OOC: Hello! My name is Obsu, and this is my first story around here! The story you are about to read is dedicated to the Chosen Vessel, aka The Hollow Knight, who was selected to contain the Radiance, but ultimately failed in his mission. The idea was inspired by one of the Godseeker endings, where we can see THK stumbling out of the Black Egg, alive. Hope you enjoy my work! I will upload new chapters once a week, maybe more, if time allows. If you have anything to share with me or others, feel free to review!
Yours, Obsu.
Chapter 1: Ghost in the Shell
"You should not have survived, Broken Mask…"
Darkness poured out of the shattered barrier like blood from a wound. The door to the Black Egg was opened. The yellow plant-like strands of the infection lost their color, turning brown, and breaking off under their own weight, crumpling to the ground, becoming dust. The Forgotten Crossroads, once more, enjoyed the same lifeless twilight they had for many years. Guarding a dead, empty shell. Well, almost dead. Behind the broken seal of the Egg, consumed by darkness, something … stirred.
Sharp, piercing pain. Like something jammed into your chest, time and time again. With viciousness of someone pressed into a corner. That was what the world greeted the creature with. But no sound escaped it, no cry for help. Only silence. And scraping, scraping against the stones and dried roots with chitinous fingers, as it strived to sit up. Soon, it did, and the hand, now free, reached for the chest. Trying to close the gaps that ached so much. It met a silken barrier, woven over the shell like bandages. Tight fit. Hard to remove. Meant to stay. The creature did not attempt to remove them. Instead, the fingers passed up. Their sharp tips stumbling over every nick and crack on its way. There were so many, as if it was pelted with countless blows.
Another bandage. This time, over the eye. Or… where the eye was supposed to be. Was hard to tell. Only dull pain that spread its roots deep behind the white, bony mask. The motions were slow, careful. Almost sluggish, as if it has been a while it had to move a muscle. Its head turned, eyeing the dim twilight coming from the broken-down door. So bright, it felt to the creature. Fresh air blowing through the crack with a small wind. Dust particles flying and glistening in the pale, lifeless rays. So frightening, so unknown. Maybe stay here, where it is so safe, so familiar. As if a hundred years had passed, and every shadow, every root, every crack on the wall was already studied. And yet, there was no attachment to this place, like one would hold to a beloved home.
No, the twilight from beyond called towards… something. Something unknown, something better. With a silent grunt, the creature stood up. The first step made it tumble, a sharp pain piercing through the knee. It was damaged, too. The limping march towards the light was stopped only when something glimpsed, briefly reflecting the light. Like a droplet of water, or a tear. A plea, begging not to leave it in darkness. The creature tumbled towards it, in a hushed hurry, collapsing on its knees as one of the legs gave way. Hands… no, one hand falling upon the object, whatever it was. Cold hard steel, the creature felt its chill. A blade that had as many nicks as its own shell. The hand ran over its impressive length, until finding the weathered hilt. Fingers wrapping over it, finding the little grooves meant for them.
A nail… Mine?
The first thought it ever had, in a long while. Hard to remember. Hard to think. And yet… it looked at the nail with pity. Nothing deserved staying in this place. Using it as a crutch, with the tip biting into stone tiles under the weight, the creature would leave the cracked shell of the Black Egg. Hallownest welcomed it with wind blowing into its bony face. The one, whose sacrifice was supposed to make the kingdom last eternal.
But didn't.