Chapter Text
As the young specter’s moment of glee died down, an ingenious idea popped into my head. This little fellow could cry and wail - What if it was capable of speech as well? Yes, it was merely a child, but even young shadow children were capable of some form of communication. This ghost-like child could surely be no different.
“H-Hello,” I began, wanting to introduce myself with something simple. “Do you understand me?”
The creature turned its attention to me, and to my surprise, it gave me what looked like a small nod. It did understand me! Using this to my advantage, I took my chance to ask it more questions. Hopefully, I would be able to learn more details about its true identity.
“Do you have a name?”
Unlike its last response, the little ghost seemed hesitant to reply. It merely floated in the air, holding on to its sunny glow as it avoided my eyes and looked at the ground. Perhaps its meek nature had returned; Its cries form before imply it had been through something horrendous. However, it appeared I earned its trust by gifting it the small light that was the solar essence. The creature looked back at me, and soon enough, I would receive the answer I wished to have.
“Phantump.”
“Phan… tump? Is Phantump your name?”
Another nod would be all I would get as a reply, but that was all I needed. Phantump. The name felt much too strange on my tongue. It felt otherworldly yet familiar at the same time, as if it was similar to my own language. It was an odd title for an odd creature, but I suppose I was accustomed to it. Being a shadow person did come with its strange little quirks.
Remembering my situation, I brought out more questions, wanting more knowledge about the little ghost. “Where did you come from?” I asked, my tone tinged with curiosity.
Unfortunately, I would be unable to get the answers I wanted. “Phantump, phan” was the specter’s response. Upon hearing it, I immediately became baffled. Phantump must have been incapable of proper speech after all. It was only able to babble its own name, just like what a small child would do. I assumed it was truly that young, but then a new idea sprouted in my head. What if Phantump was trying to communicate in its own language? If it was, I was unable to translate it. Albeit similar, its words were still different from the language of the shadow people. I had no idea what it would be saying, and confusion racked my mind because of it. However, I would be relieved by a sliver of hope appearing before me: Our communication must have been one-way! Even if I did not understand Phantump, Phantump understood me. It would be a tad unorthodox to get my message across to the little ghost without a proper response, but at this point, I was alright with anything.
I thought it better to reveal this information than to keep quiet. “Okay, Phantump,” I said, “we need to get one important fact cleared between the two of us.”
“Phant?”
“I can’t understand you and I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
“Phan…” Even with my inability to understand it, I knew Phantump pouted at what I just said. Its sadness was swiftly returning, but I had the exact words that would quickly cheer it up.
“There is good news, though.”
“Tump?”
“You can understand me . As long as one of us can understand the other, we’ll be able to communicate with each other.”
“Phantump.” I had a feeling Phantump knew what I meant, and I was grateful for that. However, like the child it was, it strayed away from this serious understanding. The little specter brought its solar essence out, showing me the very present I gave to it. “Phantump, phan!”
I gave out a small chuckle, amused by Phantump’s childish nature. “That’s a nice light you have there. It’s all golden and glowy, just like the sun.”
“Phant!” It slightly urged the item toward me, and this time, I had a greater feeling I knew what it was trying to say. “Phantump, phantump!”
“You want me to have it back?”
“Tump!”
“No thanks, Phantump. You keep it. I have more in stock anyway. Plus, I’m not a big fan of bright stuff like solar essences. That’s why I sell my wares down here in the sewers.”
“Phan… tump.”
Upon bringing up the sewers, I noticed Phantump turned its head toward the forest entrance. Pale moonlight continued to gleam through the gates. It was still night and they were still locked, but the little ghost must have been thinking of something more. That was the entrance it came in from, all fearful and scared. There must have been something out there that caused it so much distress, to make it cry and wail in sadness. Before I knew it familiar memories resurfaced and emotions stirred within me. I had been scared before. With my life as a runaway shadow person, I had no idea if I would live, and yet, I did. I had survived very similar situations Phantump had been through, and I would not want the little shadow to live the same tormented life I once had.
However, as much as I wanted to put my grand, unthinkable idea into motion, there was one last thing I needed to do. “By the way, I’m Krobus,” I finally revealed, bringing Phantump’s attention back to me. “It means ‘bridge-crosser’ in my language. Isn’t that interesting?”
“Phant.”
Phantump’s reply was neutral, but I knew I at least attracted its curiosity. “I don’t know why I was named a ‘bridge-crosser,’ but I think it has something to do with the life I’m living now.”
“Phant?”
“I wasn’t a sewer-born shadow person, Phantump. I left my people, and it wasn’t easy. It didn’t help that there were so many different monsters and enemies in the world. If the dwarves knew I lived down here, they’d send an assassin after me!” There was a brief pause when I noticed the silent yet frightened look on Phantump’s face. I then prompted myself to quickly change the outlook of the topic. “Oh, but there are good ones out there as well! Sometimes the local farmer comes down here to buy my goods. There are also the other human townsfolk up above, but they don’t do anything bad. That’s why I live in these sewers. It provides good shelter, I’m safe from harm, and the darkness reminds me of… home.”
I felt tempted to reminisce about the past, but I would quickly return to the present. Phantump’s reply of “Tump, phantump, tump” was still undecipherable, but I sensed a hint of intrigue within its words. There was something the specter liked about being safe. Despite how ghost-like it appeared, it was still a child. It wanted nothing more than to be protected, and I knew exactly how to incorporate my idea into its wishes.
It was about time I crossed another important bridge.
“Hey Phantump,” I said, “you’re a shadow being, just like me.”
“Antump.”
“What do you say to living down here in the sewers with me?”
“Phantump?!” I was not surprised to hear the astonished tone in its voice. After all, the thought of two entirely different monsters being together sounded strange and unorthodox, yet completely possible. Luckily, there was more I wanted to say.
“You don’t have to say yes,” I added. “I just thought you might like to be safe from all the evil dangers out there. It’s alright if you’d like to leave.”
I hoped Phantump knew there was nothing behind my words as it pondered about my offer. I did not expect it to say yes, nor did I expect it to say no - The choice was all up to it. After a moment, Phantump looked at me, clutched on to its little golden glow, and gave me a nod, a clear indication of “Yes.”
I couldn’t help but make a small smile when I saw the little specter’s response. “I think we’ll get along pretty well, Phantump.”