"Well," greeted Ikora, "You look-" "Like death warmed over?" I supplied, chuckling. "I am aware. Last night was... far from restful. Enough of that, though. I assume by your summons that you have made a decision?" At this, it was the one in the mask, the Speaker of the Traveler, who responded. "Indeed. And it is that we are not the ones to make that decision. No matter what, our experiences might color our judgment, and so we must look to another source: the Traveler. More specifically, it's Light." He looked to Ikora here. "We have devised a modified version of the awakening procedure used to create new guardians. We believe that it can be used to determine if you are worthy to receive the blessings of the Light." At this, my eyes widened slightly, before I regained myself and nodded. "Well, then, there's no reason to wait. How soon can we start?" The Speaker nodded back. "Now" (Time skip) As I lay on the operating bed, I looked through the observation window to those gathered, and gave a smile and a thumbs-up to Artemis, who responded in kind, before I put my head back and closed my eyes. "Whenever you're ready." Then, there was only light and darkness. (???????????????) I opened my eyes to find myself standing, surrounded by darkness, with a bright light in the distance. I looked down at myself, finding my from covered in darkness like a shroud. Knowing what I had to do, I began for the light. Before long, though, I found it harder and harder to continue, and when I looked down again, I saw tendrils of shadow leading back into the void, and began to hear whispers. They seemed to promise glory, recognition, power- I kept on, ignoring both, even as they grew more intense, more forceful. Soon, it took all my will to advance just another step, to not give into the Darkness. Then, in an instant, the whispers stopped, and a new, far more terrifying voice spoke, it's voice resonating from everywhere but the light: "If you would seek this, then you would seek your own destruction." Then, the pain - the excruciating, soul-rending pain - began. I felt each individual tendril tear at my at my being, and yet I continued on. A poem came to mind - an ancient piece, and one that had helped inspire me to take this path. "Out of the night," a step. "That covers me," another step. "Black as the pit," yet another. "From pole to pole," still another. The voice spoke again. "You would defy-" I cut it out, continuing my chant. "I thank whatever gods may be." The tearing intensified. "For my unconquerable soul." With every line of the old verses, a step, and an increase to the pain. Both were ignored, my whole being given to recitation and achieving my goal. Soon, I reached the end of the poem, the light almost in my grasp. "It matters not how stait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate," I reached the light, letting it take me wholly, and as I heard the voice scream in outrage, I finished the poem. "I am the captain of my soul." And then there was naught but light. (???????????????) I took a breath, before opening my eyes to see the face of my friend looking down at me, concern filling her eyes. "Hey," I said, my voice hoarse - probably from my screams of pain. I cracked a smile nonetheless. "How are you?"