If you missed the last episode, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/222886264/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous episode, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220441594/0/0]Master Post[/url]. Please give a bump, upvote, or leave comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! *** For a heartbeat, Anixias and I simply stare at one another, unsure of what to say. * [i]Solis, I – [/i]* she begins half-heartedly. I feel my limbs shivering as I look back at her, emotion sticking in my throat as my knees quiver and it all comes tumbling out – * [i]Anixias, I’m sorry, I’m so, so –[/i] * But Anixias silences me in an instant, closing the gap between us and pulling me forcefully into a tight hug that I gratefully return. * [i]You forgive me?![/i] * I moan sorrowfully, holding her as tightly as I can. * [i]I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me,[/i] * she sniffles. * [i]But I saw that thing, and I was so scared it was going to – that it would…[/i] * Words fail us both as we break down completely, clutching each other desperately as though we’ll never let go again. We finally break the embrace though as the continued presence of the watching Lun draws our attention. * [i]So what do we do now?[/i] * I ask her. * [i]Return to the Cinders, I suppose,[/i] * she answers as she flicks her eyes to the Lun. * [i]The House of Winter must have a skiff we can use to rejoin with Dra Ge – * * You want to return to Dra Ge?[/i] * I ask, taken aback. * [i]Of course,[/i] * Anixias replies. * [i]Why wouldn’t I?[/i] * I bite my tongue, not wanting to start another argument right after we reconciled, but perplexed about Anixias’ loyalties. Luckily for me, she seems to sense my confusion. * [i]I still believe in Dra Ge,[/i] * she answers. * [i]Just because I care about you doesn’t mean I’ve forsaken him. He is still Dra Ge, and we will still serve him – * * Even if that means he abandons us again?[/i] * Anixias sighs. * [i]It’s….it’s complicated,[/i] * she says, averting her eyes. My hand quivers as I reach for her face, pulling it back to look at me once more. * [i]As long as I’m with you, I’ll be fine,[/i] * I tell her, hoping that I can believe it to be true. Anixias smiles behind her ether mask and turns to look back at the Lun. * [i]What about them, though? * * Not a problem,[/i] * I tell her. * [i]I don’t think they plan to harm us.[/i] * As if they can tell that we’re talking about them, the Lun part to permit one of their large, bulky Minotaurs approach – as it reaches us, it whirs and squeals at us. * [i]What’s it saying?[/i] * Anixias asks. I look deeply into its vivid, red eye, trying to understand its message – after a moment, it begins to lightly pantomime, pointing back through the old ruins behind it. * [i]I think it wants us to follow them,[/i] * I tell Anixias. I can’t explain why, but there’s something that just feels….right about it. Like we were meant to meet the Lun, and they were meant to show us….something…. * [i]If you’re sure,[/i] * she says warily as I nod to the Minotaur. But as the Lun turn and we follow their company out of the ruins, Anixias whispers behind me, * [i]Let’s just hope we don’t have something they want.[/i] * *** A few hours later and miles beneath the ruins, I can feel Anixias growing impatient behind me. The Lun have led us deeper and deeper into these strange tunnels twisting beneath the planet’s surface without any sign of our destination. No attempts at communication have been successful other than the Minotaur indicating repeatedly for us to keep following them. * [i]How are we supposed to get back out of here?[/i] * Anixias whispers to me. * [i]I have no idea,[/i] * I whisper back, already regretting my decision to follow the Lun. * [i]I thought they’d lead us out, not deeper inside. * * So what do we do now? Keep following or try to find our own way out? * * There’s no way we’d find our own way back out,[/i] * I answer, shaking my head. * [i]We’ll just have to trust them.[/i] * Anixias sighs hesitantly, and though I don’t say anything, I can’t help but share her misgivings. Our people have always been fascinated and friendly with machines, but these Lun are something else – maybe beyond our comprehension. But just as Anixias starts to speak behind me again, the Lun stop. I look forward and see the ground ending a short distance ahead into a deep, seemingly bottomless chasm. I look at the Minotaur leading the Lun, and he silently indicates the way forward is down. * [i]Down there?[/i] * I ask uncertainly, but only the dispassionate red eye of the Minotaur answers me. Anixias cranes her neck forward, looking down. * [i]They’re joking, right?[/i] * she asks, her voice cracking slightly. I point down into the abyss again to the Minotaur – it simply blinks in response. Sighing, I look sheepishly at Anixias. * [i]Looks like the only way forward…[/i] * Anixias scowls at me. * [i]And to think I came after you just so you could drag me into the depths of the core… * * At least we’ll be together this time…[/i] * I shrug apologetically. Anixias sighs and rolls her eyes, looking down into the abyss again. * [i]Might as well get it over with,[/i] * she says, trying her best to hide her whimper. I reach out and take her hand, clasping tightly. * [i]Together,[/i] * I tell her, and she smiles behind her ether mask as we begin to count in unison. * [i]1….2….3![/i] * And we both step into the abyss, taking a leap of faith into the dark below. … … After falling for what feels like an eternity, I see a hint of light below – I draw my blades and jab them into the rock face beside us as Anixias does the same, slowing our descent – our blades shriek against the rock, but we begin to slow as the light grows brighter, illuminating a rapidly approaching cliff below – We tuck and roll as we hit the cliff, but it’s still not enough to slow our momentum – Anixias and I hit the ground, hard, rolling toward the edge – Anixias’ blades slip and she tumbles toward the edge, but I keep my hand gripped tightly in hers as I pull with all my strength on the blades I’ve managed to dig into the rock – At the very edge of the cliff our momentum finally stops and I hoist Anixias back to me. We lie there for a moment, letting our heartbeats return to normal, before finally rising and looking at our surroundings. * [i]Are we…[/i] * Anixias begins with wonder in her voice. * [i]It can’t be….[/i] * I respond, rising to my feet and looking around with amazement. Ahead of us, a large plateau juts out from the rock, comprised of squares built into the platform, with strange lights floating at various intervals around a giant metal door. * [i]It is,[/i] * Anixias says breathlessly. * [i]But why’d they send us here?[/i] * I can only shake my head as I continue to look in wonder at what must be the legendary Vault of Glass. After a few moments, we finally pull ourselves together to plan our next move. * [i]How are we going to get through here?[/i] * Anixias asks. * [i]The legends say it’s a labyrinth… * * We’ll have to think of something quick,[/i] * I respond, tapping my ether mask. * [i]Only reserves are what we’ve got on us.[/i] * “Perhaps I can help.” a voice says suddenly behind us. I jump and wheel around instinctively, blades drawn as the fur sticks up at the back of my neck, Anixias snapping to attention beside me. We both look at the stranger in front of us curiously as she steps out of the shadows. She drops her weapon and withdraws her hood as she steps nearer, revealing a serene, metallic face blinking slowly at us. * [i]Exo,[/i] * I growl. * [i]They City’s already sent –[/i] * “I’m not from the City,” she replies, and it takes me a moment to realize she understands our language. * [i]What’s it saying?[/i] * Anixias asks me. “Tell her I mean you no harm,” the Stranger says, nodding to Anixias, who just growls deeper. * [i]It’s okay,[/i] * I tell Anixias as I look into the Stranger’s eyes. * [i]I don’t think she’s here to hurt us.[/i] * The Stranger smiles. “You’re very brave, coming down here,” she says. “You’ll need that courage for the road ahead.” * [i]What do you mean?[/i] * “There are things that must be done,” she answers cryptically. “Some things we can change. Others must happen as they were meant to.” I shake my head in confusion. * [i]I don’t understand –[/i] * “Don’t worry,” the Stranger tells me, her voice strangely calming. “You will. But right now, you must follow me. There are things that must be done so that others may be undone.” She hoists her weapon back into her arms and turns, leading the way ahead. Anixias shivers behind me. * [i]Who is she? What is she? * * I don’t know,[/i] * I answer back. * [i]But right now she’s our only way out. Looks like we don’t have a choice but to follow her. * * Funny how we keep finding ourselves in that position,[/i] * Anixias quips, but falls in line behind me as we follow the Stranger deeper into the Vault of Glass.