OOC: Hello, this is Obsu! Thank you for your support so far! Even just seeing so many people viewing and reading it fills me with joy. This one is a bit of a talking chapter, to make up for the last few being silent. We get to reconnect with some of the lovable characters from the game! Hope you enjoy 3
Chapter 3: More than One Deserves
"Is he alive?"
"Hmm… Breathing, at least. Lucky son of a bug."
"Should I come over and provide assistance?"
"Honey, your lovely round tush will hardly fit through, and this fellow's a handful enough as it is. I can manage."
"W-what about a rope?"
"Now that would be handy! Bring several! Oh, and some help too! I doubt the two of us can lift him. Just stay still now, big guy. Let me… get it… under… there. By the Pale, you're heavy. Alright, everyone! Heave-ho!"
…
…
…
The hearing was the first sense to return. The sounds were … different than before. Instead of distant echoes, voices from above, and rhythmic dripping of the water from the walls of the well, there was a homely kind of quiet. The crackling of the firewood, the scent of smoke, the quiet splashing of water. A happy, humming tune. The creature stirred, awakening, and opening its only eye underneath the mask. Looking up, noticing a low ceiling above its head. The gaze traveled down, to find oneself on a bed. A short one, for someone its size – the legs were hanging off the far end, lifted off the ground and rested on a stool placed close by. The cloak was gone, and so was the sword, the creature's slick, chitinous form splayed open. The only things covering it being the bandages. Fresh ones. They felt looser, more comfortable, and made of plain cloth. A shadow loomed over, making the tall bug look up.
"Ah, you're awake!" – the voice said. The creature heard it before, in that brief moment between falling in and out cold. It sounded feminine. The bug standing above him was tall, slender, and had a long, slightly crooked nose. A mosquito? With bugs of Hallownest, it was hard to tell. In her hands, she held another bandage, one meant to replace the one covering the eye. When the hands reached for it, the taller bug shuddered.
"Easy there, big fellow. I'm not going to hurt you. Been worried you would not wake up at all! You slept for three days straight."
Three days… - echoed inside the bug's head. Its body became less tense, and it allowed the feminine bug to do what she needed to do. Her voice sounded … kind. Caring even. It was enough to make the creature trust. Deft hands undid the silken bandages covering the eye, placing it in a small bucket full of water. Instead, cloth wrapping around it, one layer after one.
"I do not blame you. Nine stabs to the chest, most bugs would not survive one, let alone nine. And that's before that nosedive you took!" – the lady bug hummed, as she tied the knot to keep the bandage in place, kind of like a bowtie. A small smile appearing on her face.
"Oh! My name is Iselda. You are a quiet one, aren't you? What is your name?"
Awkward silence. The creature looked at her, then a bit away, tugging its head into its shoulders. It felt as though it owed an answer of some kind, to someone who saved its live. And yet … what could it say? How? It's been so long… too long to remember if there even was a name to give. Still, the nice mosquito didn't take the being's silence for rudeness, instead nodding in understanding.
"That knock on the head hit you harder than I thought. It's alright. Stay down. You need more rest." – she said, placing a palm over its forehead, before standing up and walking to the front of the hut, which appeared to be some kind of a shop. With shelves full of scrolls and quills and other utensils. The back of the hut was made to be a living area, with a fire place, cooking stoves, a two-story bunk, and plenty of stuff hanging off the walls. It was so… rustic. And half the things here the creature had never seen before. A muffled thwacking sound coming from somewhere outside, followed by grunts and huffs. A sound of metal hitting wood. A brief exchange was heard from the front of the shop:
"Hey Corny! Come inside! Our guest has woken up."
The thwacking stopped, instead replaced by huffs and puffs, and clumsy footsteps. Soon, the one who named herself Iselda stepped back into the living room, followed by another creature. It was short and stout, with a long, pointy nose just like hers, and a pair of goofy round glasses to cover the eyes. The bug seemed to fidget a lot, requiring twice as many steps to get to the side of the bed. The tall bug turned its white, body head to look at the new guest.
"Oh, oh, hello! Glad to see you back with us! I'm Cornifer. Me and my wife Iselda found you at the bottom of that well, when we heard that terrible crash. What happened to ye?"
"He does not speak." – Iselda interjected, before another awkward moment of silence could settle in. Cornifer looked puzzled for a moment, his eyes focusing on the end of his own nose, and pushing the glasses back on with a finger.
"That's quite alright. We had a customer like that before. Strange fellow, tiny one, remember him?"
"Oh yes! The cute little one. Only … you are the tallest bug I've ever seen!"
The tall bug looked at them from its bed, not sure what to say. These two seemed so … excited. And happy. The creature never seen something like that before. But just watching them was intriguing. Heartwarming even, in a way. The way these two fidgeted and doted over its crippled form. It tried to get up on its shoulder, head turning, as if looking around for something. Only to let out a pained sigh and fall right back, as the wave of dull aching went down from the shoulders, and all over the back. The happy couple startled a little, Cornifer placing a hand on the creature's bandaged shoulder.
"Please, friend, try not to move. You were quite crippled when we found you. Best let it rest and heal, for now."
"You're looking for your blade, aren't you?" – Iselda asked, astutely. The creature looked back at her, and nodded, slowly.
"Don't worry, we did not leave it behind. I know what a nail means to a knight. It's in the corner, over there."
Her words made the creature turn its head, and notice the long, chippered nail resting in the corner, next to the sweeping broom. A quiet sigh of relief escaped, and it relented under Cornifer's hand, laying back down, as ordered. The round, stout bug looked back at his wife.
"A knight?"
"I think so, dear. I tried to clean it, tis made of pale ore, and has this forsaken kingdom's mark upon its hilt."
"Of course, of course! My apologies, ser Knight, forgive us for our bickering. I'd love to hear more about your story. You can stay with us, until you feel better."
"Someone to keep me company when you're away. It does get lonely running the shop." – Iselda chuckled, at the end of that exchange.
"Hey! I do invite you to join me in my travels every chance I get!" – the stout bug protested most profusely.
"Oh, you're only saying that because you need someone who knows her way round a nail to guard your round little form while you're drawing your maps of dangerous places. I swear, you love them more than me!" – the female bug teased, faking a hurt expression. It made Cornifer sweat a little and shake all four of his arms in denial.
"Such heinous insinuations!" – Cornifer protested. "You know it isn't true! And not all of the places underground is dangerous! Especially since that yellow plague vanished!"
"Do not get your mandibles in a twist, Corny. You know I'm teasing. But I may just take you up on your offer next time."
With that, the taller mosquito pushed her husband out of the living area, with the creature watching the two go, before lying back down, turning its head to face its blade in corner. Looking at it almost longingly. A knightly blade… ser Knight… Broken mask…
These words floated in its mind for quite some time, before it fell asleep. The exchange took more from the knight than it expected. What was its real name?
It did not remember.