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The Pure Vessel meandered aimlessly throughout the halls of the White Palace, much to their pair of attendants’ chagrin. Occasionally, exasperated sighs escaped the servants’ throats. Silver tinted walls encased each room, herding its inhabitants through a maze of pale light. Gleaming tiles smiled up at the young vessel as they passed by a set of double doors oozing numerous smells which combined to create an indecipherable conglomerate—the sign above aptly labeled “Kitchen.”
Trailing multiple paces behind their ward, the Hollow Knight’s attendants found themselves directly in front of the Kitchen’s doors as they swung open with a deafening clang. In the same amount of time that it takes for a hummingbird to flap its wings, a horde of frantic servants rushed out like a tidal wave, taking along with them not only a five course meal but the Pure Vessel’s pair of attendants as well. Panicked, shrill cries of “Young Master!” and “We’re late, we’re late! Hurry!” slowly dissolved into silence as the mass of white cloaked bugs disappeared around a corner.
Undeterred, the Hollow Knight continued on.
Myriads of windows sporting the same ornate emblems repeated endlessly, brightening every inch of the White Palace. Amid the acres of metallic sheens, a tiny pop of color caught the Pure Vessel’s eye. This vibrant dot of orange peeked out into the hall from behind the sliver of an open door, the flower’s delicate bulbs—no larger than a single thumbtack—stood guard over the painstakingly crafted piano beneath it. Curiosity creeping into the Pure Vessel’s mind, they shoved the door fully open. The butterfly weed’s fragrance wafted around the storage room and stuffed it full, every item inside tainted with a faint vanilla scent.
Staring quizzically at the clusters of orange flowers confined to their exquisitely decorated pot, the Pure Vessel leaned on the instrument’s ivory keys to get a closer look. Simultaneously, a cacophony of notes rang out. This odd collection of sounds resonated with the Hollow Knight, causing their gaze to shift from the stunningly beautiful butterfly weed to the piano resting beneath their careless hand. Distant shouts and footsteps, numerous enough to be heard throughout the entirety of the White Palace, were mere distractions.
In that moment, the Hollow Knight’s void heart was pierced by the instrument’s enchanting voice. Emotion welling up inside them, the Pure Vessel shook like a leaf in autumn wind.
The Hollow Knight, perhaps not as hollow as they once believed themself to be, lifted their hand off the piano’s keys before ceasing down on them again with reckless abandon. These feelings which now seemed to command their very heartbeat escaped through their hands into the piano and ultimately returned to the Hollow Knight as the resulting mismatched chords reverberated inside their skull.
Drawn to the great clamoring orchestrated by the Pure Vessel, the White Lady approached the innocuous storage room and crouched down as the comparatively small opening was not made for those of her grand stature. Faced with a shaking Pure Vessel, the White Lady placed a gentle hand on their face. The Pure Vessel stilled, their song coming to an end.
“Dear, what’s happened?” the White Lady asked, “Why are you so troubled? Everyone’s been looking for you.” The Pure Vessel could only stare into her blue eyes and continue trembling. “The Pure Vessel, overcome with emotion? No, it’s not possible…” she mumbled.
“Snap out of it, little one. I can’t lose you. Not when I have already lost so many.” the White Lady said, her eyes clouded with despair. The Pure Vessel’s mind became clearer after listening to their mother’s desperate plea, reality coloring their vision once more. Feeling the Pure Vessel’s body begin to still, the White Lady returned her hand to her side and smiled.
“Thank goodness,” she whispered, “Surely this will have no effect… one moment of weakness does not change anything. Come, my child. Let us put your father’s worries to rest.” With that, the White Lady took the Pure Vessel by the hand and walked on a path toward their inevitable demise.