Previously: So while the pale king is explaining what SOUL even is. Ghost just...absorb it.
The king paused in his explaining and turn to look at the now empty plate that once had the orb and then stare at the smaller vessel in surprise.
Pure look at Ghost too. He didn't even know what the white thing is and his sibling just did something to make it disappear.
The white lady was focusing too much on eating that she didn't even know what's going on.
She really likes pancakes.
Radiance facepalmed herself when she noticed that everyone is looking at Ghost in a weird way. Maybe she shouldn't have done that.
"Two days into the palace and we already gave ourselves away. Good job" She mumbled disdainfully, but look at the king's face, he looks hilarious.
It's actually the first day that we gave ourselves away. Ghost sheepishly reminded the moth as she sighs some more.
Yeahhh, that happened.
Though it's not like they noticed anything weird going on. The king, however, is much more dangerous. He'll notice what's wrong right away.
The pale king stopped staring at the vessel and cleared his throat. How odd. Maybe this vessel has some kind of primal instinct on the use of SOULs.
He'll have to ask Monomon later about this information he just acquired.
With that out of the way…
"How very fascinating. You're a fast learner, aren't you?" The king said, but not really expecting any kind of response.
"They're a peculiar child…but a cute one" White lady joined in on his conversation after she finished eating all of her pancakes. They're really good.
He grumbled before reminding her about the vessel's characteristic
"I'll have you know, my love. That vessels do not have any thoughts or feelings, so you don't have to treat them like a sentient being"
She squinted. Not this again.
"You may believe it like that, but I'll call them however I want" She stood up to him this time.
Finally, she got the courage to talk back to him, after looking at the two vessels staring at her, she knew that this is the right thing to do.
The king didn't say anything else other than, "As you wish, but don't get too attach to them"
The breakfast continued in silence and Pure got the hang of absorbing the SOULs too. The two vessels eat them until their SOUL gauge is full.
The king must have some reasons for them to fill up like this.
Soon enough, the queen left. Though not before saying goodbye to the children and the king.
"She seems nice" The moth said to Ghost as everyone starting to leave the table and left the servants to clean up the plates.
The vessel nodded their head as they remember the last time they're with the queen.
The first and last time they met her was in the nursery. They could still remember the lullaby she sang before the king threw them all into the Abyss as he waited for the strongest of the siblings to reach the top…the purest of them all.
But this time is different.
And they're going to save all of their siblings soon.
The king then led the two vessels to a training room. Where Ogrim and Hegemol are waiting for the king and his two children to arrive.
"Greetings my knights" The king greets his two great knights as they all bow before their king.
"What did you call us for your majesty?" Hegemol asked before two vessels that had been following the king walked out from behind him.
Ogrim looked at the two vessels and he has a little problem telling them apart. He met one before, but the other one he has not.
"I want the two of you to teach the basics of wielding nails with them" The king then gestured to the two vessels.
Pure looks excited to do something and Ghost is also excited to train with the knights.
But it's hard to tell with their expressionless faces.
"Of course! We'll be great teachers for the younglings" Ogrim said joyfully before picking up the two vessels and carry them in his arm.
Then he dropped them off in front of the weapon rack.
"Now, choose any nail that you like. Come on, don't be shy" He nudged for them to pick up their nails because they looked confused at first.
All of the nails on the rack are all wood. They can't really fight with it and Ghost personally have something against wooden nail for some reason.
Cough cough Zote cough
Pure didn't mind it too much though and picked an oak wooden nail with very swirly design on it. He likes the swirly.
Ghost however, refuse to pick one up and instead pointed to another rack that has normal-looking nails on them.
"No no, child. We don't want you to get hurt, so wooden nail seems to be the best option" Ogrim explained to Ghost.
But they still don't want to pick one, so Ogrim decided to try another tactic instead.
"How about this. If we deemed that you're good enough with wielding a nail. We'll let you pick the metal one early. Deal?" Ogrim have a soft spot for children, so it's no wonder that he'll bend the rules just a little to make them happy.
The vessel finally nodded and picked up a plain wooden nail. Radiance looked at Ghost's choice of nail and snorted.
"Look at your sibling. He has better fashion senses than you" She pointed at Pure who is admiring the swirls by tilting it back and forth.
Ghost looks blankly at her, so she went off and pick one for him.
"Look at this one. It's bright orange" Radiance pointed the orange nail with her wing, hoping that they would pick it up.
Ghost didn't pick it up and instead walk over to their sibling, so Ogrim would see that the already pick one. Radiance grumbled before following Ghost.
"I see you two got your nail. Now let's get started" Ogrim then called out to Hegemol, so they could teach them together.
The pale king watches in the distance to see how his creations fair against the knights…in basics.
No pressure, no pressure.
The four of them stood in the middle of the training room. With Hegemol wielding his weapon, not a nail though and Ogrim holding his metal nail.
He doesn't use his nail often though, but this is an exception.
"The first thing you need to know is how to swing your nail" He then demonstrates by swinging his against Hegemol.
He blocked the swing though and retaliate by swinging back at Ogrim, but Ogrim also blocked the hit.
"And how to parry" Hegimol said to the two vessels as the two knights show them how it works.
This goes on for a while until the two teachers thought that it is now a good time for them to practice.
Pure practice with Ogrim while Ghost practice partner is Hegemol.
"Come little one and swing your nail" He said to Ghost as he waits for the vessel to strike first.
"I don't think it's fair that he has a club while you have a wooden nail" Radience said to Ghost as they prepare to attack.
Doesn't matter. All I need to do is prove to them that I'm good enough to wield a nail.
After saying that, Ghost swing with all their might at Hegemol. The memory of striking an enemy come to mind as they landed a hit on him.
"Not bad. You are very quick and agile" He complimented the vessel before swingling his club to them.
Ghost stood their ground before parrying the club. Thank goodness that he's taking easy on them. Otherwise, the wooden nail would be broken into pieces.
The two repeated this for a while before the king called the training off.
Hegemol and Ogrim seems confused while Pure and Ghost just stood silently and waiting for the king to say something.
"That is good enough" He said before moving over to the two vessels and gave them each one a metal nail.
Ghost looks ecstatic to receive one while Pure seems sadden to part ways with the swirls.
Why would the king give them the nails early?
"Now spar with me" The king said as Hegemol and Ogrim almost tripped over themselves when the king said that.
"B-but your majesty. They just learned the basics…I don't think-" He cut off what Ogrim is saying and looked at them.
"Do not worry. They will not be hurt that badly. I already provided them a nutritious meal" The pale king then tells them to sit and watch while he "spar" with his children.
"Do you think they will be alright?" Ogrim asked Hegimol as they went over to do what the king commanded them to.
Hegemol looked at the vessels before saying to him, "Don't worry, the king knows what he's doing"
Radiance looked at the pale fork as he stood a bit far away to prepare.
"Psst, Ghost. Are you sure you can take him on?" She asked before pointing at Pure who seems unsure what to do.
"I think he won't last long with no experience yet in fighting, so you'll have to go in alone"
Ghost looked at the nail and is surprised to see that it's the same one they use in the future…but it looks new though.
It's not a pure nail, so they'll have to wait a while to get an upgrade later.
…does this mean all of the stuff they collected are gone?
"Focus, Ghost. Though really, I think you might want to tone down on your fighting. You don't want anyone to know that you can fight…right?" The moth waved her wing in front of Ghost after noticing that they spaced out.
They broke out of their thoughts and stare at the king. He looks like he's ready now.
I'll try. No promises
The pale king then summoned a nail made from pure light, hold it in his hands, and stood his ground.
"Now attack" He commanded the vessels while the knights watched from the sidelines.
Ogrim is scared for the vessels, but he'll hold onto Hegemol's words that the king knows what he's doing.