Chapter Text
Hornet turned from the infected vines as the sound of footsteps caught her ears. To her surprise, and equal disdain, her half-sibling, the Hollow Knight, had somehow escaped its chains. She steeled herself and brandished her needle, preparing for a fight that might ensue. Seeing her adopt a fighting stance, the Hollow Vessel also revealed its weapon of choice: a nail taller than Hornet’s own body.
However, before Hornet could take any actions, she noticed that her void-born relative was missing an arm, as well as any signs of the infection that should be sealed inside it. And that means it either resealed the plague of light, or…
Hornet suddenly remembered that she hadn’t seen shell nor cloak of the little Ghost vessel that had been roaming Hallownest since their last meeting just above the Abyss. Had it somehow met its end between there and here? Or, (and Hornet didn’t dare to hope for such a simple outcome) has it somehow destroyed the source of the infection without entering the Black Egg? Whatever the reason, she now knew that the infection must be gone (if only temporarily) and that there was an uninfected Hollow Knight in front of her. Focusing her gaze, she approached the vessel warily, keeping her blade at a threatening angle so as to discourage any preemptive strikes from her opponent.
The Hollow Knight tried to raise its nail in a more defensive position, as it most likely was taught from the Pale King, but it lost its balance and fell to its knees. Seizing the opportunity, Hornet dashed towards the undefended vessel and held her needle’s edge mere inches from the knight’s shell.
“Broken Vessel, I see no signs of infection in your eyes. Tell me, do you know anything of your smaller counterpart, the Ghost of Hallownest?” Hornet kept her needle pointed dangerously, but gave the vessel some room to stand. It did not take her silent offer. Instead, the vessel slowly raised its head to peer into her eyes, maybe gauging how much of its knowledge it should reveal. Finally, after a small eternity of silence, a gravelly voice answered her question.
“Savior.”
Hornet wasn’t surprised by the answer, but by the fact that this vessel could speak. She had assumed that void constructs did not have such an ability, since the little ghost never spoke, and from her memories with a younger version of the hollow vessel, it didn’t either.
“You are able to speak?” She questioned it further, trying to ascertain whether it was an ability granted to this vessel alone, or all of them. The large vessel before her once again held its head down, almost as if it were guilty for a crime.
“…imperfect.” It said as it pointed to the center of its chest. “Cry suffering… will… mind.” Hornet realized what it was trying to say, and let down her guard just slightly to lower herself to the level of the vessel.
“I see. You never had a proper education in the ways of more common folk, I assume. That is fine. You may speak in my presence, if you wish.” The vessel looked up once more, and tilted its head to the side to ask a question.
“King?” It said with a slightly hesitant tone. Hornet considered telling it bluntly that the king was no more and leaving it there to wallow in pity, but immediately that was shot down. So, instead, she stood once more and looked to the east, towards the capital of Hallownest.
“The Pale King is… gone. He’s nowhere to be found on this plane of existence. I apologize if that information affects you negatively.” Her curt yet polite reply almost seems to be a physical attack to the knight, who slams it’s only remaining fist into the ground in what she can only assume is anger.
“Failure.” Its deep voice echoed a hundred, no, a thousand times off of the walls of the temple and ended up right back where it began. Hornet sighed at this reaction and turned back to the knight.
“The Pale King’s death had nothing to do with your self-proclaimed impurity, vessel. You may take time to grieve if you wish, but considering yourself a failure does nothing for your future. I must find this Ghost and remind him of his duty to abide by the king’s seal.” Hornet prepared to leave, trailing silk behind her needle and searching for where she would throw it next, but the Hollow knight calls out to her.
“Wait… sibling.” It stumbles to its feet and picks up its nail in the least threatening way it can. “Help.” Hornet almost wanted to accept the offer, but she knew taking the vessel along would just slow her down.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. I need to find Ghost rather quickly, and you wouldn’t make it much further than Dirtmouth with those injuries of yours.” She indicated the hole torn in its chest and the crack in its skull. It made a noise akin to a sigh, and began to lean precariously on its nail.
“Know… where.” The vessel stated firmly. Hornet considered this new information for only a moment before returning with an equally firm question.
“And how exactly do you know this?” She inquired, not unkindly. She wanted to trust the vessel, but after years and years of meeting all kinds of bugs and beings alike, she knew better than to do that. The vessel seemed a little confused as it made its answer.
“Vessels… Void.” It said as it raised two fingers and intertwined them. It spoke with the kind of confusion you have when you believe something is common knowledge, but it isn’t. Hornet nodded.
“I suppose that makes sense. So… you can feel his presence?” Hornet asked one final question, and the vessel answered with a nod. She tilted her head upwards and eyed the vessel with something akin to a smile (if only she had the mouth to do so). “Well played, Hollow Vessel. I believe you are able to help me.” She took another look over the vessel, and put a hand to her chin. “Although, we will need to see a snail shaman to fix your injuries…”