are aware of your presence," Eido reported. "But they don't consider you a threat at the moment."

"That's their mistake," Aurora said as Luz poked the barrier, flinching when it shocked her. "Can you get us a way around this?"

"Our Splicers are working on it," Eido said. When those words left her mouth, a large sphere emerged from the ground beside her. It was a propulsion cannon. A second appeared in the distance. The two would hopefully transport her around the barrier. It wasn't an elegant solution, but Luz wasn't going to complain.

"Thanks for the path," she said, preparing for a flight. Misraaks's next words gave her pause.

"That was not us." She froze before stepping back. "Something on the inside is sculpting the network to aid you."

"Is it safe?"

"We do not know. I advise you to ignore it while we try to make you another way around." Luz nodded and turned back to the wall. She gave it a knock, which only confirmed that it wasn't going anywhere.

"Time is short," an unknown voice said. Luz's gaze snapped up, and she spun to face the intruder, drawing her revolver as she did. Before her was a rippling distortion in the Vex Domain. Within the center of the distortion was an Exo clad in bronze armor. His scathing orange optics seemed to cut through her. "You must press on, lest the Mind slip away." Though warped, his voice sounded like Royal's with a savage digital tint. Now that she thought about it, he also looked a bit like Royal.

"Who are you?" She asked, ignoring Misraaks's questions about what she meant. The Royal look-alike shook his head.

"Names are dead weight," he said. "An impermanence that does nothing but waste precious time. Press on; I will meet you ahead." The Exo faded, leaving Luz with no end of questions. Misraaks pulled her from her stupor.

"Did you see that?" She asked.

"No," the Kell said. "I suspect that it, whatever it was, is nothing more than a trick of the Vex meant to mislead you." She looked at the propulsion cannons before sighing. She was probably going to regret this. Despite Misraaks's warning, she stepped into the beam. It flung her through the empty expanse into the path of the second cannon, which sent her back down, now on the other side of the barrier.

"That was an ill-conceived risk," Misraaks chided. "The guts of the dimension churn, digesting all within. Everything here is a fabrication designed to seek your end."

"Royal mentioned meeting versions of himself from other timelines to me," Luz said. "Looks like we have someone on the inside giving us a hand." Misraaks let out an uncertain insect-like click but did not argue. Luz continued until she reached a small field of floating platforms. Nets of sanguine energy swept over the area.

"The Vex's deletion protocol," Eido said. "You can imagine what it will do." Luz nodded grimly as she eyed another barrier across the field. The space before her rippled as the Exo appeared beside her once again.

"They seek to keep you out," he said. "They fear you. I can expose the lock, but you must wield the key." He swept his hand across the field, revealing three glowing control cubes that maintained the barrier. A small white spire emerged from the artificial ground before her. "I can offer you this much and no more."

"Wait," Luz called out, "are you a Royal?"

"You will end them," the Exo said, ignoring her question. "Avenge us. Avenge me." He vanished before Luz could pry further. Putting her curiosities aside, she extended her gauntlet toward the spire and began to hack. The spire deconstructed and filled her gauntlet with the data she needed to expose the control cubes. Returning to the field, she watched the walls pass and analyzed their pattern. After a moment of observation, she made her move. She wove around the deletion protocol as gracefully as she could manage. She had a few close calls but managed to avoid being deconstructed. Once she was in position, she hefted her rifle. The data stored in her gauntlet poured into her weapon, allowing her bullets to pierce through the Vex's defenses. A few shots rang out, and the control cubes were destroyed. The barrier faded, revealing another field with more sweeps of deletion protocol.

Another moment of waiting led to more careful navigation. A few more well-placed shots opened the path to a small chamber also sealed off by a barrier. This time, however, she was not alone. A dozen Goblins turned to face her. A Hobgoblin lowered its weapon in the back and prepared to open fire. Luz ducked behind cover as they unloaded.

"The Vex writhe," Misraaks said. "They have elevated your threat level." Luz tried to peek around the corner, only for a close shot to send her back behind the barricade.

"You don't say," she muttered, summoning her Arc Light. She whipped around the corner, firing a few controlled bursts into the closest Goblins. The bullets punched through their Radiolaria chambers, causing the machines to collapse as their mind fluid drained out of their chassis. A few shots pinged off her armor, no doubt bruising her slightly, but they were otherwise ineffective. She mentally thanked Eido and Royal for their help with her armor as she darted behind cover again.

With Aurora already soothing her wounds, Luz swapped to her grenade launcher and aimed it at the wall beside her. A pull of the trigger sent an explosive bouncing off the wall and around the corner. She heard a detonation, and at least one Vex fell. Holstering the grenade launcher, she drew her hand cannon and charged into the disoriented Vex horde. She fired a few rounds into the Hobgoblin. Its head burst, causing electricity to course over the machine. She slid across the ground toward the remaining Goblins and charged herself with Arc Light. Her body morphed into a mobile ball of lightning that slipped into the center of the Vex. She reappeared and raised a hand toward the digital sky, unleashing torrents of lightning that atomized the Goblins around her. The damaged Hobgoblin staggered toward her, its weapon discarded. It attempted to punch her, only for Luz to sidestep the jab and slam her palm into the machine's center. The machine keeled over, electrified white liquid spilling from its center.

"Nice work," Aurora complimented. "You executed that slide perfectly." Luz stepped over the fallen Vex and through the gateway before her. She entered a large, open chamber. A few platforms curled around the abyss. The path behind her was sealed as soon as she entered, and the room began to glow red. A glowing white sphere appeared in the center of the blocky crescent. It expanded into a towering Hydra with a single baleful crimson optic.

"You have found Dimio, Oppressive Mind," Eido said. "Time to do what you do best. Please try not to die."

"Right, I'll get on that," Luz said warily, backing away as the colossal Hydra raised its protective shields and brought its cannons to bear. She rolled out of the way as it unleashed its guns. She returned fire with her hand cannon, only for the bullets to fizzle out of existence as they hit its shields. She continued moving, scrambling for cover as the ground around her exploded. Breathing heavily with exertion, she slipped out of the Minds' line of fire. It continued to hammer into the ground around her as more Vex began to pour into the arena. She sprayed down a few of the lesser forms as they closed in. A Minotaur charged her, firing its laser rifle. She tried her best to weave around the beam and opened fire on the construct.

Her bullets bounced off the Minotaurs' shields as it closed in. The beam cut across her chest, causing her shields to flare. As Luz stumbled back, the Minotaur delivered a swift and vicious backhand to the Warlock. Luz was sent flying across the arena. Her back hit the ground hard. Her armor cushioned her fall, likely the only thing preventing her spine from snapping like an oversharpened blade. She groaned as Aurora soothed her wounds. The Mind spun to rain fire upon her. Luz lashed out with her hand, catching the Minotaur with a surge of lightning as she pushed herself to her feet.

She pulled her machine gun from transmat and moved out of the way. Propping her weapon up, she centered the optic of the Mind in her crosshairs and pulled the trigger. Arc rounds flew through the gaps in the shield. The Mind reeled at the damage, letting out a violent screech. At its command, more barriers appeared around the Mind. Misraaks and his Splicers offered what little aid they could. Two more command cubes appeared on either side of the Mind. Luz sighted one with her machine gun and blasted through it.

She was swept off her feet by a massive Void explosion. She slammed into a wall of data and crashed through it. A Cyclops had been summoned by the Oppressive Mind. The sentry unit began charging up another shot as Luz crumpled to the ground, clutching her chest. Acting quickly, she fired several frantic shots at the Cyclops with her hand cannon. Most of the shots went wide, but enough hit the central optic of the machine. The Cyclops overloaded, spasming as it sent wild Void blasts in all directions. Luz took her chance to slip behind cover, feeling up her torso to assess the damage. She hissed as a few of her bones shifted. Several ribs had been broken.

Drawing a deep breath to steady herself, she laid down a healing rift. She sighed in relief as her bones reknit themselves. The Cyclops brought itself under control and began tracking her position. Charging her Light into her hand, she pulled back and flung a pulse grenade at the sentry. The Cyclops exploded as it became wreathed in lightning. Luz turned and sighted the remaining control cube. A few quick shots rang out, tearing through the cube. The barrier protecting the Mind fell away. The Hydra's guns rotated into positions, already spinning up as Luz's breath came in ragged. She could taste copper in her mouth. Sweat rolled down her face, threatening to fall into her eyes. The pain of being shot, beaten, and flung through walls had faded to a dull, throbbing ache. Despite everything, she met the Minds' gaze defiantly.

Within that crimson-tinted lens, she could see a cold cruelty. An intelligence equal parts ancient and unfathomable starred back at her. Luz flexed her fingers, calling the storm to herself. Both the Warlock and the Mind waited for the other to move. Within its consciousness, the Mind was frantically trying to simulate the woman before it, attempting to discover a way to prevail over her. Luz, on the other hand, was calm and patient.

Luz struck first, taking off in a dead sprint toward the Mind. It opened fire, twin torch hammers pounding away at the ground around her. Light coiled in her legs, reinforcing her muscles, and she pressed off the ground. She flew over Dimio, lightning flowing through her veins. She fired a massive surge of electrical energy through the Mind into the ground. It reeled as Luz soared over it. She landed across from the Mind and thrust her hands toward it. Bolts of lightning erupted from her fingertips as she floated over the ground. The Mind continued to shriek and fire wildly as it was slowly torn apart.

The Mind finally collapsed, its frame losing structural integrity and falling apart. Luz lowered her hands as it died, Arc energy dancing over her body. She lowered herself to the ground as her radio lit up with cheers from Eido and the Splicers. She was vaguely aware of them preparing to extract her.

"Harmony within," she recited. "Hurricane without." Her power finally receded, and she dropped to her hands and knees, panting heavily with exhaustion. "Aurora." Her Ghost perked up, waiting to hear what her Guardian would say. "I really need a nap." Consciousness faded from her, and she fell flat on her face as a vortex opened beneath her, dragging the Stormcaller back to reality.

As Luz departed, the fabric of the Vex Domain began to ripple once more. Outcast stepped out of the distortion, his glaive propped up on his shoulder. He knelt beside the beaten Mind and drew it into himself.

"Many thanks, pawn," he said. "You have done a greater service than you could ever know."

"Do you think we'll find it here?" Lancer asked. Royal traced his finger down a stack of novels, searching for a particular book. He and Lancer were at a bookstore in the Last City he liked to frequent in his free time. The owner had let him into the back, where he was currently picking through the books preserved since the Collapse. There was a larger supply than one may expect. However, many were in a state of utter disrepair. The ones that were of decent quality were hidden in the large piles. Together, the Dawnblade and his Ghost searched for one book in particular.

"If it's anywhere, it'll be here," Royal said. "This is the largest collection of surviving Golden Age literature outside the Tower library and Ikora's personal collection." He sorted through a stack of books, with one falling apart as soon as he touched it. Sighing, he gathered the papers as best he could and set them aside. As he did, he uncovered something that caught the edge of his gaze. Grinning, his fingers curled around his prize.

"Lancer, my friend, you must learn to have more faith in me." Royal quickly cleaned up and paid for the book despite the shopowner's reluctance to accept his glimmer. He got it wrapped up and began to head back to the Tower. Luz had been working hard lately, and he wanted to reward her.

Luz winced as Aurora shone a beam onto her chest. Soothing Light flooded through her torso, alleviating her pain. Most of her body was bruised, and while the Light was able to keep her fighting, it wouldn't focus on protecting her from mild injuries. She fiddled with her bandages, trying to find a way for them to rest more comfortably. She groaned as her Ghost forced her down into her bed. Eido sat on the chair by her desk, suppressing a giggle at the display before her.

"I was raised with stories of what the Light could do," she said. "The wonders that those who wielded it could achieve. I never imagined that it could be so mundane."

Luz chuckled before flinching as she agitated her sore muscles. "It's not all it's cracked up to be. The highs are great. The part where you come crashing back to reality: not so much."

"I am sorry that you got hurt because of my request," Edio said, wringing her four hands together. Luz waved her off.

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Anything to help a friend."

"You helped far more than just a friend," Aurora reminded her. "You helped the whole city. As their Minds are whittled down, the Vex's ability to control the Endless Night wanes." Eido nodded in agreement.

"My father and his Splicers are hard at work unraveling the simulation. Reports have already been sent to the Consensus. I'm sure they all appreciate your work." There was a knock at the door, and Luz absently called out to it, permitting them to enter. She looked up as the door swung open, and her eyes widened as Royal stepped through.

"Good, you're here, I have a gift I wanted to…" His voice died in his throat as he caught sight of both Eido and the bandages wrapped around Luz's torso. His optics darted between them, flashing between hostility, concern, and abject bewilderment. Eido seemed uncomfortable, shrinking away from the Exo. Eventually, he closed his eyes and waited a few seconds before turning to Luz. He crossed the room in two strides, pointedly placing Eido behind him and out of his line of sight.

"What happened to you?" He asked tersely, kneeling beside her and pressing a healing orb into the spot just beneath her pectoral muscles. His other hand rested behind her head, gently forcing her to look him in the eye.

"Well, I woke up today and got a message from Eido," she began uncertainly, gesturing to her friend. Royal fixed Eido with a look of carefully guarded neutrality. She awkwardly waved in response.

"Continue."

"House Light needed my help rooting out one of the Vex Minds attacking the city. Eido brought me in since they didn't have anyone else to contact on such short notice. So I went into the Vex Domain and took care of it." Royal's features tightened.

"You went in there," he said slowly. "Alone. Without backup. Without telling me." Her wounds now mostly healed, Luz sat up in her bed.

"I wasn't alone; House Light was running tactical for me."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it," Royal snapped. "What were you thinking? I've told you how dangerous it is in there! What if something happened? What if you had gotten lost? You need to think these things through!"

"What was I supposed to do?" Luz asked. "Sit here and do nothing?"

"You could have contacted me," Royal said. "I appreciate that you want to help, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor." He looked away from her and let out a heavy sigh.

"Our window of opportunity was short," Eido said quietly. "If we didn't act when we did, we may have lost our chance." Royal shot a firey glare over his shoulder, causing the young Eliksni to release a soft eep.

"What is she even doing here?" Royal asked. "How do you know her?"

"She's my friend," Luz said. "And a citizen of the city. She has as much right to be here as either of us." Royal's carefully controlled facade finally broke down. His faceplates twitched with anger as he turned to Eido.

"Leave," he snapped.

"You can't just-"

"Leave!"

Eido eyed Royal warily before resting her hand on Luz's shoulder and giving her a reassuring nod. She carefully stepped past Royal and left, gently closing the door behind her. Luz started to argue, only for Royal to cut her off.

"I have tried to be patient and meet you halfway," he said as his voice dripped bitter venom. "But you refuse to listen to me. The Fallen are not to be trusted. That is the end of this discussion."

"They're called Eliksni," Luz shot back. "Something you would know if you took half a second to look beyond the barrel of your rifle!" He opened his mouth to argue, only for Luz to cut him off. "I've seen the way the Eliksni of House Light look at us. They're cautious and afraid. I don't want to be seen as a monster! I know you hate the old Houses for what they did to us, but they are not the old Houses!" Royal stood up sharply. He reached into transmat and pulled out a small parcel that had been bundled up. He dropped it onto her stomach with a muffled thud and left without another word.

Luz scrambled out of bed as Royal slammed the door behind him. Aurora let out a whistle of concern as she staggered to the door. She grabbed the door handle to give pursuit, only to hesitate. She relinquished her grip on the handle. Her sheets were crumpled underneath her as she sat down and buried her forehead in her hands, letting out a string of expletives in Spanish. Aurora let out a sad chirp.

"Are you-"

"Not now, Aurora," Luz hissed. The Ghost's shell slumped, and Luz suddenly felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, that was uncalled for." She patted her Ghost's shell before standing up. She pulled open the drawer in her desk, emptying it of all her belongings. After a moment of hesitation, she grabbed Royal's gift and tossed it into transmat. Perhaps she would find the desire to open it at another time. Aurora tilted, curious as to what her Guardian was doing.

"We're leaving the Tower for a while," Luz said. "I need to clear my head. Can you send Eido an apology?"

"Of course," Aurora said. "Where are we going?"

"Europa," Luz said. "I want to learn what this 'Stasis' is, regardless of what the Vanguard or Royal say."

"He won't like that," Aurora said. Luz scoffed and shook her head.

"I don't care what he thinks."

"I didn't think so," Aurora said coyly. "Which is why I removed this." She pulled a small, blinking device from transmat and dropped it on the desk before Luz. She picked it up and held the tracking beacon between her fingers. "He made me promise to hold onto this. Said it served him well in the past." Luz smirked and flicked it into the corner of her room. It clattered to the ground as she held out her fist to Aurora. The Ghost bumped against it and began to help her Guardian pack.

Royal stormed down the hallway, his helmet fastened to conceal the anger on his faceplate. Reaching his room, he tore through the doorway. A few Solar flames were subconsciously beginning to bubble up to match his anger, such was his attunement to the Light. Resting his hands on his desk, he took a second to forcibly calm himself. Some fire fell off him, thankfully not burning the furniture beneath him. He absently brushed the ashes away, knowing it would only burn what he wished.

"You proud of how that went down?" Lancer asked.

"Don't you start," Royal snapped.

"You better believe I'm starting," Lancer said fiercely. "I thought that, after everything you went through with her, you would have learned that Luz is a damn good judge of character."

"She is defending people who have sought our extinction because they crave what we have!" Royal spat. "The Traveler deemed them unworthy! Who are they to object?"

"And what if the Traveler was wrong? I know its will more truly than you do and I can tell you that it is not omniscient," Lancer said. "Besides, it's like Luz said; the old Houses are dead. What do we gain from more death? The cycle of suffering perpetuates, and more innocents are thrown onto the pyre."

"They stopped being innocent the second they attacked ours!"

"Then why shouldn't they say the same about us?" Lancer countered. "How many Fallen have you put to the torch? How many families have you shattered? You spew flames at people who have no recourse to protect themselves. That is the act of a coward." Royal tried to counter, only to pause as no words came to mind. Instead, he shook his head and turned away from his Ghost.

"I'm going to bed," he said. "I'll sort this out in the morning." Lancer sighed. Royal would have to learn one way or the other.

And there it is, the beginning inevitable conflict between Luz and Royal. We'll be diving into their disagreements more in the coming chapters. But that's then and this is now. Until next time.

Frank180: i wonder how royal would react to the hive lightbeares(amazing chapter btw)

We'll find out when I get to Witch Queen. Which, at the rate I'm going, will be around chapter 50.

Davisjustus99: We'll near a breaking point. Because A certain someone will not remember the Witches and apply that philosophy to the Eliskni.

Hatred and prejudice are rarely logical. Royal is very much a slave to his emotions in this case.

Elthreee: Nice chapter as always, gamer. And hopefully you do bring back the end segments, they were a nice wind down after seeing some of my fav characters get traumatized lmao

Maybe another chapter. I want to get a little further into the story and maybe build up a few ideas.