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Language:
English
Series:
Part 3 of Pale Vessel Au , Part 1 of The Winded One
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Published:
2025-09-16
Updated:
2025-11-25
Words:
1,459
Chapters:
6/?
Comments:
31
Kudos:
3
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The Winded One

Summary:

A bunch of random stories about The Winded One from the Pale Vessel au

Mostly first person pov

Chapter 1: Melting

Notes:

(Takes place a few hundred years before the main story.)

Chapter Text

Something is wrong.

 

I claw and claw at the rings on my skin, ripping straight through, but they won't go away.

 

They're sunk in all the way down to bone…

 

That vivid pink, the constant faint glow, the way it taints my flesh and blood into this twisted mockery…

 

It's spread all across my arms and legs and throat…

 

It burns. I'm melting, melting, melting.

 

I know my body is not truly melting. I will not dissolve like paper in water…

 

But by the stars does it feel like it…

 

My mind is fuzzy…

 

I know I must rid myself of this curse.

 

It will hurt.

 

I know it will hurt.

 

…

 

I slowly sink into the water, taking a deep breath, closing my eyes as the salt burns my throat and my lungs.

 

It burns…

 

It burns…

 

It burns and melts and destroys…

 

I claw and scratch at my skin once again, fingertips digging into my wrists and throat, trying to tear the tainted flesh out of its place.

 

The water turns vivid gold and orange as my blood spills into it.

 

With a burst of magic, I finally purge the curse from my body, the surge causing the water around me to splash.

 

I slowly drag myself out of the sea, leaving a trail of blood as I drag myself onto the sandy shore.

 

I can hardly stand…

 

As I collapse onto the sand, I strain for the energy to teleport myself home.

 

The last thing I remember before blacking out was Pale's voice, filled with warm concern.

 

…

 

I did not hear what they said, though…

 

And I will likely never know.

 

Chapter 2: Shrine

Chapter Text

 

It is late. The others are either sleeping or busy.

 

I am in my room, alone.

 

I clean the shrines I have set up, each representing one of the other gods.

 

I pause as I get to the last one, staring at it.

 

I silently watch the way the sculk pulses.

 

…

 

Silent…

 

I get down on one knee, bowing to the shrine in front of me.

 

I know they are long gone.

 

And for the safety of everybody else, they must stay gone.

 

But…

 

I still miss them…

 

Even now, all these years later. 

 

The others still do not know what happened.

 

I have no intention of telling them.

 

They do not need to know what happened between us…

 

They only need to know that I sealed them away, not all the events leading up to it.

 

And they certainly do not need to know of the guilt and regret I feel every time their name crosses my mind…

 

I stare at the shrine for a long, silent moment before slowly standing, my knees nearly buckling under me.

 

I give it one last longing gaze, before walking away, going upstairs to join the others.

 

Chapter 3: Fascinating Mortality

Notes:

(Takes place when Wind is very young, the equivalent of a young adult.)

Chapter Text

 

I do not understand what Desert likes so much about these creatures…

 

They're strange. 

 

I watch from atop the small hill as they speak and laugh and build. 

 

I do not understand what they are saying.

 

They seem… happy, though.

 

I like that they seem happy. 

 

I don't know what they're building, or what the purpose of it is.

 

It's an ornate structure with water pouring out of it…

 

It seems to just be for decoration. 

 

I like the colors of the stones they're using to decorate it…

 

They know I am here. They seem unsure of me.

 

Maybe I should try to talk to them.

 

 

They watch me skeptically as I move down the hill.

 

I do not blame them for their suspicion. I am just as unknown to them as they are to me.

 

I crouch down, lowering myself to no longer tower over them.

 

It takes a minute, but one finally approaches. They reach out their small hand, placing it gently onto my shoulder.

 

They startle slightly when I tilt my head, but neither of us move away.

 

After a moment, I smile and place my hand upon their shoulder, mimicking their gesture.

 

They smile, and laugh. They seem delighted. 

 

They run back to the small group they walked over from, excitedly rambling.

 

I still do not understand their words, but their tones match the languages I know closely.

 

They're definitely happy.

 

It makes me happy. 

 

…

 

Maybe Desert's love for these odd creatures isn't so strange, after all.

 

 

Chapter 4: Fish People

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

 

I was sitting quietly on a small rocky island, far out in the ocean.

 

I was staring out in silent fascination at the water.

 

Well, more accurately, the creatures just below the surface.

 

They were not exactly fish. I was unsure what they were called.

 

I simply called them the fish people.

 

I did not know much about them.

 

All I knew is that Elder disliked them.

 

They referred to them as a “cruel mockery of their creations”.

 

I did not understand their hatred. 

 

I quite liked the fish people. 

 

They were a little hostile at times, yes, but once they got used to me being around, they calmed down.

 

They never approached me. But that was alright. I didn't mind.

 

They did not seem to mind me sitting on the rocks and observing. 

 

They did not like it when I tried to get into the water. They would hiss, the spikes on their heads retracting.

 

That was ok. I did not mind staying on land around them.

 

I did not understand their language, but they understood mine.

 

I only knew that since I had warned them of dangers a few times.

 

Maybe that was why they appeared unbothered by me being around.

 

…

 

Sometimes I still think about them. They had stopped coming around that island a long, long time ago. I can not help but wonder if they are alright…

 

 

Notes:

The "fish people" are the prismarine steves, made by @Zalpacka on tumblr

Chapter 5: Five: Protector

Notes:

(Wind interacting with villagers [minecraft])

Chapter Text

I had been observing the mortals, as per usual, watching as they went about their daily business around the village.

 

They had long since gotten used to my presence. 

 

My attention was caught by shouting not too far away. I hopped down from the hill I often sat on, wandering over to the sound.

 

Some of the village mortals were arguing with a small group of newcomers.

 

The newcomers did not look the same, though. 

 

They had a sickly, grey hue to them.

 

They were also armed, with crossbows and axes.

 

I watched from a little ways away, trying to remain out of sight.

 

I heard a pained shriek as one of the crossbows went off.

 

I looked back to see one of the village people with an arrow sticking out of their arm.

 

I slowly emerged from my hiding place, making my limbs float further from my body than usual to make myself look larger and, hopefully, more threatening.

 

“What do you think you are doing?!” I yelled in what I hoped was a scary voice, “How dare you harm one of my villagers!”

 

The newcomers turned towards me, clear fear in their eyes.

 

I floated a bit into the air, wind and fog swirling beneath and around me.

 

“Leave this village, and never return!” I yelled, “Or I will chase you away myself!”

 

They retreated, like the cowards they seemed to be.

 

How dare they come here, uninvited, and hurt my people?!

 

I landed back on the grass and walked over to help the one who had been injured.

 

I had promised to protect them a few years ago, and I do not break promises…

 

Not if I can help it, at least…

 

Chapter 6: Six: Bothersome Beast

Chapter Text

I was in a different village than the ones I usually reside in, this time deep in a jungle.

 

There were two species here! Both the ones the other gods called “villagers” and the ones they called “builders”.

 

I had never seen them living together before.

 

It was quite fascinating, really.

 

The village itself was beautiful. The creativity of the mortals never failed to surprise and amaze me.

 

…

 

My attention was turned from the village to a strange flash of color moving in the treeline.

 

Green and red, mostly…

 

The Jungle God…

 

Jungle and I were not on the best terms, but I did not dislike them.

 

They slowly emerged from the foliage, watching me closely with their reptilian eyes, the red feather ruffs behind their ears flaring out.

 

I did not move from my spot, simply staring back.

 

I watched them go off into the village, before suddenly hearing a scream.

 

I looked over to see what they were doing and saw them attempting to eat one of the builders, their jaw unhinging to swallow the poor creature nearly whole.

 

By the time I got over there, it was too late. I sent a gust of wind at Jungle and huffed, scowling at them.

 

They scowled back, but took the hint and disappeared back into the trees.

 

What a bothersome beast they were sometimes…

 

 

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