With a sigh of relief, I stand back and look upon our latest work. The front door has just been attached to one of the small houses in Dirtmouth and it is now newly renovated. With the large swarm of bugs moving into the village, we quickly ran out of suitable homes. So, the little knight eagerly offered to help me with this new task. It was…difficult, at first. The physical labor is simple enough for me, but I am not so experienced with construction or rebuilding.
Things were moving slowly, until the knight recruited a group of menderbugs to our cause. I was shocked, to say the least. Members of their group are extremely elusive, and I cannot recall ever seeing one in all my life. According to the bugs themselves, however, they couldn't pass up the opportunity to take on such a project. "Dirtmouth will become a shining, safe haven for all bugs once we are finished with it!" How the little ghost even came across the menderbugs and then managed to lead them here is baffling enough.
But, their aid has proved invaluable, of course. We have successfully restored more than a dozen of the old, dilapidated homes and it is paying off. Several new faces have already decided to settle down here because of our efforts. Myla, a young girl who was mining for crystals, has made her way down and taken a house for herself. She has difficulty remembering why she spent so much time at the crystal peak, and I fear that the infection was responsible for the lapse in memory. No need to worry over that anymore, though.
An older gentleman has travelled here from the capital. His name is Lemm and he refers to himself as a collector of sorts. He insists on probing me with questions of the land's past and its historical figures, but I care not for such a discussion. I would have offered my assistance in transporting his absurdly large collection of antiques up to Dirtmouth but staying silent seemed the best course of action. The more return trips he must make, the less time he will have to pester me here.
I was, also, glad to see that Quirrel had decided to stop in Dirtmouth. He tells me that the house he selected is "only a temporary base of operation" while he "scours the great expanse for more mystery". Perhaps his presence will only be temporary, but I find that hard to believe. The reunion between he and my little sibling was clearly one of great friendship. He claims to be driven by discovery, but I predict that his strong bond with the knight and the friendship of the locals will win out.
With our work finished and the day drawing to a close, the vessel and I head home. It is a fulfilling job, obviously. Seeing a bug move into their new house with a smiling face is a reward all in its own. Even still, I feel myself…desiring more. Once indoors, I face my sibling.
"Little One, do you enjoy this sort of work? Rebuilding and restoring?"
It looks to me and nods. Its enthusiasm is clear.
I sigh "I thought so."
It tilts its head as it continues to stare.
"…It's just…I feel as though I am not putting my talents to use. Helping the town rebuild is rewarding, of course. However, I am not gifted in this area nor do I feel the urge to better myself in it. Improving my skill in combat was what kept me driven. Agility, strength, precision, decision-making in the heat of the moment, these were all aspects of my craft that I continually honed."
The vessel sits in silence.
"Now, though…there is little reason for me to devote myself to my needle. If there is no way for me to make my abilities useful, then should I even bother to keep up with practicing? Displaying my skills does not even make the townsfolk feel safe or happy…it just scares them…There is no use for a craft that frightens those around you. Not in these peaceful times."
The knight draws closer and holds my hand. Being unable to speak words of encouragement, the little one can only comfort through actions, but I appreciate it all the same.
"I think I need a change of pace. A new calling, an unfamiliar path to travel. I will never forget how to strike my enemies down or protect those around me. These skills of mine will always be here when I need them. Right now, what I seek is something different. I desire an ambition that will push me to excel and one that will better suit this new age of harmony…Do you understand me, Little One? Maybe you have had these thoughts before, hmm?"
The knight lets go of my hand and nods rapidly.
"…Do you have an idea, then?"
My question is answered when the vessel darts outside. I suppose I will have to put my faith in the little knight that this will not be a colossal waste of time. After all, we are family…I figure it would be beneficial for me to strengthen the trust between us. There is no going back to the solitary life I used to live, nor should I ever long to. Though I am now on speaking terms with a handful of bugs, it is likely that my sibling will always remain my closest friend. Even if that little runt causes me no end of headaches, I must remember to cherish the time we spend to together.
With a fresh mindset, I step out into the night. The vessel is waiting for me by the well. Despite it being so late, it seems that we will be doing some travelling. So be it. It is all for the purpose of finding my new passion. Once we descend below Dirtmouth, the knight blazes through the crossroads and into Greenpath. In time, we reach an incredibly long passage on the western side. The floor and ceiling are covered in thorns and a great number of durandas obstruct the way while they patrol through the air.
For any usual bug, it would be impossible to traverse this terrain. Of course, I am a being that is far from usual. With my needle and silk, even the hazardous brambles make no difference. I am able to plant the blade into the shrubs just as I would any other type of growth. From there, I swing through the corridor and dodge any durandas that end up too close. The knight on the other hand…It utilizes a technique that must have originated from Hallownest's peak. The crystals that are left behind all but confirm it.
What a strange power it is, though. Once the vessel has built up its energy, it propels itself forward at blistering speeds and is able to cross vast distances. What is most confusing, however, is that the knight does not lose any altitude as it soars through the air. How nonsensical…Despite such a feat completely perplexing me, my sibling is able to make it past the gauntlet of thorns. It smashed into the durandas on a few of its attempts, but the vessel is not unfamiliar with continually running into danger until it succeeds.
At the end of our short journey, the knight leads me to a small building tucked away in the greenery of the land. I cannot fathom how anyone could live in such an area, and, even if they could, why would they? We enter the structure and I look around. I see many nails scattered about, and they are all quite large at that. However, I also see…art? Sure enough, there is a giant figure on the far side of the room. It is engrossed in its painting, but, as my sibling and I draw near, the figure turns to face us with surprise on its face.
"Oh! My tiny visitor returns! You've even brought another guest with you! This is wonderful!"
So jovial. Maybe not as much as Ogrim once was, but they are similar in many ways. I feel I should speak, but…
"You must be a friend of my tiny friend. May I ask your name?"
"…Hornet. I am the little one's sister."
The knight takes my hand to confirm what I've said, I can only assume.
"How pleasant. The unbreakable bonds of family…I had such bonds through most of my life. It makes me glad to know that my tiny friend has another that it can call family."
I do not have much to say in response. His thoughts mirror my own. I am pleased to be there for my sibling and, though I do not acknowledge it often, I am more than pleased that my sibling is here for me.
"My name is Sheo. At one point, I was called Nailmaster Sheo. But, I do not yearn for that title any longer. I have turned from the way of the nail to the way of the brush. It is upon the canvas that I find fulfillment, now. The tiny sibling of yours, it was not swayed by my powerful emotions. It appears steadfast in its pursuit of excellence with the nail. You, however…I notice that you bear a weapon of your own. That can only be the needle of a weaver, yes?"
"…that's right. I was raised by weavers."
"How interesting. It is easy to see that you are adept at using the blade. So, tell me Hornet. Do you tire of the path you currently walk? As someone who walked a similar path, you may suddenly find that your devotion to such a talent…fades away with time."
"I cannot say that combat has lost its appeal. I find enjoyment in it just as I always have. But, I am now a part of a small community that is trying to rebuild their village. There is a greater need for creation rather than protection."
"Then you would like to adopt a new interest? If creation is what you seek then you need not look further than the world of art, my guest."
Leaving the sound of thunderous footsteps in his wake, Sheo hurries around the room grabbing all sorts of painting supplies. For a master of the nail, he is quite thrilled for simple arts and crafts.
"Feel free to join me, my guests! I have more than enough brushes and paint for you both!"
The vessel glances at me and runs forward. It takes a seat at Sheo's side and studies the gargantuan bug as he continues his work. I could participate, I suppose. The pursuit of art was obviously what my sibling had in mind for me when I came to it with my problem. Even so, I feel uncertain…
"Hmm? Is something the matter, Hornet? You have been standing at the doorway since you arrived."
"I apologize. I do not mean to be rude. I am just…considering if it would be better for me to abstain from this activity."
The excitement in Sheo's posture disappears, somewhat. I cannot help but feel guilty.
"Oh…I see."
The nailmaster sets his tools down and approaches me.
"Would you mind if I asked why? As a host, I wish to be as accommodating as possible for my guests. If there is something preventing you from partaking, then perhaps I can resolve such an issue."
"The fault does not lay with you, but me. I dabbled in painting when I was younger, but I was never any good. I am…just afraid of making something of poor quality. I do not wish to spend my effort on something that I may end up hating."
"Mmm, I understand that feeling well. Allow me to offer some advice, however. As a warrior yourself, you can surely think back on the challenges you overcame and the lessons you learned on your journey to today. In swordplay, no one is born proficient. The same is true for all things. I will not force you to paint, of course. Just remember that you may need to become comfortable with failure if you wish to find that new interest you seek."
"…You speak true. When phrased in such a way, I see how childish I am being…Alright, I will try my hand at this, even if I may not be pleased with the end result."
With that, my painting 'career' had begun. It was overwhelming at first. There were so many colors at my disposal that I was often paralyzed with indecisiveness. Thankfully, Sheo was kind enough to give me pointers here and there. I was informed about the proper technique for holding the brush, the magic of mixing colors, and which type of brush is better suited for certain scenarios.
While lost in concentration, the off-putting noise of a splash brings me back to attention. The culprit is the little ghost. It has dunked half of its arm into a jar of blue paint and is now sweeping it across the canvas with, seemingly, no rhyme or reason.
"Little Knight, that is ill-mannered behavior. There are paint brushes available for a reason."
The vessel looks up from its art and stares at me. It seems to have registered my words but chooses to ignore them and returns to hand painting.
"I am sorry for how my sibling is acting. I will clean up any mess it makes."
Sheo smiles at my words.
"There is no need. The tiny one has merely opted to use an unorthodox utensil, its own arm! Artists should encourage the differences in their styles, you see!"
"…If you insist."
Now, time flows quietly. I start to become enraptured in my work, but also quite frustrated. My painting isn't living up to how I envisioned it. If only she were still with me, then I wouldn't forget her features…Perhaps this is the best I can do for now.
"How are things coming along, Hornet? Do you need any assistance?"
"I think I have done all that I can. Though, I am less than satisfied."
Sheo walks behind me and studies the painting from over my shoulder. It takes him a minute before he speaks.
"Please, do not take this the wrong way, but…what is this supposed to be?"
"…My mother. I tried to paint my mother, but that blob of color does not even resemble a living being. Even if you had seen her before, I am sure you still would have mistaken my attempt for something much uglier."
Goodness, how miserable I feel. I predicted that this would end terribly and here I am.
"Do not lose hope, Hornet! As I said before, there will be missteps along the way, but you cannot let that stop you. A bug that is truly strong would never be defeated by such emotions, don't you agree?"
He intends to motivate me by calling me weak? Well, I cannot deny that it is working.
"What would you have me do next, then?"
"At your current skill level, I suggest painting your mother again once you have improved. What you need is a subject that is simpler, something smaller perhaps. You could even choose some of the objects in this room! It is much easier when your subject is right next to you for reference."
Something smaller, hmm? Yes, that seems simple enough. With my choice made, I am determined to make this attempt a success. Admittedly, there isn't much here for me to work with. The subject lacks complexity and color in general. But, that just means I will have more time to focus on the finer details…
"I believe I am finished, Sheo."
"Ah, how exciting!"
The nailmaster bounds behind me once more. This time, it takes only a second for him to flash a wide grin.
"Now this I recognize! Very simple, yet very accurate! An excellent painting, my pupil!"
"W-Well, it really isn't anything special. I know this is nothing compared to what you could do."
"Nonsense! This display of art is just as meaningful as any I have ever done! Tiny One, come take a look at your sister's finished project!"
The knight lifts itself off of the large tarp that it sprawled across the floor. It seems that hand painting was not enough for it and decided that it would resort to full body painting. Tracking bright, pink paint in its wake, the vessel glances at my work.
"…I decided that I would paint you, Little One. I did my best to portray you as close to reality as possible, though, it is clearly not perfect. If you like it enough, you are more than welcome to keep it…do not feel obligated to, though. I am aware that it has many flaws…"
The knight studies the painting of itself without moving. I wish I could hear its thoughts. There are likely a mountain of problems that it has already identified.
"…What do you think?"
The knight turns to face me and responds by jumping into my arms, as it tends to do.
"Ah! Look what you have done, Vessel! Did you simply forget that you are covered in paint!?"
"Haha! Look how delighted your sibling is! Do you see now, Hornet? This is the power of art in its purest form! The masses will witness your art and you will witness their joy. There is no greater feeling, you must agree!"
It is difficult to feel joy when you have a paint covered vessel wrapped around your neck, but he is certainly not wrong.
"It does feel good. The payoff is greater than I anticipated…If you find it acceptable, I would be interested in taking lessons from you. I think I would like to see where this path takes me."