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Hornet woke with a dead ache on the front of her face, a gift she received from the brief but tense scuffle with the Hollow Knight. With a twitch, she rose from the ground and peered at the lumafly lights.
Once obscured, the receding dark left them shining as if they were merely installed yesterday. She didn't realize what a difference it would make when gone.
But she was getting ahead of herself. Turning smoothly, the cracked mask of the little ghost creeped into view. It was almost underwhelming to see what remained of the knight; the plain, unchanging expression was split down the center and what seemed to constitute its body appeared to have become the pool of void currently resting in the cracks of the floor. Even then she felt oddly compelled to stare on.
When she finally tore her gaze from the ghost, she stepped lightly toward the exit. And paused. She threw another glance to the remains.
Something felt strange, as if she were missing something she should have noticed.
…The pieces of the mask were shaking slightly.
Eyes widening, Hornet leapt in front of the knight and continued to observe in slight awe. How resilient the little ghost was! Were they still trying to pull themself together even after that clash?
The opaque, liquid-like blackness was climbing the inside of the mask pieces, using gossamer-thin strands to connect the two halves. slowly but surely, the void dragged the mask together. The large crack scarred over and left the king's brand on the back of their head with a heavy line through it. A stray thought told her it was rather poetic, in a way.
After a while the body didn't seem to want to regenerate and she picked it up with a ginger touch. She grabbed the discarded mothwing cloak (taken from the vessel she's slain in Greenpath) and decided to head upward. Her sibling would need peace and quiet if there were any chance they'd come back and the town above would grant them that.
Dashing through the too long path out, the enigmatic sigils of light that shined and vanished from view buzzed around her and beneath her feet. Beyond that, the crossroads provided an easy path to tread. The infection infested husks had dropped to the ground, wholly and truly dead. The ghost had accomplished their task after all, she thought as the still air parted for her to pass.
Soon enough, she flew out of the well and spotted a few figures in the decrepit town. They were likely harmless and she simply walked past them to the nearest bench. If need be, she was strong enough to fend them off.
An old, hunched bug turned to face her, but noticing who she held, he seemed to slump a little more. "Ho there, pardon the short greeting, but why might you be carrying our little traveler there? They do not appear to be in the best of health, though admittedly I am not too surprised."
Hornet placed the knight's mask down on the bench. "You would do well to show more respect to the little ghost."
Blinking, Elderbug said, "You seem to care a deal about this fellow. Sadly a rarity nowadays. Now what occurred for them to be in such a state? Would you care to enlighten me, young lass?"
"I'm sure I am older than you, sir," she replied. As Elderbug reeled from the revelation, she continued. "This vessel has rid us of the infection, although I am not clear on the details."
"Eh? Ah?" he stumbled, "They what ? The curse? The underground's rank odor… it had disappeared only a little ago, was that truly the cause?"
Hornet nodded.
Elderbug stood in stunned disbelief, then flumped on the bench next to the knight's head. After a moment, he gave a low murmur. "Oh dear, it looks as if I had underestimated you greatly, then. How did they do it?"
"I assume that strange weapon they possessed helped deal the final blow. It appeared to be moth-made."
"Moth-made? So moths weren't just an old legend after all. I apologize for asking so many questions, usually it's I who dispenses advice." He rubbed his chin and looked at the knight. "What a mysterious child. Rest easy, little one."
As if in response, the hole on bottom of the mask immediately started to leak void. Elderbug rose, startled. Hornet remained silent.
The liquid seemed to have a life of its own, and unlike water droplets, the substance never broke away to drip on the ground, instead staying coalesced as the main body. Within a minute, the body took its familiar solidity and shape.
They sat up on the bench. Honestly, Hornet would have killed to know what they felt, but the expressionless mask refused to budge and she refused to show emotion.
Elderbug was more vocal. In disbelief, he picked the knight up by the armpits. "A-are you in there, little one?"
A nod. Then, unexpectedly, the knight began to squirm like an unruly child. There was no chance that he could hold onto them for long, so the knight hopped onto the ground unhindered. Neither he nor she anticipated the knight running off so suddenly and they vanished into the well before either could decide to stop them.
"Wait! Ghost!" she called as she took pursuit. Elderbug watched on, unable to do anything even if he wanted to.
Hornet huffed a little as she chased the knight all around the crossroads. How in Hollownest did that thing have so much energy, especially after jabbing at the line between life and death? Normally she would have caught them ages ago, but the exertion the inside of the Black Egg Temple placed on her was taking hold.
Taking up the chase again, she nearly collided with them when they paused out of the blue. They didn't budge when she ran into them, merely staring on with unreadable eyes. Now that the chance presented itself, she took a breath and began to speak.
"Ghost."
The knight turned to her, and it almost seemed as if they were happy. An unfamiliar feeling of satisfaction hit. All traces of the infection was gone. It took a second for her to realize those feelings weren't hers, and considering the circumstances, the most reasonable cause would be-
"Ghost, could you doing that?"
They nodded. This could lead to a whole host of implications.
"Can you tell what I'm feeling?"
A head shake answered her. They didn't seem like the lying sort. Regardless, she was willing to bet that the little ghost was in dire need of some rest as they finally doubled over and curled up on the ground, almost as if they decided to take a nap then and there.
She lifted her sibling off the ground. How enigmatic, she thought. What sort of creature only shows its exhaustion after on its last legs?
Meanwhile, the knight's thoughts and feelings focused more coherently her head. Tired, they seemed to think. Take me back.
Hornet dipped her head in acknowledgement and threaded her needle. Swinging back on a predictable path would be faster and more energy efficient.