2017-03-03: Shepherd Looking for Destiny (But Not His Destiny)

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  • Log: Shepherd Looking for Destiny (But Not His Destiny)
  • Cast: Alisha Diphda, Corwynt, Seraph Edna, Sorey
  • Where: The Dragonship Destiny
  • Date: March 3, 2017
  • Summary: Sorey, Alisha, and Edna decide to seek out the Guard. In doing so, they find Corwynt and the Dragonship Destiny.

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

The Dragonship Destiny is one of the greatest extant relics of the power of the Goddess Althena, a massive ship capable of sailing over sand or surf with ease. In addition to being a decisive weapon in and of itself, it serves as a mobile base and transport for Althena's Guards, carrying them anywhere on Lunar that their duty may take them.

And beyond, it would seem.

Since its arrival on the surface of the Blue Star, Althena's Guards have been fanning out in search of information, both on the whereabouts of Lucia the Destroyer and on the world upon which they so unexpectedly found themselves. One of the first valuable pieces of intelligence received was rumours of a group of strange and powerful warriors who seek out those displaying devices of power...such as, perhaps, a giant floating battleship. Which was a significant concern for the Destiny's commander, White Knight Leo, but not so significant as the need to find and capture the Lord of Calamity.

So he delegated. And two weeks since their landing, it seems he was wise to do so.

Destiny has been backed into a crevasse along the mountainous ridges near Linga, which serves to conceal it from most views, and air and light mages have been weaving illusions designed to conceal it from above. Pickets have been set out at two and four miles from the ship, each post occupied by a single soldier with a dedicated magic user, their task to spot out danger and report it as soon as possible. It's a concealment that's been two weeks in the making and, as best as Corwynt can tell, it's as good as they're going to be able to manage.

The Guard captain is standing on the last rise before the crevasse, watching as earth mages coax a thin layer of soil and stone up from the ground, trying to block the crevasse's mouth as well. The thickset little man rubs a hand through dark hair spotted with grey and sighs. "Probably good enough," he mutters in a deep baritone.

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Tracking down Lucia the Destroyer had been an undertaking that many from Lunar had joined upon. Not all of them belonged to the Guard, and others had joined in the hunt for the Lord of Calamity for more personal reasons.

And then about a week ago, they had found her.

That incident had continued to trouble Sorey. Mainly because it had gone very differently than how he had envisioned it, given what Lailah and the others had told him about the legendary Lord of Calamity. That people who had seemed like friends had been revealed to be her followers had also been disturbing... and in the end she had escaped.

And so Sorey and his delegation had set out to find more information. 'The best tool when dealing with a problem is a firm understanding of what the problem is.' Master had given him that piece of advice, along with 'Don't assume that you know the whole story - always dig a bit deeper.'

And so Sorey and company had worked to track down Althena's Guard, in order to try and gather a bit more information about the Lord of Calamity. They had been chasing after Lucia for longer than Sorey had even been aware that Lucia was the problem. But as they approach the area where the Dragonship Destiny is being hidden, Sorey looks out over the landscape and comments, "If they're keeping watch, someone should be out to meet us soon enough. The Guardswomen we've met so far seemed on their toes, so..." He trails off with a shrug. They'll see soon enough.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha follows after Sorey, having healed from her wounds -- for the most part. Her tabard is patched, now, after she paid an Adlehyde tailor. She feels less of a twinge when she walks than she did yesterday. A sting in her side, where she was shot, and she hisses lightly as she walks. The blonde-haired princess nods to the Shepherd, as she stops behind him. She leans a little more than usual on her spear.

Her first gunshot wound is still a hell of a thing.

She stops, then she looks down at the Dragonship Destiny. She gapes, openly, at it. The pride of Althena -- something of legends, said to be powered by the White Dragon itself. "Amazing," she murmurs, softly. Then, she looks at Sorey.

She nods. "I agree," she says. "They will be careful. I can scarcely fault them for that, either. They must be as bewildered as we were, to arrive here..."

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

A birdcall sings out on the breeze (friendlies spotted), followed by another (approaching south), and Corwynt turns in that direction, adding yet another mental note to a long list of things he's going to look into - are those birds present here on the Blue Star, or will would-be invaders be warned of a defence by the songs of creatures they've never heard before. He sighs; he'll have to get someone to look into it, he thinks as he squints in the direction of the approaching pair. He can't make them out, but he'll trust the judgement of those with better eyes.

"Hail!" Corwynt calls out from his position atop the rise, then takes a step off the edge, winds swirling about him to slow his fall as he descends on a smooth glide. The little man angles his descent toward the pair of -- ah, he thinks, eyes widening as he gets about halfway down. He's had descriptions of both, from his briefings and from his commander, and the two of them are fairly recognizeable. He touches down lightly, then drops to one knee.

"Holy Shepherd," the thickset man says reverently. "I am honoured by your presence. And you, your Highness, are welcome here as well." He looks up. "I am Captain Corwynt of the Guard, and..." He stops speaking, frowning as he takes in Alisha's condition. "Your Highness, are you well? Shall I send for a priest?"

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

It seems like the reports from the Guard members who had been present at the battle with Lucia had gotten back to the rest of the group. That was not unexpected - Sorey had been getting the Holy Shepherd routine for a while now. But he never felt like it was something that was a good fit for him.

The response from one of the Guardsman shows that they've been spotted, and Sorey comes to a halt as the other man comes flying down to their position. "That's quite an entrance!" Sorey states with a smile. He didn't have a Wind Seraphim at this point, so the idea of flying around definitely seems... interesting. Or at least exciting.

But he does pause at Alisha's discomfort, and shakes his head. "That might be a good idea, Alisha," he comments. "If you're still in pain, it might not be a bad idea to have someone who specializes in healing magic have a look at you." He had been... well a little perturbed by her injury, to say the least. But it had been quite a brace of weeks for their little group.

"Thank you for coming out to meet us, Captain Corwynt," Sorey continues. "I apologize for showing up without any prior warning. Is White Knight Leo about?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna is not here in person.

Well, she is actually. Inside of Sorey. The lazy sack of potatoes is dwelling inside the Shepherd instead of using her two feet as usual. But she can see what he sees, hear what he hears. The Dragonship Destiny is certainly a sight to behold, but having been as old as she was, Edna's capacity for being surprised is considerably low. So while the two ooh and ahh, all that echoes faintly out from within the Shepherd is a simple, "Hm."

Which is just as well because they've got company. A man come to greet them. Captain Corwynt, huh? Edna remains silent, but there is a pulse as a mote of golden energy shimmers out of Sorey as the petite figure of the earth seraph fades into existence next to the two. Always be prepared for trouble is her motto. And she intends to stand by it. Whether or not she can even be seen, the blonde girl is quiet and listening as her pawn-- I mean, pact dwelling-- I mean, friend, opens up discussions.

She just quietly and slowly twirls her parasol against her shoulder, blue eyes resting on Corwynt casually.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Ah--"

Alisha has seen martial artists before, but only rarely, and seeing one outside of a demonstration for the royal family or knights is a surprise. She stares as she sees Corwynt do such an entrance, landing so lightly, and her eyes are wide for a moment more, before she nods. "Quite so," she agrees with Sorey. "It is a pleasure, Captain Corwynt. I..."

He raises his concern and her eyes move to the side, before she looks back at him. "Thank you, but it is some lingering soreness. I was stuck by one of the devices that exist on this world. An 'ARM,' the locals call them. The Seraphim with the Shepherd have healed me, but there is some lingering soreness."

She hesitates, before she adds: "I think I should be fine," she concludes. "Lady Edna and Lord Mikleo have done a great deal for it. How has the Destiny fared? Is everyone safe? We met with Lady Amelia and another priestess, who I could not properly introduce myself to."

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

The little man nods at the explanation, then reaches to his belt and unties the waterskin dangling there, offering it first toward Alisha, deciding that her injuries trump her technical subordinacy in matters of protocol. "Just Corwynt is fine, Holy Shepherd...or Cor, if you wish," he demurs. "And no apologies are necessary. You both should consider the Dragonship Destiny your home as well. As Leo, he's..." Corwynt looks up at the sun.

***

Cor: All right, sir, this crevasse should do for concealment. Leo: Good. What else? Cor: Well, I've taken the liberty of sending some guards out for reconnaissance... Leo: Reconnaissance, eh... Cor: Yes, and I've asked them to disguise themselves as travellers until--- Leo: Travelers, eh? Cor: Sir, I don't think--- Leo: NONSENSE! I'm off in search of a disguise! Cor: Leo, you need to-- Leo: TOO LATE! DELEGATED!

***

"...he's also reconnoitering," Corwynt says loyally. "Along with Priestesses Rose and Paer, whom you've met," he adds with a not to Alisha. "For our own part, we've nearly managed to conceal the Dragonship. We've word of a group of scavengers who seek, ah, ARMs, as you put it?" He shrugs. "At any rate, Destiny is not powered by the ferromancy they use here on the Blue Star, but I'd prefer not to have to try to convince..."

Corwynt stops midstride, as something... sounds off. He looks around, eyes scanning past Edna without stopping, then frowns again. The little man closes his eyes and exhales forcefully, pushing a fragment of the Blessing into the winds around him, which flow around one, two, three, fo---

"Ah, of course," he says brightly. "One of the Holy Seraphim, I presume. We are thricely honoured, Seraph."

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Sorey the Seraphim House is certainly an... interesting experience. But he'd grown used to it during the time that he'd been traveling with his companions. But Sorey's reaction to Edna's rather unimpressed demeanor is pretty typical. He glances at the blonde haired Earth Seraph and states, "Well, it's impressive to me at least. There's a first time for everything!"

There is the usual 'hrm' in response to Alisha insisting that she is fine. Sorey trusts his companions - although he does wonder if Alisha is putting on a stronger face than she feels right now, in light of both her injury and their separation from the mission they had previously been undertaking. Their rather dramatic detour had helped them to locate the Lord of Calamity, but that didn't change the fact that Hyland was facing both war and plague, and they had hoped to overcome both challenges before they had been whisked away.

But as Alisha asks the usual questions regarding how the Guard has been faring, Sorey remains quiet. She generally approaches these matters better than he did, and he listens as Corwynt offers a rundown of the situation for the Dragonship. He smiles and nods, adding, "I've met a number of people who seem quite glad to seek out any unusual relics that happen to cross their path. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd be interested in the Destiny, and it's better to avoid conflict than to allow it to arrive unbidden. We've been undertaking our own investigation - mainly seeing if there is a means to return to Lunar around here."

The Shepherd glances at Alisha for a moment, knowing that her own sense of responsibility would be greatly assuaged if they at least knew that getting home was an option. "We've had no luck so far, unfortunately, but that's no reason to stop looking. Have the Guard turned up anything on your end?"

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna smirks subtly at Sorey. "It's okay. Go ahead and be impressed all you want." His wide eyed expressions of pure wonderment and ruins dorkery were one of the cornerstones of her amusement in these sometimes dull travels. Yes, traveling with the Shepherd, assisting him with his problems. Not because she's a truly benevolent soul that wants to save the world. She just wants to save *someone*.

Her gaze lowers a bit as those thoughts enter her mind, ignoring everything else that's being discussed. But Edna's reverie is broken when she feels a faint arcane presence building up into a wind that caresses..ah, so that's what it is. Blonde hair tousles a bit, as well as her dress faintly enough. Nothing to worry about. Once Corwynt addresses the 'Seraphim' among them, she rolls her eyes. "I'm sure." She states in response, whether or not the man can actually hear her.

Her eyes close and the twirling of the parasol resumes, the earth seraph speaking lightly on matters. "I've checked on the princess' injury daily and applied what healing I could each time. She'll survive even if she walks about a bit." The twirling pauses, at the mention of returning to Lunar. "So you'd rather return and stop the conflicts between nations, instead of chase down the Lord of Calamity?"

Not that she thinks they can reasonably take her down any time soon. But it's a valid inquiry nonetheless. What /is/ the Shepherd's plans?

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"We have encountered several," Alisha says. "Drifters, I believe they are called. Many have headed towards a kingdom called Adlehyde. We have spent some time there, and we found... ah... they have an exhibition of many things from this world. If your duties allow it, Captain, I suggest looking at it. It has certainly improved my understanding of this world."

She assumes that only Sorey gets first name privileges. She has /some/ propriety that she has to maintain, even with the Guard. Besides, slipping back into her princess persona -- and all of its trappings -- is a little comforting after everything.

Alisha shakes her head, though, at the question. "We have found no way home. We have seen people from Lunar, though. Ah, including..."

She quiets. She glances about -- but without Edna speaking, she can't even be sure which Seraphim have come out. She falls quiet, though. It may be best if the Shepherd or the Seraphim explained who they found.

But the grave look on her face may give a hint.

Of course, then Edna asks the million gald question. Alisha's mouth opens, then she looks aside and shakes her head. "I--no. The Lord of Calamity... we can't let that go unanswered! This world isn't ready for that."

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

"I am afraid we have had no more success than you on that front, Holy Shepherd," Corwynt explains. "However, we've discovered there is an analogue of sorts to our Goddess Statues in this world - strange golden pyramids that perform a similar function. Now that we can communicate more regularly with our agents in the field, we'll be able to coordinate our efforts, follow up on leads more quickly." He grins wearily. "Like most great endeavours, I expect this will come down to equal parts time, logistics, and the will of the Goddess. We can suppply the second in good measure. For the third, we must rely on you and the Seraphim."

From the way the martial artist-cum-wind mage tilts his head when Edna talks, it's a safe bet he can hear her; his smile broadens - such an honour, to be addressed by one of Althena's divine messengers! And with such...holy sarcasm! Clearly, a mystery he can meditate on later. TO the substance of her remarks, however, Corwynt nods. "I must agree with Seraph," he offers. "If there is a blessing to be had in this, it is that the Destroyer is /here/, on the Blue Star, and not on our world. If we can slay her here, prevent her from spreading her vile influence..." Leather creaks as Corwynt's fists tighten, his hair dancing in a faintly stirring wind. "...in that case, we can search for a way home at our leisure." Or perhaps the Goddess will reach down and lift us up, he muses to himself... though that thought is one he keeps inside. In his experience, the Goddess sends the help you need, not the help you want, and the easier you can make her job, the better.

He clears his throat, rather obviously trying to change the topic. "So you've seen this ferromancy firsthand, then?" Corwynt asks. "I've received the reports, of course, but they sounded...fanciful, frankly." He frowns. "Objects you can hold in your hand that spit iron with a roar of thunder? Suits of armour that match century-old trees in height? Is it really true?"

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

Well, it's less 'privilege' and more that Sorey just doesn't really do the whole 'respect for station and soforth' due to his upbringing. Or to be more precise, Sorey respects everyone equally - he just doesn't bow and scrape to those of greater rank any more than he would the average person on the street. He's nice to everyone.

Edna's question is an interesting one though, and Sorey takes a considering posture. This is important, after all. "Truth be told, even if we stop the Lord of Calamity here, I don't think that will bring an end to the malevolence back on Lunar. Despite everything that we saw when we fought her... " And man, that had been quite an ordeal. It left Sorey with a lot of questions, even if he did believe that he should purify Lucia and remove the dark power she was possessed of.

Sorey sighs, his expression a bit more serious. "...despite everything, I don't think the malevolence on Lunar will recede with the Lord of Calamity's defeat." He felt that in his gut - there was just so much out there already, and it wasn't as if the Lord was responsible for every last bit of it. "There were so many places back home that were already filled with malevolence, where we need to restore the Lords of the Land and ensure people don't have to worry about being overwhelmed. So I believe that returning home IS important - it might not be our first goal, but I think it needs to be *a* goal."

He looks at Corwynt and grins, apologetically. "Sorry - we're a pretty open group. We tend to hash over our plans quite a bit on the fly, and I'm sure it can be confusing when it's hard to hear half the conversation."

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna is quiet, but given Sorey's careful consideration of their goals and current situation, she nods at his response. "At least you're thinking about more than just putting a sword through her chest to solve an entire world's problems." She says casually, turning away at that moment to put her eyes on the Dragonship itself. ...It was impressive admittedly. Not enough to make her oooh and ahhh, but impressive nonetheless. Humans make the darnedest things.

Well, Sorey passed the test. But that still leaves them with a very glaring void of 'what do we do now?' And it's not like Edna has the answers. ...Well, if *she* had her way, they'd be looking into help for Eizen, but that's not really something that should be huge on their to-do list. Much as she hates to admit it to herself.

"At best, your goals now are to A) Find a way to get back home. And B) Purify the Lord of Calamity." She says purify, not kill. Important note there. "Neither of these are going to be easy." The earth seraph turns back to the three, smirking as she does. "What a curious age it is to be the Shepherd in, huh?"

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

The princess nods after Edna. She had the Seraph to thank for her recovery so far, really.

"I can confirm they are real, Captain," Alisha says. "A local assisted the Lord of Calamity. He wielded one of those weapons and shot me -- and it certainly wasn't a crossbow." Not that a crossbow bolt wouldn't have hurt just as much, but it would have hurt in other ways. She hesitates, before she looks sideways at Sorey, and then she frowns for a moment.

"I think he is right," she says after Sorey speaks, looking back at Corwynt. "But I don't have the slightest clue how we might return. But... something must have brought us here." She frowns, fingers coming to her chin, while she thinks about that. She looks in Edna's direction, before she nods.

Then she looks at Corwynt. "Have you and the others had a chance to explore much?" she asks. "I know that Priestess Rose and... Paer?" She asks the name, not having heard it clearly during the confusion of the fight. "We encountered both. It was a great relief to find we weren't alone here!"

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

Huh, Corwynt thinks as the princess speaks. So it /is/ true. Ferromancy capable of placing power into the hands of... nearly anyone, or so it would seem from the reports. The Guard captain grimaces. Even on Lunar, where the Blessing flows through all life, it takes dedication and training to channel that force to the point where it is dangerous... by which point the discipline acquired to master the power serves as a brake on it as well. But these... ARMs... he'll have to see for himself.

"Well, it was a great relief to us to know your party had survived the transition as well," Corwynt answers Alisha. "For our part, we were aboard Destiny; breaching her defences would require a power on par with a Dragon...and if we encounter one of them here, perhaps she would be willing to carry us back, solving two problems at once," he quips. "As for our efforts, no, we have not had much time to send out more than a few scouts. Our first priority was ensuring Destiny was concealed, and that we obtained knowledge of the Blue Star and its people. But now..."

Corwynt trails off, lips peeling back from his teeth, a hint of a grin sneaking out. "Now that Destiny is secured, I think perhaps I will visit that Exhibition, as you suggest," he muses. "There are few among us with the power - or the experience - to contest with the Lord of Calamity. And while I mean no disrespect to the Red Priestess's disciples, neither Rose nor Paer can truly count themselves among that number." The breeze stirs again, leather creaking as his muscles swell, then relax. The next words he speaks are calm and confident, a statement of fact. "I can."

Sorey's exchange with Edna finally ends, and Corwynt shakes his head, bleeding some of the tension out of his posture. "No need to apologize," he says easily. "I'm a simple Guardsman - who am I to tell the Shepherd and the Seraphim how they should confer...even in this curious age, as you put it?"

<Pose Tracker> Sorey has posed.

"She wasn't at all like what I expected the Lord of Calamity to be like. And what Hiro thought of her... " Sorey goes quiet for a moment. The man he had discovered was named Hiro seemed reasonable and intelligent - that he would be so badly mislead by the Lord of Calamity seemed unusual. But there had been so many odd points about that encounter. Sorey couldn't say he really understood everything that happened, and he felt like that was a problem.

He needed to know more.

"For some reason it seemed like this Lucia wanted my power. Or at least that was the impression I got when she was looking at me." He needed to sit down with Lailah and talk to her about that, since it was something that she had never mentioned. "And how did they build such a relationship with her when it seemed like she could barely communicate...?" So. Many. Questions.

But Sorey isn't going to be able to solve all of them standing here right this moment. There were always more places to explore, more to find out. The future would resolve itself in time, and they had to make the best of it. Sorey does find the fact that Corwynt seems to think that he can stand on part with the Lord of Calamity to be... interesting. Interesting enough that he states, "Despite everything, I believe the Lord of Calamity may be a person cursed by malevolence, as much as any Hellion. I would appreciate it if the Guard would inform us if they uncover her presence, so we can attempt to purify her and ensure that her power is no longer a threat to either world."

He had caught the implications about how it was fortunate that Lucia was on this world, and normally he would agree with that sentiment. And yet...

...why was there so little malevolence on this world? Wasn't the Lord spreading it as she walked, leaving behind corruption and suffering?

Questions. And Corwynt can probably see that Sorey does not seem particularly enthused about the idea of people going after Lucia with the intent to kill.

<Pose Tracker> Seraph Edna has posed.

Edna closes her eyes and simply lets Sorey speak his mind on the issues surrounding the Lord of Calamity as they knew her. So many mysteries. She hardly seems evil, and yet she harbors such intense malevolence. "There's clearly a story to be had with her. Her actions and mannerisms don't match up with past Lords of Calamity, and yet she's wanted dead all the same." Those eyes open and then the seraph shakes her head. People were always the same.

"If you want to try and sit down and reason with her...? Well, that's on you, Shepherd. Just know that it's a risk much more than just you." But that's not the only risk that they would ever have to take. So really, it's not all that new. Sorey's thoughts on the Lord of Calamity's true nature gives her pause. "Cursed by malevolence, huh...?" She murmurs to herself, raising her parasol a bit and looking up at the sky.

"......"

Sigh. "This is a waste of time. Unless there's a sudden burst of insight waiting to happen at any moment now..." Pause. Edna lets a second or two pass. "...Then our business is pretty well concluded."

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"That is a relief," Alisha says. "I know I'll sleep sounder knowing the Destiny is there! And not easily breached."

She smiles a moment at that, before she tilts her head -- and then her eyes widen. "Be careful, Captain. The Lord of Calamity has a number of allies--she hadn't used the magic we heard so much of, but she could make her allies even stronger."

She glances at Sorey, then, and her eyes widen for a moment -- and then she nods her head, once. "I could feel the malevolence around her," she says. "It was... so much. It felt like I was sick. But..." She frowns, and then she looks back at the Destiny. "I have a few friends who joined the Guard, from the knights. I should give them my regards. Sorey, Edna, please wait for me!"

She looks at Corwynt, then, and nods a little more formally. "Thank you again, Captain!"

The princess does a small bow at the waist, before she starts to walk down towards the Dragonship. After a few steps, her pace quickens.

<Pose Tracker> Corwynt has posed.

Wanted the Shepherd's power? Corwynt raises an eyebrow at Sorey, not quite sure what he means by that... unless she was seeking to consume the Seraphim? The spark of the divine Althena gave them in antiquity? He gives up on the idea in moments, however - dealing with this sort of stuff is exactly why the Shepherd exists, and so all he'll need to do is follow... Sorey's... orders?

"Purif...what?" Corwynt asks, stopping midstride, obviously confused. "She... but you..." He blinks, mind reeling at the implications. It's... what Sorey is suggesting is utterly impossible, and yet he's the one who's saying it! The Shepherd! Other than the Dragonmaster, no mortal alive stands higher in the Goddess's eye than the...

He calms almost instantly. "Ah. I understand, Holy Shepherd," Corwynt says, "And it is a measure of your grace and mercy that you would seek to offer a hand in healing to even those twisted by the Lord of Calamity. We will, of course, keep your group apprised of anything we discover. However," he demurs, "We are bound by the will of the Goddess. It is by her command to her servant, White Knight Leo, that we were sent forth." He smiles. "You are concerned for her... protectors. Leo had expressed a similar reticence. We will do our utmost to save them from themselves."

Corwynt stops, looking up at Sorey, giving up several inches in height but nothing else. "The Goddess we both serve has ordered us the Destroyer dead," he says firmly. "If you find her, Shepherd, you may certainly act as your conscience demands. And so will I."

He holds the look for a moment before relaxing, offering another short bow. "The Holy Seraph speaks truly - I am certain she has muh more important things to do than talk, things of vital import to your quest. Shepherd... Highness... the Destiny is yours."