About a week from Myla's relocation, Hornet found herself in a rather odd predicament.

Fight me

Tilting her head inquisitively, she stared at the little knight. If she had to guess whatever the ghost was thinking at the moment without knowing their true thoughts, she would've probably said they were merely trying to get her to accompany them somewhere or something else equally harmless sounding.

"What do you mean, ghost? Have we not fought several times prior?" she asked. It was unlikely that they meant harm, so she withheld any sort of alarm those words would have stirred up otherwise.

No. practice.

Ah, so he meant sparring. It was still an unexpected request, but it made sense considering most viable foes succumbed to death without the infection animating them. She briskly flashed the sharp end of her needle at the knight's face.

"So that, is it? Very well, you know I do not hold back."

Despite the presence of void, a glint appeared to shine in the knight's eyes. They walked out from town to the foot of a cliff opposite of the crystal peaks and she followed. The pure nail, honed exquisitely by an unknown nailsmith and wielded by a skilled nailmaster would be a welcome challenge.

The two stood silently, facing each other for half a second without even twitching. Normally, any battle would have begun by now. It seems as if she should make the first move.

The wind picked up, and Hornet lunged forward.

The first clash of metal on metal left a sharp ringing, but neither drew back. She took advantage of the situation by whipping out the glowing thread to unleash a flurry of blows, but only the first one managed to scratch the knight's horns.

She didn't notice a slight glow from them until they were close enough to slam a cyclone-like attack into the debris where she would have been had she not leapt up at the last second, and only then did she realize it would be perilous to fly too close over their head.

Thankfully, she speared the wall and reeled herself back. Heavy spell damage would be a pain to fight with this early in a duel.

"Wait! You two! What in the name of my dead mother are you doing!? "

Fight paused, both turned to the source of the panicked clamor. Poor Elderbug looked as if he were about to topple over from shock, but he stumbled through the remains of old huts on his beeline toward them. Hornet almost felt bad.

"W-what, I mean, why are you fighting? Were you not friends after all?"

As the voice for both of them, she looked at the elderly, huffing fellow demanding explanation and said, "The underground has become devoid of skilled enemies, and we found each other suitable to train with. We would grow rusty like abandoned nails otherwise."

A modicum of calm seemed to touch him. "Is that so? Thank the lord, but please take it elsewhere. My hemolymph wouldn't be able to take the stress of observing."

"Hm. So we will." She only needed to glance at the ghost and they took off alongside her, dashing out of sight into the crossroads. The only casualty of their descent was the bent sign at the bottom of the well, she noted as the small figure regained their bearings from the steep drop.

The battle commenced and continued on until the knight accidentally became ensnared in a subtly laid trap. They stepped into a loop on the ground and was dragged by foot into the air, and having dropped their nail in surprise, they had nothing to cut the offending thread.

Hornet suspected that most of their foes never thought to lay concealed traps. They would eventually catch on, but for now, she remained the victor.

Eager to struggle free, they wiggled like a tangled grub until they eventually conceded defeat, slowly revolving in place. Hornet almost laughed at the sight. Was this child truly the king of Hollownest?

She slashed the thread and the knight dropped. Unfortunately, their horns lodged themselves in a large crack in the ground and they flailed even more in an attempt to worm free. What rotten luck they must have had for this to happen.

With slight tug from her, they were finally released. They walked off as if nothing had happened and she followed.

Out of the corner of her eye, she picked up some slight movement behind a large fossilized shell. She acted falsely as if she never noticed, and when they drew close enough, a silken thread shot out and snapped around the bug, wrapping him securely to the shell.

"State your name and purpose for observing us," she demanded, aiming her needle at the bug's head.

The poor fellow trembled fiercely as he clutched onto his bag, and she was forcibly reminded of a time in which she would have ruthlessly done away with sorts like him. It almost seemed as if he sensed her old coldness, or maybe he acted like this every time he was caught.

"S-so so sorry miss, I'm Bleu, the menderbug around these parts and I was j-j-just trying to fix that nice sign right there, I don't mean harm, really! Could you please let me go?" stuttered Bleu.

"You're a menderbug?" Hornet asked, eyes widening curiously. She immediately loosened the thread enough for him to struggle free. "I thought most of you would have abandoned your posts after the calamity."

He drew himself up, offended. "I'm not a rude bug, but what you said flung an insult I cannot ignore! There isn't a chance in this world that we would!" His previous nervousness had all but vanished.

Ah. She forgot how much menderbugs loved their jobs. "I apologize for my accusation. It's just that I was not expecting to see one in my life."

"I've no doubt that you mean that! We menderbugs are meant to be hidden from the public eye, as the late king ordered. Just because the kingdom is no longer doesn't mean our task is too." He puffed out his chest but after a few seconds, he deflated. "But it would be nice if bugs had a face to go with all those beautiful fixes we've made."

Tell him, Hornet. It's ok.

She glanced at the knight temporarily, knowing full well what they meant.

"I am the daughter of the Pale King, and if that is how you truly feel, then I declare that all menderbugs shan't be required to conceal themselves anymore."

Bleu's eyes popped out of his head. "What!?" he exclaimed. "W- how, oh gods, you're his child?"

"One of them, at least."

At that, he slumped a little. "One of them? You might not have the authority to reverse it, then. This must have an equal position to his to repeal."

Hornet picked up the knight and spun their back to the menderbug.

"What," he asked "are you- is that the king's brand!?"

He toppled over. She nudged the body with her foot.

"Hm. I believe he is no longer conscious?"

The knight nodded. They shook him until his eyes snapped open and he got on his knees. "I apologize for treating you both so inappropriately! Please accept my gracious thanks for freeing us as well!"

Hornet picked up the menderbug's bag and held it toward him. "There is no need for such useless niceties. They are an object of the past and are not applicable to this situation."

Grabbing the offered bag, he said, "If that is the case, then let me make a request. It's a while till the next menderbash, so it might take time for word to spread of your decree. I would give my humblest thanks if you came along to tell them what you told me."

Making a noise of agreement, she held up a hand. "I myself, or rather my sibling, have a request as well. Would you like to come up and live in the town above?"

Seeing Bleu's gaping expression, she added, "Of course, there is no pressure if you do not wish to, but consider-"

"Please don't misunderstand, princess! I'd be delighted to!"

Hornet blinked at the unfamiliarity of the title, but did not say a word. Regardless, he was very dedicated to his calling and that was something she could respect. Few could ever claim to love life like he seemed to, and would make a good addition to the growing population.

The little ghost seemed to share her insight and happily climbed up the well's rope, doubtlessly to alert everyone of the new arrival.