Spiritually Driven 8 (Patreon)

Spiritually Driven 8 - or ‘The Traveler is ‘God’, but I am quite the Messiah in this Dark World’ (Destiny/Destiny II, Spirit!SI)

I have to say that I feel ‘flattered’ by Nokris’ latest ideas, but I had to put my metaphysical foot down about those in advance.

“But Grandfather! You- You deserve to not be sealed in that cursed form of yours.”

And I appreciate the effort, Nokris. But such an endeavor is undeserved for me. I am long accustomed to this plight as it serves as a blessing for others in need.

“I-It’s just-”

I know. You wish to help. You wish to give me something that I once had and now miss out of affection and… I am not chiding you for it. But I think those resources can be put to use elsewhere.

“I… I would still like to try.”

I sighed. Then do, but don’t expect this to bore fruits.

It wasn’t like I was trying to shit on his parade, but it was something many have tried- the Traveler himself doing something like that but… it never amounted to much due to how perplexing my existence was within the logic of this world.

It’s been less than a century since our encounter with Savathun, and the Hive hadn’t given us any surprise visiting. Nokris had grown more vigilant about this sort of surprises, studying ways to counter detection and subvert his former family’s means to acquire our location in the galaxy.

Quite a lot of work was put behind it, but the Federation itself had provided resources to further establish means to ‘neutralize’ detection through the means of the Hive. The Krills were at the forefront of this, having already worked on the basic steps to achieve that through notes left behind by some of their original researchers.

This was crucial to avoid a two-front war against the Witness and the Hive once we found the ‘Fallen’ through the Traveler, but I decided against trying to push for a new wave of militarization. The current budget for the Federation fleet was acceptable and the size of the fleet easily protected the entire system colonized by the Federation. The colonization had also taken a new step in modernizing the current cities by allowing for more efficient energy-production through machinery that relied on less resources.

It wasn’t going to take too long, roughly a century, to get that technology to ultimately bear the beauty of self-sufficiency without requiring the destruction of nature itself. That was going to be brilliant and… not something I really delved deeply about while keeping track of things with Nokris.

One may think that the paranoia was, at this very point, a bit too excessive and, in normal instances, I would say that was the case. However, another curious accident happened while Nokris was tending the main temple of the Harmony.

And that was a strange distress call that only Nokris was perceiving. It was odd as this was not a case of prayer, he could feel it through ‘his blood’.

It could be a trap.

My reasoning was born from logic through recent events but-

“I can tell it is not. I am not going to risk it but… I need to check. I will have a portal ready to take us back home if this is a trap.”

Are you sure-

“I can tell a child is getting hurt, Grandfather!”

That last interjection was enough to overrule any major concern for the time being.

Fine, but let’s be careful.

“Thank you.”

My worry was slightly correct. An ambush ensued, but we were not the target. Standing against a mighty Hive army… a single Thrall of abnormal proportions was putting on a big fight.

A surprising sight, but one that was accentuated by the fact that this one was a ‘child’. At first glance, that didn’t seem like that, but it was clear someone used magic to make them bigger than they were meant to.

Nokris quickly spotted the outnumbered youth and started to shred through the horde. Compared to the bare-handed Thrall, Nokris was far more vicious and efficient. Light tore through the large force almost effortlessly, decimating the massive army numbering to the hundreds in mere minutes.

In the end, only the lone thrall remained. Tired and bruised, aching and yet standing before the taller Nokris.

“W-Who are you?”

“Someone that seeks to help, young girl. My name is Nokris.”

Surprise filled the Thrall’s expression. “Nokris… you are father’s brother- the one he said that left because he was too weak.”

“...Am I weak?”

She shook her head. “No,” Then she looked hopeful. “Do you want to help me, uncle?”

“Was it your father that sent all those troops against you?”

“I… I think so. He told me that I am too… abnormal.”

“Not by choice,” Nokris assured softly. “We don’t pick how we are born, child. And if a parent is so hellbent in seeking perfection out of appearance alone, then they don’t understand what it means to be a father or a mother.”

She nodded. “What are you going to do to me?”

“Nothing that you do not want. I will give you this, a choice for your own future: You may retain the darkness that you were born with or be blessed with light and granted the means to enjoy life within tranquility for your own self-improvement rather than it being something pushed upon you.”

…

“I-Is it possible? To have a choice? I don’t want to-”

The thrall tensed up a bit when her uncle hugged her.

“You deserve happiness as you are not bound by sin or mistake.”

The child ‘weakened’ under that embrace and yet pulled away shortly after.

“I…Is it going to hurt?”

Nokris nodded. “Yes. I have to remove your worm and-”

“Okay!”

That was sudden but-

“T-The worm is always telling me to listen to father and grandfather but-”

But you don’t want that.

The thrall finally noticed me and nodded. “Y-Yes. It’s always like it is trying to get me to do things that benefit them but never me.”

That’s because the worms are submitted to Oryx and his sisters. Hence why they will favor them rather than anyone related to them.

“I see… well, I still want to do it… uncle.”

I swear I saw Nokris smile a bit at that last word, a sense of pride filling him as he masterfully started the ritual. The Thrall groaned in pain during the exposure, posing no further distrust as she willingly allowed her exhausted body to be treated by Nokris.

Slowly but steadily, Light started to reach out to her. Her worm was shattered quite earnestly as quite young and weaker compared to the one Nokris had. Likewise, Nokris was far more ‘experienced’ in handling light and could handle this surgical effort.

Soon the pain softened and then dulled away, with the female Thrall slowly relaxing as her frame glowed a tender white. Her body grew slightly smaller, still retaining a size beyond the normal Thralls but with a more ‘balanced’ build to it. Gone was some of the worst filth that lessened her as it was converted into light power. She looked more… at ease.

“This is so… warm. Uncle, it’s so-”

“Pleasant. Like refreshing water that warmly sheds the dirt and mud.”

“...What is water?”

“It’s a natural resource that the Hive lacks as it isn’t seen as needed due to the nutrients but… you will like it.”

“Will I?” The girl hummed while saying nothing as Nokris picked her in his arm and carried her towards the portal.

“I was nervous too, but I can assure you I will never seek to harm you, niece.”

There was a real beauty in that exchange but, right as we were walking through, the building we were in trembled as something slammed through the roof.

“NOOOOOKKRIIIIISSSSSSSS!!!”

A quick glance was enough to recognize him- Crota, Norkis’ brother, didn’t look pleased to see his daughter taken away from him.

“You dare to steal my spawn, you mongrel!? Do you seek a quick death by-”

“I am not fighting you.”

…

“What?!”

“I am not fighting you, Crota. True, your powers have increased and I am sure your father praised you for it. But you are still bound and limited by the darkness. You will never see the truth with how blind you are.”

“I am stronger than you, brother! And I shall remind you that!”

He jumped, sword ready to cleave but… Nokris sighed as he slammed his glowing right hand against the air right in front of them.

“I am afraid that’s not the case anymore.”

The air cracked, a powerful force field slammed against Crota and sent him careening out of the building and onto another one but not before cracking his armor and sword.

While it would be wrong to say that Nokris was around the same level as Oryx, he was definitely above his many siblings at this point. The converted child was baffled by the sight, but kept perched by her uncle’s arms as we all retreated back through the portal.

It was there that Hashladun, Niece of Nokris, would become a new name to join the Light.