Chapter 9: A Lick of Home
Yami dashed through the putrid sewers, slashing through flukes and other grotesque sewage creatures that dared to cross their path. They were unsure of their current location, but one thing was clear: the game had certainly oversimplified it. All Yami wanted was to quickly obtain a tear from Isma's Grove and make their way to the Kingdom's Edge without the constant threat of acid and fiery death.
Suddenly, a wretched stench of shit permeated the air, causing Yami to come to a halt. They had no desire to encounter anyone in this foul place, but it seemed that the universe had different plans.
"HOOONG HUNDAAAAA!" reverberated from the wall to their right. Yami swiftly drew both nails into a defensive position as Dung Defender burst through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man. The putrid odor assaulted their senses, and Yami instinctively recoiled. Leaping to the side, they maintained their defensive stance, grateful for whatever force allowed them to block out the stench of excrement.
"Ugh, WHAT THE HELL!" Yami exclaimed, their frustration evident. They had been trapped in this wretched place for hours, so it was only natural for them to be irritable. Ogrim's gleaming white armor turned to face them, and a look of surprise crossed his face. "Oh, my apologies! You seemed like you were in need of assistance, young one!" he exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing through the sewer walls.
Yami responded with a deadpan expression, "So you burst through the wall to... help me?" Ogrim nodded enthusiastically. "But why did you choose to burst through a wall?" Yami inquired, maintaining their deadpan tone. The Dung Defender faltered for a moment, then replied in a quieter voice, "Nobody ever comes down here to see the damage, except for my friend Isma and a few worker bugs."
...Fair enough, Yami thought. If nobody ever came down here, they might have done the same thing. Reminding themselves of their purpose, Yami seized the opportunity to ask for directions. "Hey, do you happen to know of any... green areas around here? My biology requires me to spend some time amidst plants to... rejuvenate myself. Do you know of any such places?" Yami internally cringed at their awkward tone, they were lying through their… teeth? Mandibles? Doesn't matter because the Dung Defender seemed unfazed.
"Sure!" Ogrim produced a piece of paper with what appeared to be a crudely drawn map and a quill. He began sketching on the parchment and exclaimed, "Done!" once he finished. Handing the map to Yami, they accepted it gratefully. "Here, this leads to my friend's grove. It's teeming with greenery! Just follow the lines, and you'll reach it faster than a Belfly!" Yami nodded, examining the map. It resembled the one from the game, but on a much larger scale.
"Well, thank you for the map," Yami declared, utterly fed up with being in this wretched place. "Anytime. Stay safe!" Ogrim bid them farewell as he swiftly disappeared back through the hole he had created. Yami gazed at the map before setting off.
Well, the Dung Defender had been right—it didn't take Yami long at all to reach Isma's grove. The walls and ceiling were adorned with scattered large leaves, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Finally entering what appeared to be the main area, Yami observed bridges suspended above convulsing and bubbling green acid pits.
Taking precautions, Yami activated Sneak 100 just in case they were detected by Isma herself. From "Not-So Hollow Knight" Isma had an ability to sense what was going on in her grove. It might not be true but still they didn't want to get caught. Walking across the wide bridges, the simmering acid below added an eerie ambiance to the room. Scattered throughout were trees, some adorned with Isma's tears while others appeared withered and had dry, lifeless bark.
To Yami's surprise, they encountered bugs in the grove. While many were non-sentient, such as the moss creeps and Gulka's clinging to the walls, there were also two sentient bugs present. One bug was seen hefting wood, while the other was busy cutting down withered trees. Both insects stood slightly taller than Yami, adorned in simple armor plating made from leaves that emitted a faint green glow. They wore pale white masks with noticeable snouts and two antennae sprouting from their heads, though one bug had two eye holes while the other had four.
Yami's attention was drawn to the logs being piled by the bug with two eye holes in a corner. The logs were taller than both Yami and the bugs themselves. It dawned on Yami that they needed the wood for the Gunbai that they are planning on making, and since they didn't know where shell wood is, AND maybe this alternative would probably be better.
As the bug set down a log sideways and went to collect another, Yami swiftly approached the woodpile and concealed themselves behind the structure of logs. Among the pile, there were logs of varying widths—both wide and thin. For their purpose, Yami needed logs of a size they could easily carry. They selected a few logs roughly the size of a vessel head and effortlessly stowed them away in their hammerspace.
Having finished collecting the logs, Yami surveyed their surroundings. They realized that it would raise suspicions if anyone witnessed logs mysteriously disappearing. Satisfied that it was safe, Yami stood and took a careful look around. Few trees dotted the area, but only three were within their line of sight. Those particular trees bore multiple tears hanging from their branches, with the highest one boasting what appeared to be the ripest fruit. Yami inwardly sighed at the cliché nature of the situation, but they were determined to proceed. The other fruit might not serve their purpose as desired.
Flora slumped against the trunk of a nearby tree, her brother Fern adding more wood to the pile before joining her. She panted heavily and reached for her canteen, well aware that woodcutting was no easy task. The scratches and chips on her chitin bore witness to the physical toll it had taken.
Two mosscreeps scurried toward Flora and Fern, their joyful trills filling the air as they snuggled up against them. Flora wasn't sure if she would succumb to their overwhelming cuteness or her own exhaustion. Perhaps both. However, she had a job to complete. Well, maybe she could-
A rustling from above caught Flora's attention. She looked up to see a branch trembling as if something had struck it. She scrutinized the area and it seemed to stare back, but she found nothing out of the ordinary. Settling back down, she dismissed the sensation, though the swaying of the branches persisted. From branch to branch, she noticed.
Silently, Flora transferred the moss that clung to her onto Fern's slumbering form. With utmost care, she picked up the axe and took aim. Whatever it was leaped about with impressive agility, but Flora remained undeterred. She steadied herself, aligning her sight with the branch the creature was headed toward.
*Swish*
Yami found themselves caught off guard by an incoming axe aimed at their head. They had assumed the two bugs were fast asleep, completely focused on reaching the top. However, to their surprise, it was the bug with four eyes—the one they had been observing earlier—who had thrown the axe.
Reacting instinctively, Yami's void manifested three tentacles that sprouted from their lower back, swiftly intercepting the axe blade. They took a moment to marvel at the tentacles, appreciating their thick and smooth appearance, resembling tails. After a brief contemplation, their gaze shifted down to the bug who had thrown the axe.
The sudden commotion caused Sneak 100 to falter, inadvertently revealing themselves. "Hey, you! Get your ass down here!" the bug shouted with a commanding yet feminine tone, alarming both her companion and the two mosscreeps that had been piling on top of them. The mosscreeps quickly scattered, while the second bug stood up and glared at the first bug before turning their attention to Yami.
Yami grinned, exposing a set of sharp, predatory teeth, and tilted their head playfully like a mischievous child. A giggle reminiscent of a horror movie villain escaped their lips, achieving the desired effect as the second bug took a step back in fear, only to regain composure when the female bug shot them a stern glare.
"You're not my mother!" Yami playfully retorted, maintaining their mischievous grin. They firmly planted the axe into the tree's bark and settled themselves on the branch, swinging their feet like an innocent child. "Yes, I know, but..." the female bug began, only to be cut off by Yami. "Yeah, you can't tell me what to do, miss," Yami declared, standing up. "Well, I might as well continue my ascent since you guys can't do anything." With that, Yami stated matter-of-factly and leaped onto another tree branch.
The two bugs followed suit, climbing and jumping from tree to tree, with the Glukas popping out from the branches. The Glukas fired a ball of leaves at Yami, but Yami easily anticipated it, swatting away the four incoming projectiles with their tendrils, creating loud cracks akin to a whip.
Yami realized that the two bugs were fast. They also noticed their unique way of maneuvering, sometimes utilizing whip-like vines to latch onto branches and pull themselves up. While not as fast as jumping from branch to branch, it allowed them to keep up.
The two bugs shouted at Yami, urging them to come down, but their words fell on deaf ears. Yami made their way to a higher branch where a ripe Isma's Tear was hanging. "Oooo, what do we have here?~" Yami exclaimed, capturing the bugs' attention. They appeared alarmed at the sight of the fruit. "H-Hey, don't touch that!" the second bug exclaimed with a masculine tone.
Yami responded with an exaggerated gasp. "Oh my!~ Are you worried for little old me?~" Yami replied in a baby voice. The female bug growled, "Kid, get your ass down here, or I swear to Wyrm!" She stomped her foot on the branch like a frustrated child. Yami burst into laughter, startling the two bugs. As the female bug jumped to the main base of the tree and launched herself towards Yami, they swiftly grabbed the fruit and threw a stake upwards, teleporting to its location.
However, there was nothing beneath them, so Yami threw the stake again, this time into the base of the tree. It effortlessly plunged into the trunk, and Yami teleported to the stake. Yami used their soul to stick to the tree, firmly planting themselves onto it.
The bugs' reaction to Yami picking up the fruit was priceless. Yami was well aware that these fruits were poisonous in "Not-so Hollow Knight," capable of causing instant death upon consumption. However, being made of void, they knew that the void didn;t give two flying dungballs about poison or its effects.
"H-Hey, put the fruit down and come down so we can—" the male bug tried to plead, but before he could finish his sentence, Yami interrupted with a mischievous grin.
CHOMP!
Flora's mind struggled to process the bizarre events unfolding before her. The trespasser's ability to eat the Maliglare Fruit without suffering any ill effects left her dumbfounded. The fruit was known to be deadly to most bugs, and even touching it could result in severe poisoning. Yet here stood the trespasser, seemingly unharmed and filled with an inexplicable joy.
"Why do you look so surprised?" the trespasser innocently questioned, their confusion genuine. Flora found herself at a loss for words, unable to comprehend how the trespasser could defy the rules of nature so effortlessly. Fern, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated this outcome and averted his gaze, unwilling to witness the potential consequences.
Breaking free from her initial shock, Flora urgently warned the trespasser, "Hey! Stop eating that! It's going to kill you!" Her concern for their well-being prompted her to speak out, hoping to prevent any harm from befalling them. However, the trespasser simply giggled, their laughter filled with pure delight.
"Nuh uh, I told it no!" they exclaimed gleefully, their words leaving Flora utterly perplexed. The trespasser's reaction seemed to defy all logic and common sense, as if they possessed a power that shielded them from the deadly effects of the Maliglare Fruit.
Flora's mind struggled to make sense of the situation, momentarily rendering her speechless. It was only Fern's gentle shake that snapped her out of her stupor, bringing her attention back to the trespasser. They were doubled over, clutching their stomach with both hands, their face adorned with a wide grin and sharp teeth. The Maliglare Fruit had vanished from their grip, but Flora's concern for their well-being overshadowed that detail.
"That was a nice snack!" the trespasser declared, their voice filled with the innocent joy of a hungry grub tasting honey for the first time. Flora's worry and confusion mingled, unable to comprehend the trespasser's resilience. Before she could respond, the trespasser abruptly announced their departure.
"Well, this was fun, but I gotta go!" they exclaimed. Without hesitation, they threw the steak once more, this time launching it down to the bottom floor. In a blink of an eye, they leaped off the platform and vanished from sight. Flora peered over the edge, expecting to see them sprawled on the ground, but instead, they were running as if untouched.
Flora couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in an illusion, a product of her overworked mind playing tricks on her. The trespasser's abilities defied all reason, leaving her questioning the very fabric of reality. She pondered the nature of this encounter, uncertain if she could trust her senses or if this was some elaborate dream.
Nevertheless she pulled at her EchoLink Communicator to report this to Isma, their Older sibling, because this is important information right here.
Isma had sensed a disturbance in the force, had her suspicions confirmed when her younger sister reached out to her. Isma, though not towering in stature, possessed a kind yet authoritative air. Her pale white chestplate, adorned with leaf-shaped shoulder guards, complemented the rest of her armor, which resembled a flowing dress made of pale white metal leaves. Her mask, featuring a snout-like extension and six layered eye holes, completed her regal appearance.
As the owner of the grove, Isma possessed a unique connection to the surrounding environment. While she could sense the activities within the grove, she couldn't decipher the specific details unless the entities involved wanted her to. However, she had a blurred connection that allowed for emergency communications and warnings. Listening intently to her sister's description of the trespasser, Isma absorbed the pertinent information.
The trespasser was described as wearing a ragged black cloak adorned with white designs, boasting three tails, and possessing a round face adorned with two horns on each side, as well as more prominent horns atop their head. Their striking feature was their glowing white eyes and a pure black mask that seemed to absorb all light. Isma's attention was particularly drawn to this detail.
Turning her gaze to the vigilant Kingsmould stationed near her door, Isma locked eyes with its piercing white orbs as her sister elaborated on the trespasser's behavior. Her eyes widened in response to the revelation that the intruder had displayed childlike tendencies and seemed to be in an altered state of mind.
"This is a matter I cannot ignore," Isma declared, her voice filled with concern. With a brief exchange of affectionate words with her sister over the communicator, she ended the call and stashed the device away. The implications of the situation weighed heavily on her mind. If her suspicions were correct, it was imperative that she inform the king immediately.
Yami stood at the end of the Waterways, a surge of exhilaration coursing through their veins as they surveyed the sprawling acid lake that marked the edge of the kingdom. The sky above was adorned with the drifting Booflies and the scattered remains of fallen warriors, clad in bronze and silver armor. As Yami's gaze swept over the solemn scene, they couldn't help but ponder the lives and connections that had been lost, their thoughts tinged with a touch of melancholy.
Fueled by an insatiable curiosity, Yami's mind lit up with the prospect of an experiment. With nimble leaps, they descended from platform to platform, their determination guiding them towards the lowest level. Peering over the precipice, they fixated on the bubbling acid below. With a mix of trepidation and audacity, they dipped a foot into the corrosive liquid. As anticipated, Isma's Tear shielded them from harm, rendering them immune to the acid's destructive nature. Encouraged by this newfound power, Yami allowed themselves to be fully engulfed by the lake, reveling in the defiance of natural laws as they floated weightlessly upon its surface.
Grinning mischievously, Yami propelled themselves forward, using their tentacles as impromptu propellers to navigate toward the nearest shore. Their mind buzzed with plans and ambitions. They yearned to explore the vast expanse of Hallownest, fueled by the desire to locate the enigmatic Massive Aspid and construct their Gunbai. The thought of testing their newfound weapon in the Colosseum of Fools also crossed their mind. Lost in their thoughts, they were momentarily interrupted by a figure observing them from above.
Yami's keen eyesight allowed them to discern the white-shelled bug peering at them. With an enthusiastic wave, Yami called out, "Hey!" The bug seemed taken aback by Yami's aquatic excursion and queried, "Hello! How are you doing that?" Yami gleefully responded, "I consumed an Isma's Tear!" The bug faltered, struggling to comprehend their words. In a split second, the bug turned away, only to lose their footing and stumble off the ledge.
Reacting instinctively, Yami's body moved before their mind could process the situation. In a display of remarkable agility, they stood atop the acidic surface, defying the liquid's corrosive properties. With a powerful leap, Yami launched themselves toward the falling bug, intercepting their trajectory and guiding them into a nearby cove. The two of them tumbled in a jumble of limbs, eventually coming to a halt.
As the bug Yami had saved caught their breath, they mustered their gratitude and managed to utter, "Thanks... for that. I owe you one." Yami nonchalantly replied, their energy still brimming, "Heh, no problem." Though not physically exhausted due to their void nature, a sense of mental weariness began to wash over Yami.
A brief silence hung in the air, thick with awkwardness. Yami wondered if they were gonna die from the awkwardness or need to drown themselves due to it. But then, the bug spoke a single word that sent Yami's world spinning.
"Isekai."
Yami's eyes widened, their gaze locked with the bug's. In a stammering voice, Yami managed to respond, "Did that happen to you too?" Their thoughts raced, contemplating the implications of meeting another human in this strange realm. How many other Isekai'd individuals might be hidden in the depths of Hallownest? Unable to contain their excitement, Yami leaped forward, enveloping the bug in a tight embrace. Their tentacles wrapped around them, securing them in a warm and grateful hold. The bug, caught off guard, awkwardly reciprocated the hug, their surprise slowly giving way to a sense of comfort. Minutes passed as Yami clung to the bug, cherishing the connection with someone who shared their human origins. Eventually, Yami released their grip, their voice tinged with apology as they spoke, "S-Sorry, I didn't expect to come across another human down here." Their gaze fixated on the ground, a mix of emotions swirling within.
The bug let out a sigh, breaking the tension with a hint of understanding. "It's fine. I didn't expect to find another human either," they replied. "But please, let's be cautious. We don't know who might be watching, and I have a reputation to uphold." Yami dismissed the concern with a dismissive wave. "Pshhhhhh, nobody is around here except for dead bodies and other junk," they quipped, their carefree nature shining through. Now that Yami had a chance to observe the bug more closely, they took in their appearance.
Draped in a standard dark blue cloak that enveloped their shoulders, with a hood adorning the back, the bug emanated a sense of mystery. The cloak bore intricate yellow designs on its edges, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise somber attire. Their pale mask featured four eye holes, reminiscent of Monomon's design, while two antennae sprouted from the top of their head.
The bug let out a wry smile, "Well, you don't know that for certain, do you?"
Yami shrugged, their eyes scanning the surroundings. "Well, unless you count Hoppers and Aspids, it's pretty deserted."
The bug's gaze drifted upward, fixating on the ceiling as they contemplated Yami's words. "Heh, I suppose you're right," they conceded, their voice laced with a hint of resignation. Silence settled once again, enveloping the cove in its embrace. It was Yami who broke the stillness, their voice laced with a newfound warmth. "By the way, the name's Yami," they said, extending a hand in friendship.
The bug chuckled, accepting the gesture. "I'm Cross. It's a pleasure to meet you."