Kael stood before a door unlike any other in the Tower.
It wasn't lined with gold or engraved with Light-infused runes, nor was it guarded by Titans in ceremonial armor. Instead, it was quiet—almost too quiet. A soft humming emanated from within, not mechanical but... living.
The entrance to the Speaker's sanctum.
Ghost hovered low, his light dimmed instinctively. "I've scanned this space before. It's protected by some sort of Traveler-based barrier—doesn't register on any of our usual spectrums."
Kael didn't reply. He stepped forward.
The door parted without a sound.
---
The chamber beyond resembled the real-world Speaker's observatory—a dark, high-ceilinged space of quiet reverence. Tower consoles hummed gently at the edges of the room. A long metal walkway led to a raised platform, where the Speaker stood beneath the towering silhouette of a monitor shaped like a shard of the Traveler. But the room itself felt heavier than air, as if reality was folded tighter within these walls.
At the far end stood a robed figure.
The Speaker.
He turned, slowly, hands folded, mask expressionless and pristine.
"Kael Solas," he said calmly. His voice echoed, not from acoustics, but from memory itself.
Kael stood straight, his cloak brushing against polished stone. "You know me?"
The Speaker nodded. "You carry Light not as a gift, but as a fire you rekindled with your own hands. That makes you... unique."
Ghost flickered uneasily. "He's... referencing the resurrection."
The Speaker approached, robes whispering with every step.
"Do you know what it means to return from the grave without the Traveler's call?"
Kael met his gaze evenly. "It means I chose this path. Not fate. Not prophecy. Me."
A pause. Then, slowly, the Speaker nodded.
"And that may be what saves us. Or ends us."
---
> [System Quest Unlocked – Historian]
Objective: Recover 3 Golden Age Relics across Earth, Luna, and Mars.
Reward: +2 Gacha Tokens | Golden Age System Upgrade (Encrypted System Lore Unlock) | Title: Archivist
Failure Penalty: System Penalty:
- (minus) Luck Modifier (Loot RNG reduced for 1 Year Tower Standard)
> [Subquest Triggered – Gambler's Fire]
Description: Balance your sins or risk them burning through control.
---
The Speaker raised his hand. A soft light pulsed from a floating device in his palm—a sealed data sphere etched with Traveler script.
"This contains the location of the first relic. The others will only reveal themselves when you begin to remember who you were before this Light."
Kael took the sphere. It felt warm, like holding purpose.
The Speaker turned his back.
"Go now. The City watches you. But more importantly… so does the Darkness."
---
Kael exited the Speaker's chamber with the sealed data sphere clutched in one hand and a storm of thoughts rolling behind his eyes.
The Tower seemed quieter now.
Guardians moved through the upper halls unaware of what had just passed beneath the Traveler's gaze. To them, it was just another day—a new mission, a vendor reset, a Crucible report. But to Kael, something had shifted.
Ghost hovered just above his shoulder. "You good?"
Kael nodded once. "He knew more than he said. But he said enough."
Ghost pinged quietly. "He always does."
> [System Notification – Quest Thread Expanded] Historian – Phase 1 Objective Added:
Investigate Golden Age Library hidden beneath ruins in Old Chicago
Status: Unknown Condition | Estimated Threat: Moderate
Optional Bonus: Recover intact memory cores (bonus Lore Unlocks)
Kael exhaled, slowing his pace as he reached the outer Tower balconies. The sky was darkening to the east. The Traveler still hung there, ever watching.
"Historian," he muttered. "Feels like an odd title for someone who keeps destroying things."
"Preserving knowledge by force," Ghost offered helpfully. "It's a time-honored Guardian tradition."
---
Kael returned to his quarters, the system interface already compiling mission parameters. He stepped inside, armor clicking off as the Light-sealed door shut behind him. The moment he sat, his HUD flickered.
> [Inventory Update: 2x Gacha Tokens Available]
Note: These can be used at any Tower terminal or through your personal system interface.
> Recommended Use: Compatible with Golden Age Tech Pathway – Pending Trigger: 'Encrypted Core Activation'
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Guess the real test starts now."
Ghost spun once mid-air. "Care to roll the dice?"
Kael didn't answer immediately. He was still thinking about the Speaker's words:
"Remember who you were before this Light."
It wasn't just poetic. It was a warning. And maybe a challenge.
He stood, brushing his coat off, and turned to the holo-terminal.
"Let's make history. Or break it."
His hand hovered over the system interface.
> [Gacha Terminal – Ready for Use]
---
To Be Continued – Chapter 21: Threads of Iron and Echo
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