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It was the sound of humming that drew the vessel's attention, their feet walking closer to the joyful bug mining away against the riches of the rock.
"Oh, bury my mother, pale and slight
Bury my father with his eyes shut tight!
Bury my sisters two by two
And then when you're done, let's bury me toooo!"
The bug continued to sing cheerfully, a smile across her face as she did so. It was a simple joy from her that the vessel could not understand. They never bothered to understand before. It was not in their place.
Yet when she introduced herself they grew more interested. How was a simple bug so happy in a world full of madness? Where a simple song could cure anything.
She had introduced herself as Myla.
The Knight kept visiting her, the lyrics changing slightly when they approached once again to the strange bug.
Yet nothing about Myla had changed, her voice as cheerful as ever as she talked to the vessel. It was a rather one-sided conversation, yet she had never seemed to mind. And when she was done speaking, she could go back to her mining. The Knight would sit and watch, their eyes empty with void somehow sparking with curiosity.
The third time the Knight came, shock wasn't even the right word.
They entered through the mines. No humming could be heard, no mining. They heard the sound of choked singing through a sickly voice. A struggling voice. They walked closer, their eyes wide as they stared at Myla. She was there, but she didn't even seem to have energy. The struggling grip on her pickaxe was enough for the Knight to hurry away.
The last time was a blur, standing alone as infection dripped through their nail, the corpse laying beside their feet.
It was all quick and fast, done so no more suffering could come to her. No more of the mindless bug that was a slave to the mines. Yet the Knight was shaking. They did not realize their eyes had grown wide, that they were barely holding onto their nail as they stabbed in beneath the ground in a sudden burning desire of rage.
And as she wished, they buried her too.