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Hornet struck down her foes gracefully and with deadly precision as she pressed forward. Her Needle and Silk cutting and lashing as she made her way to her goal. Her goal? An optimistic though hapless bug named Sherma… A silent sigh escaped the half Weaverling as she looked up at the shaking form of the small bug. “Sherma, you can come down now. They’re gone.”
“Are-are you sure?” he asked nervously.
“Yes. The only things here are you, me, and their corpses.” When she saw Sherma’s anxiousness increase, she was quick to think that maybe she shouldn’t have added that last part. However, Sherma did eventually get down. She would’ve told him to follow her…if she hadn’t done this before. Not that Sherma needed instructions, as he was already clinging to the spider’s cloak.
Sherma was an interesting, though slightly troublesome, bug. Now, it’s not like he tried to get himself stuck in the situations he did, and Hornet knew that well, but… He was a living magnet for trouble if anything. Though his positive attitude and his spiritual journey seemed to be more than enough to keep him going. But, save for spiritual enlightenment, whatever it was he sought was lost to her.
As they traveled, Sherma informed Hornet of the area around them and where the closest city was. Soon enough, they found themselves back on Sherma’s intended path. Though still behind her, he led her to where a closed gate was, the only thing hindering their progress…not including Sherma’s paranoia. Sherma then walked up the gate and rang his tools together, giggling all the while. The gate then started to rise, and Hornet decided to bring up a question that’s been lingering in her mind.
“Sherma, if I may, may I ask you something?”
The small bug put his tools away and looked at her.
“May I ask what it is exactly that you seek? You’ve told me you’re on a spiritual journey, but not what you wish to achieve by the end of it. I would imagine spiritual enlightenment, but I was wondering if there was something more.”
“Oh! Well, you see… What’s a good way to put this?” Sherma pondered aloud as he and Hornet began to resume their travels. His thought process was interrupted by the gate slamming shut behind them with a loud and heavy thud, getting an “Eep!” out of Sherma. “That’s strange. The gate’s never closed on me like that before,” he anxiously commented.
“Strange indeed.” Hornet prepared her Needle, stepping forward. “What could be the cause of—”
A bug dropped down from the ceiling and another popped up from the ground, answering her question. A terrified squeak came from Sherma, and he pressed himself against the gate. Hornet braced herself against the taller of the two attackers as she looked over them. They looked normal enough, but the taller one proved to be persistent. They were lightly armored and wielding Pins, not nearly enough to deter her. The taller one jumped back before dashing in for an attack, only to be parried and be met with a dash attack himself. The smaller one attempted to attack her blind spot but found itself receiving sharp cuts as Hornet’s Silk surrounded her. The sound of Needle and Pins clashing filled the air for several minutes before silence was all that was left.
Hornet faced Sherma, who was still pressed against the gate. “Come,” she ordered. “There are no doubt reinforcements coming, and I do not wish to encounter them.”
Sherma gave a slight nod and slowly reached for his tools, his hands shaking. Silently, they resumed their journey to the town Sherma had mentioned.
Bells. Hornet heard them before she saw them, and was soon enough stepping on them. A bronze city of bells greeted them. They made their way to the bench in the center and allowed themselves to rest. The ringing of the bells did well to lift some of the tension left by their earlier encounter.
“I think I’ll stay here for a few days,” Sherma said after a few minutes. “This town is nice, and should be a good place to regain our bearings.”
“I plan to stay as well. I saw some things that piqued my interest and wish to check them out,” Hornet stated as she looked over her Crests. After a few more minutes, Sherma had gotten up to leave but was stopped by Hornet. “Sherma, wait. Before, I had asked what the purpose of your journey was, but you couldn’t answer. I know you’re not in the best state to tell me now, so I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Perhaps we will cross paths once again. Preferably in more favorable circumstances.”
Sherma nodded and Hornet watched him leave. Carefully, Hornet now looked over her Needle. She wondered where exactly Sherma was going for his spiritual journey. The Citadel, most likely, but there were always other options. Perhaps he even intended to leave Pharloom altogether. Either way, it wouldn’t be too long before she saw him again. Maybe by then, he’d had achieved his goal and she hers, finally able to make her way back to Hallownest. She needed to watch over it and protect it from those who wished to taint its ruins. But for now, she would protect and help the denizens of Pharloom in any way she could.