Kael sat alone in one of the Tower's upper garden walkways.
Even here—where the wind carried the scent of jasmine and plasma oil, where the Traveler glowed like a second sun—he couldn't shake the weight of that message:
> "The Hive speak in screams now. You hear them, don't you? Follow their echoes. I will be listening."
E.M.
Eris Morn.
A name most Guardians whispered like a warning. Scholar of the Deep. Survivor of madness. Oracle of whispers.
And now, somehow, watching him.
---
Starflame Whisper vibrated softly against his back.
> "Your name glows in places even Light cannot reach. She sees it."
Kael exhaled.
Ghost floated quietly near the railing, for once refraining from his usual commentary.
"…You're quiet," Kael finally said.
"I've scanned the Tower," Ghost replied. "Since your classification update, your Light signature has been logged, flagged, and mirrored across twelve secure nodes."
Kael frowned. "Flagged how?"
Ghost's iris pulsed once.
"Some see you as a beacon."
A pause.
"Others see you as a breach."
---
The words lingered.
He stood and looked over the plaza below—Guardians moving between missions, faction banners swaying. Civilians hauling crates to cargo lifts.
All of it continued… for now.
---
> [System Note – Narrative Priority Active: "Shadows Between Stars"]
Optional Objectives Unlocked:
– Prepare for off-world travel
– Seek briefing from Vanguard liaison (Recommended: Ikora Rey or Commander Zavala)
– Access private quarter assignment via Tower Residential AI
Passive Flag: "Social Divergence Accumulating – Faction Attention Increasing"
Kael sighed.
"Guess it's time to put on the mask."
Ghost flickered. "Literally or metaphorically?"
"Both."
---
He descended toward the Vanguard Command Hall—its vaulted ceiling catching afternoon light, casting long shadows over the marble floor. A projection of the solar system hovered in the center, pulsing softly. Past that, two command desks stood beneath long blue banners:
One staffed by Zavala—impossibly upright, armored in resolve.
The other empty.
Ikora's seat.
Kael walked toward Zavala.
---
The Commander turned before Kael could speak.
"Guardian," Zavala said simply. His voice was low, but sharp—like a blade dulled by use and still capable of cutting steel.
"You're the anomaly. The one who returned from the Deep Womb."
Kael inclined his head. "Resurrected. Without a Ghost."
Zavala stared for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Light has many shapes. But few have burned alone and returned." He gestured to the terminal beside him. "Ikora left you a message."
---
Kael approached the console. It flickered once. Then her voice flowed out—measured, precise, calm.
"Kael Solas. The Tower does not yet know what you are. But I have studied those who walk in flames before. I'll speak plainly: if Eris Morn has reached out to you… you're already walking a path few return from unchanged."
Her voice softened.
"If you're going to survive it—start by knowing who you are."
The message ended.
---
Kael remained still, the echo of Ikora's message lingering in his mind like the final shimmer of a solar flare.
She'd spoken with clarity. Precision. But also with warning.
Ghost drifted silently behind him, almost reverent.
Then Zavala turned back to face him fully.
"You have questions," the Commander said.
Kael didn't flinch. "I do."
Zavala motioned to the command table. "Ask."
---
Kael crossed his arms. "Let's start simple. What exactly are you in this structure?"
Zavala gave a faint nod. "Commander of the Vanguard. I oversee operations across all sectors—Guardian deployments, planetary defense coordination, strike sanctioning, and strategic war efforts."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It is," Zavala replied flatly.
Kael gestured to the empty terminal nearby. "And Ikora?"
"Vanguard of the Warlocks. Oversees intelligence, artifacts, and the strategic analysis of Light anomalies. She also maintains the Hidden."
"The Hidden?" Kael asked.
Ghost chimed softly. "The Vanguard's spy network."
Zavala nodded. "You'll likely meet them without realizing it."
Kael tilted his head. "And Cayde?"
Zavala's expression didn't change—but there was something tight in the lines around his jaw.
"Cayde-6 is the Vanguard of the Hunters," he said quietly. "For now, he's stationed on a deep recovery mission beyond the Reef. His role… is difficult to summarize. Intelligence, infiltration, leadership. Chaos, on occasion."
Kael smirked. "Sounds like someone I'd get along with."
"You will," Zavala said. "Or you'll want to throw him off a balcony."
"Can it be both?"
---
Zavala changed the display. The system rotated, highlighting planetary nodes, icons, and Vanguard assignments.
"You mentioned participating in operations," he said. "We have several standing Guardian circuits available."
> [System Menu – Activity Access Unlocked]
– Strike Playlist (3-player missions | Vanguard-commissioned)
– Nightfalls (High-risk, high-reward variant Strikes)
– Vanguard Contracts (Daily/Weekly Objectives)
– Vanguard Reputation System:
• Ranks 1–5: Standard Access
• Rank 6–10: Enhanced Supply and Support
• Rank 11+: Specialized assignments and advanced gear
Note: Strike completion grants Vanguard Marks. High performance may yield Legendary Engrams.
---
Kael skimmed the display.
"This is more organized than I expected."
"We're a military," Zavala said. "Just one that answers to a god."
Kael nodded slowly.
"And where do I start?"
Zavala turned, then pointed toward a nearby hallway—lit red with floodlights and echoing with distant roars.
"The Crucible."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
Zavala's voice rumbled low.
"Speak with Lord Shaxx. He trains our Guardians for war. He'll know how to test you… thoroughly."
---
Kael watched the distant corridor, where the echoes of combat and the sound of cheering grew louder.
He grinned.
"Sounds like my kind of chaos."
---
The corridor to the Crucible Hall wasn't marked with signage.
It didn't need to be.
You heard it before you found it.
The closer Kael walked, the louder it got—shouts, clanging impacts, the dull thrum of Light-enhanced shields detonating against each other. Training halls vibrated beneath his boots. The sound was everywhere.
And so was the energy.
He turned the corner—
—and saw him.
---
Lord Shaxx.
An armored titan of a man standing atop a viewing platform like a war god cast in red and silver. Horned helmet gleaming. Voice thundering over speakers as he yelled encouragement to sparring Guardians below.
Kael paused at the edge of the hall.
"This," he muttered, "is Destiny meme history come to life."
Ghost hummed. "Do not quote his 'YOU FIGHT LIKE YOU HAVE CAUSE' line. Not yet."
Kael was already grinning.
---
Shaxx turned.
And the moment those glowing lenses locked onto Kael, something changed.
He leapt from the platform—landed hard with a quake of metal—and marched straight toward him.
"You're the phoenix," Shaxx said. "The one who rose without call. I felt that Light surge across the Crucible walls."
Kael blinked. "And here I was trying to be subtle."
"There is no subtlety in resurrection," Shaxx declared, crossing his arms. "Only glory."
Kael opened his mouth to respond—then stopped.
"…You're everything the internet promised."
---
> [Crucible Registration Opened – Shaxx Pathway Unlocked]
Faction Role: Tower Combat Instructor
Crucible Offerings:
– Daily Bounties
– Glory Rank System
– Valor Progression
– Seasonal Emblem Challenges
Quote: "Your Light isn't yours alone. Let others fear it on the field."
---
[System Update: New Quest Branches Unlocked]
> You have unlocked access to two Vanguard-sanctioned activities through City protocols:
1. Crucible Champion – [Job / Combat Challenge] Participate in high-stakes Guardian vs Guardian combat through the Crucible League.
Reward per Win: +1 Faction Reputation, +8,000 Lumens, +Combat Points
Bonus: Accumulate 10 wins in a row to trigger elite-tier rewards.
Optional Quest: "Iron to Flame"
Objective: Win 10 consecutive Crucible matches
Time Limit: 90 Days
Success: +5 System Points, Unique Crucible Title: Ashborn Victor, +1 Exotic Engram
Failure Penalty: Temporary Reputation Debuff – Assigned to "Cheer Team" support role for 3 months.
Note: The cheer squad uniform is very… spirited. Public humiliation imminent.
---
> 2. Sparrow Racing League – [Job / Speed Trial]
Test your reflexes and speed in the daring SRL (Sparrow Racing League) through enemy-infested circuits.
Reward per Win: +6,500 Lumens, +Pilot XP, +Style Points
Optional Challenge: "Trailblazer"
Objective: Win 5 SRL races within 1 month
Reward: Unlock "SRL Legend" Title, Unique Sparrow Mod (Increased boost + Flair trail), +Style Stat Bonus
Failure Penalty: SRL License Suspension (Temporarily locked out of SRL content)
---
Kael's Expression:
The text flickered across his vision, causing a long pause.
"...They really have a cheer squad penalty. And here I thought dying to Hive was the worst possible fate."
Ghost whispered dryly:
"Well, technically, those tight uniforms might be more dangerous than a Vex Hydra at full charge. Proceed with caution."
---
Shaxx stepped closer.
"Come find me when you're ready to bleed for your name."
He walked off, calling out across the hall.
"NO, TITAN—NOT IN THE FACE!"
---
Kael stood motionless for a second.
Then turned to Ghost.
"I love this place."
Ghost buzzed. "It's loud. It's insane. It's perfect for you."
---
To Be Continued – Chapter 18: Crimson Trials
---