AN: Had a lazy day on my vacation, so I managed to write out this entire chapter in a few hours. Inspiration struck and I had the time, so it all just came together really easily.

It's been a week since I got the Platinum Starling, and learning how to pilot her has been... Interesting. Every morning I spend hours in the cockpit, figuring out how to fly as smoothly as possible. Turns out there's a lot more to piloting than I thought, but I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Meanwhile, word about my ritual has spread. It started small; just a few Guardians asking if the rumors were true, if I really could enchant weapons with infinite ammo. I set up a few demonstrations with common weapons, casually showing them how it worked. After that, the requests haven't stopped. Each ritual pulls in a solid 1,000 Glimmer. I've gone from having to scrape by to stacking up a nice little fortune in a matter of days. I'm actually surprised I haven't caught the eye of someone higher up yet, but maybe they're waiting to see how it plays out.

The process has a catch, though: my energy reserves. I'm relying exclusively on my magicka, which, thankfully, regenerates within a hour. My Prana, on the other hand, takes a full day to refill, and my Pyro energy just doesn't work with the ritual. Neither does my Light. I can only do so many of these rituals before I need to recharge, so I've fallen into a rhythm; start the day with a few hours of piloting practice, move on to enchant a dozen or so weapons, spend the time waiting for my magicka to regen practicing Void Light manipulation and bits of my other magics, and then repeat until sundown.

As my clientele keeps growing, I might need to start setting up appointments. But with the Glimmer I'm pulling in, I don't think I'll ever have to worry about money again.

The whispers have started, too. People are noticing me, calling me "Wizard" in low voices when I walk by. I can feel it: the beginning of a reputation. Some of the Warlocks who've purchased my services have even tried to replicate the ritual themselves, studying the circle I draw. They're getting a few sparks here and there, but nothing close to the full effect. It's clear their energy just isn't compatible.

Most have given up by now, chalking it up to something like the Awoken Techeuns. It's a comparison I can't say I mind. Keeps me a little more mysterious.

I'm just getting into my usual rhythm in a quieter corner of the hangar when a voice cuts through the noise. "There you are."

Sora's striding over, her golden helmet reflecting the hangar lights, making it hard to tell exactly where she's looking. She crosses her arms, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I think you've gotten more popular than me these days."

I finish handing a freshly enhanced Better Devils back to a Hunter, who gives a grateful nod before hurrying off. "You know how Guardians are with their weapons." I reply, shaking my head with a grin. "Is it really that shocking that my little trick is gaining traction?"

"Trick?" Sora scoffs, her arms crossing tighter. "I'd call it a miracle. Infinite ammo isn't something you just stumble on. You should hear the bets people are placing on when the Vanguard's finally going to bring you in; either to put you to work or shut you down."

I let out a low chuckle, but there's a truth in her words that makes me uneasy. "Guess I can't stay off the radar forever. Hard to keep something like this subtle, though."

Before she can respond, Spectre speaks up over our new mental link. "Mav, incoming message from Commander Zavala."

I pause. "Speak of the devil. Patch him through to my Datapad, please?"

Zavala's deep, measured voice fills the corner of the hanger. "'Wizard' Mavriel. I've been informed of your… unique abilities. The Vanguard would like to discuss a potential role for you. Report to my office at your earliest convenience."

As the transmission ends, Sora whistles. "Told you." She says, slapping me on the back. "Better put on your best robes, Wizard."

The walk to Zavala's office feels especially nerve-wracking, but I try to push the tension aside. The Vanguard Commander wants to talk, and it's not something I can just refuse.

When I finally step into his office, I'm greeted by the sight of the city stretching far below through a large, panoramic window. Zavala stands with his back to me, hands clasped behind him as he looks out at the sprawl of buildings and streets beneath the Traveler's glow. As the door slides shut behind me, he turns, his presence as solid and unyielding as the walls themselves.

"Mavriel." He says, gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. "Please, have a seat. I trust your stay in the Tower has been… uneventful?"

"I've kept myself out of trouble, Sir " I say, giving him a respectful nod.

Zavala studies me for a moment, eyes intense, calculating. "I'll cut to the chase. Your talents with ritual enchantments have not gone unnoticed. Guardians have always experimented with weaponry, but your methods are… unique. Enhancing our arsenal in this way is unprecedented, and concerning; especially because it does not rely on the Light."

{Met 'Commander Zavala' +50 points
Rolling…

Divination - Possessive Predator - Ib (200 points)

Roll Success. Current stockpile: 400 Points.

Purchase Possessive Predator?}

Possessive Predator

Many of Guertena's creations were imbued with a sense of aggressive possessiveness, perfect for hunting down trespassers and thieves. You gained enhanced senses for tracking people, and your ability to track specific targets increases the more you fixate yourself on them. Also, with enough desire to catch your prey, you can find the determination to get past any obstacles in your way, and even have the strength to break through walls to reach your quarry. You additionally gain awareness of intruders in your territory. Most of all, as an artwork may very well lack eyes, ears, head, or nose, you do not need your regular senses to use this tracking ability.

I flare thought acceleration to 3x times to comprehend the perk without looking suspicious. This will come in handy soon enough.

Yoink.

I nod slowly, thoughts returning to normal speed as I wait for him to lay out what he's getting at.

"While we welcome creativity…" Zavala continues, his voice carefully measured. "I have concerns. Weapon enhancements like your's can cause… imbalance. The ritual you have devised has sparked conflict even within the ranks. Just yesterday, Lord Shaxx had to temporarily restrict the use of heavier artillery in the Crucible due to unsporting behavior among a few particularly enthusiastic patrons of yours."

I wince. Yeah, infinite ammo grenade launchers and rockets were bound to upset the balance of a fair fight. "Respectfully, Commander." I begin, holding his gaze. "I've only offered the ritual to fellow Guardians, and I can only enhance so many weapons in a day, so it's hardly going to tip the scales. Right?"

Zavala's expression doesn't shift, but he watches me intently, assessing. "Perhaps, but it's the implications beyond the Crucible that concern me. If this power spreads, factions both within and outside the Tower will scramble to control it. Some would do anything to gain that kind of power."

I nod slowly, absorbing his words. "What do you suggest?"

"Consider this a direct recruitment." He says. "The Vanguard would like to coordinate with you directly. We would provide resources and support to refine your methods, and in return, your services would be offered under Vanguard oversight. This would limit… potential missteps."

"So." I start, cautious. "You want me to work exclusively with the Vanguard?"

"Yes." He says firmly. "You'd retain autonomy as a Guardian, of course, but your enchantments would be closely managed. This isn't only for the safety of the City, but for your protection as well. You'll have access to the Vanguard's archives, labs, and resources; tools few ever receive."

I glance out the window, processing his words. This would grant me access to restricted knowledge and allow me to further my craft in safety, but I'd be bound by rules and oversight. The thought makes me uneasy; being cooped up in the Tower every day isn't exactly the freedom I'd imagined.

As if sensing my hesitation, Zavala adds. "You would retain a degree of flexibility. The Vanguard is asking for cooperation, not slavery. Your role as a Guardian remains unchanged."

I exhale slowly, some of the tension easing. "Thank you, Commander. But if I accept, I'd need certain assurances. My craft improves most in combat. Perhaps I could dedicate one day a week here to fulfill requests, leaving the rest for fieldwork?"

He nods, his stance finally relaxing just a fraction. "That can be arranged. We'll work out the details. In the meantime, we expect you to operate responsibly and with discretion. Keep a record of the Guardians you assist and the weapons you enchant."

"Understood." I reply, feeling the weight of the agreement settle in.

"Good." Zavala says. "Welcome to the Vanguard."

I sit in the cockpit of the Platinum Starling, my heart racing with a mix of anticipation and nerves as I prepare for takeoff. The control panel glows softly, illuminated by a myriad of lights and gauges. I glance over the console one last time, feeling the familiar rush of excitement coursing through me.

"Let's do this." I murmur, my fingers dancing over the controls. The ship hums to life beneath me, the engines responding to my commands with a reassuring thrum.

As the hangar doors slowly retract, the vast expanse of the Last City unfolds before me against a darkening sky. I bite my lip, anticipation bubbling up within me as the ship glides forward. I take a deep breath.

With a flick of a switch, the engines roar to life, and the Platinum Starling surges forward, leaving the hangar behind. I can feel the G-forces pressing against me as the ship climbs, the ground dropping away rapidly beneath me. A grin spreads across my face; the exhilaration of the ascent washes away my nerves.

As I break through the cloud cover, the sky opens up to reveal deep blues and purples. Stars twinkle in the distance, countless pinpricks of light scattered across the void. My breath catches in my throat; it's even more beautiful than I imagined.

The ship continues its ascent, the atmosphere thinning around me. I take a moment to admire the view, the Last City now a shimmering jewel far below, glowing in the embrace of the Traveler's light. The Traveler itself hangs somewhere to my right, a massive orb glowing with an ethereal light that fills the cockpit with a soft glow.

The ship climbs higher, and soon the curvature of the Earth becomes visible, the line where sky meets space a breathtaking sight.

Then the moment arrives. I flip the switch to disengage the atmospheric thrusters, and the ship shudders as it transitions into space. The quiet envelops me like a warm blanket, the roar of the engines fading into a soft hum.

"Whoa…" Spectre marvels.

I chuckle, sharing in her excitement as she floats closer to the viewport, gazing out at the vastness of the cosmos. "I know, right?"

We sit there for several minutes, taking in the sight. Eventually, we manage to pull ourselves from stargazing. "Can you lock in the coordinates for the Tangled Shore?"

"On it!" Spectre zips from her place near the viewport to the console, her manipulator beam washing over the screen and calculating the journey for us in seconds. "If we run the NLS drive at maximum, we can be there in just under 30 minutes."

I hum, making a few tweaks to our course. "We're not in any rush. Let's give the NLS drive a little breathing room and stay below 80% power."

"Recalculating… should be around 40 minutes then. Any last minute concerns?" Spectre asks, her shell tilted in my direction.

{Rolling…

Benevolence - Poised and Robust - Elden Ring (300 points)

Roll Failed. Current stockpile: 200 Points.}

Ignoring the failed roll, I take a moment to think, before grinning as my hands fly over one of the data screens. "How about a little music?"

"Now you're talking." Spectre says, her shell doing a little spin. I scroll through my playlist, searching for something that'll set the perfect tone for our first real leap into the stars. I grin as I find it, pressing play.

The opening notes of Free Bird pulse through the cockpit. Spectre bobs along, as if feeling the beat through her circuits.

"All right." I say, gripping the throttle as I check the controls one last time. "Let's go."

With a deep hum, the Starling surges forward. Stars stretch into lines around us as we edge into relativistic speeds, the cockpit bathed in streaks of light and color. My heart pounds in time with the music as the universe seems to warp around us, opening up into a tunnel of kaleidoscopic light.

For a few heart-stopping moments, we soar through the vast unknown at near-light speed, and I lose myself in it: the hum of the engines, the roar of the guitar solo, the distant points of space debris flashing by. It's everything I'd imagined and more.

"You know, I could get used to this." Spectre says.

"Same." I reply, adjusting our heading, glancing over the controls, and feeling more alive than ever.

As the Platinum Starling nears the ground, I ease back on the controls, letting the ship glide low over the jagged terrain of the Tangled Shore. This place; an asteroid belt held together by metallic tethers, is a chaotic jumble of rock, dust, and twisted metal. It sits on the outskirts of the Reef like a graveyard for outlaws and lost souls, littered with the wreckage of battles fought long ago.

Spectre's voice chimes in from wherever she's disappeared to. "Entering autopilot now. Transmat sequence engaged."

I release the controls, feeling the strange pull as my body tingles, ready for the shift. "See you on the ground, Spectre." I murmur, and the next moment, the world blurs.

When my vision clears, I'm standing on solid ground, the thick dust of the Shore stirred up in the wake of my appearance. The sky above is a murky shade of purples and grays, broken by beams of eerie, refracted light that barely illuminate the twisted formations below. All around, asteroid chunks and fragments of old, broken ships form an unnatural, jagged landscape, dotted with occasional outposts of scavenged metal and crude barricades. The cliffs and pathways feel hostile, every shadowed corner a potential hiding place for those who call this lawless region home.

I take a breath, steel myself, and start toward the distant entrance of the Spider's lair. Each step stirs up more dust, and the eerie quiet is broken only by the faint crackling of energy and the occasional distant gunfire. Something approximating an atmosphere saturates these tangled asteroids despite the seeming impossibility, but I don't have the understanding of physics necessary to comprehend the how. It's not breathable for a human, but sound still transmits through the thin gasses.

After some minutes, I come upon a narrow, winding path through a labyrinth of boulders and canyons. Fallen banners hang tattered from the rocks, marking territory long claimed by the Spider's forces. The occasional Fallen guard lingers in the shadows, watching me with narrowed eyes and twitching mandibles. They don't stop me, though. Spider values business more than he values secrecy, and Guardians aren't an uncommon sight here nowadays.

Finally, the path opens up to a large, rusted gate. Its edges are encrusted with grime and scattered ether tanks, spilling a faint, eerie-blue light over the ground. One of Spider's loyal guards; an imposing Fallen enforcer draped in salvaged armor reminiscent of a porcupine, raps one of his arms against an airlock door in a rhythmic pattern. The door opens, and it waves me inwards with its shock spear.

Inside, the lair is dim and thick with the smell of ether that my helmet has trouble filtering out. Fallen scavengers bustle through the dimly lit corridors, carrying crates of supplies, each keeping a wary eye on me as I pass. They're used to Guardians here, but it doesn't make them any friendlier.

The main chamber opens before me, cluttered with trinkets and salvaged gear stacked high against the walls. And there, in the center, lounging atop a makeshift throne built from repurposed scrap, sits the Spider himself. He's enormous, his four eyes glittering blue in the dark. His voice is a low, rumbling purr as he spots me.

"'Wizard' Mavriel." He says, face twitching into a wry grin beneath his respirator. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

I step forward, keeping my expression steady, my voice firm. It's not terribly surprising for him to know of me, especially after all I've accomplished so far. "I need information, Spider. And I believe you're the one who can get it for me."

Spider's many eyes glint as he considers me, his respirator twitching in amusement. His lair's dark, smoky atmosphere does little to dull the calculating gleam in his gaze.

"So." he drawls, tilting his head. "What exactly can I do for you?"

I keep my voice even. "I've heard there's a new Risen in the area. Might be going by the name Crow."

Spider chuckles, low and grating. "Ah, the Crow. Yes, I've heard whispers about him. A freshly resurrected Lightbearer… not unlike yourself. But, Mavriel, information like that doesn't come freely. Surely, you know the game."

{Discovered 'The Tangled Shore' +100 points
Met 'The Spider' +50 points

Rolling…

Domain - Skull Clad - Bleach (600 points)

Roll Failed. Current stockpile: 350 Points.}

He leans forward, all four of his eyes fixed on me, a disturbing intensity in his gaze. "What do you offer in return?"

I straighten, meeting his stare. "I can offer payment, if Glimmer interests you." My voice is steady, even though I already have a feeling that currency won't be enough.

Spider clicks his teeth, shaking his head slowly. "Glimmer? No, no, that's hardly what I need from someone like you." He leans back in his throne, eyeing me carefully. "Money is temporary, but services... those, I find invaluable."

I narrow my eyes, staying cautious. "I'll offer my assistance if that's what you're looking for. But don't get any ideas, Spider. My ammo ritual isn't on the table."

Spider laughs, a deep, raspy sound that echoes off the walls. "Oh, I know better than to ask for that." He waves an arm dismissively. "But I do have a… persistent annoyance you could take care of. The Fanatic, Fikrul. That thrice-cursed creature has returned yet again, and he's causing more trouble than ever."

I tense. Fikrul. The necromantic leader of the Scorn with a reputation for revival that rivals even Lightbearers. "I've heard of him." I reply, keeping my tone cool. "But don't you have Guardians who usually deal with that?"

Spider's eyes narrow in irritation, his face curling in distaste. "Normally, yes. But the Shore's usual Guardians are preoccupied with a Hive incursion on the other side of the region. Meanwhile, Fikrul is gathering strength once more, and he's grown bold enough to think he can claim territory in my domain."

Spider leans forward, his gaze calculating. "You've built quite a reputation, Wizard. I know about your encounter with that troublesome brother of mine. If anyone's capable of handling this alone, it's you."

I let a brief silence settle between us, considering my options. He isn't wrong; after dealing with Sivik's incursion into the city, I know I have a better chance of standing against Fikrul than most. Besides, I'm not here to waste time; I want answers about Crow, and Spider has them.

"Fine." I say finally. "I'll deal with Fikrul for you. But once it's done, you'd better hold up your end of the bargain. I want everything you have on Crow."

Spider's teeth chatter in satisfaction, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, you'll get what you came for, Wizard. I'm a businessman, after all." He gestures to a map of the Shore projected on the wall, a pulsing red dot marking Fikrul's location.

"Head to this sector. My scouts say the Fanatic has gathered a small army of Scorn again, but that shouldn't be a problem for someone like you." He chuckles, a dark, amused sound. "Just don't die. I'd hate to lose such a… useful... acquaintance."

I turn to leave. "Just be ready when I return."

Dealing with Fikrul should give me plenty of practice with my new tracking perk, and once I have Spider's info on Crow? I'm confident I'll be able to track him down.

CHAPTER 7 END

AN: Mavriel gets to solo the Hollowed Lair next chapter, yay!

If he really wanted to, he could get enough practice in with [Possessive Predator] to find Crow without the Spider's info, but the Fanatic needs to be dealt with anyway so it doesn't hurt him to go along with things. Plus, he thinks it's a good test for his Void Light.