"There is magic at your fingers,
For the spirit ever lingers,
Undemanding contact in your happy solitude."


So this chapter is going to be a lot different from previous ones.

There seemed to be some confusion about the "infected phone" from the last chapter, so I made this partially to try to help people understand how that worked, but also because I really wanted to write something from the Radiance's perspective. And also because I think we could use a quick synopsis of where we are so far.

This is a minimalist "stream of consciousness" chapter Piston and I wrote in literally a single day, recapping the story so far from the Radiance's perspective.


...

Be quiet.

...Silence.

...

..I said SILENCE, YOU WRETCHED THING OF WYRM AND ROOT. BEING TRAPPED IN HERE WITH YOUR ILK IS ALMOST WORSE THAN-

Oh.

Oh?

Another life, foreign.

Is that… her?

Is she-

...

...Oh. No, she isn't.

...Good. That's… good.

Good riddance.

...But then, who…?

A second one?...

...

Er, third? I always forget the other one.

...

…! Ah-!

This one, this… human , he-!

T-This… This light within him… It shines not bright, yet somehow different…

...Or is it a light at all?

Ah… I wonder…

Could I just…?

...

... WHAT?! THAT'S-

O-Oh, wait. No.

No, it's just another failed vessel.

It won't be a problem.

No, it won't change anything at all, I'm sure.

... Him, though…


Finally.

You and I are all alone, strange human.

No vessel, no bug, no thought to get between you and I no-

... W-Wait, don't cry! Look, I-I can make things better! Please?!

O-Oh, no, it's a mess everywhere now-

...I- Wait, what is…?

What is that thing? That… black-box thing?

Oh, it-

O-Okay, if it makes you feel better…

... if it makes you feel better?

...

Ah. I'm uncertain what this… thing is, but you dropped it into your soiled bedsheets.

And even if it is not prevalent yet, your body still has my essence within it.

And this object has several holes around it. If I can just slip some in…

ENTER PIN TO UNLOCK.

W-What the-?

ACCEPTED.

Wait, but I didn't even say anything-!

I- ...Oh.

Ohhhh.

OHHHH-HO-HO.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

...

...I don't get it. W-What am- what am I supposed to be looking at?

So, what, do I just press- Oh, okay, I did something.

Where am I now?

All I see are strange symbols and images. And I can't read a word of any of this!

This… technology is not my expertise. It'd be more of his deal-

Rrgh. Don't think about that demon. Not now.

...

Alright, trial and error. If I use this, what does it-

"I thought I had it all toge-ther~!"

WHATINTHENAMEOFTHEBLASTEDWYRM-

...I-It stopped.

He stopped it.

O-Okay, I should… probably leave this alone for a little while.


Ah~!

Y-Yes, closer-

M-More…

It's okay.

Don't hold back with me.

I-I shouldn't be doing this, but-

...Ahh.

...

This is what awaits you.

All you need to do…

...is submit to me.

Become my king.

Rule this one unified world of dream alongside me.

P-Please…

B-Be my m-

Oh.

O-Oh, that's not-

Oh, it's everywhere.

It's all over the bedsheets.

...That does not look pretty.

...Was… Was that my fault?


...

So this is the landscape of your mind.

A single boat, drifting across an endless orange ocean.

Human…

...But your soul is so much more than just that, isn't it?

Somewhere within you…

...I can't help but wonder…

"...What are you…?"

It's okay.

Come closer.

I won't hurt you.

I'm here for-

Ah-!

...

...W-Well, I'll be here when you fall asleep again.


A dance?

You stumble into my domain, completely by mistake, and offer a dance with one you have never met before.

And that music

...It's strange, and noisy, but…

...I could get used to it.

...I wonder…

...Would you... dance, with me as well, human?


...

Oh, human…

Chance… That is what you have taken to calling yourself now, yes?

It pains me to see you suffer so.

If only it were in my power to ease your pain...

...Forgive me.

...Even after all this time… I still can't stop thinking about the music.

... If it makes you feel better

I suppose… the least I can do is try to help you relax.

...

I was once known for my lullabies sung to my sleeping children.

Although I have no voice to speak to you with now… Perhaps I can try using that again.

...

It isn't much… but I hope it may ease you… Chance.

...

WAITWAITNONONOTTHATONESTOPSTOPSTOP-


Hehehehe! Now I'm starting to understand this thing!

This music of yours… It's so funny! Not soft and sweet like my lullabies, but nonconforming to the upright strictness of an orchestra. It quite literally marches to the beat of its own drum!

Hah… To think a device so small could keep my attention for hours!

"WILL YOU SILENCE THAT INFERNAL RACKET?!"

OW!

...

Well… that didn't actually hurt. You missed, even.

Still. Rude.

What's the point in eternal life if you aren't going to smile every now and then?

Hehehe. Tell me quick, ain't that a kick, in the heaaaad~?


Whump!

"Shhh…"

It's okay… You're safe here with me.

Just for one night.

"What you seek is yours for the taking…"

"You only need to find it… It is out there, you simply must search for it…"

That "light"...

Hm. Is it a light? A shadow?

Some strange place in the middle?

Or something completely new?

"Find it… Now, go."

Huhuhu… You've caught my eye, Chance.

I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and pray for your strength in the trials to come.

...


Greenpath, hm?

Unn's domain…

I'm quite fond of her, personally, though I don't think she appreciates my… encroachment unto her kin.

... not like I even meant to make this damnable Infection anyway…

...W-Wait, Chance, what are you-

What-

...C-Chance, that poor flower…

Why would you...

...

...Ah! T-That spiderling in red, could she be-?

...Hm. I haven't seen her in quite a while.

But that poor, poor flower…

...

...It's difficult to understand, but…

Something seems to be… emerging in Chance.

His mind? His soul? I cannot yet grasp its nature…

...This requires further investigation.


...

Woo-hoo!

Haha, "baseball" is fun.


Fight back.

Your rage shall be your spear.

And your will shall be your armor.

The crowd watches intently, not expecting disaster, but anticipating your triumph.

And I'll be up here, anticipating it right along with them.

Fight back.

And I will fight right alongside you.


BLOW OUT THE PRINCESS'S FUCKING BRAINS.

W-Wait, dammit, I didn't mean to-

U-U-Uh, s-songs make you feel good, right?! Right?!

H-Here, I'll play a little song, that always helps-!

"I've just seen a face, I can't forget the time or place where we just met-!"

...O-Okay so maybe I could've picked a more fitting song but everything will still be okay, right?!

...

WAITWAITNONODON'TTAKETHETHINGDON'TTAKETHETHINGDON'TTAKE-

... Well, to Hell with you, too, spiderling.


Okay.

Wooh.

Deep breaths.

I am bringing Chance here to give him guidance.

I am doing this to guide him on the next step of his journey.

I am giving him guidance.

Nothing more.

"How admirable."

I WILL NOT ACT STRANGE.

...

"Well? Do you like my redecorating?"

"Take a good look around this room. Absorb it, for this is your next destination."

Yes. The Lord Sisters should be a sufficient trial from here.

"Have no fear; you have no reason to rush. Take your time; rest, prepare, for when you reach this room a test will be imposed upon you. But think not of it as a challenge. Rather, an… experiment. "

Slowly, piece by piece, I believe I am starting to grasp the nature of your power, Chance.

But I need to be sure of myself.

Trial and error.

I… Please, try to forgive me for any suffering they will cause you.

But I have to know.

If… if my suspicions are correct, then you…

...That's not important right now.

"Whatever you do, stay safe for me… Okay?"

...

...Dammit.


...

Huhuhu… I enjoy seeing you like this.

Lay back. Let it all flow over you.

Lose yourself in the warmth.

In my warmth.

And what's so bad about it all being a dream? If it's all in your head, why not just make this world yours?

Let the warmth roll over your chilled flesh, let yourself bask in the dream just a little longer.

Free from the hell of Hallownest, free from the neverending existential dread of home.

Chain yourself to this place, forge a heaven out of hell, and float downstream in your own mind.

There is no greater freedom than confinement.

I… don't understand.

It's alright. You will soon enough.

...

Oh?

Wait, but didn't you break-

...D-Don't just brush this off like it's nothing!

...A-A-And didn't she tear that-?!

...Could it be…?

I wonder… this paradox

Could it have been…

…!

C-Chance!


Hahahahaha, this song is awful!

I love it!

Oh, the thieving little spiderling doesn't share my tastes, I see.

How tragic.

You remind me of your father.

...Oh? Is she trying to-

...

...No. I've had it up to here with you.

Kin of the Pale Wyrm.

Bastard child of God and Beast.

My chains grow ever weaker with each passing second.

I will reign once again.

AND YOU SHALL SUBMIT TO ME.

MY LIGHT IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING.

ALL SHALL BE CAST INTO MY ETERNAL DREAM.

NONE SHALL RIOT.

NONE SHALL REBEL.

AND I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ESCAPE.

EVEN YOU SHALL-

...Oops.


...

…!

But that's impossible...

To have… two?

Equal, yet opposite.

Light and shadow.

Two sides of the same coin.

...Chance…

I believe… I am finally starting to understand.

...Perhaps… I can use this somehow.

...Yes.

...Yes, you'll work nicely.

...

...

...Oh, can it, you crybaby.


Chapter name and summary are a reference to The Spirit Of Radio by Rush.
There's other musical references but since this is a recap chapter, I won't take the time to list them.

So basically:
Technology can't be "infected" in quite the same way bugs or people can(as it obviously can't dream), but if the physical Infection gets within the electronic components, the Radiance can directly tamper with said technology. I'm no scientist, but I like to think that the Infection can alter the electricity of the device in the same way it can alter one's brain(a cluster of neurons activated by tiny electrical pulses).

So... Actually, yeah, I guess that just means the phone can get infected. Cool. Glad that's cleared up.

This chapter wasn't really that much, short as hell and extremely unpolished, but I hope it was entertaining enough for the time it'll take to make the next main chapter. Honestly, I had a lot of fun writing this, especially given how short it is, and maybe it wouldn't hurt to make more minimalist chapters like this on occasion. We basically just made this on a whim, too, so it's kind of funny that we got it out in a single day, even if it's only about 1.5k words.

Please leave a review and we hope to see you soon~!