I'm writing this author's note in the middle of my German class, oder mein Deutschkurse auf Deutsch. That's not relevant, just couldn't think of anything funny to say. In any case, we've made it to the Mirror. Not gonna lie; I took a bloody chainsaw to this mission with how much I trimmed and chopped it up. The gameplay of this mission just really doesn't translate well to a written format.

Also, Witches and Warlocks has (officially) crossed 50,000 views! Thank you to everyone who has stopped by and read my work, however brief or broad your stay may have been.

If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review enacting the Curse of Nezarec upon my flesh.

Chapter 29: Remember Me

"Don't listen to her; every word is a lie!" - Lilith Clawthorne, screaming but unheard

Royal's back was hunched as he huddled around the heater in Elisabeth's camp. His optics stared lifelessly at the glowing rings on the machine, so lost in thought that he couldn't even muster the energy to warm himself. The storm had mostly receded by now, possibly influenced by the will of the Pyramid. With their base in ruins and their leadership slain, the Cabal were abandoning Europa. They were broken. The Guardians had won. Royal had won.

So why did he feel so empty? He had done precisely what he had been raised to do: slay the enemies of the Traveler. Once again, the Cabal had been shattered. The lives they had claimed were given peace. But those wounds still festered.

"They deserved it," he said in a hushed voice, barely audible over the hum of the heater. "They attacked, and I retaliated. They. Deserved. It."

Despite the words, the tumultuous storm in his mind refused to settle. Royal stared at his hands, wondering just how much death they had dealt in this life and the one before. He was a Guardian, a dead man brought back to life to kill again. Before that, he had been a soldier for Braytech and whatever governing body he swore allegiance to. Who even was he without a war to fight?

He felt a weight press against his side and glanced to the right. Elisabeth took a seat beside him. She didn't say anything, opting to just keep herself close. Royal returned his gaze to the heater, and the two sat silently for a while, neither bothering to keep track of time.

"Who was I?" Royal asked, his voice breaking the silence as easily as a hammer would break a sheet of ice. Elisabeth looked at him, not entirely understanding the question. Royal's gaze didn't shift, maintaining unbroken eye contact with the heater.

"I don't want some platitudes," Royal continued. "I want to hear it from someone who knew me. Who was I back then? Was I someone different?"

"You were different," Elisabeth said. "But also the same in many regards. Just as driven. Just as stubborn. Just as passionate. Just as ill-tempered." She paused, thinking for a moment before speaking again. "Who do you think you are?"

"A Guardian," Royal said, flexing his fingers and letting Solar Light spill into his palms. "A fighter. A soldier."

"But not Royal-6?"

Royal paused; now it was his turn to be confused. "What do you mean?"

"You see yourself as an archetype. A single part of a complex whole. You only act according to what you believe is expected of your station."

"I still don't understand."

"I used to define myself as a Bray," Elisabeth said, pulling her cloak tighter around herself. "I was proud of that lineage. Of what we did. Of what we would do. Over time, I… came to reconsider what I thought of my family name. I am still a Bray; nothing will ever change that. But I am not defined by it. I alone determine who I am."

"And how does this relate to me?"

Lancer spoke up, his shell rotating as he floated before his partner. "You've been fighting for so long, you've forgotten how to put your weapons down."

Elisabeth nodded. "Well said."

"Then who am I?" Royal asked, frustration beginning to slip into his voice. He wanted something definitive, a concrete answer that he could latch onto and hold tightly until the Universe crumbled into dust.

"You are Royal-6," Elisabeth said, setting a hand on his shoulder. Royal shook his head, unsatisfied with that answer.

"There are thousands of Royal-6's, all better than me. Venator is more confident. Paladin is more dependable. Marauder more suave, Justicar more strategic, Seraphim more faithful. Even Outcast is more unwavering."

"Maybe they are," Elisabeth said with a nod. "But they are not you."

"None of them were stranded in the Isles," Lancer added. "None of them met and befriended Eda, Lilith, and the others as you did. None of them have made their way here to where we are now."

"None of them are the man I love." Elisabeth's words were soft and gentle as she took his hand in her own. Metal met metal, and, for but a fleeting moment, Royal almost convinced himself that he could truly feel her. He opened his mouth to try and respond, but the words failed to find him. Elisabeth seemed to understand regardless, resting her head against Royal's shoulder. Despite everything, in that fleeting moment framed by the pale light reflecting off Jupiter, the Universe seemed to make a little more sense to him. The two sat in each other's company for an indeterminate amount of time. Until the others returned, they could do little else.

Eventually, the others were spotted trudging their way through the thick snow. The two Exos broke apart, and Royal moved to intercept them. As soon as he saw Amity carrying Luz's body, he broke into a sprint.

"What happened?"

"We got what we needed from the Pyramid," Amity responded. "She's fine, just unconscious." Royal beckoned for them to follow him back to camp. Elisabeth was more than happy to allow Luz to rest in her cot, sheltered from the storm. Aurora fretted over her Guardian, never taking her optic off the woman. The others waited outside, debriefing what they had seen.

"You killed a Valus?" Royal asked, his optics widening a little. He leaned back in his seat, running a hand over his chin. "You know, considering who you all are, that's actually not all that surprising." Gus grinned and tucked his hands behind his head while Amity acknowledged his comment with a slight nod.

"We're pretty sure we found what we're looking for," Gus said. "Won't know until Luz wakes back up. But the Pyramid was alive, in a sense. It was guiding us."

"The Pyramids are an enigma," Elisabeth said. "They seek to subvert your mind and sharpen you into a knife they can wield. It is good that you evaded its clutches."

"I marked everything the Cabal had stolen," Gus said. "Ikora will dispatch someone to secure them for study." Elisabeth nodded in understanding, and the two began discussing the details. Royal only half-listened, his mind wandering elsewhere. Eventually, he noticed Amity sitting as still as the ruins of Europa. Reaching over, he lightly jostled her shoulder, startling the Titan from her stupor.

"Something on your mind?" He asked. Amity blinked the confusion out of her eyes before shaking her head.

"No, just tired is all," she said. "Visiting another Pyramid was… stressful." Realization dawned on Royal's face, and he nodded sympathetically.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said. Amity took a deep breath before nodding.

"I'll be fine. It just brought up some bad memories."

"This wasn't your first time?" Elisabeth asked, raising a metallic eyebrow as she did. Amity gave a humorless grin and shook her head again.

"It's a long story."

"I've got time," Elisabeth replied. Amity grimaced before nodding, a strange edge to her golden gaze. She began to regale Elisabeth, and by extension Gus, on what exactly had happened the day she had stormed the Collector's Pyramid. She described the Collector's overwhelming power that seeped into his domain. She detailed how they had been separated and captured, how the Collector had toyed with them, almost killed them. How he did kill one of them.

Royal bowed his head, remembering what he had been told of that day. He may have lacked control of his body, but that didn't make him feel any less culpable. And Luz's death, no matter how short-lived it may have been, haunted him. He hadn't been strong, fast, or smart enough, and someone he loved had paid the price for it.

Amity finished recounting the events of that horrible day and fell silent, half-buried grief dancing across her face. Gus was somber, his brow knit as he weighed everything he had learned. The specifics of his past had eluded him, mostly due to a lack of desire to find them. Elisabeth was the most pensive of them all. She shot an unseen glance at Royal before casting her gaze to the snow around them.

There was a beep in Royal's ear as Lancer spoke. "She's waking up." Royal nodded and rose from his sea. Amity moved as though she wished to join him before thinking better of it. He dismissed himself and stepped into the bunker. True to Lancer's words, Luz was beginning to rise, propping herself up on her elbows. Aurora removed her helmet as the woman groaned, reaching up to rub her forehead. As she blinked, Royal could see energy swirling behind her eyes. Royal shifted slightly, uncertain what the energy entailed. His mind immediately jumped to the possibility of Luz being somehow controlled by the Pyramid. Before the thought could fully form, he discarded it and scolded himself for his lack of faith; Luz was too strong and vigilant to fall prey to such tricks.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," he said, taking a knee beside her. "You feeling alright?"

"I've got a splitting headache," she grumbled. "Aside from that, I feel great." She blinked again before knitting her eyebrows together in confusion. "Me eyes feel… weird."

"Weird?"

"I see… everything," she said, slowly rising from the cot. "Like normal, but also something else. It's like I'm looking further." She paused, chewing on her lower lip as she thought. "Not further. Deeper. Does that make any sense?"

"Not in the slightest," the Exo responded. She cast a glance at Royal, quickly looking him up and down. In one breath, he looked the same as he always did. In the next, there was something else. She could see his Light burning in a brilliant display, shimmering like a desert at noon. But there was something else knotted in his core. A lump of acid and venom that hissed and hurt to gaze at.

Bringing her hand back to her face, she winced and looked away. "Think it'll help us with Sagira?"

"Worth a shot," Royal replied. "Now that you're up, we need to contact Ikora." Luz nodded as she drew to her full height and shook the feeling of numbness out of her limbs. The two made their way back outside, where Amity and Elisabeth were having a hushed conversation while Gus absently flipped through a datapad, reviewing the relics he had marked. They collectively looked up as the two Warlocks approached, and Royal thumbed his radio.

"Ikora, do you read me?" He asked. Static scratched at everyone's ears as the signal bounced through the cold. Eventually, Ikora responded.

"Loud and clear, what's your status?"

"Mission objective was a success," he said. "Luz is linked with the Pyramid. We're ready to take a peek at Sagira."

"Then don't let me keep you." Luz nodded at Ikora's words and withdrew Sagira from transmat. She narrowed her eyes on it, fixating on the clump of psychic energy bundled in the center of her shell. She could see it, but the layers refused to peel away no matter how hard she pried at them. After a moment of exertion, she lowered Sagira and shook her head.

"It's not enough," she said. "I can detect the energy, but whatever's in here is bundled up tight."

"So this whole mission was a waste of time?" Amity questioned, unable to keep the frustration from slipping into her voice.

"Not entirely," Ikora replied. "We've confirmed that Sagira is holding a secret Savathûn wants to be locked away. The fact that you can't determine what that secret is means that we're still missing something."

"And how do we alleviate this roadblock?" Royal asked.

"The Hidden have been analyzing the wounds across the Martian desert," Ikora replied. "They resonate with this 'psychic energy.' They've located a similar concentration inside the Throne World. I believe that's what we need to make Savathûn's memory manifest fully. Take Sagira's shell there, then we'll see if this hunch is correct. In the meantime, Augustus, return to the Enclave. We're coordinating targeted strikes to weaken the Lucent Hive, and I need all hands on deck. Iris will be leading these operations, with Crow and Saladin running tactical while Caiatl offers fire support."

"Yes, ma'am," Gus said. "Pleasure working with y'all."

"Likewise," Luz said. The Hunter bowed before transmatting aboard his jumpship and departing. Royal checked his HUD as Ikora sent him a set of coordinates.

"Location confirmed, we'll scout it out."

"Understood, Guardians. Signing off." The line went dead and Royal signaled their jumpships to come pick them up.

"Well, seems we've overstayed our welcome," Amity said, rising to her feet. She gave Elisabeth a knowing grin. "Good luck with you-know-who."

"Same to you," Elisabeth replied. "Stay safe out there."

"Of course," Royal said as the other two boarded their ships. He prepared to do the same before turning back to the woman. "And thanks for everything, Elsie. I hope all our meetings don't keep ending up like this." He faded in a flash of light while Elisabeth watched on, a small smile overtaking her face as their engines began to flare. She watched them take off into the sky, piercing the upper atmosphere with a flash.

It only took a half-hour before they arrived at Ikora's coordinates. Their ships dropped them off deep in the recesses of the Quagmire. The area was infested with Scorn, who were mostly preoccupied with tearing apart any Hive patrols they encountered. A mental wave pressed against Luz's mind, guiding her toward their answers.

"That way," she said, pointing toward a massive opening in the ground. Mottled stone soon surrounded them as they once again descended into the depths of Savathûn's realm. Luz hoped there wouldn't be any more underground temples, but she didn't think they'd be so lucky.

A few Scorn were scattered throughout the stony halls, harassing the Guardians as they marched. They were swiftly dispatched, cast aside like the fodder they were. Mud squelched under their boots, splattering their armor. Internally, Amity groaned. She had just gotten the feeling of ickiness out.

The cavern cut deep into Savathûn's domain, worming through the ground like the veins of a great beast. Statues of Thralls dotted the path every so often, with their arms curled up to shield their faces as the Guardians walked past. They rounded a corner, coming face-to-face with a wall of insurmountable stone. Royal set his hand against it, trying to feel for any point of weakness.

"Ikora, we've reached a dead end?" Amity said. "Any other routes the Hidden can offer us?"

"None that I'm aware of," Ikora replied. "Double back and retrace your steps. There has to be another way down."

While the others prepared to do that, Luz glanced at one of the statues. The pearly stone glistened like distant nebulas in the dull light of the dimming torches that dotted the tunnel. Luz blinked, and the statue responded. In the split second her eye was closed, the statue's right arm snapped up, pointing to the rock wall blocking their path.

"Wait." Luz held out an arm to stop the others. "I have an idea." She set her palms against the stone and stared. Psychic energy rippled just behind the outermost layer. Luz took a deep breath, reared back, and plunged her fingers into the wall. The illusion broke as she dug her fingers into the nonexistent rocks. She pried them open, revealing the path ahead.

"Scratch that," Royal said into the radio. "Luz found a way forward. We're moving up now." Ikora confirmed, and the three resumed their march. More of that psychic energy dripped from the walls as a thick miasma filled the tunnel. It was as though Savathûn herself was leering down on them.

The ground fell away before them, opening into a massive underground cavern. Colossal stalactites hung from overhead like fangs. The air was laden with moisture and the stench of rotting flesh. Luz peered over the edge and at the floor of the cave. Hundreds of Scorn were impaled on spikes of stone rising from the ground. More energy curled before Luz, and she strained to pull it free. Platforms of rock appeared along the edge of the cavern, sneaking across the gap.

"This power's coming in handy," Amity said as they began to cross. "Though it does beg the question of what you're even uncovering."

"Ancient passages, long since abandoned to fall into ruin," Royal said. "Luz is simply rebuilding them." He paused for a second and thought it over again. "That's my guess, anyway."

"Here's hoping Sagira's shell has the same potential," Luz said, leaping over the final gap.

"Hang on, why would Savathûn even need a hidden passage in her own Throne World?" Amity questioned. "Couldn't she just bury this so far in her subconscious that only she and those she wished could ever reach it?"

"Possibly, but our understanding of Throne Worlds is incomplete," Royal said. "You would have to consult Queen Mara; she has some personal experience in that regard."

Amity turned back to look at the pit they had just crossed, noting the relatively small stones. A note of unease crept down her spine. "I doubt Savathûn would design a path like that for herself."

"Questions for another time," Royal said, approaching a sculpted doorway before them. He reached out to touch the door, only for it to swing open before he could touch it. His hand instantly snapped to his hip and drew his hand cannon.

"Alright, this is what I'm talking about," Amity said while Royal stepped inside. "None of this is right."

"Not like we have much of a choice," Luz said. Amity grumbled something about this being an awful idea under her breath before summoning her gauntlets and following Royal in. Luz brought up the rear, tightly cradling her auto rifle.

Before them was a massive amphitheater. Pillars shot out of the ground in erratic directions. A few braziers hung on chains, burning with green fire. On the far side of the room, perched overlooking a seemingly bottomless abyss, was a large rectangle of dull glass.

"Ikora, we've found something," Luz said, slowly entering the center of the room while the others fanned out to the sides. "Some kind of connection point." Reaching the end of the room, she put her hand against the mirror. When more energy bubbled up to meet her, she pressed against it. The glass refused to budge, and the psychic power hardened. She didn't think punching through would work this time.

Taking a step back, she cast a glance around the room. A luminescent green glow caught her gaze, dragging her closer to it. Lines were seared into the ground, burning with Hive magic. A quick glance at a pillar emerging from the ground revealed more lines. The pillar was split halfway up. Maybe she could find something if she lined up her angle just right.

"Hey, Royal, come here," she said. "I have an idea." The Dawnblade looked up from his own investigation and walked over. Luz gripped him by the shoulders, moving him into place. He obliged, though not without giving her a strange look. Once he was in position, Luz leaped into the air. The soles of her boots landed on his shoulders, and the Exo wavered for a second before stabilizing. Luz stuck her arms out while she balanced on her new perch while Amity watched, leaning against another pillar behind the pair. She locked eyes with the lines painted across the ground, connecting them together.

Cast into the stony floor was a pair of V's, one inverted and overlaid atop the other. Two additional lines curved along the bottom, nestling the strange diamond within their embrace. The lines blazed, burning Luz's retinas as the Hive magic within them activated. She cried out in pain as Savathûn's symbol seared her mind. The woman tipped backward, falling off Royal's shoulders and toward the ground. Before her back could meet the cold stone, she fell into a pair of strong arms.

"Easy, I got you," Amity said. "Mind explaining what you just did?"

"There's a symbol," Luz said as the Witch set her down. "Savathûn's. I think it was a lock or something like that."

"Whatever you did, it worked," Royal said, pointing toward the mirror. It was now alight with Hive magic, glowing with more of that ghastly fire. He slowly reached out to touch the mirror. His hand passed through the wall of fire as though it were nothing but a fleeting memory. He pulled his hand back out and absently shook it to fling the clutch of Hive magic from his body. Amity was right; Hive magic was vile.

"Only one way forward," Luz said. Before the others could try to stop her, she dove through the portal. The world faded in a flash of emerald flame, and Luz felt a rush of death flood past her.

She landed with a start, arriving on a plane that appeared much like Savathûn's domain. She was at the end of a long hallway forged of glowing blue Light. The Light flowed in currents, rippling across the walls. It crashed around her from all sides, drowning her in a storm of repressed memory.

She forced the overloading presence out as the other arrived behind her. They seemed to hit the same mental whiplash she did, stumbling slightly as they tried to reorient themselves. They were nearing the root of Savathûn's deceptions; Luz could feel it.

The sound of their boots meeting the floor echoed through the hall. It was a strange sound, foreign and hollow. The path forked ahead of them, framed by more of those vermillion hedges.

"Ikora, we've found the connection point," Royal said. "It's inside some hidden realm within the Throne World. Almost like a deeper layer." He received no response save for garbled static. "Ikora?"

"Sounds like we're on our own," Amity said as they entered a large atrium. The door on the other side silently swung open to meet them. They entered a shallow pool with water barely rising over their toes. The waters stretched on for eternity, with no end in sight. Luminous bulbs lit the floor, shimmering as the waters rippled in the Guardian's wake. Not far ahead was a large circular podium, with another portal just to the side of it.

Behind the podium was a spectral figure that dominated the horizon, encompassing everything with her wingspan. Three glowing spheres hung in the air like miniature suns, the eyes of Savathûn looking down at them. Her body was made of smoke that clung together into the shape of the Witch Queen. The apparition made no move to acknowledge the Guardians, her eyes staring blankly at the watery plane around her.

"Think that's Savathûn?" Amity asked.

"An imprint, perhaps," Royal replied. "So she can keep an eye on… whatever this is." They reached the podium, and Luz practically recoiled from the weight of psychic energy roiling off the thing. Her eyes burned with Dark energy, and she could feel her blood freezing in her veins.

"This is the place," she said. She withdrew Sagira and placed the Ghost's shell on the podium. Psychic energy sloughed off the shell like rain, disturbing the waters below and siphoning it upward. Sagira began to levitate as water swept over the podium's surface before coalescing into a disgustingly familiar shape. A recreation of Savathûn stood before the three, tilting her head upward as she shone with pale blue light. Her crown was absent, marking this as a memory from before the ritual.

"I stand before a being with a thousand names." Her voice came from every angle, bearing down on the Guardians as an assault upon their minds. "It whispers one: the Witness. Remember it. Remember that name."

Overhead, the smoky apparition shifted its head slightly, casting its gaze across the waters. Luz could almost swear it was Savathûn listening to them. But if the Witch Queen knew they were here, why would she not intervene? She bit back the question and returned to the memory playing out before them.

"It is not Darkness, but something that wears it like a cloak," the memory continued. "It gives Darkness a wicked shape. I refuse to be its servant. I spent centuries crafting schemes, playing tricks, finding loopholes… And then I select my new name."

The image of Savathûn dissolved into water, splashing across the podium before recombining. It swirled upward into a new form, one more familiar to the three. Osiris and Ikora stood atop the podium, eternally frozen mid-conversation.

"Osiris," the voice of Savathûn said. "A man with many enemies and few friends. But those friends know secrets… About the Light… About new beginnings. My plan takes shape…" The images once again dissolved, falling back into the waters below. Sagira's shell clattered to the podium, no longer filled with psychic energy. Whatever memory had lurked within this shell was gone.

"So Savathûn used Osiris's relationship with Ikora to learn something about the Light," Amity said, stalking closer to the podium as she did. "Something that allowed her to steal it for herself." As she spoke, her heart throbbed painfully. It hammered at her ribcage, causing her to gasp and fall to her knees. The others quickly crowded around her, not that she noticed, as magic flooded her veins. The apparition of Savathûn gazed down, leering at her, taunting her for her helplessness.

As quickly as the pressure had arrived, it faded into nothing. Amity coughed up blood as her eyes refocused. Savathûn's shadow clone averted its gaze, looking away to whatever it was preoccupied with.

"What the hell was that?" Royal asked as he helped her to her feet. Amity staggered, leaning against the podium for support. As she did, psychic energy dripped from her hand and took shape.

To everyone's shock, a doppelganger of Amity now stood atop the podium, caught mid-conversation. She looked younger, like how she had when Royal last saw her before her resurrection. Luz had to stifle a cough and avert her gaze lest her eyes wander. On the other hand, Royal's jaw clenched when he saw the second figure taking shape.

At this point, Lilith was little more than Savathûn's puppet, standing frozen in time. Everything about her was so familiar, yet it felt so wrong to know what had been done to her. Hive fire burned behind her eyes, twisting an otherwise cheerful smile into a menacing smirk.

Savathûn's voice returned. "This world I have found contains secrets I could not fathom. The Light has touched this place, though that was eons ago. Stranger still, there are warriors wielding it as a part of themselves. Through my new partner's eyes, I have met two. Stories speak of a third, but alas, I missed him by the slimmest of margins."

The image shifted to one of Lilith sorting through ancient papers. Savathûn was hunting for something.

"Like the tides of Fundament, my plans must shift and change. From what I have gathered, this place is connected to another: a twin across the vastness of space. A place where the Traveler will make its last stand. I have no doubt that is where I shall find myself. And this world will serve as the perfect diversion."

Once again, the waters moved. Now, Savathûn was in her true form, wings spread as she looked down upon one of her spawn. A wizard bowed before her Queen, her God.

"Ir Halak shall be my arm, enacting what she believes to be my will. And, when the time is right, my Brood shall strike at the Isles. They shall pull it across space, dragging it to the Travelers doorstep. There, they shall serve as a distraction, drawing the Traveler's protectors away so that I may complete my plan undisturbed. Halak believes she will be adding another world to the pyre. Such a simple tool she is. Infinite in talent, but so painfully limited in ambition."

The display on the podium changed one last time, now to just Lilith. Her face was twisted in a taunting grin, and a single curled finger was placed over her lips.

"And as for my dearest friend Lilith? She yet has uses. I have barely begun to scratch the surface of this magic the Witches use. She shall be the one to illuminate me." With the memory completed, the water fell away. Amity looked down at her hand in confusion and fear while Luz and Royal shared a look.

"I was the one who set Savathûn onto the Isles," Amity whispered, her voice horrified. "I- I was with her on some of those expeditions… I helped her uncover so much lost magic…"

Luz opened her mouth to reassure her friend, but surprisingly, Pal spoke up first. "Savathûn has been deceiving people for millions of years. If you weren't there, she would have found another way."

Amity blinked in surprise at her Ghost's words before nodding. "You're… yeah, you're right." She looked at Luz and managed a soft smile. "Is this how you felt about helping Belos?"

Luz struggled to find an answer before settling on an impassive shrug. Amity chuckled and shook her head. "Yeah, shoulda figured. What do you guys say we get out of here?"

"Fine by me." Royal's words were calm, but his distress was evident. He gestured to the exit portal beside them. "Let's go."

There was another flash of Hive fire and the familiar rush of teleportation. Soon, the three found themselves back in the Quagmire, coated in mud right after the waters had cleaned them off.

"Guardians." Ikora's voice cut over comms. "Your signals just reappeared. Confirm that you're out there."

"We're here, Ikora," Royal said. "We were in some kind of demi-plane, but we think we've found some answers."

"That's great!" Fynch was speaking now, his words accompanied by sharp chirps. "Because I think I have another lead."

"Well, don't keep us waiting," Luz said.

"Right, yeah. You know Oryx? The Taken King? Savathûn's brother?" The question was met with a trio of resounding yes's. "Yeah, I thought so. Anyway, Savathûn apparently has a temple dedicated to him."

"And this is relevant how?" Royal questioned.

"I'm getting there," Fynch protested. "Jeez, no patience. Look, you found Sagira's shell in the Temple of the Wrathful, which is dedicated to Xivu Arath, who just happens to be Savathûn's sister. Just imagine what you could find in Oryx's temple."

"And how would we get in?" Luz asked. "If Xivu's temple is anything to go by, it'll be either well-guarded or overrun with Scorn."

"You just leave that to me."

Gotta say, liking Revenant a lot more than Echoes, even though were simultaneously not as far but also further into it. Having all of Act 1 right off the drop is neat. I don't have a preference between this or the time-gated story. Though I do find it absolutely hilarious that people are complaining about beating all of Act 1 in 90 minutes. The alternative of 2 hours of busy work is appealing, apparently. But yeah, story looks like it could go in some interesting directions, but we won't know for a while what will happen.

Also, Vespers Host is a great dungeon. Love the puzzles and shit to get the class item. I got lucky with an icebreaker drop on my fifth clear, gonna wait until a few of my classmates also have it before I tackle that catalyst quest. And before you bemoan me for being lucky with my exotic drops, A. Hierarchy and Navigator took me around 30-40 runs each, and B. I hate sniper rifles with a burning passion.

Next chapter will be the Lightblade, and I've got some good stuff waiting for y'all there. See you in a couple weeks.

Unity123: I'm not forcing you to do anything regarding these crossover ideas. All these are simply ideas for you to work with at your own time.

Of course, of course. I probably won't, simply due to lack of any real interest. I wanna focus on this one thing until it's finished, then branch out and tackle some wildly different stuff.

Elthreee: Um, nerf Royal plis is OP!

Sick chapter, crazy that you're just about halfway done with the campaign. I loved reading Royal's massacre on the Cabal. As much as I love them, trying to SF Duality made me want to rip apart every Incendior and Phalanx I came across. Also, Elsie didn't have to do that Colossus so dirty, lmao.

This chapter was especially fun to read because it's like, damn, we as players know damn near everything about the Witness and the Darkness, but having a different perspective on characters that don't know anything about it is awesome. Looking forward to The Mirror.

Yeah, I'm getting through Witch Queen pretty well. Thought there would be more hang-ups or tweaks to agonize over, but nope, Witch Queen is already pretty tightly written. If I want something to bang my head against, Lightfall is just a couple seasons down the road.

I find myself constantly on this weird balancing act where I want to play plot stuff close to the chest like a standard story might while also not wanting too since I can safely assume you guys already know most of what going on. It's... strange.

GuardianLightTheVanguard: 1) I hope that at some point during the Events of The Witch-Queen, Luz can regain her memories completely.

2) I hope that in the Season of The Haunted, Philip's Nightmare will be as Emperor Belos as Crow and Uldren.

3) I hope Gus continues to help Luz, Royal and Amity during the events of The Witch-Queen.

4) What do you think of Episode Revenant so far my friend.

5) You saw the announcement trailer for Destiny Rising, Bungie's mobile game, my friend.

You posted the same review twice. Made for a bit of a funny moment where I got the notification at one in the morning and spent a few minutes trying to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

1. Probably not during Witch Queen, but we'll be tackling that soonish*

*Note: Soon may be anywhere between a few chapters and the heat death of all reality

2. I have different plans for Phillip.

3. He will.

4. It's neat, not much to discuss at the moment.

5. I did. It looks about as cool as a mobile game can. I hope some of that stuff bleeds into the main game. I probably won't play it outside of the most passing of interest because I'm not about that mobile game life. That and you just know it's gonna be filled to the brim with microtransactions what with it being made by NetEase. At the very least, I'm not opposed to it existing.

GodzillaMaster: You did a great job with this chapter

I should really get back into Destiny, if Revenant is that good. I honestly haven't had it in me to pick up my controller for months. Depression sucks... :(

I know it's a long ways off, but I'm really looking forward to when this story gets to the Final Shape. I'm curious how you plan on doing Prismatic class and I really want to see everyone interact with Luzaku, who is surprisingly likeable for a Hive

Thank you kindly, very nice to hear. Revenant has been alright so far. Act 1 is mostly set up, like with Echoes, but the setup is very intriguing. Sorry to hear that you're feeling depressed. I've been in that pit before, shit does get better. I've not got too many plans set in place for Prismatic or Luzaku yet, since they're both quite a ways off. Though, now that I think about it, I already have Guardians switching between subclasses very liberally. Hmmm, I'll need to think about it.

BlueRoseLevi: Great chapter as per usual

Nice addition of Elsie to spice up the Europa part. It's always nice to see the Rosie ship fly.
Val Kou'ruk really thinking he's a space marine. Tsk tsk tsk.
Nice touch of PTSD for Amity from the Collector's pyramid.
Gravity killing prevails once again.
Luz going into a weird comatose state was not on my expectations list but I am intrigued

The Rosie ship is officially leaving port. And Val Kou'ruk is not that guy pal.

hornig3: Wow, Pal's helping. It's not much but baby steps. Also good to see that Royal angst and proof to him that killing his enemies isn't going to help him. I imagine when we get to THAT memory later down the line he is going to be in a complete depression spiral murmuring how Outcast was right all along or something. Maybe even him looking at himself and realizing that just because he has the light that doesn't make him blameless of hurt towards him and others.

That's what we in the business call character development, for both Pal and Royal. Rest assured, I've got some things lined up to ensure that Royal never gets to the P part of PTSD.

Luz knelt in deep contemplation, ruminating on the mysteries of the Light, the Universe, and existence itself. Her mind was open to the push and pull of time and reality. Meditation was a key part to any Warocks training, and Royal was insistent that she be diligent with hers. None of that could change the fact that it was boring as sin.

Sighing, she stood up and stretched before setting off to get her mind moving again. Meditation always left her feeling a bit empty and unfocused. She needed to hit something.

She entered one of the many sparring rings within the Tower, prepared to start her workout. The room was filled with other Guardians, be it Titans brawling on the floor, Hunters having knife duels, or other Warlocks doing their best to melt their companions with the Light.

Luz quickly slipped to the back of the room where a few punching bags hung from the ceiling. The chains were heavily reinforced, owing to one too many accidents where a Titan forgot their own strength. There was a meaty thwack as she struck the dangling sack and began her workout.

After a half hour of relentlessly beating the bag, she pulled away and allowed herself a brief rest. The crowd had changed as people rotated in and out. She caught a familiar eye across the room and flagged Amity down.

"Wasn't expecting to run into you here," the Witch said as she picked her way across the floor. "You getting through some sets?"

"Yeah. Needed to do something after spending so much time meditating." Luz took a swig of water. "It's just so bland. I'm trapped alone with nothing but my thoughts. If I spend too much time there, I'll go crazy. What about you? Any part of Titan training that you just hate?"

Amity shrugged as she squared up against a punching bag. "Not really. We just hit stuff for a few hours, then hit each other for a few more. It's fun."

Luz couldn't hide the look of jealousy that overtook her face. "Starting to think I chose the wrong class."

Amity grinned. "Better not let Royal hear you say that."